MIDI 2.0 Adoption Update June 2025: Which DAWs and Devices Actually Support It Now

Six years after the MIDI 2.0 specification was officially announced in 2019, the question every producer keeps asking hasn’t changed: “Can I actually use MIDI 2.0 in my studio right now?” The honest answer in June 2025 is — it depends on your setup, and the reality is more nuanced than the hype suggests.

MIDI 2.0 promises 32-bit resolution (versus the 7-bit, 0-127 values we’ve been stuck with since 1983), per-note controllers, bidirectional communication, and self-describing devices that configure themselves automatically. These are genuine breakthroughs. But MIDI 2.0 adoption in 2025 remains a patchwork — some platforms are years ahead, others haven’t started, and most producers are understandably confused about what actually works today.

Let’s cut through the noise with a complete, honest look at exactly where MIDI 2.0 stands across operating systems, DAWs, and hardware as of June 2025.

Operating System Support: The Foundation Everything Else Depends On

Before any DAW or plugin can use MIDI 2.0, the operating system needs to support it at the driver level. Here’s where each major platform stands.

macOS: The Clear Leader in MIDI 2.0 Adoption

Apple has been the undisputed frontrunner since adding USB MIDI 2.0 support to CoreMIDI back in October 2021 with macOS Ventura. This means macOS has had native MIDI 2.0 support for nearly four years — including Universal MIDI Packet (UMP) transport, bidirectional device discovery through MIDI Capability Inquiry (MIDI-CI), and full backward compatibility with MIDI 1.0 devices.

For developers and hardware manufacturers, macOS is the reference platform. When Roland and Synthogy demonstrated MIDI 2.0 high-resolution velocity capabilities at industry events, they used Apple computers running Logic Pro. If you’re on a Mac, the OS-level infrastructure for MIDI 2.0 is solid and mature.

Windows: Still Playing Catch-Up

Windows is the elephant in the room. Microsoft has been developing Windows MIDI Services — an open-source rebuild of the entire MIDI stack that supports both MIDI 1.0 and 2.0. At the Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit in late 2024, Microsoft announced improved APIs supporting MIDI 2.0 with low-latency, high-channel-count audio.

A preview hit the Windows Insider Canary Channel in February 2025, but as of June 2025, the full public rollout hasn’t happened yet. This is arguably the single biggest bottleneck for MIDI 2.0 adoption across the entire industry — the majority of music producers worldwide use Windows, and without stable OS-level support, DAW developers can’t ship reliable MIDI 2.0 features to the largest user base.

Linux: Quietly Ahead of Windows

In a twist that surprises many, Linux actually beat Windows to native MIDI 2.0 support. Since kernel 6.5 (released August 2023), ALSA includes MIDI 2.0 and UMP support. USB MIDI 2.0 devices work natively, accessible through both rawmidi devices and the extended ALSA sequencer API. It’s not widely used in commercial music production, but for Linux-based audio systems, embedded devices, and installations, the foundation is there.

Android & iOS

iOS benefits from Apple’s CoreMIDI implementation, so MIDI 2.0 works on iPad and iPhone. Android, however, doesn’t have native MIDI 2.0 support yet as of mid-2025. Google participates in the MIDI Association’s API working group alongside Apple, Linux (ALSA), and Microsoft to ensure cross-platform consistency, but a shipping implementation on Android hasn’t materialized.

DAW Support: Who’s In, Who’s Out, Who’s In Between

This is where it gets really interesting — and really inconsistent. No major DAW has fully implemented every MIDI 2.0 feature, but several have started in meaningful ways.

Logic Pro — Most Advanced MIDI 2.0 DAW Support

Apple’s Logic Pro leads the pack. It passes MIDI 2.0 Channel Voice Messages (CVM) directly to Audio Unit plugins, meaning plugins that support MIDI 2.0 can receive high-resolution velocity, per-note controllers, and other enhanced data. The May 2025 update improved Step Sequencer to display MIDI 2.0 data correctly, and automation points now show MIDI 2.0 values accurately. Given Apple’s control over both the OS and the DAW, this tight integration isn’t surprising.

Cubase 13 & Nuendo 13 — Practical MIDI 2.0 Translation

Steinberg’s approach is pragmatic. Cubase 13 and Nuendo 13 translate incoming MIDI 2.0 messages into VST3 format, supporting high-resolution velocity, CC, aftertouch, pitch bend, and polyphonic pressure data. This means if you connect a MIDI 2.0 controller, Cubase will pass the enhanced resolution to compatible VST3 plugins. It’s not full native MIDI 2.0 throughout the signal chain, but it delivers real benefits in practice.

