ODLA CUSTOM is the software that lets you personalise ODLA 2.0 and assign the functions best suited to your needs to its keys.

With ODLA CUSTOM, you can create custom Profiles and use the keyboard to:

• send individual QWERTY keys and key combinations;
• send MIDI notes and chords;
• use the tactile staff as a MIDI controller;
• create and open GUI menus on screen;
• enter symbols or short text;
• create different Profiles for different programs and activities;
• export and import Profiles.

ODLA CUSTOM works exclusively with the ODLA 2.0 keyboard. Earlier ODLA versions use a different hardware architecture and are not compatible with this software.

Two separate programs are available from the Downloads page on the ODLA MUSIC website:

• ODLA CUSTOM, for personalising keys and using QWERTY, MIDI, GUI Menu and Symbol/Text functions;
• ODLA PLUGIN, for using ODLA with supported music notation software.

Each program is available for Windows and macOS.

Both programs can be installed on the same computer, but they cannot run at the same time. This prevents them from attempting to communicate with the ODLA keyboard simultaneously.

If one program is already running when you open the other, ODLA will ask to close the active program before starting the one you selected. The software manages this process automatically.

1. Go to odlamusic.com.
2. Open the Downloads page.
3. Find the ODLA CUSTOM section.
4. Select the version for your computer: Windows or macOS.
5. Download the installer.

Make sure you do not select ODLA PLUGIN if you want to use the personalisation features described in this manual.

After downloading the file:

1. open the installer;
2. follow the on-screen instructions;
3. wait for the installation to finish.

The ODLA 2.0 keyboard does not need to be connected during installation. You can install ODLA CUSTOM either before or after connecting the device.

ODLA CUSTOM does not automatically display a welcome screen after installation.

To start it:

1. find ODLA CUSTOM among the applications installed on your computer;
2. open the application;
3. connect the ODLA 2.0 keyboard if it is not already connected.

If ODLA PLUGIN is running, the software will ask to close it before starting ODLA CUSTOM.

Once started, ODLA CUSTOM remains available to receive commands from the keyboard and to open the Configurator when required.

When first opened, ODLA CUSTOM provides one initial configuration called the Default Profile.

In the software, a Profile is a configuration of the ODLA keys. It includes the bindings assigned to the physical keys and any GUI menus and virtual buttons. It does not necessarily refer to an application installed on the computer.

The Default Profile lets you begin using ODLA CUSTOM and provides a starting point for creating new custom Profiles.

After starting ODLA CUSTOM, you can:

• use the Default Profile;
• use the tactile staff to send MIDI notes;
• check the active Profile, clef and key signature;
• open the Configurator;
• create a new Profile;
• create new key bindings;
• create GUI menus and virtual buttons;
• import or export Profiles.

The following chapters explain how to prepare the destination program correctly and use all these functions.

Before using ODLA, select the program you want it to interact with.

ODLA sends its commands to the active window, in much the same way as a standard QWERTY keyboard. Focus simply identifies the program, window or field that is ready to receive commands.

This applies to all ODLA CUSTOM functions, including QWERTY bindings, MIDI commands, Symbol/Text entry and commands executed through GUI menus.

Before using the ODLA keys:

1. open the program you want to use;
2. select its window;
3. if you need to type or insert a symbol, use the mouse to click the document, field or insertion point;
4. use the ODLA keys.

If another program is selected, the command is sent to that program. If it recognises the command, the corresponding function is performed; if it does not, nothing may happen. Symbol/Text content is inserted where the cursor is positioned.

Before pressing an ODLA key, always check which program is selected, particularly when using shortcuts that can change or delete content.

GUI menus are created and configured in ODLA CUSTOM. They can be personalised and assigned to keys on the ODLA keyboard.

When you press a key assigned to a GUI menu:

1. the menu appears on screen;
2. numbered options are displayed;
3. select an option using the ODLA keyboard;
4. ODLA restores focus to the program you were using, sends the assigned command and normally closes the menu. The menu can remain open if its button has been configured with the relevant option.

Press the corresponding number on the ODLA numeric keypad, or move through the options with the ODLA arrow keys and press Enter. GUI menu options are not selected with the mouse.

An ODLA GUI menu is created in the Configurator, opens through an ODLA key, displays numbered options and is controlled with the ODLA numeric keypad, arrow keys and Enter key. Before sending a command, it restores focus to the destination program.

An application menu, by contrast, belongs to the software you are using. For example, an ODLA QWERTY binding may send a shortcut that opens an application’s own menu. This menu was not created by ODLA and is used normally: navigate it with the controls provided by the program or select its items with the mouse.

