1. What is AIRSTEP?

AIRSTEP is an unprecedented foot controller, which can control almost all music-related devices and

software around you.

AIRSTEP can control all devices with the MIDI interface. It can also control devices with a footswitch(TRS)

interface, like some pedals and amps without the MIDI interface.

AIRSTEP can wirelessly control software on mobile phones, tablets, and computers via Bluetooth MIDI

and HID. Like effect software, Plugin, DAW, etc. It can even control the play/pause, backward and forward

of YouTube guitar lessons, page-turning of the music score, completely freeing your hands!

AIRSTEP has 5 footswitches, and can wirelessly expand 5 more footswitches by AIRSTEP Lite. It is capable

of sending up to 8 different messages per switch.

All functions can be easily set by the AIRSTEP APP. Programming and editing isn't your thing? Just load

any of the massive online presets with just one click, truly plug and play!

AIRSTEP is powered by a built-in rechargeable battery, no external power supply is required. Its compact

footprint and sturdy metal casing are built to meet the most stringent environments faced by musicians.

2. Types of messages sent by AIRSTEP

MIDI message

AIRSTEP can send MIDI messages via 5-Pin MIDI interface, USB, Bluetooth.

The types of MIDI messages that AIRSTEP supports include Program Change, Control Change, Note

On/Off, System Real Time, System Exclusive, System Common, Channel Pressure, Polyphonic Pressure.

ALL of them can be edited through APP, and also can be specified to different output interfaces.

HID message

The HID message is the message sent by a computer keyboard, and AIRSTEP’s footswitches can be used

as any key value or combination keys on the computer keyboard.

AIRSTEP connects to mobile phones or computers via Bluetooth to send HID messages, which can be

used to turn pages of music scores, control the pause/play of music or YouTube shortcuts on the

computer, and so on. You can edit the specific HID message value (keyboard key value) you want to send

in the APP.

Footswitch message

Footswitch messages are messages sent by traditional foot switches. As long as your device (usually

stompboxes or amps) can be connected to a traditional foot switch, then AIRSTEP can control it.
AIRSTEP can send two types of footswitch messages, Momentary and Latching, which are set in the APP.

Use the TRS line or TS line to connect to the controlled device. Please refer to the manual of you device

for types of line.

3. AIRSTEP’s Interfaces

5-Pin MIDI output interface

Use a standard 5-Pin MIDI cable to connect to the controlled device. Each output interface can be

specified to output different MIDI messages.

Footswitch output interface

A total of 4 footswitch output interfaces are included. Footswitch output can be used as a traditional

footswitch with amps and stompboxes with FS jack. As long as your devices can be connected to a

traditional foot switch, they can all be connected here.

Footswitch output can be set to momentary or latching, which can be adapted to most devices.

For connecting your controlled device through the TRS line or TS line, please refer to the manual of the
controlled device for the specific line used. If you are unsure, you can also confirm the message type by

stepping on 5 footsteps by the factory default preset 5 “External footswitch”.

Footswitch’s Polarity

Tip 1, ring 1 are corresponding to the tip and ring of f/s output 1. Tip 2, ring 2 are corresponding to the

tip and ring of f/s output 2.

USB interface
The USB interface can send and receive MIDI messages. It can work in device mode (USB Device) or host

mode (USB Host). The default is the device mode, if you connect the OTG cable attached to the AIRSTEP,

it will work in the host mode.

When connecting to computer, please use USB cable in the accessories to connect. When connecting

with MIDI keyboard or ZOOM MS series, please use the attached OTG cable to connect. At this time, the

USB works in host mode (USB Host). In host mode, USB supplies power to external devices, and the

power supply current cannot exceed 100mA.

When the USB is successfully connected to an external device, the USB Indicator lights up.

5-Pin MIDI input interface

To receive MIDI messages sent by external devices, use standard 5-Pin MIDI cable connect to external

devices.

All MIDI messages received by this interface can be forwarded to any MIDI output interface, including

Bluetooth, USB, and traditional MIDI output interfaces. You can also use the unique trigger function to

translate specific MIDI messages received to any messages that AIRSTEP supports.