Bitwig Studio — CLAP-Ready, Waiting on Windows

Bitwig is in an interesting position. Its internal architecture is MIDI 2.0 ready through the CLAP plugin format, which natively supports MIDI 2.0. Once Windows completes its MIDI 2.0 driver rollout, Bitwig could potentially flip the switch quickly. On macOS, some MIDI 2.0 data already flows through, but full implementation is waiting for broader ecosystem readiness.

Ableton Live — Still Absent

As of June 2025, Ableton Live does not support MIDI 2.0. The community has been requesting it — threads on the Ableton forum date back years — but there’s been no official announcement or beta feature. Given Ableton’s historically cautious approach to adopting new standards, this isn’t entirely surprising, but it’s disappointing for the large Live user base.

FL Studio, REAPER & Others

FL Studio 21 introduced initial MIDI 2.0 support focused on high-resolution controllers and improved timing accuracy. REAPER’s flexible architecture provides extensible MIDI 2.0 support through scripting and extensions. MultitrackStudio deserves a mention as the most comprehensive MIDI 2.0 DAW — supporting full MIDI 2.0 VCM, MIDI-CI, Property Exchange, and even Articulations — though it serves a niche audience.

Hardware: The Three Pioneers (and Not Much Else)

Hardware adoption is where MIDI 2.0’s slow rollout becomes most visible. After six years, only a handful of controllers actually ship with MIDI 2.0 support.

Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series MK3

The Kontrol S MK3 (S49, S61, S88) is the most fully-featured MIDI 2.0 controller available. It supports USB MIDI 2.0, Universal MIDI Packet (UMP), MIDI 1.0 Voice Channel Messages in UMP format, MIDI-CI Property Exchange with Channel List, and Function Blocks. The catch? Full MIDI 2.0 functionality requires macOS 13.5 or higher — Windows users are still waiting for OS-level support.

Korg Keystage

The Korg Keystage holds a notable distinction as the first keyboard to adopt MIDI 2.0 Property Exchange. It uses MIDI-CI to send JSON data bidirectionally between the computer and the controller, with parameter subscription that keeps both sides continuously updated. This is a real-world demonstration of one of MIDI 2.0’s most exciting features: devices that can describe their capabilities and auto-configure themselves.

Roland A-88MKII

Roland’s A-88MKII was designed “MIDI 2.0 ready” from launch and received a free firmware update enabling MIDI 2.0 support — high-resolution velocity and 32-bit controllers via the keyboard and panel knobs. As one of the earliest MIDI 2.0 hardware pioneers, it proved the concept was viable even before OS and DAW support caught up.

Network MIDI 2.0: The Quiet Revolution

One of the most under-reported developments is Network MIDI 2.0 (UDP), ratified in November 2024 and officially introduced at NAMM 2025. This standard defines how to connect MIDI devices over Ethernet and wireless LAN — imagine connecting MIDI controllers across a studio network without USB cables, or collaborating between rooms in real-time. For live performance rigs and large studio installations, this could be transformative.

What’s Still Missing: The Honest Assessment

Let’s be direct about the gaps:

• Windows public release — The single biggest blocker for mainstream adoption. Until Windows MIDI Services ships publicly, the majority of producers simply can’t use MIDI 2.0.
• Hardware variety — Three controllers in six years is not a thriving ecosystem. Major manufacturers like Akai, Arturia, and Novation haven’t shipped MIDI 2.0 products yet.
• Plugin support — Even on supported DAWs, very few plugins actually take advantage of MIDI 2.0’s enhanced resolution. Ivory 3 and Supreme Drums Taiko support high-resolution velocity, but most don’t.
• Ableton Live — The second most popular DAW worldwide has zero MIDI 2.0 support, leaving a massive user base out of the conversation.
• Android — Mobile music production on Android remains MIDI 1.0 only.

Should You Care About MIDI 2.0 Right Now?

If you’re a Mac user running Logic Pro with a Kontrol S MK3, Roland A-88MKII, or Korg Keystage — yes, you can experience real MIDI 2.0 benefits today. The high-resolution velocity alone makes a noticeable difference in piano and drum performances, and property exchange with the Keystage is genuinely impressive.

For everyone else, MIDI 2.0 is still a “coming soon” story. The good news is that MIDI 2.0 is fully backward compatible — your existing gear won’t stop working, and any MIDI 2.0 device gracefully falls back to MIDI 1.0 when connected to legacy equipment. There’s no urgency to upgrade, but there’s also no reason to avoid MIDI 2.0-capable hardware if you’re buying new gear. You’re future-proofing without sacrificing anything.

The infrastructure is being built. macOS is ready, Linux is ready, Windows is close, and major DAWs are implementing support at varying speeds. By mid-2026, when Windows MIDI Services likely reaches stable public release, the adoption curve should steepen significantly. For now, MIDI 2.0 is real, functional, but still early — and that’s a perfectly honest place for a six-year-old standard to be.

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