Keypad Pro

Starting with Bitwig version 5.3, the Keypad Pro is fully plug-and-play compatible. For versions prior to 5.3, please follow the steps outlined below:

Option 1: Installing Java Extensions (.bwextension)

1. Download the extension for your controller. In most cases, this is a ZIP file.
Download

2. Save the ZIP file in a place where you can easily find it again and unzip the file after the download is complete.

3. In the next step, copy or move the unzipped file (with the extension .bwextension) to a location where Bitwig Studio can find it. This differs depending on the operating system used:

macOS: Documents/Bitwig Studio/Extensions

Windows: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Bitwig Studio\Extensions

Linux: ~/Bitwig Studio/Extensions

After you have copied or moved the file with the extension .bwextension to the correct folder, start Bitwig Studio and go to Settings and Controller in the dashboard. Now you can try to have the controller recognized automatically or add it manually.

* If you are using Bitwig Studio 4.2.5 or higher, you can simply drag and drop the .bwextension file onto the open Bitwig Studio window. Bitwig Studio will automatically copy the file to the correct folder.

Option 2: Early Access Program

You can now opt in to receive "Early Access" notifications within Bitwig Studio. With this option checked (found under Dashboard > Settings > Behavior > Update notifications), you will get a notification in Bitwig when a pre-release or beta update is available. So if you only want final releases, leave this preference turned off and continue working on music.

Please find your Bitwig serial on the backside of the Keypad Pro:

macOS has native Wireless MIDI support, so setup is straight forward:

1. Enable Bluetooth on your Mac

- Go to System Settings → Bluetooth and turn it on

2. Open the MIDI Studio Panel

- Open Audio MIDI Setup (Finder → Applications → Utilities → Audio MIDI Setup)

- Click Window → Show MIDI Studio - Click the Bluetooth Icon (upper right) to open the Bluetooth MIDI window

3. Connect the Keypad Pro

- Turn on the Keypad Pro in Battery Mode. Press the Bluetooth Pairing button

- It should appear in the Bluetooth MIDI window

- Click Connect next to the device name

4. Enable the Keypad Pro in your DAW

- Open your DAW and go to your MIDI/Controller settings

- The Keypad Pro should now be visible under your connected MIDI devices

Setting up Wireless MIDI on Windows is not as straight forward as it is on macOS. Unlike macOS, which natively integrates Wireless MIDI devices into its MIDI framework, Windows does not automatically map Wireless MIDI devices to virtual MIDI ports. As a result, there is no simple plug-&-play experience for Wireless MIDI devices on Windows. To use Wireless MIDI on Windows, a third-party software solution is needed which can connect to a Wireless MIDI device and capture its data. Further third-party software is needed to create virtual MIDI ports that can be recognized by a DAW.