Omnisphere 3 Hardware Guide

Setting up the MPK Mini mk3

When using the Akai MPK Mini mk3 to control Omnisphere, the knobs and drum pads on the MPK Mini mk3 are assigned to the following Omnisphere parameters:

  • Knob 1 (CC#70) – Global Controls Cutoff
  • Knob 2 (CC#71) – Global Controls Resonance
  • Knob 3 (CC#72) – Global Controls Filter Envelope Amount
  • Knob 4 (CC#73) – Global Controls Vibrato Depth
  • Knob 5 (CC#74) – Global Controls Ambience Amount
  • Knob 6 (CC#75) – Global Controls Ambience Length
  • Knob 7 (CC#76) – Global Controls Unison
  • Knob 8 (CC#77) – Global Controls Glide

Bank A:

  • Pad 5 (CC#20) – Browser Down / Next Patch
  • Pad 6 (CC#21) – Browser Up / Previous Patch

Setup

To control Omnisphere using the MPK Mini mk3, you’ll need to do the following:

  1. Connect the MPK Mini mk3 to your computer via USB.
  2. Set up the MPK Mini mk3 to control Omnisphere.
  3. Enable the MPK Mini mk3 as a MIDI input device in the host software you’re using (DAW, Standalone, etc.).
  4. Activate the MPK Mini mk3 Hardware Profile in Omnisphere 3 or later.

MPK MINI MK3 SETUP

Omnisphere relies on the default settings of the first Program, named “PGM: MPC,” on the MPK Mini mk3 for external control.

  • Typically, this Program should load by default when the MPK Mini mk3 is turned ON.
  • If needed, you can quickly activate the “PGM: MPC” Program by holding down the [PROG SELECT] button and then press Pad 1.
  • If you’d like to remotely browse Omnisphere’s Patches from the MPK Mini mk3, simply press the [CC] Button at the bottom left corner of the MPK Mini mk3 and make sure the Pads are set to Bank A. While the [CC] button is active, Pad 5 can be used for Browser Down / Next Patch and Pad 6 for Browser Up / Previous Patch.

HOST CONNECTION

  • Open your host (DAW, Standalone, etc.) and make sure the MPK Mini mk3 is enabled as a MIDI input device.

OMNISPHERE SETUP

  • Open Omnisphere and from the header, select the HW menu button.
  • From the drop-down menu, select “Akai > Akai MPK Mini mk3” to activate the MPK Mini mk3 hardware profile.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Not working? Here are some things to try:

  • Is your DAW receiving MIDI from the MPK Mini mk3?
  • Make sure your DAW is configured to correctly route the MIDI output of the MPK Mini mk3 to the MIDI channel assigned to the desired part in Omnisphere.
  • If you are using the Omnisphere standalone host, make sure the MIDI output channel of the MPK Mini mk3 matches the MIDI channel of the Omnisphere Part you want to control.
  • Are the MPK Mini mk3 knobs and pads sending the correct MIDI CC messages? A simple way to check this is by using MIDI Monitor by Snoize or recording knob movement in your DAW. See the list at the top of the page for the correct MIDI CC#s.

NOTE: If you need to change the MIDI CC#s of the knobs back to their default settings, you’ll need use the Akai MPK Mini mk3 Editor application.

SUPPORT

Still not working? More questions?

Feel free to contact us directly and we can work with you:

Tech Support
888-870-4223 toll free
818-955-8444
Monday – Friday 10AM – 5PM Pacific Time

email: info@spectrasonics.net