Need help with Novation ReMOTE SL 25

Question

Need help with Novation ReMOTE SL 25

Greetings,

I have looked through the archives regarding problems with the Novation ReMOTE SL 25 Midi controller, but cannot find an answer to help me get this thing working. The startup guide and the user manual has very little helpful information for Logic users.

I completed the following steps, and yet still cannot get the Novation to respond to anything (with a few exceptions listed below)...

I attached the Novation to a USB port on my display (which is connected to my G5 tower)... the Novation lit up, but it was on template #1 for the V-station 1. Using the data select button, I scrolled through the templates to #33 (for Logic 7). I then installed the Setup Remote ZeRO SL software from the supplied DVD (which was a major pain because the DVD forced me to change my DVD region location twice before finding my way to the software packages on the DVD). Then I installed the packages software entitled "ReMOTESLSetupLogic".

Then I launched Logic Pro 7.2.3 on my G5. Then I went to Preferences and Control Surfaces and Setup. Selecting "New" from the drop down menu, I selected "Scan all models". The Novation ReMOTE SL then showed up in the list of models. I clicked add, and the device showed up connected to the computer (although the icon is for the keyboard version... I have the zero version without the keyboard).

I scrolled through the templates on the SL 25 using the data/select dial, and selected #33 for Logic 7. The LED display shows some familiar parameters in Logic, but in spite of moving sliders and pots on the SL 25, nothing happens in Logic. By the same token, and changes made in Logic has no effect on the SL 25, except for one thing mentioned below. My arrange window in Logic shows 8 of the tracks highlighted for the controller, but nothing happens when I move any of the sliders and pots on the SL 25.

I then scrolled to template #39 which is the Logic Automap on the SL 25. Once again, nothing happens when I move sliders and pots on the SL 25. In the Setup window in Logic the following settings are noted... Out port is set to All, and Input is set to "Midi Port". The other choices for Input is "Capslock keyboard", and "Keystation 49e" (which is a keyboard also connected to the computer).

My audio interface is a MOTU traveler (which I presume is related to "Midi Port").

The only interaction I can observe between the SL 25 and Logic is that the tempo light on the SL 25 flashes in sync with the tempo when Logic is in play mode with the metronome. The MIDI activity window on the transport window is silent when any sliders or pots are moved on the SL 25, whereas the window shows activity whenever the keys on my Keystation 49e are pressed.

How can I fix this problem? Thank you for whatever help can be provided.

Power Mac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.8), MOTU Traveler, Keystation 49e keyboard

Posted on Nov 22, 2006 7:49 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 22, 2006 8:44 PM in response to David Albracht

Update...

I decided to trash all of the installers and the other files and start over. I went to the Novation website and downloaded the latest product update... the ReMOTE SL Installer (v8). The download went well, and followed all of the directions. Interestingly, a dialogue box came saying that I needed to update the SL operating system... I connected the SL to a USB port directly on my G5, and the update went well. The SL responded to the update. The weird thing was that the version number inside my SL was no different than the supposed update... But nonetheless it seemed to go well. I also downloaded and installed the ReMOTESLSetupLogic file in the packages folder.

I then went to Logic and to the Setup page for Control Surfaces. Amazingly while doing a scan for all models, an error message popped up similar to the error messages that Shariq Zamer wrote about earlier this year... "Alert - Could not load module Remote SL." http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=508889&start=15&tstart=0

The error message continued to pop up after rescanning... I was totally bummed out... thinking that I may have send the SL back...

But then something changed. I closed and restarted Logic. I then went to the Setup window for Control Surfaces. I scanned another time, and AMAZINGLY the SL showed up CONNECTED to my computer with the correct port input named as "Port 1". However, the Out Port is also listed as Port 1... shouldn't this be "All"?

Another interesting thing is that the SL now has dashes accross the LED screens... which is something I have not seen before...

It seems that it is finally beginning to work... I have not tried moving any sliders or pots yet...

I have no idea what happened to correct the previous problems, but perhaps I am on the right track...

Just wanted to pass the above along.

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Answer 2

Nov 22, 2006 10:47 PM in response to David Albracht

Update number 2...

Well, I was very close to giving up and packing the SL back into the box and returning it... My frustration level kept rising, particularly when nothing seemed to be working. When the SL 25 was set to the template for Logic 7, only one track was allowed to be manipulated at any given time. Every fader movement and pot movement on the SL 25 resulted in moving the pan knob and fader level of only one track (the one that was selected with the mouse).

Then, I switched the template to "Universal" using the data/select key on the SL... and amazingly, the SL sprung to life and began controlling all 8 tracks as it should have been doing all along. It seems that this thing is going to work afterall... The scroll up and down keys on the right side correctly move to tracks beyond the 8th track. The transport keys work also.

