Maya from a game controller
The Autodesk Maya layout is built into InputConfig, free on the Mac App Store. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon.
On a Mac: Maya for Mac tumbles, tracks and dollies with Option and a mouse button, which this layout holds for you.
Yes, you can navigate Maya from a game controller on a Mac. Maya's camera is Option plus a mouse button, and the left trigger holds Option: the right trigger tumbles, the left bumper tracks, the right bumper dollies. Q, W, E and R are the four face buttons, and F and A frame on the D-pad, for the hand that is not on the mouse.
On this page: 7 sections
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Move the camera. The left stick moves the cursor. Hold the left trigger for Option. Then the right trigger tumbles, the left bumper tracks and the right bumper dollies. The right stick scrolls to dolly.
- Pick a tool. Move (W) on the bottom face button, Rotate (E) on the right, Select (Q) on the left, Scale (R) on the top.
- Frame. D-pad up frames the selection (F), down frames everything (A).
- Animate. Set a key (S) on the left stick click, play the timeline (Option V) on Share or View.
- Undo, redo, save. Undo (Command Z) and redo (Shift Z) on D-pad left and right, Save on Options.
It is the Maya combination, on a pad. Hold the left trigger, and the triggers and bumpers are Maya's camera.
Tune it for Maya
- Marking menus. Maya's are a held right click. The right bumper without Option held opens one where the cursor is.
- A slower tumble. Use the Pointer speed slider on the preset's page, and Ramp-up on the pointer rows so small moves stay small.
- Tilt to tumble. On a DualSense, gyro aim moves the cursor, so holding the tumble buttons and tilting the pad turns the camera.
Ramp-up is the setting that makes a stick feel precise in a viewport. Turn on Ramp-up, and a small push gives a small tumble.
What it cannot do
- One move at a time. Tumble, track and dolly happen one at a time, not blended the way a 3D mouse does them.
- 3ds Max. It is Windows software with a different scheme. Maya LT shares these keys.
The 3D mouse page covers the limits in full. For tumble, track and dolly one at a time, a pad stands in for a 3D mouse.
Get it in two clicks
- Get InputConfig free on the Mac App Store, open it, and click Smart Preset Maker on the welcome screen.
- Search for Autodesk Maya and pick it. The layout is created as a preset in your sidebar, named and ready.
- Press Activate. Every row can be changed afterwards: the editor's Scan button rebinds any control the moment you touch it.
Every binding, as a table
| Controller | Sends | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left stick left | Mouse motion left (speed 16) | Left stick left moves the cursor left in the viewport |
| Left stick right | Mouse motion right (speed 16) | Left stick right moves the cursor right in the viewport |
| Left stick up | Mouse motion up (speed 16) | Left stick up moves the cursor up in the viewport |
| Left stick down | Mouse motion down (speed 16) | Left stick down moves the cursor down in the viewport |
| Right stick left | Scroll left | Right stick left scrolls to dolly the view out |
| Right stick right | Scroll right | Right stick right scrolls to dolly the view in |
| Right stick up | Scroll up | Right stick up scrolls the view up |
| Right stick down | Scroll down | Right stick down scrolls the view down |
| Left trigger | Alt / Option (Left) | Left trigger holds Alt so the mouse buttons tumble, track, and dolly |
| Right trigger | Left click | Right trigger holds left mouse, which with Alt held tumbles the view |
| A / Cross | W | A presses W for the Move tool |
| B / Circle | E | B presses E for the Rotate tool |
| X / Square | Q | X presses Q for the Select tool |
| Y / Triangle | R | Y presses R for the Scale tool |
| LB / L1 | Middle click | Left bumper holds middle mouse, which with Alt held tracks or pans |
| RB / R1 | Right click | Right bumper holds right mouse, which with Alt held dollies or zooms |
| L3 (left stick click) | S | Left stick click presses S to set a keyframe |
| D-pad up | F | D-pad up presses F to frame the selected object |
| D-pad down | A | D-pad down presses A to frame the entire scene |
| D-pad left | Command (Left), Z | D-pad left presses Command Z to undo |
| D-pad right | Shift (Left), Z | D-pad right presses Shift Z to redo |
| Back / Share / Select | Alt / Option (Left), V | Back presses Alt+V to play or stop the timeline |
| Start / Options | Command (Left), S | Start presses Command S to save the scene |
Button names follow the Xbox / PlayStation pair shown in the editor, so A / Cross is the bottom face button on either pad. On a Switch Pro Controller the bottom button is labeled B; the mapping still fires on position.
Questions
Does this work in Maya LT or 3ds Max?
Maya LT shares the keys. 3ds Max is Windows software with a different scheme.
Can a controller replace a 3D mouse in Maya?
For tumble, track and dolly one at a time, yes. The 3D mouse page covers the limits.
Related
Completely free. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon. Open source on GitHub.
Updated