Expression pedal interface

Support all types of expression pedals (TRS type or RTS type), select the expression pedal type in the APP,

TRS cable should be used to connect.

External Antenna

The external antenna is used for wireless Bluetooth communication with mobile computers or AIRSTEP

Lite. AIRSTEP sends or receives MIDI messages and also sends HID messages via Bluetooth.

The antenna can be rotated to adjust the direction. When it is perpendicular to the ground, it means the

best performance and the longest communication distance.

Charging interface
It should be connected to 5-9V DC power supply for charging, positive outside and negative inside. You

can connect the supplied charging cable to a power supply with a USB port (such as a mobile phone

charger), or you can connect a normal 9V stomp box power supply.

While charging, the red indicator light next to it lights up. When fully charged, the indicator lights green.

The maximum charging current is 500mA.

Power Switch

Turn up to turn on the power, and turn down to turn off the power. Turn off the power when not in use to

save power.

Multi-function button

Short press to cycle through 5 local presets. Long press to bring up the on-screen keyboard (when the

on-screen keyboard of the iOS device is hidden).

Footswitch

5 footswitches A, B, C, D, E. Each footswitch can set 3 trigger modes: press, release, and long press. A

single trigger can send up to 8 different messages, including MIDI messages, HID messages, and Relay

messages.

Footswitch indicator

Each indicator can be set to 2 indication modes, normal mode and toggle mode. In normal mode, only

the indicator that is currently triggered will light up. In the toggle mode, the Footswitch indicator lights

up when triggered for the first time, and turns off when the Footswitch indicator is triggered for the

second time.

Five Footswitch indicators are also used to indicate the current local preset position. When switching

between local presets, the corresponding indicator will flash green to remind you of the local preset

position. From left to right, they represent local preset positions 1-5 respectively.

Connection indicator

The connection indicator is used to indicate the Bluetooth connection status. Steady light means

connected, flashing means not connected.

4. Connect to smart devices and APP

AIRSTEP can be connected to mobile phones, tablets, and computer via Bluetooth, and can send MIDI

and HID messages when connected. In addition, AIRSTEP can also be connected to a PC via USB, or

connected to an iOS device via USB+iOS dedicated OTG (purchased by yourself). It should be noted that

only MIDI messages can be sent using a USB connection. When using a mobile phone or tablet

(Android/iOS), you can also download APP to edit AIRSTEP presets.

USB connection

To connect your smart device via USB, you need to use the USB A-C cable to connect it, and you can use

it normally after the PC is connected. (Note: At present, the smart connection via USB is that AIRSTEP can

only send MIDI signals and cannot send HID signals, which means that functions such as controlling

video shortcut keys cannot be realized, so it is recommended to use a Bluetooth connection to connect

smart devices)

Bluetooth pairing

Turn on the AIRSTEP power so that the connection status indicator is blinking. Then enter the system

Bluetooth settings of the mobile phone, tablet or computer, search for Bluetooth devices, under normal

circumstances you can find AIRSTEP, click to complete the pairing. After the pairing is successful, the

connection status indicator is always on. At this time, HID messages can be sent, but MIDI messages

cannot be sent. A MIDI connection is required to send MIDI messages.

Connect Bluetooth MIDI

How to use AIRSTEP’s Bluetooth function on iOS / Mac:

1. Bluetooth pair AIRSTEP with your device

2. Bluetooth MIDI function: Download “Bluetooth MIDI Connect” in the App Store, go to the device

list, select AIRSTEP, and connect.

The use of AIRSTEP’s Bluetooth function on the Windows :

1. Bluetooth pair AIRSTEP with your device (if your PC does not have a Bluetooth module, please

purchase a USB Bluetooth adapter that supports Bluetooth 4.0 or above). after successful pairing,

if there is a “Swift Pair” option, please enable.

2. Bluetooth MIDI function (Bluetooth MIDI function only supports WIN10)

A. Download LoopMIDI, link: http://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/loopmidi.html

B. After installation, enter the LoopMIDI app and click the + sign to add a loopMIDI Port

C. Go to the Microsoft App Store and search “ MIDIberry” and download it.
D. After installation, enter the MIDIberry application, Select AIRSTEP as INPUT (Bluetooth MIDI IN), select

loopMIDI PORT as OUTPUT

E. Select loopMIDI PORT for the MIDI input in the APP you want to control. Please keep MIDIberry on

during use.

