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Overview 2
Connections 3
Basic Functions 4
Advanced Functions 7
! Reset Keys To C3 7
! Change Octaves 7
! Reverse Pitch buttons 7
! CCmode 8!
! Change Midi Channels 9
! Fine Tune 9!
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OVERVIEW
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The Button Box V4 will allow any midi capable turntable to have all the
functionality of the Vestax Controller One, and have even more added
features. The unit is powered by USB (connect it to a computer or any
USB power supply such as a mobile phone charger etc), and has a midi
DIN socket for use with a midi cable.
As well as being able to control a turntable the unit can be used as a
standalone midi controller through USB midi and a midi cable. This
means you are also able to use it with your favorite DAW or external
hardware. For example you could have this hooked up to
Traktor/Serato/Ableton
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to your turntable at the same time, to
control the turntable, trigger cue points and control any of Ableton’s (or
your favorite DAW) instruments simultaneously.
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CONNECTIONS
USB port
The USB port has two functions; to power the unit, and to send USB midi
communication. The box can be connected to a computer and used as
a standalone midi controller with any midi mappable software ie:
Traktor/Serato, Ableton, Logic, Protools and so on.
Midi DIN out
Connect a midi cable to a turntable or any other midi capable hardware.
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BASIC FUNCTIONS
1-8.Keys
Buttons 1-8 are the keys that change the pitch of the platter to
correspond to notes in a scale. By default the keys are set to C Major at
middle C (C4).
9.Modifier Button
The modifier button is used with buttons 1-8 to toggle between
CCmode (buttons 1-6), fine tune up and down (buttons 7-8). The
modifier pressed at the same time as the rotary encoder push button
resets fine tune to zero. Pressing the modifier button and turning the
rotary encoder increases or decreases the step size of the fine tune.
10.Semitone UP
Moves all of the buttons (1-8) up by a semitone.
11.Semitone DOWN
Moves all of the buttons (1-8) down by a semitone.
NB: Semitone shift (up or down) by default will act as a way to choose
what ‘key’ you are in.
12.Octave UP
Moves all of the buttons (1-8) up by an octave.
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13.Octave DOWN
Moves all of the buttons (1-8) down by an octave.
14.Rotary Encoder
The rotary encoder primarily is used to change scales. Here is a list of
scales we can choose from:
Major Scale (default scale)
Minor Scale
Melodic Scale
Dorian Scale
Phrygian Scale
Lydian Scale
Mixolydian Scale
Locrian Scale
14 (a).Rotary Encoder
The rotary encoder also has a push button which will reverse the pitch
keys from ascending to descending when pressed, like so;
Normal = CDEFGABC : Reverse = CBAGFEDC.
14 (b).Rotary Encoder
Pressing the encoder button and the modifier key (button 9) will reset
the fine tune option to zero.
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14 (c).Rotary Encoder
Pressing the modifier button and turning the rotary encoder will
increase or decrease the fine tune steps.
15.OLED Display
The OLED display shows the following settings:
1. CCmode
2. Reverse Keys
3 .Midi Channel Number
4. Semitone Up and Down
5. Fine Tune
6. Scale
7. The Current Note Being Played and What Octave You Are In
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ADVANCED FUNCTIONS
The Button Box has some features which advance on what the Vestax
Controller One can do. In order to access them you have to press a
multiple of 2 buttons at the same time.
Below you will find a list of button combinations that allow you to
choose different functions and settings.
Reset keys to C3
Press button 10 (semitone UP) & button 11 (semitone DOWN) at the
same time to return to default C3.
Reset Octave
Press button 12 (octave UP) & button 13 (octave DOWN) at the same
time to return the octave to zero.
Reverse Pitch Buttons
Simply press the rotary encoder button and the display will show an ‘N’
symbol for normal, or an ‘R’ symbol for reverse.
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CCmode
The Button Box V4 has a function called ‘CCmode’. This allows you to
toggle individual pitch buttons (1-6) to send CC messages to hardware
synths/modules/drum machines/software. For instance you can map
these buttons to a DAW/DVS like; Ableton/Traktor/Serato to be able to
trigger samples and effects which gives you a powerful option when
performing live or doing routines.
To access CCmode we press the modifier button and press a pitch
button (1-6) – this will then be shown on the display by a ‘C’ symbol next
to the CCmode section at the top of the display. If we want the button to
go back to outputting a note value we simply repeat the process by
pressing the modifier button and the same pitch button. You will now
see on the display that the ‘C’ symbol next to CCmode has returned to a
dash symbol like this, -
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Midi Channels
We have an option to change the midi channel from 1-16. This will allow
you to control external hardware and software. To change the midi
channel we use the modifier button and the octave up and down
buttons to select which channel we desire.
Fine Tune
Fine tune allows you to tune a sample currently being played on the
turntable. This is powerful if you are playing with traditional
instrumentalists and the sample being played on the turntable is either
sharp or flat. You can also use this to tune hardware/software synths or
use it as a pitch sweep effect. By changing the fine tune step times you
can have slow or fast pitch sweep effects on a synth pad for instance.
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