1. Check that ODLA CUSTOM is running.
2. Check which program or window is selected.
3. If necessary, use the mouse to select the correct document, field or area.
4. Repeat the command.
5. Check that the program supports the function assigned to the key.
6. Check that the Default Profile or the required custom Profile is active.

ODLA’s tactile staff has 19 keys representing the lines, spaces and ledger-line positions available on the clickable staff.

In the Default Profile, each position is already assigned to its corresponding MIDI note. Open a MIDI-compatible program, select the appropriate window or track, then press a staff position on ODLA.

The notes can be used in music notation programs such as MuseScore Studio and Dorico, and in music production software such as Ableton Live and Cubase, provided that the program can receive MIDI. MIDI setup may differ between programs. ODLA must also have focus on the program you want to control.

MIDI allows several notes to be sent simultaneously. Pressing multiple staff keys together sends their MIDI notes at the same time, allowing you to form chords.

In notation software, the notes may be entered into the score; in music production software, they may control a virtual instrument or record a part. The result depends on how the receiving program handles MIDI messages.

When ODLA CUSTOM starts, the Default Profile uses:

• Treble clef;
• C major/A minor.

These settings determine the MIDI notes assigned to the 19 staff positions.

Two keys with red symbols are located to the left of the staff. One selects the clef.

1. Press the ODLA clef key.
2. The relevant GUI menu opens.
3. Press the corresponding number on the ODLA numeric keypad, or move through the options with the arrow keys and press Enter.

The staff’s MIDI notes adjust to the new clef.

The other key with a red symbol selects the key signature.

1. Press the ODLA key-signature key.
2. The relevant GUI menu opens.
3. Select the key signature with the numeric keypad, or use the arrow keys and press Enter.

The staff’s MIDI notes adjust to the accidentals in the selected key signature. Its sharps or flats are applied automatically to the relevant staff positions.

The Default Profile lets you alter an individual staff note without changing the current key signature. Two green keys are located to the right of the staff:

• Sharp, which raises the note by one semitone;
• Flat, which lowers the note by one semitone.

Hold down Sharp or Flat, press the required staff position while continuing to hold the modifier, then release both keys. This is useful for an accidental that is not part of the current key signature.

ODLA’s green keys are modifier keys, designed primarily for use with one or more other keys. A combination may contain one modifier and one or more keys, or several modifiers together with one or more keys. This greatly expands the number of programmable bindings.

Modifiers can also be programmed as individual keys. Take care when doing this: if the same modifier is used in other combinations, the bindings may conflict or produce unexpected results.

Two examples are already included in the Default Profile:

• Sharp + staff note raises the note by one semitone;
• Flat + staff note lowers the note by one semitone.

The ODLA MIDI Status panel displays the active Profile, clef and key signature.

To show it, press the large Menu key at the top left of the keyboard, select ODLA MIDI Status, and enable the panel. Select the same option again to hide it.

You can also open the panel from the ODLA CUSTOM icon:

• in the Windows notification area, usually at the bottom right;
• in the macOS menu bar, near the clock.

The same icon also lets you choose which configured Profile to use with ODLA.

When the panel is visible, you can use the mouse to move and resize it, adjust its opacity, reduce it to a compact one-line view, restore the full view or close it.

Its position, size and transparency can be adapted to the available space. The panel displays the active clef and key signature; use the physical keys with red symbols on the ODLA keyboard to change them.

Open the Configurator either from the ODLA CUSTOM icon in the Windows notification area or macOS menu bar, or by pressing the gear-symbol key to the left of the ODLA staff.

The Configurator can be opened without connecting ODLA. When the keyboard is connected, you can use it to identify keys and combinations more easily.

The tabs at the top of the Configurator represent the available Profiles. Selecting a tab opens that Profile for editing; it does not make it active on the ODLA keyboard.

To select the active Profile, use the ODLA CUSTOM icon with the mouse, or press the keyboard’s MENU key and choose USE WITH, then select the Profile from the ODLA keyboard.

Drag tabs to reorder them. Right-click a tab to rename its Profile. The + button opens the New Profile window, where you can create an empty Profile or duplicate an existing one, for example Duplicate from Default Profile.

Use Import Profiles and Export Profiles to transfer Profiles. Transfers between computers using the same operating system are recommended. A Windows Profile can be imported on macOS, or vice versa, but its QWERTY bindings may not be recognised or executed correctly because the two operating systems can interpret keyboard signals differently.

