A control surface I'll actually use now

[raymondh]

Hi folks

After years of having different MIDI controllers and control surfaces, with sliders and buttons that gather dust, it finally occurred to me that the answer might be to label the controls so I actually know what they're going to do!

With my hardware synths, I know which slider will do what, every time. With my generic control surfaces, the rows and columns of anonymous sliders/knobs/buttons doesn't inspire me at all.

So I thought I might label them! Not boil the ocean but just the controls I tend to use most often for patch tweaking. The rest can be done with the GUI and mouse.

The idea is that no matter what synth I'm using, the same slider will control the cutoff filter, etc. It's true that some synths have multiple filters, so this was really about trying to keep it simple and generic, rather than trying to model each synth in full, and then not really achieving anything in practice

Here's what I came up with for my code 61. These are the controls I find most useful. As you can see they're all synth parameters, I don't plan to use my control surface with effects or mixing.



I started with using the preset editor of my M-Audio Code 61, and assigning control change messages that would map to the (hardwired) midi implementation for my Roland JP-08. Unfortunately synthesizers aren't very consistent with their CC assignments but I had to pick one so it was the JP-08.

Then added/updated entries in the remotemap file. In my case it is the following file:
C:\ProgramData\Propellerhead Software\Remote\Maps\Other\MIDI Keyboard w Controls.remotemap

Propellerhead Remote Mapping File
File Format Version 1.0.0
Control Surface Manufacturer <Other>
Control Surface Model MIDI Control Keyboard
Map Version 1.4.9


Scope Propellerheads Master Keyboard
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map Keyboard Keyboard
Map Pitch Bend Wheel Pitch Bend
Map Mod Wheel Mod Wheel
Map Damper Pedal Damper Pedal
Map Expression Expression
Map Channel Pressure Channel Pressure
Map Breath Breath


Scope Propellerheads Combinator
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 73 Rotary 1
Map CC 75 Rotary 2
Map CC 56 Rotary 3
Map CC 72 Rotary 4
Map CC 58 Button 1
Map CC 59 Button 2
Map CC 60 Button 3
Map CC 61 Button 4


Scope Propellerheads SubTractor Analog Synthesizer
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Master Level
Map CC 74 Filter Freq
Map CC 71 Filter Res
Map CC 73 Amp Env Attack
Map CC 75 Amp Env Decay
Map CC 56 Amp Env Sustain
Map CC 72 Amp Env Release
Map CC 47 Filter Env Attack
Map CC 52 Filter Env Decay
Map CC 53 Filter Env Sustain
Map CC 54 Filter Env Release
Map CC 28 Filter Env Amount
Map CC 03 LFO1 Rate
Map CC 13 LFO1 Amount


Scope Propellerheads THOR Polysonic Synthesizer
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Master Level
Map CC 74 Filter 1 Freq
Map CC 71 Filter 1 Res
Map CC 28 Filter 1 Env Amount
Map CC 47 Filter Env Attack
Map CC 52 Filter Env Decay
Map CC 53 Filter Env Sustain
Map CC 54 Filter Env Release
Map CC 58 Button 1
Map CC 59 Button 2
Map CC 25 Rotary 1
Map CC 15 Rotary 2
Map CC 03 LFO 1 Rate
Map CC 73 Amp Env Attack
Map CC 75 Amp Env Decay
Map CC 56 Amp Env Sustain
Map CC 72 Amp Env Release



Scope Propellerheads Malstrom Graintable Synthesizer
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Master Level
Map CC 74 Filter A Freq
Map CC 71 Filter A Resonance
Map CC 28 Filter A Env
Map CC 47 Oscillator B Attack
Map CC 52 Oscillator B Decay
Map CC 53 Oscillator B Sustain
Map CC 54 Oscillator B Release
Map CC 25 Oscillator A Index
Map CC 15 Oscillator B Index
Map CC 03 LFO 1 Rate
Map CC 73 Oscillator A Attack
Map CC 75 Oscillator A Decay
Map CC 56 Oscillator A Sustain
Map CC 72 Oscillator A Release


