MACKIE MCU USERS - PROCHANNEL COMPRESSOR MODULE HAS BEEN EXPOSED IN X1D

Er...... before you get too excited, try and access the EQ....

I'm finding that whichever module is first in the PC is accessible, but nothing else is.

stevenpanter


You're quite right FBB. But at least it is available somehow, so this is something that Cake can (could?) work on and resolve.

I would like to think so. I would have thought that if each module's parameters are exposed if they are in position one, tying it up to cycle through them using the MCU next/previous plugin would be relatively simple. But then again I'm no programmer so who knows...

Better still would be allowing the EQ button to access the EQ, the DYN button the compressor(s), and the rest via the plugin button. I've got enough bug reports & feature requests in to cover all bases so for me it's a matter of patiently waiting.

Hi guys, I've been following this issue since FBB filled me in on it a couple weeks back, as I am hoping to add an MCU to my setup. Frankly, I would have already done so but for this pro-channel issue. 

But there might be some hope yet to get this to work.  Check out this verbiage from the x1d notes from cake, regarding PC and the VS700:

  Support for ProChannel (Producer and Expanded only):
  Entering EQ Mode now focuses the top-most module in the current track or bus ProChannel.  Subsequent EQ button pushes cycle through modules, in order.

  Additionally, CMD + Page buttons now move forward and backward through the list of inserted modules  All current modules are already pre-mapped to the Channel Strip Control section. Current and future modules can also be learned via ACT Learn mode.

So, the appearance of whatever module is first is what is is supposed to be happening, and we just need the right sequence to be transmitted to toggle it.  Also, I believe I have read that the VS700 runs in mackie mode, so it might be possible to wire that up somehow.

So here's an idea: If there is some way to modify what the MCU sends, either via the 'next plug' or 'eq' buttons, or for that matter any other button that might be handy, so that it is sending the same CC data as the VS700 does from its EQ button, then it might work.   This could possibly be done via a mapping file, a .ini or something, on the mackie side, or maybe even a drum map(?)...

Note: I am completely ignorant about how this stuff is all wired up internally in the control surface plugins/driver, etc, so this is speculative as hell. But it seems like the main obstacle to this was removed in x1d, as it now supposedly works in VS700, and it's hard to imagine that most of the code driving all that is not common to most surfaces.

Anyway, I'd try this myself if I actually had a MCU.   Anybody have any thoughts, or already know that this path is fruitless? 

Ima keep digging at it some.  If only I had a mackie. If only I had some change. If only, if only, if only...

If only it were that simple. I too was optimistic that the MCU would be able to step through them in a similar manner but it doesn't. It will see the first module in EQ and plugin mode but not past that.

AFAIK there's no easy way to make any major changes to the MCU, it's pretty much a one trick pony in that it works in "Mackie" mode, HUI, and one other I believe. None of which help the prochannel situation.

The ini file is easy to edit, I have done that and there's a whole thread on that HERE. I have tried to assign more V-pots to the existing ones just in case the PC was being seen as one large entity, but it isn't.

I fear that until CW update the mackie dll and/or change the way the PC is "seen", it won't get any better.

Having said all that, and annoying as it is, I certainly wouldn't let that or any of the other little "bugs" be a deal breaker for me personally, the upside of having one far outweighs the downside, although there may presently be better options such as the V-700, although I don't know what the ££ difference is.

It's probably more frustrating for those of us that already have the surface because we've lost functionality whereas if you've never had it in the first place you don't know what you are missing.

I'm not 100% sure but I think the V-700 has a Mackie mode as well, perhaps one of the V-700 users will confirm that or perhaps it's in the product info somewhere.

If it does you'd be able to use that anywhere that Mackie mode is supported.

Ah, John, that would explain some of the stuff I've read. I was hoping the vs700's  internal mackie-ness would bode well for the MCU control of PC, and I still can't shake the feeling that it's close, but if the mackie mode is to support other DAW.s then it all makes sense.  Even though I probably do not at this point....

Hi rjwhite - I tried your approach, putting the EQ on top in track 1. And I can control EQ from the Mackie C4 in track 1. However when I go to track 2, which has the compressor on top, the C4 parameters switch to the compressor. So for me, it looks like the C4 reads the first plugin in each track, not according to the dummy track 1. Does this make sense? Am I understanding you correctly on how you have it working? Thanks, Kevin