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MidiShaper and Native Instruments Maschine

Setting up a virtual MIDI port

To use MidiShaper with Native Instruments Maschine you need to set up a virtual MIDI port. This will enable MIDI CCs to be sent from MidiShaper to Maschine's Macros, which in turn can be assigned to control plugin instrument and effect parameters.

macOS has the IAC virtual MIDI driver built in, configured via the Audio MIDI Setup application in the Applications/Utilities folder. Windows users will need to install any of the numerous virtual MIDI drivers available for free online, such as MIDI Yoke or LoopBe, and open at least one virtual MIDI port.


Setting up MidiShaper

Start Maschine and go to File -> Audio and MIDI Settings.

In Audio and Midi Settings, enable the input and output of the virtual MIDI port.
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Set the first slot of any available Pad to 'MIDI Out'.
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Select a channel for MIDI output.
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Load MidiShaper into the second slot.
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Load your soft synth in the first slot on any free Pad.
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Right-click the pad and choose 'Sound MIDI Settings'.

Check 'Enable' and choose the channel selected earlier in the MIDI Out settings.
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Assignment of parameters

Assign the parameter you want to control with MidiShaper to a Macro in Maschine. This is done by right-clicking the parameter in any of the synth's 'Pages' and selecting a Macro from the Assign Macro Control submenu.
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The Macro-assigned parameter is indicated by a blue marker.

Next, head to the Group tab and enter the Macro page.

Right-click the Macro knob and assign it to 'CC 1'.
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When assigned, a grey marker will appear on the Macro knob.
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Go back to the Pad on which MidiShaper is loaded. Open MidiShaper and set the MIDI output to the IAC port.
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Assign one of MidiShaper's sources to CC 1 in the modulation matrix to modulate the Macro.