Hi Guitarmech,
Ok, I'm now in the same spot as all the trailblazers before me. Is there a latest in the state of the art on getting this working? Are there any files I can be sent? My email is briansin AT gmail DOT com. I would really appreciate any files that would help me set up my Axiom 25.
Thanks,
Brian

i juwst bought an axiom 49 will that work with sonar 6 studio

thanks for the advice

Here are two files that "should" setup your Axiom 49 to the set up that I use. Use them at your own risk. I do not guarantee success nor do I take responsibilty for anyone hosing up their SONAR setup by attempting to use these files.

http://www.plasticsamerica.com/collab/Mod%20Bod%20Axiom%2049.rar

One file is an Enigma set up file that you will use to set up your Axiom as I have set up mine. <This doesn't mean my set up is the best. It's just what I use and what I've learned to like. You might hate it.>

The other file is a preset which you will have to use Tools>Cakewalk Plugin Manager>Control Surfaces>ACT Midi Controller>Import to bring it into SONAR for you to use.

Please don't ask me for a lot of explanation of "how to do this or that" as my name isn't Manual. I'm pretty much a survival of the fittest kind of guy. If you get to a point and you need me to help in explain something you don't understand, I'll help you. Up to that point exercise the gray matter and expand your horizons.

Don't forget that you will likely have to teach you ACT controller the rotaries and faders. I use the unlabled button on the Axiom as my midi shift.

EDIT: BTW, if you also add a MMC-1 to your controller surfaces. The transport keys on the Axiom will work in SONAR. Once again, I can't guarantee they'll work like you like but I will guarantee they will work like I like.

ORIGINAL: 20milefreefall

Dave,

I can't thank you enough. Those files were the starting point I needed. After looking at them it's all starting to make sense and I must say I was really over thinking the complexity of whats involved.

Thanks again!!!

Mike

I must say I was really over thinking the complexity of whats involved

If it was complex I wouldn't be doing it.

Dave, I have a Axiom61 REG file if you want to include it in your file.

You can take a look at it and make a decision if you want. Let me know.

ORIGINAL: Guitarmech111

Dave, I have a Axiom61 REG file if you want to include it in your file.

You can take a look at it and make a decision if you want. Let me know.

Conley,

Is that a preset file? I'm a little dense this morning.

ORIGINAL: fooman

ORIGINAL: Mod Bod

Have you saved your Axiom settings as a preset in the Plugin Mangager? The documentation tells you how to do it.

Which docs? Sonar or Axiom?
I dl'd Enigma last night but didn't have time to install. One day I'll actually have time to try for hours on end to get things working together I swear.

SONAR documentation. I'll give you a hint to get you going. You have to go to Tools>Plug In Manager>Control Surfaces. Then Export it as a plug in.

Well, just wanted to thank Dave again for the files and everyone else in this thread who initially did all the dirty work for us Axiom newbies. I have my 49 exactly the way I want it. One problem I was having was that 2 of my rotaries (B4, B8) and my D button stopped working. I beat my head against the wall for 2 days trying to figure it out before I realized that it was a defective keyboard. I went back to GC, swapped it out for another and now everything is perfect. To everyone who is having problems programming this thing to work in Sonar, it really isn't hard once the light bulb goes on.

BTW Dave, your initial settings were almost exactly the same way I wanted to lay my board out minus a few slight changes. I'm also a Bass player, so I guess all us fat stringers really do think alike. LOL

Two questions:
1) I have noticed that every now and then Sonar "forgets" my ACT settings and I have to re-associate everything again. Any trick or tips on how to fix this?
2) Has anyone figured out how to map the D17 slider? I'd like to set it as my master volume but I cant figure out any way to map it under ACT without some sort of new Axiom specific template.

2) Has anyone figured out how to map the D17 slider? I'd like to set it as my master volume but I cant figure out any way to map it under ACT without some sort of new Axiom specific template.

AFAIK, you can't map one of the sliders to the master bus. I think you are kind of stuck with consecutive channels(tracks).

Yes, I was referring to the wiggle learn. When I start Sonar, sometimes my controls work, sometimes they don't. I have also noticed when I go into the controllers section, sometimes the Axiom USB 1 in, USB 2 in and the USB out are all changed to none on both my ACT controller and my MMC controller, and I have to reset those as well.

Ahh, I have mine running through USB power. I usually turn it on 1st, then start Sonar. I have been wondering if it is advantageous to run the Axiom off a dedicated power supply over running it off USB power. The manual doesn't seem to specify if one is better then the other.

I did have to return my 1st Axiom because of the 2 rotaries and 1 button not working, maybe there was something else wrong with it as well. We'll see if the new one does the same thing.

That 'forgetting' issue still happens to me with both my Axiom and my Tascam 1082.

