User manual

nOb Assignment Center: Version 0.5.0 - English

www.nobcontrol.com - [email protected]
Dionysios Marinos - NOB CONTROL SOLUTIONS – Louki Akrita 11, 15126, Marousi, Greece

Copyright © 2015-2023 Dionysios Marinos - NOB CONTROL SOLUTIONS

Table of contents
Table of contents 2
Introduction 4
Requirements 6
Getting started 7
On Windows systems 7
On Mac systems 9
Using nAc 13
Control Options 15
nOb’s Sensitivity 15
Control Mode 15
Cursor controller 15
1 Direction 16
2 Cursor behaviour 17
3 Primary mouse button 17
4 Control modifier 17
Scroll wheel controller 18
1 Direction 18
2 Scrolling behaviour 19
3 Control modifier 19
Master volume controller 19
Key press controller 20
1 CCW Turn 20
2 CW Turn 20
Control Options Management 21
Keyboard Activation 22
MIDI Activation 23
OSC Activation 24
The tray icon 29
Profile Management & Activation 31
Quick Assignments 39
Setting up an assignment 41
Activating an assignment 42
Deleting an assignment 43
Advanced Quick Assignment features 44
Super quick assignment 44

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 Keyboard arrow navigation 44
Sharing assignments between instances of the same program or plug-in 44
MIDI/OSC Assignments 47
MIDI/OSC Control Configuration 50
Control Signals 52
MIDI Control 53
Open Sound Control 54
Control values 54
Absolute values 54
Relative values 56
Soloing control signals 57
Hotkey Dialog 58
Keyboard Hotkey 59
MIDI Hotkey 61
OSC Hotkey 62
Troubleshooting 63

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Introduction
nOb Assignment Center, also known as nAc, is a piece of software designed to enhance the
overall user experience of nOb. nAc introduces new control features to your nOb device and
offers numerous workflow improvements. This allows you to work with greater efficiency without
sacrificing precision or disrupting your current working style.
Some of the features that come with nAc include:
● The ability to choose between several control modes.
● The ability to customize options for each control mode, such as direction and sensitivity.
● The ability to organize your control settings into profiles that can be switched on-the-fly.
In addition to the aforementioned features, nAc introduces significant workflow improvements
through Quick Assignments. Quick Assignments provide a convenient method to set up control
assignments. By hovering your mouse cursor over any on-screen element and pressing a
preferred hotkey, nAc will associate your current configuration with the element and save it as a
control assignment. Once set up, you can activate the assignment at any time simply by
pressing the corresponding activation hotkey. This allows you to take immediate control of the
parameter without having to adjust your current nOb settings or manually position your mouse
cursor. Quick Assignments offer simplicity, yet they provide remarkable sophistication and
versatility. For the first time, it becomes possible to efficiently control complex user interfaces
across multiple applications using a single high-precision knob controller.
Quick Assignments offer a range of features, including:
● The ability to create individual control assignments for any available nOb control mode,
such as horizontal drags, vertical drags, vertical scrolling, horizontal scrolling, controlling
via key presses, master volume control, and more.
● The flexibility to set the sensitivity for each nOb assignment individually.
● Individual undos/redos for each assignment.
● Unlimited number of assignments across multiple windows, applications, desktops, and
screens. Activating an assignment prompts nAc to restore the corresponding window,
bringing the parameter into view for easy control.
● Customizable hotkeys for saving and activating control assignments that do not interfere
with your current application's shortcuts. nAc's hotkeys can be configured to work only
when you interact with nOb's big knob or toggle switches..
● The ability to navigate to any assigned parameter in your current application using the
arrow keys on your keyboard.
● Assignment sharing capability between different instances of the same application or
audio plug-in, allowing you to utilize your assignments across various projects and
sessions.

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In addition to Quick Assignments, nAc provides the capability to create highly customizable
MIDI and Open Sound Control assignment configurations, which can be activated using custom
hotkeys. These configurations greatly enhance nOb's connectivity, enabling control over
parameters not only within software running on the same computer as nAc but also over
external MIDI devices and other parameters across different systems within a local network.
MIDI/OSC assignment configurations provide a range of features, including:
● The capability to control multiple parameters simultaneously across different
devices/systems using various protocols.
● Support for 7-bit MIDI, 14-bit MIDI, and 32-bit OSC control signaling.
● The option to send either absolute control values or relative changes to the target
parameters.
● The ability to adjust the number of knob turns required to cover the entire control range
of the configuration, allowing for fine-grained or rapid parameter control setups.
● Custom curve creation to map the rotation of the knob to specific absolute control signal
values.
nAc allows for the organization of settings and assignments into profiles, providing a significant
boost in efficiency when working with various software applications and audio/video plugins.
Each profile can be activated using custom hotkeys and contains its own default control
configuration. Furthermore, profiles offer optional alternative control options that can be
temporarily activated through methods like holding keyboard modifiers or toggling with custom
hotkeys. Additionally, a profile can be set to activate automatically when a specific window
comes into focus. Users can create unlimited profiles and assignment configurations within each
profile, ensuring extensive flexibility and versatility.
To learn about nAc's requirements and how to get started, please proceed to the next section.

DISCLAIMER:
By default, nOb and nAc function by assuming control over your mouse cursor. Dionysios
Marinos - NOB CONTROL SOLUTIONS holds no responsibility for any damages or data loss
that may occur due to the improper use of the device. Users are advised to utilize nOb and nAc
strictly for controlling parameters in media authoring software and compatible devices. Any
usage of nOb or nAc outside of a media authoring environment is solely at the user's own risk.

Copyright © 2015-2023 Dionysios Marinos - NOB CONTROL SOLUTIONS 5

Requirements
nAc v0.4 requires a nOb controller (Model 001 or higher) and is compatible with the following
operating systems:
● Microsoft® Windows® 8.1 64-bit (and later)
● Apple® macOS® v10.11 64-bit (and newer)
You can safely run nAc in the background, even when your nOb is not in use, as its minimal
CPU usage will not negatively impact your system's performance.

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Getting started
To properly start nAc, please carefully read the instructions corresponding to your specific
system.

On Windows systems
nAc is provided as a portable release for Windows, requiring no special installation process. To
get started, simply download the ZIP file and extract its contents to a folder of your choice.
Inside the extracted folder, you will find nAc's icon. Double-click on the icon to launch the
application.

After launching nAc, it is recommended to update your nOb's firmware by following the
instructions below if you have not done so previously or if you have been using a version older
than 0.5.0. While updating the firmware is not critical, it will enhance stability and performance.
The firmware update only needs to be performed once, but there is no harm in accidentally
updating it again.
Here is how you can update your device's firmware:
1. Locate the nAc's white tray icon, which resembles the application's golden icon.

2. Hover your mouse cursor over the tray icon to receive information on whether your nOb
has been successfully connected to nAc.

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 3. If your nOb is reported as connected, right-click on the tray icon.From the context menu,
select "Update firmware...".

4. nAc's main window will become active, and the firmware update process will begin
automatically. Please ensure that you do not unplug your device or shut down your
computer during this process.

