For GarageBand on Mac

Your keyboard's knobs, finally alive in GarageBand.

GarageBand ignores most knobs and faders on MIDI keyboards. KnobLink connects them to GarageBand's instrument controls, mixer and transport. Plug in, three quick steps, play.

Buy for $12, lifetime Download

One payment · 14-day refund · macOS 13 or later · Apple silicon and Intel · First-time install

What it unlocks

Every control on your keyboard gets a job.

Instrument knobs

Turn a knob and GarageBand's on-screen controls move with it: drawbars, filters, drive, reverb.

Mixer

When an instrument has no knobs on screen, faders and knobs set each track's volume and pan.

Transport

Play, stop, record, loop and the track buttons just work, in every project.

Your keyboard

Recognises 50+ popular controllers on its own, and learns any other in about 30 seconds.

Setup

Three steps, then you play.

1

Plug in your keyboard

KnobLink recognises it and draws it, controls and all. Unknown keyboards take a 30-second teach-in.

2

Allow instrument knobs

macOS asks once. Switch KnobLink on in Accessibility so your knobs can move GarageBand's controls.

3

Restart GarageBand

Only the first time. From then on KnobLink starts with your Mac and stays out of the way.

Keyboards

Works with the keyboard you have.

Akai, Arturia, M-Audio, Novation, Nektar, Korg, Alesis, Behringer and more. And if yours isn't on the list, KnobLink learns it.

AkaiArturiaM-AudioNovationNektarKorgAlesisBehringer
See every supported keyboard

Pricing

Pay once. Keep it.

$12one time
  • Lifetime licence, every update included
  • Up to 3 of your Macs
  • Any number of keyboards
  • Not happy? Full refund within 14 days
Buy KnobLink

Questions

Will it work with my keyboard?

Very likely. KnobLink recognises more than 50 popular controllers by name, and any other USB MIDI keyboard can be taught in about 30 seconds: you move each control once. You can check before you pay: download KnobLink and it shows your keyboard, controls and all. And if it doesn’t work out, you get a full refund within 14 days.

Do I need Logic Pro?

No. KnobLink is made for GarageBand. It uses a control-surface connection GarageBand already understands, plus macOS Accessibility to move on-screen instrument controls.

Why does it ask for Accessibility?

That permission lets KnobLink turn GarageBand's on-screen instrument knobs for you. It only ever reads and moves GarageBand's Smart Controls. Without it, transport and mixer still work.

macOS says it can't verify KnobLink. Is it safe?

Yes. KnobLink is a small independent app that isn't registered with Apple's paid developer program, so macOS asks once. Open System Settings › Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway next to KnobLink. It never asks again, also after updates.

Does it need the internet or an account?

No account. It works offline. The only time it goes online is the one moment you activate your licence key.

My keyboard already has a GarageBand script. Do I need this?

Some new controllers ship their own GarageBand integration. If yours does and you're happy with it, you may not need KnobLink. It's made for the many keyboards that don't.