Scope Propellerheads NN19 Digital Sampler
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 05 Portamento
Map CC 07 Master Level
Map CC 75 Amp Env Decay
Map CC 56 Amp Env Sustain
Map CC 47 Filter Env Attack
Map CC 52 Filter Env Decay
Map CC 53 Filter Env Sustain
Map CC 54 Filter Env Release
Map CC 28 Filter Env Amount
Map CC 80 Filter Env Invert
Map CC 30 Sample Start
Map CC 03 LFO Rate
Map CC 13 LFO Amount
Map CC 71 Filter Res
Map CC 72 Amp Env Release
Map CC 73 Amp Env Attack
Map CC 74 Filter Freq


Scope Propellerheads NN-XT Advanced Sampler
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Master Volume
Map CC 75 Amp Env Decay
Map CC 52 Mod Env Decay
Map CC 71 Filter Res
Map CC 72 Amp Env Release
Map CC 73 Amp Env Attack
Map CC 74 Filter Freq


Scope Propellerheads ID8 Instrument Device
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Volume
Map CC 73 Parameter 1
Map CC 75 Parameter 2


//< 20110319
Scope Propellerheads Reason Document
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
// The following will only be available if no device has Master Keyboard Input
// (e.g. MKI is set to the Transport Track)
Map CC 07 Click Level


//< 20110628
Scope Propellerheads Record Document
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
// The following will only be available if no device has Master Keyboard Input
// (e.g. MKI is set to the Transport Track)
Map CC 07 Click Level


Scope Propellerhead Software se.propellerheads.radicalpiano
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode

Map CC 62 Symp Res Level
Map CC 30 Pedal Level
Map CC 51 Vel Response Curve
Map CC 25 Microphone and Instrument Blend
Map CC 09 Env Decay Curve
Map CC 07 Master Volume
Map CC 15 Ambience Level
Map CC 52 Env Release
Map CC 24 Character
Map CC 29 Key Up Level
Map CC 03 Ambience Type
Map CC 49 Vel Response High
Map CC 08 Stereo Width
Map CC 50 Vel Response Low
Map CC 19 Compression Amount
Map CC 23 Tune
Map CC 73 Env Attack
Map CC 61 Symp Res Release Time
Map CC 91 EQ Lo Gain
Map CC 88 EQ Mid Gain
Map CC 82 EQ Hi Gain
Map CC 28 Key Down Level
Map CC 80 EQ On/Off
Map CC 27 Tune Drift


Scope Propellerhead Software se.propellerheads.externalmidiinstrument
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode

