Yes, for 95% of users, that is the point (others will use a hardware connection).

First, you must make sure both computers are on the same wireless network.

Then you create a connection on your computer. See www.mididesigner.com/connect for more instructions.

Please see the FAQ entry here: MIDI Designer Without Wi-Fi

“Bonjour Broadcasting” is a bit quirky, sometimes. Double check that both devices (your iPad and your computer) are on the same network. Sometimes your Computer doesn’t see your iPad right away, but your iPad can see your computer. Either way works.

You should definitely get a MIDI Monitor (Snoize MIDI Monitor on Mac, this simple one for Windows) to figure out what’s going on. With the right tools (like a MIDI Monitor), everything becomes much easier to diagnose.

Yes (as of version 1.2). Use Message Type “Note.”

They are not velocity sensitive.

MIDI Designer is a universal MIDI controller, so it will work with all DAWs. Make sure to check our connect page for help on getting connected.

2013-12-30 Update
Google for the latest suggestions. For instance, for Logic use this link. MIDI Designer is really well indexed by Google, luckily.

Yes. MIDI Designer is tested for performance-readiness and compatibility on the original iPad 1, iPad 2, and the new iPad.

Presets

Presets represent all the values in your entire MIDI Designer setup. For example, a knob called “Sweep” might be set to 45° (or an outgoing MIDI value of 32). When you store a preset, that value is saved. When you recall a preset, all controls snap to the value they had at the time the preset was saved. So your sweep knob would snap to 45° regardless or what position it’s in, and that value would be sent out to all hardware/software that is connected.

Presets are available from the main tongue that drops down from “More” for both save and recall. Presets cannot be deleted at this time, but they can be overwritten.

More on presets

Layouts

Layouts represent the whole of your MIDI Designer layout: all banks, all pages, and all controls. Setups are files that have the extension “mididesigner” so an example would be, “Cannes May 2012 05.mididesigner”. MIDI Designer adds the file extension for you.

Layouts may be saved, loaded, and emailed. Find this functionality under More -> Config -> Actions.

Layouts may also be opened from email. Follow the default instructions in the email which contains the layout.

In addition, you can drag and drop layouts to and from MIDI Designer via iTunes.

Note: layouts contain your presets, so if you open your layouts on another iPad, you will find your presets are also available.

You are most likely looking at the same bank and same page on both sides. The page selectors are at the top and look like tabs, and the bank selectors are the little numeric things that say “1” at the top of either side. See the pic below.

Pages exist in banks, and you are free to show the same bank on both sides and even the same page (useful sometimes in Design Mode).

To stop this from happening, switch the page on the right side (or left side). Alternately, you can switch the banks to be separate on the right and left sides. If you do this, you would have two different numbers showing at the top (1 and 2, for instance), and each side could access totally different pages.

Note: you can add and remove pages and customize them (color, texture and name). You can also add and remove banks.

Properties

MIDI

Try it out!

Program Change 68 will be sent when the button is pressed. Nothing will be sent when it’s released.

In Design Mode, press and hold the bank selector. Then choose the number of banks you want (2-6).

In Design Mode, drag and drop the page tab you wish to move.

The easiest way is via the Mail app.

In MIDI Designer Lite, use More -> Config -> Mail Layout.

Then open the mail in your mail program and follow the instructions. Choose to open in MIDI Designer Pro.

Note: You do not need to actually send the mail. You can open it directly from your Drafts folder.

Please see this Q&A entry.

Each control only sends and responds to one MIDI message. To send more than one message from a control, we’ll use supercontrols.

For this example, I set up three buttons: “Superman,” “Message 1” and “Message 2.”

In Design Mode, double tap on Superman to bring up the properties. Switch to the “relationships” tab.

Now toggle “supercontrol” to be on (blue). Note that the subcontrols button nods invitingly.

Click on “Subcontrols,” which brings up the Subcontrols pane.

Now drag the “Drag to Subcontrol” button to each of the two subcontrols (one at a time). The final result looks like this:

Then get out of Design Mode.

Now Superman sends out Message 1 and Message 2. That’s it!

You can even hide the subcontrols behind the supercontrol if you like.

Note

• The supercontrol does not send out a MIDI message (though it will respond to them).
• With buttons, the supercontrol’s subtype takes precedence over the subcontrol’s subtype. So if the super is momentary, the subcontrols will act like momentaries.
• For knobs, sliders, crossfaders and XY pads, you can invert the subcontrol to reverse its direction.
• Of course you can chain supercontrols and subcontrols in many different interesting and creative ways. MIDI Designer will keep you from creating endless loops.
• Supercontrols are also the basis of how MIDI Designer handles button groups and steppers (seen in video). Also, the MIDI Designer Pedalboards feature is built entirely on the supercontrol infrastructure.

Follow the instructions found here to send multiple MIDI messages with these particular instructions:

Your first subcontrol (called “Message 1” in the FAQ above) must be a:

• Button of type Momentary
• MIDI Message type Bank Select

Your second subcontrol (called “Message 2” in the FAQ) must be a:

• Button of type Momentary
• MIDI Message type Program Change

With this, MIDI Designer will produce a bank-select and program-change in one button press of the supercontrol.

I’ve noticed that there’s a type called “channel changer” for knobs, sliders and crossfaders. What’s it about?

Check the article about channel changers here.

Presets

Presets represent all the values in your entire MIDI Designer setup. For example, a knob called “Sweep” might be set to 45° (or an outgoing MIDI value of 32). When you store a preset, that value is saved. When you recall a preset, all controls snap to the value they had at the time the preset was saved. So your sweep knob would snap to 45° regardless or what position it’s in, and that value would be sent out to all hardware/software that is connected.

Presets are available from the main tongue that drops down from “More” for both save and recall. Presets cannot be deleted at this time, but they can be overwritten.

More on presets

Layouts

Layouts represent the whole of your MIDI Designer layout: all banks, all pages, and all controls. Setups are files that have the extension “mididesigner” so an example would be, “Cannes May 2012 05.mididesigner”. MIDI Designer adds the file extension for you.

Layouts may be saved, loaded, and emailed. Find this functionality under More -> Config -> Actions.

Layouts may also be opened from email. Follow the default instructions in the email which contains the layout.

In addition, you can drag and drop layouts to and from MIDI Designer via iTunes.

Note: layouts contain your presets, so if you open your layouts on another iPad, you will find your presets are also available.

You are most likely looking at the same bank and same page on both sides. The page selectors are at the top and look like tabs, and the bank selectors are the little numeric things that say “1” at the top of either side. See the pic below.

Pages exist in banks, and you are free to show the same bank on both sides and even the same page (useful sometimes in Design Mode).

To stop this from happening, switch the page on the right side (or left side). Alternately, you can switch the banks to be separate on the right and left sides. If you do this, you would have two different numbers showing at the top (1 and 2, for instance), and each side could access totally different pages.

Note: you can add and remove pages and customize them (color, texture and name). You can also add and remove banks.

See this article on the differences between Lite and Pro.

See this blog article which explains everything you need to know.

I’ve noticed that there’s a type called “channel changer” for knobs, sliders and crossfaders. What’s it about?

Check the article about channel changers here.

This entry has moved to the Q&A Site

Extra CC and hold can be applied to Knobs, Sliders, and X-Y Pads. It establishes that a toggle button will be momentarily ON (sending its max value) while the control (knob, etc.) is being touched.

When you let go of the control, the Extra CC and Hold button shuts off.

If you press the Extra CC and Hold Button while you are touching the control, it will not shut off until you touch the Button again.

If the Extra CC and Hold Button was on before you touched the control, it doesn’t change when you touch the control.