MIDI Mapping Madness

Durwin99

I have recently bought my first MIDI keyboard (Novation Impulse 61) for use with iPad and naively assumed most of the buttons/sliders/knobs would work in most of my apps (iGrand, iLectric, Synthmaster, Module, Gadget, NeoSoul, couple of others) and I'd fine tune those that didn't. Of course, it isn't like that at all, hardly any of the apps work with my controller! I have a theoretical knowledge of how MIDI works but haven't really used it in anger before. So I appreciate, I'm either going to have to re-teach each synth app which controller knobs to work with (and then discover that most of them don't have MIDI learn?) or I'm going to have to create a load of "patches"(?) on my keyboard, one for each app I intend to use (if that is possible, don't know how many I can create).
My question is, am I missing a vital component here? Is there some missing-link app that can translate what my keyboard is sending into what each app expects, using templates? The discussion on templates for Modstep from gonekrazy3000 had me thinking this might be it, but I can't see anything about Modstep doing this...
Just to be clear, the keyboard itself works (I can play music. Well, sounds.) it is the knobs etc that I'd like to use more.
Thank you...

mschenkel.it

There is no quick way unless you find some downloadable midi mapping(if the target apps have factory CCs already mapped)
Have a look at page 38 of the manual; there you find the built in mappings, there is general purpose one. Btw you can store 20 maps. https://global.novationmusic.com/sites/default/files/downloads/3993/impulse-user-guide.pdf
My way of doing this is using a single map and then make my modules listen to different midi channels.
No, you aren't missing anything.
Hope it helps

[Deleted User]

There are only few apps that can save the mapped cc's. Aufx, sunrizer, animoog come to mind; with MidiFlow in between the mappings of your favourite apps can be saved and recalled.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/midiflow-midi-router-processor/id879915554?mt=8&uo=4&at=10lKme&ct=musicappnews

Carnbot

Yes midiflow can help a lot.

For example I have a mapping in Modstep to control Animoog. But I also want to control Animoog at the same time with my Korg Volca keys which has fixed mapping. So I'm making a midiflow template which can translate my volca keys cc messages to the mapping loaded in Animoog.

mschenkel.it

@Carnbot said:
Yes midiflow can help a lot.

For example I have a mapping in Modstep to control Animoog. But I also want to control Animoog at the same time with my Korg Volca keys which has fixed mapping. So I'm making a midiflow template which can translate my volca keys cc messages to the mapping loaded in Animoog.

Just for discussion purposes: wouldn't it be more logical to have Animoog controlled by the same CCs of volca's instead of having a custom map which gets translated with midiflow to allow control over volcas?

Carnbot

@mschenkel.it said:

@Carnbot said:
Yes midiflow can help a lot.

For example I have a mapping in Modstep to control Animoog. But I also want to control Animoog at the same time with my Korg Volca keys which has fixed mapping. So I'm making a midiflow template which can translate my volca keys cc messages to the mapping loaded in Animoog.

Just for discussion purposes: wouldn't it be more logical to have Animoog controlled by the same CCs of volca's instead of having a custom map which gets translated with midiflow to allow control over volcas?

I already have a Modstep Animoog template I want to keep and use simultaneously with the Volca so unless I change the Modstep template as well as the animoog cc settings too, midiflow can help me keep and use the same template already set up in Modstep and Animoog.

edit: I should add I also want to use other controllers with Animoog which have fixed CCs like the volca bass. so intead of changing templates in both Animoog and Modstep all the time, midiflow can help reduce workflow and keep the same Animoog/Modstep template

RUST( i )K

@Carnbot said:

@mschenkel.it said:

@Carnbot said:
Yes midiflow can help a lot.

For example I have a mapping in Modstep to control Animoog. But I also want to control Animoog at the same time with my Korg Volca keys which has fixed mapping. So I'm making a midiflow template which can translate my volca keys cc messages to the mapping loaded in Animoog.

Just for discussion purposes: wouldn't it be more logical to have Animoog controlled by the same CCs of volca's instead of having a custom map which gets translated with midiflow to allow control over volcas?

I already have a Modstep Animoog template I want to keep and use simultaneously with the Volca so unless I change the Modstep template as well as the animoog cc settings too, midiflow can help me keep and use the same template already set up in Modstep and Animoog.

edit: I should add I also want to use other controllers with Animoog which have fixed CCs like the volca bass. so intead of changing templates in both Animoog and Modstep all the time, midiflow can help reduce workflow and keep the same Animoog/Modstep template

Animoog retains the MIDI mapping as well, correct?

Are you using your own template or one from the other thread?

If it is your own, I would be interested in it.

Side Question:

Has anyone integrated a MIDI DESIGNER template for MOD STEP?

