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Setting up MIDI connections

This guide will walk you through the process of setting up MIDI connections within your Neural DSP plugin.

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Overview

All Neural DSP plugins support MIDI. This allows you to connect external MIDI controllers such as footswitches and expression pedals to control parameters and UI components within your plugin.

For example, you can use a MIDI controller to switch between presets, activate or deactivate pedals, control effects such as wah and pitch shift, adjust levels, and much more. This allows you to control your plugin without having to rely solely on your computer’s mouse.

Additionally, with a DAW, MIDI can be used to automate parameter changes, enabling you to perform without having to manually change presets or settings within your plugin.

This guide will walk you through the process of setting up MIDI connections within your Neural DSP plugin.

    What kind of MIDI controllers are compatible with Neural DSP plugins?

    Any external MIDI controller capable of sending CC (control change), PC (program change), or note commands are compatible with Neural DSP plugins.

    Here are some options to consider:

    Foot controllers

    • Nektar Pacer

    • Morningstar MC6

    • Behringer FCB1010

    • Harley Benton MP-100

    • Fortin Hydra

    Expression pedals (require a foot controller to plug in to)

    • Nektar NX-P

    • Mission Engineering SP-1

    • M-Audio EX-P

    • Roland EV-5

    • HoTone Soul Press

    • Electro-Harmonix Expression Pedal

    • Boss FV-500-L

    • Dunlop DVP 3

    • Dunlop DVP 4

    • DOD FX-17

    Standalone USB expression pedals

    • Beat Bars EX3

    • Crumar UP4

    • Lehle Dual Expression

    Connecting a MIDI controller to your computer

    USB MIDI controllers

    USB MIDI devices are very straightforward to use since they are plugged into a USB port on your computer.

    Follow these steps to connect a USB MIDI device to your computer:

    Step 1 - Connect the USB cable from the MIDI controller to an available USB port on your computer

    Step 2 - Although most MIDI controllers are plug-and-play, some require driver software to be installed before they can be used. Check the user manual for your specific controller to see if this is necessary, and follow the instructions provided.

    Step 3 - Once your MIDI controller is connected to your computer, check that it is recognized by your plugin. In the standalone version of the plugin, navigate to the "audio settings menu" and check that your controller appears in the "MIDI Input Devices" list. If it does, click on it to enable it.

    Step 4 (optional) - If you plan to use your MIDI controller with a DAW, you may need to configure it before you can use it. Open your DAW and look for the MIDI settings. Select your MIDI controller as the MIDI input and output device.

    Non-USB MIDI controllers

    To connect a non-USB MIDI device to your computer, you will need an audio interface with a MIDI input or a separate MIDI interface / hub.

    Follow these steps to connect a non-USB MIDI controller to your computer:

    Step 1 - Connect the "MIDI Out" port on your MIDI controller to a "MIDI In" port on your audio or MIDI interface using a MIDI cable. Make sure the interface and controller are both powered on.

    Step 2 - Check that your MIDI controller is recognized by your plugin. In the standalone version of the plugin, navigate to the "audio settings menu" and check that your interface appears in the "MIDI Input Devices" list. If it does, click on it to enable it.

    Step 3 (optional) - If you plan to use your MIDI controller with a DAW, you may need to configure it before you can use it. Open your DAW and look for the MIDI settings. Select your audio / MIDI interface as the MIDI input and output device.

    Map MIDI messages easily with the “MIDI learn” function

    Using the “MIDI learn” function is the quickest and easiest way to map MIDI messages in your plugin.

    To use the MIDI learn function, simply right-click a parameter that you wish to control and click “Enable MIDI Learn”. Then, press the button or move the pedal on your MIDI controller that you want to use to control that parameter. The plugin will then automatically assign the button or pedal to the chosen parameter. This streamlined process eliminates the need for manually mapping MIDI messages.

