Requirements

Before you continue, make sure you have the following:

• Keepad Dongle
• Cable (Included with dongle)
• iPad or iPhone running iOS 17+
• PC, Laptop, MacBook, or other device to control

Dongle

Hold the dongle so you are looking at both USB ports on the right side. The second USB port from the right is the main one you will use to connect the dongle to your computer. In most setups this is the only one you need. The other port can be used together with the main port when auxiliary power is needed. When connecting to a computer, you may need to grant permission(s) for the connection. On MacOS, you can close out of the keyboard configuration wizard that appears without configuring it.

Installation

The Keepad app is available for iPhone and iPad. Use the button below to get it on the App Store. The app and subsequent updates are available for free. Please note, the iPhone app does not feature the custom 8-button strip. Layers and config settings can be shared and will work across all devices.

Beecon

Beecon is available for MacOS and Windows. It transmits the frontmost application name to the Keepad app for automated layer switching. Settings for enabling the receiver in the Keepad can be found in General Usage > Settings > Beecon. Bluetooth is required on the host system for the Beecon to connect and work with Keepad.

Downloads:

• Beecon.zip (Windows)
• Beecon.dmg (MacOS)

Connection

To connect, make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPad or iPhone and your Keepad dongle is plugged into the device you will be controlling. Open the Settings view (gear icon) in the Keepad app and choose “Find / Connect” from the app’s Bluetooth section. Tap the device name when you see it in the list and the app will connect.

By default, the device’s name will be KeepadBLE. You can change this in the app’s Settings once you’ve connected by tapping the dongle name, replacing it with your own, and tapping the ‘Set’ button. This is useful when using multiple dongles at once.

General Usage

Keepad always runs in landscape orientation. The top row contains the main navigation icons. Tap an icon to switch views, toggle layers, enter edit mode, or open settings. To the left and right is a Bluetooth connection status and a current layer indicator.

The last area that is positioned at the bottom of the screen is where the main views are shown. This positioning is important for ergonomics when using the keyboard and touchpad views.

Main Navigation

(Top bar icons from left to right)

• Keyboard: Opens the keyboard view. Buttons send keystrokes, shortcuts, text snippets, mouse actions, or MIDI messages.
• Touchpad: Opens the trackpad view. Use one finger to move, tap to click, two fingers to scroll, etc.
• Macropad: Opens the macropad view, an 8x4 grid of buttons.
• MIDI: Opens the MIDI controller view. The top half contains standard transport controls on the left and 2 mode buttons on the right that will display either an 8x2 grid of buttons or 8 fader-style MIDI strips in the section underneath. The bottom half has a bar for controlling the root, key, and octave of the 8x2 grid of notes in the section at the bottom.
• Layers: Opens the layers pane used to edit the layers, create new ones, and quickly switch between them.
• Edit: Turns on Edit Mode. When enabled, tapping almost any button opens its editor. Disable Edit to use the buttons normally. (Also works for setting the faders in MIDI view)
• Settings: Displays the app settings (Bluetooth, themes/colors, device name, profiles, import/export, etc.).

The Custom Strip

Below the main navigation is a strip of 8 buttons that will persist across the keyboard, touchpad, and macropad views. This is referred to as the “custom strip.” The buttons in this row default to labels of C1, C2, C3, etc and all send the “Escape” key until customized.

It is often best to use the custom strip for the 8 most-used keys, shortcuts, or MIDI controls needed on a particular layer. This keeps them available in situations where you frequently need to switch between views and becomes even more powerful when paired with our automated layer switching system, Beecon or the hover switch feature of the Apple Pencil Pro.

Keyboard View

A 75 key button layout mimicking a standard keyboard. Features an optional word suggestion strip of buttons appearing as you type which will complete the word for you. Word suggestions can be enabled in the settings with additional options for managing custom words or strings.

The 11” and 13” iPad models are the best size for using Keepad as your main keyboard with the 13” iPad being nearly identical in dimensions to the standard keyboard on MacBooks. The iPad Mini and iPhone are better suited for thumb-driving with the iPhone having more of a game controller vibe.

Touchpad View

Touchpad with standard operating gestures and an optional 4x4 grid of large buttons. Use one finger to move the cursor and tap to left-click. Use 2 fingers to scroll and 2-finger tap to right-click. 3-finger tapping can be customized in the settings view.

The Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro are fully supported. They can provide finer control for more precise movements and additional control gestures. Note, the Apple Pencil Pro is needed to use the hover switch feature.

Macropad View

A 8x4 grid of large buttons for quick access to the most important keys, shortcuts, and MIDI controls. Pairs well with other keyboards and controllers. A great companion for live streaming, gaming, and creative work.

