Since we probably want to record our performance, we’ll need to configure it inside our DAW.
Now let’s look how to do this inside a DAW. Select the X/Y or Slider Mode in AudioSwift, turn it on with a four or five fingers tap, play your synth with one hand while the other controls your CC messages with the trackpad. MIDI Patchbay by Pete YandellĪnd that’s it.
This MIDI output will send the messages out of the computer via a MIDI cable to an external synth. At the bottom will be our external MIDI output, which in my case is a M-Audio Midisport device connected to my Macbook Pro via USB. When it’s selected in the table, at your right side will appear the MIDI input port. At the bottom left corner, click Add Patch to create a new patch. Once it’s running, MIDI Patchbay is simple. Since it’s an old app it won’t open right away, so you’ll need to go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General and click Open Anyway. When you download the file and click on it, it will probably show you the left message. Another one is MIDIPipe by Nico Wald which has more features to play with. It’s free, easy to use and it was released in 2008, but it still works even in Mojave 10.14. There are couple of apps that can do this. I’m going to show you two methods: using a standalone MIDI router app, and by configuring it through a DAW, so we can record and edit the performance later. This virtual port can be reroute out of the computer to an external MIDI output if we want to. AudioSwift 3 port sends Note On/Off, Control Change, Pitch Bend, and After Touch via four controller modes. When AudioSwift is running on macOS, it creates three virtual MIDI ports.
Well, with AudioSwift you can be as creative as you want with your sound designs, using simple gestures over a Mac trackpad to also control your hardware synths and modules. Or you miss a particular ribbon controller or X/Y pad from an old synth that you don’t have anymore. Maybe you work with a lot of external synthesizers and want to explore new sounds.