With the exception of a few dedicated iOS-specific models, most MIDI controller keyboards require another piece of hardware to be placed in between them and your iOS device in order for your Core MIDI apps to recognize and respond to your MIDI controller. You have a few different ways you can go.
iOS MIDI interface
One way to go is to purchase a dedicated iOS MIDI interface, or an iOS audio-and-MIDI interface that gives you microphone or guitar connections (or both) in addition to a MIDI connection. Examples of audio-and-MIDI interfaces on the market include the IK Multimedia iRig PRO, the Alesis I/O Dock II, and the Behringer iS202.
If you only need MIDI and don’t plan on recording audio, a dedicated iOS MIDI interface is an economical way to go, and more are being released all the time. For instance, the new IK Multimedia iRig MIDI 2 gives you the option of Lightning and 30-pin connections for iOS, or USB connections for Mac and PC. It features MIDI in, out, and thru ports.
Mixxx can use any MIDI / HID controller that is recognized by your OS (some may require drivers), as long as there is a MIDI/HID mapping file to tell Mixxx how to understand it. Mixxx comes bundled with a number of mappings for various devices.
If you want to have the option to set up a multi-machine setup with four MIDI ins and four MIDI outs, and the ability to pass audio from one machine to the next, you might consider iConnectivity’s new iConnectMIDI4+, which, with all its capabilities, sells only for about $200.
To connect a controller keyboard with an iOS interface, first connect the interface to your iOS device’s dock port. Next, plug the keyboard’s MIDI out to the MIDI in on the interface using either a standard MIDI cable or a cable that comes with the unit, depending on the interface you have. The keyboard’s MIDI out is where messages coming from the keyboard — including note-ons and note-offs, CC data, and more — are sent.
The interface’s MIDI in port takes that data and brings it into your iOS device and makes it available for your app.
Before MIDI came along, synthesizers used control voltage (or CV) to pass messages like notes and performance data between different devices. CV isn’t common to iOS interfaces yet, but some enterprising souls allow you to pass MIDI to digital devices and CV to analog devices for some truly impressive synth rigs. If you feel like geeking out, check out apps like Brute LFO and buy the cable you’ll need (one end should be the standard headphone to plug into the phone, and the other end whatever the analog synth accepts).
Connecting controllers to iOS devices using USB
Another option for plugging in an external keyboard is to use a standard USB MIDI controller. “But wait, there’s no USB port on an iOS device,” you say. This is technically true, but you can add one very easily with Apple’s inexpensive Lightning-to-USB-camera adapter, for Lighting-equipped devices, or the Camera Connection Kit for iOS devices with 30-pin dock connectors.
When you do this, the MIDI controller world is your oyster, as you can choose from a large selection of USB MIDI interfaces.
In order to work with Apple’s Core MIDI, a USB MIDI controller must be USB Class Compliant, which means that it’s designed to work with your iOS device (or a computer) without the need to install a software driver. If driver installation is required, it won’t work on your iOS device.
A large percentage of USB controller keyboards are USB Class Compliant, and some even advertise themselves as being iOS compatible, if you use one of the Apple camera adapters.
Do your research and make sure your USB MIDI controller will work with iOS devices. Manufacturers who do produce compatible equipment will usually fall over themselves advertising this fact.
One more big advantage of connecting via USB to your iOS device is that you don’t need to plug a power adapter into the keyboard; it will be bus powered, which means it gets its power through the USB cable. As a result, you can connect your MIDI keyboard in places where there’s no AC power available — as long as your iPad’s battery is charged. However, longer chains of devices or larger devices might still need a separate power source — do your research and test first.
Mixxx can be controlled with a keyboard, a mouse, MIDI/HIDcontrollers, time-code records/CDs, or a combination of these. The choiceusually depends on your budget or style of DJing.
7.1. Using a Mouse and Touchpad¶
Use your mouse to interact with the controls in theMixxx User Interface on your computer screen. Youcan perform actions by pointing and clicking with your mouse.
Single Left Click: Performing a left mouse click on buttons triggers thedefault action for that control. Moreover if you click on a value in the tracklist of the Mixxx library, you can change thevalue. For example the year of a track.
Single Right Click: On most buttons, performing a right click triggers adifferent action than a left click. You can return any knob or fader to itsdefault value by right-clicking that control.
Mouse Drag: Click on a knob or fader, hold the left mouse button and moveyour cursor to change the value of the control. Use mouse drag to drop tracksfrom the file list to the decks, crates, playlists, etc.
Mouse Wheel: Just like Mouse Drag, you can change knob and fader valuesby placing the cursor over the control and moving the mouse wheel.
Hint
If you hover with the mouse over a control (e.g. the crossfader) inthe Mixxx user interface, the tooltip lists the left- and right-clickaction respectively.
Hint
On a Macbook or a computer with a touchpad that lacks mouse buttons,a two-finger click gesture is often treated as a right click.