I know this is right down the rabbit hole................

gonekrazy3000

@Durwin99 said:
I have recently bought my first MIDI keyboard (Novation Impulse 61) for use with iPad and naively assumed most of the buttons/sliders/knobs would work in most of my apps (iGrand, iLectric, Synthmaster, Module, Gadget, NeoSoul, couple of others) and I'd fine tune those that didn't. Of course, it isn't like that at all, hardly any of the apps work with my controller! I have a theoretical knowledge of how MIDI works but haven't really used it in anger before. So I appreciate, I'm either going to have to re-teach each synth app which controller knobs to work with (and then discover that most of them don't have MIDI learn?) or I'm going to have to create a load of "patches"(?) on my keyboard, one for each app I intend to use (if that is possible, don't know how many I can create).
My question is, am I missing a vital component here? Is there some missing-link app that can translate what my keyboard is sending into what each app expects, using templates? The discussion on templates for Modstep from gonekrazy3000 had me thinking this might be it, but I can't see anything about Modstep doing this...
Just to be clear, the keyboard itself works (I can play music. Well, sounds.) it is the knobs etc that I'd like to use more.
Thank you...

does your keyboard let you reassign what CC's it has on each knob or fader ? coz i use a Remote Zero Sl from Novation which is basically a midi keyboard but without the keyboard. (it even has slot for sustain pedal and expression pedal)
it lets me create templates through software on the pc so that each knob/fader can have different cc's and midi channels. its how i control multiple synths simultaneously. Modstep can only really reroute where the midi is going. but a Knob that is CC17 will still be CC17 in whatever software you route to. so your choices are

1)make templates that have certain knobs as say channel 1. others that are channel 2, others that are channel 3. then have all the apps accept midi from the same port. in my case its Remote Zero's port. and just have say terasynth listening to channel 1, model 15 on channel 2, gadget's chicago on channel 3. this way u have control all 3 synths parameters same time.

2) make templates for each synth and have their channels being 1,2,3, etc. swap templates using the template select on the keyboard

3) midi learn every single synth.

i usually go for option 1) and sometimes 2) or just modulate stuff with modstep. rarely ever do 3)

Carnbot

@RustiK said:

@Carnbot said:

@mschenkel.it said:

@Carnbot said:
Yes midiflow can help a lot.

For example I have a mapping in Modstep to control Animoog. But I also want to control Animoog at the same time with my Korg Volca keys which has fixed mapping. So I'm making a midiflow template which can translate my volca keys cc messages to the mapping loaded in Animoog.

Just for discussion purposes: wouldn't it be more logical to have Animoog controlled by the same CCs of volca's instead of having a custom map which gets translated with midiflow to allow control over volcas?

I already have a Modstep Animoog template I want to keep and use simultaneously with the Volca so unless I change the Modstep template as well as the animoog cc settings too, midiflow can help me keep and use the same template already set up in Modstep and Animoog.

edit: I should add I also want to use other controllers with Animoog which have fixed CCs like the volca bass. so intead of changing templates in both Animoog and Modstep all the time, midiflow can help reduce workflow and keep the same Animoog/Modstep template

Animoog retains the MIDI mapping as well, correct?

Are you using your own template or one from the other thread?

If it is your own, I would be interested in it.

Side Question:

Has anyone integrated a MIDI DESIGNER template for MOD STEP?

I know this is right down the rabbit hole................

got it from this thread by @gonekrazy3000 https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/13332/modstep-midi-cc-templates-new-moog-model-15-template-every-single-knob/p1

Durwin99

@gonekrazy3000 said:

does your keyboard let you reassign what CC's it has on each knob or fader ? coz i use a Remote Zero Sl from Novation which is basically a midi keyboard but without the keyboard. (it even has slot for sustain pedal and expression pedal)
it lets me create templates through software on the pc so that each knob/fader can have different cc's and midi channels. its how i control multiple synths simultaneously. Modstep can only really reroute where the midi is going. but a Knob that is CC17 will still be CC17 in whatever software you route to. so your choices are

1)make templates that have certain knobs as say channel 1. others that are channel 2, others that are channel 3. then have all the apps accept midi from the same port. in my case its Remote Zero's port. and just have say terasynth listening to channel 1, model 15 on channel 2, gadget's chicago on channel 3. this way u have control all 3 synths parameters same time.

