How I turned my MIDI instruments into the ultimate rhythm game controllers

HardwareHow I turned my MIDI instruments into the ultimate rhythm game controllersWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master

Since the moment Tiktok showed me a video ofSuper Mario 64 speedrunner CRZ’s “drum%” run, I haven’t looked at my MIDI compatible instruments in the same way. Why just drum, when I couldspeeddrum?

Okay, I’m not going to commit my life to mastering Mario 64 with drumsticks, but that’s just one way to put instruments to use in games. While there’s no shortage of videos chroniclingludicrous challenge runsusing unorthodox input methods out there, the versatility of MIDI means they’re practical in all sorts of games—butespeciallyin rhythm games.

Some of the best rhythm games of recent years utilize non-traditional controls, like Project Diva Megamix’s sliders, DJ Max Respect / V’s piano keyboard, and Taiko Drum Master’s big plastic taiko drum. While you can use a keyboard and controller, the whole instrument thing is almost totally lost in translation. There are boutique controllers available that emulate that arcade experience—I’ve owned aDiVallerforProject Divain the past, and while it was solidly built and could definitely be used in a couple rhythm games, at $450 it’s as pricey as a full instrument. That there’s a market at all for a controller like the DiValler highlights the gulf between home versions of rhythm games and the bliss of playing them in arcades.

If you’re serious about rhythm games—and I mean perfect scores, no missed notes serious—MIDI translation is one way to close that input gap and connect with the music physically.

What you’ll need

🎛️ A USB Compatible MIDI controller -The sky is really the limit with this one, but if you’re primarily interested in rhythm games, I would recommend any model of theAKAI MPK MINI. It has piano keys, pressure sensitive drum pads, and you can probably get one on Facebook Marketplace for under fifty bucks.

💬Bome MIDI Translator Pro-This is the software we’ll need to translate our MIDI signals into keystrokes.

➰USB to MIDI cable

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

You’ll also need a game to play, obviously. Since I have an electronic drum kit and (mostly) know how to drum, I opted to build a translation profile suited to playingTaiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master!!

Configuring your Virtual MIDI ports

Building a Translation Profile

MIDI Guide

1.Under “Incoming” on the right sidebar, toggle “Capture MIDI”. This will let us see which notes are which on our MPK Mini.

MIDI Guide

2.Press and release one of the drum pads. The drum is sending two signals - Note On, and Note Off.

MIDI Guide

3.Click “Note On” to copy it to the “Note:” menu below.

MIDI Guide

4.Set Velocity to “any velocity.”

MIDI Guide

5.Under “Outgoing,” select “Key Stroke” & “Down.” Enter the key you would like to trigger with the pad.

6.Right click on our newly added Translator, marked “[0] New Translator.” Right-click and duplicate.

7.Select the duplicate profile. Return to the Capture MIDI menu and press the same drum pad, except this time, we’re going to select “Note Off.”

MIDI Guide

9.Under “Outgoing,” select “Up"insteadof down.

The result

After some fiddling with my pad sensitivity and gate settings, I was able to play Taiko No Tatsujin with controls identical to those in the arcade. I’m pretty bad at Taiko No Tatsujin since the drumming patterns here aren’t really written like drum parts at all, but being able to use sticks immediately took me from failing songs over and over again to consistently clearing harder beatmaps.

For those looking to learn the skeleton of some actual drum charts, a more traditional drumming experience is available throughClone Hero, andDJMax Respect Vis a perfect match for a cheap MIDI keyboard.

Aforementioned benefits aside, playing Taiko Drum Master this way is still, unquestionably. the most fun I’ve ever had with a rhythm game, even if I’m getting my ass kicked having to unlearn all my drumming muscle memory.

More about hardwareIf you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo videoIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.LatestAssassin’s Creed Shadows takes a run at improving parkour, as Ubisoft strives to make the system less ‘like a gas pedal’See more latest►

More about hardware

If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo videoIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

A robot having its face pulled off

If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo video

Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics card

Is the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

LatestAssassin’s Creed Shadows takes a run at improving parkour, as Ubisoft strives to make the system less ‘like a gas pedal’See more latest►

Latest

Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a run at improving parkour, as Ubisoft strives to make the system less ‘like a gas pedal’

Image for Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a run at improving parkour, as Ubisoft strives to make the system less ‘like a gas pedal’

Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a run at improving parkour, as Ubisoft strives to make the system less ‘like a gas pedal’

See more latest►

Most Popular

The Witcher 3’s now 2-year-old bonus quest is our first taste of the ‘vibe’ CD Projekt is going for in The Witcher 4

2024 was the year updates for old games beat out all the new ones for me

Train like you game with this adventure-inspired workout

‘It’s simply impossible to make a difficulty level that’s just right for all players’: How Final Fantasy 14’s lead battle designer has been playing a precarious balancing game for Dawntrail’s dungeons and raids

Please join me in getting super excited for all the cool looking survival games coming in 2025 (and beyond)

Competitive shooters are at a crucial crossroads in 2025: ‘sweaty’ teamplay vs. casual fun

Call of Duty’s $28 Squid Game skins are the perfect crossover for our capitalist dystopia, and Activision knows exactly what it’s doing

These are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre

Five new Steam games you probably missed (January 6, 2025)

I’ve seen enough: No more forcing singleplayer studios to make mediocre live service games

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

What you’ll need#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

Configuring your Virtual MIDI ports#

Building a Translation Profile#

The result#

What you’ll need

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Configuring your Virtual MIDI ports

Building a Translation Profile

The result