Interface Overview

This guide explains each element of the Gamepad MIDI interface in detail.

Main Window Layout

The Gamepad MIDI window is divided into three main sections:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [Update Notification] (if available)                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [ Player 1 ][ Player 2 ]                              [ + ] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Controller: [Steam Deck ▼]   MIDI Output: [Gamepad MIDI ▼]  │
├──────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┤
│                              │                              │
│                              │   Mapping Editor Panel       │
│   Gamepad Visualization      │   (Tabs and Controls)        │
│                              │                              │
│                              │                              │
├──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┤
│ [Pounding Systems Logo]                                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Top Section

Update Notification Banner

When a new version is available:

A notification banner appears at the top of the window
Shows the new version number and a brief description
"Download Update" button opens your browser to download
"Dismiss" button closes the notification
The notification can be permanently dismissed

Player Tabs

A row of tabs, one per player, with a + button at the right.

Click a tab to switch to that player. Everything below the tabs — the controller picker, MIDI output, visualisation and mapping editor — retargets to it.
+ adds a player, up to four.
Each tab except Player 1 has a small × to remove that player.

With a single player the row shows just Player 1, and can be ignored entirely. See Multiple Players for the full picture.

Controller Selector

Directly below the player tabs, on the left.

Lists every connected controller plus None, and assigns one to the player currently shown. A controller already claimed by another player is greyed out and labelled with that player's name.

If your system reports more controllers than you physically have — which some hardware does — this is where you choose the one that actually responds.

MIDI Device Selector

Sits to the right of the controller selector, on the same row:

Dropdown Menu:

Lists all available MIDI output devices
"Gamepad MIDI" - The virtual MIDI device (when available)
Hardware devices - Any connected MIDI hardware
"No device" option - Disables MIDI output

Selection:

Click to open the dropdown
Select a device to begin sending MIDI
The selection is remembered between sessions

Status Indicators:

Selected device name is displayed
Device changes take effect immediately

Left Panel: Gamepad Visualization

The left side of the window shows a real-time visual representation of your gamepad state.

Analog Sticks

Visual Representation:

Circular areas showing stick position
Crosshair indicates current position
Center position when not touched

Left Stick:

Shows X and Y axis position
Moves in real-time as you move the stick
Click indicator when pressed (L3)

Right Stick:

Shows X and Y axis position
Independent from left stick
Click indicator when pressed (R3)

Triggers

L2 / R2 (Left/Right Triggers):

Vertical bars showing analog trigger position
Fill from bottom to top as you press
Full height = fully pressed
Empty = released

Shoulder Buttons

L1 / R1 (Left/Right Shoulders):

Button indicators above triggers
Highlight when pressed
Digital on/off state

Face Buttons

A, B, X, Y Buttons:

Diamond layout (Xbox style) or other layouts depending on controller
Highlight when pressed
Digital on/off state
Color-coded for easy identification

D-Pad

Directional Pad:

Four-way directional indicator
Up, Down, Left, Right
Each direction highlights independently when pressed
Can press multiple directions simultaneously (e.g., Up+Right)

Touchpad (if supported)

Visual Area:

Rectangle representing the touchpad surface
Shows up to 2 finger positions
Finger positions shown as circles
Position updates in real-time

Touchpad Button:

Indicator shows when touchpad is pressed
Separate from touch/swipe detection

Motion Sensors (if supported)

Gyroscope:

Shows rotation on X and Y axes
Visual indicator shows current orientation
Enable/disable in the System tab

Accelerometer:

Shows acceleration on X and Y axes
Visual indicator shows current movement
Enable/disable in the System tab

Control Highlighting

When you interact with any control:

The control highlights in the visualization
The corresponding control in the mapping editor also highlights
This helps you identify which control you're touching
Useful when creating or testing mappings

Right Panel: Mapping Editor

The right side contains the mapping configuration interface.

