2. MIDI Remote Script for Cubase v13

We have created a MIDI Remote Script for Cubase v13. 

This will work with the MP MIDI app to allow a more streamlined workflow when controlling Cubase.

Here is an overview video of the script.

It will also work with Cubase v12 but there may be some minor things that don't work quite ok as v12 does not send back all the necessary info via the MIDI remote scripts.

In the November update of the MP MIDI app, the Mixer mode is introduced. See here for loading the updated Cubase-02.xml preset in the MP MIDI app and using the Mixer Mode in Cubase with the Steinberg MIDI Remote Script.

How to download and install

Download the MP MIDI App installer for Mac/Windows from your account.

On Windows, first install the free loopMIDI as explained in the MP MIDI App Guide or other virtual MIDI port creation software like LoopBe30.

On the Mac, the virtual MP MIDI ports are created by the MP MIDI app/plugin. These ports can be used for MIDI In and Out. In order for Cubase to see the MP MIDI virtual ports, you need to run the MP MIDI app or VST3 plugin.

Download the MIDI Remote Script and the Cubase.xml preset for the MP MIDI App from the User Portal.

Copy the Cubase.xml preset in the  MP Host folder under the "MP MIDI Presets" folder

You can open the MP Host folder from the MP Host plugin as well. See here

• Windows folder C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\MP\Host\MP MIDI Presets

• Mac Folder /Users/USER/Library/Application Support/MP/Host or ~/Library/Application Support/MP/Host

and extract the images from the zip file in the "MP/Host/MP MIDI Presets/Images" folder.

For Windows, follow this guide to continue the set up process.

For MacOS, follow this guide to continue the setup process.

How it works

The MP MIDI app sends CC messages to Cubase and the Cubase MIDI remote script replies with CC messages and SysEx messages. The SysEx messages include the following:

1. Page numbers (when a page changes from Cubase)
2. Device names
3. Name and Color of selected track
4. Names of parameters
5. CC ids of parameters

The MIDI remote script comprises of 8 pages shown in the MIDI Remote section in Cubase

You can change pages from this section

and you can also change pages from the MP MIDI app from the controller.

Limitations

The MIDI Remote Script offered by Cubase allows users to create custom pages with functionality not available in the Controller Editor in Cubase. This functionality comes with some limitations and we have designed the control surface with these limitations in mind.

The buttons and encoders assigned in the Cubase MIDI app preset should not be replaced or reprogrammed because the MIDI remote script is programmed to listen to these CC messages.

You can modify the midi remote script which is written in Javascript and change the CC ids of buttons and encoders if you want to change it.

Known limitations of the MIDI remote script:

Page 1: The Quick Controls should always be in the bottom row of encoders (or if you want to replace them with other encoders just use the same CC ids).

The buttons for selecting tools should be Push/Momentary buttons, as Cubase will not send us messages to deactivate other buttons.

When you are in page 1 and have a device selected for Quick Controls, then you change page and go back to page 1, the device is no longer selected for Quick Controls and needs to be selected.

Pressing buttons to switch between Mute/Solo too fast may sometimes cause the controller to not be in sync with Cubase.  if that happens, just press the button again.

Page 2. Opening the Mix Console from page 1 using the mixer button, if the mixer is already open it will close it. Unfortunately, this is a limitation of the script. Press F3 on the keyboard to open the Mix Console.

Page 3. There is no way to activate the slots of the Channel Strip via the MIDI remote script. You have to activate them on Cubase.

Page 4. If you are on a track and have a device selected. Then you change a page, change track, select another device and you go back to page 4, you need to click on the Cubase main window for Cubase to send the update information to the controller and bring the control over the device selected last.

In all 5 pages, you cannot rename the parameter names on buttons and encoders because these are being received from the Cubase MIDI remote script.

Page 1 - General Control and Quick Controls

The first page carries a set of buttons pre-assigned to Cubase functions. When a button is pressed or selected it turns yellow. The colors can be customized from the button menu using right click.

The track name appears on the right side, highlighted with the color of the track from Cubase.

Below the track name there is the name of the device selected that has the QC focus.

On the left top there is the name of the preset and below the title of the page.

The bottom row of encoders are assigned to the 8 Quick Controls of Cubase (QC). You can change the assignments of Quick Controls in Cubase per device:

Once a device is selected in Cubase that has QC, the bottom row of encoders will sync with the QC parameters and display their names.

The QC section turns blue once a device is selected 

The rest of the encoders can be assigned freely to any parameter in Cubase or a third party plugin using the Learn Parameter function in Cubase.

Page 2 - Mix Console and EQ Control

Page 2 is dedicated to controlling the Mix Console and the EQ.

On the top row of encoders we have mapped the Pan and in the bottom row the volume of each track. The encoders take their colors from Cubase track colors.

On the left and right columns of encoders we have the EQ parameters and their colors are set to group them into bands.

In this page, using the arrows buttons, Previous and Next Mixer Bank, will pass the control on the next 8 tracks.

You can also change tracks using the Previous and Next track buttons.

Page 3 - Channel Strip and EQ Control

In this page the top and bottom encoders are assigned to the EQ sections of the Channel Strip.

The left column of encoders is assigned to the Noise Gate and the Compressor of the Channel Strip. 

The right column of encoders is assigned to the Tools, Tape and Limiter of the Channel Strip.

Selecting one from the buttons will deselect the rest of buttons and sync the parameter names and values of the controller encoders to the selected slot.

Note that rearranging the order of the slots would not affect the assignments on the MP MIDI app.

Page 4 - Audio Effect Control

This page controls the selected track insert effects device whether this is a Cubase effect device or third party plugin.

Selecting a device will display the name of the device and sync with the encoder names and values with Cubase.

Selecting a different track will display the name of the first device and sync with the encoder names and values with Cubase. 

To control the next 32 parameters of the device  (if the device has more than 32 parameters) you can use the Bank buttons to select the next bank. To go back to the previous bank select Previous Bank.

The Reset Plugin Bank button will sync the controller to the first bank of parameters.

Page 5 - Instrument Control

Once you select an Instrument track, the MP MIDI app will sync with the encoder names and values with Cubase. 

To control the next 32 parameters of the Instrument (if the device has more than 32 parameters) you can use the Bank buttons to select the next bank. To go back to the previous bank select Previous Bank.

The Reset Plugin Bank button will sync the controller to the first bank of parameters.

Page 6 to 8 - User Assignable pages

These pages carry some of the most essential buttons and you can use the free buttons and encoders to link anything in Cubase, creating your custom pages.

For example, you can link 32 volume tracks for the Mix Console.

If you want to use the MP MIDI app for other MIDI control purposes, it is also a good idea to use one of the buttons to open up another preset (you can set a button to open a preset via Push Options > Go to Preset) where you will have all pages and buttons available to use for anything. The switch between presets is immediate so it will feel like you are working in the same preset.