See also
Using the Mouse drag/wheel on the waveforms you can adjust zoom andplayback rate of the tracks. For more information, go toWaveform Displays.
7.2. Using a Keyboard¶
Mixxx Keyboard shortcuts (for en-us keyboard layout)¶
Controlling Mixxx with a keyboard is handy. Unlike mouse control, the keyboardallows you to manage things simultaneously. For example, you can start playinga track on deck 1 whilst stopping deck 2 at the same time.
The default mapping for English keyboards is depicted in the figure above. It isdivided into a left-hand side for deck 1 and right-hand side for deck 2. Pleasenote that you can also access the functions through Mixxx’s interface.
For some user groups, like those using controllers orvinyl control, it might be useful to enable/disable the keyboardmappings at runtime. You can do so by clickingOptions ‣ Enable Keyboard Shortcuts.
Hint
If you hover with the mouse over a control (e.g. the crossfader) inthe Mixxx user interface, the tooltip lists the keyboard shortcuts ofthe control among a description of the control.
See also
For a list of default shortcuts, go to Keyboard mapping table.
7.2.1. Customizing the keyboard mapping¶
Midi Piano Files
Mixxx allows you to customize the keyboard control. For more information, go to:
7.3. Using MIDI/HID Controllers¶
Mixxx supports MIDI and HID controllers which are externalhardware devices used to control audio applications. Many DJs prefer thehands-on feel of a controller with Mixxx because it can feel similar to using areal mixer and turntables or CDJ.
7.3.1. Loading a controller preset¶
Without loading the correct preset, your controller does not work with Mixxx.
Connect your controller(s) to your computer
Start Mixxx
Go to Preferences ‣ Controllers
Select your device from the list of available devices on the left, and theright pane will change
Activate the Enabled checkbox
Select the mapping for your controller from the Load Presetdrop-down menu
Click Apply and Mixxx can now be controlled by your controller(s).
Repeat step 4-7 for any of the controllers you want to use
Hint
If you do not find a connected device in the list, make sure toinstall any necessary drivers for that device.
7.3.2. Supported controllers¶
Mixxx can use any MIDI/HID controller that is recognized by yourOS (some may require drivers), as long as there is aMIDI/HID mapping file to tell Mixxx how to understand it. Mixxx comes bundledwith a number of mappings for various devices. There are two levels ofcontroller mappings:
Mixxx Certified Mappings: These mappings are verified by the MixxxDevelopment Team.
Community Supported Mappings: These mappings are provided and have beenverified as working by the Mixxx community, but the Mixxx Development Team isunable to verify their quality because we don’t have the devices ourselves.They might have bugs or rough edges.
If you run into issues with any of these mappings, please file a bugreport on our Bug Tracker or tell us about it on our mailing list, forums,or IRC channel. Device support varies for each supported OS, so make sure to consult the documentation of the device.
Hint
Additional mappings are available in the Controller presets forum.
See also
Before purchasing a controller to use with Mixxx, consult ourHardware Compatibility wiki page. It contains the mostup-to-date information about which controllers work with Mixxx andthe details of each.
7.3.3. Installing a preset from the forum¶
To use a controller mapping that did not come bundled with Mixxx, place thecontroller mapping in your User Presets folder. This is the folder called“controllers” inside your User Preferences folder. To open your User Presetsfolder, go to Preferences ‣ Controllers and click theOpen User Preset Folder button. Alternatively, navigate to thefolder in your OS file browser:
GNU/Linux:
/home/<username>/.mixxx/controllersmacOS:
/Users/<username>/Library/ApplicationSupport/Mixxx/controllersWindows Vista and newer:
C:Users<username>AppDataMixxxcontrollersWindows XP:
C:DocumentsandSettings<username>AppDatacontrollers
On Windows, the AppData folder is hidden, so if you have not already,you will need to set Windows Explorer to show hidden files and folders (how todo this varies with each version of Windows).
If the mapping was posted as a .zip file, first extract the .zipfile by right clicking on it in your file browser and selecting the option forextracting an archive or compressed folder. Copy the .xml file into yourUser Preset folder. If there is a .js file, also copy that to yourUser Preset folder. Restart Mixxx and load the preset.
7.3.4. Map your own your controller¶
There is no mapping available for your controller or you want to change anexisting mapping? You can map your controller by using the Controller Wizard ortake full control with the MIDI Scripting support in Mixxx.
See also
Go to Adding support for your MIDI/HID Controller for detailed information.
7.4. Using Timecode Vinyl Records and CDs¶
Vinyl control allows a user to manipulate the playback of a track inMixxx using a turntable or CDJ as an interface. In effect, it simulatesthe sound and feel of having your digital music collection on vinyl. Many DJsprefer the tactile feel of vinyl, and vinyl control allows that feel to bepreserved while retaining the benefits of using digital audio.
See also
Midi Piano Free
Go to Vinyl Control for detailed information.