Create, share and import dashboards in KnobShift

KnobShift automatically sorts a plugin's parameters into sections such as oscillators, filters and envelopes. With a dashboard, you also put together your own selection of controls, for example everything you actually need on stage.

What is a dashboard?#

A dashboard always belongs to a specific synth. It appears automatically whenever you connect that synth again. Here's how it works:

• A dashboard can apply to all DAWs or to one DAW only. For example, you can have a performance dashboard in Ableton Live and a production dashboard in Logic Pro for the same synth.
• A dashboard can have several pages, which you switch between at the top.
• When you connect, KnobShift shows the last dashboard you used for that synth and DAW, otherwise the best match. Dashboards for the current DAW come before general ones.

For some synths, KnobShift ships ready-made dashboards, such as “Standard” for Serum 2 with four pages. If you change a built-in dashboard, you can restore it at any time with Reset to Default.

How do you create a dashboard?#

1. Connect the iPad and select the synth in your DAW that the dashboard is for.
2. In the left sidebar, tap New under DASHBOARDS.
3. Enter a name, e.g. “Live Set”.
4. Leave Show Only in … on if the dashboard should only appear in the current DAW. Turn it off if it should apply everywhere.
5. Tap Create.

The new dashboard starts with the controls from your Performance start page.

How do you edit a dashboard?#

• Add controls: tap Customize at the top, then the tile with the plus sign, and pick the parameter from the list. Alternatively, add a control to a dashboard from All Parameters using the dashboard icon.
• Change a control: in Customize mode, tap a control. You can pick its Appearance (Fader, Knob, Switch, Button, Selection), Move Left or Move Right, or Remove from Dashboard.
• Pages and options: the three-dot menu (Dashboard Options) lets you Rename, Add Page, Delete This Page, switch between Show Only in … and Show in All DAWs, or Delete Dashboard.

Tap Done when you're finished. Your changes are saved right away.

How do you share a dashboard?#

1. Open the dashboard.
2. Tap Export at the top. Alternatively, press and hold the dashboard in the left sidebar and choose Export.
3. Share the file via AirDrop, Messages or Mail, or save it in the Files app.

The file is named after the synth and the dashboard and ends in .knobshift. To share your dashboard with everyone, upload the file to the dashboard library. You need an account for that; sign-in works without a password via an email link.

How do you import a dashboard?#

There are two ways:

• Open the file: open the .knobshift file on the iPad, for example from AirDrop, the Files app or Mail, and choose Open in KnobShift.
• Import button: in the left sidebar, tap Import under DASHBOARDS and select one or more files.

After importing, you briefly see the message “Imported … for …”. The dashboard appears for the matching synth. If the same dashboard already exists, KnobShift creates a copy instead of overwriting yours.

Note: KnobShift recognizes the synth by plugin ID or plugin name. It finds the controls by their fixed parameter ID first, otherwise by name. If a parameter is missing in your plugin version, its slot stays in place with the hint “Not available in this plug-in version”.

Why does an import fail?#

• “The file is not a valid KnobShift dashboard.” The file is damaged or isn't a dashboard.
• “The file is too large for a dashboard.” Dashboard files can be at most 512 KB.
• “This dashboard comes from a newer app version.” Update your KnobShift app.

A dashboard only contains data, never code. KnobShift reads the file strictly, trims text and limits it to at most 20 pages with 64 controls each.

You'll find ready-made dashboards in the dashboard library. Share ideas and requests around dashboards in the forum.