"but i can't get any 'learn' actions in cubase to pick them up and the transport controls seem to send out midi notes"
Go into the Devices/Device Setup and click on Quick Controls.
Select the MIDI I/O's, then click on QuickControl1 to highlight it. Then, click the
Learn button and move whatever knob or slider in the keyboard you want to connect it with.
Select the next one (QuickControl2) and press Learn etc etc for all 8 of them.
Now, in the Inspector open up the Quick Controls, click on the 1st blank box and choose whatever you want to run from the controller (volume/pan or whatever depending on MIDI or Audio track)..
Voila... assigned controllers
sox