5. Once the firmware update is complete, a notification will appear to indicate the
successful update.

6. To finalize the process, please unplug your device and plug it back in again.
If, for any reason, the firmware update process fails, simply unplug your device from the
computer and plug it back in again. Afterward, you can proceed to repeat the firmware update
process as described earlier.

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To set nAc to start automatically when you log into your desktop, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on nAc's application icon and select "Create shortcut" to create a shortcut for
nAc.
2. Press the Windows logo key + R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type "shell:startup" in the Run dialog box and click OK. This will open the Startup folder.
4. Copy the previously created shortcut for nAc.
5. Paste the shortcut into the Startup folder.

On Mac systems
For Mac systems, nAc is provided as a DMG file. To begin, double-click the DMG file, which will
open a window displaying the nAc application and your Applications folder.

To install nAc on your Mac system, simply drag the nAc icon into your Applications folder. If you
already have another version of nAc installed, it is strongly advised to replace the old version
with the new one.

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After copying nAc to your Applications, it is crucial to add it to the list of applications with
accessibility rights. To do this, open your System Settings, then go to Privacy & Security. Then,
navigate to the Accessibility options. Next, click the plus button at the bottom and choose nAc
from your Applications folder to add it to the list.

IMPORTANT: If you have previously added nAc to the Accessibility list from another installation,
it is important to remove it first using the minus button before adding the new one. This step is
also recommended if you encounter difficulties launching nAc after a macOS update.
After successfully adding nAc to the list of apps allowed to control your computer, you can start
nAc by locating and launching it from your Applications folder.
After starting nAc, it is recommended to update your nOb's firmware if you haven't done so
before or if you have been using a version older than 0.5.0. The firmware update is a one-time
process and, while not critical, it can contribute to improved stability and performance.
Accidentally updating the firmware again will not cause any harm.

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To update your device's firmware, follow these steps:
1. Locate nAc's tray icon, which resembles the application's golden icon.

2. Hover your mouse cursor over the tray icon to check if your nOb is successfully
connected to nAc.

3. If your nOb is reported as connected, click on the tray icon. From the options displayed,
select "Update firmware..."

4. nAc's main window will come into focus, and the firmware updating process will start
automatically. It is important not to unplug your device or shut down your computer
during this process to ensure a successful update.

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 5. Once the firmware update is completed, a corresponding notification will appear.

6. To complete the process, please unplug your device and then plug it in again.
If, for any reason, the update process fails, please try unplugging your device and plugging it
back in to repeat the process.
To make nAc start automatically every time you boot into your Mac, you can open the 'Users &
Groups' settings of your system, navigate to the 'Login Items' section, and add nAc to the list of
items that will open automatically when you log in.

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Using nAc
The first time you start the application, nAc's window will appear in the center of your main
screen. Additionally, a tray icon will be displayed on your OS's Taskbar (Windows) or menu bar
(Mac). If you click on the close button of the main window, nAc will not be terminated but only
hidden. It will continue running in the background and can be accessed through its tray icon.

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nAc's main window is divided into 7 main areas:
1. Arrow button on the top left: Click to reveal or hide the list of available profiles.
2. Active Profile: Displays the name of the currently active profile.
3. Activation Settings: Allows you to configure how the current profile gets activated.
4. Control Options Management: Manages the different control configurations available
within the current profile.
5. Current Control Options: Displays and enables changes to the active profile's control
configuration.
6. Quick Assignments: Area dedicated to Quick Assignments.
7. MIDI/OSC Assignments: Area dedicated to MIDI/OSC Assignments.

Sections 1, 2, and 3 will be discussed in detail in the chapter Profile Management & Activation.
Section 4, which focuses on managing different control configurations within a profile, will have
its own dedicated chapter called Control Options Management.
Section 5 displays the currently active control options and will be covered extensively in the
chapter titled Control Options.
Area 6, dedicated to Quick Assignments, will also have its own chapter: Quick Assignments.
Lastly, the chapter titled MIDI/OSC Assignments is dedicated to area 7.

Please keep in mind that settings are automatically saved to disk, eliminating the need for
manual saving when making changes.
These settings are saved individually for each user of the system. On Mac, the settings are
saved in “/Users/YourUserName/Library/Application Support/nac/”.
On Windows, nAc’s settings are saved in “C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\nAc”.
To access these settings, you may need to enable the display of hidden files in your file
explorer. On Mac, press "Cmd + Shift + ." in Finder, and on Windows, toggle the "View→Hidden
Items" option in File Explorer.

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Control Options
In this chapter, we will explore the available control options that define the behavior of your nOb
when you interact with it. Understanding these options will enable you to create more precise
control configurations tailored to the specific application you wish to control. By becoming
familiar with these options, you can make informed choices to optimize your control experience.

nOb’s Sensitivity
The sensitivity slider allows you to adjust the sensitivity of your nOb in your current control
configuration. Sliding it to the right increases the sensitivity, making your nOb more responsive.
Higher sensitivity enables faster manipulation of faders, sliders, and control elements, as well as
faster scrolling actions. It's important to note that the precision of control remains consistent
across all sensitivity settings.

Control Mode
You can utilize the control mode selector to choose the control mode for your nOb in the current
control configuration. There are four available control modes to select from:
1. Cursor controller
2. Scroll wheel controller
3. Master volume controller
4. Key press controller
In the following sections, you will find detailed information about each control mode and its
associated options. This will provide you with a better understanding of the functionality and
features of each mode.

Cursor controller

This control mode replicates the default operation of your nOb without running nAc. When you
turn the big knob, it directly controls your mouse cursor, enabling you to adjust on-screen
elements with precision. In this mode, nAc will actually click and drag elements on your screen,
like you would normally do, if you used your mouse. You have access to all the operation modes
available on your nOb via the toggle switches. This includes drag mode, stationary mode,
vertical or horizontal drag, etc.
Please refer to the nOb's user guide for more information on the available modes of operation.
You can find the user guide at: http://nobcontrol.com/userguide

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When the cursor controller is selected, the following options are available:
1. Direction
2. Cursor behaviour
3. Primary mouse button
4. Control modifier

1 Direction

The direction can be normally set by using the right toggle switch on your nOb controller.
However, with the direction option in nAc, you have the ability to override the toggle switch and
force a specific direction in the current control configuration.
Here you can find the following options:
a) Set by toggle switch: When this option is selected, the direction of dragging will be
determined by the toggle switch on your device.
b) Force vertical: With this option, the toggle switch will be ignored and all dragging will
occur along the vertical axis.
c) Force horizontal: With this option, the toggle switch will be ignored as well, and dragging
will only occur along the horizontal axis.
d) Force diagonal: With this option, the toggle switch will be ignored, and the mouse cursor
will drag on-screen elements diagonally. When the knob turns clockwise, the mouse
cursor will move upwards and to the right. When it turns counterclockwise, the cursor will
move downwards and to the left. This can act as a universal control direction, which
works well with both horizontal and vertical on-screen elements, so you don't have to
think about changing the direction depending on the parameter you want to control.
However, with this type of diagonal dragging, it is not guaranteed that the cursor will
remain over the parameter after you adjust it and let go of the knob. Therefore, you
might need to pay attention and hover your mouse cursor over the parameter again
before making any subsequent adjustments.

