003 Control Surface Logic Pro- Let's Do This

[dsetto]

In this thread I will document my attempts to get the Digidesign 003 Console to function as a Control Surface for Logic Pro.

Things I am hoping to achieve:
1. Faders
- motorized
- ability to "Bank" right and left
- have the faders correspond to the tracks visible on screen

2. Mute and Solo buttons
3. Reliability

[dsetto]

It seems there are two approaches to employ.
1. From the perspective of mapping the functions from within the 003 Console.
2. From the perspective of mapping the functions from within Logic.

There is a manual for each of these:
- 003 Midi Mode
- Logic Pro X Control Surfaces Support

I don't know if only one should be applied, or if a combination of both are necessary. My guess is that only one needs to be applied; and that employing the other can be used, if deemed appropriate, but may complicate the situation. Much like two drivers in a car, each with independent driving controls.

[dsetto]

First approach I am trying, I will call "003-Only Approach".

This approach: Using 003's Standard MIDI Preset, and not mapping within Logic.

What works so far:
- 6 Tracks + Stereo Out + Master
What does not work:
- 003 does not get data from Logic. Therefore limited functionality relative to what I had with 003>Pro Tools. I don't believe I want to yield on this.
- Mute, solo.

---
Using 003 in MIDI Mode, set on MIDI Map B, preset 1. Digidesign calls this preset "Standard MIDI" and is intended for my goal of controlling a 3rd party audio application. MIDI Map A, preset 1 is identical.

In this "003-Only Approach", I am not mapping anything from within Logic Pro. I went to Logic Pro/Control Surfaces/Set Up:
Edit, Select All. Edit, Delete.
Which means I have no Controllers set up in Logic,

With this approach, I believe I should be able to easily get 16 channels of control, with little configuration.


NOMENCLATURE:
"Track" refers to Logic Track
"Fader" refers to 003 Fader
Logic can have lots of Tracks.
003 has 8 Faders. Always. Period.

PROCEDURE
ADDING TRACK 1
New Logic Project:
Added 1 Track (in Logic)
(003) Fader controls it. Once Fader "catches" track level.
Fader 2 controls Stereo Out
Fader 3 controls Master

Mute sort of works. It works, but requires two clicks to communicate to Logic. This ends up resulting in a scenario where sometimes, 003 Mute LED doesn't correspond to Track Mute status. (I believe this can be addressed under those hood, either hood.)

Solo doesn't work.

---
ADDING TRACK 2
Add Track 2 in Logic.
003 Fader 2 controls Logic Track 2
003 Fader 3>Logic Stereo Out
003 Fader 4>Logic Master
---
ADDING TRACKS 3-6
Same thing continued successfully during each successive addition of a Logic Track up to Track 6.
Here,
003 Faders 1-6 > Logic Tracks 1-6

Mute for Track 2 like Track 1.
Mutes for Tracks 3-6 don't correlate to Logic Tracks.
Solo buttons don't work for Tracks 1-6.

---
Even after restarting 003 and computer same works. Difference from 003-Pro Tools, is Fader needs to catch Track level before controlling it.

And moreso, 003 does not get info from Logic as to Fader position. This is already less useful than the 003 was when controlling Pro Tools. I believe a smaller, $150 control surface would do this better.

I suppose this is only useful if I absolutely need to keep 003 on/in my limited desk/studio space. I.e., maintain strong Pro Tools usage. Otherwise, I am better off with a different control surface.

[dsetto]

ADDING TRACK 7.
New mapping
Fader 1>Track 2
Fader 2>Track 3
...
Fader 5>Track 6
Fader 6>Track 7
Fader 7>Stereo Out
Fader 8>Master

Pressing Bank on 003 to access 003's Standard MIDI Map Channel 9-16 assignment didn't lead to any correlations.

---
Hiding Logic Track 1 lead to same results as expected.
Hiding Logic Track 2, allowed
Fader 1>Track 1.
And maintained
Fader 2>Track 3
And the rest.

This is useful, at least.

Hiding Logic Tracks 2&3, led to now expected results:
Fader 1>Track 1
Fader 2>Track 4

All this time (and in preceding post), Mixer View showed Stereo Output and Master.

I concealed Stereo Output and Master, and Inspector, and created a new Screenset with only Mixer, and only Tracks 1-7 visible. And I unhid all audio tracks. but that did not change the results.

Fader 1>Track 2, etc....


ADDING TRACK 8.
As now expected,
Fader 1>Track 3
...
Fader 6>Track 8
Faders 7 & 8 locked to their Stereo Out & Master assignments, whether they are visible or not.

---
Wait a minute:
Things are better. I hid all Tracks. Then, unhid Track 1.
And then in Mixer View under Main Window, I displayed Stereo Out and Master by selecting the Mixer "Output" and "Master/VCA" tabs.

And,

Fader 1>Track 1.

