I'm starting a new thread as yesterday's remark to take luck into our own hands was only semi-serious (as I expected there would be no chance to get the code anyway).
 
However, scook spotted a recent post from Noel Borthwick with the following quote:
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2885623
 

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk ]
 
On a different note, we are interested in open sourcing our control surface SDK including the newer interfaces and source code for the V-Studio 700 and Mackie surfaces. We are willing to host all the code on Github but need someone to help moderate and support it since there is a lot of code there. If anyone is interested in helping with that project please contact me.
 

 
 
So I reckon I start a more serious discussion on whether we could get ourselves organized enough to make this idea fly ...
 
I'd be willing to contribute time & effort in case we give this a try. I have worked in software development some years ago, so I could help, but I'm not proficient enough in the microsoft world to take the lead ...
 
Furthermore, I'd be willing to spend a few $ if someone just says he'd work himself into the matter and then gradually improve the code. Maybe it's best done by a single competent person rather than bunch of lunatics? I don't know ... Anyway, considering how few of us lurk in here, this can't be a money maker, but someone could earn a few bucks and become our hero
 
 
Anybody else in for this? Or do we just keep moaning? 
 
Let us all know or let it die quickly and painlessly.
 
 
 

I'm in, money wise.
 
I have no knowledge in programming so I figure the learning curve will be very steep... and as freefly pointed, maybe one person is better than a bunch of lunatics haha!
 
so, count me in.

Best option for hope I've heard in a looong time and great that Noel is willing to make some source available....if it comes to pass. I'd be interested in taking a deeper look and have some access to programming resources but this all obviously has to be weighed up on a cost versus benefit basis...cost in terms of time/effort required and are we simply better off jumping ships to a different surface option.
 
I believe it is well worth doing some investigating if we can get the source and anything else Noel is will to make available.
 
The goal IMO in general terms would be to achieve an open configurable interface 'front end' for the 700C that lets the user configure the surface to his/her needs as much as may be possible. That would make us all happy I reckon...
 
Alright, so who's taking Noel out to dinner??

The thing I would like to see is similar to channel branch but with busses. Mixing with busses view on the console and when the user need to adjust a track routed to a specific bus (a snare to a drum bus), hit a combination of key and have all channels routed to that bus spreaded across the vs channels with the master fader becoming the the bus volume.  I think that would be absolute killer and I've never heard of such a function on a control surface....
 
That feature alone would make me keep the VS for quite a while 
 

When it comes to MCU implementation, download the Samplitude Pro X software trial version and see what can be done.  Most all buttons can be reprogrammed if you have the mind to do that.  I don't think that is necessary with the M buttons and combinations of M + F buttons. 

The Studio One implementation not bad as well and a look at it's trial version might be a good start at getting ideas.
 
I have no help to add other than enthusiasm and some money for any better driver than what we have now.

Im willing to offer all server space, ftp. email accounts whatever is needed for the development team.  I can build the forums and other areas that are needed to bring a team together.

I wrote to Noel and asked him to shime in if he manage to find free time to help us put this togheter. Not sure what I can personnally bring to the table but I'll do my best for sure.

I would be in dollarwise

I do not understand anything of what you wise guys are saying, but it sounds good, so I'm in with a fist full of dollars should it come to that.

Alright if we can get some code I'm keen to take a look...there is certainly enough good will from us 'survivors'...

I'm no coding guru but can nut some things out and we had success in this forum some years back getting a Fostex surface to work so 'maybe' we can do it again with some degree of success. Maybe...this is a different scope of works by far.

Keen to try and it may even make X3 an option... however we must consider... are we doing the right thing by ourselves with respect to the path we are discussing? Are we better off cutting our losses with consideration to the fact the V series is effectively now an un-developing orphan? These efforts get us all excited and hopeful for a while but eventually there are newer options with a LOT less effort required. Just putting it out there as we are still in no man's land right now and clinging to 'hope' which is not necessarily a bad thing by the way.

We have to be quite sure that the 700C is worth the many hours this effort will take to perhaps not even provide success.
 
Cheers.