Requesting MIDI Template Tutorial for Novices - Logic Smart Controls

velanche

Greets:
I have an S88 MK3, and have installed the most recent firmware update that brings on-board MIDITemplates to everything outside of NKS. Great.

But other than some videos, step-by-step, in-depth documentation on the creation and usage of MID Templates, especially for novices like me, are lacking. I have done MIDI mapping before, but only as needed and not very extensively. Admittedly, I am having trouble at the most basics of creating a MIDI Template, which is one for Logic's Smart Controls.

The Smart Controls themselves have the parameters already mapped, but I am having some trouble with getting those parameters mapped to my Smart Controls MIDI Template on the keyboard.

On my S88 keyboard, I created a new template, named it Smart Controls, and then tried working out the knobs I want to map. I decided to leave the buttons alone and use them as is.

What I"m having trouble figuring out is how to map those knobs from Logic. I have tried mapping one of the knobs via the External Mapping on the Smart Controls for one of the instruments, clicking on Learn and then moving the first knob. I get a message stating that the knob had already been mapped, and I've chosen for the previous parameter to be replaced. Well, that did not go so well, because I ended up with a knob that kept rotating clockwise over and over. I had to go to Logic's Controller Assignments window to delete it so that the parameter could be reset.

Further, I do not know that, assuming I'm successful with the mapping, that it will be there for future projects in which said instruments will have the exact same controls, if they will work or not.

I am willing to put in the work to gain knowledge, but I could use some guidance on accomplishing even this basic template. I'd appreciate it.

Thanks for reading.

Kymeia

I've tried mapping stuff in Logic and it's a nightmare - vastly over complicated and erratic plus nothing seems to be retained between sessions. There is nothing like the elegant device mapping in Bitwig or even Live's macros

6xes

some advice when mapping midi-templates…

assign hardware that has fixed midi(cannot be changed) and keep those assignments out of bounds & make a spreadsheet of them

having a spreadsheet and updating it as you make new midi-assignments,

nothing worse than having assignments that trigger 2 different assignments…. as sometimes they will cancel one another or have unpredictable results

if the S88 mk3 allows you to assign encoders/buttons/knobs/pads to any midi type ie. CC/note/PC etc then it is considered flexible, having the ability to assign midi as you require is of immense value when mapping

consider looking into Bomes midi translator pro… if you want to transform a midi-type from one type to another, it is invaluable when creating midi templates

Kymeia

The problem is smart controls don’t have fixed MIDI - they are made for assignment ‘on the fly’ but don’t retain assignments per device like Bitwig’s do so if you set them up for one project you have to do it again for another

This isn’t even really about templates, even the default template works fine for mapping smart controls (if you can be bothered to deal with how fiddly it is). The problem lies with them just not being that ‘smart’