AudioSwift 3 is Here
AudioSwift 3 Is Here: Turn Your Mac Trackpad Into a Truly Playable Instrument Your trackpad was never meant to just point and click. AudioSwift 3 is officially out — and it transforms your MacBook trackpad and Magic Trackpad into a tactile, expressive MIDI controller you can actually play. Built for music producers, musicians, and audio engineers, v3 is our biggest update ever: more expressive, more integrated with your DAW, and finally designed to stay out of your way while you work.Whether you’re tweaking synth parameters, writing chords that actually move, or riding faders without reaching for a separate controller, it just feels faster. Watch it in action: https://youtu.be/zM6xHcRLd9Y What’s New That Actually Matters For Your Workflow 1. Trigger Mode Is Now a Performance Instrument This is not just pads anymore. We rebuilt Trigger Mode for songwriting and live playing: Play it like an instrument: New Arpeggio, Strum, and Free articulation modes with tilt control, velocity and timing humanization, and push/pull dynamics. Write better chords, faster: Expanded voicings, dedicated bass notes, new Guitar Mode voicing, and genre-based Chord Sets to jump-start ideas. More expressive control: Per-finger CC, Pitch Bend, and Pressure for both Chords and Keys, plus first/last finger priority and slide to adjacent notes/chords. Bigger and smarter: Up to 24 pads per view (80 total), 7 notes at once, undo/redo, color highlights, copy/paste voicings, and full key shortcuts for scales, octaves, and chords. 2. Mix and Sound Design Without Looking Away 16 Sliders in Slider Mode for controlling multiple plugin parameters at once. Real Ableton Live Integration: New dedicated AudioSwift Control Scripts for the Slider Mode (control Devices, Instrument Racks, Effect Racks). New 4-pad XY View and 14-bit high-resolution MIDI for ultra-smooth filter sweeps. Plus temporary axis-lock with CTRL / SHIFT and short-throw sliders for precision. Surround Panning in XY Mode built specifically for Pro Tools and Logic Pro. 3. Touch Is Now Modulation Your fingers are the modulation source: Touch Control: Send CC or Channel Pressure based on how much finger surface touches the trackpad. Force Touch Dynamics: Press harder to send CC or Pressure, with custom curves, min/max values, and quick-reset gestures. 4. Instant Recall, Right From Your DAW Save your favorite layouts as Snapshots and recall them with keys 1-0, or trigger them via Program Change from your DAW. Set mode, bank, view, MIDI channel, and velocity in one keystroke. 5. A Mixer That Finally Stays Out of The Way New DAW Support: Full Mixer Mode for Digital Performer, LUNA, and Studio One (now Fender Studio Pro) via FaderPort, plus the new Ableton Live Mixer Script. See what you’re doing: Real-time fader and pan values in the Console and Trackpad windows on supported DAWs. Non-intrusive by design: AudioSwift no longer forces itself to the foreground. Your plugin windows stay open while you tweak — a huge request from Ableton, Cubase, Bitwig, and Studio One users that is now fixed. Watch: New in AudioSwift Version 3 (3:53 min) https://youtu.be/tULv0Bj-jXU Launch Offer AudioSwift 3 is ready for macOS 27 Golden Gate and requires macOS 14 Sonoma or higher. Already own AudioSwift? This is a free update. Just download and go. New to AudioSwift? Get it for 30% off — $27.99 instead of $39.99 — until October 31. The download includes a completely rewritten User Guide. Download AudioSwift 3 View Complete Release Notes for v3General New Features and Improvements Now AudioSwift doesn’t require to be the foreground app on screen. Plugin windows won’t disappear when AudioSwift is turned on in Ableton Live, Bitwig Studio, Cubase, Studio One and Digital Performer. Any key shortcut not reserved for AudioSwift will be passed through to the DAW. New option to disable AudioSwift key shortcuts and keep using the DAW shortcuts. Go to Preferences > General or press CTRL + OPT + CMD + D. New option to unlock the cursor from input devices while AudioSwift is on. Using those devices lets you move the cursor without turning AudioSwift off. Go to Preferences > General or press CTRL + OPT + CMD + F. New options to choose which windows will open when AudioSwift is called and change the transparency of the Console and Trackpad windows. Go to Preferences > General. New GUI changes in the Console and Trackpad windows. New Snapshots feature for changing to specific views/banks and Controller Modes, by