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2 Cursor behaviour

The cursor behavior determines how the cursor will behave after you make an adjustment and
release the knob. By default, the cursor behavior can be set using the left toggle switch on your
nOb. However, in nAc, you have the option to ignore the toggle switch and force the cursor to
behave in a specific way in the current control configuration.
Here the following options are available:
a) Set by toggle switch: When this option is selected, the behavior will be determined by the
left toggle switch on your device.
b) Force drag behaviour: With this option, the cursor will retain its last position after the
user releases the knob. This behavior is suitable for most faders/sliders and corresponds
to having the left toggle switch flipped down on your device (square indication).
c) Force stationary behaviour: With this option, the cursor will always snap back to its
original position before the adjustment once the user releases the knob. This is
particularly useful for virtual knobs that stay in place when turned. This behavior
corresponds to having the left toggle switch flipped up on your nOb (circular indication).

3 Primary mouse button

You can use the primary mouse button selector to choose the primary mouse button that will be
pressed when turning the knob to control an on-screen parameter. You have the following
options to select from: left mouse button, right mouse button, middle mouse button, or "no click"
if you prefer the cursor to only move without pressing any mouse button.
Selecting the primary mouse button is especially useful for left-handed system configurations,
where on-screen elements may require adjustments by pressing and holding the right mouse
button instead of the left. Additionally, this option can be used to control elements that are
typically dragged with the right or middle mouse button, even in right-handed configurations.

4 Control modifier

The control modifier option allows you to define a combination of modifier keys (Ctrl, Alt, Shift,
and Command on macOS) that will be virtually pressed by nAc when you start turning the knob
and released when you let go of it.
Using a modifier key can enhance precision when controlling specific knobs and faders in
certain applications.
To set the desired modifier key combination, click on the "Set modifier..." button. A dialog box
will appear, prompting you to press the desired key combination on your keyboard. You can click
on the modifier key again to modify the combination or click "Clear" to remove any previously
set modifier keys.

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Scroll wheel controller

In the scroll wheel controller mode, your nOb functions as a high-precision scroll wheel. You can
utilize the right toggle switch on your nOb to determine the scrolling direction, similar to the
cursor controller mode. Additionally, double-tapping on the big knob allows you to undo the last
scrolling action. Performing another double-tap will redo the scrolling action, mimicking the
expected behavior from nOb's default operation.

When the scroll wheel controller is selected, you have access to the following options:
1. Direction
2. Scrolling behaviour
3. Control modifier

1 Direction

With the direction option, you have control over how the scrolling direction is determined.
The following options are available:
a) Set by toggle switch: When this option is selected, the scrolling direction will be
determined by the position of the right toggle switch on your nOb. Flipping the switch up
will enable vertical scrolling, while flipping it down will enable horizontal scrolling. You
can also temporarily change the scrolling direction by touching the right toggle switch,
similar to how it is done in the cursor controller mode.
b) Force vertical: This option forces the scrolling to occur only in the vertical direction,
ignoring the right toggle switch.
c) Force horizontally: With this option, the right toggle switch will be ignored, and the
scrolling will occur exclusively in the horizontal direction.

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2 Scrolling behaviour

With the scrolling behavior selector, you can determine how scrolling will behave. There are two
options available:
a) Classic: In classic mode, turning the knob clockwise will result in scrolling the content in
a way that more of what is above (or to the right in the case of horizontal scrolling) is
revealed.
b) Natural: In natural mode, when you turn the knob clockwise, the content will scroll
downwards, revealing more of what is at the bottom. This mimics the natural way you
would scroll to read a document or a website. In the case of horizontal scrolling, turning
the knob clockwise will scroll the content from right to left, revealing more of what is on
the left side.

3 Control modifier

The control modifier option enables the user to set a combination of modifier keys such as Ctrl,
Alt, Shift, and Command on macOS. These keys will be virtually pressed by nAc as soon as the
user starts turning the knob to scroll and will be released after the user lets go of the knob.
Setting a modifier key is particularly useful when you navigate around arrangements and work
spaces in certain programs, where zooming and scrolling around can be done by holding a
modifier key while turning the scroll wheel.
In order to set the desired modifier key combination, click on the “Set modifier…” button. A
dialog will appear, prompting you to press the desired key combination on your keyboard.
Physically press the keys on your keyboard to set the modifier key combination. If you need to
change the combination, click on the button again to bring up the dialog. You can then set a new
modifier key combination or click "Clear" to remove any existing modifier keys.

Master volume controller

In this mode, you can directly control the volume of your main audio device/interface using your
nOb. The settings of the toggle switch are ignored in this mode. However, you can still use the
double-tap feature to undo or redo the last volume adjustment.

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Key press controller

In this mode, you can make nAc repeatedly press specific key combinations as you turn the
knob. The frequency of key presses will increase with the speed of knob rotation. The sensitivity
slider also affects the frequency of key presses.
If the specified key combination includes modifier keys (such as Ctrl, Alt, etc.), these modifier
keys will be pressed when you start turning the knob and released when you let go of the knob.

When the scroll wheel controller is selected, the following options are available:
1. CCW Turn
2. CW Turn

1 CCW Turn

Here, you can set the key combination to be repeatedly pressed when you turn the knob
counterclockwise. To set it, click on the "Set key press..." button and physically press the
desired key combination in the dialog that appears. To clear a previously set key combination,
click on "Clear" in the same dialog.

2 CW Turn

Here, you can set the key combination to be repeatedly pressed when you turn the knob
clockwise. To set it, click on the "Set key press..." button and physically press the desired key
combination in the dialog that appears. To clear a previously set key combination, click on
"Clear" in the same dialog.

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Control Options Management
Each nAc profile comes with a default set of control options that determine how your nOb will
behave when the corresponding profile is activated. These control options can be customized
according to your specific control needs for the application you want to use the profile with.
However, in many cases, your control needs may change while using an application. For
example, you may start by controlling knobs in cursor controller mode and then want to switch
to scroll wheel controller mode to scroll through content. Alternatively, you may be using a high
sensitivity value to control a parameter but then temporarily want to reduce the sensitivity for
more precise fine-tuning of the parameter.
nAc accommodates all these use cases by allowing you to add alternative sets of control
options to any profile. These alternative control options can be configured to be activated
through various methods. In the following sections, we will explore in detail how to add new
alternative control options and how to set up their activation methods.
To add a new set of alternative control options, click on the plus icon located on the right side of
the "Default control options" indicator.

A dialog will appear where you can optionally set an alias for the control options, making it
easier for you to remember their purpose. Additionally, in this dialog, you can specify the
activation method for these control options.

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The activation of alternative control options can be performed using your computer keyboard,
any connected MIDI keyboard, or through Open Sound Control buttons. In the following
sections, we will delve into each of these options in more detail.

Keyboard Activation
When selecting "Keyboard" activation, you have the option to determine whether these
alternative control options will be activated while holding a specific modifier combination on your
keyboard or if activation will be toggled with a keyboard hotkey.
To set a modifier combination, simply press the desired combination on your keyboard. The
combination will be displayed in the dialog.