    Here are step-by-step instructions for using the MIDI learn function:

    Step 1 - Ensure that your MIDI controller is properly connected to your computer and recognized by your plugin. In the standalone version of the plugin, you can confirm this by checking that it appears in the "MIDI Input Devices" list in the "audio settings menu". If it does, click on it to enable it.

    If you are using a DAW, make sure that your controller is set as the MIDI input and output device in your DAW settings.

    Step 2 - Right-click on any parameter that you want to map to a MIDI message to and select "Enable MIDI Learn".

    Step 3 - With MIDI learn enabled, send a MIDI message from your controller by pressing the button or rocking the pedal that you want to control the parameter with.

    Step 4 - Right-click the parameter again and select “Disable MIDI Learn”. The MIDI command will now be paired to the parameter.

    Step 5 - All of your assigned MIDI Events will be registered in the MIDI Mapping window. You can open it and edit all of your events by clicking on the MIDI port icon on the bottom left corner of your plugin.

    Examples of using MIDI learn

    Using a footswitch to turn a pedal on and off

    To map a footswitch to activate and deactivate a pedal, you would first right-click on the on/off button of the pedal in your plugin and click “Enable MIDI Learn”.

    After that, press the footswitch on your controller that you want to use to turn the effect on and off. The plugin will map the footswitch to the on/off parameter of the effect, allowing you to turn it on and off with the footswitch.

    Controlling a wah or whammy pedal with an expression pedal

    Mapping a wah pedal (found in Archetype: Petrucci, Archetype: Cory Wong, and Tone King Imperial MKII) or a whammy pedal (found in Archetype: Gojira) with MIDI learn is quick and easy.

    To map an expression pedal to an effect, you would first right-click on the wah / whammy pedal in your plugin and click “Enable MIDI Learn”.

    After that, move the expression pedal you want to control the effect with back and forth. The plugin will map the expression pedal to the effect.

    Changing presets with a footswitch

    In live performances, you may need to switch between multiple presets quickly. The easiest way to do this is to map different presets to different footswitches on your MIDI controller.

    To do this, select the preset you want to map to a footswitch, right-click it, and click “Enable MIDI Learn”

    After that, press the footswitch on your controller that you want to use to trigger the preset. The preset will then be mapped to that footswitch.

    Alternatively, you can map switches to cycle through presets by using the MIDI learn function on the arrows next to the preset box.

    MIDI mapping window

    In the MIDI Mapping window, you can view and modify all the MIDI events you have assigned to your plugin. To access the MIDI Mapping window, click on the MIDI port icon located in the bottom left corner of your plugin interface.

    To add a new MIDI event, click the "+" button located on the left-hand side of the empty row in the MIDI Mapping window. This will allow you to manually map a MIDI message to a parameter.

    You can also save and load MIDI mapping presets by clicking on the menu button in the top-left corner of the MIDI Mapping window.

    Configuring MIDI in your DAW

    Pro Tools

    Step 1 - Launch Pro Tools, create a new audio track, and load your plugin onto it.

    Step 2 - Add a new MIDI track. In the I/O panel, set the output to the plugin loaded on the audio track you just created and pick channel 1. For the input, select “All” or your specific MIDI controller:

    Step 3 - Arm the MIDI track and enable monitoring on the audio track.

    Step 4 - Open your plugin window and use the MIDI Learn function to map MIDI messages.

    Step 5 - You can also write notes in the MIDI region of your track to automate parameters/preset changes.

    Logic Pro X

    Step 1 - Launch Logic Pro, create a “Software Instrument” track, and set your plugin as the instrument. You will find the plugin in the AU MIDI-controlled Effects section.

    Step 2 - Open the plugin window and create a side-chain in order to get an input signal. Make sure your instrument is connected to the selected input in your audio interface.

    Step 3 - If you want to record your signal, create an audio track and select a “Bus” as an output. After that, open the plugin window and select that specific “Bus” as the input in the Side Chain menu. The plugin will now receive an input signal from the audio track you created.