using key shortcuts 1 to 0, or recalling them with Program Change Messages from the DAW. Snapshots also allows to set the Console to a specific MIDI channels and velocity values. Go to the Main Menu. New MIDI Keys option to use the computer keyboard as a MIDI keyboard. Click the MIDI Keys icon in the Console window or press CMD + K to enable/disable. Press Z and X to change octaves; C and V to change velocities. New key shortcut CMD + H for opening/closing the Console Window. Press CMD + SHIFT + H to make the Console window always on top. New key shortcut CMD + J for opening/closing the Trackpad window. Press CMD + SHIFT + J to make the Trackpad Window always on top. New key shortcut CMD + Comma for opening/closing the Preferences window. New option to load specific settings from a preset file. A list for the most recent presets loaded are now shown. Go to the Main Menu. New option to turn AudioSwift off using a four or five fingers tap gesture. Go to Preferences > General. The SHIFT key command to turn off AudioSwift is now optional. Go to Preferences > General. New option to set the time AudioSwift is turned off automatically when no fingers are touching the trackpad. Set time from 0.1s to 60s. Go to Preferences > General. Removes key shortcuts Z, X, C and V. They are only available for the MIDI Keys or Surround Controller option when they’re enabled. Removes the arrow keys as key shortcuts for AudioSwift. It now requires to add the modifier CMD + arrow keys to change the MIDI channel and velocity values. Adds link for the AudioSwift Blog in the main menu. Adds warning message when Disable Controllers is clicked in the Main Menu. Adds an informational
Subdivisions MIDI Tool for Ableton Live 12
PRICE: US $10 Requires Ableton Live 12 and up with Max For Live installed. Subdivisions is a Max for Live transformation MIDI tool for Ableton Live 12, designed for changing the properties of notes depending on their positions on the grid. It will only apply changes to notes with a starting time close to a chosen subdivision value, like 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, etc., and they can be the odd notes (on-beat), the even notes (off-beat) or both. The properties changes available are pitch, velocity, position, duration, chance and velocity deviation. They can be applied in Relative, Absolute or Randomize Modes. This MIDI tool can also delete, mute or unmute the selected notes with additional conditions. Subdivisions is useful to add feel to MIDI clips, by having precise control of the separation between the on-beats and the off-beats (swing), and the dynamics between them. You can make a clip groove, accent certain notes, move the 2’s and 4’s ahead or behind the beat, quantize the starting and ending time of the notes separately, make two MIDI clips “play in the pocket”, and more. With MIDI clips on a loop, Subdivisions can apply chance and velocity deviation only to the off-beats for example, leaving the on-beats without changes or with different values. Watch Subdivisions Overview Subdivisions versus Find and Select MIDI Notes Ableton Live 12.1 introduced the new feature Find and Select MIDI Notes. It adds a workflow for selecting notes in the MIDI Note Editor, including searching for specific notes using different filters, like by a time range and notes count (similar to what Subdivisions can do). Although this new feature in Ableton Live 12.1 is really helpful for many things, there are a couple of advantages when using Subdivisions for transforming specific notes: Subdivisions MIDI tool gives quick access to select the notes and change six of their parameters. Instead of moving the mouse pointer around the clip view editor, with Subdivisions you go to one single panel, select the notes and apply the changes right there. Subdivisions MIDI tool has a great precision when selecting the notes, specially when they were recorded in realtime with no quantization. The Range parameter in Subdivisions helps to select the notes that are a little off from the subdivision line on the grid. When you try to do the same using with the Time filter in Find and Select MIDI Notes, some of the notes that are a little ahead of the grid line can be missed by the filter and it can only go down to a 1/16 range. Alternatively, with Subdivisions you can filter down to 1/64 and decide how much precision you want for the notes selection. Subdivisions MIDI tool can change the parameters of notes in Relative, Absolute and Randomize Modes, plus there’s an option to delete or mute notes with specified conditions. If you select notes using the Find and Select MIDI notes and then move the positions of those notes to manually create a swing effect, you’ll find that the adjacent notes can disappear when they overlap. With Subdivisions you won’t have this problem, because the selected notes will shorten their end times automatically without affecting the adjacent notes. Watch Transforming Arpeggios with Subdivisions DOWNLOAD USER GUIDE MORE ABLETON LIVE TOOLS