Connect APP

If you want to edit the preset or check the working status of AIRSTEP, you need to connect the AIRSTEP

with AIRSTEP APP. First go to the APP Store or Google Play to search for “AIRSTEP” to download the

APP, and then ensure that AIRSTEP and the mobile phone Bluetooth have been paired and connected

successfully, and the indicator light is always on. Enter the APP and click “Touch To Connect AIRSTEP”

at the bottom of the screen to complete the connection.

After the connection is successful, the APP will display AIRSTEP’s current preset data, current battery

level, local preset number and other information.

A. Enter the AIRSTEP APP and click “Touch to Connect AIRSTEP” to connect with AIRSTEP/LITE.

B. Click”AIRSTEP”

C. If the interface at the bottom of the APP shows as the picture below, it means the connection is

successful.
5. What’s AIRSTEP Lite?

AIRSTEP Lite is a simplified version of AIRSTEP. All wired control interfaces are removed, including the

traditional MIDI interface, Relay output interface, USB interface, and expression pedal interface. The

Bluetooth communication interface is retained.

AIRSTEP Lite is mainly used for wireless control. It can work in 2 modes, standalone mode and wireless

external footswitch mode.

In standalone mode, Lite Bluetooth connects to mobile phones, tablets, and computers to send MIDI

messages and HID messages. At this time, the connection and usage of Lite are the same as AIRSTEP, so

please refer to AIRSTEP for these points.

In the wireless external footswitch mode, Lite connects to AIRSTEP as its wireless external footswitches.

At this time, all control messages are sent from AIRSTEP, and Lite is only used as a wireless extension.
6. Connect to AIRSTEP Lite
According to the description in the”5.What is AIRSTEP Lite?“section, AIRSTEP Lite has 2 working

modes,standalone mode and wireless external footswitch mode. Press and hold E and keep holding ,

then turn on the power switch to switch the working mode. When the connection indicator lights up in

blue, it is a standalone mode; when the connection indicator lights up in green, it is a wireless external

mode.

Standalone mode: the Bluetooth connection method is the same as AIRSTEP, please refer to the section”

4. Connect to Smart Devices and APP“

wireless extended footswitch mode: Lite should be paired with AIRSTEP and connected, and both must

be kept powered on at the same time.

If the green light of Lite becomes solid, it indicates that the connection with AIRSTEP is successful. If the

green light of Lite flashes, it means that AIRSTEP is not connected. In this case, re-pairing may be

required. Press and hold the AIRSTEP multi-function button (FUNC button). If the connection indicator of

Lite becomes green solid at this time, the pairing connection is successful.
7. AIRSTEP APP

AIRSTEP APP can be used to edit presets and display the current working status of AIRSTEP. After

AIRSTEP is paired with the phone’s Bluetooth, click on the bottom of the APP screen to connect. You can

also pre-edit and save the preset data through the APP, so that you can use AIRSTEP without the APP.

AIRSTEP APP supports iOS and Android, you can search “AIRSTEP” and download in APP Store or

Google Play.
8. What’s the preset of AIRSTEP?

When you start using AIRSTEP, you can load massive default presets from the AIRSTEP Preset library or

edit your custom presets and save. If you want to know about the custom editing of AIRSTEP’s presets,

please read the following carefully.

All control data of AIRSTEP are stored as presets. A complete set of presets consists of the following

parts:

Parameters such as the trigger mode, message type, specific definition of the message, the output

interface of the message, and the indicator mode corresponding to the footswitches.

Footswitch Parameters

PC 0：

Footswitch name. It is recommended to name the footswitch as the parameter corresponding to the

controlled device or the command value sent by this footswitch. The example in the figure is the second

way.

MIDI：
Types of messages,four types in total: MIDI, HID, Relay and Device. The first three are messages sent by

AIRSTEP. Device messages are local messages of AIRSTEP.

1 Msg：

Message definition, display number of messages or toggle mode.

MIDI IN parameters

Forward：

The name of MIDI IN, can be freely customized.

