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Connecting a Sparrow midi-controller to Logic & Komplete S61 MK2 keyboard

Bobby the Composer

Bobby the Composer

New Member
Last ditch effort before I toss my NI equipment out the highest window: I am needing to use my new Sparrow 3X100m (sliders independant of my keyboard and Mac) as an automation device for parameters such as volume, expression, panning etc. I tried to assign parameters in Logic and when I did, the parameters didn't 'stick' and the sliders stopped working. I spoke to Apple and they insisted that I speak to the manufacturer of my keyboard controller. I have a Komplete Kontroller S61 MK2 from Native Instruments. NI is clueless about what I'm asking for. They're doing what I've come to expect from their tech department, which is the tech asks question upon question upon question until they've driven me to distraction and I stop the useless emails. It works very well. (I hoped I'd seen the last of NI when I stopped using their software, but then this glitch came up. Whoa is me)

Again, I am attempting to use an independant slider to control parameters such as volume. This is so the sound of my strings, brass, etc. can swell and diminish. I've seen people use external sliders in many Youtubes, so I know it can be done. I just don't now how.

Thank you, in advance, to anyone who can steer me in the correct direction.
Bobby
Click to read more...
 
Hey, welcome.

Go to their page (The Midi Maker) and check the editor: https://themidimaker.com/pages/editor

In the page is the Editor itself and you need to use it for assigning CC lanes. Plug your Sparrow, open Chrome (If you use Opera try anyway) and go to the editor.

Most common CC's are CC1 (Modulation) CC11 (Expression or Volume) and CC2, CC12 which can be vibrato control or similar.

------

The controller assignment in Mac/Logic isn't my area, but instructions in Logic on how to assign a cc controller have to be around to be found easily.


You don't assign to the Keyboard, you will indeed have to have 3 controllers active in Logic.

The Komplete Control that controls the Transport in a DAW (playu, rec etc...) + The Keyboard as a Controller & the Sparrow as another controller.
 
Thanks EanS for your suggestion. I've written to Midi Maker for help with assignments. I assumed that I could put 11 in the New CC values and 1 in the new channel value. I tried using Logic's Transport control bar to figure out the channel in the No In slot. It didn't work. I'll let you know what they said if I hear back from them.
 

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Yeah, it's as you said.

F1 = Fader 1

From Factory all are in CC 11 (Expression) in Current and New Values

You change the New Values to the CC's you want and then update, all in Midi Channel one. Unplug, close the page, plug again and in Logic has to read those exact CC's. In red is how I have mine set and I explained above.

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Thanks for the detailed response. I did exactly as you advised. I expected that when I played notes on my keyboard I would then move the sliders up and down and the volume would go quiet and then loud depending on where the slider was located on it's track. The was no variation in volume. Am I missing something about how to test the fader and volume?

I noticed that you had the Channel Assignment set to Per Fader. I wasn't able to change mine from Common to Per Fader. It simply wouldn't take the change. I also noticed that every time I used the link, the table would revert back and new CC & Channel assignments would be necessary. I'm stumped as to why your settings worked and mine are not. I did exactly as you advised.

I'm on a Mac, using Logic, using full Kontakt (not Player), using an NI instrument patch.
 
I have a Scarlett 4x4 also on my setup. Could that be creating a problem? My Sparrow is 2 months old, so it should not need a firmware update. I'm using a 'smart' keyboard from NI where it has 2 screens with potential CC assignments. I've never used them and don't know how they work. But I do know NI claims that the keyboard exchanges information with Kontakt. I really don't know about this, but I'm suggestingl the possibility that it might interrupt Sparrow to Logic messages.

No idea . . . . .
 
I suggest you get Midi Monitor application loaded on your Mac.

snoize: MIDI Monitor

www.snoize.com www.snoize.com
Then you can check if the messages from the Sparrow are arriving at your Mac before you even open Logic.

The problem I don't think is anything to do with the NI S61 Mk2 which is a great piece of hardware - I have one and use it daily with Logic.

The problem looks to me like Logic needs configuring- if you hit the letter B on your qwerty keyboard... in Logic a section will appear that you need to read the manual about!
 
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It looks like somehow either a track given or Logic altogether does not set to talk to multiple MIDI ports/devices, so is it "All" set in the respective track Inspector area and every controller checked under the "Control Surfaces"/"MIDI Controllers" tab in Settings?
 
