The Akai Fire midi controller has a custom "User" row that is used in conjunction with the encoders. I want to map an encoder to perform a mouse click. However, FL Studio needs to connect directly to the Akai Fire in order to enable all its functionality (see attached pic) - it actually sends input and output continuously back and forth to the device in order to light it up, etc.
The only way I can create a translation from Akai Fire -> Bome Midi Translator 1 Virtual Out is by disabling the device in FL Studio otherwise I get the error "MIDI INPUT 'FL STUDIO FIRE' cannot be opened (maybe in use by another program?). It is set to 'pending'."
Is what I'm doing not possible? Do I need to tell FL Studio that "Bome Midi Translator 1" is a Akai Fire device?
Yes, you can attach your Akai Pro Fire input and output ports to MT Pro. Use Bome MIDI Translator Virtual 1 In for input from FL Studio an Bome MIDI Translator Virtual 1 out to FL Studio. These may be shown as "BMT 1" in FL studio if you have MT Pro configured to expose short names.
Then in MT Pro, you can draw lines to make MIDI Thru paths.
One line between you Akai Fire input to Bome MIDI Translato Pro Vitrual Port 1 output.
The other line betwe Bome MIDI Translator Pro input and you Akai fire output. See attached illustration.
Then you write translators for the extra knobs you want that are otherwise not used to handle you mouse actions.
Steve Caldwell Bome Q and A Moderator and Independent Bome Consultant/Specialist bome@sniz.biz
EDIT: I didn\'t realize it but somehow the preset itself had been marked inactive so this is a non-issue. Thanks again for your assistance!
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your response. I\'ve got it mapped like you\'ve said but I can\'t seem to get translators to properly activate. I can see in Event Monitor that the Midi In and Router Out light up when i press a note so I used \"Capture Midi\" to create a simple outgoing Mouse left-click rule on any velocity but it doesn\'t seem to activate. Is there some way to make sure that the rule is being trigger? At this point I\'m not sure if the action is the problem or the rule.
Bome Virtual Port 1 is is just an auto alias that point to the true port of Bome MIDI Translator Virtual Out. I think this auto alias was created to ensure backwards compatibility with older version of MT Pro. You can use one or the other but don’t use both as you will get duplicate output to the same port.
By default, mouse messages are blocked if MT Pro is the focused app. You can turn this of in setting or simply move your mouse outside of MT Pro.
If you open the log file and check “Outgoing”, you should see the mouse click action logged.
If you check “Incoming” you will see if your incoming trigger matched. So if you see “MIDI IN” but not “Incoming” it generally means your translator incoming trigger is not correct. As far as I can tell you have everything set correctly so in a nutshell 1) open the logging feature 2) check outgoing 3) move your mouse outside of MT pro, 4) push your knob.
Oh, so I’ve basically got a “audition knob” setup for my Kontakt libs so that I can use an infinity-scrolling knob to advance to the next patch and emit a short-delayed note. Saves me a ton of time when I’m trying to find the right sound for something. Works great and I can technically use it with any of my other VSTs.
yeah, it’s a shame that something this common isn’t easier to do. Seems like every VST I’ve got always comes with a bazillion patches and no easy way to preview them. How do you like your Fire btw? I’m enjoying it but its got some irritating limitations, like only a single-undo (BOME to the rescue I’ve got it mapped to a knob from 1 to 127 for undo/redo respectively).
Check out Air Music Tech’s VIP 3.1 plugin. It’s a fantastic preset manager.
I love the Fire. It’s the centerpiece of my studio. I built a wooden crib for it, and it’s perched behind my qwerty keyboard. I’ve had a lot of discussion with IL devs over its issues, so they are (at least) aware of them.
A single undo? Ya, it doesn’t have the ‘eternal’ undo, like within FL Studio. (Alt+Ctrl+Z).
Undo/Redo has the advantage of being an A/B compare function, anytime you need it.
I have Ctrl+Z assigned to my left-hand windows key, through iCue. And colored red. So it’s a one button shortcut.
You might be interested in the work I’ve done. When I’m done making some youtube vids, I’ll link them here.
Sorry for the delay; I didn’t get notified.
The Akai Fire doesn’t have push button encoders. DJ Tech Tools MIDI Fighter Twister does, and DJ controllers.
I have a lot of controllers…even old BCF2000 have push buttons, Iconpad etc. Its a pity the Fire doesnt have them (and 8 encoders) I would buy it immediately
Wow I’m retarded. I’m looking at it right now. The main ‘Select’ ticky encoder is a push button. LOL my fault.
The other four knobs are just pots. They are hard linked to FL Studio parameters. I have a red chroma cap on the main knob and some red hockey tape on the knobs for grip. Works good, but the four knobs are strangely touch sensitive, so chroma caps don’t work on them.
The push button on the main knob is for the FLS browser function menu diving and to change the drum modes and note modes etc.
But this controller is almost exclusively for use in FL Studio. I wouldn’t try using it elsewhere except maybe with a python script or if you could run it through Bome’s MTP, but I’ve never tried that.
Yep I think I work for the guys that make it in China
Its all doable with just script…Im looking more for ideas to work with the OEM guys to make a modular system…just trying to get the best pieces in the market atm
Ok cool. I’m on the hunt for one more piece of gear too, just as something neat to use.
But could you tell the guys over there next time to swap the volume and pan knobs; the vol should be to the right of the pan knob, which should be on the far left. I’m very disappointed the knobs were put on that device backwards. I’ve ranted about it to Image Line thoroughly.
My confidence in them has been damaged heavily by that embarrassing mistake.
They only make to spec from the manufacturer.
Im a consultant getting their own gear on the market…but akai have their own team…they are just made by the OEM guys
I just had a look though;
Left to right is always precedence of use?
AND
Its meant to be a hands free unit
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