Tutorial for writing custom control surface scripts?

logic_user99 · Post by **logic_user99** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:25 pm

Has anyone seen/got/can help with a tutorial for writing a script for a control surface? I've had look at the text file in the Live package, and it makes bugger-all sense to me.

I want to set my Nocturn up as a fixed controller for a bundle of instruments...

Halp?

(and before you jump on the 'search' bandwaggon, I did and couldn't find owt!)

jok · Post by **jok** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:20 pm

Hi logic_user,

no tutorial here, but it´s actually pretty easy:

- find out what CC numbers each knob of your Nocturne is sending out. If you´re not sure how to, use the free Snoize Midi Monitor:
http://www.snoize.com/MIDIMonitor/

- put the CC numbers of your Nocturne´s knobs into the respective entries of the document "userconfiguration.txt" - replace the '-1' with the cc numbers of each knob. You might ie. want to use the knobs for the first 8 Encoders in the document to have immediate access to Rack Macros or the first 8 parameters of a device via Instant mapping.

Note: You might have to adjust the Encodermapmode by entering one of the listed mapmode options, but I would recommend to give it a try first without adjusting it - finish the configuration first and go back to the documents afterwards if there should be any problems with the knob´s behavior

- you can use the buttons of your Nocturne ie. to control the track arm buttons or bank select - basically the same procedure as for the knobs

Once you have finished replacing the all "-1" in the document that you want to use with the respective CC numbers of your Nocturne, save the document into a new folder, which you create inside the folder "UserRemoteScripts" - the name of this new folder is the name that will appear in the Control surface list later.

Best,
Jörg

ze2be · Post by **ze2be** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:17 pm

jok wrote:Hi logic_user,

no tutorial here, but it´s actually pretty easy:

- find out what CC numbers each knob of your Nocturne is sending out. If you´re not sure how to, use the free Snoize Midi Monitor:
http://www.snoize.com/MIDIMonitor/

- put the CC numbers of your Nocturne´s knobs into the respective entries of the document "userconfiguration.txt" - replace the '-1' with the cc numbers of each knob. You might ie. want to use the knobs for the first 8 Encoders in the document to have immediate access to Rack Macros or the first 8 parameters of a device via Instant mapping.

Note: You might have to adjust the Encodermapmode by entering one of the listed mapmode options, but I would recommend to give it a try first without adjusting it - finish the configuration first and go back to the documents afterwards if there should be any problems with the knob´s behavior

- you can use the buttons of your Nocturne ie. to control the track arm buttons or bank select - basically the same procedure as for the knobs

Once you have finished replacing the all "-1" in the document that you want to use with the respective CC numbers of your Nocturne, save the document into a new folder, which you create inside the folder "UserRemoteScripts" - the name of this new folder is the name that will appear in the Control surface list later.

Best,
Jörg

Thats exactly what I have been looking for a few days now, thanks a lot Jörg!!

Oh 1 thing, where would you find the document "userconfiguration.txt" on XP? Searching drives with no results here.. Transfer it then from your desktop to your laptop, you can just copy the edited one I presume..

Edit: no sweat, I think I found it: resources\midi remote scripts\_tools

Id also like to change my Remote Zero SL buttons from track on/of to cue/solo. But theres no text file to edit in the Remote SL folder?

jok · Post by **jok** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:22 pm

Hi ze2be,

you´ll find the file and also the "InstantMappingsHowTo" documentary file in the folder "User Remote Scripts", which is in Live´s preferences folder.
To open this, choose "Get Support" in the help menu. Then click the link "Show preferences folder" in the lessons view.

Best,
Jörg

ze2be · Post by **ze2be** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:31 pm

jok wrote:Hi ze2be,

you´ll find the file and also the "InstantMappingsHowTo" documentary file in the folder "User Remote Scripts", which is in Live´s preferences folder.
To open this, choose "Get Support" in the help menu. Then click the link "Show preferences folder" in the lessons view.

Best,
Jörg

Thank you so much!

Would it be possible to edit the setup for the Remote Zero SL?

Angstrom · Post by **Angstrom** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:35 pm

I don't think you can actually 'open' the factory supplied mappings, but it's not too hard to just make one that is similar and then alter the bits you want to.

