How to: Connect to DAWs or Standalone Synthesizer Apps
If you haven't already, install chorus.js and follow the Quick Start Guide
This tutorial is optional and intended for DAW/synthesizer app users.
If you are ok with the setup from the Quick Start Guide, skip ahead to the Rhythm tutorial.
Outline:
TODO: Add screenshots for everything
Creating Inter-App MIDI Ports
First we need to create a "virtual MIDI port" that can be used to send MIDI messages between applications.
macOS
- Open the built-in
Audio MIDI Setup
application (under/Applications/Utilities
) - Go to the
MIDI Studio
window (menu:Window -> Show MIDI Studio
) - Double click
IAC Driver
to open theIAC Driver Properties
window - Make sure
Device is online
is checked - Click
More information
to expand theIAC Driver Properties
window - Click
+
to add a port and name it whatever you want.
TODO: screenshot
Windows
- Create a virtual MIDI port:
- Install loopMIDI
- Run loopMIDI and click
+
to add a virtual MIDI port
- Launch Bitwig Studio and start a new project
- Add a generic MIDI Controller:
- Bitwig preferences → Controllers → Add Controller Manually → Generic → MIDI Keyboard
- Choose the loopMIDI port
- Add a software instrument track with an instrument (such as Polysynth)
Run the Chorus examples and select the loopMIDI port you setup:
node node_modules/chorus/examples/play-song -p loopmidi
Linux
Try the JACK Audio Connection Kit.
DAW Setup
Now we need to use the inter-app MIDI port we've created as input to our DAW (or standalone synthesizer app). The way you do this depends on the DAW/app (so check its documentation). Examples for several DAWs are shown below.
Ableton Live
TODO
Next Steps
Next is the Rhythm tutorial.