M25: How To Assign Control Knobs

Introduction

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to assign the control knobs on the Rockville M25 25-Key USB Wireless MIDI Keyboard Controller to different functions within your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). These steps will help you gain more control over your software instruments and mixer settings, making your workflow more efficient.

Since the process varies between DAWs, this guide will use Logic Pro X as an example. However, you may need to look up specific instructions for your DAW if you’re using Ableton, Pro Tools, FL Studio, or another software.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Set Each Knob to a Unique MIDI CC Message

Before assigning knobs to functions in your DAW, you must ensure each knob has a unique MIDI Control Change (CC) message.

Steps:

1. Press and hold the “Controller Setting” button on your M25.
2. Select the knob you want to assign (e.g., Knob 1).
3. Turn the knob to set it to a unique MIDI CC message.
   • Example assignments:
     • Knob 1 → CC 000
     • Knob 2 → CC 002
     • Knob 3 → CC 004
     • Knob 4 → CC 006
     • Knob 5 → CC 008
     • Knob 6 → CC 010
     • Knob 7 → CC 012
     • Knob 8 → CC 014
4. Repeat these steps for each knob to ensure they are set to different CC messages.

This ensures that each knob functions independently inside your DAW.

2. Assign the Knobs to Functions in Your DAW (Example: Logic Pro X)

Once each knob has a unique MIDI CC message, you can assign them to different controls in your DAW.

Steps in Logic Pro X:

1. Open your DAW and load an instrument or mixer track.
2. Access the Controller Assignment Window:
   • Press Command + L to open the Controller Assignments window.
3. Activate Learn Mode:
   • Click the “Learn Mode” button.
4. Select the DAW Control to Assign:
   • Click on the instrument or mixer function you want to assign a knob to.
5. Move the Desired Knob:
   • Once the DAW is "listening" for an input, turn the knob you want to assign.
   • The DAW will detect and map the knob to the selected function.
6. Repeat for Additional Knobs:
   • Follow the same process for all eight knobs, assigning them to different controls such as:
     • Knob 1 → Volume
     • Knob 2 → Brilliance
     • Knob 3 → Pan
     • Knob 4 → Effect Level
     • Knob 5 → Filter Cutoff, etc.

3. Test the Assigned Knobs

After assigning each knob, test them to ensure they control the correct parameters.

• Play a note and turn Knob 1 to adjust the volume.
• Adjust Knob 2 to control the instrument’s brightness.
• Use Knob 3 to pan the sound left or right.

If any knob is not working as expected, go back and check its assigned MIDI CC message or re-map it inside your DAW.

Additional Notes:

• The M25 comes with a MIDI CC guide listing standard assignments.
• Some DAWs may automatically recognize standard CC messages, but custom assignments provide more flexibility.
• If your DAW does not recognize the knobs, refer to its documentation on MIDI mapping.

Conclusion

Assigning the control knobs on the Rockville M25 is a straightforward process that enhances your control over virtual instruments and DAW functions. By following these steps, you can customize the keyboard’s knobs to match your workflow.

If you run into any issues, check your DAW’s MIDI settings or refer to the M25’s user guide for further details.