Playing
The computer keyboard
The keyboard plays the pad grid by position, as on a VJ desk: the 1 row plays one row of pads, the Q row the next, then A and Z. The pads it reaches are outlined and show their key. It works on any keyboard layout.
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
1–=, Q–], A–\, Z–/ |
Play the outlined pads |
↑ ↓ |
Move the keys up or down a row |
← → (held) |
Scratch held Scratch clips back or forward |
Space |
Panic: stop everything |
Escape |
Black out the screen |
~ |
Performance mode (full screen) |
Keys play at velocity 100. For expression, use a MIDI controller.
MIDI
Padjam listens to every connected MIDI input unless you pick one in Options. It hears:
- Notes, with velocity. Velocity 64 is neutral: everything a plug-in does with velocity is unchanged at 64, softer below and stronger above.
- The mod wheel, which scratches held clips by default, and pitch bend, which speeds them up and slows them down (half to double, springing back to normal). Swap them or switch them off in Options → Wheels.
- Controllers (CC) that a note listens to, such as a Scratch clip's knob or a filter's cutoff.
- Program change, which switches patch in performance mode.
Options → Active channels chooses which MIDI channels Padjam hears; all sixteen is "omni".
Holding, sustain and panic
A note plays while held and stops when let go. Some plug-ins can play to their end instead (one-shot). Play & Hold (Options) keeps every note playing after you let go; play it again to stop it. Space stops everything at once.
Mouse and touch
Press and hold a pad to play it. Right-click a pad, or use its Edit button, to open its options.
Hot notes
With Hot notes on (Options), holding an assigned note for two seconds opens its options: handy when your hands are on the controller.