The Configurator has two main sections:

• Physical keys, for bindings assigned to keys on the ODLA keyboard;
• GUI Menu, for creating and personalising menus displayed by ODLA.

This section lists the bindings in the selected Profile, including the ODLA key combination, assigned command and any descriptive notes. You can create a binding or select an existing one to edit, swap, copy or delete it.

You can program an individual key, a multi-key combination, one or more modifiers with other keys, or a key that opens a GUI menu. Green modifiers may also be assigned individually, but doing so can create conflicts if they are also used in combinations.

Some bindings required for basic operation are protected and cannot be edited or deleted.

The virtual ODLA keyboard on the right of the Configurator helps you identify key names. Click a key on the virtual keyboard, or press it on the physical ODLA keyboard when connected. Its name, or the name of the complete combination, appears in the LAST COMBINATION area at the bottom of the window.

You can use this name when creating a binding or searching the existing bindings.

Use the filters above the list to find bindings by event—the key or key combination—command or descriptive note. You can enter only the first few letters; the feature works in a similar way to Find in a word-processing program.

The GUI Menu section is used to create and organise ODLA’s custom menus. The left-hand column lists the menus. The right-hand Buttons area displays the options in the selected menu, including each option’s number, name, assigned command and notes.

You can create, copy or delete menus, and create, edit, reorder, copy or delete their buttons. The complete procedure is explained in Chapter 9.

When you first open ODLA CUSTOM, the Default Profile is already available. This ready-to-use configuration lets you begin using the keyboard immediately and demonstrates some of the software’s capabilities.

The Default Profile includes:

• the main commands for opening the Configurator, choosing the clef and key signature, and opening the main Menu;
• frequently used functions such as Copy, Paste, Undo, Redo, Enter and Delete;
• arrow keys and the numeric keypad;
• examples of character, symbol and text entry;
• combinations using modifier keys;
• MIDI bindings for the 19 staff positions;
• combinations that raise or lower notes by one semitone using the Sharp and Flat keys;
• examples of MIDI chord commands;
• a sample GUI menu, assigned to Fn + Menu key, in addition to ODLA’s general menus.

Some Default Profile bindings are protected because they keep ODLA’s essential commands available. They cannot be edited, swapped or deleted.

The Default Profile can be renamed and deleted. However, at least one Profile must always remain in the Configurator, so the last remaining Profile cannot be deleted.

The Default Profile includes several combinations demonstrating how ODLA can send MIDI chords:

• Fn + Staff 12: F major;
• Fn + Staff 13: E major;
• Fn + Staff 14: D major;
• Fn + Staff 15: C major;
• Select + Staff 13: E minor;
• Select + Staff 15: C minor.

Take C major as an example. Staff 15 corresponds to middle C, on the first ledger line below the staff. Pressing it together with Fn makes ODLA send the complete C-major chord.

These bindings demonstrate that an individual key or key combination does not have to be assigned to only one MIDI note. Several notes can be configured to play simultaneously as a complete chord.

This can be useful during a live performance: prepare the chords you need in advance, then recall them quickly with your chosen keys or combinations. Chapter 8 explains how to create custom chords.

1. Open the Configurator.
2. Press the + button beside the Profile tabs.
3. Enter a name for the new Profile.
4. Choose whether to create an empty Profile or duplicate an existing one.
5. Assign an icon if required.
6. Confirm the creation.

The new Profile opens in the Configurator ready for editing, but it does not automatically become active on the keyboard.

To use it with ODLA, select it either from the ODLA CUSTOM icon in the Windows notification area or macOS menu bar, or from the keyboard’s MENU key by selecting USE WITH and then the required Profile.

Choose this option to build a completely new configuration. The Profile is created without the custom bindings from other Profiles, and you can decide which keys, combinations and GUI menus to add. ODLA’s protected essential functions remain available.

To begin with a prepared configuration, duplicate an existing Profile. For example, Duplicate from Default Profile copies its physical-key bindings, modifier combinations, QWERTY, MIDI, Symbol/Text and GUI Menu commands, menus, buttons and descriptive notes.

The duplicate is independent: you can change it without altering the source Profile.

After duplication, you can select and delete several unwanted bindings at once. This is useful if you want to retain common commands such as Copy, Paste, Undo and the arrow keys while removing all MIDI staff bindings. Protected bindings cannot be included in the deletion.

When creating a Profile, you can choose an image as its icon. In the Profile icon section, press Browse to select an image on your computer, or Clear to remove it. Icons make Profiles easier to recognise, especially when several are available.

