Before you get started, always make sure that you have the latest version of the software/plugin you want to use with the SFC-8. You might also need to update the controller firmware to unlock features. I am always striving to add support to new plugins and improve integration. The manual will specify firmware versions needed when relevant.
You can find the firmware update tutorial and files in the manual.
The controller sends CC MIDI messages to take control of the synth parameters. Therefore the plugin needs the right MIDI mapping and MIDI needs to be routed to the plugin's track. There is no magic connection between the controller and plugins, the MIDI needs to be routed like any other MIDI devices.
Every plugin has a specific MIDI mapping system, please refer to the later sections for plugin-specific instructions. If the plugin you would like to use is not listed, please refer to the plugin user manual.
The MIDI mapping is the connection between a pot or switch on the MIDI controller and a plugin control, it is the assignment of a MIDI CC number to the plugin UI element.
That connection is made within the plugin MIDI mapping system and it is saved within the plugin memory. After the initial mapping is done, the MIDI mapping will always be recalled when a new plugin instance is created.
Some plugins may have a MIDI mapping preset system, where users can save and load different MIDI mappings easily. Some others may have only 1 unique MIDI mapping available at the same time. Some MIDI maps can also be fixed in which case the controller needs to comply to that fixed map.
In the MIDI controller memory, only the channel and CC numbers for each physical control are saved and those CC numbers can be changed in the control panel.
The controller front panel layout was designed to fit as many Jupiter 8 style plugins as possible. There are differences between plugin interfaces (specifically the amount of positions in certain switches) and plugin MIDI implementations (CC messages values and other requirements). For those reasons, the plugin modes are needed to make the controller working as well as possible with all Jupiter-8 plugins.
The plugin mode is saved in the SFC-8 memory in 1 of the 4 available configuration slots together with the CC values for each control and the MIDI channel(s). To save and load configuration see the control panel page.
The SFC-8 firmware V1.9 supports the following plugins modes: