Apple Logic Pro /LogicExpress Discussion

I've got a friend who needs to be able to trigger basic transport functions - Record, Stop, Rewind, Playback, from his MIDI keyboard (an older Kurzweil 2600).  If he could simply trigger Record he'd be happy.

There is a short section in the Basic Operations book, pp. 158-165, where this is discussed, but they talk about a 'MIDI message from your controller'.  Or Control Surface.  He'd like to use the lowest 'A' on the MIDI keyboard to trigger Record mode, for example.  

He's tried the 'Learn New Assignment' with his Kurzweil, and we tried it with a small MIDI controller.. it recorded a string, not MIDI or octal or any known dialect, but never, ever, did pressing that MIDI keyboard key actually cause the transport to go into Record mode.

any joy from anyone on this??

thanks VERY much

karl