SpaceMIDI 🎛️

Control Ableton Live (or any DAW) with a 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator using all 6 axes and 2 buttons as MIDI CC messages.

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What it does

The SpaceNavigator is a 6-DOF input device (push, pull, tilt, rotate in every direction). SpaceMIDI bridges it to MIDI, letting you use it as an expressive controller in your DAW.

Each physical axis maps to a MIDI CC:

Axis	Direction	Default CC
X	Left / Right	CC 1
Y	Forward / Backward	CC 7
Z	Up / Down	CC 74
RX	Tilt left / right	CC 10
RY	Tilt forward / backward	CC 71
RZ	Rotate	CC 91
Button 1	Press	CC 80
Button 2	Press	CC 81

All mappings are fully configurable in config.json.

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Requirements

Hardware

• 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator (tested on SpaceNavigator NB USB, model 3DX-600036)

Software

• Windows 10 or 11
• Python 3.11 or 3.13
• loopMIDI — creates a virtual MIDI port

⚠️ The official 3DxWare driver from 3Dconnexion may conflict with SpaceMIDI. If the device is not detected, try uninstalling it.

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Installation

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/spacemidi.git
cd spacemidi

2. Create a virtual environment

py -3.13 -m venv venv
venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Install hidapi.dll

Download the latest Windows release from hidapi releases, extract x64/hidapi.dll and place it in venv\Scripts\.

5. Create a virtual MIDI port

Open loopMIDI, click + and name the port SpaceMIDI.

6. Configure

cp config.example.json config.json

Edit config.json if needed (see Configuration).

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Usage

1. Activate the virtual environment

venv\Scripts\activate

2. Run SpaceMIDI

python spacemidi.py

3. Configure Ableton

In Ableton: Preferences → MIDI → enable Track and Remote for the SpaceMIDI input port.

4. Map axes to parameters

• Press F9 to switch to MAPPING mode (one axis at a time)
• In Ableton, press Ctrl+M to enter MIDI Map mode
• Click a parameter, then move one axis on the SpaceNavigator
• Press F9 again to switch back to LIVE mode (all axes simultaneously)

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Configuration

All settings live in config.json:

{
    "midi_output_id": 5,
    "midi_channel": 0,
    "max_val": 500,
    "dead_zone": 20,
    "lock_ms": 400,
    "axis_mapping": {
        "x":  1,
        "y":  7,
        "z":  74,
        "rx": 10,
        "ry": 71,
        "rz": 91
    },
    "btn_mapping": {
        "1": 80,
        "2": 81
    },
    "hotkey_toggle_mode": "F9"
}

Key	Description
midi_output_id	ID of the loopMIDI output port (run python list_ports.py to find it)
midi_channel	MIDI channel (0 = channel 1)
max_val	Expected maximum axis value — adjust for sensitivity
dead_zone	Ignore axis values below this threshold
lock_ms	How long (ms) to lock onto one axis in mapping mode
axis_mapping	Axis → CC number
btn_mapping	Button → CC number
hotkey_toggle_mode	Keyboard shortcut to toggle mapping/live mode

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Utilities

List available MIDI output ports:

python list_ports.py

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Troubleshooting

Device not found

• Make sure the SpaceNavigator is plugged in
• Uninstall 3DxWare if installed
• Check that hidapi.dll is in venv\Scripts\

No MIDI in Ableton

• Check that loopMIDI is running and the SpaceMIDI port exists
• Verify Track + Remote are enabled in Ableton MIDI preferences
• Confirm midi_output_id in config.json matches your loopMIDI port

Axes oscillate during mapping

• Make sure you are in MAPPING mode (press F9)
• Increase lock_ms in config.json (e.g. 600)

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Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md.

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License

MIT — see LICENSE.