Trigger Types

Triggers define when an action should execute. Conductor supports a wide range of trigger types from simple note presses to complex patterns like chords and long presses.

Core Triggers

Note

Basic MIDI note on/off detection.

[trigger]
type = "Note"
note = 60  # Middle C
velocity_min = 1  # Optional: minimum velocity (default 1)

Parameters:

• note (integer): MIDI note number (0-127)
• velocity_min (integer, optional): Minimum velocity to trigger (default 1)

Use Cases:

• Simple pad presses
• Piano key detection
• Basic button mapping

VelocityRange

Different actions based on how hard you press.

[trigger]
type = "VelocityRange"
note = 60
min_velocity = 80
max_velocity = 127

Parameters:

• note (integer): MIDI note number
• min_velocity (integer): Minimum velocity (0-127)
• max_velocity (integer): Maximum velocity (0-127)

Velocity Levels:

• Soft: 0-40
• Medium: 41-80
• Hard: 81-127

Use Cases:

• Soft press for play, hard press for stop
• Different shortcuts based on press intensity
• Expressive control mappings

LongPress

Detect when a pad is held for a duration.

[trigger]
type = "LongPress"
note = 60
min_duration_ms = 1000  # Hold for 1 second

Parameters:

• note (integer): MIDI note number
• min_duration_ms (integer): Minimum hold duration in milliseconds (default 2000)

Use Cases:

• Hold for 2s to quit app (prevent accidental quits)
• Short tap for screenshot, long press for screen recording
• Confirmation for destructive actions

DoubleTap

Detect quick double presses.

[trigger]
type = "DoubleTap"
note = 60
max_interval_ms = 300  # Optional: max time between taps

Parameters:

• note (integer): MIDI note number
• max_interval_ms (integer, optional): Maximum interval between taps (default 300ms)

Use Cases:

• Double-tap to toggle fullscreen
• Quick double-tap for emergency actions
• Gesture-based shortcuts

NoteChord

Multiple notes pressed simultaneously.

[trigger]
type = "NoteChord"
notes = [60, 64, 67]  # C major chord
max_interval_ms = 100  # Optional

Parameters:

• notes (array): List of MIDI note numbers
• max_interval_ms (integer, optional): Maximum time between first and last note (default 100ms)

Use Cases:

• Emergency exit (press 3 corners simultaneously)
• Complex shortcuts requiring multiple pads
• Safety mechanisms for important actions

CC (Control Change)

Continuous controller messages.

[trigger]
type = "CC"
cc = 1  # Modulation wheel
value_min = 64  # Optional: trigger only when value >= 64

Parameters:

• cc (integer): Control change number (0-127)
• value_min (integer, optional): Minimum value to trigger

Use Cases:

• Button presses sending CC messages
• Threshold-based triggers
• Binary on/off switches

EncoderTurn

Encoder rotation with direction detection.

[trigger]
type = "EncoderTurn"
cc = 2
direction = "Clockwise"  # or "CounterClockwise"

Parameters:

• cc (integer): Control change number
• direction (string): “Clockwise” or “CounterClockwise”

Use Cases:

• Volume control with encoder
• Mode switching (clockwise = next, counter-clockwise = previous)
• Parameter adjustment

Advanced Triggers

Aftertouch

Channel pressure sensitivity (pressure after initial press).

[trigger]
type = "Aftertouch"
note = 1  # Optional: specific pad (omit for channel aftertouch)
min_pressure = 64  # Optional: minimum pressure
max_pressure = 127  # Optional: maximum pressure

Parameters:

• note (integer, optional): Specific pad for polyphonic aftertouch (omit for channel aftertouch)
• min_pressure (integer, optional): Minimum pressure value (0-127)
• max_pressure (integer, optional): Maximum pressure value (0-127)

Aftertouch Types:

• Polyphonic (0xA0): Per-pad pressure (Maschine Mikro MK3, Launchpad Pro)
• Channel (0xD0): Global pressure for entire device (most MIDI keyboards)

Use Cases:

• Apply pressure to modulate effects
• Pressure-sensitive volume control
• Expression control without additional hardware

Device Compatibility:

Configuration Examples:

# Basic aftertouch trigger
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Effect intensity via pressure"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "Aftertouch"
note = 1
min_pressure = 64
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "osascript -e 'set volume 50'"

# Pressure ranges for different actions
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Soft pressure"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "Aftertouch"
note = 2
min_pressure = 1
max_pressure = 64
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "1"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Hard pressure"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "Aftertouch"
note = 2
min_pressure = 65
max_pressure = 127
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "2"

Throttling Options:

Aftertouch generates continuous messages. Use throttling to control message rate:

[advanced_settings.aftertouch]
throttle_ms = 50        # Max 20 messages/sec
delta_threshold = 5     # Only trigger on ±5 pressure change
hysteresis_gap = 10     # Prevent zone oscillation

PitchBend

Touch strip or pitch wheel control (14-bit precision).

