M-AUDIO TRIGGER FINGER
Nov 1, 2005 12:00 PM, BY DOUG EISENGREIN
UNDER YOUR THUMB >The Trigger Finger is one of only a few MIDI controllers that offer velocity- and pressure-sensitive drum pads. The unit also includes eight rotary knobs and four 60mm sliders that are all user-assignable.
In the past few years, the shelves of music stores have been inundated with all manner of MIDI-controller keyboards, mixing control surfaces and USB decks with lots of rotary knobs. However, control surfaces that cater to a major component of electronic music, drum programming, have mysteriously been nearly absent on the scene — until now, that is. The Trigger Finger, M-Audio's new darling, happily fills that void. The Trigger Finger is a USB-powered desktop MIDI control surface, for Windows XP and Mac OS X computers, that sports 16 programmable velocity- and pressure-sensitive drum pads as well as an assortment of the usual control-surface wares: four programmable linear sliders and eight programmable rotary knobs. M-Audio's Enigma programming and library software is also included, along with a 6-foot USB cable (nice!), a copy of Ableton Live Lite 4 and a Pro Sessions sample and loop library.
FORM FACTOR
The Trigger Finger is small enough to fit on just about any desktop and thin enough to fit in the side pocket of most laptop bags, yet the controls are large and ergonomically arranged. The unit isn't heavy, but it also doesn't feel light and cheap. The underside has long rubber strips along each side that provide a balanced, nonslip surface. A standard mic-stand threadmount is also present; this is handy for live use or places where tabletop space is minimal. I mounted the test unit on a boom, and it felt sturdy. The designers thoughtfully placed the threads directly below the center of the drum pads rather than the center of the chassis.
The rear panel is simple: It includes a single USB port, a MIDI Out jack and a wall-wart-style AC power jack (an adapter is optional). The Trigger Finger's top panel sports 16 firm rubber drum pads, each measuring a healthy 1.125 inches square. Also present are four rubber function pads for various navigation tasks; each is clearly labeled and features a red LED above it to indicate operational modes. Below these are four programmable plastic sliders. Unlike those of many control surfaces, they are a respectable 60 mm in length and reasonably sturdy. Above the drum pads are eight programmable rubberized rotary knobs, which also feel nice and sturdy. A three-digit green LED displays the current memory location and values of the various controls.
I tested the Trigger Finger on an Apple Mac G4 running Mac OS 10.4.2 and a 2.4GHz Windows XP laptop, each with a copy of Propellerhead Reason 3.0.3 and Ableton Live 5.0.1. The Trigger Finger is a class-compliant device, and drivers are not necessary to operate the unit. The exception to the rule, however, is that the unit will only work with a single application at a time in Windows. If you wish to use multiple apps simultaneously, a Windows multi-client driver is included on the CD-ROM. I plugged the Trigger Finger into a powered USB hub on the Mac, and it powered up and was recognized without problems; the PC also recognized the unit straightaway. Next, I installed the drivers without a hitch. The printed Quick Start Guide only provides the bare bones of setup, but the included PDF User Guide provides comprehensive directions for both the Trigger Finger and the Enigma companion software.
I started by launching a song-in-progress in Reason to try out the Trigger Finger with a ReDrum drum machine. I also launched the Enigma editor to try addressing and editing the Trigger Finger remotely. You can edit this way or directly from the main unit. But M-Audio seems to be ahead of the curve; Reason doesn't have a preset for the Trigger Finger in its Control Surfaces and Keyboards preferences section, yet Enigma includes library entries for most of Reason's instruments and effects. I was able to manually add a generic Trigger Finger device to Reason's preferences, and both computers instantly recognized the Trigger Finger's pads, knobs and sliders without a hitch.
MAKING A CONNECTION
Enigma is a well-laid-out, easy-to-understand editor that includes libraries for all of M-Audio's programmable MIDI-controller devices. The software comprises a three-panel window: In the top left is a device list and a preset bank panel; below that is a preset list panel that corresponds to the currently selected device or bank; and a large panel to the right displays a graphic view of the currently selected controller. If you double-click on any slider or knob of the Trigger Finger graphic, a separate Editor window pops up that includes the selected controller's relevant parameters, such as CC number, note value, MIDI channel and more. The unit's fully assignable drum pads have three purposes: trigger (note), pressure sensitivity (MIDI CC) and program change. An eighth-note symbol, CC (continuous controller) and PGM (program) appear on each pad to provide clear distinction among the different assignments. To see an overview, you can optionally display all of the controls' MIDI channels and CC numbers on the graphic display; alternately, you can switch to list view, which displays the entire contents of the current preset in text form.
