Device Preset Manager — User Guide

The Device Preset Manager lets you configure, save, and send MIDI CC parameters for your MIDI Devices directly from your browser — no software installation required. You will just need a USB MIDI interface, or a Morningstar MIDI Controller, to transmit incoming USB MIDI messages out to your TRS or 5 PIN MIDI devices.

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Getting Started
3. Required Hardware
4. Selecting a Device
5. Working with Controls

• Knobs
• Option Groups (CC Groups)
• Activating and Deactivating Controls
• Filtering Controls
• Parameter Card Size

6. Randomize and Reset

• Randomize All
• Lock / Unlock Parameters
• Reset to Defaults

7. Parameter Groups
8. Parameter Colors
9. MIDI Output

• Connecting a MIDI Device
• Sending Parameters
• MIDI Channel
• Apply Channel to All Presets
• Throttle Delay
• Pausing MIDI Output

10. Saving and Loading Presets

• Saving a Preset
• Loading a Preset
• Updating a Preset
• Save as New
• Reloading a Preset
• Deleting a Preset
• Preset Limits

11. Cloud vs. Local Storage
12. Your Devices Dashboard
13. Sign In / Account
14. Browser Compatibility

Overview

The Device Preset Manager reads the MIDI CC specification for your hardware from the Morningstar MIDI Dictionary and renders a set of on-screen controls — one per configurable CC parameter. You can adjust values, filter the view, and send the current state to your connected hardware over Web MIDI, all without leaving the browser.

Presets are tied to a specific brand and model. When you are signed in, they are stored in the cloud and accessible from any device. When you are signed out, they are stored locally in your browser.

Getting Started

1. Open the Morningstar Web Editor and click the Device Preset Manager tile on the landing page, or go directly to mididevice.io.
2. (Optional but recommended) Sign in using the account icon in the top-right of the toolbar. Signing in enables cloud preset storage.
3. Connect your MIDI hardware to your computer before or after opening the tool.

Required Hardware

This App sends MIDI out to connected USB MIDI or Bluetooth MIDI devices. You will need an USB MIDI or Bluetooth MIDI interface to transmit these outgoing messages to suit the devices you want to control.

For example, if you have a Morningstar MC8 MIDI Controller (which can act as a USB MIDI interface), and you want this app to work with the Microcosm, for example) which is connected to the 5 PIN MIDI Output - You'll need to enable Cross MIDI Thru on the MC8 so that it transmits incoming USB MIDI messages out to the 5 PIN MIDI Output, which can then reach the Microcosm.

Selecting a Device

When no device is selected, the main area shows the Your Devices dashboard (devices that already have saved presets) and a Brand / Model picker at the top.

1. Choose a Brand from the first dropdown. You can type in the Search brands field inside the dropdown to quickly narrow the list.
2. Choose a Model from the second dropdown.
3. The control grid loads automatically once both fields are filled in.

To switch devices, click the back arrow next to the brand/model heading or choose a card from the Your Devices dashboard.

Working with Controls

Knobs

Each knob represents a single CC parameter. The knob shows:

• A label with the parameter name.
• The current value in the center.
• An ON/OFF toggle indicator.

To change a value:

When min equals max (a trigger or button parameter), the knob becomes a button. Clicking it sends the CC immediately.

Option Groups (CC Groups)

When multiple named options share the same CC number (e.g., different modes for the same parameter), they appear as a group of option buttons instead of a knob. Selecting an option sets the CC value to the midpoint of that option's value range and sends it.

Activating and Deactivating Controls

Only active controls are included when you use Send All or save a preset.

• Click the ON/OFF indicator on a knob to toggle it.
• Use Activate All / Deactivate All in the filter row to bulk-toggle all visible controls.
• Use the Hide Inactive toggle to declutter the grid.

Filtering Controls

Type in the Filter parameters search box to narrow the grid by parameter name. Clear the box to show all controls.

Parameter Card Size

Use the S / M / L size picker in the filter row to change how large the knob cards are displayed. Small gives you more controls on screen at once; Large gives you a more comfortable drag target.

Randomize and Reset

Randomize All

Click the Randomize button in the device heading bar to set all unlocked active parameters to a random value within their min/max range. A MIDI output port must be selected — the randomised values are sent immediately.

You can also randomize an individual group by clicking the dice icon in that group's section header.

Lock / Unlock Parameters

Each knob has a lock icon that can be toggled in the top-right corner of the card. Locked parameters are excluded from Randomize All and per-group randomisation, letting you hold certain values steady while experimenting with the rest.

Reset to Defaults

Click the Reset button in the device heading bar to return all parameters to their midpoint value.

Parameter Groups

Groups let you organise parameters into up to 3 named sections, which are then displayed as collapsible group headers in the main grid.

To manage groups:

1. Click the Groups button in the filter row. The grid switches to the group editor view.
2. Parameters not yet assigned appear in the Unassigned column on the left.
3. Drag a parameter card into one of the three group columns, or double-click it to move it into the currently active group (highlighted with a folder-open icon).
4. Click a group header to make it the active double-click target.
5. Rename a group by typing in the group header's text field.
6. Click Done to save and return to the normal grid.