Thru to ALL:

The MIDI Forward interface will show which interface or interfaces the MIDI input is forwarded to.

0 Msg:

The number of MIDI trigger messages, 0 means there is no MID trigger message.

Expression pedal parameters

Contains parameters such as the type of expression pedal, MIDI messages , and the output interface.

Each expression pedal can send up to 8 MIDI messages.

Mod:

The expression pedal input’s name, can be freely customized.

RTS:

Expression pedal type, RTS or TRS. The default is RTS.

1 Msg:

Number of messages

9. Local Preset Storage Positions

AIRSTEP has 5 local preset storage positions, so that 5 presets can be used when AIRSTEP is not

connected to the APP, and the local presets can be cyclically switched through the multi-function button

(FUNC key).

After the APP is connected with AIRSTEP, the local preset number of AIRSTEP is displayed at the bottom

of the screen, and you can click to switch. After loads or edits a preset, click the save button in the upper

right corner to save the preset to the corresponding local preset strorage position.

10. Load, Edit, Save, Reset Presets

After the APP connects to AIRSTEP, it will display the current preset data of AIRSTEP and the local storage

position of this preset. You can load new presets from the APP preset list into AIRSTEP, and the new

presets will enable immediately after loading. You can also click to enter the corresponding editing

interface to edit the preset data. After editing, click “Done” in the upper right corner of the screen to

enable.

To save preset that has been loaded or edited to the local preset storage position of APP and AIRSTEP,

click the save button in the upper right corner of the main page.

The way to reset all the presets is to delete the AIRSTEP app and reinstall. After connecting to AIRSTEP,

click “Touch to Connect AIRSTEP” below, and then click the save button in the upper right corner. When

a window pop-up , you do not need to modify any parameters, click “DONE” to restore factory preset.

11. Edit Messages

AIRSTEP can send 3 types of messages. For the explanation of the messages, please refer to the section

“2. Types of Messages sent by AIRSTEP“. This section only explains how to edit messages.

Footswitches, MIDI trigger, and expression pedal can all send messages. Enter the corresponding edit

page in the APP to set the sent messages. Now take the footswitches as an example to explain how to set

the message.

1. Click to open the footswitch page:

2. The editing of the message mainly involves the message type and the output interface.

First, set the message type, click to enter, and slide to select the message type you need, as

shown in the figure:

 3. In the MIDI message settings, you can customize the message type to be sent, and click

“Done” to save it after selection. Then set the output interface, click enter, and tick the

output interface you want to define. You can specify any interface under the type message

you choose as the output, and then click “Done”. (Here’s taking MIDI as an example)

4. Then edit the specific parameters of your message, such as MIDI parameters, HID key value, Relay

Momentary or latch. After editing, click “done”, return to the main page and click the save button

in the upper right corner.

12. Device Command

The Device command is a special message type inside AIRSTEP. It is an internal command used to switch

the local preset of AIRSTEP. Therefore, when Device is selected in the message type, the output interface
will not be displayed. You can use the Device command to switch to the next or previous preset position,

or jump to any of the five local preset positions. The setting method is as follows:

1. Select “Device” in the Message Type

2. Then select the method you want to switch in Preset Action. Then go back to the main

page and click the save button in the upper right corner.
 Important: Unlike the preset switching function of the multi-function button, the Device

command is not a global message, so it is only valid within the preset that been defined.

13. Footswitch Settings

AIRSTEP’s footswitches can be set to three trigger modes: press, release, and long press. Each footswitch

can send up to 8 different messages, and each message can correspond to a trigger mode.
Footswitches can be set to two modes: normal and toggle. In the normal mode, the same message or

messages will be sent via the same trigger action by the footswitch. In toggle mode, two different

message or different groups of messages will be sent for the first trigger and second trigger of the same

footswitch action , which greatly increases the flexibility of control.

The footswitch indicator also has three LED modes: Normal,toggle, and Off.

When AIRSTEP is connected to the AIRSTEP Lite( Lite works as wireless external footswitches), the

number of footswitches on the system increases to 10. In wireless external mode, AIRSTEP Lite’s

footswitches has the same function as AIRSTEP. Press the footswitches on Lite and all messages will be

output from AIRSTEP.

