This content is for an older version of Synfire. The current version is more streamlined and advanced, but most of the functionality shown here still exist.
This no longer seems possible with Ableton Live 9. You can use Synfire to send midi cc to ableton and use an instrument's midi learn to map the controller but the native instruments (all rack controls, operator, etc) do not work. They only seem to respond to midi cc sent from a real midi controller.
It is possible to do this via some virtual midi routing but a simpler solution is to use a maxforlive patch called Manual cc mapper (
Manual CC Mapper)
The following video shows how to set this up.
The midi cc gets recorded in the midi clip rather than recording the automation of the control you want to automate. This means you need to keep the maxforlive patch as part of the chain. However its possible to edit the clip envelopes and copy then paste from the midi cc envelope to the envelope for the required ableton control. You can then remove the max patch. This is not shown in the video.