A music studio transport from a game controller
The Music Studio Transport 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: The keys match Logic Pro and GarageBand out of the box. Other DAWs play on Space but record and loop on different keys, so change those rows there.
Yes, a game controller can run a DAW's transport on a Mac: play, record, return to start and cycle on the face buttons, undo, save and zoom nearby. The keys match Logic Pro and GarageBand out of the box. Other DAWs play on Space but record and loop on different keys, so change those rows there, or start from that DAW's own layout.
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Between takes. Play and stop (Space) on the bottom face button, record (R) on the right, return to start (Return) on the left, cycle (C) on the top.
- Move. The left stick sends Left and Right Arrow.
- Keep your work. Undo and Save on the bumpers.
- See more. Zoom on the D-pad, and the right stick scrolls.
Check the left stick in Logic
- You: Push the left stick left and right in Logic.
- InputConfig: Sends Left and Right Arrow, which in Logic's default key commands step between regions.
- Check: If you want a true rewind and forward, change the two rows to comma and period, Logic's rewind and forward keys.
Play, record and return work from the first press in Logic and GarageBand.
Tune it for other DAWs and MIDI
- Ableton Live, Reaper, Cubase, Studio One. Each has its own layout with its keys. Start there instead.
- Metronome. Put K in Logic and GarageBand on a stick click.
- Know you are rolling. Tick Vibrate under Feedback in the record row's Options.
- Notes from the pad. MIDI output rows can live in the same preset. See MIDI output.
- Transport from hardware. MIDI Start, Continue and Stop can be inputs, so a drum machine's play button can fire any of these rows.
Between takes, the three buttons you need are under one thumb.
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 Music Studio Transport 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 |
|---|---|---|
| A / Cross | Space | Play / Stop (Space) |
| B / Circle | R | Record (R) |
| X / Square | Return | Return to start (Enter) |
| Y / Triangle | C | Cycle / loop (C) |
| Left stick left | Left | Rewind (Left) |
| Left stick right | Right | Forward (Right) |
| LB / L1 | Command (Left), Z | Undo |
| RB / R1 | Command (Left), S | Save |
| Right stick down | Scroll down | Scroll down |
| Right stick up | Scroll up | Scroll up |
| D-pad up | Command (Left), = | Zoom in |
| D-pad down | Command (Left), - | Zoom out |
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 it work with GarageBand?
Yes. GarageBand uses the same transport keys as Logic.
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