Omnisphere 3 Hardware Guide

Setting Up the PC4 SE

When using the Kurzweil PC4 SE to control Omnisphere, the knobs on the PC4 SE will be assigned to the following Omnisphere parameters:

  • Knob 1 (CC#14) – Global Controls Vibrato Depth
  • Knob 2 (CC#17) – Global Controls Unison
  • Knob 3 (CC#18) – Global Controls Limiter
  • Knob 4 (CC#03) – Global Controls Ambience Amount
  • Knob 5 (CC#09) – Global Controls Ambience Length
  • Slider 1 (CC#24) – Global Controls Cutoff
  • Slider 2 (CC#25) – Global Controls Filter Envelope Amount
  • Slider 3 (CC#26) – Global Controls Amp and Filter Envelope Attack
  • Slider 4 (CC#27) – Global Controls Amp and Filter Envelope Release
  • Slider 5 (CC#28) – Global Controls Glide

Although Omnisphere relies on certain default factory settings of the PC4 SE, it is necessary to go through a short setup process to ensure the best experience. There are many ways for the PC4 SE to control external gear, but we recommend following the steps below to get you started controlling Omnisphere.

Setup

To control Omnisphere using the PC4 SE, you’ll need to do the following:

  1. Connect the PC4 SE to your computer via USB.
  2. Set up the PC4 SE to control Omnisphere.
  3. Enable the PC4 SE as a MIDI input device in the host software you’re using (DAW, Standalone, etc.).
  4. Activate the PC4 SE Hardware Profile in Omnisphere 3 or later.

PC4 SE SETUP

The PC4 SE is primarily designed to control its internal sounds, so we’ll guide you through the process to modify the “PC4 SE Control” Multi template that will be used to control Omnisphere.

First, enable Multi Mode on the PC4 SE and load the Multi template:

  • Press the [MULTI] button and then load Multi #2046 “PC4 SE Control.”

Next, load an empty Zone that will be used to send MIDI to Omnisphere:

  • Go to the “Overview” page, press [EDIT], and change set the program for Zone 1 to “0 None.”

Now, configure the PC4 SE to send MIDI via USB:

  • Select the “Main” page and set the “Destination” to “USB” and switch “EntryProgChng” to “OFF.”

NOTE: By default, selecting a Zone on the PC4 SE will send a MIDI Program Change message. This is useful if you’d like to MIDI Program Learn a specific Patch or Multi within Omnisphere to load when you select the Zone. If you’d like to use this feature then you can set “EntryProgChng” to “ON.”

Next, activate MIDI CC Mode for all nine knobs on the PC4 SE:

  • Select the “Controls” page, then scroll through and select each of the nine knobs one at a time to make sure “MODE” is set to “MIDI CC.” While you’re enabling MIDI CC mode for each knob, make sure the “Destination” of each knob is set to the MIDI CC#s listed at the top of the page.
  • Lastly, press [SAVE] and name this Multi on the PC4 SE so you can load this Multi whenever you’d like to control Omnisphere.

HOST CONNECTION

  • Open your host (DAW, Standalone, etc.) and make sure the PC4 SE 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 “Kurzweil > Kurzweil PC4 SE” to activate the PC4 SE hardware profile.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Not working? Here are some things to try:

  • Is your DAW receiving MIDI from the PC4 SE?
  • Make sure your DAW is configured to correctly route the MIDI output of the PC4 SE 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 Zone 1 on the PC4 SE matches the MIDI channel of the Omnisphere Part you want to control.

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