Double-click the Profile tab name, or right-click the tab and select the rename command. The Default Profile can also be renamed. Choose a name that clearly identifies the configuration’s purpose or program.

Press the X beside a Profile name and confirm the warning. The Default Profile can also be deleted, provided that at least one other Profile remains.

Before deleting the Default Profile or another important Profile, export it and keep a copy in a dedicated personal folder so that you can import it again if required.

Drag Profile tabs into your preferred order. If you have several Profiles, place frequently used ones first and give them clear names and icons. ODLA CUSTOM does not set a predefined limit on the number of Profiles, but keeping them organised makes them easier to find.

Export custom Profiles regularly and store them in a dedicated folder. An exported copy can be imported again after a problem or when restoring a configuration.

For reliable QWERTY bindings, import a Profile on the same operating system on which it was exported: Windows to Windows or macOS to macOS. Chapter 11 describes the complete import and export procedures.

Open the Configurator, select the Profile to edit, open Physical keys, then press New binding. The selected tab identifies the Profile being edited; it is not necessarily the Profile currently active on the keyboard.

1. Press Capture from ODLA.
2. Press the required key on the physical ODLA keyboard.
3. Check that the key has been recognised correctly.

Capture must be performed with the physical keyboard. The virtual keyboard helps identify key names but cannot replace the ODLA keyboard when creating a binding. Press Reset to clear the captured key or combination and start again.

Press the keys as you will use them later. If the combination contains a modifier, press the modifier first and hold it; press the second key and any additional keys while the earlier keys remain held; then release them all.

The keys must form one simultaneous combination, not a sequence of separately pressed and released keys. Always press the modifier first, as the Configurator might not recognise a modifier added after a non-modifier key.

A modifier can also be assigned to a function when pressed on its own. Use this carefully: if the same modifier is also the first key in other combinations, conflicts or unexpected results may occur. Check the other bindings in the Profile first.

After capturing the key or combination, select one command type:

• QWERTY, to send a computer-keyboard key or combination;
• MIDI, to send one note, simultaneous notes or another available MIDI command;
• GUI Menu, to open a custom ODLA menu;
• Symbol/Text, to enter a prepared character, symbol or text.

Only one type can be selected for each binding. The required configuration fields appear after you select it.

When configuring a binding, you can:

• Create a new command from scratch;
• Copy from an existing command, creating an independent copy;
• Link to an existing command, sharing the same command between bindings.

A copied command can be edited without changing the original. A linked command is shared, so editing it may affect every binding that uses it.

The optional Notes field does not affect the command. Use it to record the binding’s purpose, destination program or other helpful information. Notes appear in the binding list and can be searched with the relevant filter.

Within one Profile, the same ODLA key or physical combination cannot have two different bindings. If it is already in use, the Configurator prevents saving and displays a warning; edit the existing binding to change its function.

The same command may, however, be assigned to different ODLA keys or combinations.

Press OK to save, or Cancel to close without saving. Before confirming, check the ODLA key, command type and other parameters.

Select its row and press Edit, or double-click the row. You can change the physical key or combination, type, command, advanced options and notes. Press OK to save. If the chosen physical combination is already used elsewhere, the Configurator prevents saving and displays a warning.

Select one binding, press Swap, then choose the second binding from the drop-down list. The commands assigned to the two physical combinations exchange places. This lets you reorganise commands without recreating them.

1. Select one or more editable bindings.
2. Press Copy.
3. Open a different Profile.
4. Press Paste.

Protected bindings are not copied. Pasting is also prevented if the destination Profile already contains the same physical combination.

If a copied binding opens a GUI menu, that menu must exist in the destination Profile. Otherwise, copy the GUI menu first as described in Chapter 9.

Select one or several rows and press Delete. This is especially useful after duplicating a Profile—for example, to retain general commands from the Default Profile while removing all unwanted MIDI staff bindings. Protected bindings cannot be deleted.

1. Open the Configurator and select the Profile.
2. Open Physical keys and press New binding.
3. Press Capture from ODLA, then press the required ODLA key or combination.
4. Select QWERTY.
5. Press Capture and enter the required key or combination on the computer keyboard.
6. Check the captured command, add an optional note and press OK.

Capture from ODLA selects the physical ODLA control; Capture records the QWERTY command from the computer keyboard.

Enter the combination exactly as you normally would. For Ctrl + C or Cmd + C, hold Ctrl or Cmd, press C, then release the keys after detection. For longer combinations, hold the modifiers while adding the other keys.

