How to connect a soundboard to a MIDI controller

ElevenLabs' SB1 Soundboard is a tool that lets you instantly play AI-generated sounds through text prompts. While its browser-based interface is easy to set up, relying on a mouse can slow down responsiveness during timing-critical live performances or streaming.

To solve this, using a MIDI controller allows instant sound triggering via physical buttons or pads without needing to look at the screen. This transforms the soundboard experience from simple clicking into something as intuitive as playing an instrument.

The steps to connect the SB1 Soundboard to a MIDI controller are as follows:

• Create an ElevenLabs account and access the SB1 Soundboard
• Connect your MIDI controller to your computer
• Install MIDI-to-keystroke software (Windows: Bome MIDI Translator Pro, MIDIKey2Key / macOS: Bome, Karabiner Elements)
• Use the software to map MIDI input to keyboard inputs or mouse events corresponding to soundboard buttons