Re:Does anyone use the Akai mpk88 with X1?
2011/07/21 22:08:20
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To setup the Akai MPK88 to work with Sonar X1 is a 2-step process. First, you'll setup the MPK88 itself. After having finished that, you'll have to go into Sonar X1 and setup an ACT Midi Controller and MIDI learn the functions you wish to control.
First, the MPK88:
1. Select one of the preloaded Generic setups.
2. Press the Edit button.
3. Beginning with the Modulation wheel, move it to make it active for editing and press the Enter rotary knob.
4. Using the < and > buttons edit the Midi Channel so that it is set to CC, Ctrl should be set to 001 and the MIDI range should be set to 000-127.
5. Hit Enter.
6. Starting with Bank A of the rotaries/faders/buttons section, follow steps 3 and 4 above. All settings will be the same for Midi channel and MIDI range. However, Ctrl will need to be set to a different number beginning with 002 and working your way upward for each subsequent rotary/fader/button. For instance, I setup K1 to control change 002, K2 to control change 003 and so on. For Bank A I go from 002 on K1 to 025 on S8. (Note, for buttons S1-S8 you'll probably want to set them to MOM (momentary) rather than TGL (toggle). But that's really a personal preference dependent on what you eventually assign them to do.)
7. Once you are done with Bank A, select Bank B and work your way through the rotaries, faders and buttons again following steps 3 and 4. Be sure not to repeat any control change numbers from Bank A.
8. Once you are done with Bank B, select Bank C and work your way through the Rs, Fs and Bs. Again, be sure to not repeat any control change numbers from Banks A and B.
9. Finally, follow steps 3 and 4 for the Transport buttons and ensure they are set to MMC/MIDI.
10. When you are ready to save, press Preset. THEN press the > key. You'll be asked to which # in the MPK88's memory to save it to. Turn the Enter rotary knob to select the desired memory location and press the Enter rotary knob.
You're done!
Now for Sonar X1:
1. Open the program and click on Edit, then Preferences.
2. Click on Control Surfaces under the MIDI section.
3. Click on the little yellow star to add a new controller.
4. On the popup window, select ACT Midi Controller and then your MIDI In and Out Ports then click OK.
5. Click OK to close out the Preferences window.
6. On the ACT Module of the Control Bar, select Act Midi Controller-#, then click on the Settings button on the bottom left of the Act Module to enter the Act Midi Controller setup window.
7. Go ahead and name your setup in the Presets area and click Save.
8. Click on the Options tab and select what you want the rotaries, sliders and buttons to control.
9. When finished selecting options, click on the Controllers tab and go through MIDI learning each of the assignable areas. For example, click in the bottom half of the green area under R1 and then move the rotary you want to assign to it. Then move onto the subsequent rotaries.
10. Do the same thing for the sliders section that you did for the rotaries.
11. In the Buttons section, B1-B8 is where I setup the Transport commands. Follow the same steps for these as you did for the rotaries and faders.
12. As far as the Shift button, I MIDI learned Bank A, S1 on the MPK 88 as the Shift button. (Note: this is one of the reasons I suggested setting the buttons up as MOM (momentary) rather than TGL. But here again, aside from the Shift button needing to be set to MOM (momentary), it depends on what you'll be using the other buttons for that will determine if they are TGL or MOM.)
Once done, be sure to click on the Save icon! And bear in mind you've only setup Bank 1 in ACT. There are banks 2-4 in ACT for each of the rotaries, sliders and buttons that you can MIDI learn if the urge strikes you.
Hope this helps you to get this controller setup to work with Sonar. I just got my MPK88 last week and love it already!
If you are using the Vyzex software editor for the MPK88 that came with it, send me a PM with your email address. I'd be glad to send you my MPK88 preset that you can load onto your MPK88 via the software editor.