the long death throes of automap

[Echoes in the Attic]

There are a couple bugs for sure with automap, like for example it often thinks it's controlling something that isn't loaded anymore, which is weird, so one of the slots in the instrument selector is for something not there. But that just happens after multiple sessions and you can just restart. Also, I find that sometimes the automap server won't restart so I need to reboot the computer to reset it. Not the end of the world but would be nice if that was fixed.

However I do think most of the issues were user error. I've used it extensively on both Mac and PC and for the most part it works quite well. I think many people did not understand the difference between midi learning and the host automation ID based control that automap uses. I think it was the first to do so and then later came Maschine and Kore and Push and all the rest of them.

Again, audio units aside. I'd say automap was always out of the question for Logic users. It actually prompted me to start using VSTs when I was using Ableton on a Mac, and then I realized lots of other benefits of VSTs as well. So for me, audio units were always the thing to avoid, not automap. Of course even in Logic you could use a VST hosting plugin like freestyle, where you load the VSTs isnide the AU of freestyle, and be totally free to use automap and never worry about automap going away and removing all your automap stuff at some point.

I'm not sure if anyone remembers the old automap wrapper, it was actually a window around the plugin, so it looked different, and then they changed it to be totally transparent and look the same which was much better. And the mapping was done through the server software. I think it's actually pretty amazing that they were able to do a wrapper that was completely undetectable andwhen removed, loaded the original with the same settings. And if you put the automap version back, it would load that again! Nobody else has ever done that and I think it's quite clever.

I will mention my one gripe that I always had with it though, which is that you had to go to each page by pressing up or down as many times as necessary to get to the page of controls you wanted. It should have had a page selector to jump right to a named page. Also, it would have been better if the left and right side could change pages independently, it would give much more flexibility of which controls are visible at a given time. However having two units solves a lot of this.

I've posted this before but honestly this is the closest thing to hardware synths you could possibly get with software:

excellent images for dp

[Ploki]

I never used remote SL25mk2 with automap and it served me well for years tho, as blank midi controllers theyre well built and fine

[Echoes in the Attic]

I never used remote SL25mk2 with automap and it served me well for years tho, as blank midi controllers theyre well built and fine

Yeah even if you don't like automap, it's actually pretty rare to find a control surface with this may controls. I don't know why but everyone seems to have gone towards less controls, like komplete kontrol and their less than useful 8 knobs.

If I were to design a new control surface, it would have the same number of controls and layout as the SL MKI and MKII, but use Maschine Jam type sliders and endless rotary knobs. That way no pick up would be needed anywhere. Why has this not been done. It is so obviously the way to go.

[acYm]

I've started using my nocturn again actually, after finding out that it won't bsod my system as long as it's not in the same usb hub as my launchpad.
it's a nice little companion to Kore, especially for effects with external sidechain.
the SL format is overkill for me and I'd have liked to see a Nocturn 2 with hardware quality similar to Kore.
the knobs have a problem: twist it too fast and it's like the software can't follow along, the control becomes stationary, that's odd. it's as though it thinks I turned it by accident. no I'm trying to make step motions, silly controller.
oh well, rip automap

[ed22]

Hello all,

I'm still using my old Novation hardware. I have a remote SL compact 49 and a zero sl mk2.
I agree with Wastland and Echoes in the Attic. I've always thought Automap is a clever idea. It's not perfect for sure but it can do wonders if one takes time to understand how it works.
I don't mind the "wrapping" story. The big thing with these controlers are their display (old LCD screen maybe but i prefer this to tiny OLED screens that we can find today) : just look at the controler and forget the computer.
The idea of being able to name all the parameters just above the controls and having a visual feedback make it a great experience. I use my controlers to make my sounds as i do with my hardware synths. I like physical pots, sliders etc. Some plugins today have great sound (diva, repro 1 and 5, some Arturia stuff too) and i can sometimes feel the same sonic experience as with some hardware synth. The drawback is to have this mouse at hand...
A synth is a sound generator. I don't mind of how much presets I get. I was interested in komplete kontrol system but 8 encoders is not enough. And it's too preset-oriented for me.
I also don't need multipads to launch scenes or making ARP or sequence. There are good hardware for this already. I was excited with the SL MK3 but it's not the same approach.

Automap is old now but still works with my setup (win10 and win7).
The only thing i don't understand concerns my Remote Compact. No OS would recognize it anymore. I've installed the latest driver etc. but Win don't want it anymore. It's got a nice keyboard though so i can use it as a master keyboard plugged via MIDI din.

A few years ago it worked really well for me. As 64bits DAW and plugins came, it's not as good.
For exemple, old 32bits plugins with bank/patch presets style worked really fine. Turn the speed dial to change sound and get directly parameters updated. That was really nice.

I still use my sl mk2 with Live (64bits). It's fine but there is one flaw : when i change plugin presets in my daw, parameters won't update by themselves on the mk2. I have to touch each control (either on the sl mk2 since they are sensitive or by mouse clicking the parameters on screen) to make them update. I don't know if other users have the same with theirs.

As Wastland said it would be nice to be able to see how it works and get the code of this app.

[noou]

Dear Automap aficionados, I just started this thread: viewtopic.php?t=584965
I hope someone can help me.