Using Midi CC to change Auto-chord Key on the fly in Session Guitarist. Possible?

Billy86 · 2025-06-17T20:43:24+00:00

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I’m working in my DAW (Cakewalk) with Kontakt, using Session Guitarist Electric Vintage. I’m using auto chords and the key is set to F. The song modulates twice, going up a half step each time – first to to F# then to G.

Is it possible to send a CC command to Electric Vintage to change the Auto-chord key when the song hits those parts? Trying to avoid have to instantiate the instrument three times. Thanks!

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Uwe303

Exactly it's possible to automate those parameters, as aldread already pointed out more in detail for komplete kontrol. Host parameter means those are reported to your DAW and normally there is a + or drop-down menu to add this parameter and an automation lane for it. But I don't know cakewalk and how this works there in detail.

P S. Maybe like shown here from min. 3.30 on

https://youtu.be/fB9J532C4d4?si=49-ZjRZCdv2OiJpK

All comments

Uwe303

Hello,

it is already mapped if you open it within komplete kontrol last page, or as host parameter. So it should be possible in any daw by using the host automation feature. But not with a cc directly send to kontakt.

Billy86

Thanks so much for responding. I'm not sure how to explore what you suggest. When you say: "it is already mapped if you open it within komplete kontrol last page." What is already mapped? The ability to change keys within komplete kontrol? And what is the it you refer to in Komplete kontrol last page? Sorry for my lack of understanding.

When you say: "or as host parameter." Are you saying if my DAW has the ability to automate key changes in a VSTi instrument? Have never explored that, so I'm not sure if it's possible in Cakewalk. Thanks again.

ALDREAD

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/231130#Comment_231130

in komplete kontrol , it maps the vst / kontakt instrument parameters to the knobs and there will be multiple pages of 8 parameters, what uwe303 is saying is the auto chord parameter is mapped and it’s on the last page (use the arrow keys to change page)

Host parameter is kinda like a midi cc ( there are 127 midi cc numbers , not all are used) but it’s the vst parameters listed in your daw like you’d have the midi cc listed , on the track you have the plugin loaded , I’m not a big kontakt user , so I don’t know if daws can read the different parameters for each kontakt instrument, or if it has a sort of standard template , which is where komplete kontrol comes in , because it does have mapped host parameters , that you can automate like midi cc

I think that’s correct

On some vst you can right click on a knob and it has the option to assign a midi cc to it , not sure if kontakt can do that , reaktor can because I’ve done that with monark

Uwe303

P S. Maybe like shown here from min. 3.30 on

https://youtu.be/fB9J532C4d4?si=49-ZjRZCdv2OiJpK

Billy86

Ah, interesting. I work with automation all the time. Will have to check if the ‘change key’ parameter while using Auto Chord is among the options. Thanks!

Billy86

Making progress going the automation lane route! See attached. I definitely can access the "change key" parameter when in Auto-Chord. However, moving the node in the automation lane to try and make it change keys has no effect. In this case it stays in the key of F no matter the automation node position. Any ideas? Thank you for your help.

ALDREAD

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/231437#Comment_231437

I don’t use cakewalk , but from the image , on the track , you have the W ( write ) button to rec automation , and if that’s an R (read) next to it , to play it back

ALDREAD

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/231437#Comment_231437

Sorry , I see the R is active

With W active , does it record the knob if you move it with the mouse

Billy86

I haven’t tried with a midi controller. I just used my mouse to add nodes to the envelope and dragged the node up thinking it would change the key in auto chord.

Billy86

oh, I misread your question. I haven’t tried recording moving the knob with the mouse. I’ll try that next. Thank you.

Uwe303

I tried in cubase and maschine, both, draw automation and recording automation and with both it works like you would expect, so it should work with cakewalk too.

Billy86

So… I've got my Nektar Impact LX 25+ mapped to KK via a KK template (nice and easy). A rotary nob on my Nektar is controlling the Key knob on the instrument via KK, so I can change keys. I arm the KK track and write-enable the automation lane. I hit record. But it's not recording the change at the spot I make it. I can hear it go up in key, but when I stop recording, it hasn't recorded that move; it has simply changed the key for the instrument. Any ideas?

Komplet Kontrol2.jpg

Uwe303

Maybe the knob value does not get transferred to the DAW, but in your picture, on the other hand, you even see "f" as the set key on the automation lane. Habe you tried to record another knob the exact same way?

Billy86

yes. Things start in F. I can modulate up a half-step key with the knob. And when I stop the instrument is simply now in Gb. Nothing recorded. I’ll have to try another parameter when I get back to it. Thanks.

Billy86

Finally figured it out. I had to switch my recording mode from overwrite to “sound on sound.” In Cakewalk, that means things (audio or midi) are joined with whatever is there. So, I had my midi notes recorded that triggered the strum pattern in F, and I used Midi CC via Komplete Kontrol to record the key change. It works! Thanks for the help!

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