Control Units

[88fingers]

I've been giving a lot of thought lately to retiring my old analog mixer (an old Phonic) and upgrading to a decent control unit/interface. I'm mostly doing computer recording nowadays anyway (but will keep my mixer and tape deck handy "just in case..."), and figure an upgrade would be beneficial to me, both in quality, and ease-of-use. The thing is, I've never researched these before, so no absolutely nothing about the differences between various units.

Mostly, I record live audio (occasionally do midi), from around 8-12 tracks (depending on how large the band is, as well as how in depth I feel like going on the drums). I use various programs, including Cubase SE, Ardour (when I'm in Linux), and I'm getting started on learning REAPER. What's out there that will both cover my needs, and provide room for expansion, without costing multiple thousands of dollars?

Thanks,
88

 

[boogle]

There is also the option of using a firestudio, firepod, or similar device and avoid a control surface all together. To me the real benefit exclusive to control surface's is familiarity and creating a more physical connection to what you are doing. I prefer to just use cubase's internal mixer and automation. Thats not for everyone though, just understand it is more of an issue of preference, not quality.

If yo chose to go with a cs, make sure it meets your needs as far as what kind and # of digital i/o. Most soundcards us adat for 8 channel signals. The Tascam dm24 only comes with tdif. This could be a big problem. (I actually has 1 adat i/o and can have expansion cards added for extra $). Digi's stuff usually is ethernet which wont work unless your on protools. Also be very careful about your softwares compatability with the mixer, if your using cubase maybe look at yamaha's control surfaces.

Read reviews too, I feel like you pay for a lot of things in a control surface you may not use (depending on the unit) ie built in effects, eq, and other things that might be better served by a plug in.

Hope this helps

 

[Robert D]

I'm quite happy with the Mackie Control. I'd suggest putting track names display capability near the top of the list, or you'll find it frustrating having to do the mental gymnastics of which channel is which track. Motorized faders are a must too.
With the track names display running across the channels, and the bank switching/track scrolling of the Mackie Control, I've really felt no urgency to add the expanders, but it's nice that they're there if and when I decide a new mic or pre isn't more important.

 

[88fingers]

Well, I definitely like the tactile experience of mixing with my hands, which is why I'm leaning that route instead of just using Cubase' or Ardour's internal mixers. RD, I actually just went and checked out a Mackie Control locally; it seems pretty nice, but it's slightly outside of my budget. I'm trying to go as little over $500 as possible so that I can also get an Earthworks SR-69 that I've been eying for awhile now. Of course, that's not to say that I won't go beyond that, it's just my goal right now. If there are no better options for less, then I'll have to go with quality. Anyone here know much about the Tascam FW-1082?

 

[pipelineaudio]

seems like the behringer one is working well in MCU mode

 

[punkin]

MCU is great...just a little spendy. Motorized faders and touch sensitive faders are cool. Just touch the fader and the track is selected. The jog/shuttle wheel is indespensible, couldn't live without it and being able to control plug-in's with the MCU is cool too. They give you application specific control surface templates which is very nice. Too many reasons why I like it to list.

The support documentation seems to come from the recording software company that you're using though. I found the supplied information pretty lame. Mackie's material pretty much focused on how to hook it up. Then, their website pointed you back to the software manufacturer's control surface support materials.

Check out Mackies website.