For those who can't find the serum.cfg file, it has been replaced by SerumPrefs.json (for build 1.341). Steve from Xfer did this because it's a json file format, and this way older versions of Serum won't lose their settings. All you need to do is; "Enable CCForRockers": 0, change the 0 to 1 "CCForRocker Preset +": -1, "CCForRocker Preset -": -1, change the -1 to the CC numbers that you want for decrement/increment.
I don't understand why this feature is missing on every plugin? why they make the most basic and useful function so difficult or inexistent? I don't get it.. years pass and it still missing
Dear Mac Users, here's the path you need. FYI, it was in the manual the whole time. Imagine that. ~/Library/Preferences/Serum.cfg ~/Library/Preferences/SerumPrefs.json
Hi guys, in addition of editing your Serum preference file, some actions are required in Ableton Live : - In Ableton Live preferences: MIDI settings > MIDI PORTS > "Track In" should be enabled for the controller you want to control Serum with - In Track settings: --- MIDI From > Select the input of the controller you want to control Serum with (or "All Ins") --- MIDI From > Select the channel used by the controller you want to control Serum with (or "All channels") - Arm track - Display Serum GUI - Now you can push your button/pad and it will change preset:) Wait! What if the controller you want to control Serum with is not the same you want to play MIDI notes with ? Glad you asked. I found 2 solutions : - 1st - You can set Track MIDI From to "All Ins" and select the Channel your MIDI notes are coming from. Considering Serum is listening on all channels for the CC you defined in preference file, it will work. Main disadvantage of this technique is that in track settings, the MIDI channel becomes the only thing you can use to define what MIDI instrument to get MIDI notes from. - 2nd - You can keep Track MIDI From to "Your MIDI instrument generating the notes" and select it's channel, just as usual. Then you can drop Max4Live device "MIDI Router" to same track and use it to route messages from the controller you want to control Serum with to Serum plugin itself ! Main advantage is that you can keep fine grained controlled on track settings. Note that in Serum preference file, no CC Channel is defined, meaning it will listen to all channels. The same CC message controls all Serum instances whose GUI is "displayed" (even non-selected tracks).
Do the CCs/notes have to been on Channel 1? I have my utility midi controller (Launch control XL) outputting on channel 14 for example, to avoid conflicts with my apc40. Can you specify channel??
Any idea on how i can see the CC of any controller? i have a novation Launchkey MkII and a Presonus Atoms SQ i tryed a soft called midiview but it's the same as Studio One builtin midi viewer, tho the values might be in front of me but i'm unsure wich one i have to add to the SerumPrefs.json
Hey Jinba nice find if you get a minute, I'm on a Mac, have loaded the serum.cfg file, I can midi learn with my controller but I dont have all the code you have, mine ends on [0] (0) reserved ... then the path for presets. I tried adding those lines of code with my CC N#s, no go. If you happen to know or can point me in the direction, would be awesome. Thanks man !!!
My midi controller has an interface that will tell me the number. Otherwise you can either look in your instruction manual. Better yet you can map a parameter in your DAW and check the midi input settings to see what's getting triggered. In Ableton for example, in will tell you the CC values in the mapping menu
What would be you preference config in ableton? I just can't make it work with my Nektar Imact. I know what CC control it is sending, but it won't change preset in Serum. This has taking me some time during this Quarantine and I would love to finally have it work :D Thanks for the Video
Hmm make sure that the midi controller is on in the preference tab. Try disabling the controller surface or at least have the Nektar send midi data and not controller surface data
There's an arrow on your vst device. So there's an on off button, arrow and pop up on the device menu. Click the arrow and all the possible parameters will show up. From there you can mail anything present on the menu
Thanks for the video, but I can't seem to get this working. I tried on my MidiMix, which sends note messages from the buttons, but that just plays notes when I have it armed in ableton and does nothing if I unarm. This was what I put in my CFG; [2] enable/disable this section (1 for CC, 2 for NOTES) [37][40] (increment / decrement CC for Preset Changes) I tried using a different controller with CCs instead and I can get them to assign directly to controls in ableton, but can't get them to do the preset changing on serum. Seems like midi learn works but can't use that with preset selection of course, Hmm! Anyone had the same?
Are the correct note values put in properly? You can figure out the send notes in the midi mapping section of Ableton. Confirm that. Also note values are different from cc. You'll need to specify that in the CFG
@@jinba8352 yeah I don't think Ableton shows midi notes as their actual numbers in midi mapping. I'm guessing I need to translate to it's actual number (0-127) So I tested out which midi note the midimix was sending by mapping a random device button to each button and got; Note C#-2 which I think should be [37] Note E-2 which I think should be [40] Anyway I tried with using CCs as well but wasn't working for me. I did change the (1 for CC, 2 for NOTES) bit too. It's not super important tbf, it was just bugging me that I couldn't work it out :)
@@CeeD33Bee my other suggestion would be to check the instructions manual to make sure the correct cc or note values are correct. On my xone k2, every time I change the controller page, the entire note values change for every button.
