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
- Open your DAW or MIDI host software (e.g., GarageBand, Ableton Live, Logic Pro).
- Navigate to the Bluetooth MIDI settings.
- Look for "Pixelboop MIDI".
- 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.
- iOS: Connect via USB using a Lightning-to-USB or USB-C cable and a Camera Connection Kit or USB-C hub.
- Plug & Play: No drivers required on macOS or Windows.
note
USB MIDI is available for iOS only in v1.1.0. Android support is not yet available.
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).
Changing MIDI Channels
You can change the MIDI transmit channel for each track using Config Mode.
MIDI Channel Config
MIDI Channel Config
Hold col 2 (~0.5 s) to enter MIDI channel edit mode, then tap col 2 to cycle channels
MIDI Channel Column (Hold to Enter Edit Mode)
Hold col 2 (the MIDI channel / VU column, immediately left of the interval column) for ~0.5 s while a Bluetooth MIDI device is connected. The track label shows 'MIDI Ch[N] Edit On'.
Tap to Cycle Channel
Once edit mode is active, tap col 2 on any track to cycle that track's MIDI channel (1–16).
How to Change MIDI Channels
- Connect a Bluetooth MIDI device to Pixelboop.
- Enter MIDI Channel Edit Mode: Hold col 2 (the MIDI channel / VU column — immediately left of the interval column) on any track for about half a second. The track label will confirm with "MIDI Ch[N] Edit On".
- Cycle a track's channel: While edit mode is active, tap col 2 on that track to cycle its MIDI channel (1–16).
- Exit Edit Mode: Hold col 2 again, or wait for the timeout.
Cycling MIDI Channels
Cycling MIDI Channels
Hold col 2 to enter edit mode, then tap to cycle channels 1–16
Col 2 — Edit Mode Active (Melody)
Hold col 2 on the Melody track for ~0.5 s. The column lights up to show edit mode is on.
Tap to Cycle
Tap col 2 on the Melody track to advance to the next MIDI channel. Repeat to reach your target channel (1–16).
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
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 |
Troubleshooting
Bluetooth MIDI Not Connecting
- Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices
- Check that your DAW/app supports BLE MIDI
- Try forgetting and re-pairing the device
- Restart Pixelboop and the receiving app
USB MIDI Not Detected
- Try a different USB cable (some are charge-only)
- Ensure your iOS adapter (Camera Connection Kit or USB-C hub) is properly connected
- Restart your DAW after connecting
- Try a different USB port
Wrong Notes Playing
- Check MIDI channel matches your synth's receive channel
- Verify scale and key settings in Pixelboop
- Check your synth's transpose/octave settings
Latency Issues
- Use USB MIDI for lowest latency
- Reduce audio buffer size in your DAW
- Close other Bluetooth devices that may interfere
- Keep devices close together for BLE MIDI
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