Handcrafted from the best C commands, new MIDI controller plug-in for SONAR is available for testing.
 
AZ Controller is my attempt to make a generic plug-in with arbitrary logic support.
 
The plug-in, complete documentation and everything I know and think about the topic can be found on my site:
www.azslow.com
 
Update for 9.7.2014: current version can do EVERYTHING original ACT MIDI can and much more. I have implemented near all possible operations for "simple" (not Mackie) controllers and also some functions you can not find in any other plug-in (for example, non linear response curves, instant/endless control for standard knobs, direct (not ACT) control for all parameters). On my site you can also find: "ACT MIDI Explained" - detailed explanation of the original plug-in and step-by-step instructions how to emulate it with my own, general ACT explanation, some words about Control Surface (hardware) types and parameters, etc.
 
P.S. Current version is an early alpha quality release. Please do not install it just prior the most important session of your life...

Man, what a lot of work.  Thanks for sharing and I will do some testing in the days to come.

Well, I will give it a shot - I just completed the registration process and downloaded it.
 
I will read some more about it and likely try it out.
 
Thanks for the massive effort on our behalf.  :)
 
Bob Bone
 

As I can see, not many people was excited by my initial release...
 
Well, taking into account one of the latest threads about Control Surfaces, the latest revision (apart from several fixed bugs) allows you the following:
 
Control parameters of different effects (not PC) from different strips at the same time without ACT, multi plug-ins or special MIDI tracks.
 
And using name based track selection, the mapping stay in tact even after strips movements

Don't get discouraged.  I am still warming up to my mom's new boyfriend (been 20+ years so far, and I still think of a heaping pile of something when I think of him).
 
Some things take some folks some time.  :)
 
I think it is really cool what you are working on - I have not had time yet to jump into it, but am planning on carving time out this weekend to explore it a bit.
 
Bob Bone
 

I am intrigued by your plugin. I downloaded it and will try it out. I actually downloaded the code and was going to customize the act surface for my own needs. If yours does what I need then I may not have to do it myself. I the main thing that is missing for me is the ability to map my transport controls separately from the strips buttons.

I will let you know what I find after using your plugin.

Some may read the subject and think, this is a thread about looking for an Alternative to ACT MIDI Controller/Generic Surface plugins rather than a thread about providing an alternative. I know that is what I thought so I did not read it when it was posted as I have no suggested alternatives.

reginaldStjohn ... the main thing that is missing for me is the ability to map my transport controls separately from the strips buttons...

I can not say I understand what you mean... But any wishes are welcome. My goal is to make it as flexible as possible.
There can be "show stopper" for you in my current release - "commands" are not yet there, not even transport commands (I use normal keyboard which is just as far from my hands as my controller). But that is in TODO list  for coming days.
 
 

AZ, I went to your site and took a look around.

What blew my mind was how "B equals A+1" and that amounted to 3. I was like WTF? How did he come up with that?

Then I went back and reread the previous instructions about it being important that it was in sequence. So I looked at the 1-3 again and then it hit me!!

Haven't finished reading everything, but I'm interested!

And I will do my best to break it, revere it, and all points in between, over the weekend, followed by a report on my findings emailed to you.
 
Kewl project.
 
Bob Bone