The MP MIDI app update in October 2024, includes a new functionality where one encoder can be set as a joker encoder. This encoder control mouse cursor movements while preforming a click and drag. This is useful because you can control any variable parameter by just clicking on it.

The Joker Encoder is only available in the MP MIDI app, 
not the MP Host plugins.

Left click on a parameter for vertical mouse cursor movements and right click on a parameter for horizontal mouse cursor movements. If the parameter you want to control is controlled with vertical mouse movements then you should left click on the parameter to select it.

If the parameter you want to control is controlled with horizontal mouse movements then you should right click on the parameter to select it.

For example, left click at the center (or anywhere) of the Dry parameter. Move the joker encoder and it controls the Dry parameter with vertical mouse cursor movements..

Right click at the center (or anywhere) on the Color parameter. Move the joker encoder and it controls the Color parameter with horizontal mouse cursor movements.

You will notice that as soon you stop moving the encoder, the mouse cursor returns to the position you clicked last. This is important because when you move the encoder again, the mouse cursor will be on top of the selected parameter, therefore controlling that parameter.

The way it works is simple. You click on a location and the coordinates of that location are recorded by the Joker Encoder app. When you move the joker encoder on the mp controller the mouse cursor performs a click and drag operation starting from the recorded position. 

After you stop moving the encoder, the mouse cursor will return to the recorded position so you can use it again on that parameter.

It important that you don't use the mouse or move the mouse elsewhere when you use the joker encoder because it will not be able to control the mouse cursor.

The joker encoder can be used anywhere not just plugins. You can use it to control your mixer or anything you want to control with an encoder.

Video tutorial here

How to activate/deactivate the joker encoder

Click and hold at the center of any encoder. The encoder will show the joker icon. This is now the joker encoder in all pages of the MP MIDI app. Note that when an encoder is set to be a joker encoder it will not send CC messages to any other MIDI port. It will only work as a joker encoder.

To deactivate the joker encoder, click once at the center of the encoder.

The joker encoder will be saved in the MP MIDI app presets.

In the options menu, there is an option to have the Joker Encoder Always On.

When enabled it will keep on using the encoder to control the mouse cursor even when the MP MIDI window is closed. Use this option with caution especially when using the MP Host because when turning that encoder will control both a parameter on the MP Host and the mouse cursor.

Installation and Permissions.

Due to strict restrictions on Mac OS, we created a separated app that runs in the background. 

Run the JokerEncoderMP installer (included in the MP MIDI app zip download file) and allow it to run from the Privacy & Security settings in Mac OS. It will install in the Applications folder, within a new folder named JokerEncoderMP the app.

Run the JokerEncoder.app once and you will be prompted to allow it in the Privacy & Security > Accessibility settings.

Quit the JokerEncoder.app from the topbar icon

Open the Settings of MacOS and go to

 In the list under Privary & Security choose Accessibility

Enable the JokerEncoder.

Then go to Privary & Security and choose Input Monitoring

 Click on the plus symbol

Enter your password and Select the JokerEncoder.app from the Applications folder.

Then enable it

This is it. Now the JokerEncoder app has the necessary permissions to run.

Note that the JokerEncoder app needs to run along with the MP MIDI app. It does not matter which app you run first.

You can optionally add the JokerEncoder.app in your Login items so that it runs automatically when you start your Mac.

Troubleshooting

Joker Encoder requires port 5006 to be free on the Mac.

If you encounter issues while running it, open a terminal and paste:

sudo lsof -i :5006It will ask for your password. Type it in and press Enter.

It should not produce any output. If it does produce output, it means some other app is using that port. That app should be terminated so that the port is free to be used by the Joker Encoder app.

Under the COMMAND header, you will see the name of the app using the port 5006.