Currently only Channel Inserts with plugins loaded can be controlled/mapped to an external controller since only populated plugins appear in the GR VALUE/ACTION list for the desired controller. However SENDS are available for on/off remote control whether they have a destination loaded.
We need to pre-map a GR controller to, say, bypass channel Insert 1 regardless if the slot is loaded or empty or if the plugin changed. This will allow us to pre-config a session template knowing the controller will work at all times.
UPDATE
OK so the functionality for “permanent” controller assignment of insert slots seems to exist. We can edit the XML file in a text editor directly to get around the currently limited menu options in my previous image.
In the attached image, the settings for Pad 1-2 (which have plugins inserted) were duplicated for Pad 3-8. This allows permanent bypass toggle of inserts 1-8 for currently selected track in the mixer, even if plugin is changed in that slot.
So the functionality seems to be there; we just need the Value/Action menu options for insert slots (like we have with sends already).
For reference, text of this XML file follows:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<remotedescription version="1.1">
<ctrltable name="Standard MIDI">
<ctrl><name>pad grn 1</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>16</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad grn 2</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>17</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad grn 3</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>18</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad grn 4</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>19</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad grn 5</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>20</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad grn 6</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>21</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad grn 7</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>22</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad grn 8</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>23</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>fader grn 1</name><stat>176</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>48</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>fader grn 2</name><stat>176</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>49</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>fader grn 3</name><stat>176</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>50</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>fader grn 4</name><stat>176</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>51</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad red 1</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>36</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad red 2</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>37</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad red 3</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>38</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad red 4</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>39</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad red 5</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>32</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad red 6</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>33</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad red 7</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>34</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>pad red 8</name><stat>144</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>35</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>fader red 1</name><stat>176</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>64</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
<ctrl><name>fader red 2</name><stat>176</stat><chan>0</chan><addr>64</addr><max>127</max><flags>1</flags></ctrl>
</ctrltable>
<bank name="VST 1-16">
<entry ctrl="pad grn 1">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>inserts/slot1:bypass</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad grn 2">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>inserts/slot2:bypass</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad grn 3">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>inserts/slot3:bypass</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad grn 4">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>inserts/slot4:bypass</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad grn 5">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>inserts/slot5:bypass</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad grn 6">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>inserts/slot6:bypass</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad grn 7">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>inserts/slot7:bypass</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad grn 8">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>inserts/slot8:bypass</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="fader grn 1">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>panner:panX</name><flags>0</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="fader grn 2">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>panner:panX2</name><flags>0</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad red 1">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>sends/slot1:on</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad red 2">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>sends/slot2:on</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad red 3">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>sends/slot3:on</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad red 4">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>sends/slot4:on</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad red 5">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>sends/slot5:on</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad red 6">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>sends/slot6:on</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad red 7">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>sends/slot7:on</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
<entry ctrl="pad red 8">
<value><device>VST Mixer</device><chan>-2</chan><name>sends/slot8:on</name><flags>256</flags></value>
</entry>
</bank>
<bank name="VST 17-32">
</bank>
<bank name="VST 33-48">
</bank>
<bank name="VST 49-64">
</bank>
</remotedescription>
