Quick Start
Welcome to Neurode MIDI! Let's get you routing MIDI in under 5 minutes.
What You'll Learn
- Launch the app and see your MIDI devices
- Create your first route
- Test it with the built-in keyboard
- Apply a simple transform
For Beginners
Never used MIDI routing before? Perfect! This guide assumes no prior knowledge. We'll walk through everything step by step.
Step 1: Launch & Discover
When you first open Neurode MIDI, you'll see the Dashboard view with three main sections:
- Sources — Your MIDI input devices (keyboards, controllers, software)
- Routes — The connections you create between sources and destinations
- Destinations — Where MIDI goes (synths, DAWs, virtual instruments)
The app automatically detects all connected MIDI devices. If you don't see your device, check your cables and connections.
What if I don't have any MIDI devices?
No problem! Neurode MIDI includes a Virtual Keyboard you can use to test everything. Jump to Step 3 to try it out.
Step 2: Create Your First Route
- Tap the + button in the Routes section
- Select a source — Choose your MIDI keyboard or "Virtual Keyboard"
- Select a destination — Choose your synth or DAW input
- Done! — MIDI now flows from source to destination
That's it. Play your keyboard and you should hear sound from your synth.
Understanding the Flow
[Your Keyboard] → [Route] → [Your Synth]The route is the bridge. Neurode MIDI copies every MIDI message from the source and sends it to the destination with minimal latency.
Step 3: Test with Virtual Keyboard
Want to verify your route works?
- Open Tools (toolbar icon or sidebar)
- Select Virtual Keyboard
- Play notes by clicking or using your computer keyboard
- Watch the Flow Graph light up as MIDI flows through your route
Flow Graph
The Flow Graph shows real-time MIDI activity. Lines pulse when messages pass through. It's the fastest way to debug routing issues.
Step 4: Add a Transform
Let's make it interesting. Add a simple octave shift:
- Tap your route to open the Route Editor
- Tap + Add Transform
- Choose Transpose
- Set the value to +12 (one octave up)
- Done — Now every note plays one octave higher
Try these too:
- Velocity Scale — Make notes louder or softer
- Channel Map — Send to a different MIDI channel
- Note Range Filter — Only pass notes in a specific range
What's Next?
You've created a route, tested it, and applied a transform. Here's where to go next:
- Your First Route — Deeper dive into routing basics
- Common Workflows — Real-world setups (splits, layers, studio integration)
- Transforms — Full catalog of available transforms
- Scripting — Write custom MIDI effects with code
Need Help?
Check the Troubleshooting Guide if something isn't working as expected.
Tips for Success
- Start Simple — One route, one transform. Add complexity gradually.
- Use the Flow Graph — It's your visual debugger for MIDI routing.
- Name Your Routes — You'll thank yourself later when you have 10+ routes.
- Save Profiles — Different setups for stage, studio, and practice sessions.
- Explore Tools — The built-in MIDI monitor, event visualiser, and clock analyser are incredibly useful.
Ready to dive deeper? Continue to Your First Route for a guided tour of the routing interface.