[trigger]
type = "PitchBend"
min_value = 8192   # Center
max_value = 16383  # Max up
center_deadzone = 100  # Optional: ignore small movements near center

Parameters:

• min_value (integer): Minimum bend value (0-16383)
• max_value (integer): Maximum bend value (0-16383)
• center_deadzone (integer, optional): Deadzone size around center (8192)

Value Range:

• Full Range: 0-16383 (14-bit resolution)
• Center: 8192
• Down: 0-8191
• Up: 8193-16383
• Normalized: -1.0 to +1.0

Use Cases:

• Touch strip for volume control
• Timeline scrubbing in DAWs
• Smooth parameter sweeps
• Multi-zone selection (divide strip into regions)

Configuration Examples:

# Volume control with touch strip
[[global_mappings]]
description = "Volume up via touch strip"
[global_mappings.trigger]
type = "PitchBend"
min_value = 8192  # Center
max_value = 16383  # Max up
center_deadzone = 100
[global_mappings.action]
type = "VolumeControl"
operation = "Up"

# Multi-zone mapping (divide strip into 5 zones)
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Zone 1: Far Left"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "PitchBend"
min_value = 0
max_value = 3276  # 20% of range
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "1"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Zone 2: Left"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "PitchBend"
min_value = 3277
max_value = 6553  # 40% of range
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "2"

# Center detection
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Reset on center touch"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "PitchBend"
min_value = 8092  # Center - 100
max_value = 8292  # Center + 100
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "r"
modifiers = ["cmd"]

Throttling Options:

Pitch bend generates 100-1000+ messages/sec. Use throttling:

[advanced_settings.pitch_bend]
throttle_ms = 50         # Max 20 messages/sec
delta_threshold = 100    # Trigger only on ±100 change
use_zones = true         # Zone-based triggering
num_zones = 16           # 16 discrete zones

Spring-Back Behavior:

Many controllers (Maschine Mikro MK3, MIDI keyboards) auto-return to center:

• Returns to 8192 when released
• Not suitable for persistent state/toggles
• Use for momentary effects only
• Spring-back generates message flood on release

Platform Notes:

• macOS: Full 14-bit support, no special handling
• Linux: Some ALSA drivers may reverse MSB/LSB byte order
• Windows: Supported, but some USB MIDI drivers have 10-50ms latency

Trigger Composition

Triggers can work together for complex behaviors:

Example: Conditional Trigger

# Only trigger during specific time range
[[modes.mappings]]
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "Note"
note = 60
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Conditional"
conditions = [{ type = "TimeRange", start = "09:00", end = "17:00" }]
then_action = { type = "Shell", command = "work-task" }
else_action = { type = "Shell", command = "personal-task" }

Performance Notes

• Note/CC: <0.1ms detection latency
• LongPress: Checked every 50ms
• DoubleTap: 300ms window (configurable)
• Chord: 100ms window (configurable)
• Aftertouch: Continuous messages, use throttling
• PitchBend: Continuous messages, 14-bit precision

Troubleshooting

Trigger Not Firing

• Use midi_diagnostic tool to verify MIDI messages:

  cargo run --bin midi_diagnostic 2
  

• Check note numbers match MIDI output
• Verify velocity thresholds
• Enable debug logging: DEBUG=1 cargo run

Aftertouch Not Working

• Check device compatibility (not all controllers support aftertouch)
• Verify polyphonic vs channel aftertouch
• Test with midi_diagnostic tool
• Adjust pressure thresholds

PitchBend Jittery

• Increase center_deadzone value
• Enable throttling in advanced_settings
• Use delta_threshold for change-based triggering
• Consider zone-based triggering instead of continuous

Chord Not Detected

• Increase max_interval_ms (default 100ms)
• Press pads more simultaneously
• Check with midi_diagnostic for timing
• Verify all note numbers correct

See Also

• Action Types
• Configuration Examples
• Modes and Mappings
• Advanced Settings