Pit

What it is

Pit is a pitched-percussion sampler and show player for front ensembles, theatre pits, and schools — marimbas, vibes, timpani, and chimes played from any class-compliant MIDI controller (malletSTATION, MalletKAT, or a MIDI keyboard). The whole workflow is three steps: pick your Sounds, Split your controller into zones, and Perform. It is built to run without a manual and works fully offline.

Requirements

• macOS (Mac computer).
• A class-compliant MIDI controller — malletSTATION EM1/EM PRO, MalletKAT, or any standard MIDI keyboard.
• Sustain and expression pedals are supported (CC64 sustain, CC11 expression) if you use them.
• If you're running Pit alongside the rest of the Performance Percussion suite on the same network, Pit listens for suite messages on UDP port 5680.
• No account and no internet connection are required to perform.

Install & first run

1. Download Pit from the Mac App Store and open it.
2. Open the Sounds tab and choose an instrument (for example, Marimba — Soft Mallets, Chimes, or Timpani).
3. Connect your MIDI controller, then go to the Split tab and drag zone handles on the on-screen keyboard to assign instruments (and octave shifts) across your controller.
4. Go to the Perform tab to play. The Perform screen shows a large, sideline-readable patch name and can be advanced with a footswitch.
5. Save your show as a .pitshow file so you can reopen the same setlist, splits, and patches next time.

Common questions

What controllers work with Pit?

Any class-compliant MIDI controller. Named examples that are tested include the malletSTATION EM1/EM PRO and MalletKAT, as well as any standard MIDI keyboard.

Can I use a sustain or expression pedal?

Yes. Pit supports CC64 for sustain and CC11 for expression, so vibraphone pedaling works the way your hands expect.

Does Pit include effects, loops, or sequencing?

No — Pit is deliberately performance-only, with no FX and no sequencing, which keeps it compliant with DCI/WGI rules.

Do I need an internet connection to perform?

No. Pit works fully offline with no account required.

Can another Performance Percussion app control Pit's setlist?

If you also run Rundown on the same network, Pit can respond to its setlist and panic messages automatically. Pit works completely on its own if you don't use any other app.

Troubleshooting

A zone isn't playing the instrument I expect. Open the Split tab and check that the zone's handles cover the keys you're playing, and confirm the correct kit and octave shift are assigned to that zone.

Sustain pedal isn't holding notes. Confirm your pedal is sending CC64 on the same MIDI channel/port as your controller; some pedals need to be plugged into the controller itself rather than the computer.

The footswitch isn't advancing songs in Perform mode. Make sure you're on the Perform tab (footswitch advance only works there) and that the footswitch is connected and recognized as a MIDI or class-compliant device before you start the show.

My show file won't open on another Mac. Confirm the .pitshow file transferred completely (AirDrop or file copy can be interrupted) and that you're opening it with a current version of Pit.

Known limitations

• Pit has been running in field testing but has not yet completed full real-audio and gapless-playback verification on stage hardware — most testing so far has been in a no-audio fallback mode.
• The planned Raspberry Pi sideline player has not yet been verified on real Pi hardware.
• Exported shows are limited to under 4GB (larger exports are not yet supported).
• MIDI range learning and controller presets are not yet available — zones are set manually in the Split tab.

Still stuck?

Email [email protected] with "Pit" and your app version in the subject line.