• SONAR
  • CONTROL SURFACE - Please help me with this issue.
2014/03/13 09:57:36
justmebrah
Hi guys.
I am running Sonar X2a (producer), and I have just bought a control surface:

It is my first control surface I have used, and I bought it for a few reasons:
1) I believed I could use the 4 faders to control 4 tracks (only).
2) The knob configuration perfectly mirrors that of the EQ in the Prochannel's EQ module.
3) It has other buttons that I could easily configure to the main ones (like play).
 
THE ISSUES:
1) When I load the default template (it doesn't have its own there), it always has
    8 faders in it. I can only control 4 (obviously), and as it selects 8 tracks it would make
    assigning a next-group-of-tracks button pointless. - Because it would just skip over the
    4 that don't have faders. 
    Is there a way to delete the 4 non existent faders from the template?
 
2) I can NEVER get the shift function to work. Every time that I use midi assign on a button,
    holding shift does absolutely nothing (it just does the main button function and ignores the
    fact I am holding down shift). - Admittedly I don't understand what the shift-learn button does
    (is that related)?
 
3) Not as important but am curious:
    Is there any way to get a single fader working like the "channel strip mode" (for rotaries)?
    I envisaged parking my hand on the control surface (on a single fader and knob), and selecting the track
    I want to manipulate with the mouse. - It seems there is no setting for the fader (only 1 knob).
 
 
I kind of need to get the first 2 working quickly so I can get back to working.
 
Thanks in advance.
 
 
2014/03/13 10:14:33
John
You'll have to program one using the generic control surface template. Hopefully you got a MIDI implementation documentation that will tell what does what.   
2014/03/13 10:40:10
azslow3
John
You'll have to program one using the generic control surface template. Hopefully you got a MIDI implementation documentation that will tell what does what.  



Some time ago I have followed that advice: I have installed a compiler tool chain, took IDL from SDK and started to program my own DLL...
 
But I think for normal users, configuring the Generic Control plugin is a simpler solution
 
For the topic: you can try to setup "Cakewalk Generic Surface" instead of "ACT MIDI Controller".
 
2014/03/13 10:51:11
mmorgan
I don't think John was referring to programming in the literal sense. I think he meant you will need to program you controller to respond and send to MIDI messages. This should be covered in the controllers documentation.
 
Regards,
2014/03/13 11:30:54
John
Right. Thanks Mike. Perhaps a better word would be "configure". 
2014/03/13 11:57:52
justmebrah
Thanks for the responses.
I loaded the generic control surface instead and I can see it's a completely different interface.
 
I note that "documentation" was mentioned a few times above. 
I have no documentation at all for the surface itself (I got it at a pawn shop alone).
It's an older surface but I guess I could probably find a pdf online.
 
Were you guys saying that I'm going to need hardware specific documentation
or would the F1 information (for the plugin) be enough?
 
Also am I going to need some 3rd party software to get this to work?
I know for korg hardware they have some kind of 3rd party interface. 
 
EDIT:
I think I got it. I found CC documentation online and some controls are responding. 
My only question is whether I can still use it in an ACT fashion (switching to and 
From the EQ). - I guess I will find out by playing around..
 
 
2014/03/13 12:04:54
John
Often there is no documentation. But never fear use the MIDI learn function to configure the template.  
 
No, no need for any further hardware except a MIDI port And no need the other software either. 
 
 
2014/03/13 12:10:25
mmorgan
Regarding the lack of documentation you may want to check out the manufacturers website and see if they have a nice downloadable PDF file. I find I can get documentation on many items...just yesterday I needed some for a video camera I have where I misplaced the docs. Voila` 
 
Regards,
2014/03/13 12:15:45
justmebrah
Deleted to keep things simple. 
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