There has to be some way to make my mouse's middle button functionally similar to pressing the control button when I'm in edit mode so that I can manipulate sliders and such without having to hold the control button.

I'm sure this has been addressed, but I'd be thankful for some (pointers)

thanks!

I didn't know about this feature!!! Thanks for asking the question. and sorry, about the use with a mouse i don't know anything concerning your question yet..

@Johnny-Mauser For windows...... https://www.highrez.co.uk/downloads/xmousebuttoncontrol.htm
which remaps automatically depending upon which program window the mouse is hovering over.
For other os there are probably equivalents.
Otherwise a custom plugin for Pd, that I know a few people have been working on, and that some results have been posted very recently on this forum....
David.

yeah, I looked at that thread but I'm just not grokking it right now.
I'll crack into it tomorrow.

I'm really a musician, not a programmer. This stuff is hard, man.

btw I'm running ubuntu 16.04