Mackie Control C4 w/ Soft Synths?

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Resort Records
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2007/08/03 19:16:41 (permalink)

Mackie Control C4 w/ Soft Synths?

Hi all,

Has anyone produced a manual for the Mackie C4 on Sonar 6? Sonar's inline help says nothing of Mackie Control at all.

I'm trying to control soft synths (e.g., Pentagon I, Native Instruments Absynth 4) with my new C4 but without success. I can control various Sonar parameters with the device but do not see any soft synth parameters. The Sonar 6 manual instructs us to enable "ACT" in the control surfaces window, but this option is unavailable for both the Mackie Control and the Mackie Control C4. So much for creating or importing ACT layouts for my instruments.

I've also tried to "learn" (Remote Control...) C4's knobs, but this produces whacky results; turning the knob affects the desired control but with random values in the 1% and 50% ranges, depending on which direction you turn the knob. And, of course, Sonar isn't sending the soft synth parameters' values to C4's LED rings.

Any ideas? I'm stumped. Any help is greatly appreciated.

David Delbridge
Resort Records Inc
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4 Replies Related Threads

    John
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    RE: Mackie Control C4 w/ Soft Synths? 2007/08/03 19:38:06 (permalink)
    The Mackie Control Help file is in the shared surfaces dir. of Sonar. There is a section on the C4.



    Use the following procedures to set up Mackie Control C4 with SONAR.

    To Connect the Mackie Control C4 to SONAR
    To configure the Mackie Control C4 in SONAR, follow the steps below:

    Before you turn on the Mackie Control C4, connect MIDI cables from its MIDI OUT port to your MIDI interface's MIDI IN port, and from its MIDI IN port to your MIDI interface's MIDI OUT port.
    Turn on the Mackie Control C4.
    Launch SONAR.
    Use the Options-Control Surfaces command to open the Control Surfaces dialog.
    Click the Add new Control Surface button, which opens the Control Surfaces Settings dialog.
    In the Control Surface field, use the drop-down menu to select the Mackie Control C4 option.
    In the Input Port field, select the MIDI port that you want the Mackie Control C4 to send data to SONAR through.
    In the Output Port field, select the MIDI port that you want the Mackie Control C4 to receive data from SONAR through.
    Click OK--the Mackie Control C4 name appears in the Control Surfaces dialog under Connected Surfaces.
    Click Close.
    The Mackie Control C4 should now display settings for the current SONAR project. Move some of the Mackie Control C4 knobs and watch the corresponding SONAR settings change. If the settings don't change, try disconnecting the Mackie Control C4 and then reconnecting: see below.
    To Disconnect the Mackie Control from SONAR
    Use the Options-Control Surfaces command to open the Control Surfaces dialog.
    In the Control Surface column, select Mackie Control C4 so that it is highlighted.
    Click the Delete button.
    Click Close.
    SONAR disconnects the Mackie Control.

    Best
    John
    #2
    Resort Records
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    RE: Mackie Control C4 w/ Soft Synths? 2007/08/04 03:53:11 (permalink)
    Thank you, John. I found the help file.

    ...and I can't believe what I'm reading. The Mackie Control C4 will not control virtual instruments. The C4's box says plainly, "Superior Effect Plug-In and Virtual Instrument Control for Logic 7, Sonar, Tracktion 2 and More!" ...but it doesn't control virtual instruments. No sir.

    Of course, a little asterisk warns, "software compatibility subject to change." Change?! The feature never existed! And the controller has been shipping for years now.

    Utter disappointment. 'Nuff said.

    David Delbridge
    Resort Records Inc
    #3
    leonyap
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    RE: Mackie Control C4 w/ Soft Synths? 2008/08/26 02:05:33 (permalink)
    I depends on what you are lookig for...

    I use the C4 Pro to control my plugins other that the Cakewalk plugins.

    To do so...

    Keep Pressig track on the c4 at the same time the vpots say plugin, etd
    Press the Plugin button...
    Bij ussing the arrow keys you can change between the different plugins you use on a track/bus....

    Good Luck

    #4
    sdpate67
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    Re: RE: Mackie Control C4 w/ Soft Synths? 2011/01/21 12:53:44 (permalink)
    Once you do the setup thing, they work beautifully if somewhat cryptically. You learn to make good short names for tracks and instruments.

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