I think a touchscreen midi software directory is overdue & would be helpful to showcase whats available & possible.And also support, encourage & provide feedback to developers without having to register on boards or message them.

Many Gs posters are frustrated with hardware controllers but touch screen users are also frustrated.

Multi touch software has been neglected on desktops. ( Lemur & TouchOSC applications were available on Android & iOS tablets in 2010 ) The perception is that the daw manufacturers are not going to provide full support as their software has to be rebuilt & the touch screen interfaces will also compete with hardware.

User indignation seeking software to control software.

Touch screen software is competing with a mouse or trackball & dedicated hardware so sales will be limited. Users are always seeking new products because some are unstable or may become unsupported without any advance notification.The user base is also driven by coders who emphasise utility but overlook or sacrifice design & integration.

Observations.

A user will choose a daw or multimedia software because of it's design , interface & workflow. A touch screen user does not have much choice.The touch screen software is functional & serves many requirements but is usually tonally out of place with the software it's supposed to support or bridge. A common complaint is that too many interfaces lack texture ,identity & have a very sterile appearance..( Many interfaces & the colour schemes are also interchangeable if you view them via image search. )

Cognitive Overload.

Many touch screen interfaces are also not photogenic.There's also a desire to cram every feature or function on one screen in promotions.Potential customers just revert back to using a mouse , trackball or hardware out of frustration.

Touch screen midi software directory 2020

OSC/PILOT


Oscpilot's menu interface is very detailed.Channel faders or dials can be calibrated so they automate & revert back to a specific position.There's an option to control the illumination levels behind every selected component.There's also a Network Device Interface (A widget for monitoring video streams) & 32 workspaces for constructing interfaces.

You can rapidly construct & resize batches of channel faders , pads or piano scales.It has Open Sound Control ( OSC ) & there's also opportunities for coders to enhance some features.

Version 0.98.4.is Windows only & does not have bi-directional midi, a jog wheel or endless encoders.

All screenshots taken on 21 inch monitor.

GigPerformer. version 3.8.0.

GigPerformers features include advanced midi learn. Patch or program changing.It also has OSC support , scripts & can host vst plugins.

Gigperfomer has several interfaces. The front interface is where you create your rack & compile & scale your widgets.The widgets connect directly to the Vst plugin , controller, software etc. The rear interface is where you insert your vst's route your midi , audio & osc & much more. There also another interface where you insert scripts.

I created over 32 rackspaces.

4 screenshots taken on 21 inch monitor. (The rack interface & channel slider widgets are fully expanded )

SaveTheHuman5 Chameleon.

Chameleon is Windows only & requires a Hd resolution. Images & also animated images can be inserted into the interface & can send & receive midi notes.The images will also illuminate or dim when active or inactive which is ideal for theming & personalising macros. Rectangular & circular shapes can also be removed from it's interface to enable layering & close up integration with software sharing the same window. This overlaying feature is useful for tablet pc's , single screen users.

Chameleon v1.09 has 12 workspaces for interfaces & does not have OSC.

FeelYourSound Xotopad 2.9 ( Windows )


Xotopad has four tabs which are your workspaces & you load the presets into the tabs. It's most powerful feature is it's database of musical scales & presets.

Xotopad caters to users who just want to perform without having to build interfaces & assign notes ,edit labels etc.You can create your own interface but you can't place the components anywhere you like. Xotopad 2.9 does not have bi-directional midi, a jog wheel or endless encoders.



Isopad is a free version of the software ( Restricted to midi note ) which has 3 workspaces

Touchscreen monitors.

A touchscreen monitor needs a usb cable for the touch surface & some require drivers.The touch screen functions will also still be active when the video cable is disconnected & power is turned off.


Windows

The screen will need calibrating in the tablet pc settings menu. These settings may not appear in the control panel unless you use a specific video connection. I avoid purchasing touchscreens which require drivers as they may restrict it's use when experimenting.

Eg Virtual machines , Hackintosh or Android tv boxes.


Screenshot of control & calibration panel Windows 8.1

ZenDaw version 1.08 ( Windows )


ZenDaw is a touch screen utility for Cubase or Nuendo. The interface provides direct access to key commands and functions.

An xml document is placed inside the key commands folder , project logical edit or logical edit folder.

Not controllers, but DAWs:

Both Bitwig Studio and Cakewalk support multi-touch on Windows 10. They also support pen for automation and other things.

My desktop has a large 4k screen, without touch. I recently picked up one of these for touch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Prior to that, I used a small GeChick 1303i with 10pt touch. It also has vesa mounting, but only if you buy their adapter shell.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pete

Luminosus version 1.3

Stage lighting controller software also has midi or OSC features.


Luminosus is free software for Windows , Mac desktops & also Android devices. It's designed for EOS lighting consoles but it's features are ideal for networks ,advanced multimedia use or OSC control of utilities.

The object oriented interface components are named blocks & many can be resized. The blocks are patched to each other via nodes. Luminosus has work spaces ,midi learn , OSC & much more .The interface can be horizontally & vertically scrolled but larger monitors are preferred as the components which indicate values can consume a lot of space.

MP MIDI Controller now has encoders and touchscreen
https://mpmidi.com/touchscreen

Soundigy MIDI Lab Version 1.5. Windows & MacOs


MIDI Lab is feature rich software for users who desire advanced Midi processing , routing , scripting , automation , macros etc. It can host Vst plugins & can also be used as a Vst insert or Vst instrument.

MidI Lab has a modular grid interface where components which are named blocks are selected ,connected & routed. The widgets & Vsts are accessed via tabs which are your work spaces which can also be scrolled.


Vst hosting & advanced midi processing is a very desirable feature & logical evolution for many touch screen users & developers. Just be wary that templates & sound generators can potentially be saved in an active state.So be careful & mute or lower your volume as a precaution.

Hexler TouchOSC Version 1.0.0. Build 92...


Previous versions of TouchOSC were not designed for touch screen use on desktops. You could only create ,edit & transfer layouts from desktop to tablet or phone. TouchOSC has now been redesigned for touch screen use on desktops & has cross platform support & integration on Android , iOS , Linux , macOS .

TouchOSC has a console surface page for the touch screen & an edit page with directories, navigation menus , tabs , widgets etc. There are also additional detachable windows for Lua scripting & OSC. All legacy layouts from communities & creators in the ecosystem are compatible & can be imported & resized to any resolution.



Power monitor layout credited to.. Art-Osc Artistic Licence Holdings Ltd