GridInstrument (aka Launchpad Scale-mode)

Did you ever wish you could use your Launchpad as a MIDI instrument? Do you covet the Scale Mode on the Launchpad Pro or Ableton Push, but not have the cash to buy them? Now you can play scales on any Novation Launchpad.

Here's a quick video demo.

There is also an iOS app version of this code here.

At it's core, GridInstrument is a library that allows you to display a scale grid on your Novation Launchpad. It functions very similarly to the scale mode on Henri David's fantastic Launchpad95 scripts for Ableton Live, and also similarly to the scale mode on a Launchpad Pro.

Features:

• Can be used as a standalone app or incorporate into another Python project.
• Key switching (you know, so that you're not stuck in the key of C)
• Scale switching between the same 26 musical modes as Launchpad95
• Works on Raspberry Pi and Mac OS (probably Windows, too, but not tested).
• Two layouts (Diatonic 4th and Chromatic)
• Works with all Novation Launchpads

Requirements

Before you try to do anything, make sure you have Python 2 and pip installed.

How to Use it as a Standalone App

Download the source code from github and install prerequisites:

git clone https://github.com/dhilowitz/GridInstrument
cd GridInstrument; pip install launchpad_rtmidi_py

Run the app:

python play.py

If all goes well, you should see your grid light up. Next, go into another piece of software that can receive MIDI signals (sforzando is a good, free choice), and you should see a new MIDI device called "Grid Instrument (Virtual Port)"

How to Use it as a Python Library

You have two options for how to install it.

Option 1: Install it Manually

Download the source code from github:

git clone https://github.com/dhilowitz/GridInstrument
cd GridInstrument

Install it:

python setup.py install

Option 2: Install it with Pip

pip install grid_instrument