Guideline of the settings in Normal Mode of footswitches

When the Toggle mode button is turned off, it means the normal mode. In normal mode, the trigger

mode is set in each message. If you only need to send one message, you only need to select your trigger
action in the “Trigger”. If you need to send multiple commands by one trigger action, you can add more

messages and set them to the same trigger mode or different trigger modes.

Example 1: One press to send multiple messages:

Example 2: Press/release to send different messages:

Example 3: Release/long press to send different messages:

 Note: Press and long press are conflicting trigger modes, because long press will definitely

trigger the press action, so they cannot be used together.

Guideline of the settings in Toggle Mode of footswitches

When the toggle mode button is on, it means toggle mode is enabled. Toggle mode is to send different

messages with twice trigger of one same action(e.g press two times). The message or messages sent

each time can be defined in Toggle On and Toggle OFF respectively. Toggle On is the first time you

stepped on it, when Toggle Off is the second time. Up to four messages can be defined in Toggle On or

Toggle Off respectively.

Guideline of settings of footswitch indicator mode

In the LED Display Mode column, you can set three modes: Normal, Toggle, Off.

Normal Mode of the Footswitch Indicator: Among all the footswitch indicators set to the normal mode

in a preset, which footswitch is stepped on, which light is always on.

Toggle Mode of the Footswitch Indicator: When the Toggle mode of the footswitch is turned on, the

Toggle mode of the footswitch indicator will also be automatically turned on, so that the status of the

Toggle Mode of the footswitch can be correctly indicated. When the footswitch is in Toggle On, the

corresponding indicator is on, and when the footswitch is in Toggle Off, the corresponding indicator is

off.

At the same time, the Toggle mode of the footswitch indicator is not just limited to be used as an

indication of the toggle mode of the footswitch. Any two successive trigger actions can respectively

correspond to the on and off of the footswitch indicator. For example, in the normal mode of footswitch,

if a single footswitch has only one trigger action, it will light up the first time it is triggered, and it will turn

off the second time it is triggered. If a single footswitch has two trigger actions, such as press/release,

then it will correspond to different indicator status, for example, press action and release action, one

action the indicator is on and the other action the indicator is off.

14. MIDI Forward

AIRSTEP’s traditional MIDI input interface, USB, Bluetooth can receive MIDI messages. All received MIDI

messages can be routed and forwarded to any output interface, including 5-Pin MIDI OUT interfaces, USB,

Bluetooth.

For example, messages through a traditional MIDI input interface can be forwarded to the USB output,

MIDI messages input through the USB can be forwarded to the Bluetooth output, and MIDI messages

input through the Bluetooth can be forwarded to the 5-Pin MIDI OUT interface.

You can connect an USB MIDI keyboard to the USB interface of AIRSTEP and turn it into a Bluetooth MIDI

keyboard benefits from the MIDI forward function.

 Note: Message 1 in the picture example on this page is for MIDI trigger. If you only use the

MIDI forward function, you don’t need to set it. If you want to know about the MIDI

trigger function, please read next section.

15. MIDI Trigger

AIRSTEP’s 5-Pin MIDI input interface, USB, Bluetooth can receive MIDI message input. AIRSTEP can use a

specific MIDI message from any MIDI IN as a “trigger message”. After detecting the “trigger message”

input, AIRSTEP can immediately output MIDI messages, HID messages or Relay messages, or trigger the

Device Command, and up to 8 messages can be sent by MIDI Trigger, to achieve the same function

AIRSTEP’s footswitches.

For example, you can connect a traditional MIDI foot controller to AIRSTEP as an extended pedal. When

AIRSTEP detects a specific MIDI “trigger message” input from the controller, it could immediately send

a custom HID message to control the Play/Pause of the player on the computer. It is a result of setting

the MIDI Trigger to send HID messages. Therefore, the MIDI Trigger function turns the traditional MIDI

foot controller into a Bluetooth computer keyboard.