If only the users manual could have given specific instructions on how to get to this point, then much frustration could have been avoided. I still do not understand the point of having a template in the SL named "Logic 7" if it does not work at all... whereas the "Universal" template works great with Logic.

Anyway, if there are others out there who have experienced this same frustration, I would be interested in hearing about it and any other important issues that are not covered in the user's manuals.

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Answer 3

Ant1

Level 2

415 points

Nov 23, 2006 1:25 AM in response to David Albracht

David, I noticed that you connected your SL25 via usb to your display. Maybe some of your problems are caused by the fact that your SL25 doesn't get enough power. I have mine connected to a powered usb hub.

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Answer 4

Nov 23, 2006 2:58 AM in response to David Albracht

David,

Yes, Novation has a lot to learn about how to communicate properly with customers.

I believe you want to download the latest software, which is not version 8, but is somehow version .2? Regarding this, there is an odd note hidden in the site answerbase which helps clear up the rather deceptive pdf included for setting up Logic....

""In order to improve the ReMOTE SLs Automap capabilities, the Logic automap and Cubase Automap templates have been combined into one 'Universal Automap' template that you will find in you SL having run the latest installer.
The automap functionality of both applications will not be effected by this, however we have chosen to use the second USB port ('Port 2' on a Mac, or 'ReMOTE SL MIDI [2]' on a PC) for all automap communications, so if you were using the old automap templates then you need to make sure that the input and output port for the control surface are set appropriately.""

OK, so this new universal automap works better for me, well, once I determined what the "latest" software was, and,.. found the obscure note. Now, the "Logic" automap is still there, but you're not supposed to use it?

Please, could one of you talented people out there apply for a Product Management position at Novation?

G5 QuadPPC2.5, Ram:12.5g, Magma PCIe-PCI expansion Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2X Hammerfall DSP Digiface+Multiface, Digi 002r, 4X UAD-1

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Answer 5

lhundrup

Level 1

30 points

Nov 26, 2006 1:07 AM in response to David Albracht

David.

I just tried installing the latest software for the Novation Remote sl and I've gotten significantly LESS success than you. Have you gotten any further?

I have:
installed v8 of software
Done the control surfaces setup thing which worked
REmote says it is running 2.0.2
Once when I loaded Logic the Ableton template loaded on the Remote.
I manually scrolled to the Universal Automap #39
nothing
I go to "Play" (center vertical row of buttons on Remote) and there is no display except for "Universal Automap in top left corner

I cannot , as the instructions for using the logic automap say, scroll between Mixer mode and Inst mode using top left arrow buttons.

Any one else get me a little further?

Best

Robyn

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Answer 6

Nov 26, 2006 10:03 PM in response to lhundrup

Many thanks to all for the responses above... They have been very helpful.

Regarding rtraill's post...

I also installed v8 of the software downloaded from the webpage (on the product updates page). I have the ZeRO SL (without the keyboard).

I also did the control surfaces setup and it worked... finally.

You said that your REmote says it is running 2.0.2. Mine says that it is running 1.0.14 when I push the global button on the SL. Does that mean that v8 is not 1.0.14? Does 2.0.2 refer to something else? Could it be that the v8 for the ZeRO is different from yours? This is very confusing to me...

When I loaded Logic for the first time, the first template on the SL to show up was #1 (from what I recall). I do not have Ableton. I scrolled through the templates to Logic 7, but it did not respond in any way. I stumbled onto the Universal Template which works fine with Logic.

Once you are in the Universal Automap, you should notice that the first 8 tracks in Logic have a colored highlighted strip on the far left of the track (left of the track numbers). Once you see the Universal template, then push on the scroll buttons on the right side on your SL (the two up-down buttons in the far upper right corner). You should begin to see track names from Logic show up on the SL. And yes, the left sided scroll buttons selects instruments, and the SL does a great job of automapping to the instruments as well.

I wish that I could remember every single step that I took to get to get this thing working... The only difference I see between what you have written and what I did is that my ReMOTE says that it is running 1.0.14 instead of 2.0.2.

Let me know how things are going.

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Answer 7

lhundrup

Level 1

30 points

Nov 27, 2006 3:00 PM in response to David Albracht

I got it finally.

I simply deleted the Remote icon in control surfaces setup and rescanned.

The only thing that happened differently this time was that when the icon appeared it was already set to Port 2 for in and out.

Then it basically started to work. Now there are Atmosphere, Stylus RMX and Exs24 files to install from the web site

Thanks a ton for your help

Robyn

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