Step-by-step

Customise your Smart Control layouts

1 Create track

First, you need to select a track in your project with a plugin inserted on it. We’ve created a Software Instrument track loaded with an instance of Retro Synth.

2 Button it

Open the Smart Control control panel by clicking the button in the Toolbar. The panel will open up in a pane beneath the tracks area, revealing the controls.

3 The ‘i’ has it

Click the ‘i’ button in the upper-left corner of the Smart Controls pane. This reveals the Smart Controls inspector panel, where the controls can be customised.

4 Halo there

You can now click on a control to select it, at which point it will be surrounded by a blue halo and the inspector will display its name. Click on the name field to edit it.

5 Remap parameter

Click the triangle next to Parameter Mapping to display the parameter currently linked to that control. We’re going to reassign Amp Env Attack to Vibrato Depth.

6 Make the change

Click the arrows to bring up a menu of parameters from the instruments and/or effects on that channel. Just select the new parameter to reassign the control to it.

7 External affair

To map a parameter to an external hardware control, click the ‘Learn’ button in the External Assignment section. The button and the control’s halo should turn red.

8 Moving moment

On your hardware MIDI controller, move the control you want to assign the parameter to. The onscreen control should move accordingly.

9 Confirm assignment

For detailed info on the assignment you just made, click the External Assignment disclosure triangle to reveal the control change message value and channel status.