Berdinskikh said:
It looks like somehow either a track given or Logic altogether does not set to talk to multiple MIDI ports/devices, so is it "All" set in the respective track Inspector area?
Click to expand...
Tracks default to "All" in Logic but it's worth checking. The Smart Controls need to be configured I think.(B)
Also Kontakt needs to be configured so the cc controls the parameters.

@Bobby the Composer the first thing to do is quit Logic! Then see if the faders on the Sparrow make the Midi Monitor app show incoming midi.

Then introduce Logic.
 
thanks Berdinskikh for the suggestion for the midi monitor. great suggestion.

I've been working with Apple and they seem to think that the reason Logic doesn't acknowledge the midi incoming signal is because I have to run the Sparrow through my Scarlet interface box. Their reasoning is that the Scarlett is being acknowledged by the Logic System Settings.
I'm having to go through some hoops to get adapters that will connect my Scarlett to the Sparrow, so.......

My next question is: the only ports I have on my Scarlett are TRS 1/4ers. They are in pairs. Can I use a single TRS cable to connect into the Sparrow, or must there be a pair of TRS cables. I know the pair is because it's stereo, but my Sparrow isn't related to being stereo so I'm thinking that I can run a single cable from the Scarlett to the Sparrow. Am I correct in my assumption? Before I go out and buy the needed adapters.
 
I honestly think Apple are not the people who will get you there. Why would you connect the Sparrow to your Scarlet??

The first question to ask is: Are you getting midi from Sparrow into your computer when you connect it by USB straight to your computer? (check with Midi Monitor).
 
Bobby the Composer said:
Yes, you're not the only one . . . neither Apple, nor Native Instruments, nor Midi Maker habla ingles either. 😢
Click to expand...
I meant I don't use Logic and Mac. But the common in a DAW is that you need to add it as a (midi) controller like any other controller. It won't detect it automatically.
 
pinki said:
I honestly think Apple are not the people who will get you there. Why would you connect the Sparrow to your Scarlet??

The first question to ask is: Are you getting midi from Sparrow into your computer when you connect it by USB straight to your computer? (check with Midi Monitor).
Click to expand...
Agreed. I would absolutely recommend that you try connecting the Sparrow directly to your computer via USB.
 
I assign a sparrow fader to a random cc number like 33.
Then I select in logic to learn midi assignment, select a track and move a logic fader, then move the sparrow fader.
Now every time I select a track in logic and move fader cc33 the logic fader moves. And can do volume rides in automation.
Basically the logic fader of a track accepts midi cc and cc33 is a random cc.

But once set it works, but it’s a little annoying that it needs a “jerk” of the fader controller initially so logic understands or “sees” that cc33 is going to move fader. Once engaged it works smoothly, just that initial jerk (moving the fader from top to bottom and top again fast) . And obviously it’s not that great for punch ins of fader rides.
And that’s only for one fader. It won’t do hui like 8 fader movement unless it’s setup to do that. I have it so it’s cc1, cc7, cc11, cc33. (Mod wheel, midi volume, expression and fader volume).
Hope that helps. It’s not the best but I can still work fast and does what I need.
 
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I have discovered the answer to my question: the answer is hidden in my setup. I'm using the NI MK2 keyboard controller along with Kontakt within Logic. I've been having problems setting up the Sparrow with my iMac/Logic/Kontakt because the keyboard controller is a 'smart' device. In this case what makes it smart is that Kontakt allows me to assign a CC parameter by hovering the cursor over a parameter right there in the Kontakt interface. For example, if I want a knob assigned to Volume, I hover over the volume slider in the upper right section of Kontakt's interface. Right click on the slider in the interface and a label comes up, "Learn CC ......". I then go to the keyboard controller, which has 8 knobs that are ready for a CC assignment. I turn the knob up and down and up and down, as I would in the Logic interface, and voila! It works like a champ. Every time! (As an aside, I had an extensive back and forth of emails with NI's tech support and they didn't have a clue. Sad.)

Coming Soon: You will see a Sparrow 3X100m (bright orange!) advertised in this website's For Sale area soon. Original cost $90(US) I'm asking $70(US). Never been used beyond some testing.
 

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