Midi controller automation

geno · Post by **geno** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 9:23 am

Hi! I'm a pulsar new user...i've buy my pulsarII last week. My sequencer is Cubase. Can anyone explain me how use the midi controller to automate synth and effects?
I've assigned a control number to a cutoff, for example, of Lightwave and i've connected it whit sequencer DEST...but when i try to register during PLAY, anything will appear on cubase. If i make the same things with a VST Instrumenst all automation are saved!

How can i automate my instruments?

Many thanks, geno from Italy.

King of Snake · Post by **King of Snake** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 10:34 am

You connect the seq. midi source and Pulsar midi source to your Pulsar synth (I think there's a standard project file for use of Pulsar with Cubase included with Pulsar which makes all the basic connections available).
Now when you right-click on any Pulsar control knob you get a little dialog box "midi controller assignment" and you can now either twist a knob on an external controller/synth and Pulsar will recognise the controller nr. or click on the blue icon and you will get a list of available controllers.
Now all you have to do is make a track in Cubase with midi controller data for the controller nr you set in Pulsar and play it on the right channel and off you go!

King of Snake · Post by **King of Snake** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 10:38 am

btw you do not connect the synth (lightwave)to seq. midi dest. The seq. midi dest module is for sending midi TO the sequencer. Normally the Pulsar midi source module (representing the physical Pulsar midi input to which your keyboard is probably connected) would be connected to the seq. midi dest module so the midi from your keyboard is routed to Cubase.
Again there is a standard project file with the correct settings. Or maybe check the PlanetZ project database.

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 12:52 pm

If you have no external controller, seq. midi dest can be used to send the assigned CC# to your sequencer, and record your mouse knob tweaks

geno · Post by **geno** » Tue Apr 30, 2002 12:45 am

In fact, i've no external controller....and i want to record my mouse tweaks into Cubase.

I've connected the Sequencer DEST and, i've assigned (right click) a control number to some buttons...and i've tweaked during registration but in cubase, doesn't appears nothing!

I've duplicated the midi channel, i've assigned a VST...i've tweaked it, and i've reassigned the midi channel to Pulsar MIDI...in this mode, the automation work!

The problem is... WHY, with all right connections in my project, cubase doesn't register my "mouse" automation??

Many thanks... geno

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Tue Apr 30, 2002 1:55 am

I've just tested it, it works fine here.
So here's the conditions:
-CC# must be assigned to Pulsar dev
-Route Pulsar dev midi out to Seq Dest
-Enable Midi In for that port in sequencer
-Record
-Tweak Pulsar Dev's

This works here. Use above as checklist, if it doesn't work, get back

Post by **Neil B** » Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:02 am

Geno,
I see that you're new to Pulsar, but are you new to Cubase too?
One way to make it easier to test would be to for example:
1. Select a Pulsar synth - set to midi channel of your choice.
2. As others have replied, select the volume controller and give it a CC of 7 (standard midi number for vol)
3. Record a few bars in Cubase.
4. Create a new track and new part with the same midi channel.
5. Go into Key edit and open the controller window at the bottom of the editor.
6. Using the "+" tool (or is it "X" - I'm not near my gear) draw in an ascending and descending line to raise and lower the volume.
7. Try it out. At least you don't have to keep using the mouse while you're testing and if the volume know moves, you've isolated one of the possible problems.

I appreciate this may not be the right way to work, especially if you're adjusting say a 303 cut off filter on the fly, but it may help in sorting the problem out.

King of Snake · Post by **King of Snake** » Tue Apr 30, 2002 4:02 am

On 2002-04-29 13:52, at0mic wrote:
If you have no external controller, seq. midi dest can be used to send the assigned CC# to your sequencer, and record your mouse knob tweaks

Yes of course, sorry about that. Somehow I never use that so it didn't occur to me.

geno · Post by **geno** » Tue Apr 30, 2002 7:37 am

Thanks you for every replies....

I'm newbie of cubase too...is only 3o4 months that i use it. I was a Cakewalk user from version 5

Tonight, when i'm @home, i'll try the yours explanation.

Bye, geno

PS: The next topic i'll open will be about the sh*t quality of pulsar synths...i'm a newbie and i'm not able to make good sounds

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Tue Apr 30, 2002 8:01 am

Start here:

<a href=http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... m=5&31>Man on a Mission</a> - using stock synths, comments on them, other options
<a href=http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... orum=5>New to Creamware, favorite devices</a> - some more blathering on good synths to get...
<a href=http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... Jungle/DnB Baselines</a> - synths to get those subsonic bases and angry crunchy distortion sounds...

geno · Post by **geno** » Fri May 03, 2002 10:22 am

thanks to all. Today i've automated my first synth

Another thing: about the pulsar effects, is there a way to automate its?
With a right click, doesn't appear the CONTROLLER ASSIGN window....

Many thanks again, geno

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Fri May 03, 2002 5:29 pm

If the effect does not have midi ports, insert it into a multi fx rack

geno · Post by **geno** » Sat May 04, 2002 1:33 am

the effect i've try to automate was the "4 Pole"....... this effect without an automation is a sh*t

the manual doesn't explain anything about it....mmmm....

geno

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Sat May 04, 2002 1:53 am

If you throw it in a MultiFX rack, you can assign CC# to it's knobs!
The same goes for most http://www.neutron7.com effects. Be aware though, effects with midi ports cannot be inserted into a rack.