Once groups are set up, each group section header in the grid provides two quick-action buttons:

• Randomize — randomises all unlocked parameters in that group.
• Send — sends all active parameters in that group over MIDI.

Group assignments and names are saved to the cloud (or locally if signed out) and persist across sessions.

Parameter Colors

You can assign a custom accent colour to individual knobs to visually organise the grid.

To edit colours:

1. Click the Edit Colors button in the filter row.
2. Click any knob to open the colour editor for that parameter.
3. Use the Copy button on a knob to copy its colour to the clipboard, then use Paste on another knob to apply the same colour. The current clipboard colour is shown in a chip in the filter row.
4. Click Done to save all colour changes.

Colours are saved per-device and sync to the cloud when signed in.

MIDI Output

The Device Preset Manager uses Web MIDI to send CC messages directly to hardware.

Connecting a MIDI Device

1. Connect your device via USB (or a MIDI interface).
2. In the toolbar, open the MIDI Output dropdown and select your device port.

If the dropdown is empty, check that your hardware is connected and that your browser has been granted MIDI access (a permission prompt should appear on first use).

Sending Parameters

Individual knob changes are sent automatically as you drag or scroll a knob, as long as:

• A MIDI output port is selected.
• MIDI output is not paused.
• The control is active.

Send All (button in the device heading area) sends CC messages for every currently active control at once. This is useful after loading a preset to push the full state to your hardware.

Send Group buttons in each group section header let you send just the active controls within a specific group.

MIDI Channel

Use the CH stepper (1–16) in the device heading bar to set the MIDI channel for all outgoing CC messages.

Apply Channel to All Presets

Click the Apply channel icon (branch icon) next to the CH stepper to update the MIDI channel on every saved preset for this device at once. This is useful when you have moved your hardware to a different channel and want all presets to follow.

Throttle Delay

Use the Delay stepper in the toolbar to adjust how many milliseconds elapse between message bursts (range: 0–200 ms, default: 20 ms). Increase this value if your hardware struggles to keep up with rapid CC updates.

Pausing MIDI Output

Click the pause icon (sensors_off) in the toolbar to stop all outgoing CC messages without disconnecting the port. This is useful when you want to explore or edit values without affecting your hardware. Click again to resume.

Saving and Loading Presets

Presets store the active CC values and the MIDI channel for the currently selected brand and model.

Saving a Preset

1. Configure your controls to the desired state.
2. In the Save bar at the bottom of the page, click Save Preset.
3. Type a name (up to 32 characters) and press Enter or click the check button.

A confirmation snackbar indicates whether the preset was saved to the cloud (signed in) or locally (signed out).

Loading a Preset

1. Open the preset drawer by clicking the menu icon in the top-left of the toolbar.
2. Click a preset name in the list to load it.

Each preset in the drawer shows the number of stored parameters and the saved MIDI channel badge.

Loading a preset:

• Sets CC values for parameters included in the preset (marks them active).
• Marks parameters not included in the preset as inactive.

Updating a Preset

After loading a preset and making changes, click Update Preset in the Save bar to overwrite the preset with the new values. You will be prompted to confirm the name before saving.

Save as New

If a preset is currently active and you want to save the current state as a separate preset rather than overwriting it, click Save as new in the Save bar. This clears the active preset context and opens the save form for a fresh name.

Reloading a Preset

If you have made changes after loading a preset and want to discard them, click the Reload preset button in the device heading bar to restore the saved values.

Deleting a Preset

In the preset drawer, click the delete icon next to the preset you want to remove.

Preset Limits

The preset drawer header shows a count badge (e.g. 3/16) so you can see how many slots remain. If you reach a limit, you must delete an existing preset before saving a new one.

Cloud vs. Local Storage

The preset drawer header shows a cloud icon that indicates sync status:

• cloud_done (green) — cloud sync is active.
• cloud_off (dim) — you are not signed in; presets are local only.

When you sign in for the first time in a session, your cloud presets, parameter groups, and parameter colours are loaded automatically.

Your Devices Dashboard

When you first open the Device Preset Manager (or after clicking Home), the main area shows a grid of device cards — one for each brand/model combination that has at least one saved preset.

Each card displays:

• The model name and brand name.
• A preset count badge.

The dashboard header shows a device count badge (e.g. 2/16) so you can see how close you are to the device limit.

Click a card to jump directly to that device's control grid with all presets available in the drawer.

Sign In / Account

The top-right of the toolbar contains an auth button:

• Login icon — shown when you are not signed in. Click it to open the sign-in dialog. You can create a new account or sign in with an existing one.
• Account circle icon — shown when you are signed in. Click it to open a menu showing your display name or email address, and a Sign Out option.

Signing in enables cloud preset storage and syncs your presets, parameter groups, and colours across all your devices.

Browser Compatibility

The Device Preset Manager requires the Web MIDI API, which is currently supported in:

If you open the tool in an unsupported browser, a warning banner appears in the toolbar. Preset management (saving, loading, editing values, groups, colours) still works, but MIDI output is unavailable.

Updated on: 12/05/2026