MIDI View

Acts as a DAW controller and MIDI keyboard. This view has four sections from top to bottom. At the top is a bar containing transport controls and a mode switch for changing the second section between buttons and faders. The buttons can be customized with MIDI CCs, keystrokes and shortcuts. Another bar in the middle has controls for setting the root note, scale and octave of the 16 keyboard buttons at the bottom.

The transport buttons are MIDI only. The CC numbers can be edited in the app’s settings under the MIDI section. To use the Keepad in your DAW you need to allow input from it in the DAW’s settings. It will be listed as Keepad in the device list. See below for a few examples.

Layers

Layers are shown as a list and can be switched to by tapping the name. Swiping from right to left on a name will reveal edit and delete buttons. A layer is a collection of all the custom button settings across all the views. When switching layers the buttons in the Keyboard, Touchpad, Macropad, and MIDI views will change to that layer’s configuration. Layers can be exported and imported in the app’s settings and are stored as JSON files.

When paired with Beecon, layers are switched automatically if the layer’s Beecon Name matches the focused application on the computer you are controlling. The layers pane will show the name of the last received application for easy reference when assigning to a layer. Layers with a Beecon Name will display a beacon icon in the list.

Edit Mode

(Top to bottom)

The edit button functions as a toggle. When enabled, tapping a button will open its editor. This also works for fader strips in MIDI view.

Options

• Cancel - Discards edits and closes the editor.
• Save - Saves edits for the button and closes the editor.
• Icon Name (SF Symbols) - Adding sf symbol names will place an icon on the button. e.g., star.fill (See here for official icon reference and here for an app to look them up, copy to clipboard, and then paste right into Keepad.)
• Label - Type and use emoji or other text and symbols to place a label on the button.
• Key Command - This setting controls the function of the button. The list includes keyboard keys, mouse functions, and MIDI CC #’s. Note, an option titled, “Hyper” is available that acts as a quick way of pressing/releasing: Right Alt/Option + Right Ctrl + Right Cmd/Win Key + Right Shift. Because the combination is almost never used, it is repurposed to give you an additional modifier key, referred to as “Hyper.”
• Up Color - The unpressed color of the button. The list references the colors set in the app’s settings.
• Down Color - The pressed color of the button (when tapped). The list references the colors set in the app’s settings.
• Label Up Color - The unpressed color of the label (includes the icon if set). The list references the colors set in the app’s settings.
• Label Down Color - The pressed color of the label (includes the icon if set). The list references the colors set in the app’s settings.
• Border Up Color - The unpressed color of the border. The list references the colors set in the app’s settings.
• Border Down Color - The pressed color of the border. The list references the colors set in the app’s settings.
• Modifiers - This is only available when the Key Command is set to a keyboard key. Toggles the modifier buttons for turning buttons into shortcuts (macros).
• Function as toggle - This is only available when the Key Command is set to a MIDI CC #. Allows a midi button to function as a toggle switch instead of a momentary button.
• CC Val 1 - This is only available when the Key Command is set to a MIDI CC #. This allows the toggle switch to send a custom value for the “on” message.
• CC Val 2 - This is only available when the Key Command is set to a MIDI CC #. This allows the toggle switch to send a custom value for the “off” message.
• Save to All Layers - Save edits for the button to every layer and closes the editor.

Settings

The settings view is broken into various sections from top to bottom. For most of the options, changing the value will automatically save it. Towards the bottom of the list is a “Configuration” section which will allow for export and import of these for backup or consistency across multiple devices.

Bluetooth

• Find / Connect - Scans for dongles and lists them. Tap a dongle’s name to connect.
• Disconnect - Disconnects from a currently connected dongle.
• Dongle Name - The name of the connected dongle. Tap to edit.
• Set - This will write the new dongle name to the dongle itself. Once set, it will appear with the new name for all devices that see it.

General

• Primary View - Designates a view as the primary. This will be the view shown when the app launches and is used for toggling when paired with the Apple Pencil tap action.
• Secondary View - Designates a view as the secondary. This is used for toggling when paired with the Apple Pencil tap action.
• Primary Layer - Designates a layer as the primary. This will be the view shown when the app launches and is used for toggling when paired with the Apple Pencil tap action.
• Secondary Layer - Designates a layer as the secondary. This is used for toggling when paired with the Apple Pencil tap action.
• Touchpad Display - Designates the screen positioning of the touchpad area in touchpad view.

Background Image

• Select or remove an image used as the background the for app.
• Opacity - Adjusts the opacity of the image letting color BG1 (top left) and color BG2 (bottom right) bleed through.