Uploading and downloading presets to and from the Trigger Finger are as simple as clicking on one of three buttons (Receive, Send and Update); Sys blinks in the unit's LED as long as a transfer is in process. Whether you are sending an entire bank or just updating the Trigger Finger's memory, communication is fast — just a few seconds at most. With Enigma, you can create and store as many custom device banks as you wish, and there is also a large library of software instruments, along with their various factory controls, available. Just choose a control (such as Drum 1 Pan) from the list and drag and drop it onto the pad, slider or knob of the Trigger Finger graphic to instantly assign it there. The only issue with this is that you have to be careful not to drag over a preset name or device name, or the main display will switch to that device or preset. Although this functionality appears to be intentional, with the Mac, it can make things cumbersome because the library drawer is affixed to the left of the preset and device lists. (In Windows, it appears in a separate window, so it is easier to maneuver around.) Aside from that, I experienced success with Enigma. I was able to not only upload and download programs to and from the Trigger Finger but also easily make controller-assignment changes that Reason responded to, create and delete custom banks, and copy and paste presets.
Aside from their trio of purposes, the 16 drum pads also work in conjunction with the Memory Recall button to call up any of 16 memory presets that the Trigger Finger is capable of storing. These can be specified for anything from soft synths to plug-ins to MIDI modules. The Trigger Finger's other controls typically serve multiple purposes, the function depending upon whether you are in Performance or Edit mode. The eight knobs transmit CC information in Performance mode and set various control values in Edit mode. The four sliders also transmit CC information in Performance mode while setting global parameters in Edit mode. Finally, the four buttons above the sliders perform specific functions that are clearly labeled on the face of each. Among other more basic functions, some of their handier uses include Peek, which allows you to view a control's current setting without changing it; Ctrl/Note Mute, which allows you to disengage the 16 drum pads' controller or note transmission; and Full/Lock Velocity, which sets all 16 drum pads to transmit only full velocity (127) or an assignable-per-pad preset velocity. For dancefloor producers, the Full/Lock Velocity is an especially cool feature. The Control Mute function is especially useful if you want to move the physical position of a knob or fader without changing its corresponding value in your software. This should prove to be particularly helpful in live situations in which users don't want a sudden change in tone.
LIVE HITS
Obviously, the Trigger Finger is an instrument that is all about feel. And the drum pads feel great. Although they are perhaps a tad stiff, they are well-built and plenty sensitive to velocity when struck. When played as a continuous controller via pressure, they are sensitive and responsive across the entire 0 to 127 range. Because the pads are individually assignable, it is a blast to customize and play several of them with different fingers, and, of course, the audible results can be dramatic. The responsiveness of both the sliders and the knobs is good, and unlike certain other controllers that I've tried, it's relatively easy to perform nice, even sweeps and to set them at exactly the number you want — others tend to skip numbers with even the nimblest touch. When you turn a knob, move a slider or apply pressure to a pad, the LED continuously tracks your movement by displaying the current value. After two seconds, it will switch to that controller's CC value (in the case of sliders and knobs) or display the assigned note (in the case of a pad). This function provides a handy means to tell what the various controls are assigned to as well as what the various parameters in your software are set to.
M-Audio strongly advises that Enigma be used to program the Trigger Finger, and there are essentially three parameters that are accessible only in this way: the pads' minimum and maximum values and any extended CC values. Manually programming the unit in Edit mode is nonetheless a relatively painless affair; it was practically the only functionality that I really needed the PDF manual for. Programming the pads is simple: Press the top two function buttons simultaneously (the word Edit with a line bridging the two buttons is silk-screened on the face to indicate this), press a pad to select it, and use the eight knobs to set the relevant control values. The knobs are also conveniently labeled with their respective parameter names, thus avoiding unnecessary trips to the manual. Programming the knobs and sliders requires one extra intermediate step, a press of the select button (to avoid transmitting MIDI information or changing a current value).
Although programming the Trigger Finger man-ually is easier than I expected, it's wise to heed M-Audio's advice to use Enigma — it is indeed easier and much faster. In this process, I found a little room for improvement in the PDF manual. Once you make your edits, you have a choice of Save & Exit and Exit (which does not save changes), with some small but vital loopholes. If you choose Save & Exit, it is imperative that you finish by pressing the pad that corresponds to the memory location that you want to store the changes. If you don't, your changes will be lost. You wouldn't know this at first, however; it functions the same as if you choose Exit. When you choose Exit, the Trigger Finger returns to Performance mode with the changes intact so that you can preview them. If you like the changes, you can return to Edit mode and still use the save procedure. But if you change memory locations or turn off the unit, all edits are lost. This is quite a good feature by design, but the manual could be clearer in its explanation.
Nevertheless, M-Audio has scored again with the Trigger Finger. It is sturdy, responsive, easy to set up and learn yet very versatile. Once you've read the manual (which is barely necessary), it's a breeze to program. The unit is bus-powered and truly plug-and-play, so it may be just the thing for mobile users. The only thing I wished for was more of the same — especially extra sliders. But for such varied functionality and such a small desktop footprint at this price, I have nothing to complain about with the Trigger Finger.
M-AUDIO
TRIGGER FINGER > $249.95
Pros: Easy to learn, simple to use. Plug-and-play, bus-powered. Intuitive software editor. Well-built, compact. Ableton Live Lite 4 included. Attractive price.
Cons: Tricky drag-and-drop functionality of Enigma editor program.
Contact: www.m-audio.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Mac: Mac OS X 10.2.8 or higher; available USB port
PC: Windows XP; available USB port
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