>>I have been trying to use my an1x to play soft synths, Moog Modular, Kontact, and a couple more.
You are in luck, sorta. I use my AN1X as my main controller for hardware and software synths. I can relate to what you are trying to do.
>>The problem is I don't know 100% what I am doing, or supposed to do, I am very new to midi, me being a rock guitar songwriter.
my main background is in guitar, so we're on the same page to start with. I'm also relatively new to MIDI, but asked a lot of the same questions you are asking and found answers.
>> For instance, I set up the keyboard and software, Kontact2 has a nice B3 and B4 which I can play no problem, but I cant get the mod wheel to work, or assign knobs to parameters, or nothing, just play the keys...
It would be nice to assign the knobs to the moog, or for that matter, just know HOW to do it so I can learn the steps and apply it to any other type of software.
First, try the learn feature in the MMv like DaleK suggested. If your controls are putting out messages and everything is on the right channel, then the controls on the MMv will pick up the CC messages the An1X is putting out. If the mod wheel and controls aren't putting out messages, check the midi settings in the An1X to make sure you have some kind of output specified for the controls. It matters which scene button you have pressed and stuff like that.
The real answer is to read the manual because it's spelled out in there. I think there's a copy of it in the files section. I'm not trying to pass off your questions or be snotty, but there's whole lot of info relating to what and how the controls on the An1X do things..more than I could effectively tell you in a short paragraph or two. Download the manual and check page 95. But first do this:
Go to the utility thing in the matrix and find "device". Make sure your rotary thing is pointed to the correct row.
push up and down on the switch and you will scroll through a list of things you can change the output of. MW= mod wheel and it also lists knobs 1-8.
Then press "Ctrl No" up and down to select the control function..the name shows up by the numbers.
You also need to check that the AN1X is set to do standard MIDI control output instead of the proprietary yamaha thing it can also do. To switch these, you hold down "assign" while powering up and it tells you on the display which mode is active (mode 1 or 2)..to change it, shut down and start up again holding the assign button.
>>If someone would please be so kind as to tell me what I should do...
I hate to say it, but slogging through the manual is probably the most useful thing you can do, especially if you are generally unfamiliar with this kind of stuff. However, take heart! Yamaha is known for obscure and complex functions, so if you can get your head around this, then you are probably good to go for most stuff!
>>Also, is it possible to tell the software to change a patch (within the soft synth)?
Yes. You can get the patches to change within one synth by changing the patches on the An1X, among other things. But perhaps you are talking about switching between different instruments?
>>damn it, I dont even know if I am using the right lingo... lets say in Kontact I have loaded a B4, a theremin and a Strings. Would it be possible to play a song and start with B4, theremin for chorus, string for crescendo, back to b4 for finale... just by using the An1x...? I can play these, but all at the same time !! I even tried to assign the each to a midi channel and change the keyboard channels on the fly... nothing...
well, you're thinking along the right lines. Things to check are that your AN1X isn't outputting on all channels (sounds like you checked that already) and that whatever you're playing into isn't set to receive on all channels, either. Or rather that it can "hear" all those channels but doesnt mash them all into one big input..sharing all incoming midi info between all the channels. I'm not familiar with Kontact, but is it a standalone thing or are you hosting it within something else? (like cubase or FLStudio or something)
>>Any insight highly appreciated.
I'll do whatever I can to help you. Please feel free to email me off the list if you want.
snakefooot@... (note the three Os)
~snakefooot
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