Map CC 00 CC 0
Map CC 03 CC 3
Map CC 04 CC 4
Map CC 05 CC 5
Map CC 06 CC 6
Map CC 07 CC 7
Map CC 08 CC 8
Map CC 09 CC 9
Map CC 10 CC 10
Map CC 12 CC 12
Map CC 13 CC 13
Map CC 14 CC 14
Map CC 15 CC 15
Map CC 16 CC 16
Map CC 17 CC 17
Map CC 18 CC 18
Map CC 19 CC 19
Map CC 20 CC 20
Map CC 21 CC 21
Map CC 22 CC 22
Map CC 23 CC 23
Map CC 24 CC 24
Map CC 25 CC 25
Map CC 26 CC 26
Map CC 27 CC 27
Map CC 28 CC 28
Map CC 29 CC 29
Map CC 30 CC 30
Map CC 31 CC 31
Map CC 32 CC 32
Map CC 33 CC 33
Map CC 34 CC 34
Map CC 35 CC 35
Map CC 36 CC 36
Map CC 37 CC 37
Map CC 38 CC 38
Map CC 39 CC 39
Map CC 40 CC 40
Map CC 41 CC 41
Map CC 42 CC 42
Map CC 43 CC 43
Map CC 44 CC 44
Map CC 45 CC 45
Map CC 46 CC 46
Map CC 47 CC 47
Map CC 48 CC 48
Map CC 49 CC 49
Map CC 50 CC 50
Map CC 51 CC 51
Map CC 52 CC 52
Map CC 53 CC 53
Map CC 54 CC 54
Map CC 55 CC 55
Map CC 56 CC 56
Map CC 57 CC 57
Map CC 58 CC 58
Map CC 59 CC 59
Map CC 60 CC 60
Map CC 61 CC 61
Map CC 62 CC 62
Map CC 63 CC 63
Map CC 65 CC 65
Map CC 66 CC 66
Map CC 67 CC 67
Map CC 68 CC 68
Map CC 69 CC 69
Map CC 70 CC 70
Map CC 71 CC 71
Map CC 72 CC 72
Map CC 73 CC 73
Map CC 74 CC 74
Map CC 75 CC 75
Map CC 76 CC 76
Map CC 77 CC 77
Map CC 78 CC 78
Map CC 79 CC 79
Map CC 80 CC 80
Map CC 81 CC 81
Map CC 82 CC 82
Map CC 83 CC 83
Map CC 84 CC 84
Map CC 85 CC 85
Map CC 86 CC 86
Map CC 87 CC 87
Map CC 88 CC 88
Map CC 89 CC 89
Map CC 90 CC 90
Map CC 91 CC 91
Map CC 92 CC 92
Map CC 93 CC 93
Map CC 94 CC 94
Map CC 95 CC 95
Map CC 96 CC 96
Map CC 97 CC 97
Map CC 98 CC 98
Map CC 99 CC 99
Map CC 100 CC 100
Map CC 101 CC 101
Map CC 102 CC 102
Map CC 103 CC 103
Map CC 104 CC 104
Map CC 105 CC 105
Map CC 106 CC 106
Map CC 107 CC 107
Map CC 108 CC 108
Map CC 109 CC 109
Map CC 110 CC 110
Map CC 111 CC 111
Map CC 112 CC 112
Map CC 113 CC 113
Map CC 114 CC 114
Map CC 115 CC 115
Map CC 116 CC 116
Map CC 117 CC 117
Map CC 118 CC 118
Map CC 119 CC 119


Scope Rob Papen com.Robpapen.PredatorRE
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Volume
Map CC 74 Filter Frequency
Map CC 71 Filter Q
Map CC 30 LFO > Filter
Map CC 28 Envelope > Filter
Map CC 47 Filter Envelope Attack
Map CC 52 Filter Envelope Decay
Map CC 53 Filter Envelope Sustain
Map CC 54 Filter Envelope Release
Map CC 25 Osc PWM 1 Amount
Map CC 15 Osc 1 PWM Speed
Map CC 73 Amp Attack
Map CC 75 Amp Decay
Map CC 56 Amp Sustain
Map CC 72 Amp Release



Scope KORG jp.co.korg.Polysix
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Volume
Map CC 74 VCF Cutoff
Map CC 71 VCF Resonance
Map CC 28 VCF EG Intensity
Map CC 47 Attack
Map CC 52 Decay
Map CC 53 Sustain
Map CC 54 Release
Map CC 80 Arpeggio
Map CC 81 ARP Latch
Map CC 25 VCO PWM ADJUST
Map CC 15 VCO PWM SPEED
Map CC 13 MG LEVEL
Map CC 73 EG Attack
Map CC 75 EG Decay
Map CC 56 EG Sustain
Map CC 72 EG Release


Scope KORG jp.co.korg.MonoPoly
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Master Volume
Map CC 74 VCF Cutoff
Map CC 71 VCF Resonance
Map CC 28 VCF EG Intensity
Map CC 47 VCF EG Attack
Map CC 52 VCF EG Decay
Map CC 53 VCF EG Sustain
Map CC 54 VCF EG Release
Map CC 80 Arpeggio
Map CC 81 ARP Latch
Map CC 16 PW Width
Map CC 18 PWM Intensity
Map CC 73 VCA EG Attack
Map CC 75 VCA EG Decay
Map CC 56 VCA EG Sustain
Map CC 72 VCA EG Release


