-Badge-Logo_wine.png){kind=icon}
How to set up midiOS
Step-by-step instructions for setting up midiOS (iOS), midiOS Bridge (macOS), and the Ableton MIDI Remote Script.
Compatibility & Requirements
Supported Devices
iPhone running iOS 26 or later
Mac
-
macOS 15.7.2 or later
-
macOS 26 (Tahoe) is not yet supported
-
(Ableton Live does not currently support macOS 26)
Ableton Live
-
Ableton Live 11.3.x supported
-
Ableton Live does not yet support macOS 26 (Tahoe)
How midiOS Works
One-Way MIDI (Works with Any DAW)
midiOS works with any DAW using standard one-way MIDI control.
-
Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable
-
No Bridge app required
-
No network required
-
No Ableton required
This mode works with:
-
Logic Pro
-
Pro Tools
-
Cubase
-
Studio One
-
FL Studio
-
Reaper
-
Any DAW that accepts standard MIDI input
Two-Way Communication (Ableton Live Only)
Advanced features such as:
-
Control Hub
-
Clip Launcher / Clip Control
-
Real-time LED & state feedback
-
Bi-directional synchronization
are exclusive to Ableton Live and require additional components.
Required for two-way communication:
Network requirement:
-
iPhone and Mac must be on the same Wi-Fi network,
or
-
Connected using iPhone Hotspot
(Internet access is not required — the Hotspot creates a local network)
Getting Started
The setup guide walks you through:
-
One-way MIDI (USB-only)
-
Two-way Ableton integration
-
Bridge app installation
-
Ableton Remote Script installation
-
Network configuration
Why macOS 26 Is Not Supported (Yet)
midiOS intentionally does not support macOS 26 at this time due to:
-
Known system-level MIDI issues in early macOS 26 releases
-
Pending official Ableton Live support
Support will be added once Ableton confirms compatibility.
Step 1. Download midiOS from the App Store.
Download and install midiOS on your iPhone.
-Badge-Logo_wine.png){kind=icon}
midiOS (iOS) — App Store Download & Setup
Download midiOS from the App Store on your iPhone.
After installing midiOS, connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
1. Open Audio MIDI Setup on your Mac
(You can find it in Applications → Utilities, or search for it using Spotlight.)
2. In the menu bar, choose Window → Show MIDI Studio
3. In the MIDI Studio window, locate your iPhone in the left column at the bottom
4. Click Enable next to your iPhone’s name
Your iPhone will now appear as a MIDI device on your Mac.
If midiOS was already open on your iPhone, restart the app to begin sending MIDI.
Tip: If you don’t see your iPhone, make sure it’s unlocked and connected via USB.
midiOS Bridge (macOS) — Download & Setup
Install the macOS companion app that enables two-way communication with Ableton Live.
Note: If you’re using Chrome or Firefox, you may see a download warning. This is normal for new macOS apps.
The app is signed and notarized by Apple for safety and secuity.
We recommend using Safari for the smoothest download experience.
You may be prompted to enter your email again to access the download files.
Download midiOS Bridge from the Downloads page on your Mac.
1. Unzip the downloaded file
2. Drag midiOS Bridge into your Applications folder
3. Launch the app
When prompted, click Allow to grant Local Network access.
This permission is required for midiOS Bridge to communicate with midiOS.
Once running, midiOS Bridge appears in the macOS menu bar and runs quietly in the background.
Finally, in the next section you will install the Ableton Remote Script which allows Ableton to talking to the midiOS Bridge.
Ableton MIDI Remote Script — Download & Setup (Ableton Live)
Install the Ableton MIDI Remote Script to enable two-way control, Launchpad, and Control Hub features.
You may be prompted to enter your email again to access the download files.
Install the Remote Script
-
Unzip the downloaded file
You should see a folder named something like midiOS8x4.
-
Open your Applications folder
-
Locate Ableton Live
Right-click the Ableton Live app and choose Show Package Contents
-
Navigate to:
Contents → App-Resources → MIDI Remote Scripts
-
Drag the unzipped midiOS Remote Script folder into the MIDI Remote Scripts directory
You’ll see folders from other hardware and software companies in this location—this is normal, and confirms you’re in the correct place.
Restart Ableton Live
After copying the folder, quit and relaunch Ableton Live.
Enable the IAC Driver (macOS)
midiOS requires the macOS IAC Driver to be enabled so Ableton Live can establish a stable internal MIDI connection.
Steps:
-
Open Audio MIDI Setup
-
Choose Window → Show MIDI Studio (CMD+2)
-
Double-click IAC Driver
-
Enable Device is online
Configure Ableton Preferences
Open Ableton Live → Preferences → Link / Tempo / MIDI and configure the following:
Control Surface
-
Control Surface: midiOS8x4
-
Input: iPhone
-
Output: midiOS Bridge
MIDI Ports
Under MIDI Ports, enable:
-
Track and Remote for midiOS8x4 Input (iPhone)
-
Track and Remote for midiOS8x4 Output (midiOS Bridge)
This setup enables two-way communication, real-time feedback, Launchpad mode, and Control Hub features.
Confirmation
Once configured correctly, you’ll see the midiOS control surface active in Ableton.
Your iPhone and Ableton Live are now fully connected.
Tip (optional but recommended)
If you don’t see midiOS8x4 in the Control Surface list, double-check that the Remote Script folder is placed directly inside the MIDI Remote Scripts directory and that Ableton Live was restarted.
Correct midiOS Ableton 'Link / Tempo / MIDI' settings
