Mapping Rec, Over Dub, Stop, Play, and Play Start to midi CC

Has anyone done this before? I thought it would be pretty straight forward but I'm struggling. Starting to think Akai designed the MPC to not have these buttons be able to be controlled by a external midi device on purpose. Would be really disappointing if so.

Will doing it though the MPC computer application offer any midi features that aren't in the MPC hardware?

I hope I'm just being dumb and overlooking something... Seems like a big over sight if not.

Check this thread: viewtopic.php?p=1766630
I have programmed my Morningstar MC6 to control these functions of the MPC successfully.