I want to understand how 3rd party vst controlling is supported by Rolands V Studio 700C
 
I understand that parameters automap to the controller but my experience with Novation Automap tells me that this rarely produces a desireable result.   I set up custom mappings for 99% of my vsts.  Does roland support this type of mapping?  is it stored?  What does the interface for configuring it look like?

Jeff

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It is supported via ACT (active controller technology). At the VS-700c you have a controlfield of 12 knobs and 4 buttons plus one control called "T-Bar". And of course multiple pages for the 12 knobs / 4 buttons. Configuring works like MIDI learn ... ACT learn. I dunno about MIDI learn but a nice feature at ACT learn is that you can assign multiple knobs to multiple parameters in one go. You just move 1 knob and 1 vst-parameter per mouse, then the next and so on. At the end you say 'finish' and Sonar asks, if you want to assign all the X controls you've touched. I could not find out however, if it's possible to delete an assignment (rather then override it) once it's done. I think you gotta do that manually editing an *.ini file - which is a shame. And the interface for configuring just shows you, what you have assigned. You can't assign there, as far as I know. Just via ACT learn. Which sometimes does not seem to be the fastest way. I hope I didn't get it wrong.