Questions
MIDI to keystroke on a Mac: every app, compared
I make one of these, InputConfig, so the bias is stated up front. The short answer: InputConfig and MIDI Mapper are free, Bome MIDI Translator Pro is the powerful paid option, and Keyboard Maestro or BetterTouchTool handle MIDI if you already own one of them. People call this job MIDI to keystroke, MIDI to hotkey, MIDI to key press, or a MIDI macro pad; it is the same thing.
The list
| App | Price | Last version | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| InputConfig | Free, open source | 1.5, Sep 2026 | MIDI notes, CC, pitch bend and program change to keys, mouse, scroll, macros and system functions; knobs as dials or volume faders; also sends MIDI from game controllers; Mac App Store. |
| MIDI Mapper | Free | 0.2.14 | MIDI pad to shortcuts, text, app launch, volume, brightness and media; Mac, Windows and Linux. |
| Bome MIDI Translator Pro | EUR 79, trial available | 1.9.2, Dec 2025 | Rules, logic, layers and MIDI routing in both directions; Mac and Windows. |
| Keyboard Maestro | US$36 | 11.1.1 | MIDI note and CC triggers inside a general automation app. |
| MidiShortcut | US$24.99 | 2.0.2, Feb 2022 | Notes and CC to shortcuts, on the Mac App Store. |
| CoyoteMIDI | Free tier, paid Pro | Not shown | MIDI to keys and mouse, app-specific. |
| Midi2Macro | Free for 5 macros, Pro US$5 | Not shown | Notes to shortcuts and app launch. |
| midiStroke | Free, open source | 1.4 | Notes, CC and program change to keystrokes; built for much older macOS. |
| ControllerMate | Legacy | 4.11.1, Oct 2018 | Ran on macOS 10.13 and 10.14 only. |
| BetterTouchTool | US$15, or US$25 lifetime; 45-day trial | Current | MIDI knobs and pads as triggers for any of its actions, and it can send MIDI; a general Mac automation app. |
Checked on 22 September 2026 against each maker's site and the App Store. Midikey2Key is Windows only. Final Cut Pro users also look at CommandPost, which is open source and integrates MIDI controllers with Final Cut, but its site now says it needs at least one paid LateNite app installed.
How to pick
For a pad or keyboard that should press shortcuts, launch apps, and move the volume, free is enough: InputConfig or MIDI Mapper. If you need rules, conditions, and MIDI routing between devices, Bome is the tool. If Keyboard Maestro already runs your Mac, add MIDI triggers there. If you also want a game controller to send MIDI, or MIDI and controllers in one setup, that combination is what InputConfig adds.
InputConfig is free on the Mac App Store. macOS 14 or later, no account, no tracking, open source.
Set it up in InputConfig
- Plug in the MIDI device. Add a row, press Scan, and touch a pad, key, or knob.
- Pick the output: a key combination, a macro, Open App, Type Text, volume, or a system function.
- For a knob, choose Switch, Dial, or Turn, which decide whether it acts like a button, a position, or a scroll wheel.
The MIDI to keystroke page covers every option.
What to check before you pick
- Knobs as continuous controls. Many apps treat a knob as one more button. If you want a knob to scroll, act as the volume fader, or step through frames, check that the app reads its position, not just a threshold.
- Current macOS and Apple silicon. An app last updated years ago may still launch, but when it breaks there is no fix coming.
- Accessibility permission. Every app on this list that sends keystrokes needs it. Grant it once in System Settings, Privacy and Security, Accessibility.
- Where it comes from. A Mac App Store app is reviewed by Apple and updates itself; a download from a website asks you to trust the maker directly.
- What else is on your desk. If a game controller or a pedal should run the same shortcuts, one app for all of them is simpler than two.
Questions
Is there a free MIDI to keystroke app for Mac?
Yes. InputConfig and MIDI Mapper are free; midiStroke is free but old.
Can a MIDI knob control the Mac's volume?
Yes. In InputConfig a CC knob or the pitch wheel can drive System Volume as a real fader.
Is there a free Bome MIDI Translator alternative?
For turning MIDI into shortcuts, InputConfig and MIDI Mapper are free. For Bome's rules and routing, there is no free equivalent on this list.
Is MIDI to hotkey the same as MIDI to keystroke?
Yes. Hotkey, keystroke, key press, keyboard shortcut and macro all describe a MIDI note or knob pressing keys on the Mac. Every app on this list does some form of it.
Does BetterTouchTool do MIDI?
Yes. Its site lists MIDI knobs and pads as triggers for any of its actions, and it can send MIDI. It costs US$15, or US$25 for a lifetime licence, after a 45-day trial. If you already use it for trackpad gestures, it is a reasonable place to add MIDI.
Can a MIDI controller run Final Cut Pro?
Final Cut has no MIDI mapping of its own, so a MIDI controller runs it through keyboard shortcuts. In InputConfig, pads press the shortcuts and a knob in Turn mode can press the arrow keys to step frames, with the preset switching on only while Final Cut is in front. CommandPost goes deeper into Final Cut but now needs a paid LateNite app installed.
Related
Free. macOS 14 or later. No account, nothing leaves your Mac. Open source on GitHub.