Pro tip: When setting a modifier combination, in addition to using the standard keyboard
modifiers (Ctrl, Shift, Alt, Command), you can also touch nOb's left or right toggle switch or
press the fourth or fifth buttons (if available) on your mouse for more versatility. Touching the
toggle switches or holding a mouse button might be desired in your workflow, allowing you to
temporarily activate certain control options without reaching for your keyboard.
If you want to set up a hotkey for toggling the activation, you can select the "Toggle with hotkey"
option and physically press the desired hotkey on your keyboard. The pressed hotkey will
appear in the dialog.

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Pro tip: The hotkey can be set by holding any combination of modifiers and pressing a key. The
available modifiers for hotkeys include all your standard keyboard modifier keys, as well as
touching the knob or the left/right toggle switch or pressing the fourth or fifth mouse button (if
available). In addition to your keyboard keys, your standard mouse buttons (left, right or middle
mouse button) can be used as a hotkey when combined with modifiers that involve touches on
any of the nOb parts (knob, left or right toggle switch). For example, the following hotkey
combination is perfectly usable:

This way, you can toggle specific control options without having to reach for your keyboard. By
combining touches on your nOb controller with mouse button presses, you can set a significant
number of hotkeys. It's important to note that these mouse button presses will not conflict with
any running applications because nAc will consume the click events if it determines that they
are part of a set hotkey.

MIDI Activation
Similarly to the keyboard activation, the "MIDI" activation offers two options for how the
alternative control options will be activated. The first option activates the respective control
options when a specific MIDI key is held. The second option toggles the control options when a
specific MIDI key is pressed.
To set a MIDI key, regardless of the activation style, you first need to select a connected MIDI
input device from the respective selector. You can also choose a specific channel to listen to for
incoming key presses. If you don't want to set a specific channel, selecting "any" will allow nAc
to listen to any channel for the set key.

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To specify the desired MIDI key, simply press it on the physical MIDI device you have previously
selected. The pressed MIDI key will then appear in the dialog.

Pro tip: If your MIDI device, such as a MIDI keyboard, has foot pedals, you can use them as
MIDI keys. This enables you to change control options with your feet, freeing up your hands for
other tasks. Additionally, if you select the toggle activation style, pressing the "Control Change"
buttons on your MIDI device can also serve as valid MIDI keys.

OSC Activation
In addition to activation through the keyboard or a MIDI device, alternative control options can
be activated with Open Sound Control (OSC) messages. OSC messages can be sent to the
computer running nAc over your local network using third-party applications capable of
transmitting OSC messages. Some excellent applications for this purpose are TouchOSC
(https://hexler.net/touchosc) and Open Stage Control (https://openstagecontrol.ammd.net/).
These applications allow you to build your own control interfaces with buttons that can send
custom OSC messages to nAc when pressed.
To set an OSC key as an activation mechanism, you will first need to define the port number on
which nAc will listen for incoming messages.

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By default, the port number 8000 will be selected. Ensure that your OSC sending application is
configured to use the same port number for outgoing messages. In your OSC sender
application, you will also need to specify the IP address or the host name of the computer
running nAc on your local network. To find out the local IP address of your computer, you can
check the properties of the network interface that connects your computer to the local network.
Once everything has been set up, you can press a button on your OSC control application, and
the corresponding message name (often referred as the OSC address) will appear in the dialog.

You can also select whether you want the alternative control options to remain active only while
you hold the OSC key ("Hold OSC button") or if you prefer to toggle the activation of the
respective options by pressing the OSC button ("Toggle with OSC button").

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Once you have configured how the alternative control options will be activated and set the alias
for these options, you can click the "OK" button to accept the changes.
You will notice that the alias and the activation method will be displayed in green at the top of
the control options area.

This green indication signifies that these alternative control options are now active, and you can
configure them as desired, such as setting the sensitivity, control mode, and other parameters.
If you hover over the green indication, a selector menu will appear. You can use this menu to
choose other alternative control options that you may want to configure or switch back to the
Default control options.

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If you want to remove certain control options, you can click on the red minus icon located to the
right of the green indication.

You can set a new alias for your control options or change the respective activation mechanism
by clicking on the gear icon located to the right of the green indication.

This button opens a dialog similar to the one used to add new alternative control options. In this
dialog, you can set a new alias and reconfigure the activation style for the control options.

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As you may have noticed, there are three ways to activate alternative control options:
● The first method is by selecting the control options from the pop-up menu.
● The second method is by holding specific keys, which will keep the corresponding
control options active as long as the keys are held. Once the keys are released, the
default control options of the profile will become active again.
● The third method is to toggle the activation of specific control options by pressing a key
or key combination. Pressing the corresponding key (or key combination) again will
toggle back to the default control options.

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The tray icon
Upon launching nAc, you'll notice a tray icon appearing on your Taskbar (Windows) or menu bar
(Mac). A right-click on Windows or a left-click on Mac will reveal a menu.

The tray icon menu offers the following options:

A. Configure…: Clicking on this option opens nAc's configuration window, allowing you to
adjust profiles, assignments, etc.
B. Global options: This submenu contains:
a. Always on top: Keeps nAc's configuration window above other applications.
b. Disable undos: Prevents undo actions when double-tapping the big knob. Useful
for live performances to avoid accidental parameter changes.
c. Disable auto activations: Prevents automatic profile activations. This is useful
when working on your current nAc profile and you do not want any other profiles
to get accidentally activated when switching between different windows and
applications.
d. Block mouse movements while dragging: Blocks mouse movements from
devices other than nOb while nAc is performing a click-and-drag action.
e. Avoid accidental mouse clicks: This option takes into consideration your
system's double-click time interval and may introduce a slight delay to nOb's
clicks to prevent accidental double clicks when you're rapidly interacting with a
control.
C. Update firmware…: This action brings nAc’s window to the front and updates your
nOb’s firmware. Please refer to the Getting started section for details.

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 D. About…: Brings nAc's window to the front and provides information about the current
version.

E. Quit nAc: Terminates nAc.

Please notice that the tray icon will turn green if an assignment is currently active.

You can learn more about assignments and how they get activated in the following sections
about Quick Assignments and MIDI/OSC Assignments.

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Profile Management & Activation
nAc provides the option to organize your settings using profiles. Each profile contains its own
assignments and settings related to your nOb’s default control behavior, as well as its own
user-added alternative control settings. Only one profile may be active at a time.
The active profile's name is displayed at the top of nAc's main window.

You can double-click on the profile name at the top to edit it.

On the left side of the profile name, there is an arrow icon. Click on this icon to reveal or hide
the list of available profiles.

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The active profile will be highlighted in the profile list. Click on any profile in the list to activate it.

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At the bottom of the profile list, there is a plus icon. Press this icon to add a new profile and
activate it. If you hold the Alt/Option key and press the plus icon, the currently active profile will
be duplicated.

To delete a profile, hover your mouse cursor over the profile you want to remove until a minus
icon appears on the left side of the profile’s name. Click this icon and the profile will be removed
from the list.

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If you delete the currently active profile, the next available profile in the list will be automatically
activated. However, if you only have one profile in your list, you will not be able to delete it.
Profiles can be reordered by clicking and dragging them to a new position in the profile list. If
you hold the Alt/Option key while dragging a profile to a new position, a duplicate profile will be
created and automatically activated.

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Please keep in mind that if you resize nAc's window to be relatively narrow, the profile list will
expand to cover the entire width of the window.