This is excellent.
And, when I unhide Track 2, adding that to the visible tracks,
Fader 1>Track 1
Fader 2>Track 2
F3>St Out
F4>Mstr


Same happens when I make Tracks 3-6 visible
Fader 1>Track 1
...
Fader 6>Track 6
F7>St Out
F8>Mstr


....
Same happened with different combinations of hiding.

[dsetto]

Summary of this current "003-Only Approach"

So, it seems I can rely on the following:


003 Faders to control the last 6 tracks plus St Out & Master Tracks. To control earlier tracks, I have to hide tracks.
If I make 6 tracks visible on screen, then 003 Faders 1-6 will control those.

This is not amazing. But, it's better than absolutely nothing.

[dsetto]

Note: I have yet to check and update my 003 Console firmware.

Also, it seems I should move on to see about mapping within Logic.
I am too spoiled by the 003>Pro Tools Control relationship to stop here.

[dsetto]

First big question I have when trying to set up mapping inside Logic.

In SetUp, must I install a model? I believe I am unable to proceed without doing so.

Then, which model do I install? Digidesign 003 is not there.

[dsetto]

I think it would be swell if Avid tech support would chime in and support their product.

[dsetto]

When I tried to map a Logic Track to a 003 Fader from within Logic, I could not. I skimmed what seemed like at the pertinent aspects of the Logic Control Surfaces guide.

I couldn't even recreate what I did last week. I have lots of questions.

- Should 003 be in MIDI Mode or not? I think not.

I won't go into the other things I did, or questions I have at the moment. I feel like it may be possible. It should be possible, right? Right now, I don't have the hope that I'm going to get it to work, nor should I try to do so.

[dsetto]

Still poking around.

Here's something that's even more useful.

- 003 in MIDI Mode. Standard MIDI Preset.
- Custom Controller Assignment setup in Logic. I don't know if this is needed. So I'll mention it later.

I was able to - at least one time- get:
16 003 Faders to control 16 Logic Tracks, non-motorized.
- I.e., 1-way, 003->Logic Control.

This is kind of cool.

Requirements:
8 audio tracks in Logic (for "free") before the first 003-controlled track.
In essence, Logic Track 9 controlled by 003 Fader 1.
Then, when 003 Bank button pressed, the next 8 Logic Tracks are controlled by 003 Faders 1-8 in "Bank" page.

In summary:
No controls for Logic Tracks 1-8

003 Bank Unlit
003 Fader 1>Logic Track 9
Fader 2 >Logic Track 10
...
Fader 8>Logic Track 16

004 Bank Lit
Fader 1 (aka "9")>Logic Track 17
Fader 2 (aka "10")>Logic Track 18
...
Fader 8 (aka "16")>Logic Track 24


....
What this tells me:
Automatically, Logic assigns:
9th Audio Track to MIDI Channel 1
10th Audio Track to MIDI Channel 2
...
23rd Audio Track to MIDI Channel 15
24th Audio Track to MIDI Channel 16

Because:
With the 003's stock, MIDI Map, "Standard MIDI" Preset, that I am using here:
With 003 Bank button unlit:
003 Faders 1-8 transmit on MIDI Channels 1-8

And with, 003 Bank button lit:
003 Faders 1-8 transmit on MIDI Channels 9-16

....
The Good:
- 16 discrete tracks is more useful than the 6 I got yesterday.

....
Questions:
- I don't know how to save this.
- If I can recreate it.

....
Regarding my "custom Controller Assignments" mapping in Logic.
I don't know if it is necessary. But in case, I will indicate what it is:

Logic Controller Assignments:
First, deleted any existing controller settings and setups.

1. Zone created
2. Mode created
3. 16 Control assignments created with the following parameters

Flip group: none
Exclusive: deselected
Class: channel strip
Channel strip: Fader Bank *
Input: Avid 003 port 1
Value Change: B* 07 Lo7

Value
Min/max: 0, 127
Format: Unsigned
Multiply: 1.00
Mode: Scaled
Feedback: Automatic
Text feedback selected
Local feedback: not selected

*=n+1, beginning with n=0

---
My guess is that the Logic Controller Assignment custom settings above are not needed. But, I'm clueless on this.

---
I am following through on reporting my results on this because I feel like it is possible to get this to work, and I have not figured out how. It is somewhat futile. The only value in this, for me, is that it would allow me to use 003 for Logic and for Pro Tools.

And, not have to mess with also buying a new interface, if I get rid of 003.
My studio desk and space is too small to allow for a 003 and a dedicated Logic Control Surface.
The connection with 003 and Pro Tools is so great, I am reluctant to let go of that until I know I can get equivalent with Logic and some other control surface. But, first I would have to test Logic for audio mixing, etc.... and as I'm brand new to Logic, that is some time off.
---
I am writing this here for the hope that if I put this out there- someone else, with a similar goal of getting the 003 o be a control surface for a DAW other than Logic may both be assisted, and may expand upon what I'm reporting, and help me out.

:)