Menu Bar

Located at the top of the mapping editor:

Presets Menu:

Click to open preset management options
Create, load, save, rename, delete, import, and export presets
Shows list of available presets
Current preset name is displayed in the menu

Always on Top Checkbox:

Toggle to keep Gamepad MIDI above all other windows
Useful when working with a DAW in the background
Persists between sessions

Tab Navigation

Vertical tabs on the left side organize controls into logical groups:

Control Tabs:

Left Stick - Left analog stick X, Y, and L3 button
Right Stick - Right analog stick X, Y, and R3 button
L Shoulder - Left trigger (L2) and shoulder button (L1)
R Shoulder - Right trigger (R2) and shoulder button (R1)
D-Pad - Directional pad: Up, Down, Left, Right
Face Buttons - A, B, X, Y buttons
Touchpad - Touchpad X, Y, pressure, and button
Gyroscope - Motion sensor X and Y axes
Accelerometer - Acceleration sensor X and Y axes
System - Global smoothing settings

Tab Interaction:

Click a tab to view its controls
Active tab is highlighted
Content area updates to show the selected tab's controls

Control Items

Within each tab, you'll see a list of available controls.

Control Item Display:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Control Name          Current Value: 64  │
│ [+ Add Mapping]                          │
│                                          │
│ Mappings:                                │
│ • CC 1 (Ch 1): Modulation  [Edit] [Del] │
│ • CC 7 (Ch 1): Volume      [Edit] [Del] │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┘

Elements:

Control Name - The name of the gamepad control
Current Value - Real-time value display
Add Mapping Button - Create a new MIDI mapping
Mapping List - Shows all mappings for this control
Edit Button - Modify an existing mapping
Delete Button - Remove a mapping

Control Highlighting:

When you activate a control on your gamepad, it highlights
Both the visualization and the mapping list highlight
Helps identify which control you're using

Smoothing Settings (System Tab)

The System tab contains global settings:

Individual Control Smoothing:

Left Stick Smoothing slider
Right Stick Smoothing slider
Left Trigger Smoothing slider
Right Trigger Smoothing slider
Touchpad Smoothing slider
Gyroscope Smoothing slider
Accelerometer Smoothing slider

Touchpad Settings:

"Return to Zero" checkbox - Makes touchpad values return to center when not touched

See Smoothing Settings for detailed information.

Bottom Section

Logo and About

Pounding Systems Logo:

Click the logo to open the About window
Shows version information
License status and management
Link to website

About Window Contents:

Application version
Copyright information
License status (trial, licensed, or unlicensed)
"Manage License" button (if licensing is enabled)
Website link

Window Behavior

Resizing

The window can be resized (within limits)
Gamepad visualization scales proportionally
Mapping editor remains a fixed width
Layout adjusts to maintain usability

Closing

When you close the window:

All mappings are automatically saved
Current MIDI device selection is saved
Window position and size are remembered
If you have unsaved preset changes, you'll be prompted

Always on Top

When enabled:

The window stays above all other applications
Useful for making adjustments while your DAW is visible
Persists between sessions
Toggle on/off via the checkbox in the mapping editor

Keyboard Shortcuts

Currently, Gamepad MIDI uses mouse-based interaction. Common actions:

Click tabs - Switch between control groups
Click buttons - Add, edit, or delete mappings
Click dropdown - Select MIDI device
Click logo - Open About window
Click checkbox - Toggle Always on Top

Visual Feedback

Activity Indicators

When MIDI is sent:

Control values update in real-time
Mapping items briefly highlight when MIDI is transmitted
Gamepad visualization updates continuously

When controls are activated:

Visual elements highlight immediately
Corresponding mapping editor items highlight
Value displays update

Status Messages

The application may display status messages for:

Gamepad connection/disconnection
MIDI device changes
Preset loading/saving
Update availability

Accessibility

Visual Design

High contrast interface elements
Clear button labels
Real-time value displays
Color-coded controls (where applicable)

Interaction

Large click targets for buttons
Clear hover states
Immediate visual feedback
Consistent layout across tabs

Tips for Effective Use

Use Always on Top: Keep Gamepad MIDI visible while working in your DAW
Watch Highlighting: Visual feedback helps confirm your mappings work
Organize with Tabs: Related controls are grouped logically
Monitor Values: Real-time value displays help with troubleshooting
Check the Visualization: Ensure your gamepad is responding correctly

Next Steps

MIDI Mapping Guide - Learn to create and configure mappings
Preset Management - Save and organize your configurations
Smoothing Settings - Fine-tune control behavior