MIDI Control & 3D Visualizer
Connect MIDI hardware for physical control and preview your lighting in 3D without being in the venue.
21. MIDI Control
DMXDesktop supports MIDI hardware for physical control of faders, execute functions, and cue stack playback.
MIDI Binding (Learn Mode)
- Click the MIDI button (music icon) in the toolbar
- The interface enters MIDI Bind Mode — all faders and buttons highlight
- Click the fader or execute cell you want to control
- On your MIDI controller, move the knob/fader or press the button you want to assign
- DMXDesktop detects the MIDI message and creates the binding
- Press Escape or click MIDI again to exit bind mode
Supported MIDI Message Types
| Type | Maps To |
|---|---|
| Note On/Off | Toggle (on/off) for buttons and execute functions |
| Control Change (CC) | Continuous fader control (MIDI 0–127 → DMX 0–255) |
Managing Bindings
A Manage Bindings modal shows all current MIDI mappings. From here you can view, delete individual bindings, or clear all bindings.
Note: Each MIDI message can only control one target — duplicate bindings are prevented.
MCU Protocol (Motorized Fader Support)
DMXDesktop supports the Mackie Control Universal (MCU) protocol for advanced MIDI controllers with motorized faders:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Motorized faders | Physical faders automatically move to match the on-screen position |
| Scribble strips | LCD strips display the cue/fixture name (top row) and type (bottom row) |
| VU meters | LED meters show the intensity level of each fader |
| Button LEDs | Buttons light up to show the current mode/state |
Color coding on MCU devices:
- Red = Cues
- Green = Groups
- Blue = Fixtures
- White = Cue Stacks
22. The 3D Visualizer
Click the 3D Layout button (3D badge icon) in the toolbar to open a three-dimensional visualization of your stage. The visualizer shows:
- Fixture positions in 3D space
- Real-time beam colors and intensity
- Position effects and movement in real time
- Gobo projections
- Multi-emitter fixtures (GigBars, fixtures with separate laser and RGB heads)
The 3D view updates live — as you adjust values in the programmer, the visualizer reflects changes immediately. It's invaluable for previewing looks without being in the venue.
You can also click the Popout Floorplan button (window-stack icon) to open a floating floorplan status window that stays visible while you work in other panels.