New AudioSwift Mixer Script for Ableton Live
I’ve released a new Ableton Live Script for the Mixer Mode in AudioSwift. AudioSwift Mixer Script (AMS) adds better control of the mixing section in Ableton Live using simple touch gestures on a trackpad. It works with the recent released AudioSwift version 2.3.7 beta and it has been tested in Ableton Live 10, 11 and the new 12 version. Previously, AudioSwift in Mixer Mode worked with the Mackie Control protocol (MCU). The protocol had a couple of limitations like clicking on a track and focusing the trackpad controller to that track. We can now select any track and the controller will be focused. We can even select a device parameter, and it will automatically map the parameter to the trackpad fader. The script also adds a couple of key shortcuts for commands in Ableton Live. Download the script and the current AudioSwift Beta version Use the AudioSwift Mixer Script for controlling faders and panning, while you can work with our previous AudioSwift Control Script for controlling multiple macros and device parameters at the same time. Both scripts will improve your workflow in Ableton Live, especially if you work mobile with a MacBook. Check out the video tutorial below on how to configure the AudioSwift Mixer Script in Ableton Live. MORE ABLETON LIVE TOOLS
Mixer Mode Support for Digital Performer and LUNA
With the introduction of AudioSwift version 2.3.7 Beta, the Mixer Mode now supports two more digital audio workstations: Digital Performer by MOTU and LUNA by Universal Audio. We can now control up to two faders at the same time plus the panning inside these DAWs, using simple touch gestures on a trackpad. Download the current AudioSwift Beta version MOTU Digital Performer Digital Performer is a well-established DAW amongst media composers. Its version 11 has many improvements with the Mackie Control protocol (MCU) and it works great with AudioSwift. I made a video tutorial on how to configure the Mixer Mode in Digital Performer 11. Universal Audio LUNA LUNA has become popular as a DAW of choice for mobile audio recordings. Now with AudioSwift in Mixer Mode, you can set the faders easily for a quick mix using a trackpad. Check out the video tutorial below to configure the Mixer Mode in LUNA.
A Surround Controller for your Trackpad & Magic Mouse
In the latest release of AudioSwift version 2.3.6 Beta, I added a new option to use the trackpad or the touch surface of the Magic Mouse, as a Surround Controller for Pro Tools and Logic Pro. This update is free for all users and I wrote guides to set it up. Click the links below to download. If you’re new to AudioSwift, it’s an app for macOS that transforms your trackpad and the touch surface of a Magic Mouse into MIDI controllers. By taping the trackpad with a four or five finger tap gesture, or by pressing a hotkey for the Magic Mouse, we activate AudioSwift to send MIDI using touches on the surface of the device. After we finish, we press the Esc key. AudioSwift comes with different controller modes and tools we can use for mixing, add expression to virtual instruments, make beats, MPE and more. One of these controller modes is the XY Mode, and now it has the option to set a trackpad or Magic Mouse as a wireless touch controller for the surround panner in Pro Tools and Logic Pro, to speed up the mixing workflow. We’ll work with different views for the trackpad and Magic Mouse via key shortcuts depending on the parameters we need to control. Pro Tools With Pro Tools we set AudioSwift in the Peripherals section as a SurroundPanner MIDI controller. All parameters in the surround panner can be controlled from the trackpad and Magic Mouse except Height and Size. This is due to a limitation with the SurroundPanner protocol that AudioSwift uses to connect with Pro Tools. Here is a video showing an overview of how it works with Pro Tools and a Magic Mouse. Logic Pro With Logic Pro we use a third-party driver to map most of the parameters of the 3D Object and Surround Panner. We also need to manually assign some parameters in the Controller Assignments window in Logic Pro to complete the configuration. Here is a video using a Magic Mouse as the controller in Logic Pro. I want to thank AudioSwift users Yushu Bao and Curtis Macdonald for their feedback and testing this new feature. If you want to try it out, click the links below. Get AudioSwift Beta Download User Guides