You can still access the settings of the active profile by clicking the arrow icon on the top left.

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Apart from clicking on a profile in the list, there are two alternative methods to activate a profile
that don't require nAc's window to be in focus or open.
The first method involves setting a global hotkey specifically for the desired profile. At the top of
the profile settings, there is a button that enables you to configure this hotkey.

After clicking this button, a prompt will appear, asking you to input a key combination. You can
find more information on various methods for setting hotkeys in the corresponding section:
Hotkey Dialog

You can click anywhere inside nAc’s window to cancel the operation if you do not wish to set a
hotkey.

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Once you have successfully configured an activation hotkey, the hotkey dialog will close, and
the configured hotkey will be displayed in the profile activation section. You can hover the
mouse cursor over the set hotkey, and a tooltip will appear providing useful details.

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The second method of activating a profile without having to select it in your profile list is by
checking the "Auto" checkbox on the top right of the settings area.

When this option is activated, nAc will examine the profile’s Quick Assignments configuration to
determine which window the profile is most likely intended to be used with. When this window
comes into focus, the profile will then be automatically activated.
Please keep in mind that automatic profile activation can only be set if you already have at least
one Quick Assignment configured in the profile. For more information on how to set up and use
Quick Assignments, please refer to the following section.

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Quick Assignments
Quick Assignments provide an efficient method for taking control of various on-screen
parameters without needing to manually hover your mouse cursor over the specific parameter
or frequently alter the operation mode of your nOb.
To configure a quick assignment for a specific parameter, you need to initially instruct nAc about
the parameter's location on your screen and subsequently define an activation hotkey. This
hotkey will automatically position the mouse cursor over the parameter when pressed.
One way to perform this configuration is by establishing a pair of hotkeys. The first hotkey
(labeled as "Assign with…") is utilized to instruct nAc regarding the specific window and position
of the parameter you intend to control. Pressing this hotkey also links your current profile control
settings with this specific parameter. The second hotkey (designated as "Activate with…") is
employed to trigger the assignment. When activated, the relevant window will be brought to the
forefront, the mouse cursor will be positioned over the assigned parameter, and the control
settings will be appropriately configured for that parameter. This enables you to seamlessly
adjust the parameter using your nOb.
Given the close relationship between quick assignments and their corresponding hotkeys, quick
assignments are presented as a list of hotkey pairs.

Hovering your mouse cursor over a parameter and pressing any of the hotkeys on the left will
prompt nAc to link the parameter and your current settings with the corresponding quick
assignment slot in the list. Further guidance on configuring a parameter assignment will be
detailed in the following section.
Pressing a hotkey from the right side will trigger the activation of the assignment linked to the
corresponding quick assignment slot. If a parameter has not been set or the parameter window
is unavailable, the activation hotkey will have no impact. In all other cases, the mouse cursor will
be positioned over the assigned parameter, allowing you to assume control of it. More

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comprehensive information on activating quick assignments can be found in the relevant
section.
To create a new quick assignment, click on the respective 'Assign with…' and 'Activate with…'
buttons. You will then be prompted to designate the corresponding hotkeys by pressing a key
combination in the hotkey dialog that will appear. To learn more about the various methods
available for establishing a hotkey, please refer to the relevant section: Hotkey Dialog.

Clicking on an existing hotkey in the list allows you to establish a new hotkey that will replace
the previous one. If you change your mind and decide not to alter the hotkey, you can click
elsewhere inside of nAc’s window to cancel the operation.

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Setting up an assignment
Before configuring a parameter assignment, it's essential to ensure that your control settings
(such as sensitivity, control mode, etc.) are appropriately configured for the parameter you
intend to assign. You can test your current settings by hovering the mouse cursor over the
desired parameter and turning the nOb to ascertain if you can effectively control it. If everything
appears to be functioning correctly, you can proceed with the assignment setup.
You have two methods to set up an assignment:
● Hover your mouse cursor over the parameter and press the hotkey on the left of the
respective Quick Assignment slot (the “Assign with…” hotkey).
● Start dragging the Quick Assignment slot and drop the golden nAc icon that appears
onto the desired parameter.

Performing either of these actions will inform nAc about the specific parameter, its window, and
the program you are interested in. nAc will then retain this information along with your current
control settings. Successful assignment will be indicated by the Quick Assignment slot turning
green, and the name of the program and window housing the parameter will be displayed.
You don't need to redo this setup step unless the parameter shifts within the window. You might
consider repeating this process if you wish to use different settings for that parameter or want to
associate an entirely different parameter with the same Quick Assignment slot.

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Activating an assignment
Press the activation hotkey (the right hotkey of the pair) to activate the assignment and assume
control of the parameter using your nOb.
Upon activating an assignment, nAc will automatically position the mouse cursor over the
parameter previously set up and linked to the quick assignment. Additionally, nAc will
momentarily load the suitable control settings for smooth interaction.
nAc will make a concerted effort to ensure convenient access to on-screen parameters for
control. This encompasses the following actions:
● Elevating the assigned parameter's window above others if it's obscured by another
window.
● Restoring the window if it's minimized.
● Switching to another desktop if required.
● Relocating the window to a suitable position if its boundaries extend beyond the screen.

Whenever you press a hotkey to establish or activate an assignment, the associated quick
assignment slot will change to a green hue, and the program's name along with the window's
name containing the parameter will be exhibited.

If you move your cursor away from the parameter using your mouse or trackpad, the Quick
Assignment will be deactivated, and your nOb will return to following the behavior specified by
the control settings of the profile.

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You can also learn more about the currently associated configuration with a hotkey by hovering
your mouse cursor over the hotkey and reading the displayed tooltip.

nAc remembers all your hotkeys and assignments, allowing you to resume working with any
assigned parameter even if you close your session and reopen it on another day.
PRO TIP: If you frequently use a specific quick assignment within a particular profile, consider
setting the activation hotkey to “Knob”. This way, when you touch the knob, the assignment will
automatically activate, enabling you to control the corresponding parameter immediately. You
can still maintain other assignments in the profile that can be activated through their respective
hotkeys as usual.

Deleting an assignment
If you hover your mouse cursor over a pair of hotkeys, a minus button will appear on the right
side next to the activation hotkey.

Pressing the minus button will delete the hotkey pair, completely removing the quick assignment
and its configuration from the profile.

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Advanced Quick Assignment features

Super quick assignment

You can use the left toggle switch of your nOb to configure one or two on-screen assignments
very quickly, without having to set up any hotkeys in nAc.
Simply hover your mouse cursor over a parameter and briefly touch the left toggle switch on
your nOb (for about 1 second). nAc will associate the current control settings with this
parameter. By double-tapping the left toggle switch, you will be able to take control of the
parameter.
You can also assign two parameters to the left toggle switch in a very quick manner. Hover over
the first parameter and touch the left toggle switch without letting go. Then move your mouse
cursor over to the second parameter and release the switch. nAc will recognize these two
parameters, and you will be able to switch between them by double-tapping the left toggle
switch.

