Conductor vs Alternatives
Choosing the right automation tool? Here’s how Conductor compares to popular alternatives.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Conductor | Stream Deck | Keyboard Maestro | Karabiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (MIT) | $150-300 | $36 | Free |
| MIDI Support | ✅ Full | ❌ None | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ None |
| Gamepad Support | ✅ Full (v3.0) | ❌ None | ❌ None | ❌ None |
| Velocity Sensitivity | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Hot-Reload | ✅ <10ms | ❌ No | ⚠️ Slow | ✅ Fast |
| RGB LED Feedback | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Per-App Profiles | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Response Latency | <1ms | ~5-10ms | ~2-5ms | <1ms |
| Platform | macOS (Linux/Win planned) | macOS/Windows | macOS only | macOS only |
| Customization | Unlimited (TOML + GUI) | GUI only | GUI + AppleScript | Complex JSON |
| Hardware Cost | $0 (reuse existing) | $150+ (proprietary) | Any keyboard | Any keyboard |
Winner By Use Case
🎹 Music Production → Conductor
Why: Only tool with full MIDI + velocity sensitivity + gamepad support. Turn existing hardware into professional control surfaces.
Example: Use Maschine pads for velocity-sensitive recording while Xbox controller handles DAW navigation.
🎮 Gaming Hardware → Conductor
Why: Only automation tool supporting gamepads, racing wheels, flight sticks, and HOTAS controllers.
Example: Repurpose your $30 Xbox controller as a 15-button macro pad instead of buying a $150 Stream Deck.
💰 Budget-Conscious → Conductor
Why: Free + works with hardware you already own = $0-$300 savings.
Comparison:
- Conductor: Free (use existing Xbox/MIDI controller)
- Stream Deck: $150-300 + proprietary hardware
- Keyboard Maestro: $36/license + keyboard only
🖱️ Plug-and-Play Simplicity → Stream Deck
Why: Zero configuration, visual GUI, works out of the box.
Trade-off: Limited to Stream Deck hardware, no MIDI/gamepad, no velocity sensitivity, expensive.
⚙️ Maximum Flexibility → Conductor
Why: Hybrid MIDI+gamepad, open-source, unlimited customization, hot-reload.
Example: Combine MIDI pads (recording) + Xbox controller (navigation) + racing wheel pedals (effects) in one workflow. No other tool can do this.
💻 Keyboard-Only Automation → Keyboard Maestro or Karabiner
Why: Mature, keyboard-focused automation with macOS integration.
Trade-off: No MIDI, no gamepads, no velocity sensitivity, slower reload.
Quick Decision Guide
Choose Conductor if you:
- ✅ Own a MIDI controller or gamepad
- ✅ Want velocity-sensitive actions (one button = multiple functions)
- ✅ Need hybrid MIDI+gamepad workflows
- ✅ Want to reuse existing hardware (save $150+)
- ✅ Value open-source and customization
Choose Stream Deck if you:
- ✅ Want zero-configuration plug-and-play
- ✅ Don’t own MIDI/gamepad hardware
- ✅ Prefer visual button displays
- ✅ Budget isn’t a concern ($150-300)
Choose Keyboard Maestro if you:
- ✅ Only need keyboard-based macros
- ✅ Want mature macOS integration
- ✅ Don’t need MIDI/gamepad support
Choose Karabiner if you:
- ✅ Need deep keyboard remapping
- ✅ Want free solution (keyboard only)
- ✅ Don’t mind complex JSON configuration
Unique Conductor Advantages
1. Velocity Sensitivity (Unmatched)
No other tool offers this: Soft/medium/hard press = different actions on the same button.
Example: Press pad softly = copy, press hard = paste. One pad, two functions.
2. Hybrid Multi-Protocol (v3.0)
No other tool supports: MIDI + gamepads simultaneously in one workflow.
Example: MIDI pads for recording + Xbox controller for navigation + racing wheel for effects.
3. Repurpose Existing Hardware
Save $150-300: Use Xbox controller, PlayStation DualSense, MIDI keyboard you already own instead of buying Stream Deck.
4. Open Source & Free
MIT licensed: No subscriptions, no vendor lock-in, community-driven development.
5. Blazing Fast (<1ms latency)
Lowest latency: Hot-reload in <10ms, event processing <1ms, daemon architecture.
Migration Guides
From Stream Deck
- Export your Stream Deck button layouts
- Map buttons to gamepad/MIDI IDs in Conductor
- Import provided template configs
- Save $150+ by reusing existing hardware
See Stream Deck Migration Guide →
From Keyboard Maestro
- Export keyboard shortcuts list
- Map shortcuts to MIDI/gamepad triggers
- Add velocity sensitivity for multi-function buttons
- Gain MIDI/gamepad support KM doesn’t have
See Keyboard Maestro Migration Guide →
Frequently Compared
“Can I use Conductor alongside Stream Deck?”
Yes! Conductor and Stream Deck can coexist. Use Stream Deck for visual buttons, Conductor for MIDI/gamepad + velocity sensitivity.
“Is Conductor harder to configure than Stream Deck?”
Initial setup: Conductor requires TOML config or GUI (5-10 min), Stream Deck is plug-and-play (1 min).
Long-term: Conductor’s hot-reload (<10ms) is faster than Stream Deck’s UI reconfiguration. Visual MIDI Learn mode makes config easy.
“Why not just use Keyboard Maestro?”
Keyboard Maestro is excellent for keyboard-only macros, but lacks:
- MIDI support
- Gamepad support
- Velocity sensitivity
- Fast hot-reload
- Hybrid multi-protocol workflows
Conductor is the only tool supporting MIDI+gamepad+velocity in one workflow.
Try Conductor Free
No commitment, no credit card, no proprietary hardware required.