I honestly gave up on the Axiom's ACT abilities because I had work to do and I'm pretty quick with a mouse as it is. I'm really going to try this time and work with Enigma and the Axiom. I honestly have no idea what Enigma is for, so I guess I'll start there.

Just my quick two cents here: (ONLY read this is you are STILL REALLY stuck on this whole ACT deal and a basic summary or different wording might help.. this is DEFINATELY no offense implied to all the people that've contributed so far: I just thought I'd toss this out cuz SO MANY people are still very confused)

Obviously, when using "ACT Controller" plugin, you need to have your "user1" toolbar loaded up with "controller/surface" (black drop-down'er that lists your controller plugin/s), as well as ACT Lock, ACT Learn, and Controller Plugin Properties buttons readily available. Make sure you've updated to 6.2 of SONAR of course... as it has 2 presets that I've found pretty useful for setting up Axiom's with ACT. The first is "M-Audio Axiom 49 (Preset 17)" ... this preset is labeled as "MIDI learn" in your axiom user guide, which by the way, you HAVE to print out and have handy if you're really trying to do this thang. Now remember, the main point of using ACT plugin is so that your controller assignments are actually SAVED in a format seperated from projects, templates, etc.; so that you can always recall these assignments when/if needed.

There's two big points my friends and I have had a hard time either remembering to do or realizing to do in the first place: SAVE SAVE SAVE your "presets" in the ACT plugin property page after you've loaded up either axiom (preset 17) or (20) and made even minor changes. Also: I know they're pretty ANNOYING and many say useless, but if you can: INSTALL M-AUDIO'S SERIES II DRIVERS. This has solved the "recalled assignments don't recall" problem pretty well.... unless of course I forgot to SAVE my ACT preset after making any kind of tweak.


Now: Notice the blue bar in the bottom left of the first (of two) tabs in ACT plugin property screen, it shows what ACT is currently "attached" (or if "LOCK" box is check... 'locked') This could be anything from a specific soft synth (Dimension Pro for example), or most commonly, Strip Parameters. Now back to the main point of ACT: start assigning controls to specific soft synths/plugins!! An easy way to do this is to make sure ACT is on (cuz lord knows this crap is taking enough effort as it is) the soft synths SPECIFIC NAME in the blue bar mentioned earlier; another reason that "ACT plugin properties" button is a MUST.

Click the ACT button in the top right of the soft synth/plugin's (this is the ACT learn button). I usually start with rotaries just because they are on top of the properties page. Click and drag on 8 "wheels" or dials in the plug-in's property page, THEN TWIST THE SAME NUMBER OF ROTARIES IN THE SAME ORDER that you moved them with your mouse. Now, go un-click ACT learn (it will turn back to beige from blue). It SHOULD inform you (i think) that x number of assignable controls have been assigned to x number of whatevers. I'd make sure in the synth rack page that "enable assignable controls" button is on... though it's worked for me without it on.

Ending this monstrous rant: ACT is merely a supplement to generic controller plugin/remote control features to provide QUICK and SAVE-ABLE controller assignments FOR SPECIFIC PLUGINS and some MAIN TRANSPORT/TRACK VIEW ACTIONS. The trick is to balance your track view assignments with some (if any) ACT assignments and use "remote control" groups to control the rest. ACT Lock will provide you with the ability to force any MIDI messages to STAY LOCKED on whatever the hell is in the blue box. Remember, you can ctrl+click on the "cells" and change their title; effectively changing their assigned slider/rotary/button assignment.

This is a brand new feature, and as the HUGE amount of tweaks introduced by SONAR 6.2 has proven: there's still a lot more cool stuff to be done. If you're more comfortable with your old ways I wouldn't worry too much about getting ACT under control unless you're REALLY getting tired of re-assigning those damn rotaries every time you load up PSYN II even... Also, mess with the "bank" and "Exclude from ACT" functions .... changing banks and excluding those banks from ACT means the assignments you made in that bank will always be locked to the assignment you made WITHOUT using ACT learn/lock.

CONFUSED YET?!??! God knows I am... but that's as much as I know, so... I hope that might help somebody.... some day lol.

BUMP!

Hey There, this is sort of an old thread, but i wanted to see if anyone had come up with some useful ACT control setups including bank-switching. How about controlling external synths with the Axiom?

Also, Mod Bod, can you give me some further info on how you set up the second instance of the Axiom in ACT to use the control pads for additional tasks? I was thinking of setting up the a-d buttons to do bank switching and using the control pads for view and edit tasks.

Finally, I have an issue with the buttons, I have to press them twice to cycle through selected tracks or switch views. Anyone have any insight into this? Apart from this, the Axiom and ACT work really well together, thanks everyone for your posts which helped me navigate through this mess.

nish