Colors

The colors can be used in any combination within each button’s settings. The names of the colors below are mostly suggestive according to their general usage and helpful for quickly changing a color scheme rather than having to change hundreds of buttons manually.

• BG1 - Background 1 is used to set the starting color of the background gradient. The starting point of the gradient is the top left of the screen.
• BG2 - Background 2 is used to set the ending color of the background gradient. The ending point of the gradient is the bottom right of the screen.
• Key Up - Sets the unpressed color of general buttons.
• Key Down - Sets the pressed color of general buttons.
• Mod Up - Sets the unpressed color of modifier buttons.
• Mod Down - Sets the pressed color of modifier buttons.
• Label Up - Sets the unpressed color of button labels including the icon if set.
• Label Down - Sets the pressed color of button labels including the icon if set.
• Extra 1 - An extra color for additional variation.
• Extra 2 - An extra color for additional variation.
• Extra 3 - An extra color for additional variation.
• Extra 4 - An extra color for additional variation.
• Border Up - Sets the unpressed color of button borders.
• Border Down - Sets the pressed color of button borders.

Border Width

This determines the border width used for the buttons, faders, touchpad, etc.

Touchpad

• Touchpad Speed X - Sets the speed/acceleration of the x-axis of the touchpad used for moving the cursor.
• Touchpad Speed Y - Sets the speed/acceleration of the y-axis of the touchpad used for moving the cursor.
• Scroll Speed - Sets the speed/acceleration of the touchpad’s scroll.
• Invert Scroll Direction - Inverts the direction of the scroll when 2-finger dragging.
• Show Click Buttons - Toggles the left/right-click buttons beneath the touchpad.
• Three Finger Tap - Sets the key command used for 3-finger tapping the touchpad.

Pencil

• Apple Pencil Tap Action - Choose between “Toggle Views” or “Toggle Layers” to switch between your primary and secondary views or layers.
• Enable Pencil Hover Switch - Enable to automatically switch to “Touchpad View” when the Apple Pencil Pro hovers near the screen. When the pencil stops hovering the view will switch back automatically to the previous view.

MIDI

• Play Button CC - Customize the CC # used for the play button in the “MIDI View” transport bar.
• Stop Button CC - Customize the CC # used for the stop button in the “MIDI View” transport bar.
• Loop Button CC - Customize the CC # used for the loop button in the “MIDI View” transport bar.
• Record Button CC - Customize the CC # used for the record button in the “MIDI View” transport bar.
• Loop button as toggle - This will change the loop button to function as a toggle switch instead of a momentary button. Needed for DAWs like Ableton that don’t provide a way of controlling this.

Word Suggestions

• Enable Word Suggestions - Determines if the word suggestion buttons will be shown in “Keyboard View”
• Manage Words - Opens a word list for adding custom words and strings. Swipe on a word from right to left to delete. Tap the “Add” button at the bottom to add to the list.
• Export Words - Export your custom words/strings to a JSON file.
• Import Words - Import custom words/strings from a JSON file.

Beecon

• Receiver Name - Set the receiver name that will appear in Beecon’s device list.
• Password - Set the password Beecon needs to use for the receiver to accept transmission.
• Enable Beecon Receiver - Determines if the app should listen for Beecon transmission.
• Connect - Advertise for 30 seconds that the app is enabled for Beecon transmission. The advertisement runs automatically for 30 seconds whenever you launch the app with the receiver enabled.

Layers

• Export Layers - Select layers from a list to be exported as a JSON file.
• Import Layers - Import layers from a JSON file. Be careful, there is no undo for this action.

Configuration

• Export Config - Exports the settings, colors, etc from “Settings View” as a JSON file.
• Import Layers - Imports the settings, colors, etc from a JSON file. Be careful, there is no undo for this action.

Dongle

Other than the “Restart Dongle” button, this section is only used for updating the dongle’s firmware. The firmware is updated over a local WiFi network the dongle creates when enabled. When a device running the Keepad app is connected to the WiFi network, the “Update Firmware” button will become active. Typically, the process completes by restarting the dongle and the WiFi will be disabled again.

• Enable WiFi - Enables the internal WiFi network on the dongle.
• Disable WiFi - Disables the internal WiFi network on the dongle.
• Update Firmware - Disabled unless the device running the app is connected to the dongle’s internal WiFi. Updates the dongle’s firmware.
• Restart Dongle - Restarts the dongle.

Recommended 3rd Party Apps:

The following apps are recommended for unlocking the true power of shortcuts and to leverage as many buttons on your Keepad as possible:

MacOS

• Alfred
• Karabiner
• Shortcat

Windows

• AutoHotkey
• PowerToys

Browser: Chrome / Edge

• Vimium C