Hello helpful people of Cakewalk.
 
I am hoping there is one person in the world that is successfully using a Samson Graphite 25 controller with Sonar X1.
 
I've been using X1 and a full size midi piano  for years without issue. I recently purchased the Garritan Instant orchestra suit though, which I eventually realized needs a mod wheel to control mod function in the instrument itself. After being assured by the manufacturer that it would work, I purchased the Graphite 25 pretty much for this function alone.
 
I cannot for love or money get the keyboard or mod wheel to work. I have tried a number of configurations and template settings, mackie control drivers etc, and can only get some buttons to work.
 
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I really need to get this thing working! At this stage i am even willing to upgrade my version of Sonar if anyone has success.
 
Thanks!

Theoretical approach based on the user manual (I do not have the device), but no the first time for me
 
Do factory reset of the device (almost anything in the device is configurable, you could be mistake modify something...): user manual page 19, "Preset Reset"
 
Make sure you are in the "Performance mode" (Home button)
 
In Sonar Preferences/MIDI/Devices, in the Input you should see man "Samson ... ". Enable Port 1 ONLY, disable all other. For Output, disable ALL Somson ports (I think there are 2).
 
In Sonar Preferences/MIDI/Control surfaces, remove AVERYTHING pointing to/from Samson.
 
Add midi track with Input set to OMNI. You do not need any SoftSynth connected. Set the Input to Omni. Record Arm the track and start recording. Play some notes. Wait a bit. Move PitchBend. Wait. Move ModWheel. Stop recording.
 
Look at resulting MIDI clip (f.e. in the Piano Roll). Do you see notes from keys? PitchBend changed? ModWheel?
If yes, the hardware setup is ok. If not, let us know.
 
Note: there are 2 steps to make some control influence the sound, the first step is to make controls "work". The next step is to make them work in synth (Garritan). What I have written was to check the first step only.

Many thanks for this Azslow. Response appreciated.
 
I'll try above this evening and revert. 

Hi there, Thank YOU!
 
So I reset everything, opened a new project, followed your configuration and hey presto! Even changing settigns on the old projects i cant get to work for some reason, but hey that's the past.
 
One more query, when using a mod wheel and Garritan, every couple of plays the modulation will zero on one of the tracks (even if it is not selected). Anyone else have this issue in Sonar? It used to happen after every play (default back to 0) which is what made me look for a controller with mod wheel in the first place. I was told on another forum that if you adjust the mod manually in the instrument with your mouse it only "demo's" it, which is very stupid, but makes sense.
 
Thanks again
 
 

SkootaO
One more query, when using a mod wheel and Garritan, every couple of plays the modulation will zero on one of the tracks (even if it is not selected). Anyone else have this issue in Sonar? It used to happen after every play (default back to 0) which is what made me look for a controller with mod wheel in the first place. I was told on another forum that if you adjust the mod manually in the instrument with your mouse it only "demo's" it, which is very stupid, but makes sense.

In the Sonar / Preferences / Project / MIDI there are "Other options" section. Depending from them, you get Modulation reset under some conditions.
But when working with controllers, please do not forget to "record" them. With mouse or controller, changes in modulation will not be saved till they are recorded into MIDI clip.
That is different from FX/Synth "parameters", which are part of the plug-in configuration, so not reset and saved into project. But these you cat "automate" (also using controller, but that is more tricky because requires Control Surface approach).

We are so fortunate to have such a diverse community here on these Cakewalk forums.
Different users specializing in different things. Azslow, just amazing stuff in some of your comments.
So grateful to be a part of this site.