TouchMixxx is a TouchOSC MK1 layout designed to control the Mixxx DJ software. TouchMixxx turns your iPad in to a 4 deck DJ controller giving you hands on performance controls for the key Mixxx controls.
- TouchMixxx and Mixxx are free, but you'll need to pay for TouchOSC MK1. That said, it's a great app and useful for controlling all sorts of MIDI-enabled software, so well worth the price of an overpriced coffee.
- Mixxx is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, and TouchOSC MK1 is available for Android and iOS. However, TouchMixxx has not been tested with all these platforms. If it works, let me know; if it doesn't, let me know, and I'll see if I can fix it.
- TouchMixxx was designed for TouchOSC MK1 and has not been tested with the new version of TouchOSC. As of March 2025, Hexler is still supporting TouchOSC MK1.
- On your iPad, head over to the Apple App Store and purchase TouchOSC MK1.
- On your Mac, download and install TouchOSC Bridge — this allows the TouchOSC app to communicate with your Mac and control your MIDI-enabled software and devices.
- Open TouchOSC Bridge on your Mac.
- To copy the TouchOSC layout to your iPad, connect your iPad to your Mac with a USB cable and open it in Finder.
- Open the Files tab on your iPad and drag TouchMixxx_v.*.touchosc* onto the TouchOSC app.
- Launch TouchOSC on your iPad, open the settings menu (gray dot, top right), choose TouchOSC Bridge, and switch it to Enabled.
- You should see your Mac listed under Found Hosts.
- Return to the settings menu, tap on the item listed under LAYOUT.
- From the list of layouts, select TouchMixxx — the file you installed above.
- Tap TouchOSC to return to Settings, then tap Done. You should now see the TouchMixxx layout.
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Download and install Mixxx 2.5 or later.
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Copy TouchMixxx.js and TouchMixxx.midi.xml into:
/Users/<username>/Library/Containers/org.mixxx.mixxx/Data/Library/Application Support/Mixxx/controllers(For other operating systems, see the Mixxx Wiki).
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Start Mixxx and open Preferences.
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Under Controllers, you should see TouchOSC Bridge. Click on that.
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Ensure that the Enable checkbox is checked.
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In the Load Preset dropdown, choose TouchMixxx, click OK, and you're all done.
Now go drop some beats!
If you're familiar with Mixxx or other DJ software, most of the controls should be self-explanatory.
If you're new to Mixxx and digital DJing, perhaps start with the Mixxx manual.
The notes below cover the controls specific to TouchMixxx.
- Each of the four decks can be accessed by tapping the numbered tabs at the top of the screen.
- The mixer channel strip for each deck is replicated alongside the deck for convenience.
- The SHIFT buttons (top left and right) allow access to secondary functions as detailed below.
- Below the Jog Wheel are 8 Pads that allow setting/accessing Hot Cues, Beat Jump, Setting Loops, and triggering Samples — 8 per deck.
- Tap BROWSE to navigate your Library and load tracks.
When BROWSE is enabled, the Jog Wheel scrolls up and down through your tracks, playlists, and crates. - To load a track, enable BROWSE, use the Jog Wheel to highlight a track, and tap LOAD to load it into the current deck.
Note: A new track cannot be loaded while the current track is playing. - Holding SHIFT while BROWSE is enabled allows you to use the Jog Wheel to switch between the two Library panes.
When the Library Sidebar has focus, holding SHIFT while tapping LOAD expands the selected folder in the hierarchy.
- The Jog Wheel’s function changes depending on whether the deck is playing or if BROWSE is enabled.
- When a track is paused, use the Jog Wheel to scrub through the track.
Holding SHIFT increases the scrub speed.
(The pads in Beat Jump mode can also be used to navigate through a track while paused or playing.) - When a track is playing, the Jog Wheel functions like touching the platter of a vinyl turntable,
allowing you to temporarily speed up or slow down the track for beatmatching. - Below the jog wheel, the + and - buttons adjust the playback speed while held.
- If SHIFT is held while the track is playing, the Jog Wheel behaves as if you were touching the record,
allowing you to scratch or stop playback until SHIFT is released.
- Left of the Jog Wheel is the Pitch Control and Sync button.
- Pull the Pitch Control down to increase the playback speed, push up to decrease it.
- The + and - buttons adjust the pitch in small increments.
- The Sync button engages sync for the deck and fills the comments section of your YouTube clip with helpful hints like:
"Real DJs don’t use sync, dude." 😉
- Each of the four decks can be accessed by tapping the numbered tabs at the top of the screen
- The mixer channel strip for each deck is replicated alongside the deck for convenience
- Top left and right you'll find duplicate SHIFT buttons these allow access to second functions as detailed below
- Below the 'Jog Wheel' are 8 Pads that allow, setting / accessing Hot Cues, Beat Jump, Setting Loops, and triggering Samples - 8 per deck.
- The Mixer is accessed by tapping the Mixer tab.
- Four Channel Strips correspond to the 4 decks.
- The Sample Knob (next to Master Volume) adjusts the volume of all samples.
- The XY Pad adjusts the FX mix of the two FX racks.
- Loop Toggle buttons allow you to exit a loop from the mixer.