MIDI
Main Menu -> System -> MIDI
Gamma comes equipped with both MIDI1.0 and the new MIDI2.0 protocol over USB-C.
Protocol Selection
MIDI -> Protocol
MIDI1.0
Manually force Gamma to use the MIDI1.0 protocol.
MID2.0
Manually force Gamma to use the MIDI2.0 protocol.
AUTO
USB MIDI advertises two alternate settings: Alt 0 (MIDI1.0, standard USB-MIDI packets) and Alt 1 (MIDI2.0 UMP with protocol negotiation). The host picks which one to use.
Input
MIDI -> Notes/Chords
Hook up a keyboard, sequencer, or DAW and play Gamma's synth engine externally. Each voice has its own input channel:
| Setting | What it does |
| MIDI -> Note -> In Ch | Incoming notes on this channel drive the note voice (mono, last-note priority with note stack) |
| MIDI -> Chord -> In Ch | Incoming notes on this channel drive the chord voice (4-voice paraphonic, voice stealing) |
Set them to the same channel and only the note voice responds (no double-trigger). Set them to different channels to play both voices simultaneously from a split keyboard or two sequencer tracks.
When no input channels are configured (Off), Gamma ignores incoming notes entirely.
Mono mode gives you last-note priority with an 8-deep note stack. Hold a chord on the keyboard, release notes one by one, and the pitch walks back through held notes. Classic mono synth behavior.
Poly mode allocates up to 4 voices across the chord oscillators (each with a detuned pair). It's paraphonic, all 4 voices share one ADSR, which gives it that classic Korg Mono/Poly character where the envelope breathes with the whole chord.
Output
MIDI -> Notes/Chords
Physical button presses generate MIDI output so Gamma can control external synths, eurorack modules, or record into a DAW:
| Setting | What it does |
| MIDI -> Note -> Out Ch | Note voice buttons send on this channel |
| MIDI -> Chord -> Out Ch | Chord voice buttons send on this channel |
| MIDI -> Note -> Vel Src | Sets the source of the note voice velocity (100%, Knob 1, Knob 2, Stk X, Stk Y, CC) |
| MIDI -> Chord -> Vel Src | Sets the source of the chord voice velocity (100%, Knob 1, Knob 2, Stk X, Stk Y, CC) |
Set a channel to Off to play locally without sending MIDI. Gamma batches output messages into single USB transfers, so chord triads (3 simultaneous note-ons) arrive together instead of racing against USB timing.
Knobs send CC on channels 1-2, thumbsticks on channels 3-4 by default.
Thru
MIDI -> Thru
Enable MIDI -> Thru and Gamma forwards everything it receives to MIDI output. Put Gamma in the middle of a chain: keyboard -> Gamma (plays + forwards) -> eurorack/external synth. The gamma makes sound AND the downstream device gets the same notes.
CC Mapping
Output (default):
|
Source |
Channel |
CC Numbers |
|---|---|---|
|
Chord knob 1 |
1 |
CC 0 |
|
Chord knob 2 |
1 |
CC 1 |
|
Note knob 1 |
2 |
CC 0 |
|
Note knob 2 |
2 |
CC 1 |
|
Note stick (4 axes) |
3 |
CC 0-3 |
|
Chord stick (4 axes) |
4 |
CC 0-3 |
Manually set the CC of both the thumbsticks and knobs in MIDI -> Sticks/Chords -> Out Ch
Input:
Mod wheel (CC 1) controls vibrato, CC 7/11 control volume, CC 64 is sustain, CC 71/74 map to filter resonance/cutoff.
Thumbstick Modes
MIDI -> Sticks -> Note X/Note Y/Chord X/Chord Y
There are two thumbstick modes available:
BEND
Bend allows you to use the thumbstick to bend the MIDI CC on any one of the 4 knobs. To use, enable Sticks -> Note X/Note Y/Chord X/Chord Y -> Mode -> Bend and select Knob -> K1/K2/K3/K4.
💡TIP: You can set the range of the bend from MIDI -> Bend Rng
CC
CC allows you to use the thumbsticks as a normal CC output (like the knobs). To use, enable Sticks -> Out Ch -> On and set the CC Sticks -> Note X/Note Y/Chord X/Chord Y -> CC
MIDI Monitor
MIDI -> MIDI Monitor
Gamma's MIDI Monitor shows both incoming and outgoing MIDI messages. Helpful for debugging. Press and hold the key selection encoder to exit.