MIDI

MIDIpad outputs on two virtual MIDI devices that're open the whole time the app is running:

• MIDIpad Chords - the strummed instrument. MPE by default, with three other configurations; the channel layout is below.
• MIDIpad Drums - the drums. Four General MIDI percussion notes, on one channel or one per drum with expression - see Drums below.

It sends notes and expression only, with no audio, clock or transport. There's also one input, MIDIpad in, which takes a MIDI clock, its Start and Stop, and the automation CCs listed in App settings - see Following your DAW's clock.

Chords

Chords channels, on the MIDI tab of the Chords panel, picks one of four configurations.

There are three ways to use it in your DAW:

• As one instrument: treat all the channels as one instrument.
• With MPE: enable MPE on the receiving track or synth to get each string as an independent voice with its own expression.
• One track per string: six tracks, each filtered to one channel, one instrument per string, with per-string expression and no MPE support needed. Multi-channel is the mode built for this, and its String channels boxes let you move any string to any channel; strings on the same channel are combined.

MPE details

Under MPE, when the port opens (and whenever the setting returns to MPE), MIDIpad announces a standard MPE lower zone (MPE Configuration Message: RPN 6 on channel 1, seven member channels) followed by pitch-bend sensitivity (RPN 0): ±48 semitones on member channels, ±2 on the master. The other three modes announce nothing.

Per-note messages

Under MPE and Multi-channel, each string's channel carries:

On the two single-channel modes, channel 1 carries:

Tilt and keyswitches

These go out on channel 1, and under Multi-channel on every channel a string is using:

Drums

The face buttons and the right stick both play the kick's note, the d-pad and the backbeat both play the snare's, and the hi-hat always uses either the closed or the open note.

Drums channels, on the MIDI tab of the Drums panel, sets how they're sent, with the same options as Chords except Poly aftertouch. MPE - the default - gives each drum its own channel behind a master, announces a three-member zone when the port opens (and whenever the setting returns to MPE), and sends how far you're pushing the control that plays it alongside the notes:

Each value is how far the control is pushed or pulled, from 0 to 127, and is sent for as long as you hold it. Drums with one control send the same value as both slide and pressure.

Multi-channel is the same one-drum-per-channel layout without the master and with nothing announced: the kick on 1, the snare on 2, the hi-hats on 3, each with its slide and pressure. One track per channel, no MPE needed anywhere.

Single channel puts everything on channel 1, notes and velocity only.

On a Sony pad the touchpad is a crossfader on CC 16 unless you change it, channel 1 in every mode: 0 at the left edge to 127 at the right, absolute. Clicking the left, middle or right third sets it to 0, 64 or 127 until you lift your finger. See The crossfader.

Also on channel 1 in every mode, when they're on:

All of these CC numbers, and the four notes, can be changed. See Drum notes and channels.

Following your DAW's clock

The MIDIpad in port accepts a standard MIDI clock. While one is arriving, Drums follows it, and the Tempo field in the header shows the clock's tempo, with a green dot to show it's following. See Tempo and time signature.

Panic

On quit, and whenever the output settings change, MIDIpad releases everything it has sounding and follows it with All Notes Off on every channel it touched. Instrument → All Notes Off (⌘.) does the same on demand, across both ports. It also sends sustain off (CC64 at 0) on all sixteen channels of the Chords port when the port opens and on every panic, so a held sustain in a clip can't hang the strings.