    Step 4 - Create an External MIDI track and configure it to receive commands from your MIDI controller.

    Step 5 - Open your plugin window and use the MIDI Learn function to map MIDI messages.

    Step 6 - You can also write notes in the MIDI region of your track to automate parameters/preset changes.

    Cubase

    Step 1 - Launch Cubase, go to “Studio” > “Studio Setup” > “MIDI Port Setup”, and verify that your MIDI controller is recognized. If it doesn't appear right away, try clicking on “Reset”. Make sure that the checkboxes "Visible" and "All MIDI Inputs" are enabled.

    Step 2 - Create a new audio track and load your plugin onto it.

    Step 3 - Add a new MIDI track. In the “Inspector” window at the left side of the screen, set the input to “All MIDI Inputs” or select your specific controller. Set the output as the plugin loaded on the audio track you just created. Make sure that monitoring is enabled on both tracks.

    Step 4 - Open your plugin window and use the MIDI Learn function to map MIDI messages.

    Step 5 - You can also write notes in the MIDI region of your track to automate parameters/preset changes.

    Ableton

    Step 1 - Launch Ableton, create a new audio track, and load your plugin onto it.

    Step 2 - Create a MIDI track and arm it for recording. In the track settings, click the dropdown menu that says “No Output” and select the audio track you created in the previous step.

    Step 3 - Open your plugin window and use the MIDI Learn function to map MIDI messages.

    Step 4 - You can also write notes in the MIDI region of your track to automate parameters/preset changes.

    REAPER

    Step 1 - Launch REAPER, go to “Options” > “Preferences” > “MIDI Devices” and check that your MIDI controller is recognized and enabled in the MIDI inputs and MIDI outputs sections. To enable your device, double click your device in the MIDI inputs list and check “Enable input from this device” and “Enable input for control messages”. Then double click your device in the MIDI outputs list and check “Enable output to this device”.

    Step 2 - Create a track and load your plugin onto it.

    Step 3 - Create another track and make it a sub-track for the one you created in the previous step by dragging it on top of it or by clicking on the folder icon at the bottom-left corner of the first track you created.

    Step 4 - Set the input for the second track to your MIDI controller by right clicking the record arm button and selecting “Input: MIDI” > “All MIDI inputs” > “All channels”

    Step 5 - Arm both tracks for recording and make sure monitoring is enabled

    Step 6 - Open your plugin window and use the MIDI Learn function to map MIDI messages.

    Step 7 - You can also write notes in the MIDI region of your track to automate parameters/preset changes.

    Studio One

    Step 1 - Launch Studio One and go to “Studio One” > “Options” > “External Devices” and make sure your MIDI controller is on the device list. If it’s not on the list, add it as a new device. 

    Step 2 - Create an audio track and load your plugin onto it. If you open the plugin window, the controller should appear on the top right corner. If it’s not selected, select it from the drop-down menu.

    Step 3 - Create a new instrument track. Set your MIDI controller as its input and your plugin as the output.

    Step 4 - Open your plugin window and use the MIDI Learn function to map MIDI messages.

    Step 5 - You can also write notes in the MIDI region of your track to automate parameters/preset changes.

    Next steps

    Now that you have successfully set up your MIDI controller and mapped MIDI messages, the possibilities for controlling your plugin are endless.

    Our plugins feature a range of interesting and great-sounding effects that can be controlled with expression pedals. For example, Archetype: Petrucci, Archetype: Cory Wong, and Tone King Imperial MKII each feature unique wah pedals, while Archetype: Gojira features the WOW whammy pedal.

    If you're interested in trying out any of our guitar or bass plugins, we offer a 14-day free trial for all of them, allowing you to test them out without any commitment.

    Don't forget to check out our guide with helpful tips for using your plugin.

    If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions, our support team is always ready to assist you. You can reach us by emailing support@neuraldsp.com.

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