macOS App
MIDI Volume Control
MIDI Volume Control turns a knob or fader on any MIDI controller into your Mac's volume control, for system and Apple Music separately, with a menu bar icon for the rest.
Requires macOS 13.1 or later
Why this exists
A real knob for your Mac's volume.
Adjusting volume on a Mac means reaching for a function key or clicking into the menu bar. Both work, and both pull your hands off whatever you were doing. Neither gives you the fine control of turning something.
If there is already a MIDI controller on your desk — a keyboard, a pad controller, a single fader box — it has knobs sitting unused whenever you are not making music. MIDI Volume Control maps one of them to your Mac's output level, so volume becomes a thing you turn rather than a thing you click.
Setup is MIDI Learn: move the control you want, and it is assigned. No CC numbers to look up, no per-device configuration. System volume and Apple Music keep independent levels, so separate controls can drive each.
Features
System Volume Control
Instant control of your Mac's system volume using any MIDI controller. Real-time response with perfect integration.
Independent Music Control
Control Apple Music volume separately from system volume. Balance your music with Discord, Zoom, or any other audio source independently.
MIDI Learn
Automatic controller mapping makes setup effortless. Just click MIDI Learn and move your controller.
Interface
Easy Configuration
Simple settings window with MIDI Learn makes setup effortless. Choose your controller, enable Apple Music integration, and you're ready to go.
Menu Bar Control
Live volume sliders in your menu bar show current levels and provide quick manual control when needed.
Also
Menu Bar Access
Live volume sliders for both system and music volume right in your menu bar.
Lightweight
Negligible battery impact with minimal system permissions. Runs quietly in the background.
Launch at Login
Automatically start with your Mac for seamless volume control whenever you need it.
Hot-plug Support
Automatic MIDI device detection when you connect or disconnect controllers.
No controller?
Menu Volume puts separate system and Apple Music volume sliders in your menu bar, no hardware needed.
Questions
How do I control my Mac's volume with a MIDI controller?
Install MIDI Volume Control, connect your controller, click "MIDI Learn" next to system or Apple Music volume in its settings, then turn the knob or move the fader you want to use. From then on, that control sets your Mac's volume.
Do I need a MIDI controller?
No. MIDI Volume Control works without one, using the menu bar to adjust system and Apple Music volume, but it is built to be used with a MIDI controller.
How do I set up my MIDI controller?
Connect your MIDI controller, open MIDI Volume Control's settings, click "MIDI Learn" next to the control you want to map, then move the knob, fader, or button on your controller.
Can I control system and Apple Music volume separately?
Yes. MIDI Volume Control lets you map different MIDI controls to system volume and Apple Music volume, so you can balance your music with other audio sources independently.
Which MIDI controllers are compatible?
MIDI Volume Control works with any MIDI controller that sends standard MIDI CC messages, such as the Akai MPK, Novation Launchkey, Arturia KeyLab, and many others.
Does it affect performance or battery?
No. MIDI Volume Control runs quietly in the background with negligible impact on performance or battery life.
What happens if I disconnect my controller?
MIDI Volume Control's menu bar interface keeps working, and when you reconnect the controller, your mappings are restored automatically.
Get started
Turn any MIDI controller into a volume control for your Mac.
Requires macOS 13.1 or later