So I get that in order to change certain parameters like part cutoff you have to use the automation on the instrument channel. There are so many part and element modulation controls, but not all of them are listed in either the midi or instrument channel automation parameters lists.

I am trying to write LFO automation on both the part and element for a few voices, but I have no idea what midi CC to use or how to even set the parameters as they seem to not exist according to Cubase.

In short, I know how to write part automation but there are many modulation parameters I can’t even access in order to automate, such as panning on individual drum key voices if that’s even possible.

I am working in Cubase 5.1 with the Motif XS8 editor 1.4

PARTS and ELEMENTS are exclusively Motif XS terms and are real time controllable by SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE messages. Within a Motif XS VOICE you can assign your physical controllers (Source: MW, FC1, FC2, BC, FS, RB, PB, AT, AS1, AS2, AF1, AF2) to some 100 parameter destinations. These destination include some that are global for the VOICE, some that are Element specific - that depends on the parameter selected. It is in this fashion, within a XS VOICE, that ou can assign available destination parameters to CONTROL CHANGE devices as each physical controller sends a specific type of MIDI control message. (All send CC’s except PB and AT which each are their own category of MIDI message).

You mention attempting to automate (control) some internal parameters - you can if and only if they are available for control. For example, E-LVL (Element Level) is an assignable Destination parameter for normal VOICES (non-drum kit voices), and you can place a check mark next to each ELEMENT you want to respond to the assigned physical controller.

Tuning of individual drums in real time (like GM drums which use NRPNs and Data Entry cc006 to tune drums) is not available within the XF drum kit VOICE. The ability to STORE 73 drum and percussion instruments in kits and the ability to freely assign drum instruments to as many keys as necessary, and the ability edit each instrument (KEY) individually, is preferred in synth hardware like the XF. You can, if need be, create a normal Voice from any drum instrument sample (actually you can use as many as 8 instrument waveforms) and use PB Wheel or the Pitch Envelope Generator, if it is an important feature in a composition.

You’ll find several normal Voice “kits” (they are called “8Z” for ‘eight zone’) in the PRESET 8 bank.

Not every parameter is capable of being automated via CC messages.