MPE Modifier – A New MaxForLive Device
UPDATED – May 7th, 2024 MPE Modifier is a free MaxForLive device that does two simple tasks. It changes the incoming Slide and Pressure MPE messages into Control Change messages per voice, and also replicates global messages like ModWheel, Pitch Bend, and Aftertouch to all MIDI channels. The new version 1.1 adds the option to change the Slide to Press messages. I designed this device to be used with the MPE Trackpad option in AudioSwift, but it should work with any MPE controller like Ableton Push 3. I also did it with U-he synths in mind, but feel free to use it with other virtual instrument plugins that don’t have full MPE support and work with multichannel MIDI, like Native Instruments Kontakt or Spectrasonics Omnisphere. The main idea of MPE Modifier is to change the default MPE messages to other CC numbers the virtual instrument usually works with. Also, any other MPE MaxForLive device before the instrument will keep responding to the default Slide CC74 and Pressure messages. Before designing MPE Modifier… U-he synths like Hive and Diva are multichannel but don’t have full MPE support. They don’t usually work with the MPE standard Slide CC74. All of their patches have parameters mapped by default to CC1 (ModWheel), CC2 (Ctrl A) or CC11 (Ctrl B). We would need to manually map those parameters to CC74 inside the plugin or change the CC number sent in the MPE controller. Both workarounds come with limitations, specially changing the CC inside the controller, since we can’t later edit the MIDI clip envelopes per voice if the CC number recorded is not the default Slide CC74. The other problem is with global messages that apply to all notes or voices. The MPE standard uses a Manager Channel (MIDI channel 1), to send the global ModWheel, Pitch Bend, and Aftertouch messages. U-he synths don’t use this Manager Channel and don’t apply the messages to the notes played in the Member Channels (MIDI Channels 2 to 16). Instead, the synths only apply these types of messages if they come in the same Member Channel as the Notes On/Off. Welcome MPE Modifier! Here is a video using the MPE Modifier with Diva and Arpex, an expressive MPE arpeggiator device designed by Mark Towers and sold on IsotonikStudios. AudioSwift is sending the standard Slide CC74 and Pressure messages via X and Y axes on the trackpad. Arpex is only reading Slide CC74 to add octaves notes to the pattern. Pressure is passed thru to the MPE Modifier, which changes the messages to CC1 or ModWheel. Diva then uses CC1 to modulate the filter cutoff frequency. If you want to try MPE Modifier, AudioSwift for macOS or get Arpex, please click the links below (Arpex is an affiliate link). And when you try AudioSwift, make sure to download our latest beta version, which includes a special Ableton Live Control Script for macros using your trackpad. SPECIAL NOTE: Sustain is another global message sent through the Manager Channel. However, depending on your current Ableton Live version, sending Sustain to all Member Channels could not work and could cause the notes to hang on. If this happens, disable the virtual instrument or press the stop button several times. This is not a bug of MPE Modifier. As of this writing, MPE Modifier was tested with Ableton Live 11.3.12 and sending sustain to all channels doesn’t work. New in version 1.1: Adds option to transform Slide messages to Press messages. Version 1.0: First version. Download MPE Modifier Get Arpex at IsotonikStudios Try AudioSwift for Free MORE ABLETON LIVE TOOLS
macOS Ventura Compatibility
AudioSwift 2.3.0 is compatible! AudioSwift, the macOS app that transforms the trackpad into a set of MIDI tools like sliders, XY pads and triggers, is compatible with the current macOS Ventura 13.0.1. We also tested AudioSwift beta version 2.3.2, which includes new features we’ve been developing and it works fine. We don’t recommend updating to macOS Ventura until you make sure your DAW and third-party plugins are fully compatible.
