Novation Automap in Cubase 6/6.5
At the moment this is written, it’s recommended to use the newest beta-version (4.4b1) of Automap:
http://beta.novationmusic.com/
We have installed this and had no problems regarding its stability. This includes the 64-bit version of Cubase with JBridge controlling the 32bit VST and VSTi,which usually only needed the Jbridge setting to keep Cubase from controlling the GUI.
The default settings of Automap are far from useful. They are, to say it politely, poor and illogical. Sometimes volume is this slider, then it’s another one, and most knobs and sliders are not assigned. Yet it messages that it has “full control”. For optimal control, it’s better to do it yourself, which is not very difficult. It boils down to this, being faster done than described:
- Launch the Automap server, choose Mixer/Plugins Mappings, then at the bottom right Device Calibration.
- The Edit Mapping Window will open. If you don’t see the Title Bar (Save, Open…to Page Down Icon,…) click the little triangle top-right. Also click to open the Edit Assignment triangle down left. You’ll see two tabs added: Parameter and Range
-Launch Cubase and add an Instrument track, choose your instrument. - You’ll see in the main part of the Edit Mapping Window (EMW) a replica of your Novation hardware MIDI controller’s interface (MkII, Zero, Nocturn…) and Automap’s default assignment for them.
- Draw the EMW to the right of your screen so it’s out of view. Now open your instrument’s interface, drag it more to the left and drag the EMW back in so they are side by side (if they overlap one will disappear!)
- Several of your controls may not be assigned as you like. For example, I prefer the Volume to be the rightmost slider.
- Click on the rightmost slider of the hardware replica on your screen. It’ll turn reddish. Now on the dropped down parameter tab, click at the right and type “vol” into the box. The volume parameter at the left will be in focus.
- Click on it. The Volume is assigned now to the rightmost slider.
I personally use a Zero which comes with a pan-slider. Of course, I want to assign that to panning. So I click it, type in Pan and click the Pan parameter. But in my headphones Left was Right and Right was Left. To remedy this, click the Range Tab and there choose Invert. Done.
Once you have changed everything to your heart’s desire, go to the title bar and choose Save. You will be asked where you want to save it. Find an Automap-Mappings folder and save it in there. Next time you use Automap with that particular instrument, it’ll open with its default settings. But on the Edit window you can choose Open in the Title Bar and open your saved map.
When you’re really happy with it after some time spent using it in practical situations, you may want to click the Set As Default button in the Title Bar so it opens when you launch that particular instrument.
Much more can be configured:
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It’s possible to add several keyboards, or, say, three Zero’s (one for the money, one for the show, three to get ready…) but only one can be active at a time.
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Buttons can be set to different functions such as on/off, only act when pressed down, toggle between two options and step through, say, a list of wave options for an oscillator.
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Pots and sliders can be set to go to and from defineable values. Entering the same value (in the Range Tab of course) but starting from negative (like -50 and +50) will have the pot or slider at zero in the center.
Also, to protect the values, they only become active when, by dragging or rotating, you pass the set value so everything changes smoothly. This can give the impression of a delay, but it really isn’t.
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Encoders work like Knobs but they are endless, so they have no fixed value. The can be used normally, inverted, and also to react to the speed with which they are rotated.
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Virtual MIDI is available but not in all Automappable Novation products. This takes over the hardware MIDI assignment and can be used to set up Quick Controls, etc…
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Automap can also remember shortcuts and assign them to buttons so you don’t have to jump to your computer keyboard anymore.
Remember:
- Don’t forget to save your map!
- It’s not possible to have more than one thing controlled at a time. So it’s either the mixer or an instrument or an effect, but never “and”.