MetaGrid Pro 1.6.9 Released

News & Updates
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MetaGrid Pro 1.6.9

This update brings fresh features, a smoother experience, and fixes that make everything work just a bit better.

NEW:

• Redesigned Settings

The Settings screen has been completely rethought. It’s now faster to navigate, easier to configure, and just… nicer to use.

• Fallback Profile Option

Choose a default profile to show when switching to an app with no assigned profile. Find it under Settings → Automation & Scripting.

• Blender Preset

Our first grid for Blender, designed with UX expert Mik Skuza. A streamlined control surface tailored for 3D artists.

• Modular Sound Theme

A new hi-tech sound palette inspired by modular synths—crafted for clarity, precision, and creative flow.

IMPROVED:

• Smarter, faster WiFi connectivity using native Apple frameworks.

• Updated connection screen—better for multiple devices and any orientation.

• Refreshed “What’s New” layout, optimized for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.

FIXED:

• Fixed a rare crash when deleting a macro with only one action.

• Audio playback now resumes reliably after interruptions.

• Labels with “Line-Only” enabled now retain the setting during import/export.

• Grid sync messages are now filtered correctly—no more outdated notifications.

• Content Manager glitches on delete, duplicate, and paste—resolved.

Important

MetaGrid Pro 1.6.9 requires:

• MetaServer 5.2.2 for Mac

• MetaServer 5.1.5 for Windows

Make sure you’re up to date to enjoy everything this release has to offer.

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Can you list all the other fixes?

What the restore purchases fixed so I can get the xy pad?

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@laudmusic The Add-Ons store should include the grid objects add-ons for the early supporters (legacy premium).

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The update is not available on the macOS App update, but on iOS.

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Seems that we have to wait for Apple to propagate it across all countries/platforms.

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Still having deconection problems with 2 iPads with Metaserver 5.1.5 and cannot install 5.0.3 anymore cause Metagrid 1.6.9 is not compatible… So big problems for me.. Metagrid not working anymore and it’s a big deal for my workflow…

So I’ve the Metaserver used “Run as Administrator” uncheck that resolve the problem !

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  1. Unreliable connection with 2 iPads over USB
  2. WiFi is unbearably laggy
  3. Copy/Paste grids in the CM doesn’t work.
  4. No Content Manager in the Settings means an extra step to open it.
  5. Backing up my 220MB project to iCloud causes MGP to crash.

It’s 2025 and you can’t get an app to connect to a PC over USB. Sheesh! It should just work by now. I shouln’t have to unplug/refresh/re-plug/refresh/unplug to get an app to connect to my PC.

Windows 11
MGP 1.6.9
Metaserver 51.5

2 Likes
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app auto updated here, updated server. profiles are no longer switching. on Windows 10.

I second what JTB is saying. Been quietly waiting for stable connection (a reliable cabled method). Also occasionally work in an office where wifi is not a good option.

Stability/reliability should be primary focus or you will loose professional users.

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Steinberg do the same. They make changes to the UI that nobody asked for while neglecting bug fixes and features people have been screaming for for years. Seems to be a common theme with software devs. Must be something in their business model. :unamused_face:

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Hi Guys,

Understand your frustration - we are frustrated as well. Let’s take it piece by piece:

  1. USB connectivity
    We need to figure out what’s happens on your system. Our internal test systems work fine - no problem with connecting two iPads. However, because of the way iPad handle the USB connectivity now, it may happen that you need to unplug/replug the USB cable after you hibernate/restart your system - with later iOS versions, MacOS/Win doesn’t see the connected iPad as an USB device and you need to replug it for the operating system to register it as hardware device. When both devices are unpluged/replugged after system shutdown/hibernation, the USB connection should work fine. At least how it works on our tests system - and yes, it is 2025 - and that’s why iPad/USB is handled as this by the operating systems. We have done tons of tests, system level logs etc - the iPads are not visible as proper USB devices both on Mac/PC after computer hibernation/restart I am afraid and they need to be recreated by re-plugin the USB cable.

  2. WiFi
    Can’t replicate this on our test systems as well. We have migrated to the latest Apple NIO wireless connectivity frameworks - the WiFi connectivity on our test systems is as quick and as stable as it gets. We will need more info on how to debug the lag - @JTB was the WiFi laggy before? Nothing changed in the new MetaServer apart from the bug/crash fixes.

  3. Doing the tests right now on our huge database - every copy/paste in CM is registered as expected.

  4. There are two ways to access CM - one is to tap the grid name in the top bar to display the Grid Selector - the Grid Selector features the Content Manager button. And it is also accessible directly from the dashboard - you don’t need to be in the Edit mode. And the second method is a shortcut that was there from the beginning but may missed you - just double tap the grid/profile name to open Content Manager. It is that simple. And that was the only reason the Content Manager access point was removed from the Settings.

  5. We have tested the export of 500 MB and it works as expected on our test systems. @JTB Would it be possible for you to give us access to your backup (we will delete it afterwords and naturally we will not use any of the content you have got for any purpose).

Once more, thanks from your patience - as mentioned, from our experience and the feedback from the beta testers, WiFi connectivity seemed to be rock solid. Seems we still have things to work on.

1 Like
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We haven’t taken anything away UI wise - see Point 4 below.

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@Muscly - can you please restart MetaGrid Pro/MetaServer and check if the profiles switch as expected? We can’t replicate this - it may happen that Windows doesn’t sync the window app names to MetaServer after the auto-update. Let me know.

