Tutorial

Getting Started with MIDI on TBD-16

January 28, 2026 · dadamachines · midi, getting-started

Getting Started with MIDI on TBD-16

The TBD-16 features a standard 5-pin DIN MIDI input and thru port, making it easy to integrate into any hardware setup. This post walks you through the basics.

Connecting MIDI

1. Connect a MIDI cable from your controller’s MIDI OUT to the TBD-16’s MIDI IN port.

2. Open the web UI and navigate to the plugin you want to control.

3. Use the MIDI mapping section to assign CCs to parameters.

MIDI mapping tips

• Use CC learn: Click a parameter knob, then move a physical knob on your controller. The TBD-16 will auto-detect the CC number.

• Channel filtering: Each plugin slot can listen on a specific MIDI channel, so you can control two plugins independently.

• Note triggers: Some plugins (like BBeats and Bjorklund) respond to MIDI note-on messages for triggering events.

What about MIDI over USB?

The TBD-16 currently supports traditional 5-pin DIN MIDI. USB MIDI support is on the roadmap for a future firmware update.

For the full reference, see the hardware documentation.

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