Keyboard arrow navigation

You can navigate to any assigned parameter inside the currently active window by holding
nOb's big knob and pressing the arrow keys on your keyboard. This is particularly useful if you
have numerous assigned parameters within a window and can't recall the corresponding
hotkeys. Pressing the "Up" arrow key will automatically move the cursor to the next assigned
parameter located above the current cursor position. Likewise, pressing the "Down" arrow key
will navigate to the next parameter below the cursor, the "Left" arrow key to the next parameter
on the left, and the "Right" arrow key to the next parameter on the right.

Sharing assignments between instances of the same program or plug-in

When you establish a quick assignment, the configuration is linked to the particular window
containing the parameter. Nonetheless, situations may arise where you frequently need to
employ the same assignments across various instances of the same plug-in or program. For
instance, if you regularly use the same compressor plug-in on distinct audio channels within
various sessions and desire consistent shortcuts to manage the compressor parameters,
regardless of the active compressor instance or session, this functionality is particularly
beneficial.
To achieve this, you need to input a wildcard expression that corresponds to the titles of the
various windows for which you intend to utilize the same assignments. A wildcard expression is
a string of text characters that can encompass asterisk (*) characters. An asterisk symbol
signifies a variable sequence of characters.
For the purpose of explanation, let's consider a software plug-in named "The Super
Compressor". We've incorporated this plug-in into two different tracks: the snare track and the

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bass track. Additionally, we've used it on the master bus within our DAW. If we open the plug-in
instance on the first track, the window title might read as "Snare track – The Super
Compressor". On the other hand, the instance opened on the second track might display "Bass
track – The Super Compressor (Bypassed)", while the plug-in instance on the master bus could
show "The Super Compressor on Master Bus (Stereo)". An applicable wildcard expression that
encompasses all three titles would be *The Super Compressor* . This expression essentially
signifies that the specific character arrangement before or after "The Super Compressor" in the
window title doesn't matter. If the mentioned name is part of the window title, the same quick
assignments can be employed with that plug-in instance.
To establish wildcard expressions for your quick assignments within the current profile, click on
the gear icon situated on the right side of the "QUICK ASSIGNMENTS" label.

This action will trigger a dialog box to appear, featuring an area where you can input your
preferred wildcard expressions.

NOTICE: Each expression should occupy a separate line.

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If more than one window matches a wild-card expression, nAc will activate the corresponding
assignments for the window that is currently in focus. If none of the windows matching the
wild-card expression is in focus, nAc will activate the assignments belonging to the window with
which the user most recently interacted.

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MIDI/OSC Assignments
nAc offers a highly versatile system for adding and using MIDI and Open Sound Control (OSC)
assignments. You can add new assignment configurations to the current profile by clicking on
the plus icon on the right.

All available MIDI/OSC assignment configurations will be listed below.

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Each MIDI/OSC configuration in the list will have the following elements:
1. A label, which can be edited by double clicking on it. This label can be used by the user
to help identify the configuration.
2. A button that can be pressed to open a dialog where you can set a hotkey to activate
this configuration. You can find more information on setting this hotkey in the relevant
section: Hotkey Dialog.
3. An indication for the current control position across the available control range. When the
configuration is active, turning the knob counterclockwise will move this indication to the
left, and turning the knob clockwise will move the indication to the right.
4. A "stickiness" option, which can be used to make a configuration permanently active
once it's activated. Sticky configurations will remain active as long as no other parameter
is activated or no other profile is selected. You can also press the ESC key when nAc’s
window is in focus to deactivate an active sticky configuration. If the sticky option box
gets ticked, the configuration will activate automatically. Unticking this option will
deactivate the configuration if it's active. If a non-sticky configuration is activated by
pressing a hotkey, it will remain active only while the user is turning the knob or not
moving the mouse cursor. Once the user stops touching the knob and starts moving the
mouse, the configuration will deactivate, and the profile's default control behaviour will
be restored.
5. A minus button that appears when the mouse cursor hovers over the configuration.
Pressing it will permanently remove the configuration.
6. An edit button that opens a dialog to set up and manage any MIDI and OSC control
signals associated with the configuration. This dialog will be detailed in its dedicated
section: MIDI/OSC Control Configuration.

If a MIDI/OSC configuration is active, it will turn green, as shown below.

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You can also drag the MIDI/OSC ASSIGNMENTS panel up and down to allocate more or less
space for the QUICK ASSIGNMENTS section above within nAc's window.

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MIDI/OSC Control Configuration
Clicking the “Edit…” button for one of the listed MIDI/OSC assignment configurations will open a
dialog that allows you to manage the control signals linked with that configuration. With this
dialog active, if you rotate your nOb, nAc will transmit these signals, facilitating your
configuration testing. During editing and testing, all hotkeys will be deactivated.

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This configurator comprises the following elements:
1. A control range input field: This allows you to set the control range for this configuration,
measured in knob rotations. A value of 1 signifies that a full rotation of your nOb covers
the entire control range. Increasing the value will result in slower and finer control, while
decreasing it will lead to quicker controls as you only need to turn your nOb a fraction of
a full rotation.
2. A control position indication: This demonstrates the current control position across the
available control range. While the configuration is active, turning the knob
counterclockwise shifts this indication to the left, while turning it clockwise shifts it to the
right.
3. A plus button: This lets you add new control signals to the configuration. Control signals
will be detailed in the subsequent section: Control Signals
4. The control signal area: This section contains all the control signals linked with the
configuration.
5. A Cancel button: This allows you to discard any changes made to the configuration and
close the dialog.
6. An OK button: This enables you to confirm all changes and exit the configuration dialog.

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Control Signals

By clicking the plus button within the MIDI/OSC assignment configuration dialog, you can
include a new control signal in the configuration. Should you wish to remove a control signal,
simply click on the minus button situated at the bottom left corner of the respective signal.
Here is an illustration of a configuration featuring three control signals:

There are three basic types of control signals available: 7-bit MIDI, 14-bit MIDI and OSC
(OpenSoundControl).

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MIDI Control

When a MIDI control type is selected, the user needs to specify the output MIDI device and the
MIDI channel number to which the control signal will be sent.
nAc or nOb are not MIDI devices themselves. Therefore, if you want to transmit MIDI signals
from nAc to other software applications running on the same system, you will need to use a
virtual MIDI bus. On Mac, this can be achieved by accessing the Audio MIDI Setup in MacOS,
navigating to Window → Show MIDI Studio, and creating a bus through the IAC Driver. Apple
provides detailed instructions for this process here:
https://support.apple.com/guide/audio-midi-setup/transfer-midi-information-between-apps-ams1
013/mac
Windows users will need to utilize one of the third-party virtual MIDI devices available. An
excellent choice is loopMIDI by Tobias Erichsen:
https://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/loopmidi.html
Another essential parameter required to finalize the configuration of a MIDI control signal is the
CC (continuous controller) number. This number will be utilized in conjunction with the MIDI
channel on the receiving end, enabling the receiving device/software to uniquely identify the
incoming signal.
Standard 7-bit control signals (1 byte) are sent over a single CC number. However, when the
14-bit MIDI mode is selected, the signal is conveyed over 2 CC numbers (2 bytes). The user is
only required to configure the CC number for the Most Significant Byte, as nAc will automatically
dispatch the Least Significant Byte through the appropriate secondary CC (CC + 32).
You can determine the CC numbers utilized in a specific configuration by hovering the mouse
cursor over the CC parameter.

