Control major functions of Playback with your favorite MIDI keyboard or controller, including the play button, song tiles, and mixer faders.
Before Getting Started:
It's important to understand how MIDI mapping works in Playback, so you know how to get the most the MIDI mapping. MIDI mapping is device specific and is not saved to the cloud. Additionally, locally on a device, some MIDI mappings are setlist-specific, and some are global MIDI mappings. Certain functions like the transport controls, and other master controls, will persist their MIDI mappings across all future setlists. While other setlist-specific mappings like song sections, songs, faders for tracks, will only persist in that exact setlist on the device.
How do I connect my MIDI Controller to Playback?
A MIDI controller can be connected to Playback in a variety of ways. We recommend connecting your MIDI controller directly by a USB 3 camera adapter, through a powered USB hub, or a MIDI-enabled audio interface. Audio/MIDI interfaces provide a number of ways to connect Playback to your MIDI controller, including direct USB, 5-Pin DIN connections, or even ethernet MIDI. For more information see the video guide below.
How do I enable MIDI Mapping Mode?
Tap the "Edit" Button. and then select "MIDI Mapping" from the edit menu drawer that's revealed. (Bottom right) Now every MIDI-mappable function in Playback will have a blue overlay.
Tap the Playback function you would like to map. Once a song tile, function, or fader has been selected, it will be indicated by a white outline and is armed and ready to map.
Tap the button on your MIDI controller you would like to map to this Playback action. If successful, you will see an indicator showing the MIDI Channel and the MIDI note, CC, or PC message has been mapped to the Playback action.
For the full guide on all mappable controls in the Playback app, see:
📖MIDI Mapping | Controls Explained
How to remove a MIDI mapping
If needing to remove ALL MIDI mappings to reset to default, there's a "Delete All" button in the top-right corner of Playback while in MIDI Mapping edit mode.
Additionally, a single MIDI mapping can be removed by selecting/highlighting the existing MIDI mapping, and then sending the same MIDI message again that's already mapped. Repeating the mapped MIDI message will remove the mapping so there will be no MIDI cues mapped to that function.
MIDI Controls behavior
It’s important to understand certain MIDI behavior inside of Playback to operate the app with confidence.
Supported MIDI Messages
Currently, Playback will only support MIDI messages with a velocity higher than 0.
Note on and note off events with a velocity of 0 will not be recognized by the app.
We recommend referencing the user manual for your MIDI controller if running into any issues with MIDI messages being sent.
Video Guide: Connecting hardware to Playback
Video Guide
Video Guide
Other helpful links:
You can control most major functions of Playback (play, song tiles, mixer faders, and more) from your favorite MIDI keyboard or controller. This article covers how to connect a controller, how to map controls in Playback, and a few things to know about how mappings are stored.
Before you start: how MIDI mapping works in Playback
A few things to know before mapping any controls:
Mappings are device-specific. MIDI mappings live on each Playback device and aren't synced to the cloud.
Some mappings are global, others are setlist-specific. Master controls like transport, volume, and other top-level functions stay mapped across every setlist you open on that device. Mappings tied to specific items (song tiles, song sections, track faders) only persist inside the setlist you mapped them in.
Connecting a MIDI controller to Playback
A MIDI controller can be connected to Playback in several ways. The most common options are:
Directly through a USB 3 camera adapter.
Through a powered USB hub.
Through a MIDI-enabled audio interface, using direct USB, 5-pin DIN, or ethernet MIDI.
For a visual walkthrough, see the video guide further down this article.
Enabling MIDI Mapping mode
Tap the "Edit" button, then select "MIDI Mapping" from the edit menu drawer that opens (bottom right). Every MIDI-mappable control in Playback will now show a blue overlay.
Tap the Playback control you want to map. Once a song tile, function, or fader is selected, it gets a white outline and is armed for mapping.
Press the button on your MIDI controller you want to map to that Playback control. If the mapping succeeds, an indicator confirms the MIDI Channel and the MIDI note, CC, or PC message that's now mapped to the Playback action.
For the complete list of mappable controls, click here.
MIDI message behavior
Playback currently only recognizes MIDI messages with a velocity higher than 0.
Note On and Note Off events with a velocity of 0 will not be recognized by Playback. If your MIDI controller is sending those by default, check its user manual for a setting to send a non-zero velocity.
Video Guide: Connecting hardware to Playback