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Mackie C4 Pro is not function correctly

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Ryan
 Ryan
Posts: 1
New Member
Topic starter
 

Recently I bought a brand new Mackie C4 pro,I want to use it to control my software Vsts and sone hardware synth,but I come across multiple questions and since this device has been long discontinued there is pretty little material I can find on the Internet...so here is my last hope,I will try to describe the situation as clear as I could:

I use nuendo as daw,linked both midi in/out from C4 to my interface RME 802.I‘ve already downloaded the editor called C4 Commander and try to assign some midi values to those encoder’s to control Arturia Pigments:

Here is what I bumped into:

1 I cant find any Midi CC assignment in the “instrument” list(if i am not understanding this device wrong then drag a function from instrument list to encoder is the only way I can “assign ” something),I checked all the default “Global” midi function and no one is a CC(or constant change) function

2 But I find out by using the pigment midi learn function that even with nothing assigned on those encoders,they send CC value from 0-31 by default,and send a pitch by push down those encoders,I tried to change those CC values but as I said above,because there is no CC assignment,I cant edit or change CC values

3 Then I tried to midi learn those default values in pigments(and other software synth),It can be learned(so the connection is ok),but it function more like a switch ,not a constant value,I turn the knob a little bit,those mirrored values in pigments jumped a big step

4 Then I open my daw and create a new Mackie Control Device,using RME 802 midi port(which the C4 pro connected to)I found some of the knob can control track volumns in Nuendo by default(3rd bnk of the C4 Pro),and function perfectly(can change value continuously),but when I try to mirror the same encoder to pigments,it worked just like before(Like a switch)

5 Now a single encoder can control two things at the same time,but I only need it to control pigments,I cant find a way to disconnect those nuendo control messages,so I delete MCU device from Nuendo,I even close the C4 Commander,but,it,still works!

6 I saw some one say that if the C4 Commander software isnt opening,the C4 pro wont work,that's not my case

That's a lots of weird stuff to consume but I will make this faster by only listing what I want to achieve by using this gear:

1 I want to assign different midi CC to different encoders,and use different channels/pages to multiply those parameters to control more stuff
2 I only want to use it to control vst/hardware,not daw
3 I want to create my own “instrument” as preset

I know it's a long boring post and maybe nobody can finish,but if there is anyone who can help,please,I am so frustrated by this device……

 
Posted : 10/12/2022 5:28 pm
Jason
Posts: 439
Honorable Member
 

Try checking through the archived official Mackie C4 page. The links for the manuals and setup guides for specific DAWs seem to work, so maybe can help give you some insight.

https://web.archive.org/web/20071222125612/www.mackie.com/products/c4/index.html

 
Posted : 10/12/2022 5:56 pm
Geoff
Posts: 1043
Noble Member
 

I am not familiar with this device, my comments are based on general understanding of this sort of thing.

The C4 Pro is the actual controller. I suspect that ALL the functions will need to be programmed into the device using MIDI (and/or SysEx) data.

The C4 Commander system is I believe software, that is intended to make the programming task easier. Supposedly? This software may have some examples pre-set, but again you may have to do a lot of input to create the functions you need.

What manuals do you have to help?

Where you need to control different devices, the usual method would be to create certain functions to operate on one channel, and other functions to work on a different channel. Then you set the receiving devices so that they receive MIDI data on the required channel ONLY, and disregard MIDI data on other channels. This allows the control data to go to the correct device. Some devices may be preset to receive on certain channels ONLY to start with, make use of that if you can.

Don't try to do everything at once. Start with something simple and easy to check that it IS working. Then add further functions step-by-step.

Geoff

 
Posted : 11/12/2022 9:39 am
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