Try Out These New Features In Beta
UPDATED – September 16, 2026 I’ve been working on new features for AudioSwift version 3. I’ll be releasing what I have so far in beta versions, so users can try it out and implement these features in their workflow. Please, bookmark this page for future updates. Download the current beta version from the link below and watch the video tutorials. If it’s your first time using AudioSwift, make sure to follow these steps before running the app. IMPORTANT! – Before installing this beta version, please save your current AudioSwift settings and copy your license key code in a safe place. This is just a precaution if we need to go back to a previous stable version. Download Version 2.3.11 Beta, Ableton Live Tools & Surround Guides What’s new in Version 2.3.11 Beta? Supports macOS 27 Golden Gate. Updates the minimum requirement to macOS 14 Sonoma. To take advantage of modern macOS architecture and maintain long-term stability, version 2.3.11 Beta updates the minimum system requirement to macOS 14 Sonoma. If you are on macOS 14 Sonoma or newer (including Golden Gate): You are good to update! If you are currently running macOS 12 Monterey, macOS 13 Ventura, or older: Please do not update to AudioSwift 2.3.11 Beta. You should remain on version 2.3.10 to ensure your setup continues running smoothly. Version 2.3.10 Beta New 24 pads option in Trigger Mode. The number of total pads per Type increases from 60 to 80 pads. New Touch Control options for the Trigger, XY and Slider Modes. Send Control Change or Pressure messages by how much skin touches the trackpad and set minimum and maximum values. New Force Touch Control options for Trigger, XY and Slider Modes. Choose between Control Change or Pressure messages, and set minimum and maximum values. New Velocity sensitivity for Trigger Mode and Touch sensitivities options for Trigger, XY and Slider Modes. New Chords options, with more voicings, options for bass notes and a new Guitar Mode voicing. New CC, PitchBend and Pressure options for Chords. Choose option between the first finger played or the last finger played. New option to slide the finger to adjacent chords. New articulation modes arpeggios, strumming and free options for Chords with tilt, velocity variance, timing variance, and push/pull. The Keys type can now work in non-MPE mode (Single Channel) and send CC, Pitchbend and Pressure through only one of the fingers. Choose option between the first finger played or the last finger played. New option to slide the finger to adjacent notes. New option to set the pitch bend range for Keys and Chords, with up only option. New option to send automatic off/on sustain messages when a new pad is triggered. New Custom Scales options. New Chord Sets options covering different music genres. New options for pads: undo/redo, color highlights, switching, insert, reset chords, paste chords type and voicing. New key shortcuts in Trigger Mode for scales, octave, semitones, chords, voicings, bass notes, undo/redo, copy/paste. New option to click the bottom right corner of each pad in the Console Window using the cursor, and triggering the MIDI note while AudioSwift is off. New animation in the Console Window when the pad is triggered. New option for saving/loading banks in Trigger Mode. The options in the Trackpad window for showing notes, labels, or both in Trigger Mode are now saved per Type New option to set the time AudioSwift is turned off automatically when no fingers are touching the trackpad. Set time from 0.1s to 60s. Now to lock the X-Axis movement in XY mode and Trigger Mode is by pressing Command. Fixes responses of chord pads. Fixes a bug when activating AudioSwift with a hotkey and the trackpad didn’t respond with the first touches. Fixes the response of using the Shift Key to turn off AudioSwift. Removes key shortcuts Z, X, C and V. They’ll only available for the MIDI Keys or Surround Mode if they’re enabled. Version 2.3.9 Beta New Studio One support in Mixer Mode using the PreSonus FaderPort (2018) script instead of MCU (Mackie Control). Now you can select any track in the project and AudioSwift will be focused on that track. To set it up, go to AudioSwift > Preferences > Mixer tab and select Studio One FP as the Primary DAW in port 1. Then add PreSonus – Faderport (2018) in Studio One > Preferences > External Devices, and set AudioSwift 1 port for both input and output. Delete the old Mackie Control device if you previously had one configured for AudioSwift. Limitations: The second fader in View 3 is not supported. Sends, Jog Wheel and Master Fader