Choosing a Page Turner or MIDI Controller¶
At the page boundary, both hands are still on the instrument. If that is the only interruption you need to remove, start with a device for previous/next pages. A MIDI controller is useful when you also need to change songs or start a prepared backing track with your feet.
| What you want to do | Choose |
|---|---|
| Turn to the previous and next page | A keyboard-style page-turning device |
| Turn pages plus move songs, play/stop, control the metronome, or move cues | A MIDI external controller |
Both kinds can say Bluetooth on the box. Choose by what the device sends—keyboard keys or MIDI—not by Bluetooth alone. You can first test page movement with an external keyboard you already have before choosing a pedal.
For previous and next pages only: a keyboard-style page turner¶
This is a keyboard-style device that sends arrow keys or Page Up / Page Down. It suits simple previous/next page turns. iRig BlueTurn is an example of this kind of device.
Connect it in your device's Bluetooth settings or equivalent. You do not connect it inside PagePilot. Then open a score and confirm that it moves to the expected previous and next pages. This kind of device does not appear in PagePilot's MIDI devices settings.
Set the device to send arrow keys or Page Up / Page Down. Try two pages of your actual score, then move back once. The trial is complete when the intended button moves the intended direction. Product settings can change what a switch sends, so check that mode if nothing happens.
For song flow and playback too: a MIDI external controller¶
A USB or Bluetooth MIDI external controller can turn pages and also move to the previous or next song in a setlist, play/stop, control the metronome, and move to cues within a song. In the app, this is labelled External Controller.
Connect MIDI devices inside PagePilot. Open MIDI devices under Advanced settings in Global Settings, then select the device from Connect a device. The first time you use Bluetooth MIDI, allow PagePilot to use Bluetooth.
Then match Score control under MIDI input channels to the controller's sending channel. Its default is 2. A connected controller does not control anything until this channel matches. Use Receive check to check the device name, sending channel, and incoming messages.
Prepare only the switches you will use¶
For a first trial, assign one switch to next page: CC 23, on the Score control channel. Open a score and press it once. Once that works, assign the other actions your performance needs from the table. CC (Control Change) numbers tell Viewer which action a switch requests.
| CC number | Action |
|---|---|
| 20 / 21 | Previous song / Next song |
| 22 / 23 | Previous page / Next page |
| 24 | Play / Stop |
| 25 | Metronome |
| 26 / 27 | Previous cue / Next cue |
You do not have to assign every action. Song movement works when you opened a song from a setlist; play/stop and cue movement work for a song with a timeline.
Examples when choosing a product¶
IK Multimedia iRig BlueBoard is a MIDI foot controller whose CC-sending mode uses its four switches for previous song, next song, previous page, and next page. XSONIC AIRSTEP LITE lets you assign the CC numbers you need to its five switches in its companion app. With either controller, choose only the actions you need for the performance and test them with the actual device and songs first.
Connected, but the score does not move¶
- For a keyboard-style device, confirm its key-sending mode and test previous/next pages with the score open. It will not appear in MIDI devices.
- For a MIDI device, use Receive check. If no message arrives, check the connection. If a message arrives but no action follows, compare the Score control channel and CC number. See MIDI Device Picker for first-time pairing checks.
- Bluetooth alone does not tell you which it is. Check the product description to see whether it sends keyboard arrow keys or MIDI.
Before a performance, check battery level, automatic sleep, connection state, and every switch you will use with your actual setlist and songs. For full connection and assignment details, see the MIDI Device Picker and Score Viewer manuals.