ODLA CUSTOM captures simultaneous combinations, not sequences of separately pressed and released keys.

If the QWERTY command was not captured correctly, press Reset in the QWERTY capture area and repeat it. This does not change the physical ODLA key selected above.

QWERTY keyboards can send different signals according to their operating system and layout. In the QWERTY binding window, select the layout from which commands are sent. ODLA CUSTOM can detect it automatically or let you select it manually. If it does not match the keyboard in use, some keys or characters may be interpreted differently.

The Configurator may display a technical name that differs from the label printed on a key, especially on macOS keyboards. This does not necessarily indicate an error: ODLA CUSTOM records the actual signal recognised by the operating system. Test the binding in the destination program before saving when needed.

When you press the assigned ODLA key, the software performs the QWERTY combination and automatically releases every key involved, so none remains virtually held down.

ODLA sends the combination to the program in focus. The same shortcut may perform different actions in different programs, do nothing when unrecognised, open an application menu, or alter content.

For example, Ctrl + C or Cmd + C normally copies only when the selected program recognises it and copyable content is available. Always check that the correct program has focus.

Windows and macOS do not always use the same signals and shortcuts. Windows commonly uses Ctrl, whereas equivalent macOS shortcuts often use Cmd. Capture each combination on the keyboard and operating system on which it will be used, and check the shortcuts supported by that version of the destination program.

For reliable operation, export and import QWERTY Profiles between computers using the same operating system: Windows to Windows or macOS to macOS.

A Windows Profile can be imported on macOS, or vice versa, but the systems may represent QWERTY keys differently. Some bindings may therefore be unrecognised, fail to run or produce a different result.

1. Open the Configurator and select the Profile.
2. Open Physical keys and press New binding.
3. Capture the ODLA key or combination.
4. Select MIDI.
5. Press Add note and configure it.
6. Add more notes to create a dyad or chord if required.
7. Add an optional note and press OK.

For each note, you can set MIDI Channel, Velocity and Pitch, using either a fixed MIDI Pitch or a Staff Pitch position.

A note can be defined by its exact MIDI Pitch, or by Staff Pitch, which identifies a position on the ODLA staff.

MIDI Pitch uses a fixed note number: middle C, for example, is MIDI 60. Staff Pitch identifies a line, space or ledger-line position, whose note is calculated according to the active clef and key signature.

Use a fixed MIDI Pitch when a key must always send the same note, regardless of the active clef and key signature. For example, MIDI Pitch 60 always sends middle C. This mode can be used with any ODLA key.

If you do not know the MIDI number, press Open MIDI note reference. The reference shows a piano keyboard with note names and MIDI numbers. For example, middle C is shown as C4 – MIDI 60.

Use Staff Pitch when the command must follow a musical position on the ODLA staff. Enter the staff position number rather than a fixed note; the output adapts automatically to the active clef and key signature.

Staff Pitch can be assigned to a staff key, any other physical ODLA key, or a multi-key combination.

Click the required position on the virtual keyboard on the right of the Configurator. Its name appears at the bottom, for example Staff 15. Enter that number in the binding’s Staff Pitch field.

• Channel selects the MIDI channel, from 1 to 16.
• Velocity represents the intensity of the note; ODLA CUSTOM initially proposes 64.
• Pitch identifies the note by its MIDI number.

Interpretation also depends on the receiving program and virtual instrument.

Configure the first note, press Add note, configure the next note and repeat as required. Two notes form a dyad; three or more form a chord. Each row can have its own Channel, Velocity and Pitch. Press the X beside a row to remove that note.

When the binding is used, ODLA sends all configured notes together.

In the Default Profile, Fn + Staff 15 sends a C-major chord. This shows how one ODLA combination can recall several MIDI notes, for example during music production or a live performance.

The Derive from existing MIDI combination section creates a command from a MIDI binding already in the same Profile. Enable Use base MIDI command, select a valid base command and enter the number of semitones by which its notes should be raised or lowered. Positive values raise notes; negative values lower them.

This avoids recreating an existing MIDI command. In the Default Profile, for example, Sharp + staff note derives from the base note and raises it by one semitone, while Flat + staff note lowers it by one semitone.

If the base command changes, the derived binding continues to use it with the configured transposition.

When you press the ODLA key or combination, the software sends the configured MIDI notes. When you release it, ODLA automatically ends the notes so that they do not remain active in the music program. The final result depends on the receiving program and the configuration of its track or function.