2) make templates for each synth and have their channels being 1,2,3, etc. swap templates using the template select on the keyboard

3) midi learn every single synth.

i usually go for option 1) and sometimes 2) or just modulate stuff with modstep. rarely ever do 3)

Yes, I believe I can reassign CCs etc on the keyboard using the menu interface, although it may be quicker through a PC but I haven't hooked it up there yet. TBH at the moment, I'm probably going to operate just one synth at a time but I like the idea of flexibility in the future! I understand what you're suggesting with options 1 & 2, I will try that out - but is it easy to find out what those CCs are for each synth, is it just a matter of reading the manuals (if they exist??) - I will have a look now but some of the older apps may be tricky to work out... I don't suppose there's a way to work out the CC directly from an app - kind of reverse engineering?!
Thanks to the others for suggesting Midiflow, I will have a good look at that as it may be useful anyway. I have MIDI Designer Pro but I'm sure it doesn't do midi translation in the way I want.
Cheers.

gonekrazy3000

@Durwin99 said:

@gonekrazy3000 said:

does your keyboard let you reassign what CC's it has on each knob or fader ? coz i use a Remote Zero Sl from Novation which is basically a midi keyboard but without the keyboard. (it even has slot for sustain pedal and expression pedal)
it lets me create templates through software on the pc so that each knob/fader can have different cc's and midi channels. its how i control multiple synths simultaneously. Modstep can only really reroute where the midi is going. but a Knob that is CC17 will still be CC17 in whatever software you route to. so your choices are

1)make templates that have certain knobs as say channel 1. others that are channel 2, others that are channel 3. then have all the apps accept midi from the same port. in my case its Remote Zero's port. and just have say terasynth listening to channel 1, model 15 on channel 2, gadget's chicago on channel 3. this way u have control all 3 synths parameters same time.

2) make templates for each synth and have their channels being 1,2,3, etc. swap templates using the template select on the keyboard

3) midi learn every single synth.

i usually go for option 1) and sometimes 2) or just modulate stuff with modstep. rarely ever do 3)

Yes, I believe I can reassign CCs etc on the keyboard using the menu interface, although it may be quicker through a PC but I haven't hooked it up there yet. TBH at the moment, I'm probably going to operate just one synth at a time but I like the idea of flexibility in the future! I understand what you're suggesting with options 1 & 2, I will try that out - but is it easy to find out what those CCs are for each synth, is it just a matter of reading the manuals (if they exist??) - I will have a look now but some of the older apps may be tricky to work out... I don't suppose there's a way to work out the CC directly from an app - kind of reverse engineering?!
Thanks to the others for suggesting Midiflow, I will have a good look at that as it may be useful anyway. I have MIDI Designer Pro but I'm sure it doesn't do midi translation in the way I want.
Cheers.

which apps are you planning on using ? if its any of the ones in my thread for modstep mappings the templates themselves list every cc.

Will

Hopefully this thread at least lets you know you're not alone. This whole mapping thing feels pretty primitive in 2016. Seems like soft synth should publish a manifest of all of their control targets and midi controllers should be able to consume and auto-assign those targets to knobs/sliders/buttons. Some 'sensible' defaults for normal synth controls and then allow the user to adjust from there.

Durwin99

@gonekrazy3000 said:

which apps are you planning on using ? if its any of the ones in my thread for modstep mappings the templates themselves list every cc.

Thanks - certainly Gadget & tempted by Model 15 so I downloaded your templates. On iPad in Documents I see a bunch of numbers but it may make more sense on a PC!

Durwin99

@syrupcore said:
Hopefully this thread at least lets you know you're not alone. This whole mapping thing feels pretty primitive in 2016. Seems like soft synth should publish a manifest of all of their control targets and midi controllers should be able to consume and auto-assign those targets to knobs/sliders/buttons. Some 'sensible' defaults for normal synth controls and then allow the user to adjust from there.

Yes, you're right. Because I haven't played much with Midi until now, I've tended to skim over the discussions about it on this forum - so I thought maybe I've missed something that already did all that... I guess not! I recall Sebastian teasing something about Midi functionality in AB3, lets see what the future brings there, but I suspect it won't be able to address this.
Thanks everyone.

gonekrazy3000

@Durwin99 said:

@gonekrazy3000 said:

which apps are you planning on using ? if its any of the ones in my thread for modstep mappings the templates themselves list every cc.

Thanks - certainly Gadget & tempted by Model 15 so I downloaded your templates. On iPad in Documents I see a bunch of numbers but it may make more sense on a PC!

I meant the templates inside mod step. Opening the template file itself in a text editor will just show random numbers.

Randyman

So, why wouldn't AUM be used for these chores?

Durwin99

Thanks for mentioning AUM, I had a quick look at what it can do with Midi - which I think is some of the transport stuff and volume/mute etc, but I was thinking more of assigning the 9+ sliders, rotaries, drum pads etc on the physical keyboard to useful functions within each synth app, having to deal with the fact that each app has its own (probably different) requirements for which CC controls each variable...

Durwin99

@gonekrazy3000 said:

@Durwin99 said:

@gonekrazy3000 said:

which apps are you planning on using ? if its any of the ones in my thread for modstep mappings the templates themselves list every cc.

Thanks - certainly Gadget & tempted by Model 15 so I downloaded your templates. On iPad in Documents I see a bunch of numbers but it may make more sense on a PC!

I meant the templates inside mod step. Opening the template file itself in a text editor will just show random numbers.

Ah, I see! I don't have Modstep yet so will consider that going forward. Thanks.