@@jinba8352 I will take a look cheers. I'm still trying to work out how it handles midi channel, does it just take a CC or note on any channel? Or is that dependent on which you have armed on the midi track in Ableton?
@@CeeD33Bee Yes. I believe if you have it armed in Ableton for midi notes it won't work. I just remembered this. It's the reason why I used cc values over note values
Nice, the only thing is that it only works when the serum window is open, if i close the serum window, the CCs stop changing the presets. Is this happening to you too?
@@jinba8352 Im sending cc from a max4live device, that is mapped to an external midi controller. Its good to know that this is not a normal behavior, i will try sending cc directly from the controller to see if it works properly. Thanks for your answer!
@@lukas_wb serum.cfg is not on mac you must find ~/Library/Preferences/SerumPrefs.json mine however was under ~/hard_ drive_name/Users/user_name/Library/Preferences/SerumPrefs.json (hard_drive_name = the name of your harddrive) and (user_name = the name of the user)
@@jinba8352 which one? Also I have tried to set those values, like you did in the video and it didnt work, then Ive put my CC number it was 47 and 48 and It havent fixed the problem also. Am I doing sth wrong?
nice but no. Plugins manufactures need to make preset selection more easy... For EVERY PLUGIN!!! refuse to make programmers work for each and every plug
For those who can't find the serum.cfg file, it has been replaced by SerumPrefs.json (for build 1.341). Steve from Xfer did this because it's a json file format, and this way older versions of Serum won't lose their settings.
All you need to do is;
"Enable CCForRockers": 0, change the 0 to 1
"CCForRocker Preset +": -1,
"CCForRocker Preset -": -1, change the -1 to the CC numbers that you want for decrement/increment.
Awesome thanks man
Thank you So much Jinba for this, And Roy for update, I will remembering you guys while changing cc's on stage
i can do this with any midi controller? I have a M Audio Oxygen 25
Thanks for this info but still can't make it work. OS Monterey / M Audio Oxygen 49
Just perfect! Thanks!
I don't understand why this feature is missing on every plugin? why they make the most basic and useful function so difficult or inexistent? I don't get it.. years pass and it still missing
How convenient! I'm mapping the exact same MIDI controller as the one you are using in the video. Thank you for the video.
It's 2023, been using serum for years and just discovered your video. THANK YOU SO MUCH !
Dear Mac Users, here's the path you need. FYI, it was in the manual the whole time. Imagine that.
~/Library/Preferences/Serum.cfg
~/Library/Preferences/SerumPrefs.json
Thanks guys. I'm really glad I was able to help out as this was tedious to find haha
Hey guys ... any idea how to do the same exact thing with the Arcade presets? Or like any other VST plugin? This is extremely convenient!
Hi guys, in addition of editing your Serum preference file, some actions are required in Ableton Live :
- In Ableton Live preferences: MIDI settings > MIDI PORTS > "Track In" should be enabled for the controller you want to control Serum with
- In Track settings:
--- MIDI From > Select the input of the controller you want to control Serum with (or "All Ins")
--- MIDI From > Select the channel used by the controller you want to control Serum with (or "All channels")
- Arm track
- Display Serum GUI
- Now you can push your button/pad and it will change preset:)
Wait! What if the controller you want to control Serum with is not the same you want to play MIDI notes with ?
Glad you asked. I found 2 solutions :
- 1st - You can set Track MIDI From to "All Ins" and select the Channel your MIDI notes are coming from. Considering Serum is listening on all channels for the CC you defined in preference file, it will work.
Main disadvantage of this technique is that in track settings, the MIDI channel becomes the only thing you can use to define what MIDI instrument to get MIDI notes from.
- 2nd - You can keep Track MIDI From to "Your MIDI instrument generating the notes" and select it's channel, just as usual. Then you can drop Max4Live device "MIDI Router" to same track and use it to route messages from the controller you want to control Serum with to Serum plugin itself ! Main advantage is that you can keep fine grained controlled on track settings.
Note that in Serum preference file, no CC Channel is defined, meaning it will listen to all channels. The same CC message controls all Serum instances whose GUI is "displayed" (even non-selected tracks).
I was craving for this option on a performance and sound design situation, i will try it. Thank you
Thank you so much! saved a lot of time
Really cool. THX
Do the CCs/notes have to been on Channel 1? I have my utility midi controller (Launch control XL) outputting on channel 14 for example, to avoid conflicts with my apc40.
Can you specify channel??
Any idea on how i can see the CC of any controller? i have a novation Launchkey MkII and a Presonus Atoms SQ i tryed a soft called midiview but it's the same as Studio One builtin midi viewer, tho the values might be in front of me but i'm unsure wich one i have to add to the SerumPrefs.json
man this is cool but I have no idea how to do it on MAC can someone please help
thank you!!
This is the reason I bought my LaunchControl. Scrolling through and testing macros in Serum was awful. I'm so happy :-) THANK YOU!
Glad to help
its 2024! trying to find the serumcfg on a macosx but i cant seem to find it. any tips on this?