Open the Configurator, select the Profile to edit and open GUI Menu. The left-hand column lists the menus in the Profile; the Buttons area displays the options in the selected menu. Selecting a menu on the left displays its buttons on the right.

1. Press New menu.
2. A new row named New menu appears in the left-hand column.
3. Double-click the name.
4. Enter a clear, recognisable name and confirm it.

No separate window opens when a menu is created. To rename it later, double-click its name.

1. Select one or more editable menus in the left-hand column.
2. Press Copy.
3. Open a different Profile.
4. Press Paste in the GUI Menu section.

ODLA CUSTOM copies the selected menu structure and its required dependencies, including submenu links. Default protected menus are not copied.

1. Select the menu that will contain the option.
2. Press New button.
3. In the Button command window, enter the name to display in the GUI menu.
4. Select and configure the command type.
5. Confirm the creation.

Use a name that clearly describes the action so that it can be recognised immediately when the menu appears.

A button can be assigned to:

• QWERTY, for a computer-keyboard key or shortcut;
• MIDI, for a note, dyad or chord;
• GUI Menu, for opening another menu as a submenu;
• Symbol/Text, for entering a character, symbol or text.

You can create a new command, copy an existing command or link the button to an existing command in the Profile. Copying creates an independent command that can be edited separately. Linking shares one command between several bindings, so a change may affect every linked key or button.

For buttons assigned to certain commands, enable Keep the Menu open after execution. ODLA performs the command but keeps the GUI menu available so that you can select another option quickly. When this option is disabled, the menu closes after execution.

Select its row and press Button command, or double-click the row. Edit the displayed name or command, then confirm the changes.

A button’s position determines its order and number in the GUI menu. Select it and press Move up or Move down until it reaches the required position.

Select one or more buttons, press Copy in the Buttons area, select a different destination menu—also in another Profile if required—and press Paste.

Select the required rows, press Delete, then confirm the warning. Only the selected buttons in the current menu are deleted.

A submenu is a GUI menu opened by a button in another menu. Create every submenu as a standard GUI menu before linking it; only existing menus appear in the menu list in the Button command window.

For a complex structure:

1. decide which menus and submenus are required;
2. create the menus that will become submenus;
3. add their buttons;
4. create or complete the main menu;
5. assign the appropriate submenu to each main-menu button.

The same GUI menu can be used as a submenu in several different menus.

Suppose a main menu named Music commands contains:

1. Copy, assigned to a QWERTY command;
2. C major, assigned to a MIDI chord;
3. Chords, assigned to another GUI menu.

First create a GUI menu such as Main chords and add the required chord buttons. Then return to Music commands, create the Chords button and link it to Main chords. Selecting Chords on ODLA will open that submenu.

Buttons are numbered automatically according to their position. Use Move up and Move down to change their order.

Each GUI menu page can display nine numbered options. If a menu contains ten or more buttons, the additional options appear on the next page. Press the ODLA right arrow to move to it.

Select one or more menus in the left-hand column, press Delete in the menu area, then confirm the warning.

A menu may be opened by physical keys or other GUI menus. If selected menus are used as submenus, the confirmation also states how many links will be removed. Check that those paths are no longer required before proceeding.

ODLA CUSTOM includes GUI menus required for core functions, including clef selection, key-signature selection, ODLA MIDI Status panel positioning and other commands available from the main Menu.

Protected menus appear faded in the left-hand list and cannot be edited or deleted.

Return to Physical keys, press New binding, press Capture from ODLA and capture the key or combination. Select GUI Menu, choose the menu from the list, add an optional note and press OK. The same GUI menu can be assigned to several keys or combinations.

Open Configurator is a special, non-editable command already assigned to the gear-symbol key to the left of the staff. You may also assign it to another key or combination, but it cannot be removed from the dedicated gear key.

When you press an assigned ODLA key, the menu appears. Press the corresponding number on the numeric keypad, or use the arrows and press Enter. ODLA restores focus to the previously selected desktop program, sends the command and closes the menu unless Keep the Menu open after execution is enabled for that button.

GUI menus are controlled with the ODLA keyboard, not with the mouse. Use the right arrow for any page after the first nine options.

Press the Cancel key, marked with an X and immediately to the right of the Enter key. The menu closes without sending a command.

1. Open the Configurator and select the Profile.
2. Open Physical keys and press New binding.
3. Press Capture from ODLA and capture the physical key or combination.
4. Select Symbol/Text.
5. Type or paste the content in the relevant field.
6. Add an optional note and press OK.

The Symbol/Text field can contain between 1 and 256 characters.

