MIDI controllers as phase triggers.

Pad controller, MIDI keyboard, or foot pedal as haptic Hypnotika control.

1 · What MIDI mapping does

Hypnotika recognizes any USB MIDI controller supported by the browser (Web MIDI API). You can map MIDI notes to:

  • "Intro"
  • "Middle"
  • "Climax"
  • "Outro"
  • "Soft Stop"
  • "Cancel (Esc)" — cancels a queued phase change
  • the six anchors — an assigned anchor is listed under the name of its sound
What MIDI cannot do today (as of 14.09.2026, version 0.2.2 — verified in the code):
  • Muting the microphone and controlling volume are not mappable. Earlier versions of this page promised both — that was wrong.
  • MIDI CC messages, which dials usually send, are not recognized — only notes.

If you want volume on a dial, use the Stream Deck plugin. An overview of every control route is in the hardware article.

2 · Connect controller

  1. Plug in USB MIDI device (Akai LPD8, Korg nanoPad, M-Audio, etc.)
  2. Start or reload Hypnotika — devices auto-detected
  3. Settings → "Audio & Hardware" → "Hardware buttons (MIDI + Gamepad)" card: the "MIDI" line shows the name of your device. If it says "no device connected": check the device and restart Hypnotika.

3 · Create mapping (learn mode)

  1. In the same card every action has its own row: "Intro", "Middle", "Climax", "Outro", "Soft Stop", "Cancel (Esc)", and below them the six anchors (assigned anchors under the name of their sound).
  2. In the row you want, click "Learn" next to "MIDI" — the button pulses orange and shows "waiting …"
  3. Within 15 seconds, press the pad or key on your controller (Hypnotika responds to notes, not to dials/CC)
  4. The row now shows channel and note, e.g. "Ch1 · Note 36" — the binding is saved. "×" removes one binding; "Reset all bindings" asks for confirmation and removes all of them, MIDI and gamepad.

4 · Hardware recommendations

  • Akai LPD8 (~€50) — 8 pads, very compact, USB bus-powered
  • Korg nanoPad 2 (~€70) — 16 pads, slim form factor
  • Korg microKEY 25 (~€80) — 25 piano keys, if you play anyway

MIDI foot pedals exist too, but we do not recommend them for sessions — the reasons are in the hardware article: they click audibly, they slide on hard floors, and one to three switches is not enough for the twelve assignable actions.

5 · Typical hypnosis layout (8-pad controller)

Six of the eight pads are used — in total, MIDI mapping offers twelve actions, six of them anchors:

  • Pad 1: "Intro" · Pad 2: "Middle" · Pad 3: "Climax" · Pad 4: "Outro"
  • Pad 5: "Soft Stop" · Pad 6: "Cancel (Esc)" · Pads 7 and 8: free, e.g. for two anchors

So an 8-pad device is enough for these six actions plus two anchors; to put all six anchors on pads as well, you need more pads. Label the pads by hand — a MIDI controller has no display and will not show you the assignment.

6 · Stream Deck vs. MIDI

  • Stream Deck: each button can have a custom image (visually labelled). Software-based, fires a global hotkey. Best when you need a visual reminder.
  • MIDI pad: purely haptic (no display), but faster to react and cheaper. Best for coaches who work haptically.

Related: Stream Deck · Cockpit hotkeys