It's important to note that not all software and MIDI devices are compatible with 14-bit MIDI
control signals. Nevertheless, utilizing this signal type with devices that support it will markedly
enhance control precision compared to the traditional 7-bit MIDI.

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Open Sound Control

Open Sound Control (OSC) is a protocol that enables highly precise parameter control over a
network. To set up an OSC signal, you need to provide the destination IP (Internet Protocol)
address and the port number of the receiving application.
In most systems, inputting 127.0.0.1 as the IP address will direct the OSC signal to applications
on the same computer running nAc.
Another crucial parameter is the OSC address. This might appear as /nob/control/synth/cutoff or
/mixer/track1/volume, and it can be chosen by the user. This address will be employed by the
receiving application to uniquely identify the incoming signal. You can explore further details
about the Open Sound Control protocol and its address patterns here:
http://opensoundcontrol.org/spec-1_0

Control values

Two types of control values can be sent: absolute and relative.

Absolute values

When you select absolute values, nAc will produce output values based on the current control
position along the configuration's control range. This position is indicated by the control position
indicator at the top of the configuration dialog.
By default, turning the knob clockwise increases the output value, reaching its maximum when
the control position indicator is all the way to the right. Conversely, turning the knob
counterclockwise decreases the output value, reaching its minimum when the control position
indicator is all the way to the left.
The output value range depends on the type of control signal:
● 7-bit MIDI: Absolute values can range from 0 to 127 (single byte integer values).
● 14-bit MIDI: Absolute values can range from 0 to 16383 (two bytes integer values).
● OSC: Absolute values can range from 0.0 to 1.0 (32-bit floating point values).
A very useful feature when using absolute values is the ability to create custom curves that map
the control position of the configuration to the output value of the signal. This feature allows for
the creation of complex continuous control signals that extend beyond simple increments or
decrements of a parameter in the target application when the knob is turned clockwise or
counterclockwise, respectively.
For instance, a control signal could be configured to change a parameter gradually as it
approaches its maximum value, while allowing for rapid changes when the value is relatively
low. The use of custom mappings and multiple control signals in the same assignment
configuration can lead to the precise orchestration of parameter changes across various fields
and applications.

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Consider the example of configuring nAc to increase the volume of a moderator's voice in a live
show while simultaneously decreasing the background music. Another scenario could involve
designing expressive controls for synthesizers, mapping the knob's rotation to parameters like
cutoff, resonance, distortion, delay times, etc. This approach enables intricate manipulation of
sound during live performances through a single knob. The potential applications are limited
only by the performer's imagination and creativity.
To access the mapping curve editor, click on the arrow icon located next to the label "Mapping."

The current control position of the configuration is depicted in the editor by a vertical green line.
As you turn your nOb counterclockwise and clockwise, this line will move to the left and right
respectively. As the green line moves, nAc will consistently generate the appropriate signal
value by calculating the intersection of the green line with the blue mapping curve. The output

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value will adjust within the range defined by the specific signal type (7-bit MIDI, OSC, etc.), as
discussed earlier in this section.
You can introduce new points to the mapping curve by performing a left-click anywhere within
the editor. Similarly, an existing point can be relocated to a different position by left-clicking and
dragging it. While the points are being moved, nAc will consistently generate and output the
signal value. This allows you to observe the parameter changes in the target application and
fine-tune the point positions to achieve the desired effect.
To remove a point, right-click on it.

Relative values

When relative values are chosen, nAc will only output the relative change of the control signal,
since the last control update. This mode is beneficial when you wish to use nAc for parameter
control, yet without causing abrupt value shifts. Instead, the parameter will only adjust by the
appropriate amount, based on how much you have recently rotated the knob. This approach is
particularly advantageous when you are concurrently controlling the same parameter through
other methods, like the mouse or another hardware controller. Consequently, nOb will solely
increase or decrease the value that has already been established, preventing sudden value
shifts. This approach can also be beneficial when you aim to manage the same set of
parameters across different sessions without experiencing abrupt value changes while
transitioning between sessions. This scenario is especially common in situations like various
mixing sessions, where the fader positions for the same channels may vary.
When rotating the nOb clockwise, positive values will be produced. Conversely, turning the nOb
counterclockwise will yield negative outputs.
You can also define a sensitivity value for each relative signal, which offers further control over
the perceived speed of parameter changes. The default value is 1. Increasing the sensitivity will
result in a quicker sense of control. For instance, a sensitivity of 2 will make the control feel
twice as fast. Conversely, a sensitivity value of 0.5 will make it feel half as fast.
The relative output range varies according to the type of control signal:
● 7-bit MIDI: The range spans from -64 to +63.
● 14-bit MIDI: The range extends from -8192 to +8191.
● OSC: The range typically remains between -1.0 and +1.0, although there are no format
restrictions.
When nAc outputs relative MIDI values, it does so using the 2's complement format. In this
format, for 7-bit MIDI, the value -1 is represented as 127, -2 as 126, -3 as 125, and so on.
Similarly, the value +1 is represented as 1, +2 as 2, +3 as 3, and so forth. This format is referred
to as "Relative 1" in Reaper and "2's complement" in software like Ableton Live and Apple Logic.
It's advisable to refer to your DAW or MIDI device manual to determine the appropriate
operational format.
The same format is also employed for 14-bit relative MIDI values, where -1 is represented as
16383, -2 as 16382, and so forth. Correspondingly, +1 is represented as 1, +2 as 2, and so on.

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Soloing control signals
By pressing the "Solo" button located at the bottom right of the signal configuration, you can
ensure that only this signal will be output by nAc when you turn the knob or make any changes
in the mapping points. The soloed signal will be highlighted with a red border to distinguish it
from others.

This function is particularly useful when you are using the MIDI/OSC learn functionality in your
DAW to teach it which signal controls which parameter. To do this, you first need to solo the
signal you are interested in. Next, activate the learn functionality in your DAW and finally, turn
the knob to allow the signal to reach the DAW. Once successfully assigned, your DAW will
display an indication of the assignment, allowing you to continue soloing other signals and
establishing their relationships with various DAW parameters.

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Hotkey Dialog
When you click on a button to set a hotkey for a profile or an assignment, a dialog will open,
allowing you to press the desired hotkey to configure it.

This dialog offers three ways for you to set a hotkey. The first way involves your keyboard, the
second way involves any of the MIDI devices connected to your computer, and the final method
involves any device or software that is able to send OSC (Open Sound Control) messages to
the computer running nAc. Each of the methods above has its own peculiarities, and therefore
we will detail each one in its respective section.
If you bring up the hotkey dialog and you do not want to set a hotkey, simply click elsewhere
inside nAc’s window, and the dialog will disappear.
Additionally, if you bring up the dialog for an already established hotkey, you can clear the
hotkey by pressing the ‘Clear’ button.

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Keyboard Hotkey
Setting a keyboard hotkey is as easy as pressing a key combination on your keyboard. A hotkey
can be a single key or a combination of any modifier keys plus a single key.

The following common keyboard modifier keys are available: Control, Alt/Option, Shift,
Command (macOS), and Windows Key (Windows).
Please keep in mind that nAc will consume any established key combinations when pressed,
and it will not make them available to any other software that might want to use them as well.
However, there is an easy way to avoid such conflicts by allowing a touch of the knob or any of
the toggle switches to act as modifiers for the hotkey in question.

