Studio One from a game controller
The Studio One 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: Studio One reads numeric keypad keys from this layout even on a MacBook, because InputConfig sends the keypad's own key codes. Check the zoom keys against Studio One's list.
Yes, Studio One runs from a game controller on a Mac with no keypad, because the controller becomes the keypad. Studio One keeps its transport on the numeric keypad, and InputConfig sends the keypad's own key codes even on a MacBook. Play, stop, record and loop sit on the face buttons, and the locators on the D-pad.
On this page: 7 sections
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Transport. Start and stop (Space) on the bottom face button, stop (keypad 0) on the right, record (keypad star) on the left, loop (keypad slash) on the top.
- Locators. D-pad left and right go to the left and right locators (keypad 1 and 2), the bumpers set them (Command keypad 1 and 2), and D-pad up returns to the start (keypad Enter).
- Move and zoom. The left stick nudges the cursor. The right stick sends G and H left and right and scrolls up and down. The stick clicks go to the next and previous marker.
- Edit. The right trigger undoes and the left redoes, Back, Share or View deletes, Start saves.
Check zoom and markers
These rows share Cubase's numpad scheme.
- You: Open Studio One's Keyboard Shortcuts and look up zoom and the marker keys in your version.
- InputConfig: Keeps sending G, H, Shift N and Shift B until you change those rows.
- Check: Push the right stick left and right and press the stick clicks. Change any row that does something else.
The transport rows are the reason to use this layout, and they match from the start.
Tune it
- Metronome. Put its key on the touchpad press.
- Notes from the pad. Send InputConfig's MIDI output into Studio One. Add InputConfig as a keyboard in External Devices.
- Feel the record start. Tick Vibrate under Feedback in the record row's Options.
A laptop with a controller has the keypad Studio One was designed around.
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 Studio One 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 | A: start/stop playback (Space) |
| B / Circle | Keypad 0 | B: stop (numpad 0) |
| X / Square | Keypad * | X: record (numpad *) |
| Y / Triangle | Keypad / | Y: cycle/loop on-off (numpad /) |
| D-pad left | Keypad 1 | Go to left locator (numpad 1) |
| D-pad right | Keypad 2 | Go to right locator (numpad 2) |
| LB / L1 | Command (Left), Keypad 1 | LB: set left locator to cursor (Cmd+numpad 1) |
| RB / R1 | Command (Left), Keypad 2 | RB: set right locator to cursor (Cmd+numpad 2) |
| D-pad up | Keypad Enter | Return to start (numpad Enter) |
| Right stick right | H | Right stick right: zoom in horizontally (H) |
| Right stick left | G | Right stick left: zoom out horizontally (G) |
| Right stick up | Scroll up | Right stick up: scroll up |
| Right stick down | Scroll down | Right stick down: scroll down |
| Left stick left | Left | Left stick left: nudge cursor left (Left) |
| Left stick right | Right | Left stick right: nudge cursor right (Right) |
| Right trigger | Command (Left), Z | Right trigger: undo (Cmd+Z) |
| Left trigger | Shift (Left), Command (Left), Z | Left trigger: redo (Shift+Cmd+Z) |
| Back / Share / Select | Delete | Back: delete selected event (Delete) |
| Start / Options | Command (Left), S | Start: save project (Cmd+S) |
| L3 (left stick click) | Shift (Left), N | L3: locate next marker (Shift+N) |
| R3 (right stick click) | Shift (Left), B | R3: locate previous marker (Shift+B) |
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 in Cubase?
Cubase has its own page with the same numpad idea.
Does Studio One read keypad keys from a MacBook without a keypad?
Yes. InputConfig sends the keypad's own key codes, so Studio One sees keypad 0, star and slash even with no keypad attached.
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