Type a symbol directly if it is available on your computer keyboard. Otherwise, find it in an online Unicode character table or another source, then copy and paste it into the Configurator.

Examples include ∑ for summation, √ for square root, ≤ for less than or equal to, ≥ for greater than or equal to, ≠ for not equal to, Ω for omega and ∞ for infinity.

You do not need to know or enter the Unicode code manually.

After you type or paste a symbol, the Configurator displays its Unicode code—for example, U+2211 for ∑. This information identifies the character precisely; it does not need to be edited to configure the command.

Enter a word or short phrase of up to 256 characters, such as a name, email address, brief instruction, formula or frequently used phrase.

ODLA enters the entire content at the cursor position exactly as it appears in the field, including spaces, punctuation and capital letters. Check these details before saving.

1. Open the program in which you want to enter the content.
2. Use the mouse to click the required document or field.
3. Check that the cursor is visible in the correct position.
4. Press the assigned ODLA key.

If the selected field does not accept text, the command may have no effect.

Open GUI Menu, select the menu, then press New button or edit an existing button. Enter its name, select Symbol/Text, type or paste the content and confirm.

When you select the button from the GUI menu, ODLA closes the menu, restores focus to the previously selected program and enters the content at the cursor position.

Test the binding in the destination program. Check that the symbol is displayed correctly, the text is complete, spacing and punctuation are correct, the cursor is in the intended field and the program accepts text entry.

To enter text and symbols in other applications, ODLA CUSTOM must be authorised by macOS.

The first time you use Symbol/Text, macOS may display a permission request. Allow access for ODLA CUSTOM, then close and reopen the program. Permission is normally required only once for each Mac user.

If the request does not appear or Symbol/Text still does not work, follow the procedure in Section 12.6.

Grant permission only to a genuine copy of ODLA CUSTOM downloaded through the official channel and installed in the Applications folder.

1. Open the Configurator and press Export Profiles.
2. Select one or more Profiles.
3. Confirm the selection.
4. Choose the destination folder and file name.
5. Save and wait for the Export completed message.

The selected Profiles are collected in one .json file. If Profiles A, B and C exist, for example, you can export A alone, B alone, A and B, A and C, or all three.

Export custom Profiles regularly. A backup can recover a Profile deleted by mistake, preserve a configuration before major changes, support reinstallation or transfer Profiles to a compatible computer.

It is also useful to export the Default Profile before deleting or changing it substantially. Give files recognisable names and include the export date when storing several versions.

The .json file contains the complete exported Profile structure and is intended for import into ODLA CUSTOM. Keep it unchanged: an incorrect manual edit may prevent Profiles or linked elements from importing properly. Make changes in the Configurator and create a new export.

1. Open the Configurator and press Import Profiles.
2. Select the .json file.
3. If it contains several Profiles, select those you want.
4. Confirm and wait for the Import completed message.

The selected Profiles and their bindings, GUI menus and other elements are added to the Configurator.

A file can contain several Profiles without requiring you to import them all. If it contains A, B and C, you can import one, two or all three. This lets you store several configurations in one file and retrieve only those required.

After importing, one of the imported Profiles becomes active on the ODLA keyboard. To select another, use the ODLA CUSTOM icon or press the ODLA MENU key, choose USE WITH, then select the required Profile. The active Profile is also displayed in ODLA MIDI Status.

If a Profile with the same name already exists, the imported Profile is added as a separate duplicate; the existing Profile is not replaced or modified. Rename matching Profiles to distinguish them, then delete any unwanted duplicate after checking which version to keep.

For reliable QWERTY bindings, export and import Profiles between computers using the same operating system: Windows to Windows or macOS to macOS.

A Windows Profile can be imported on macOS, or vice versa, but QWERTY signals may differ. Some bindings may not be recognised, may fail to run or may produce a different result. Take this precaution even if MIDI and GUI Menu functions appear compatible.

Check for ODLA CUSTOM updates before importing. A current version provides better compatibility with exported Profiles and newer features. A file created by a newer version may contain elements that an older version cannot interpret correctly.

ODLA CUSTOM remembers the last folder used for importing or exporting and opens it again for the next operation, making a dedicated Profile folder easier to manage.

Before normal use, verify that physical-key bindings, QWERTY shortcuts, MIDI commands, Symbol/Text content, GUI menus, submenus, buttons, icons and notes are present and work correctly. Also check which Profile is active and select the required one if necessary.

