Hi all,
 
I have a few external controllers that I’m using for CC control.  They don’t span the full range from 0-127, so I need a utility to "scale" or "transform" the incoming MIDI data.  I found the MIDI Shape Shifter on-line and I think it can do what I want.  (For example, I can scale an incoming value of 35 to produce a CC value of 0, and an incoming value of 90 to produce a CC value of 127).
 
MIDI Shape Shifter is a DLL that configures as a VSTi in Sonar.  So I have inserted the “synth” into the FX bin and created a separate MIDI track to control it.  (See attached screen shot).  I've successfully used this method with other MIDI controlled FX’s like The Finger, etc., but it’s not working in this instance.  The external MIDI controllers work, but only from 35-90, and not over the full 0-127 range.  So I don't think that they are routing through the MIDI Shape Shifter plug-in.

 
Does anyone have any feedback as to what I need to do to get this to work right in Sonar?  I cringe every time I have to do challenging MIDI routing in Sonar.  Do I need MIDI Yoke?  MIDI Ox?  loopBE?  I'm not completely sure what these MIDI utils do.  I understand MIDI, but I don't understand how Sonar “routes” it.
 
Help?
 
Thank you, and much appreciated,
 
Todd

I don't know Midi Shape Shifter. If I were to do what you want, I would use Reaktor. It can easily modify MIDI data. Enable the MIDI out of Reaktor when you load it. However, if you don't feel comfortable wading through the mysteries of Reaktor, perhaps MIDI-OX can do it. It has a MIDI mapping function. You probably need a Virtual Midi port like LoopBe30 to use it.
 
I use LoopBe30 all the time to route MIDI from external stuff into Sonar. There is a free version, but I always encountered MIDI feedback loops with that - the paid-for version has a loop detector.
 
Another tool that might do the job is Plogue Bidule. It has lots of MIDI programmability.
 

Thanks arachnaut.  So is my issue MIDI mapping (to and from the MIDI Shape Shifter util)?  You've given me some suggestions, but I'm still not sure WHY I am having this issue.  Is there a good resource or reference somewhere that details MIDI mapping and routing in Sonar?  I think I need to get educated!

MIDI mapping has been improved in X3 and later products.
 
Things that can produce MIDI Out now can have that routing exposed and may be sent more easily to any MIDI inputs. (It is 'Enable MIDI Out' on the Insert Soft Synth option on an instrument track).
 
Just make sure you can see all the MIDI channels selectors in your track control area.
 
I don't know how the shape shifter works, I suppose it is a VST instrument. Make sure it's plug-in properties allow it to be used as a synth.

I did get MIDI Shape Shifter to work. Here is how. After installing taking all defaults.

• Create A New Project
• Insert MIDI Shape Shifter into the project using an instrument track
• Insert DPro into the Project using an instrument track
• Set the input on the MIDI Shape Shifter to my controller Omni
• Set the input on the DPro track to MIDI Shape Shifter Omni
• Load a Program into DPro
• Set echo on both tracks
• Play controller..............DPro should sound
• Pick Transpose (+1 Octave) Preset from MIDI Shape Shifter
• Play controller..............DPro plays 1 octave higher.

Thanks scook!  That flow seemed to be what I was doing earlier, but it works now, so I'll leave it alone and not do anything different.
 
Thanks for the tip!!

The difference may be either using an instrument track to host the plug-in (it is always a good idea to have an audio+MIDI track or instrument track to host synths whether the synth is generating audio or not) or input echo on BOTH instrument tracks (this has tripped me up before).
 
Anyway, glad it is working for you.

Hi scook,
 
I've been using MIDI Shape Shifter and it is working very well for control of VSTi's.  Since each track can get its input from MIDI Shape Shifter, the VSTi's work, but not the FX in the FX Bin.  Is there a way, using your set-up above, to get FX to receive CC commands routed through the MIDI Shape Shifter?  My other option is try an external host running MIDI Shape Shifter and then route into Sonar with MIDI Yoke or similar.  I'm running Win 7 x64 though and don't think Yoke is compatible with it.

Yes, the way I was able to send CC data from MIDI Shape Shifter to an FX is

• Add MSS to an instrument track (input echo on)
• Create a generator in MSS (the LFO-1 preset is a good starting point)
• Add a MIDI track to receive the MIDI output from MSS (input echo on)
• Use LoopBe1 or any other virtual MIDI cable for output of the MIDI track

 
This makes the CC data generated by MSS available for use. To complete the test:

• Add an audio track with a plug-in in the FX bin.
• Add an automation lane for one of the FX parameters.
• Right-clicked on the automation lane fader and selected "Remote Control"
• Set the remote control dialog to Controller 7 (which is sent by the MSS LFO-1 preset)

 
At this point the FX parameter should be oscillating based on the LFO-1 preset.

Beautiful - that did the trick!  Thanks Scook!!!  It worked just by selecting and applying Remote Control; I didn't need to add LoopBe1.