Note: This FAQ applies to the original Axiom keyboards; see this article for the Axiom (2nd gen).

It is possible to configure a Pad or Button to send a Note On message when it is held down, and a Note Off message when it is released. 

This requires four values to be specified (values given are examples):

Velocity Lock (Vel Lock) must be active for pads to transmit the note velocities specified by Data 2 and data 3. When Velocity Lock is off, the pads will transmit a velocity according to how hard the pad is struck. For further information, please refer to Velocity Lock under “Additional Functions” in the Axiom User Guide.

The following example configures a Pad or Button to play MIDI note E4 while it is being held down and stop the note when the button is released.

In most Axiom factory presets, the pads are already programmed to transmit MIDI note data. In order to change the pitch of notes sent, you need only follow steps 4 & 5 (Axiom 49/61), or steps 6 to 9. 

49- and 61-note versions:

1. Press to select a Pad or Button.
2. Press the Ctrrl Assign button. The letters "CC" on the LCD screen will flash above a numer which is the current MIDI CC assignment.
3. Enter 147 using the numerical keypad. This sets the pad to trigger MIDI Notes.
4. Press the Data 1 button.  A musical note icon will flash on the LCD screen and it will display the current value (Note Number).
5. Enter “64” using the numerical keypad. This sets the pad to play MIDI note 64 (E4)*.
6. Press the Data 2 button. The LCD screen will flash "VEL" and “MIN” and display the current value.
7. Enter 0 using the numeric keypad. This sets the pad to transmit a Note Off message with a release velocity value of zero.
8. Press the Data 3 button. The LCD screen will flash "VEL" and “MAX” and display the current value.
9. Enter 100 using the numeric keypad. This sets the pad to transmit a Note On message with a velocity of 100 when struck.
10. Press the Enter key.

Note: To enable Velocity Lock to transmit the specified Note On and Note Off values, simultaneously press the "Bank MSB" and "Glob Chan" buttons; the display will read "LOC", signifying that Velocity Lock is on.  Simultaneously press them again to turn this function OFF.

25-note version:

1. Press to select a Pad or Button.
2. Press the Advanced button.
3. Press the Ctrl Assign key. The LCD screen will flash "CC"  bove a numer which is the current MIDI CC assignment.
4. Enter 147 using the number keys. This sets the pad to trigger MIDI Notes.
5. Press the Enter key.
6. Press the Advanced button.
7. Press the Data 1 key. A musical note icon will flash on the LCD screen and it will display the current value (Note Number).
8. Enter “64” using the number keys. This sets the pad to play MIDI note 64 (E4)*.
9. Press the Enter key.
10. Press the Advanced button.
11. Press the Data 2 key (Velocity Off). The LCD screen will flash "VEL" and “MIN” and display the current value.
12. Enter 0 using the number keys. This sets the pad to transmit a Note Off message with a release velocity value of zero.
13. Press the Enter key.
14. Press the Advanced button.
15. Press the Data 3 key. The LCD screen will flash "VEL" and “MAX” and display the current value.
16. Enter 100 using the number keys. This sets the pad to transmit a Note On message with a velocity of 100 when struck.
17. Press the Enter key.

Note: To enable Velocity Lock to transmit the specified Note On and Note Off values, press the Advanced button, and then press the Vel Lock key.  The display will read "LOC", signifying that Velocity Lock is on.  Repeat this process to turn this function OFF.

* TIP: If you are not sure which MIDI note you want to send, after pressing Data 1, while the note icon is flashing, you can use the +/- buttons to scroll through MIDI notes, and you can tap the pad to audition the note.  This is useful if you are trying to assign a pad to a particular drum sound, but do not know what MIDI note triggers this sound.

It is also possible to configure a pad or button to send a note on message when it is pressed and a note off message when it is pressed a second time. To do this, follow the configuration steps above, but enter 148 for the “Control Assign” parameter (see the Axiom User Guide, “Assignable MIDI CC’s”).

MIDI Note messages are sent on a specific MIDI Channel, which by default on most Axiom Presets is MIDI Channel 10.  Please refer to the Axiom User Guide for assigning an Axiom control to a specific MIDI channel.  After programming your device, please refer to this article to store your changes to memory.