The parameter with Trigger is the trigger message setting. Trigger Type is the message type for trigger

message. You can select MIDI PC or MIDI CC for triggering. After setting the trigger PC or CC comMand,

the MIDI IN of AIRSTEP can send the specific message or messages after receiving this specific trigger

message. Below the trigger message settings are the messages sent settings after triggered.

16. Expression Pedal Inputs

After AIRSTEP is connected to the expression pedal, it can send MIDI messages through the 5-Pin MIDI

output interface, USB, Bluetooth, and up to 8 different MIDI messages can be sent by one expression

pedal. AIRSTEP is compatible with all types of expression pedals, whether it is TRS or RTS type, you can

use it. Use the TRS cable to connect AIRSTEP to the expression pedal.

Line sequence selection: Click EXP on the main page. The expression pedal input 1 (EXP 1) is taken as an

example in the figure. The expression pedal line sequence is shown at RTS.
If your expression pedal is of RTS type, please select RTS, if your expression pedal is of TRS type, please

select TRS. Click on the link to check your expression pedal

type: http://expressionpedals.com/list-of-expression-pedals

If you are still not sure, please connect your expression pedal, and then click TEST, after the interface

appears as figure. Depress and lift the pedal at a constant speed throughout the entire range of the

expression pedal. If the progress bar moves at a constant speed with the expression pedal’s moving, the

value will also change uniformly within the range of 0-127, indicating that the line sequence is correct. If

not, please switch to another wire sequence type.

Expression pedal output: You can choose to send MIDI CCs to any output interface. The setting method

is the same as all the messages above, please refer to section 11:Edit Messages.
17. Parameters

MIDI OUT： MIDI IN：

Bluetooth MIDI out Bluetooth MIDI in

USB host MIDI out with 5V power out USB host MIDI in with 5V power out

USB device MIDI out USB device MIDI in

5-Pin MIDI out x 2 5-Pin MIDI in

Send all kinds MIDI message MIDI in can through to all MIDI out

MIDI in with CC and PC, can trigger to all

message type

HID OUT： RELAY OUT：

Bluetooth HID Relay switches out x 4 on 2 TRS ¼” jacks

Momentary and latching action assigned on a

USB HID, Send keyboard and consumer HID message
per switch basis
 Expression Pedal In： LED indicator：

Expression pedal in x 2 System LED x 1

Support all expression pedal types Individual Foot switch LEDs x 5

Send MIDI CC messages to all MIDI outs Blue and Green

Normal and toggle modes

AIRSTEP Lite ： Footswitches：

A stripped down AIRSTEP with the following differences Foot switches x 5

Footswitch actions assignable

No USB MIDI in / out, Bluetooth midi only to press, release and long press
trigger

No 5-Pin MIDI in / out

No USB HID, Bluetooth HID only

No relay switch out

No expression pedal in

Can be used as a wireless extension foot switch for AIRSTEP

Message send： APP Editor：

Each Midi trigger

and footswitch
Message can be triggered by foot switches, MIDI in and expression pedal message can be
flexibly edited by
App

Connect to AIRSTEP
Message type: MIDI, HID, Relay
by Bluetooth

iOS and Android

Send up to 8 messages in one trigger
support

Each message can assign different physical output interfaces Unlimited number
of presets can be
 Message send： APP Editor：

saved and loaded

into AIRSTEP

XSONIC library of
presets for all
Normal and toggle message mode
your favorite
devices

Battery
AIRSTEP Local Preset： Power
Supply：

300 hours of
Up to 5 presets can be stored in AIRSTEP locally continuous
use

AIRSTEP is
battery
Local preset can be switched by all triggers (except EXP), FUNC button, and App powered and
rechargeable
by 5V - 9V DC

Local presets can work without App

Firmware： Wireless Communication Distance：

30m line of sight(LOS), between AIRSTEP and

Firmware can be updated by Bluetooth and USB
phone, tablet, computer

30m line of sight(LOS), between AIRSTEP and

AIRSTEP Lite

Appearance:

Robust Aluminum extruded shell

Detachable external antenna

300 x 70 x 45(H) mm

AIRSTEP 700g / AIRSTEP Lite 650g

Compatible Device

iOS device：iOS 10 and above

Mac device：OS X 10.6 and above

Android device：Android 4.0 and above

Windows device：Windows 10