Digitakt MIDI MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for controlling the Elektron Digitakt II via MIDI.

Features

• Send MIDI Notes: Trigger drum sounds on specific tracks

• Control Parameters: Adjust filters, envelopes, and other parameters via CC messages

• Program Changes: Switch between patterns

• Note Sequences: Send rhythmic patterns programmatically

Installation

1. Create and activate a virtual environment:

2. Install dependencies:

3. Make sure your Digitakt II is connected via USB with Overbridge

Usage

Running the Server Manually

Configuring with Claude Desktop

Add this to your Claude Desktop config (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):

Then restart Claude Desktop.

Available Tools

send_note

Send a MIDI note to trigger drums on the Digitakt.

Parameters:

• note (required): MIDI note number (0-127). For Digitakt: 60=C3 (Track 1), 61=C#3 (Track 2), etc.

• velocity (optional): Note velocity (1-127), default 100

• duration (optional): How long to hold the note in seconds, default 0.1

• channel (optional): MIDI channel (1-16), default 1

Example:

send_cc

Send a Control Change message to adjust Digitakt parameters.

Parameters:

• cc_number (required): CC number (0-127)

• value (required): CC value (0-127)

• channel (optional): MIDI channel (1-16), default 1

Common CC Numbers for Digitakt:

• 74: Filter Frequency

• 71: Filter Resonance

• 73: Attack

• 75: Decay

• 16-23: Track levels (16=Track 1, 17=Track 2, etc.)

Example:

send_program_change

Switch to a different pattern on the Digitakt.

Parameters:

• program (required): Pattern number (0-127)

• channel (optional): MIDI channel (1-16), default 1

Example:

send_note_sequence

Send a sequence of notes with timing.

Parameters:

• notes (required): Array of [note, velocity, duration] triplets

• delay (optional): Time between notes in seconds, default 0.25

• channel (optional): MIDI channel (1-16), default 1

Example:

send_sysex

Send a System Exclusive (SysEx) message to the Digitakt for advanced control and pattern programming.

Parameters:

• data (optional): Array of bytes (0-127) to send as SysEx data. F0 and F7 bytes are added automatically.

• hex_string (optional): Alternative to data - provide SysEx as hex string (e.g., "00203C...")

Elektron Manufacturer ID: 0x00 0x20 0x3C

Example:

Note: The exact SysEx format for Digitakt pattern programming is not publicly documented by Elektron. You can:

• Use this tool to send raw SysEx data you've captured or reverse-engineered

• Capture SysEx dumps from Elektron Transfer software

• Experiment with the format by analyzing saved .syx files

request_sysex_dump

Request a SysEx data dump from the Digitakt (pattern, sound, kit, or project).

Parameters:

• dump_type (required): Type of dump - "pattern", "sound", "kit", or "project"

• bank (optional): Bank number (0-15)

• pattern_number (optional): Pattern number within bank (0-15)

Example:

Important: This sends a best-guess dump request format. The exact protocol is not publicly documented. You may need to:

• Monitor SysEx responses using MIDI monitoring software

• Use Elektron Transfer for official dumps

• Adjust the command bytes based on experimentation

Resources

midi://ports

Lists all available MIDI input and output ports on the system.

midi://digitakt/status

Shows the current connection status to the Digitakt MIDI ports.

Digitakt MIDI Reference

Note Numbers for Tracks

• Track 1: C3 (60)

• Track 2: C#3 (61)

• Track 3: D3 (62)

• Track 4: D#3 (63)

• Track 5: E3 (64)

• Track 6: F3 (65)

• Track 7: F#3 (66)

• Track 8: G3 (67)

Common CC Parameters

Check the Digitakt manual for the full CC map. Some common ones:

• 16-23: Track levels

• 71: Filter Resonance

• 74: Filter Frequency

• 73: Attack

• 75: Decay

Troubleshooting

MIDI device not found:

• Make sure the Digitakt is connected via USB

• Check that Overbridge is properly installed

• Verify the device shows up in Audio MIDI Setup (macOS)

Permission errors:

• On macOS, you may need to grant microphone permissions to Terminal/iTerm

• Check System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Microphone

Working with SysEx

The Digitakt supports SysEx for advanced operations, but Elektron hasn't published the detailed protocol specification. Here are some approaches to work with SysEx:

Capturing SysEx Data

1. Using Elektron Transfer:

   • Use Elektron Transfer to save patterns/sounds as .syx files

   • Analyze these files to understand the format

   • Use send_sysex with the captured data

2. MIDI Monitoring:

   • Use tools like MIDI Monitor (macOS) or MIDI-OX (Windows)

   • Capture SysEx dumps from the device

   • Analyze the byte structure

3. Reverse Engineering:

   • Study community projects like the Analog Rytm SysEx library

   • Experiment with sending modified SysEx data

   • Document your findings

SysEx Structure

All Elektron SysEx messages follow this basic structure:

Tips for Pattern Programming

• Start by capturing existing patterns via Transfer

• Compare multiple patterns to identify fields

• Test modifications carefully to avoid corrupting device memory

• Always backup your projects before experimenting

License

MIT