I have my own BCR map that is a bit different from the Ableton one. It only took me about ten minutes to do. Probably a few minutes later in the week to tweak it.

jok · Post by **jok** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:35 pm

Hi,

basically yes, you can write a user remote script for any controller, but there´s little point in writing one for the Remote Zero, as it´s already integrated natively via Instant Mapping - including a couple of features that are not possible to achieve via a User Remote scipt.

Best,
Jörg

jok · Post by **jok** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:37 pm

Hi Angstrom,

true, you can´t edit factory supplied mappings, you´d have to start from scratch with the script.

Best,
Jörg

ze2be · Post by **ze2be** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:42 pm

jok wrote:Hi,

basically yes, you can write a user remote script for any controller, but there´s little point in writing one for the Remote Zero, as it´s already integrated natively via Instant Mapping - including a couple of features that are not possible to achieve via a User Remote scipt.

I would guess so regarding the leds displays and updates text from Live. I wanted to have the track on/of buttons to be cue instead, under the volume faders. But I can use the 8 free buttons under the macro control pots.

gjm · Post by **gjm** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:45 pm

This is interesting, as I am still very much learning about the capabilities of Live.

So please help me get this straight.

You are able to override/reprogram the CC messages of keys, knobs, sliders and buttons on a control surface and how they relate to Live, permanently?

For instance, on my Axiom49, the encoders are not mapped correctly to the macro's on Lives Racks/presets. You control the top left macro with the bottom left encoder. So, using this as an example, I could rescript? the CC messages to permanently fix this?

BTW, you can't use Enigma to fix this as there is an unfixed bug for this one problem for the PC version, Mac version is ok. I have this confirmed by M-Audio tech support. They have given me info on how to reprogram the Axiom so its kind of a moot point. But anyway, just using it as an example.

More on topic, can someone give me a bit of an explaination of how or why you would go above and beyond and begin to use these custom scripts, and perhaps some examples? It's all learning for me, just becoming aware of possibilities.

Thanks. G.

xherv · Post by **xherv** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:16 pm

gjm wrote: For instance, on my Axiom49, the encoders are not mapped correctly to the macro's on Lives Racks/presets. You control the top left macro with the bottom left encoder. So, using this as an example, I could rescript? the CC messages to permanently fix this?

You won't change the CC message being sent from the keyboard, but you can change which CCs Live listens to, to control Live things. When you edit UserConfiguration.txt, you map abstract Live objects like "encoder1" to a CC, it's pretty clear what you can do from comments in that file.

gjm · Post by **gjm** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:02 pm

xherv wrote:
gjm wrote: For instance, on my Axiom49, the encoders are not mapped correctly to the macro's on Lives Racks/presets. You control the top left macro with the bottom left encoder. So, using this as an example, I could rescript? the CC messages to permanently fix this?
You won't change the CC message being sent from the keyboard, but you can change which CCs Live listens to, to control Live things. When you edit UserConfiguration.txt, you map abstract Live objects like "encoder1" to a CC, it's pretty clear what you can do from comments in that file.

Ahhh, thanks for that. I will investigate.

logic_user99 · Post by **logic_user99** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:21 pm

Ah, excellent! Thanks, Jorg - that's cleared it up a spell... ish. I guess I'll just have to have a play with it and see what happens.

Can anyone tell me what the below commands are for?

Bank1Button: -1
Bank2Button: -1
Bank3Button: -1
Bank4Button: -1
Bank5Button: -1
Bank6Button: -1
Bank7Button: -1
Bank8Button: -1
NextBankButton: -1
PrevBankButton: -1
LockButton: -1

logic_user99 · Post by **logic_user99** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:00 am

BUMP! Can anyone post a copy of one of their UserScripts? I just can't get this shit to work...

Have changed the '-1's to CC#s, and put it in a new folder etc. Live sees the folder, but it's not picking up the knob movements. BAH!

uto5 · Post by **uto5** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:28 am

logic_user99 wrote:BUMP! Can anyone post a copy of one of their UserScripts? I just can't get this shit to work...

Have changed the '-1's to CC#s, and put it in a new folder etc. Live sees the folder, but it's not picking up the knob movements. BAH!

not working even here, please help...