Control Neural DSP from your Stream Deck
MIDIRover is a free Stream Deck plugin that sends MIDI. Because everyNeural DSP plugin can MIDI-Learn its footswitches, parameters and presets, you can drive your whole rig from your Stream Deck keys (and dials, on the Stream Deck +) — toggling stomps, switching tones, and riding gain or mix by hand. This guide gets you there in a few minutes, onWindows or macOS, for free.
What you'll need
- Any Stream Deck (Mini, MK.2, XL, Neo, Stream Deck +, or the Pedal) and the free Stream Deck app.
- MIDIRover — this plugin.
- Windows: a virtual MIDI port (the free loopMIDI). macOS: nothing — MIDIRover makes its own port.
- A Neural DSP plugin (or its standalone app).
1. Install MIDIRover and set up a MIDI port
Add MIDIRover to the Stream Deck app. On Windows, open loopMIDI and create a port (the default "loopMIDI Port" is fine); on macOS the plugin creates its own virtual port automatically. Drop any MIDIRover action on a key and, under MIDI Port, pick your port (or leave it on Auto-detect) — the choice is shared by every key.
2. Point Neural DSP at the same port
Open your Neural DSP plugin or standalone and set its MIDI input to the same port MIDIRover is sending on. Now anything the plugin can MIDI-Learn will hear your Stream Deck.
3. Toggle a stomp (Control Change)
Add a Control Change action and name it (e.g. "Drive"). In Neural DSP, right-click the stomp you want and choose MIDI Learn, then press the Stream Deck key once — it's mapped. Neural DSP maps a switch as CC Toggle — it flips each time it receives your CC — so useFixed mode for a dependable one-flip-per-press, or Toggle mode withFeedback on so the key light tracks the plugin's real state.Momentary gives a hold-to-engage boost. (A knob or slider maps as CC Absoluteinstead — its value simply follows the CC, which is what Sweep mode and theMIDI Dial drive.)
4. Switch presets and tones
In Neural DSP's MIDI Mapping window, add a Program Change → Preset entry per preset and give it a program number, then give each MIDIRover Program Change key that number to jump straight to a tone. For scrolling, add a Bank Up / Down pair sharing one Bank idand channel — they step through a range together and show the current program on the key. (The same pair can instead nudge a CC-Absolute parameter's value up/down — switch its Output to Control Change and give it a CC number.) In a DAW the host must forward Program Change (Ableton Live doesn't; Logic often doesn't to the AU), so the standalone app is the most reliable path — or map presets to CCs in those hosts instead.
5. Ride a parameter by hand (Stream Deck +)
On a Stream Deck +, add a MIDI Dial and MIDI-Learn it to a knob like gain, mix or wah. Turn the dial to sweep the value (hold while turning for coarse steps); press or tap to reset. The touch strip shows the value as a bar or a rotary knob.
Skip the CC numbers with Learning Mode
On the Control Change, Note and MIDI Dial actions, open the Learn row, pressLearn, and move a control on any MIDI controller — MIDIRover fills in the channel and number for you. No looking up CC numbers.
Troubleshooting
- Nothing happens? Check loopMIDI is running (Windows), the same port is selected on both sides, and the MIDI channel matches.
- No dial action? Dials only exist on the Stream Deck +; on other models use the key actions (e.g. a CC Sweep key to ride by hand).
To see and rearrange your whole MIDI map at a glance — and generate a new mapping file — try the MIDI Map Studio. For the full reference of every action and setting, see the MIDIRover user manual.