Scope Synapse Audio com.synapseAudioSoftware.Antidote
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Master Volume
Map CC 74 Filter CutOff
Map CC 71 Filter Resonance
Map CC 28 Filter Envelope Amount
Map CC 47 Filter Envelope Attack
Map CC 52 Filter Envelope Decay
Map CC 53 Filter Envelope Sustain
Map CC 54 Filter Envelope Release
Map CC 25 Osc 1 Modifier
Map CC 15 Osc 2 Modifier
Map CC 73 Amp Envelope Attack
Map CC 75 Amp Envelope Decay
Map CC 56 Amp Envelope Sustain
Map CC 72 Amp Envelope Release


Scope Synapse Audio com.synapseAudioSoftware.Legend
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 Volume
Map CC 74 Filter Cutoff
Map CC 71 Filter Resonance
Map CC 28 Filter Envelope Amount
Map CC 47 Filter Envelope Attack
Map CC 52 Filter Envelope Decay
Map CC 53 Filter Envelope Sustain
Map CC 54 Filter Envelope Release
Map CC 73 Amplifier Envelope Attack
Map CC 75 Amplifier Envelope Decay
Map CC 56 Amplifier Envelope Sustain
Map CC 72 Amplifier Envelope Release


Scope u-he vst.uR_5.Repro-5(x64)
// Control Surface Item Key Remotable Item Scale Mode
Map CC 07 main: Output
Map CC 74 Filter: Cutoff
Map CC 71 Filter: Resonance
Map CC 28 Filter: Envelope Amount
Map CC 47 FEnv: Attack
Map CC 52 FEnv: Decay
Map CC 53 FEnv: Sustain
Map CC 54 FEnv: Release
Map CC 73 AEnv: Attack
Map CC 75 AEnv: Decay
Map CC 56 AEnv: Sustain
Map CC 72 AEnv: Release


You get the idea. Hope that helps. There's a bunch of threads here on RemoteMapping worth a read if you're still scratching your head.

cheers!

[demt]

great work it is truly ironic that i am returning my code 61 for a problem with the on off button,allso on the replacement. i seem to have made amazon take down the code 61 as there are lots of reports of similar problems and theve stopped selling them.
still isle sleep on it,

[demt]

silly question but can the code 61 b mapped to neutron or model d i think yes but ive not had mutch luck

[raymondh]

silly question but can the code 61 b mapped to neutron or model d i think yes but ive not had mutch luck

I don’t know but assuming they do respond to CC messages, and you are having trouble, I think the first thing I would do is see if you can send CC to those devices via a Reason MIDI out device. if that works, then use the code 61 preset editor to map the controls to the CC codes as detailed in the MIDI implementation documentation for your neutron and model d. Hopefully they were consistent e.g. the same code is used for filter cutoff etc.

Good luck!

[demt]

hmm its all fallen through ive sent back 2 code 61s and am trying to send back the third

[demt]

and the 7 inch touch screen seen on this 260 quid fame g 2000 doesnt seem to have any competition untill the keyboard retails for around 2 grand you may tell me im mad but ive placed the order. it just does mutch to mutch in every type of keyboard playing and as for daw manipulation ive got panorama nectar p1 it feels like a grea weight has been lifted as the light at the end of the tunnel arriveth

all the expected hype seems to b in german

[raymondh]

and the 7 inch touch screen seen on this 260 quid fame g 2000 doesnt seem to have any competition untill the keyboard retails for around 2 grand you may tell me im mad but ive placed the order. it just does mutch to mutch in every type of keyboard playing and as for daw manipulation ive got panorama nectar p1 it feels like a grea weight has been lifted as the light at the end of the tunnel arriveth

all the expected hype seems to b in german

Good luck! Hope it scratches the itch for you! Happy music-making.