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MIDI step entry

MIDI step entry is a alternative way to enter notes into a .bax pattern from a MIDI keyboard. Notes are stepped into the editor one at a time — it is not a realtime piano-roll recorder.

To convert an existing Standard MIDI File (.mid) into a .bax song, use Import MIDI files on the CLI instead.

The BeatBax web-lite client has no MIDI step entry. Use BeatBax Desktop.

Enabling MIDI input​

  1. Connect a MIDI keyboard or controller.
  2. Open BeatBax Desktop.
  3. Press Ctrl+, / Cmd+, (or View → Settings…), open the Editor tab, and enable MIDI input.
  4. Close Settings. Arm step entry with the record control on the transport bar.
  5. Click into a pat (or other note list) in the editor, then play keys on the controller.

Each MIDI note inserts a BeatBax pitch token at the cursor and advances, so you can build a phrase without typing note names.

When the Instrument Editor Instruments tab is focused, MIDI prefers audition of the selected instrument over step entry unless transport Record is armed.

Scale and lock​

If the song declares a scale and the channel has lock=…, Desktop snaps or filters MIDI step entry onto the allowed scale degrees. That matches typed notes: out-of-lock pitches warn or error according to the scale mode (warn, error, or off).