Help! Akai MPK 61 MIDI Controller, Transport wont configure to Sonar

Are you using 64 Bit Sonar ???
If so then the MMC control will not work (Sonar issue).You will have to use CC and teach Sonar.
If you are using 32 bit then you will need to change the setting on the Akai to send MMC control, the Sonar preset is set to send both midi/MMC and Sonar does not like that.

I have 2 Sonar presets on my Akaim 1 for 32 Bit and 1 for 64 bit

There is a SYNC toolbar in Sonar that is used to determine the timing master. Have you tried fooling with it? If it isn't visible, right click the toolbar to see if it's checked or not. There is also a setting in Sonar Options>Global> Timecode Tab to set what Sonar does when it receives SMPTE or MMC timecode.

trevorst

J.Raker

Thanks for the feeback Trevorst.
Im using a 32 bit Sonar.
So I did have my AKAI MPK 61 KEYBOARD transport set to MMC.
But still no luck getting the transport to sync up with Sonar.
Everything else works though  ,faders,knobs,buttons.

I might just have to do without the transport :(

BTW in your 64bit Sonar situation what is "CC" ?

,
Jay

Check your settings in Sonar:Global Options:Timecode
It should be set to do not switch clock but start.
Also double check that the Akai is set to just MMC and not MMC+MIDI.


Also the Akai should show up in Sonar as:
Akai MPK61 (First Input/Output)
MIDIN2 (Akai MPK61)   MIDOUT2 (Akai MPK61)
MIDIN3 (Akai MPK61)


CC means using Control Codes to control Transport. You can swith the Akai to that mode instead of MMC and then just use the ACT Midi Contoller.

Where do I navigate to see this in SONAR? :
I dont get the name "Akai MPK61" to show up in this fashion like your describing below:

"Also the Akai should show up in Sonar as:
Akai MPK61 (First Input/Output)
MIDIN2 (Akai MPK61)   MIDOUT2 (Akai MPK61)
MIDIN3 (Akai MPK61) "

This is what Im seeing

"MMC-1  control surface
USB Audio device (selected)  for in and out ports

Cakewalk Generic Surface
USB Audio device 2 (selected) for in port and out port "


This what I have setup in SONAR :
N SONAR 8.5
Ive got the ACT Learn function activated
Controler/Surfaces:

Cakewalk Generic Surface
USB Audio device 2 selected for in port and out port

MMC-1  control surface
USB Audio device for in and out ports

AKAI MPK61 KEYBOARD MIDI CONTROLLER
Preset : Sonar
Transport set to  MMC


If I go with the ACT MIDI control way around my problem with getting the transport to work:
 
"CTRL" is selected in the AKAI MPK61 in the transport edit mode ?

I see choices of MMC, MMC/MIDI, CTRL

trevorst


Ok so in your Midi device list are you saying all you see is USB Audio device and USB Audio device2 ???


Mine show up as described i.e.
Akai MPK61 (First Input/Output) 
MIDIN2 (Akai MPK61)   MIDOUT2 (Akai MPK61) 
MIDIN3 (Akai MPK61)



Have you loaded the editor software and updated the Akai Firmware ???


Also I am using Win 7 not sure if that would make the difference, but an Akai FAQ on their site lists the inputs/outputs the same as I see them.


To use the Control Code (CC) method select CTRL setting in the Akai for Transport, then add an ACT or Generic Surface Surface in Sonar and set to Akai input 1 (USB Audio device).


Then open the surface properties and  use learn to set the transport controls.

OK Im running windows xp.(32bit)
I went to the FAQ on AKAI's website.
It didnt mention windows 7 but indicated you see " AKAI MPK 49"
on Macintosh systems for MIDI I/O details.

 I believe what Im seeing on my end for my windows xp sonar 8.5  32bit system is correct :


Cakewalk Generic Surface
"USB Audio device 2"       selected for in port and out port

MMC-1  control surface
"USB Audio device""      for in and out port

AKAI MPK61 KEYBOARD MIDI CONTROLLER
Preset 4 : Sonar
Transport set to  MMC

Sonar:Global Options:Timecode
It should be set to do not switch clock but start.



I have the AKAI editor Software but I did not update any firmware.

But I did find this  Im not sure you were aware of:

( I found this on the internet )  With regards to firmware:
There are no updates available from the Akai Pro website
 because the version loaded at the factory has not required an update yet.
In other words DO NOT CLEAR your unit's firmware
or you'll need to get some private email tech support
from akai's customer service to resolve the issue.


I also did what you suggested :


"Check your settings in Sonar:Global Options:Timecode
It should be set to do not switch clock but start.
Also double check that the Akai is set to just MMC and not MMC+MIDI. "


Im still trying with the AKAI MPK 61 keyboard set to "MMC" to get the transport to run in sonar.

I will try the " Control Code (CC) method select " way of doing things if all else fails.

Im going insane over this transport configuration, thank you for giving me some details so I can keep on with this quest to get the entire
controller to work in sonar 8.5

Hi everyone, I just bought  akai mpk 61 and im trying to map the knobs and sliders, I would like to use them for plug ins such as EQ. however I assigned the knobs and then next day I turned my computer on and opened sonar guess what all the settings that I had saved to a preset they are all out of map seems like I have to do it again? I dont think so ,  this is annoying well I just want something that it can be very solid and every time I open sonar it would work the way I want it to, please help I would appreciate very much, and lets say I go wrong when mapping , can I undo it or unlearn midi? thanks

Best Regards

Explain a little about how you set the Akai/Sonar to work together ??
Did you change settings on the Akai and save that preset on the Akai or did you save a ACT control setting in Sonar ???

I saved sonar ACT control

trevorst


Explain a little about how you set the Akai/Sonar to work together ??
Did you change settings on the Akai and save that preset on the Akai or did you save a ACT control setting in Sonar ???

trevorst


I suggest you load the editor and set the Akai through that, it makes it a lot easier to see that things are set right.

Good Luck.

Well I found how to make the transport work in Sonar. :)
Turns out I did not have the Audio sync button on.
I still have to somtimes hit the play or rewind, forward etc... button twice on the AKAI MPK 61 but hey at  least its working now.

Now out of desperation and after regaining some strength from yesterday's configuration battle, I went home for lunch and tried to reconfigure my setup.

This is now my setup:
Sonar 8.5
- 32 bit Sonar 8.5
- CGS setup wtih input -> midi in 2 and output -> midi out 2
- Akai MPK49 preset selected - I did no modification on the preset
- MMC setup with input -> akai mpk49 and output -> akai mpk49
- Sync set to Audio (I have enabled the sync taskbar)

Added today:
Midi Devices
In (in order)
- Akai MPK49
- Midi in 2
- Midi in 3

Out (in order)
- Akai MPK49
- Midi Out 2

Akaia MPK 49
- connected via USB
- Sonar preset
- Transport control set to MMC
- Clock set to External Internal

Alas! Transport controls using MMC is now working.  Faders/knobs/button still working as configured previously.

Next steps:
- Act enable CGS to control plugins
- Use ACT to control plugins