Advanced
Pro vs Free
What you get in the free Universal Controller MIDI build, what unlocks at $49 Pro, and the honest case for upgrading. No nags, no time limits.
Updated
Pro vs Free — the honest split. The free build is a complete MIDI controller out of the box; Pro adds the surface area that turns it into a studio rig.
What free includes
- Virtual MIDI port (CoreMIDI / WinMM / ALSA) — same kernel-level integration as the paid build.
- Basic mapping — buttons → notes, sticks → CCs, triggers → CCs. The defaults that ship out of the box.
- Save and load presets locally.
- USB + Bluetooth controller support.
- All supported controllers — DualSense, DualShock 4, Switch Pro, 8BitDo, Xbox.
- Unlimited use. No watermarks, no nag screens, no 30-day timer.
If you want a free gamepad-to-MIDI bridge and don't care about deep customisation, this is the whole feature set you need.
Feature comparison
Side-by-side, ticks and crosses. Everything Pro adds, plus the defaults Free keeps:
| Feature | Free | Pro ($49) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual MIDI port | Yes | Yes | Same kernel integration |
| Default mapping (buttons, sticks, triggers) | Yes | Yes | Sensible out-of-box CCs |
| USB + Bluetooth support | Yes | Yes | All controllers |
| Preset save / load | Local only, 3 max | Unlimited, cloud sync | — |
| Mapping editor (custom bindings) | — | Yes | The headline upgrade |
| Curves, ranges, conditions | — | Yes | Per-binding velocity curves |
| Marketplace + community presets | Browse only | Download + submit | 200+ presets at launch |
| OSC mode | — | Yes | Resolume, TouchDesigner, Max |
| Multi-controller (2+ pads) | — | Yes | Per-pad profiles |
| Adaptive trigger effects | — | Yes | All six effects, MIDI-driven |
| MPE mode | — | Yes | Per-note channels + bend |
| Haptic feedback (DAW → rumble) | — | Yes | Silent monitoring |
| SysEx authoring | — | Yes | Raw F0 ... F7 |
| Multi-port / multi-DAW fan-out | — | Yes | Ableton + Resolume etc. |
| Custom keyboard shortcuts | — | Yes | Settings → Shortcuts |
| CLI / headless mode | Yes | Yes | Free can run a Pi setup |
| Major version updates | Free | Free | One-time = forever |
The honest pitch
If you only need the controller in your DAW with defaults — free is great, no asterisks. If you want to map LT to a specific CC, run two DAWs simultaneously, get adaptive haptics, or use OSC — Pro pays for itself the first session.
Upgrade decision tree
Rough rule of thumb — five questions, if you say yes to any, you want Pro:
- Do you need LT mapped to something other than the default CC? Yes → Pro.
- Do you want to use the controller for VJ work (Resolume / TouchDesigner)? Yes → Pro (OSC).
- Do you mix at quiet volumes and want to feel the kick? Yes → Pro (adaptive triggers).
- Do you play MPE-aware soft synths (Equator, Pigments, Surge XT)? Yes → Pro (MPE).
- Do you ever drive two hosts from one controller? Yes → Pro (multi-port).
If you said no to all five, free is the right call — don't pay for what you won't use.
# Upgrade in-app from the License tab, or via CLI:
ucm --activate-license <your-key-here>
# Verify activation
ucm --license-info
# > Pro, activated 2026-05-29, license seat 1/2 usedReal-world scenarios
- Hobby producer. Free is enough. Map defaults work for clip launch + filter sweeps. Upgrade only when curiosity hits.
- Touring electronic artist. Pro day one. Multi-controller, custom curves, adaptive haptics for silent monitoring backstage.
- VJ. Pro for OSC alone. No way around it.
- Sound designer with MPE library. Pro for MPE. The free build sends single-channel notes — MPE is the entire reason to use a touchpad here.
- Live coding rig. Pro for CLI headless + custom shortcuts. Runs on a dedicated Raspberry Pi, no GUI needed.
Compare features in detail at the mapping editor page and marketplace overview.