For example, you can set up a hotkey as 'Knob + Ctrl + C' and still be able to use 'Ctrl + C' to
perform copy operations in all your programs as you would normally do. When you want to
activate the assignment associated with the hotkey in question, you will just need to touch the
knob before pressing the 'Ctrl + C' combination. In that case, the assignment/profile will be
activated, and the copy operation will not be performed.

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In the spirit of offering multiple modifier possibilities, nAc also allows you to use the 4th and 5th
mouse buttons as modifiers if your mouse has such capabilities. This way, you can combine
your extra mouse buttons with your keyboard to create hotkeys that do not interfere with any of
the hotkeys or shortcuts you already use in your applications.
All the available modifiers can be combined as desired:

In addition to all of that, nAc allows you to activate a profile/assignment by pressing one of your
common mouse buttons (left, right or middle mouse button), when they are part of a hotkey
combination that involves a touch of any of the toggle switches or the big knob.

As you can see, there is a great deal of versatility when it comes to combining your keyboard,
touch sensing on the nOb, and your mouse to create hotkeys that fit your needs. You could
even set hotkeys that solely rely on your mouse buttons if you want to activate an assignment
without reaching over to your keyboard and/or your nOb. Here is an example:

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MIDI Hotkey
At the top of the hotkey dialog, you can click on the 'MIDI' button to set a MIDI hotkey.

Before you can set the desired hotkey, you will need to first select a connected MIDI device and
the desired MIDI channel that nAc will listen to for incoming MIDI signals.

After selecting the MIDI device, press a note, pedal, or program change button on your MIDI
device to establish the hotkey. The dialog will automatically close, and the set hotkey will be
displayed in nAc’s window:

Copyright © 2015-2023 Dionysios Marinos - NOB CONTROL SOLUTIONS 61

OSC Hotkey
At the top of the hotkey dialog, you can click on the ‘OSC’ button to set a hotkey using the Open
Sound Control protocol.

It is essential to set the correct incoming port number for receiving OSC messages. This should
match the outgoing port number configured in the application you use to send the messages.
Please keep in mind that the device sending the OSC messages and the computer running nAc
must be connected to the same local network. The sending software/device should also be
configured to send the messages to the specific IP address of the computer running nAc.
Please consult the manuals of your OSC application and your operating system to determine
the required IP address for this configuration. Two excellent OSC applications that enable you to
create your custom button interfaces for all your OSC hotkey requirements are Open Stage
Control (free) and TouchOSC (paid).
Once you have chosen the OSC application you prefer and configured it correctly, you can
press a button on your custom button interface to set the hotkey. The hotkey dialog will
automatically close, and the configured hotkey will be displayed in the appropriate position in
nAc’s window:

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Troubleshooting
nAc does not connect to my nOb and even if it does, the UI becomes unresponsive. What
should I do?
First make sure to follow the instructions provided for your system before starting nAc. On Mac
computers, it is very crucial to give accessibility permissions to nAc, as this is the only way to tell
MacOS that you allow nAc to use global hotkeys and to manipulate your mouse cursor and
program windows.
On Windows, you may need to start nAc as an administrator, as certain user configuration might
restrain nAc’s functionality and ability to manipulate windows or the mouse cursor. If you want to
make nOb start automatically with administrator privileges when you log on, you will have to set
up a scheduled task using the “Task Scheduler” program provided with Windows. Here are the
steps, you will have to follow:
● Start the program "Task Scheduler"
● Click on "Create Task..." on the right panel.
● In the "General" tab:
○ Type in a name for the task , for example something like "nAc Starter"
○ Check the "Run only when user is logged in" and the "Run with highest
privileges".
○ Select your OS version in the "Configure for" drop down menu.
● In the "Triggers" tab:
○ Click on "New..."
○ Set "At log on" in the "Begin the task" drop down menu.
○ Click ok.
● In the "Actions" tab:
○ Click on "New..."
○ Click on "Browse..." and select the file nAc.exe in nAc's folder.
○ Click ok.
● In the "Conditions" tab:
○ Uncheck all Power related checkboxes.
● Leave all other options to their default values and click ok to create the task.
Please check that no other nAc instance is running in the background before starting nAc, in
case you are experiencing any issues. To make sure this is the case, open Task Manager on
Windows or Activity Monitor on Mac and terminate any nAc processes that might be running in
the background.
I am on a Windows 7 system and nOb works fine on its own. However, nOb does not
connect to nAc, when I start it. What should I do?

Copyright © 2015-2023 Dionysios Marinos - NOB CONTROL SOLUTIONS 63

First of all, as of nAc version 0.2, Windows 7 is not officially supported. However, if you still want
to give it a try and possibly make it work, installing the latest Arduino Leonardo drivers manually
might help. To do this, follow the steps below:
1. Make sure you have installed the latest updates from Microsoft. If not, update your
system and restart.
2. Follow this guide to install the official Arduino Software IDE
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Windows. Restart your computer after installing.
3. Follow the guide to manually update the drivers
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/DriverInstallation. Once the drivers have been updated,
restart.
After the communication between nOb and nAc has been established, you can safely remove
the Arduino Software IDE, if you would like to.
I am on a Windows system and nAc is connecting to nOb without any problems.
However, my mouse cursor does not react when I turn nOb's big knob. What should I do?
On some Windows systems, nAc has to run with administrator rights to work properly. First quit
nAc, if it is already running, then right click on nAc's icon and choose “Run as Administrator”. To
make this option permanent, you will have to right click on nAc's icon and choose “Properties”.
Then go to the “Compatibility” tab and tick the option “Run this program as an administrator”.
Quick assignments work fine, but when the parameters inside a window get rearranged
or I change the window size, nAc is no longer able to reliably place the mouse cursor
over the parameters. Is there a solution for this?
nAc keeps notice of the position of an on-screen parameter based on its coordinates in relation
to the top left corner of the window. If this position changes, nAc has currently no way of
knowing, in order to update the assignment’s configuration. The user has to manually hover the
mouse cursor over the parameter and press the assignment hotkey to set it up again.
We are, however, working on a solution to this problem. The solution will cover the vast majority
of cases, in which parameters change positions inside of windows. This feature will be
introduced in a future nAc release.

Copyright © 2015-2023 Dionysios Marinos - NOB CONTROL SOLUTIONS 64

If you experience any problems using nAc or find any reproducible bugs, please let us know at
[email protected]. It would be very helpful, if you could also provide us with nAc's debug
output.
This is how you can get the debug output:
● On Windows, you will need a tool like DebugView from Microsoft
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/debugview.aspx to display the debug
information, while nAc is running.
● On Mac, simply close nAc and start it inside the Terminal, like this:
○ First, add the Terminal (Applications/Utilities/Terminal) to your accessibility
applications in your Security & Privacy Settings.
○ Open the Terminal and type in the two following commands:
■ cd /Applications/nAc.app/Contents/MacOS
■ ./nAc

Thank you! Your feedback is what makes us better.

Copyright © 2015-2023 Dionysios Marinos - NOB CONTROL SOLUTIONS 65