# Record pattern from MIDI keyboard without UI hardware?

**URL:** <https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/record-pattern-from-midi-keyboard-without-ui-hardware/13049>\
**Category:** Using Zynthian\
**Tags:** sequnecer\
**Created:** [April 21, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/record-pattern-from-midi-keyboard-without-ui-hardware/13049 "2026-04-21T15:30:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/record-pattern-from-midi-keyboard-without-ui-hardware/13049/1 "2026-04-21T15:30:08Z")

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I’m trying to record a pattern using Oram, using my MIDI keyboard as input.

I’m on a stock RPi5 without Zynthian hardware. (What’s this called, BTW?)

I see in a tutorial video that I can do this by arming record using the Record button and then hitting the Play button. How can I do this without these buttons?

I see there’s a great WebUI tool for keyboard shortcuts. Unfortunately, there aren’t actions that correspond to these buttons. (There should be an action for every button!)

In the old discussion when keyboard shortcuts were added, someone suggested having a Play button, and the question was, what to play? Well, whatever hitting the PLAY button would play!

Is there any workaround? This is a deal-killer for me using the pattern editor – not being able to record from my MIDI keyboard. I do not plan to get Zynth hardware, nifty as it may be.

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**Author:** ![hannesmenzel](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/hannesmenzel/32/13014_2.png) [@hannesmenzel](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/hannesmenzel)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 5:04pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/record-pattern-from-midi-keyboard-without-ui-hardware/13049/2 "2026-04-21T17:04:00Z")

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The easiest way would be to enable the virtual onscreen buttons in webconf under Interface \> UI Options \> Touch Navigation \> V5 Keypad.

I’m sure there is a touch input only workflow for recordign patterns, but I don’t know it (There might be an [option “record from midi” in the pattern menu, see section 22](https://wiki.zynthian.org/index.php/ZynSeq_User_Guide#Playing_a_sequence)).

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**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/record-pattern-from-midi-keyboard-without-ui-hardware/13049/3 "2026-04-21T17:39:36Z")

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Thanks! I tried the VNC but got only the same display as HDMI. I didn’t try that UI option. It’s actually called Graphics & Usability → Touch Navigation → V5 Keypad at left/right, but you gave me the clue I needed.

If there isn’t a hot key for these buttons, I’ll open an issue to add that.

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**Author:** ![hannesmenzel](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/hannesmenzel/32/13014_2.png) [@hannesmenzel](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/hannesmenzel)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/record-pattern-from-midi-keyboard-without-ui-hardware/13049/4 "2026-04-21T17:47:47Z")

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I think in Oram they should be permanently on when enabled, but maybe the recent changes were also included in oram. With vangelis they switch on/off by tapping the vu-meter-bar on the top right corner.

> [@jlearman](#):
>
> It’s actually called Graphics & Usability → Touch Navigation → V5 Keypad at left/right

Ok, I looked it up on my vangelis machine, seems they changed the menu descriptions. Glad you found it.

> [@Zynbleton Vangelis - READ ME](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/zynbleton-vangelis-read-me/12619/416):
>
> SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO TOUCH I have just pushed an update to vangelis that signifcantly changes how touch works. What We have removed the touch-only workflow and replaced it with V5 button overlay. This results in 2 supported workflows: V4: 4 rotary encoders with switches, optional touchscreen V5: 4 rotary encoders with switches, 20 push buttons, 5" (or larger) touchscreen Touch-only will use the V5 layout with emulated buttons and encoders. Why Maintaining 3 official hardware workflows …