Saturday December 24 2005
I am using the Universal Control Surface (UCS) plug-in to control Sonar 4 with a Fostex VM200. 
The VM200_UCS.zip file and other UCS docs can be obtained at 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/universalcontrolsurface 
(((This group discusses the development of the "UCS", a universal control surface 
being developed by Marc(mbncp). The UCS is an advanced full duplex control 
surface for use with Cakewalk Sonar. UCS is in the early stages, 
a beta test version is expected soon. ))) 
================================== 
NOTE: Only ONE preset is available. This is the UCS_beta3.ini file. 
Backup this file before changing. 
FOR MACRO'S ONLY: rename the UCS_beta3.ini file 
Rename the macros only UCS_beta3.ini file to UCS_beta3.ini 
================================== 
The UCS is also a MACRO editor / player: NOT a recorder. 
However, lottsa stuff can be controlled by hot-keys, and by assigning a MIDI controller to a Macro. 
See: 
UCS Help 1003d WordPad format.doc for Sonar parameters: TransportTime, TransportState,... 
Command Actions for Sonar 3 PE.txt, Command Actions for Sonar 4 PE.txt for menu items,... 
And: review the INI and other docs for examples. 
================================== 
The included example Sonar project file has 32 audio tracks and 16 busses. 
More of each can be added. Including Midi tracks. 
Note::: This setup works with existing projects. 
32 tracks, 16 buses are NOT required to use the included vm200 INI configuration. 
A macro can be added in the ini to switch Bus Banks if more that 16 buses. 
And the UCS dialog can be used to switch banks. 
Note: if there are not a matching number of tracks/buses, switching banks will 
result in the VM200's fader 16 controlling the last track/bus. 
Sometimes Bus16 does not respond. This is intermittent. 
During testing (changing stuff a lot) Sonar sometimes lost the midi in port. Do not know why. 
If this happens, enable the midi port connected to the VM200. 
Then Click Options | Control Surfaces, double click UCS and select the proper MIDI port. 
====================================================== 
The included INI file is configured to control: 
Sonar Tracks: (in VM200 channel mode) 
Fader 
Pan 
Solo 
Send 1 volume (in VM200 effect 1 mode) 
Send 2 volume (in VM200 effect 2 mode) 
Sonar Buses: (in VM200 channel mode) 
Fader 
Pan 
Solo 
Send 1 volume (in VM200 effect 1 mode) 
Send 2 volume (in VM200 effect 2 mode) 
Fostex Master (red) Fader in channel mode 
Sonar Master Volume 
Fostex Master (red) fader when in various modes (not enabled/assigned in current INI file) 
Aux1 Master Volume 
Aux2 Master Volume 
Aux3 Master Volume 
Aux4 Master Volume 
Effect1 Master Volume 
Effect2 Master Volume 
Fostex Master Channel ON button switches between the track and bus panes. 
==================================================== 
NOT enabled in this ini: 
Channels 17- 20 do work. But the effects sends are confusing: 
Channels 17-18 Effect1 send does not work 
Channels 19-20 Effect2 send does not work 
The faders/pan controls/Chan On/Off could be configured to do other stuff: EQ maybe. I have not attempted this. 
==================================================== 
============================================= 
MACROS: current macros in INI file 
Shift + Windows + U 
Open the UCS dialog, load default ini file 
Shift + Windows + Left Arrow 
Move Track Bank left 
Shift + Windows + Right Arrow 
Move Track Bank right 
Shift + Windows + Up Arrow 
Control Tracks 
Shift + Windows + Down Arrow 
Control Buses 
Shift + Windows + i 
Insert new audio track 
Then: Display Name, Inputs, and Outputs dialogs 
Set input monitoring on 
Arm for recording 
Shift + Windows + d 
insert new MIDI track 
Then: Display Name, Channel, Outputs, Bank, and Patch dialogs 
Arm for recording 
============================================= 
TO INSTALL 
Expand the VM200.zip file to the c:\ root folder. 
This will create these folders: 
C:\AudioCommon\UCS\ucs_stuff 
And copy all the files to these folders 
================================================= 
VM200 setup: 
MIDI: 
Set Transmit and Receive to Channel 16 
Set Control change RX and TX to ON 
Set System EX RX and TX to ON 
Set Program Change to Table 02 
Current Scene Status 
Set Add Aux to ON 
Set smoothing to level 1 
Set AUX PAIR to OFF 
Set all Channel On/Off buttons to OFF 
Save this Scene. 
(If ya want, do a bulk dump to a MIDI library program for quick reset.) 
================================================= 
UCS setup: 
Double click the "Register.bat" file in the c:\AudioCommon\UCS folder. 
(Do this only once.) 
(( 
Note: The C:\AudioCommon folder is where I install programs and shared content I want quick access to without having to explore to an annoyingly buried folder. E.G., C:\Program Files\Cakewalk\Sonar4\shared content\templates\,.... 
Also: I have installed programs such as Sonar1,2,3,4 to folders in the C: folder: i.e., C:\Sonar1, C:\Sonar2, etc.,... 
)) 
Open Sonar 
Load the "32 channels 16 buses.cwp" file in the c:\AudioCommon\UCS folder. 
Click: Options | Control Surfaces 
Add the UCS 
choose MIDI In / Out ports connected to the VM200 
click OK to exit dialogs 
Press Shift + Windows + U 
To open the UCS dialog, and load default ini file. 
(Only 1 preset at this time.) 
(If this does not work: 
Click Tools | UCS 
Click Edit 
Click File | Save and Update 
Click X to close editor.) 
Test controls. 
SaveAs to use with new project. 
============================================== 
This setup works with existing projects. But, you may have to 
Press Shift + Windows + U 
To open the UCS dialog, and load default ini file. 
============================================= 
Reference: VM200's manual, page 212, for Midi messages sent by the VM200. 
Note: 
message 32 not used 
messages 9 - 104 not used 
The VM200 does NOT send Fostex System Exclusive messages as stated on page 217. 
J