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 or CC messages to:

  • Intro phase
  • Swap track — a different track within the same phase
  • Climax phase
  • Outro phase
  • Soft-Stop
  • Cancel queue
What MIDI cannot do today (as of 07.08.2026 — verified in the code):
  • Muting the microphone and controlling volume are not mappable. Earlier versions of this page promised both — that was wrong.
  • The middle phase is not reachable over MIDI; that slot is „swap track".
  • Sound anchors cannot be triggered over MIDI. They sit on Q W E R T Z and only fire while the Hypnotika window is in front.

If you want volume on a dial or anchors from hardware, use the Stream Deck plugin — it has both. 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 → Hardware → MIDI → device shows as connected

3 · Create mapping (learn mode)

  1. Settings → MIDI Mapping → „Edit mapping"
  2. Click „Learn" next to desired action — button glows red
  3. Press the desired pad / note / CC on your controller
  4. Hypnotika captures and saves the binding

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 six actions.

5 · Typical hypnosis layout (8-pad controller)

Six of the eight pads are used — the MIDI interface currently offers no more actions than that:

  • Pad 1: Intro · Pad 2: Swap track · Pad 3: Climax · Pad 4: Outro
  • Pad 5: Soft Stop · Pad 6: Cancel queue · Pads 7 and 8: unused

So an 8-pad device is entirely sufficient. 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