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Invert a knob or treat it as an endless encoder

After creating a MIDI binding, you can reverse its direction with Invert or tell AetherSDR to treat the control as an endless encoder with Relative. Both options are set per binding in the Bindings table.

Before you start

Steps

  1. Open Settings > MIDI Mapping....
  2. Locate the binding you want to change in the Bindings table.
  3. To reverse the control direction, check the Invert checkbox in that binding's row.
  4. To treat the control as an endless encoder, check the Relative checkbox in that binding's row.
  5. Either checkbox can be checked or unchecked independently. Changes take effect immediately.
  6. Click Close when finished.

What each control does

Control Column in Bindings table Behavior
Invert Invert Reverses the direction of the control for that binding. Turn clockwise to decrease, counter-clockwise to increase, or vice versa.
Relative Relative Treats the control as an endless encoder. Use this when your hardware knob sends incremental (relative) values rather than absolute positions (0–127).

Category filter

The Category combo box above the Bindings table filters the Parameter combo box to a specific control category. In v26.6.1, the available categories are:

  • All
  • RX
  • TX
  • Phone/CW
  • EQ
  • Global
  • Mode
  • Band
  • Filter
  • Slice
  • Display
  • Frequency

Select a category to narrow the list of parameters shown when creating a new binding.

New momentary CW trigger actions

In v26.6.1, the Phone/CW category includes three new momentary (Gate) actions for CW keying:

  • Trigger straight key (id: cwkey) β€” Emulates a straight key press.
  • Trigger CW Left Paddle (id: cwdit) β€” Emulates a left paddle (dit) press.
  • Trigger CW Right Paddle (id: cwdah) β€” Emulates a right paddle (dah) press.

Legacy dotted IDs (cw.key, cw.dit, cw.dah) are automatically migrated to the new format when loading older profiles.

Tips

  • Use Relative when your knob sends small increment/decrement values rather than an absolute position. If a knob jumps erratically when turned, enabling Relative usually corrects it.
  • Invert and Relative can be combined on the same binding. For example, a Relative encoder that increments in the wrong direction can have both options checked.
  • Changes to Invert and Relative are saved automatically when you save a profile. Use Save under Profile: to preserve them.
  • The CW trigger actions are momentary β€” they activate while the MIDI control is held and deactivate when released.

Troubleshooting

  • Checking Relative makes a knob stop responding β€” The knob may be sending absolute values (0–127). Uncheck Relative and leave the binding in absolute mode.
  • Control still moves in the wrong direction after checking Invert β€” Confirm you checked Invert on the correct row. Each binding row has its own Invert checkbox; scroll horizontally if the column is not visible.
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