still confusing.
either.
you want to just play the sound/sample chromatically on the DT using an external controller (in which case each controller pad is just assigned a note number)
you can specify the midi channel number 1 - 8 (for internal DT default channels) on the pad device , either using midi channel selection or 16 different preset layouts , each one being a copy of all the note assignments but using different channel .
you cannot make a controller trig a specific step trigger (e.g. add a note step to step 3 like a xox controller ).
you can.
use auto channel to play notes on whatever the DT is currently selected on.
and combine that with a set of buttons that effectively select the track you want to play on from external box.
either way , dig through the manuals, understand midi channels , auto channels , any specific notes from co upwards and what they might do , and a small range of midi cc values
your controller is likely to be able to send either note OR midi cc on a PAD , and be assigned to 1 x channel at a time.
a dial / slider is likely to only be able to send midi cc values .
basically this isnt the way it works , you can play chromatically by using a normal keyboard or assigning pads to each note , you can not be specific about assigning a note value onto Step 3 of a pattern , you have to put it into record more and hit the note when the sequencer is cycling through the step
‘I am trying to use the pads to send CC messages corresponding to hitting the triggers 1-16 physically on the Digitakt, so that when I play the keys on the keyboard, it switches to playing the corresponding track chromatically.’