Build a Custom MIDI Surface with Pads, Keyboard & Step Sequencer

Design your own virtual MIDI control surface on iOS — pads, keys, faders, knobs, and step sequencer in one freeform layout for studio and live use.

  • control surface
  • pads
  • keyboard
  • step sequencer
  • virtual MIDI

Off-the-shelf MIDI controllers ship with fixed layouts — 16 pads here, eight knobs there. That works until your workflow needs something different: a wide keyboard strip, a 4×4 pad grid for one project, and a step sequencer beside a row of mixer faders for another. A custom virtual surface solves that by letting you place every control where it belongs.

Core building blocks

MIDI Controller PRO offers components you combine on a freeform canvas. Pads send note velocity for drums and clip triggers. The keyboard covers melodic input and works with the chorder for harmonic performance. Faders, knobs, and sliders output CC for mixer and synth remote control. XY pads add two-axis expression. The step sequencer generates rhythmic and melodic patterns as MIDI note output.

  • Pads & button grids — drum racks, Groovepad-style finger drumming, scene triggers
  • Keyboard & chorder — bass lines, chords, notation-friendly note input
  • Faders, knobs, sliders — mixer remote, filter sweeps, send control
  • Step sequencer — on-device pattern writing with direct DAW output
  • XY pads — expressive dual-parameter control for live performance

Layouts for different roles

Beat makers might prioritize a 4×4 pad bank, step sequencer, and four filter knobs. Live performers could build a scene grid, master fader, and cue buttons. Mix engineers may want a full channel strip of sliders with pan knobs — all on iPad, all remapping to CC in the DAW.

Save multiple pages within one project and swipe between them mid-set, similar to switching TouchOSC layouts but with native MIDI throughout.

From virtual surface to studio output

Once your layout is built, connect via USB, Bluetooth, or Wi‑Fi and point MIDI output at your DAW or hardware. The same surface works in the bedroom studio on FL Studio and on stage controlling Ableton Live — only the mapping changes.

MIDI Controller PRO is free to download. Start with one page of pads and a fader, then grow into a full multi-page control surface as your production and performance needs expand.