Hello Everyone,
 
I am having real issues here trying to use ACT Learn to control softsynth parameters.
 
So I ACT LEARN  KNOB #1 on my MIDI controller for a parameter but guess what happens, it controls the parameter I want, but then also one I DONT want.  This is because of the MIDI CC mapping in each softsynth.

I strongly feel if you are going through ACT to control a softsynth, Sonar should STOP MIDI CC to the softsynth as well.

How do I get my KNOB #1 to JUST control the parameter I learned through ACT?

Thank You!
-Adam

SilverBlueMedallion
I strongly feel if you are going through ACT to control a softsynth, Sonar should STOP MIDI CC to the softsynth as well.

Normally that is the case. When CC is used by ACT plug-in, it is no longer sent to the Synth.
 
But there is one exception: if you have more then one ACT Plug-ins with this MIDI input, only CCs assigned in the last one are blocked.
 
Possible solutions:
a) use only one ACT plug-in per MIDI device
b) reprogram your controller to use undefined CCs, not used in softsynths (but they still will be recorded into MIDI track if you modify parameters with track armed)
c) add AZ Controller as yet another ACT plug-in (as the LAST) and in its Options tab set "Block all channel messages". That is not going to work in case you really want some controls or keys from the same device delivered to Synth.
 
For ACT Dynamic Mapping (Learn) I strongly recommend to install and use "AZ ACT Fix" utility. Alternatively, you can use "ACT Editor" from MarKo or manually edit XML files. If you ignore that advise, sooner or later you will be confused even more.

azslow3

SilverBlueMedallion
I strongly feel if you are going through ACT to control a softsynth, Sonar should STOP MIDI CC to the softsynth as well.

Normally that is the case. When CC is used by ACT plug-in, it is no longer sent to the Synth.
 
But there is one exception: if you have more then one ACT Plug-ins with this MIDI input, only CCs assigned in the last one are blocked.
 
Possible solutions:
a) use only one ACT plug-in per MIDI device
b) reprogram your controller to use undefined CCs, not used in softsynths (but they still will be recorded into MIDI track if you modify parameters with track armed)
c) add AZ Controller as yet another ACT plug-in (as the LAST) and in its Options tab set "Block all channel messages". That is not going to work in case you really want some controls or keys from the same device delivered to Synth.
 
For ACT Dynamic Mapping (Learn) I strongly recommend to install and use "AZ ACT Fix" utility. Alternatively, you can use "ACT Editor" from MarKo or manually edit XML files. If you ignore that advise, sooner or later you will be confused even more.

 
Thank you, I will check out these utlities. Kinda sux I need 3rd party software.
 
Alos what do you mean by:  "But there is one exception: if you have more then one ACT Plug-ins with this MIDI input, only CCs assigned in the last one are blocked."
 
I dont understand that line.  Of course I have many softsynths in my project, but only one should be controlled at a time depending on which synth I am adjusting parameters on.

You could also skip ACT altogether and use midi learn or AzCtrl to send the midi. 
 
Regards,
Dan

dcumpian
You could also skip ACT altogether and use midi learn or AzCtrl to send the midi. 
 
Regards,
Dan

problem is with MIDI LEARN, you cant use automation lanes.   All you get is the MIDI CC data in the PRV controller pane.  I want automation lanes.  It also just makes it a lot easier because the ACT windows shows what knob is what.

SilverBlueMedallion

dcumpian
You could also skip ACT altogether and use midi learn or AzCtrl to send the midi. 
 
Regards,
Dan

problem is with MIDI LEARN, you cant use automation lanes.   All you get is the MIDI CC data in the PRV controller pane.  I want automation lanes.  It also just makes it a lot easier because the ACT windows shows what knob is what.

After you record the automation, convert the CC to an automation lane. It is very easy to do. 
 
Regards,
Dan
 

SilverBlueMedallion
Alos what do you mean by:  "But there is one exception: if you have more then one ACT Plug-ins with this MIDI input, only CCs assigned in the last one are blocked."
 
I dont understand that line.  Of course I have many softsynths in my project, but only one should be controlled at a time depending on which synth I am adjusting parameters on.

I mean Sonar Preferences / Control Surfaces. Do you have several lines there? Do some of them have equal Inputs?
 

SilverBlueMedallion
Thank you, I will check out these utlities. Kinda sux I need 3rd party software.

Do you mean you usually do not use 3rd party software with Sonar? So Cakewalk only Synths and FXes, no audio processing (iZotope Radius), etc. 

azslow3

SilverBlueMedallion
Alos what do you mean by:  "But there is one exception: if you have more then one ACT Plug-ins with this MIDI input, only CCs assigned in the last one are blocked."
 
I dont understand that line.  Of course I have many softsynths in my project, but only one should be controlled at a time depending on which synth I am adjusting parameters on.

I mean Sonar Preferences / Control Surfaces. Do you have several lines there? Do some of them have equal Inputs?
 

SilverBlueMedallion
Thank you, I will check out these utlities. Kinda sux I need 3rd party software.

Do you mean you usually do not use 3rd party software with Sonar? So Cakewalk only Synths and FXes, no audio processing (iZotope Radius), etc. 

yes i use 3rd party SYNTHS.  

dcumpian

SilverBlueMedallion

dcumpian
You could also skip ACT altogether and use midi learn or AzCtrl to send the midi. 
 
Regards,
Dan

problem is with MIDI LEARN, you cant use automation lanes.   All you get is the MIDI CC data in the PRV controller pane.  I want automation lanes.  It also just makes it a lot easier because the ACT windows shows what knob is what.

After you record the automation, convert the CC to an automation lane. It is very easy to do. 
 
Regards,
Dan
 

How do you do that?

SilverBlueMedallion

dcumpian

SilverBlueMedallion

dcumpian
You could also skip ACT altogether and use midi learn or AzCtrl to send the midi. 
 
Regards,
Dan

problem is with MIDI LEARN, you cant use automation lanes.   All you get is the MIDI CC data in the PRV controller pane.  I want automation lanes.  It also just makes it a lot easier because the ACT windows shows what knob is what.

After you record the automation, convert the CC to an automation lane. It is very easy to do. 
 
Regards,
Dan
 

How do you do that?

 
This is for X2, but I don't think it has changed much, if any:
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X2&language=3&help=Automation.14.html
 
Regards,
Dan