Hi,

I am not of programm geek, unfortunately. But I happen to have a touchpad mouse lying around and was wondering if one could not turn this into a fader/xy controller for any DAW. Possibly through midi learn.

Does that make sense - from an operational and latency perspective?
How can this be done?


thanks

 

Actually, it's better to assign or control all the faders and controllers with a MIDI keyboard controller. What kind of MIDI keyboard controller do you have? Since you asked, here's an AI answer:

Spoiler: Source: Grok KI

Yes, turning a touchpad mouse (or any standard mouse/touchpad input on Windows) into a fader/XY controller for a DAW makes complete sense both operationally and from a latency perspective—especially if you're using it for continuous control like volume faders, panning, or XY modulation (e.g., filter cutoff vs. resonance). It's a creative hack that's been done by producers for years, and modern DAWs with MIDI learn make mapping straightforward. I'll break it down and explain how to do it without needing to code.

Operational Feasibility

• How it works conceptually: Your touchpad/mouse sends position data (X/Y coordinates, sometimes pressure or gestures if it's a multi-touch model). Software intercepts this input and converts it to MIDI Continuous Controller (CC) messages—standard for DAW automation. For example:
  • Fader control: Map vertical (Y-axis) movement to a single CC (e.g., CC7 for volume). Swipe up/down to "push" a fader.
  • XY controller: Map X-axis to one CC (e.g., pan) and Y-axis to another (e.g., wet/dry on reverb). This creates a 2D pad for simultaneous tweaks.
• Touchpad advantages: If your device supports multi-touch (common on USB touchpads), you could even map multiple fingers to different CCs for more expressivity. It won't feel exactly like a hardware controller (no tactile feedback), but it's intuitive for broad gestures and great for laptop setups.
• DAW integration: Most DAWs (Ableton, FL Studio, Reaper, Logic if on Boot Camp, etc.) support MIDI learn, so once the software outputs MIDI, you just assign the CCs to parameters—no extra config needed.
• Limitations: It might not be ideal for precise note-playing (e.g., as a keyboard), but for faders/XY, it's spot-on. Absolute positioning (hovering over the pad sets a fixed value) works better than relative (dragging), depending on the software.

Latency Perspective

• MIDI conversion from mouse/touchpad input is inherently low-latency—typically 1-5ms round-trip in a DAW, similar to a basic USB MIDI keyboard. This is because:
  • Mouse polling rates are fast (125-1000Hz on modern hardware).
  • MIDI itself adds negligible delay (~1ms per message).
  • DAW buffer sizes dominate overall latency (aim for 128-256 samples at 44.1kHz for <10ms total during tracking).
• In practice, users report it feels responsive for mixing/automation, though not zero-latency like hardware. If your DAW's audio engine is optimized, you'll barely notice it. Test with a simple CC meter in your DAW to confirm.

How to Do It (Step-by-Step, No Programming Required)
The easiest free option for a general Windows touchpad mouse is MidiPad, a lightweight open-source VST3 plugin that captures mouse/trackpad hovering/movement and outputs MIDI CCs directly. It works with any mouse input (no special drivers needed) and is plug-and-play in most DAWs. If your touchpad is a Synaptics laptop model, Touchpad 2 MIDI is another free alternative with built-in gesture support.

Option 1: MidiPad (Recommended for Simplicity—Works with Any Mouse/Touchpad)

1. Download and Install:
   • Go to the GitHub releases: https://github.com/whoadrian/MidiPad/releases (grab the latest .zip for Windows, e.g., v0.2.0).
   • Unzip and place the .dll file in your DAW's VST3 folder (usually C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3). Restart your DAW.
2. Load in Your DAW:
   • Insert MidiPad as an instrument or effect track (it appears as a MIDI generator).
   • In the plugin window, enable mouse input mode—it tracks cursor position without needing to click/drag (hover over your touchpad area for control).
3. Configure for Fader/XY:
   • Set X-axis to one CC# (e.g., CC1 for mod wheel) and Y-axis to another (e.g., CC11 for expression).
   • For faders: Lock to Y-only if needed. Adjust sensitivity/scaling in the plugin for your touchpad size.
   • Output goes to a virtual MIDI port if your DAW requires it (built-in for most).
4. Map in DAW via MIDI Learn:
   • Right-click a fader/param in your DAW (e.g., track volume).
   • Select "MIDI Learn" or "Map," then move your touchpad finger—the CC will auto-assign.
   • Test: Swipe to see real-time response.

• Pros: Free, tiny footprint, Windows 10/11 compatible (tested in Reaper/Ableton). No extra drivers.
• Cons: Basic UI; if it crashes on older Windows, try v0.1.0.

Option 2: Touchpad 2 MIDI (If You Have a Synaptics Touchpad)

1. Download: Get the free .dll from http://www.livelab.dk/touchpad2midi.php (version 1.1 supports pressure on XY).
2. Setup Virtual MIDI (one-time): Install LoopBe1 (free virtual cable) from https://www.nerds.de/en/loopbe1.html. Reboot.
3. Run Standalone (easiest for any DAW):
   • Download SaviHost (free) from https://www.hermannseib.com/english/savihost.htm.
   • Rename savihost.exe to Touchpad2MIDI.exe, put it in the same folder as the .dll, and run it.
   • In SaviHost: Set MIDI output to LoopBe1 port; disable audio for zero overhead.
4. Configure: Set to "XY Pad" mode or "4 Sliders." Your DAW sees it as a MIDI input device.
5. Map: Use MIDI learn as above.

• Pros: Native touchpad gestures (e.g., multi-finger for buttons), low MIDI rate via audio latency tweak (~few ms).
• Cons: Synaptics-only for now; USB touchpads may need driver tweaks.

Other Quick Tips

• Test Latency: In your DAW, arm a track, enable input monitoring, and watch a CC meter while swiping. Adjust buffer size if needed.
• Alternatives if These Don't Fit:
  • Bome MIDI Translator Pro ($60, trial available): Maps any mouse gesture to MIDI with scripting—super flexible for custom XY/faders.
  • TouchMIDI (free, SourceForge): Older but solid for Synaptics; similar to Touchpad 2 MIDI.
• Troubleshooting: Ensure your touchpad drivers are up-to-date (via Device Manager). If using a USB touchpad, confirm it registers as a HID mouse.

This should get you controlling faders/XY in under 30 minutes. If your DAW/setup is specific (e.g., Ableton vs. Reaper), let me know for tailored tweaks!

 

Haven't tried this, but try this :

https://github.com/whoadrian/MidiPad

 

Thankyou MidiPad I have come across before. The issue is it doesn

Native. Could keyboard across the board. But no fader.

 

The problem with Midicap. I have a touchpad and normal mouse. Midicap enables the x/y function etc. But it does not allow for a second mouse device to perform idenpendantly. So any move with the mouse leads for tweaking around in the daw leads to a deactivation or at leat a complete unusability.

The other I shall be looking into.


thanks

 

Check out this one
http://www.livelab.dk/touchpad2midi.php

i also made use of this one (fun little plugin)
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/midipads-by-insert-piz-here