Ableton - how to use one synth to control another?

[djdizzy]

I have a Virus TI that I was hoping to use its knobs to control the parameters of my Waldorf Pulse 2. The Pulse 2 is laid out like a matrix, I'd love to be able to have a MIDI controller that gives me the ability knob-per-function.

I put the Virus into "Remote" mode and turned on "Tracking" in Ableton's MIDI/Sync tab then I tweaked a couple knobs, I noticed that its amp Sustain controller the volume, its envelope Decay controlled OSC1 shape.

But is there any way I can map the MIDI CC's so it matches? IE: the Virus' ADSR knobs control the Pulse 2's ADSR, the Virus' OSC1 pulsewidth controls the Pulse 2's OSC1 pulsewidth, etc?

It seems like Ableton has predefined MIDI controllers from the droplist where it's plug-and-play but I don't have any of those MIDI controllers, I only have hardware synths. So how can I map this stuff manually?

[Oscillating.Space]

1: The predefined MIDI controllers are specific scripts for these controllers and lend it additional function. What you want to do has no bearing on this

2: The different knobs MIDI CCs are set by the producers of your synths, not Ableton/Live.
Thus just within Live there is nothing you can do about it.
BUT I'm sure there are M4L devices that can translate Midi messages from the incoming one from one synth to the one required by the receiving synth.

2a. If this is something you might want to use a lot, there is Bome Midi Translator. It does all this MIDI translation in spades and SOOOOOO much more. It's one of the most powerful tools to have if you want to customize your controller set ups (without learning how to write remote scripts yourself)

[RichieWitch]

Like Oscillating_Space said, the differences are set by the synth manufacturers. The best way to see the full impact of what you're trying to do is by opening the user manual of both synths and compare their "MIDI Implementation" charts, usually located in an appendix. This will tell you exactly what each MIDI CC does for each synth and will help you figure out what the translation will have to look like.

Ultimately, you might find it easier to just buy a controller that will allow you to save a user preset that's designed to control the Pulse 2.

[rod_zero]

It can work with soft synths that have "MIDI learn" functionality: u-he synths have it, and some others.

BTW, Waldorf largo responds quite well to a waldorf blofeld, even all the submenus.

[dave dove]

maybe this:
http://thepiz.org/plugins/?p=pizmidi

dave