Control Surface for plugins...

[JuliánFernández]

Hi guys... I´m trying to organize my sessions, and I believe it´s time to grab a control surface to stop mixing with my mouse...

One thing I would really like to do is being able to change parameters in the plugins that I use! Turning knobs with the mouse it´s just a PITA...

I was wondering if the Behringer BCF2000 would be capable of doing that...
(I´m using Cubase, btw)

Any experience with the behri or any other similar control surface (using it with plugins)?

[JuliánFernández]

Anyone?

[altitude909]

I would look at the novation remote 0, the auto map feature is really the bee's knees when it comes to controlling plugins

[TyphoidHippo]

I can offer some advice - if you do buy one: Make sure it has a shitload of knobs on it...ideally each knob would have it's own little LCD display or something so you can see what it is controlling on that particular plugin.

I have a projectmix, and it is infinitely easier to adjust plugins using a mouse, simply because of the lack of adequate knobs on this thing. Whenever I go to try and control a plugin with it, 8 knobs are just not enough. You'd be surprised just how many parameters a plugin can have.

As to your questions - anything that supports the Mackie HUI protocol will work painlessly in Cubase. I'm pretty sure the BCF2000 is Mackie HUI compatible, but you might wanna double check. Also, with my projectmix, it came with some software that allows me to change the midi assignments to each control on the surface - you might wanna make sure that similar software comes with the BCF2000 (I'm sure it does since it would to totally ghetto if it didn't....but still....double check.)

edit: I just checked out that Novation Remote 0 that altitude909 suggested - that looks like a pretty friggin usable device right there! I want one!!

[zbert]

Hate to admit it but the bcf2000 is doing the job for me with Sonar. The manual is wothless. Goole it and you will get a lot of info on how to use it. I think there may even be a couple of vids on You Tube.

[Dry_County]

Anyone have an opinion on Evolution UC33e? I'm looking for something that would help with automation via Logic.

[altitude909]

Originally Posted by Dry_County

Anyone have an opinion on Evolution UC33e? I'm looking for something that would help with automation via Logic.

Had a 33, sold it. Only does CC's and is about as basic as it gets. I cant comment about Logic's external midi control but as long as you can assign stuff on the fly, you should be fine. Static faders are finda crappy though, since you can only control as many channels as faders and there is no feedback to the controller so you always have to be staring at the screen anyway. I would find out what control surfaces logic supports natively and look for a used one. I use Cubase which supports JL Cooper controllers and I was able to track down an old one for $25 which works wonderfully

[MOFO Pro]

Originally Posted by altitude909

I use Cubase which supports JL Cooper controllers and I was able to track down an old one for $25 which works wonderfully

What model? I picked up the MCS2 RS232 serial port model for about the same price and haven't been able to get the scrub to work in Nuendo... I do have a HUI in the basement it's just to big for my current space.

[altitude909]

I have a CS10 and the scrub works perfect in cubase, have you checked that it is sending something?

[dementedchord]

since you're on cubase check out the new one steinberg just released at musikmesse... not sure when availability will be good but looks kinda interesting...

[altitude909]

Originally Posted by dementedchord

since you're on cubase check out the new one steinberg just released at musikmesse... not sure when availability will be good but looks kinda interesting...

I just looked at that today actually. Seeing that it is all Yamaha hardware, it would be a safe bet but I really like the "scroll left" approach of the JLc hardware and for $25 for the old Mac hardware (since no one uses RS422, and all it takes is an RS422 to midi convertor to bring it up to date), I'm sold.

[M10K]

I'd go with the Novation Remote Zero. It works great and is built solidly.

[MOFO Pro]

Originally Posted by altitude909

I have a CS10 and the scrub works perfect in cubase, have you checked that it is sending something?

You found a CS10 for $25... OMG!!

I'm probably keep trying different drivers until I trip over something that works.... I've had limited scrubbing success with using the MCS3 drivers... the serial drivers for the MCS2 are old as dirt and I don't believe they're putting a lot of work into upgrading...

[altitude909]

Originally Posted by MOFO Pro

You found a CS10 for $25... OMG!!

I'm probably keep trying different drivers until I trip over something that works.... I've had limited scrubbing success with using the MCS3 drivers... the serial drivers for the MCS2 are old as dirt and I don't believe they're putting a lot of work into upgrading...

Here is the trick: get an RS422 (the old mac serial interface) and simply slap an mac serial to midi interface on the end of it, viola! Midi!! No one uses RS422 anymore so these units are dirt cheap

[MOFO Pro]

Originally Posted by altitude909

Here is the trick: get an RS422 (the old mac serial interface) and simply slap an mac serial to midi interface on the end of it, viola! Midi!! No one uses RS422 anymore so these units are dirt cheap

Thanks... I'll guess I'll start searching... that price is just crazy... I love the feel of the JLc hardware...

[Chris Shaeffer]

I have a digi 002 that has modes where you can use the control surface to page through plugin controls. Meh. It works but its a bit cumbersome. It seems like it should be handy for pan sweeps or tweaking compression settings... but little displays aren't quite enough for me to have much luck navigating around and its several button presses to get the plug controls up on the knobs anyway. I hardly ever end up using it.

MAybe if I put more time into getting used to it. The other bummer that there really isn't much consistent about how the controls are mapped onto the knobs. Each plug seems to be arranged its own way. "Oh, for the love of... where is the output gain? Page... 6?" Easier to just use the mouse.

[altitude909]

Originally Posted by MOFO Pro

Thanks... I'll guess I'll start searching... that price is just crazy... I love the feel of the JLc hardware...

Its worth looking. I got mine in mint condition in the orginal box with all the original docs, warrenty card (from 91), everything..

[TyphoidHippo]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaeffer

I have a digi 002 that has modes where you can use the control surface to page through plugin controls. Meh. It works but its a bit cumbersome. It seems like it should be handy for pan sweeps or tweaking compression settings... but little displays aren't quite enough for me to have much luck navigating around and its several button presses to get the plug controls up on the knobs anyway. I hardly ever end up using it.

MAybe if I put more time into getting used to it. The other bummer that there really isn't much consistent about how the controls are mapped onto the knobs. Each plug seems to be arranged its own way. "Oh, for the love of... where is the output gain? Page... 6?" Easier to just use the mouse.

God...that's EXACTLY how I feel about the surface on my ProjectMix. It's just....not really usable or time-efficient. The only thing I ever use on it is the transport and locator controls during tracking....if it had like...8 times as many channels, and 40 times as many knobs (to make 5 on each channel), It would be totally useful for all kinds of stuff - but it doesn't, so I just use the mouse rather than page through all that crap (which is totally different for every single plugin/EQ/whatever.)