How to Configure Your Controller with Kilowhat: A Starter Guide

Your custom Yaeltex controller is in your hands. It's a beautiful piece of hardware, but its true power is unlocked when you teach it how to speak your creative language. That’s where Kilowhat, our dedicated configuration software, comes in.

This guide will walk you through the first essential steps of using Kilowhat to program your controller and make it a true extension of your mind.

What is Kilowhat?

Think of Kilowhat as the digital command center for your controller. It’s the software bridge that connects the physical components in your hands to your music software (like Ableton Live), VJ software, or any other MIDI-compatible application.

In short, Kilowhat is where you tell every single button, knob, and fader exactly what to do, what to say, and how to look.

Getting Started: The First Three Steps

We’ve designed the initial setup to be as seamless as possible.

1. Download the App: Head to the Yaeltex website and download the latest version of the Kilowhat desktop application for your operating system (Windows or macOS).
2. Connect Your Controller: Plug your Yaeltex controller into your computer using a USB-C cable.
3. Launch Kilowhat: Open the application. It will automatically detect your connected controller, and you’ll be greeted with a visual representation of your unique layout, ready for configuration.

The Configuration Workflow: A Practical Example

Let's walk through a simple, common task: making a button send a MIDI Note.

Step 1: Select a Component

In the Kilowhat interface, simply click on the component you want to configure. Let's say you click on the first button of a 4x4 grid. The configuration panel on the right will now show the settings for that specific button.

Step 2: Choose the MIDI Message

The most fundamental setting is the Message Type.

• Click the dropdown menu for "Message Type."
• Select "Note". This tells the button its job is to send a MIDI note message, like pressing a key on a piano. Other common options are "Control Change (CC)" for knobs and faders.

Step 3: Define the Parameters

Now, you need to tell the button which note to send.

• Parameter 1 (Note Number): Set the MIDI note number. For example, setting it to 36 corresponds to the C1 note (often used for a kick drum).
• Parameter 2 (Velocity): Set the velocity (how "hard" the note is hit). 127 is the maximum value.
• MIDI Channel: Choose which MIDI channel (1-16) to send this message on.

Step 4: Send the Configuration to Your Controller

The changes you've made in the software are not yet on your controller. To transfer them, you must:

1. Click the "Read" button. This reads the current configuration from your controller into the software (a good practice to start).
2. Click the "Send" button. This will write your new configuration from the software to your controller's internal memory. You'll see a progress bar, and when it's done, your button is now programmed!

You can now open your music software, and when you press that button, it will send a C1 note on your chosen MIDI channel.

Core Concepts to Explore Next

Once you've mastered the basics of selecting a component and sending a configuration, you can explore the key features of Kilowhat:

• Customize RGB LED Feedback: This is where the magic happens. Program your full-color LEDs to react to specific incoming MIDI messages, providing dynamic, real-time visual feedback from your software.
• Master Memory Banks: Your Yaeltex controller can store multiple complete configurations in its internal memory. Use Kilowhat to build different "banks" for different tasks—one for production, one for live performance—and switch between them on the fly.
• Save & Load Configuration Files: Easily save your layouts as files on your computer. This is perfect for backing up your work or trying out experimental setups.

We believe in radical creative freedom, and Kilowhat is the key to that freedom. We understand that with great power comes a learning curve, and our team is constantly working to improve documentation and tutorials to help you master every feature.

Now, go unleash your creativity.

Updated on: 26/06/2025