MIDI Controller Middleware?

[Drachenkatze]

EDIT: I found no sufficient software, so I'm developing it on my own. See postings below for progress.

Hi,

I'm looking for some kind of MIDI controller "middleware" which allows me to customize and map controllers to different output MIDI controls. For example, I own the Novation LaunchControl XL. I wish to be able to map Knob #1 to send different MIDI CCs depending on which button I press on the controller. Most vendor-supplied configuration software is rudimentary at best.

As a real-world use case, I started creating an overlay for the Novation LaunchControl XL with which I could control all CCs exposed by D16 PunchBox (see attachment - done with simple 200g/m² photo paper and a Solhouette Cameo 3 hobby plotter). In that example, the upper right knob controls the "Send Level" depending on which section below is active (Click, Tops or Tools). Thankfully, the LaunchControl XL is fully controllable via MIDI.

A major motivation for creating the overlay was the fact that a bunch of knobs, faders and LEDs doesn't help that much if you don't have logical layout of some kind. Having to remember what each knob and fader does is not an easy task, and with that overlay in place, a generic controller like the LaunchControl XL feels way more like a custom controller for PunchBox, even though I have no software yet which does the mapping.

I have had a brief look at Bome Midi Translator Pro, but to be quite honest, implementing a complex map as in my example would require quite much effort with little to no visual feedback.

I'm literally very close implementing an own software which makes it easy to fully customize controllers which support it. However, prior doing another big project besides my other product PresetMagician , I wanted to see if there's anything readily available.

[Tj Shredder]

I would do it in Max. Perfect tool for this kind of stuff. Better is if your DAW is dealing with it. Bitwig can do that with their scripting...
Both require a programmers mind set...
Actually I never understood why fader box vendors put so much energy into programmability of their boxes, I prefer the dumb ones with a fixed mapping. I would always translate that to what I need in Max.
I bet that middleware you imagine will have a market for those without a programmers mind set...

[Drachenkatze]

I would do it in Max. Perfect tool for this kind of stuff. Better is if your DAW is dealing with it. Bitwig can do that with their scripting...
Both require a programmers mind set...
Actually I never understood why fader box vendors put so much energy into programmability of their boxes, I prefer the dumb ones with a fixed mapping. I would always translate that to what I need in Max.
I bet that middleware you imagine will have a market for those without a programmers mind set...

Well, 149$ is a bit too pricey for me. I have thought about doing it in a DAW, however, since I use FL Studio and NI Maschine side by side, I'd like to have it externally. Especially if I someday switch to Ableton.

[Tj Shredder]

A free alternative to Max is Pd. Especially for just Midi its sufficient...

[dformd]

Plogue Bidule
https://www.plogue.com/products/bidule.html

Funny; just last night I was designing a Bidule patch for my Novation Launch Control XL.
You can do exactly what you have described with Bidule.

The standalone beta version of Bidule is unrestricted (feature and saving wise), but stops working when the beta period ends; then you have to wait for the next beta release, or buy it. The current beta expires June 15th.

[bharris22]

How about this: https://nativekontrol.com/ddc.

I think it may only be for Live, but if I understand your needs correctly it may do what you want without you having to reinvent the wheel. Inexpensive, too.

[Drachenkatze]

How about this: https://nativekontrol.com/ddc.

I think it may only be for Live, but if I understand your needs correctly it may do what you want without you having to reinvent the wheel. Inexpensive, too.

Well not exactly what I was looking for.

In fact, I started working on a project over the weekend to implement what I'm looking for.

There are so many great VST synths out there, but I never used them much apart from using their presets because I usually don't know what kind of sound I'm looking for - with hardware synths I just play around with the knobs, waiting for lucky accidents to be happening.

[bmrzycki]

I'm very interested in where this project leads. This is something I would love to have: dynamic 1 to N mappings on controllers with visual feedback. I'd also love to have the ability to turn an encoder and it emit N non-linear CC (or *RPN) curves to create performance based dry/wet macro knobs.

[Drachenkatze]

I'm very interested in where this project leads.

Same here. As I'm building it on C#/.NET core technologies, it'll (hopefully) run on both Windows and OSX and this also serves as a test-bed to make PresetMagician cross-platform.

However, I don't know how long a first version will take or whether it'll be open source or paid software. Paid software has the advantage that I could deliver updates, whereas open source could mean that I'll implement it to my needs and then rely on others to improve on it.

I'm usually a strong supporter of the open source community, but my last big project PartKeepr did not buy me food (see https://www.patreon.com/partkeepr for some of the reasons). But well, let's see

This is something I would love to have: dynamic 1 to N mappings on controllers with visual feedback. I'd also love to have the ability to turn an encoder and it emit N non-linear CC (or *RPN) curves to create performance based dry/wet macro knobs.

What do you mean with visual feedback? On the computer screen or on an external display? Actually I'm playing around with an ESP8266+Oled module for more verbose feedback without having to look at a computer, and I also ordered some all-in-one ESP8266 OLED boards which are ridiculously cheap these days (Banggood, about 8 USD)

[Drachenkatze]

In fact I made some progress. Nothing to release so far and will probably take a while.

I also received my X-Touch Mini which I plan to use as a step sequencer using my software.