Triggering with a controller
Once a hardware controller is connected and its keys are assigned to actions, you can fire slots and drive shows without ever reaching for the mouse — which means you keep your eyes on the event. This page is about using a controller during a live show. To connect a controller and assign its keys, see External control.
Fire slots from a controller
Pressing a key that is assigned to TriggerSlot is identical to pressing that slot on the slot grid. The slot starts playing immediately, routed to the same mixer and canvas you configured when you set it up.
On a Launchpad, keys bound to slots light up automatically in each slot's colour. When a slot is playing, its key stays lit so you always know what is active at a glance. When the slot finishes or you stop it, the key returns to its normal lit colour.
You can fire more than one slot at the same time by pressing multiple keys quickly. Each slot plays independently through its own mixer and canvas.
Navigate layers from a controller
If your slots are organised across multiple layers, you can switch layers without touching the mouse. Keys assigned to SwitchLayer, NextLayer, or PreviousLayer move the slot grid to the target layer instantly.
On a Launchpad, the lit keys update to reflect the slots on the new layer as soon as you switch.
Run global actions from a controller
Keys can be bound to actions that affect the whole show at once. These work exactly as the matching on-screen controls do:
| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| FadeOutAll | Fades every active source to silence and black. |
| PauseAll | Pauses every running show. |
| StopAll | Stops every running show and all active slots. |
| BlackoutAll | Cuts every canvas to black immediately. |
StopAll and BlackoutAll affect every active source and canvas at the same time. Bind these actions to a key that is easy to identify under stage lighting and hard to press by accident.
Control shows from a controller
You can start, stop, pause, and advance named shows without switching to the Shows view. Keys assigned to show actions carry the name of the show with them, so the right show responds no matter which layer or view is on screen.
The SelectNextShow and SelectPrevShow keys move the selection in the Shows view, and PlaySelectedShow / StopSelectedShow / GoSelectedShow act on whichever show is currently selected — useful when you want one set of keys to drive any show.
If a key does nothing
Work through these checks in order:
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Check that the controller is physically connected. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable if you are not sure, then open Configuration → External Control and confirm the controller appears in the Controllers list.
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Check that the controller is enabled. Select the controller in the Controllers list. If the Enabled toggle is off, switch it on. A disabled controller accepts no input even when connected.
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Check that the key is assigned. In the Controllers list, select your controller and look at the layout view. Assigned keys are highlighted; unassigned keys are dimmed. If the key you pressed is dimmed, it has no action bound to it — see External control to add an assignment.
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Try the action on screen. Press the matching slot or button in the app. If the on-screen action works but the key does not, the assignment or the connection is the issue. If neither works, check whether the slot is configured correctly.
For further help, see Troubleshooting.
See also
- External control — connect a controller and assign keys to actions.
- Controller and keyboard reference — full list of supported controllers and available actions.
- The slot grid — fire and manage slots from the screen.