MIDI Input

Open from Edit > Inputs > MIDI. The dialog is non-modal, so it stays open while you interact with the rest of the application. The left pane lists detected MIDI devices. The right pane is the mapping editor.

Devices pane

The left pane shows every MIDI device the OS reports to Spectralite. Each row displays the device name, a status badge (Online or Offline), an Input indicator, and a dropdown for assigning a mapping.

Toolbar

• Reload devices - Scan for newly connected or disconnected MIDI devices

Status indicators

• Online (green badge) - Device is connected and active
• Offline (outline badge) - Device is not currently connected

Assigning a mapping

Each device row has a dropdown. Pick one of the mappings defined in the Mapping pane, or choose No mapping to clear the assignment. Only mappings that already exist appear in the dropdown.

Network MIDI on macOS

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (macOS).
2. Create or join a MIDI Network session.
3. Assign a mapping like any other device.

The session appears in Spectralite as a MIDI device.

rtpMIDI on Windows

1. Install rtpMIDI.
2. Configure sessions.

The session appears as a MIDI device in Spectralite.

Device not appearing

1. Check physical connection
2. Click Reload devices in the toolbar
3. Disconnect and reconnect the device
4. Restart Spectralite
5. Check system MIDI settings

Device shows as offline

1. Verify device is powered on and connected
2. Click Reload devices to rescan
3. Check for conflicting applications using the MIDI device
4. Try a different USB port

Mapping pane

The right pane holds the mapping editor. A sidebar along its left edge shows the last received MIDI message and the list of defined mappings. The main area shows the assignments for the selected mapping.

Sidebar

Last MIDI Message displays the most recently received MIDI message:

• Device - Which MIDI device sent the message
• Type - Control Change, Note On, or Note Off
• Channel - MIDI channel number
• Controller/Note - CC number or note number
• Value - The received value

Mappings lists every MIDI mapping. Select one to edit its assignments. The toolbar has:

• Import mapping - Import a mapping from the Library Manager
• Add mapping - Create a new named mapping

Assignment table

The main area shows all assignments for the selected mapping in a sortable table:

• Direction - Input or Output
• Assignment - The action or output type
• Target - What the assignment controls
• MIDI Type - Control Change, Note On, or Note Off
• Channel - MIDI channel
• Controller - CC or note number

The toolbar has:

• Export Mapping - Save the mapping to a file
• Add assignment - Create a new input or output assignment

Adding an assignment

1. Select a mapping in the sidebar
2. Click Add assignment in the toolbar
3. Choose Input (MIDI controls Spectralite) or Output (Spectralite sends MIDI)
4. Configure the assignment type and MIDI settings
5. Click Submit

Applying captured MIDI data

When creating or editing an assignment, the dialog shows the last received MIDI message. Click Apply to fill in the MIDI type, channel, and controller from that message instead of entering them by hand.

Manual entry

For precise control:

1. Click Add assignment
2. Enter MIDI details:
   • Type - Control Change, Note On, or Note Off
   • Channel - MIDI channel number
   • Controller - CC number or note number
3. Configure the action type and target
4. Click Submit

Input assignment types

Input assignments let MIDI messages control Spectralite.

Layer controls:

• Layer opacity (specific layers) - Set opacity of selected layers (range 0-127)
• Layer opacity (by position) - Set opacity of layers at specific timeline indexes
• Layer solo (specific/by position) - Toggle solo on layers
• Layer opacity override (specific/by position) - Toggle opacity override on layers
• Layer toggle opacity (specific/by position) - Toggle layer opacity between 0 and 1

Timing controls:

• BPM - Set the BPM (maps 0-127 to a configurable min/max range)
• Tap Tempo - Tap repeatedly to set BPM from timing
• Double BPM / Halve BPM - Multiply or divide current BPM
• Adjust BPM - Increment or decrement BPM by a delta value
• Time offset - Set the timeline time offset
• Adjust time offset - Increment or decrement offset
• Cue / Align Beat - Align current moment to beat 1

Color controls:

• Set primary/secondary/tertiary color hue - Set a color hue from MIDI value
• Adjust primary/secondary/tertiary color hue - Rotate hue by a delta
• Set color from active library - Select a color from the active library items
• Set color from library - Select a color from the full color library

Parameter controls:

• Set parameter value - Set a fixture parameter value (maps 0-127 to 0-255)
• Adjust parameter value - Increment or decrement a parameter by a delta

Output assignment types

Output assignments send MIDI messages from Spectralite to your controller:

• Layer Assignment (by index/by layer) - Send a value when a layer matches a condition
• Layer Opacity (by layer/by index) - Send layer opacity as a MIDI value
• Parameter Value - Send a fixture parameter value as MIDI
• Parameter Condition - Send a value when a parameter meets a condition (on/off)
• Static Value - Always send a fixed MIDI value

Input settings

Each input assignment type has configurable settings:

• Min / Max - Range mapping for range-type inputs
• Delta - Step size for delta-type inputs (encoders)
• Threshold - Trigger threshold for boolean-type inputs

Saving and loading

MIDI mappings are stored inside the project file.

• Save: Project > Save project. Mappings save with the project.
• Load: Project > Load project. Mappings restore with the project.
• Export: Use the Export Mapping toolbar button to write a mapping to a file.
• Import: Use Import mapping to pull a mapping from the Library Manager.

Active mapping highlight

When a mapped MIDI control sends a message, the matching assignment row highlights green in the table. Use this to verify that assignments trigger as expected.

Troubleshooting

MIDI not detected

• Check device connection
• Verify the device shows Online in the Devices pane
• Check MIDI channel settings

Wrong parameter changing

• Review the assignment target
• Check for duplicate assignments on the same MIDI channel and controller
• Verify MIDI channel

Related

• DMX Input Dialog - ArtNet and sACN receivers and mapping
• Parameters - Parameter targets for MIDI mapping
• MIDI Controllers - Setup guide