Computer Mixer Question

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DForm

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Alright, I'm been recording on the computer for a couple of years now, but now I'm thinking of purchasing a computer solely for audio. The question: Is there a way to control volume levels, eq, and possibly other things, with physical faders on a physical mixer? I love the computer for multitracking, moving tracks around and so on, but I also love the ability to twist knobs & push faders. What's a good solution for me?

Any ideas are welcome, even just names of products (research is fun)

Thanks
Steve
 
Yes, there are some things for that. They use MIDI messages to talk to the reorcding/sequencing application. Peavey has one called the Studio Mix. I think a company named Encore Electronics has a couple of very reasonably-priced ones. There's another called the MotorMix that has small motors that can position the faders in response to the recorded MIDI info as well as send the data to the computer in response to your own handling while recording.
 
The Kenton Control Freak is meant to be excellent. Also the Peavey PC1600X. There is an extensive article about various controllers in this months SOS.

Some other company amkes a huge range of really advanced ones but I forget the name..... JC Cooper? JL Cooper?
 
There are also Midi programs that link Emagics' extensive processors to an outboard mixer. At TASCAMS' "computer forum", an individual wrote a remote control program for Emagic. It is found in the "Tips" section and can be downloaded.
Chuck
 
While you're visiting Tascam check out their products. They make a control surface for DAWs. i believe it's the 828... Not sure about the model number but I know you find it. I currently use a Tascam TM-D1000 digital mixer, a bit of an overkill for just controlling a DAW but the price was right when I bought it and I do most of pre-production on the board into a hard drive recorder. I'm able to control both the hard drive and the DAW from the Tascam surface. Works out well no matter what the source or destination.

Steve
 
Steve,
I think you were referring to the US-428, a USB outboard unit just designed to operate a computer. I also have a TMD-1000(digital mixer). What audio software are you controling from the TMD? What Midi program are you using for the interface?

Dform Steve,
If you wanted to go the TMD route, you should be able to get one on ebay for about $300. If you use ADAT, Fostex has a VM 200 that you can also get realy cheap. An ouboard mixer offers other benefits. I use mine for live concert recording with a Fostex D824 hard drive recorder, then as an interface with my computer processing- Pulsar, Samplitude, and Logic Audio.

Chuck
 
Steinberg's Houston is is a MIDI/USB remote controller for controlling cubase. Its getting pretty good reviews. I'm not sure if it is out in the states yet
 
Well the Houston is manufactured here in the UK. I went to a demo evening and saw it. It looked good but it costs £900+ here which means that it will be about $1500 when it reaches the States. I expect that is out of reach for most home users for what is essentially a glorified MIDI controller.
 
Hey oneArtist...

Sorry about the huge delay...(BBS Latency?)

I've tried most of the DAW packages out there with some pretty good success with Cubase, Cakewalk, & Logic. I'm sticking with Logic for now because of the feature designed especially for the VS Series of Roland HD recorders.

I have The VSR 880 set up for external sync & slave MMC. Logic is set for external sync and MMC Master (But also allows for "listen for MMC"). The MOTU Midi Express XT is MMC slave and master sync.

I can control the VSR mixer settings and transport from either the TM-D1000 or Logic without changing settings. I can control effects, group, and sends within the VSR from Logic, and the internal effects on the TMD1k from the mixer control surface. Everything’s right there in front of me.

I'm currently looking for, and I can't recall the model number (but it's very hard to find) an adapter box that Roland sells (for way too much money), to translate the proprietary R bus digital I/O to TDIF (8 In & Out 24/48). This would allow me to route all eight channels through all devices in the digital realm.

There's a card for around $200 that will translate Rbus to 8 I/O of SPDIF (24/48) but there's no breakout box so I’d be stuck with just three channels at a time through the TMD1k (I've got optional I/O board for 3 SPDIF) unless I buy the Tascam TDIF card to route back out of the computer to the TMD1K.

Confused?? It's tough trying to do this stuff on a budget!!

I'll get there eventually!!!

Steve
 
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