Using mechanical buttons as modifiers for encoders on a PBF4

I usually set up each channel on Ableton with 3 effects sends, A, B and C. Is it possible to set up a PBF4 so that I can have a single encoder control them, using a press of the mechanical button to cycle through them, changing the color of the LED to indicate which one it's controlling? To elaborate, I mean something like: By default the encoder on a given channel strip is controlling Send A and the LED is green. Tapping the mechanical button once changes the led under the encoder to red, and now it controls send B. Tapping the mechanical button again cycles through to now control Send C and makes the LED is purple. Tapping again returns you to Send A.)

Replies (7)

Hybrid · July 8, 2025

I don't use Ableton and I'm still waiting to receive my first Grid modules but from reading the docs, you should be able to achieve this using a 3-step toggle on the button. See the documentation here - set the Button Mode to 3-step and then you can add a Button Step / Additional Step action block to perform the various actions you want for each step (change LED colour, send on a different channel, etc).

Kristóf shows some of this setup in these two videos:

Good luck!

Weird Unit · July 8, 2025

Thank you! That was exactly what I was looking for.

riazb · July 8, 2025

You should also look at this if you want buttons on one module to control/impact knobs/faders on another one.

https://docs.intech.studio/wiki/more/immediate-send-explainer

Gerotone · February 28, 2026

Is it possible to use a modifier key of a physical keyboard to trigger a different midi value from a button?

For example:
Option 1: pressing only button 1 on a module to trigger Midi CC 20 (without any modifier key)

Option 2: pressing a modifier key on a physical keyboard (exp: cmd) and simultaneously pressing button 1 on a module to send MIDI CC 21

Is anyone familiar with the 2nd option?

Thanks!

0xdb · February 28, 2026

For this, take a look at my repo where I use buttons on a BU16 to control memory banks on an EN16:
https://github.com/DiegoBoy/Ableton-0xdb-CTRL

0xdb · February 28, 2026

Doable only outside Intech's scope, there's no way for the modules to know you're pressing a key in your keyboard. You would need to either:

Send MIDI from your computer into the module when the key is pressed and handle the event
Send MIDI from the module to some middleware in your computer that takes care of it based on the state of the respective key

Gerotone · March 1, 2026

Thanks, will look more into it