MIDI Connectivity

PixelBoop generates MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) data, allowing you to control external synthesizers, DAWs, and other music software.

Bluetooth MIDI (BLE)

PixelBoop supports MIDI over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

How to Connect

1. Open your DAW or MIDI host software (e.g., GarageBand, Ableton Live, Logic Pro).
2. Navigate to the Bluetooth MIDI settings.
3. Look for "PixelBoop MIDI".
4. Connect to pair.

Technical Details:

• Service UUID: 03B80E5A-EDE8-4B33-A751-6CE34EC4C700
• Output: PixelBoop sends Note On/Off messages and MIDI Clock.

USB MIDI

PixelBoop acts as a standard class-compliant USB MIDI device when connected via USB.

• Android: Connect directly via USB-C. Ensure "MIDI" is selected in USB configuration if prompted.
• Plug & Play: No drivers required on macOS or Windows.

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Default MIDI Channels

Each track in PixelBoop transmits on a specific MIDI channel by default.

Track	Default Channel	Notes
Melody	Channel 1	Shares channel with Chords by default.
Chords	Channel 1	Shares channel with Melody by default.
Bass	Channel 2
Rhythm	Channel 10	Standard General MIDI (GM) Drum channel.

info

The rhythm track maps its drum sounds to standard GM Drum notes (e.g., Kick = 36, Snare = 38).

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Changing MIDI Channels

You can change the MIDI transmit channel for each track using Config Mode.

MIDI Config Mode

MIDI Config Mode

Configure MIDI channels for each track

Mute Column (Config Mode)

Enter config mode by double-tapping the mute column. Track indicator shows current config.

Channel Indicator

Bright pixels show current MIDI channel (1-16).

How to Change MIDI Channels

1. Enter Config Mode: Double-tap the mute column (column 0)
2. Select Track: Tap the track you want to configure (it highlights)
3. Cycle Channel: Tap again to cycle through channels 1-16
4. Exit Config Mode: Double-tap mute column again, or wait for timeout

Cycling MIDI Channels

Cycling MIDI Channels

Tap to cycle through channels 1-16

Track Selected

Melody track selected for channel configuration.

Channel Display

Rows light up to show current channel (1-6 in first 6 rows).

Channel 1 Active

Currently set to channel 1. Tap to cycle to next channel.

Channel Configuration Reference

Track	Default TX	Configurable Range	Default RX
Melody	1	1-16	Same as TX
Chords	1	1-16	Same as TX
Bass	2	1-16	Same as TX
Rhythm	10	1-16	Same as TX

Use Cases for Custom Channels

• Separate instruments: Route each track to a different synth
• Multi-timbral synths: Use one synth with multiple parts on different channels
• DAW routing: Send tracks to different DAW channels for individual processing
• Hardware integration: Match channels to your external gear setup

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MIDI Messages Sent

PixelBoop sends the following MIDI messages:

Note Messages

Message	When Sent
Note On (velocity 64)	When a note plays (normal tap)
Note On (velocity 96)	When an accented note plays (long press)
Note Off	When note duration ends

Clock Messages

Message	Description
Clock	24 ppqn timing pulses
Start	Sent when playback begins
Stop	Sent when playback stops
Continue	Sent when resuming from pause

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Troubleshooting

Bluetooth MIDI Not Connecting

1. Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices
2. Check that your DAW/app supports BLE MIDI
3. Try forgetting and re-pairing the device
4. Restart PixelBoop and the receiving app

USB MIDI Not Detected

1. Try a different USB cable (some are charge-only)
2. Check USB mode is set to "MIDI" on Android
3. Restart your DAW after connecting
4. Try a different USB port

Wrong Notes Playing

1. Check MIDI channel matches your synth's receive channel
2. Verify scale and key settings in PixelBoop
3. Check your synth's transpose/octave settings

Latency Issues

1. Use USB MIDI for lowest latency
2. Reduce audio buffer size in your DAW
3. Close other Bluetooth devices that may interfere
4. Keep devices close together for BLE MIDI