VS-880 as control surface

  • Thread starter Thread starter ChuckU
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ChuckU

ChuckU

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I have always had my VS-880 synced to my pc via midi time code(VS as master) with Cakewalk. This has worked quite well, but now I want to use the faders and pan knobs on the VS to control the same in Sonar during mixer automation. I don't even care if the 880 is rolling at the time. I know that this midi info can go across this connection as I've had tracks in Cakewalk inadvertantly change levels in the past.

Does anyone know how to assign the VS faders to specific controls in Cakewalk/Sonar?

Thanks
 
I'm not getting a whole lot of play at VS-Planet. I just posted it last night though.

I'd be willing to RTFM, and I have, but this is not something that's really spelled out. If you've done it, that's great to know it can be done. I'll look into the MMC suggestion. Any more details would be appreciated.
 
Can't tell you about Sonar. Also, I sometimes use Cakewalk, but I hate having to hit play on Cakewalk when using the VS as the master. Thus, I usually use Cubase which syncs up nicely. I especially like being able to use the shuttle wheel on the VS to control the song position pointer in Cubase. This only requires syncing and I'm pretty sure it doesn't require MMC. As that's the only control I require, I really can't comment much more on using MMC.

Good luck!
 
If you select the looping icon, Cakewalk should follow automatically. Also, there is a check box in project or global options that will tell Cakewalk to follow automatically.

I have Cakewalk working on my control surface question and will post if they get back to me. It's only been a couple of days, but I thought if someone had done this, wow.
 
I did it! I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Fader and pan movements in Sonar now obey the VS-880!!
This kicks ass!

If anyone is interested I will post VS-880 and Sonar settings.
 
Congrats!

Ain't it great when you bust yer ass trying to figure something out and ya finally get it. ;)
 
I've tried to sync my Vexpanded 880 to my PC with ProAudio 9, Logic, and a VSPlanet user's creation called Virtualizer. I have never gotten any of them to work right. Sometimes I can get basic transport control and quite often everything locks up. I can get my QS6 synth to work like a charm but not the 880.

I'm probably doing something wrong but my experience has caused me to give up on it. Maybe some night the PC gods will take pity on me and provide a miracle.
 
On VSPlanet there is a post by me asking how to use the 880 as a control surface w/Sonar in the 880 forum. You should be able to find it. There is a reference to a thread on another forum there posted by a guy named Crispy listing the settings he used to get a VSR to follow a VS-880EX. I followed the EX settings and used the remote control feature of Cakewalk for each individual control.
So far, so good, but I haven't used the shuttle controls yet.
 
I've got to look into that. Ever since setting up my new PC with my old ProAudio9, I hven't been booting up the VS880. Mainly because editing is easier on the PC. However, the 880 would be very useful for remote control and also for its effects.

Matt
 
Please,please,please post this information.This would be beyond cool for my setup.One question though,would I be able to use my input section separately for my midi instruments (keyboard,drum machine) and use my track section for a control surface in sonar?I am presently useing my vs880ex as an input mixer only.I have no interest in syncing only in useing the faders and pan pots.Thank you very much.
 
Here are the settings I got off VS-Planet:
These are for controlling a VSR with the 880ex. Just substitute "Sonar" for "VSR." You may have to play with these two...

880EX
System Prg?
SYS Master Clk=digin 1

Midi Prg?
SYS MID: MIDITHR = Out
SYS MID: SysEx.Rx = off
SYS MID: SysEx.Tx = on
SYS MID: MMC = MASTER
SYS MID: CtrLoca l= On ( to run the EX Controls==To run VSR controls w/out changing EX controls, set this to Off )
SYS MID: CtrType = Excl ( to run the VSR controls==To run the EX controls with out changing VSR controls, set this to Off )
SYS MID: P.C. Scne = On
SYS MID: P.C. Eff = On

SYS Sync/Tempo?
SYS Syn: Source = INT
SYS Syn: Gen.= MTC
SYS Syn: ErrLevel = 5
SYS Syn: MTC Type = 30

Make sure you have midi out on the 880 to midi in on your pc soundcard and vice versa. If you don't have another midi port you are SOL if you want to do midi input to Sonar at the same time.

In Sonar, select internal sync as you don't want the 880 and the PC to be "rolling" at the same time in this scenario.

In Sonar, you want to use Remote control. Right click on the control you want to automate and set it to the proper control number and midi channel. Click on learn and move the control on the VS. The control number will set automatically.

Hope this helps. Let us know.
 
Thanks very much,it may be a couple of days before I get to this but I will reply with the results. I have three sets of midi in/outs and I'm gonna use em all!
 
ChuckU said:
Here are the settings I got off VS-Planet:
These are for controlling a VSR with the 880ex. Just substitute "Sonar" for "VSR." You may have to play with these two...

880EX
System Prg?
SYS Master Clk=digin 1

Midi Prg?
SYS MID: MIDITHR = Out
SYS MID: SysEx.Rx = off
SYS MID: SysEx.Tx = on
SYS MID: MMC = MASTER
SYS MID: CtrLoca l= On ( to run the EX Controls==To run VSR controls w/out changing EX controls, set this to Off )
SYS MID: CtrType = Excl ( to run the VSR controls==To run the EX controls with out changing VSR controls, set this to Off )
SYS MID: P.C. Scne = On
SYS MID: P.C. Eff = On

SYS Sync/Tempo?
SYS Syn: Source = INT
SYS Syn: Gen.= MTC
SYS Syn: ErrLevel = 5
SYS Syn: MTC Type = 30

Make sure you have midi out on the 880 to midi in on your pc soundcard and vice versa. If you don't have another midi port you are SOL if you want to do midi input to Sonar at the same time.

In Sonar, select internal sync as you don't want the 880 and the PC to be "rolling" at the same time in this scenario.

In Sonar, you want to use Remote control. Right click on the control you want to automate and set it to the proper control number and midi channel. Click on learn and move the control on the VS. The control number will set automatically.

Hope this helps. Let us know.
Click to expand...
Thanks mucho. I use my VS880EX in conjunction with Cake & Sonar, mostly to copy from the VS880EX into Cake using the optical spdif, 2 tracks at a time, but I can see where your use could come in quite handy and perhaps open some new doors. :D
 
Lopp said:
I've got to look into that. Ever since setting up my new PC with my old ProAudio9, I hven't been booting up the VS880. Mainly because editing is easier on the PC. However, the 880 would be very useful for remote control and also for its effects.

Matt
Click to expand...
I still after several years prefer some of the effects I find in my VX880EX. Even the ones with the crummy defaults can be tweaked to usable parameters. :D
 
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