Using remote control

This section explains how to assign knobs or sliders on a MIDI controller to control specific parameters on specific tracks. If you have a control surface with groups of faders such as a Tascam US-428 or CM Labs MotorMix, see External devices.

Sonar‘s Remote Control function lets you use a MIDI device to remotely control knobs, buttons, and sliders in the Track and Console views. For example, you can:

Use a key on your keyboard to temporarily mute a track

Work the send level in a bus with your pitch bend wheel

Set the main volume levels with NRPN messages

Prevent Sonar from sending any controller messages to your MIDI device.

Record automation from an external controller

If you set up remote control for a grouped control, the remote control works all controls in the group.

The type of MIDI message used to work a control is selected in the Remote Control dialog box. The options are as follows:

Message option	Message effect on buttons	Message effect on sliders and knobs
None	No remote control	No remote control
Note On	The button state is toggled	The slider/knob is alternately maximized and minimized
Note On/Off	The button state is toggled when Note On is received, and toggled again when Note Off is received	The slider/knob is maximized when Note On is received, and minimized when Note Off is received
Controller	n/a	The slider/knob value is set to the controller value
Wheel	n/a	The slider/knob value is set to the wheel value, with the values mapped from their original range of –8,192 to 8,191 to a range of 0 to 127
RPN	n/a	The slider/knob value is set to the RPN value, with the values mapped from their original range of 0 to 16,383 to a range of 0 to 127
NRPN	n/a	The slider/knob value is set to the NRPN value, with the values mapped from their original range of 0 to 16,383 to a range of 0 to 127

To set up remote control for a knob, button, or fader

1.	Right-click on the control and choose Remote Control from the pop-up menu.

2.	Choose the remote control type, as described in the table above.

3.	Set the note or controller number if applicable.

4.	Set the MIDI Channel field to the channel that your controller sends out.

5.

Click OK.

You can now work the control from your MIDI device. If you click the Automation Write button on the track strip of the track you are recording on, you can record your external controller’s knob or fader movements.

To disable remote control

Right-click on the control and choose Disable Remote Control from the pop-up menu.

To prevent Sonar from sending controller data to your MIDI device

Right-click each knob or fader in Sonar that is sending unwanted controller data to your MIDI device and choose Disable Control from the pop-up menu.

 

See:

Using the Learn option