are not supported. The track names and dB values are not displayed in the Console and Trackpad windows. Adds option to reset the faders and panning to default in Mixer Mode by using Force Touch. Move a fader or pan while applying pressure to the trackpad and lift the finger quickly. Reseting the pan with Force Touch is not supported in Pro Tools. Adds option to keep using the MIDI keys while AudioSwift’s key shortcuts are disabled. Changes key shortcuts for MIDI Keys. For octaves, use Z and X. For velocities , use C and V. Fixes aftertouch messages reseting to a value of zero when using Force Touch. Changes the minimum requirement to macOS 10.13 High Sierra. Fixes other minor bugs. Version 2.3.8 Beta? New Snapshots feature for changing to specific views/banks and Controller Modes using key shortcuts 1 to 0, or recalling them with Program Change Messages from the DAW. Snapshots also allows to set the Console to a specific MIDI channel and velocity value. Adds option to copy the labels from a Drum Rack in Ableton Live to the pad labels in Trigger Mode. It requires the AudioSwift Control Script for Ableton Live. Adds option to load specific settings from a preset file. Adds list in the main menu for the most recent presets loaded. Version 2.3.7 Beta Watch video tutorials for
NEW – AudioSwift 2.3.0 with Bitwig Studio Support & Universal Binary
AudioSwift has been updated to version 2.3.0, a free update to the macOS software that turns your trackpad into a MIDI controller. It’s now Universal Binary with native support for both Intel and Apple Silicon M1 computers, and has integration with Bitwig Studio in Mixer Mode. You can easily control faders and panning in Bitwig Studio using simple touch gestures on the trackpad, just like with other DAWs supported. This new version also improves the XY Mode in View 1 by separating the controllers per finger for complex modulation in sound design (go to Preferences > Slider & XY). It includes better support for the Magic Mouse when it’s used as a MIDI controller in Mixer Mode and adds a new key shortcut to open the trackpad utility window (press K). AudioSwift’s configuration with Bitwig Studio in Mixer Mode is done using the third-party script DrivenByMoss. Check out this new video tutorial to see how it works: Video – Working in Mixer Mode with Bitwig Studio – AudioSwift AudioSwift 2.3.0 is a free update for all existing users. Click Check for Updates in the app or download the file using the following link: New in version 2.3.0 Adds native support for both Intel & M1 Macs (Universal Binary). Adds Bitwig Studio support in Mixer Mode. Improved XY Mode in View 1; now the controllers can independently send MIDI messages by fingers. Go to Preferences > Slider & XY. Improved Magic Mouse support in Mixer Mode. New keyboard shortcut to open and close the trackpad window (press K). Fixes an issue when changing tracks and sends in Mixer Mode under Big Sur. Fixes an issue with the Touch Bar disappearing when it’s touched. Fixes an issue where Bank D doesn’t appear in the menu in Trigger Mode when the number of pads is set to 15. Fixes an issue when choosing Single Note chord option in Trigger Mode and selects Octave instead. Fixes an issue in XY Mode when clicking the Control Panel causing the Console to not change the view. Drops support for macOS 10.11.6 El Capitan. Now the minimum macOS requirement is 10.12 Sierra.
About Apple Silicon M1 Support & macOS Monterey
The latest AudioSwift version 2.2.4 works with both Intel and M1 Macs on macOS Big Sur, via the Rosetta 2 translation. I finally got an M1 MacBook Pro and I started porting AudioSwift’s code to be Universal Binary (UB). It’s running natively, however there are a couple of bugs I still need to check out. The next AudioSwift update will also include some new features and I’ll probably release a beta version first for you to try out. On June 7th Apple announced macOS 12 Monterey, the newest operating system. I haven’t downloaded the beta yet to tell if AudioSwift runs properly. I normally wait for a couple of macOS revisions before doing a test. I’ll keep you informed. For the last 3 years since AudioSwift was first released, all updates have been free and they will continue like that. I’ll keep maintaining AudioSwift as long as I have health, time and when Apple’s updates still allow the app to do what it’s designed for. I’ll appreciate that if you like AudioSwift, please recommend it to someone else when you have a chance. New purchases help maintaining the app and adding new features. Best regards, Nigel Rios Developer of AudioSwift