AS mentioned below, USB connectivity/discovery should work fine if you unplug/plug the USB cable after system shutdown/hibernation - see point 1 below.

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I tried all of these basic things before posting. I will try and again with full resets. Many times in the past I’ll need to restart the ipad if set to usb only. looks like you can choose connection method now in settings. that is a step forward. Is there another way to do this with a usb c hub for ethernet/charging power to get a reliable stable connection that doesnt require unpluging things often?

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yeah they need to make new exciting stuff for sure to sustain themselves I get it. It’s unfortunate that these things get less attention in the balancing act. its a similar thing with audio interfaces and driver stability. There is only one company that seems to get it right for professional use.

I feel bad there are some additional limitations with apple and the ipad connectivity in general, otherwise its great.

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after restarting the ipad pro(11in 4th gen ) it is working again. If any issues come up in the future id be happy to send debug logs etc or any other means of helping out.

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On both of my iPads, after copying a grid, the paste button does nothing. And
I didn’t realise that needing unplug and re-plug the iPad’s was a feature not a bug. Doesn’t seem very ‘Pro’ IMO. And considering that one of my two iPads always connects when launching Metasever, the whole USB OS spiel sounds implausible. And please understand that we as users develop muscle memory. So moving/removing elements like the Content Manager in settings is counterproductive.

Again, considering these things don’t work as expected:

  1. Copy macro from ON state to Off state and vice versa is unreliable
  2. Macro overwriting is unreliable
  3. ALL fader and button settings aren’t copied across reliably
  4. We cannot export/import XY Pads or Labels
  5. There is still no additional ports
  6. There is no global editing (all identical buttons in project can be edited/replaced)
  7. Replacing grids that are part of a scene takes 10 steps
  8. After splitting a button down to one square, it cannot be dragged to a location of more than one square.

And then there is the possibility of new display options, ‘Objects’ that contain multiple elements that can be exported/ imported into grids, new icon packs, fonts, backgrounds, effects etc etc. And still waiting for articulation assignment in Cubase.

I personally would not make the revamping of the Settings UI priority. No one AFAIK on this forum had asked for it. There are many many more important improvements that should be implemented.

Please remember, this app is being used by professionals to customise and enhance their workflow.

2 Likes
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@JTB Thank you for your time and the detailed input. Here are my answers:

On both of my iPads, after copying a grid, the paste button does nothing.

We will retest the copy grid on additional test systems.

And I didn’t realise that needing unplug and re-plug the iPad’s was a feature not a bug. Doesn’t seem very ‘Pro’ IMO. And considering that one of my two iPads always connects when launching Metasever, the whole USB OS spiel sounds implausible.

We are not happy with this as well, JTB. We have spent tons of hours to find the solution for the USB connectivity. I am moving this to a dedicated thread since I will need more details.

And please understand that we as users develop muscle memory. So moving/removing elements like the Content Manager in settings is counterproductive.

Got it - we thought that nearly everybody is using double tap shortcut to access CM - it is the quickest and most “muscle memory” friendly way to access CM. The Content Manager item will be brought back to the Settings in 1.6.10.

  1. Copy macro from ON state to Off state and vice versa is unreliable
  2. Macro overwriting is unreliable
  3. ALL fader and button settings aren’t copied across reliably

We will do additional tests and debugging.

  1. We cannot export/import XY Pads or Labels
    Yes, currently it is not possible. Nobody requested that so far - labels are “easy” objects, XY Pads are rather singular in usage. However, we will add the XY Pad and Label import/export to 1.6.10.
  1. There is still no additional ports
    Let’s take it here.
  1. There is no global editing (all identical buttons in project can be edited/replaced)

As mentioned somewhere else, it is rather difficult to implement taking into consideration our database model/architecture. We are still thinking how to implement this functionality.

  1. Replacing grids that are part of a scene takes 10 steps
    We have enable you to replace the grids assigned to the scenes on import. What scenario you are talking about?
  1. After splitting a button down to one square, it cannot be dragged to a location of more than one square.
    We will examine and fix this if possible in 1.6.10

And then there is the possibility of new display options, ‘Objects’ that contain multiple elements that can be exported/ imported into grids, new icon packs, fonts, backgrounds, effects etc etc. And still waiting for articulation assignment in Cubase.

I personally would not make the revamping of the Settings UI priority. No one AFAIK on this forum had asked for it. There are many many more important improvements that should be implemented.

The Settings rework is a part of a large effort to bring MGP to iPhone as well and enable landscape/portrait orientations on iPad. That requires redesign of several vital part of application for responsive, device-agnostic design. Enabling iPhone support for MGP is our top priority now - it also gives us a change to improve the UI - and the new Settings is much, much better than our previous solution.

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This version 1.6.9 nuked my Keyboard Maestro macros that I use for switching articulations in Cubase!
Meta Server doesn’t receive them any longer - I don’t see them coming into console on Meta Server. I’m using USB connection and have “only Use USB connection” checked in Meta Server settings. Other commands from MGP work in Cubase.

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How can I revert the app version on my iPad?

(I have now disabled App Store automatic app downloads)

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@azarius - that’s a permission issue - email us at help@metagrid.app - we will do our best to restore the prermissions

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Can confirm seeming to have a lot more connection issues than previous with x2 ipads.

Combination of restarting MG and Meta server gets there eventually