Can't seem to make it work. Using m-audio keystation 49 and the arrow buttons show as ''Note d6" for the left one and ''Note D#6" for the right one
Is there a way to just map it to an ableton group macro instead? I’d pay to have that feature
Works like a charm! Even with an Akai MPK Mini.. ;-)
does it work in Windows? I can't find this patch in my pc
@Jinba8352 do you know if you can map it rotary knob?
Not able to get it to work o my APC unfortunately. Thank you very much for the video!
mazing bro thx
how do I know what CC my button is?
Hey Jinba nice find if you get a minute, I'm on a Mac, have loaded the serum.cfg file, I can midi learn with my controller but I dont have all the code you have, mine ends on
[0] (0) reserved
... then the path for presets.
I tried adding those lines of code with my CC N#s, no go. If you happen to know or can point me in the direction, would be awesome. Thanks man !!!
hey there im on Mac to where did you find the cfg file
how do i know what cc numbers the knobs/sliders of my midi controller triggers?
My midi controller has an interface that will tell me the number. Otherwise you can either look in your instruction manual. Better yet you can map a parameter in your DAW and check the midi input settings to see what's getting triggered. In Ableton for example, in will tell you the CC values in the mapping menu
@@jinba8352 intresting!
this is on windows. on mac i do not find a serum.cfg.
What would be you preference config in ableton?
I just can't make it work with my Nektar Imact. I know what CC control it is sending, but it won't change preset in Serum. This has taking me some time during this Quarantine and I would love to finally have it work :D
Thanks for the Video
Hmm make sure that the midi controller is on in the preference tab. Try disabling the controller surface or at least have the Nektar send midi data and not controller surface data
any other synths that allow this let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks
Make more videos on your experimentations with mappings
This is great and it works, thank you. Can you please explain how to do that thing you mention at 0:39?
There's an arrow on your vst device. So there's an on off button, arrow and pop up on the device menu. Click the arrow and all the possible parameters will show up. From there you can mail anything present on the menu
@@jinba8352 great, thank you.
Is there a way to make it so I don't have to load the midi map every time I change the preset?
save your midi map with the name default
None of this appears on 5.5.2 :(
Thanks for the video, but I can't seem to get this working. I tried on my MidiMix, which sends note messages from the buttons, but that just plays notes when I have it armed in ableton and does nothing if I unarm.
This was what I put in my CFG;
[2] enable/disable this section (1 for CC, 2 for NOTES)
[37][40] (increment / decrement CC for Preset Changes)
I tried using a different controller with CCs instead and I can get them to assign directly to controls in ableton, but can't get them to do the preset changing on serum. Seems like midi learn works but can't use that with preset selection of course, Hmm! Anyone had the same?
Are the correct note values put in properly? You can figure out the send notes in the midi mapping section of Ableton. Confirm that. Also note values are different from cc. You'll need to specify that in the CFG
@@jinba8352 yeah I don't think Ableton shows midi notes as their actual numbers in midi mapping. I'm guessing I need to translate to it's actual number (0-127)
So I tested out which midi note the midimix was sending by mapping a random device button to each button and got;
Note C#-2 which I think should be [37]
Note E-2 which I think should be [40]
Anyway I tried with using CCs as well but wasn't working for me. I did change the (1 for CC, 2 for NOTES) bit too.
It's not super important tbf, it was just bugging me that I couldn't work it out :)
@@CeeD33Bee my other suggestion would be to check the instructions manual to make sure the correct cc or note values are correct. On my xone k2, every time I change the controller page, the entire note values change for every button.
@@jinba8352 I will take a look cheers. I'm still trying to work out how it handles midi channel, does it just take a CC or note on any channel? Or is that dependent on which you have armed on the midi track in Ableton?
@@CeeD33Bee Yes. I believe if you have it armed in Ableton for midi notes it won't work. I just remembered this. It's the reason why I used cc values over note values
Nice, the only thing is that it only works when the serum window is open, if i close the serum window, the CCs stop changing the presets. Is this happening to you too?
It shouldn't. Are you changing the cc on a midi controller or on keyboard?
@@jinba8352 Im sending cc from a max4live device, that is mapped to an external midi controller. Its good to know that this is not a normal behavior, i will try sending cc directly from the controller to see if it works properly. Thanks for your answer!
@@pabliaav Yea hopefully it works. I'm not to versed in max unfortunately
can't find serum.cfg on my mac ?
same here ._.
@@lukas_wb serum.cfg is not on mac you must find ~/Library/Preferences/SerumPrefs.json mine however was under
~/hard_ drive_name/Users/user_name/Library/Preferences/SerumPrefs.json
(hard_drive_name = the name of your harddrive) and (user_name = the name of the user)
I emailed steve on this years ago and the response was "just use midi CC", id been producing for...3 weeks haha
Can I do it also with filters?
Yes. Filter mapping is easy. You can permanently map it to a CC value and have it be there permanently. Theres an option in the drop down menu
@@jinba8352 which one? Also I have tried to set those values, like you did in the video and it didnt work, then Ive put my CC number it was 47 and 48 and It havent fixed the problem also. Am I doing sth wrong?
nice but no. Plugins manufactures need to make preset selection more easy... For EVERY PLUGIN!!!
refuse to make programmers work for each and every plug