The LED at the top right of the ODLA keyboard indicates its status:

• Off: the keyboard may not be connected correctly.
• Flashing: USB is connected, but no ODLA software is running.
• Steady: the keyboard is connected and communicating with ODLA CUSTOM or ODLA PLUGIN.

USB connection alone is not sufficient; one ODLA program must be running. If the LED flashes, check the connection, open ODLA CUSTOM or ODLA PLUGIN, wait for a steady light and try again. The two programs cannot run simultaneously.

1. Check that the correct ODLA program is running.
2. Verify the active Profile.
3. Select the destination program with the mouse.
4. Click the correct document or field when entering content.
5. Try the command again.
6. Check that the program supports it.
7. Check the binding in the Configurator.

ODLA sends commands to the selected desktop program. Use the mouse to select the correct program, click the required document, track or field, then repeat the command. The same binding may behave differently in different programs or have no effect if unsupported.

Check the active Profile in ODLA MIDI Status. Select another from the ODLA CUSTOM icon or from MENU > USE WITH on the ODLA keyboard. Opening a Profile tab in the Configurator lets you edit it but does not activate it on the keyboard.

Check that the destination program recognises the shortcut, verify the selected keyboard layout, check the captured combination and test the shortcut directly on the computer keyboard. Edit and capture it again if necessary.

Technical key names may differ from printed labels, especially on macOS; this does not necessarily indicate an error. If the Profile came from another operating system, its QWERTY bindings may not be recognised or executed correctly.

First select a field that accepts text, check the cursor position, verify the saved content, test it in a standard word-processing application and make sure it does not exceed 256 characters. If it works elsewhere, the destination program or field may not accept this type of entry.

On macOS, also check Accessibility permission:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Select Privacy & Security.
3. Open Accessibility.
4. Find ODLA CUSTOM and enable its switch.
5. Close and reopen ODLA CUSTOM.

If ODLA CUSTOM is not listed, press +, open Applications, select ODLA Custom.app, press Open, enable it, then close and reopen the program.

On macOS Monterey, open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility, unlock the settings with the padlock and enable ODLA CUSTOM.

To test it, open TextEdit, place the cursor in the document and press an ODLA key assigned to Symbol/Text.

If ODLA CUSTOM is already enabled but entry still fails, disable its permission, remove it from the list, add the app from Applications again, re-enable it, then close and reopen ODLA CUSTOM.

Recheck permission after a reinstallation, a major macOS update or installation of a build with a different application identity.

Check that the program accepts MIDI, the correct track or function is selected and its MIDI settings are correct. Verify Channel, Velocity and Pitch, test an individual MIDI note, check the active Profile and—when using Staff Pitch—check the clef and key signature in ODLA MIDI Status.

Check that the key is assigned to the correct menu, the GUI menu exists in the active Profile and ODLA CUSTOM is running. If the menu opens but its command fails, verify that the destination program was selected before opening it. Navigate ODLA GUI menus only with the numeric keypad or the arrow keys and Enter.

Check that the submenu was created as an independent GUI menu. Open the button command, verify that it points to the correct GUI menu, save and try again. If the linked menu was deleted, create a new link to an existing menu.

Each physical key or combination can identify only one binding within a Profile. If it is already assigned, the Configurator prevents saving; edit the existing binding instead.

Using a modifier both individually and as part of other combinations may also cause conflicts or unexpected results. Review all bindings that contain it and decide which to retain.

There is no direct restore command after deleting the Default Profile. Either import a previously exported .json copy or uninstall ODLA CUSTOM, download it again and reinstall it. Reinstallation restores the supplied Default Profile.

Before uninstalling, export every custom Profile you want to keep.

Export Profiles regularly and keep their .json files in a dedicated folder. Keep a Default Profile copy, export before major changes, use recognisable names, include dates and keep a second copy of important Profiles.

For QWERTY compatibility, reimport backups on the operating system on which they were created.

Open the ODLA CUSTOM icon menu and select About, or press the ODLA MENU key and select the corresponding option. Check the Downloads page at odlamusic.com periodically for a newer version.

Keeping ODLA CUSTOM up to date improves compatibility with Profiles and newer features.

If the problem continues, use the Support page at odlamusic.com or email info@kemoniariver.com.

Include:

• Windows or macOS and its version;
• the ODLA CUSTOM version;
• the program you were using;
• the command type involved: QWERTY, MIDI, GUI Menu or Symbol/Text;
• a detailed description and the steps required to reproduce the problem;
• any message displayed on screen.

If possible, attach screenshots or a short screen recording. A precise description will help support identify the cause more quickly.