MIDI Control Surface

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MereImagery

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Does anybody know of any mixers that can send and receive MIDI ... here's what I'm looking for: I'm using SONAR (replacement for Cakewalk) in the studio ... I'd like to employ a MIDI mixer as a control surface for the software. SONAR let's you do that very easily. In most cases you can even control motorized sliders from SONAR. I was hoping to find a Peavey StudioMix without the old Cakewalk but, having struck out everywhere I could think of to buy one, I'll have to start looking at other possibilities ... any ideas??

P.S. I know about the CM MotorMix but, being a ProTools surface I'm not sure how easily it could be made to work with SONAR.

Denny
 
There are none...

SONAR has a serious shortcoming in that it will not act as a slave when it omes to receiving MMC commands. I have enquired with Cakewalk directly and they have no suggestions.

I like SONAR, but may end up changing to another program for just this reason.
 
Hi Denny,

The StudioMix is still listed up on the Peavey site:
http://www.peavey.com/amr/smwhat.html

I'm not sure if you can purchase it directly from them though.

Best,
Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - Author of the Cakewalk Power!, Sound Forge Power!, and SONAR Power! books, and Publisher of the DigiFreq music technology newsletter. Learn about more cool music technology tips and techniques, and win free music products by getting a FREE subscription to DigiFreq... go to:
http://www.garrigus.com/
 
Thanks guys! I purchased a Peavey PC 1600X ... 16 channel MIDI mixer ... it hasn't arrived yet, though. I wish I'd seen Bassman's post earlier ... Bassman: can you tell me what your experience has been with it? How well did it work and how useful it was?

Scott ... I'll check out the Peavey Site again but I don't think you can buy one directly from Peavey either.

Schwa ... in the Console View you can right click on virtually anything and set it for remote control by a MIDI device ... I haven't tried it yet but if it doesn't work then I'm in for an unpleasant experience!

Thanks again,
Denny
 
Good Luck...

I have personally had some bad luck with stuff that "should work", but YMMV. The thing is, if you have to train the device for each control, that would get pretty tedious, as there are several parameters per channel I would like to see addressed on a control surface.

This subject is a bit of a crusade for me, but I can't say I've found anything that will address my needs.

I hope your controller works out for you.
 
Yeah ... I've wondered about the same thing ... will I have to laboriously assign everything every time I start a new file or project? I'm wondering if a script or macro could be written to assign some defaults ... oh well ... time will tell ... Thanks!

Denny
 
Hey Guys,

The Studio Mix is very tightly integrated with cakewalk. All of the controls are pre mapped, and easily customizable. My only grip is that each track is directly mapped to each fader, ie track 1 fader 1 or if you select bank 9-16 track 8 fader 1. which means if you have archived tracks say on 3,4, and 5 you have dead faders on the console. It can be fixed if you move the tracks around before mixing, but i found that to be a pain. Other than that, it works as advertised. I must admit it is still cool to load a project and watch the faders snap into place. the transport controls are nice to have and the jog wheel works pretty good too.

Let me know if you have any other questions..

Bassman
 
did you ebay this thing?

It seems like it didn't really catch on. Nobody really talks about it.

If I could get one cheap, I'd like to try it with Sonar.

You still have this one for sale, Bassman?

-shack
 
Re: There are none...

schwa said:
SONAR has a serious shortcoming in that it will not act as a slave when it omes to receiving MMC commands. I have enquired with Cakewalk directly and they have no suggestions.

I like SONAR, but may end up changing to another program for just this reason.
Click to expand...

Schwa,
This is not true. Check out my thread http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=45048

Also, check out the Sonar user group meeting in Boston at Berklee (Mon. 3/25) if you want the dope on this and other stuff. The guy there told me that both the Studiomix and the PC 1600 work fine for this. He also suggested I could use my VS-880 HD recorder to do this.

When I hooked up my VS-880 to send MMC, all I had to do in Sonar was right-click on the control in console view that I wanted to move from the 880.
Right click, select "Remote Control", select "Controller." Click on "Learn" and move your hardware control.
For me, fader was control 7, pan was control 10. Make each one unique by putting them on a different midi channel.

Bassman,
Track 1 in Sonar does not need to be controlled by fader 1. It can be whatever you choose. At least in my configuration. I guess that's a negative for the Studiomix.

Denny,
What I did to eliminate a rework every time I have a new project is to create a Sonar file (.cwp now) I named "Template" and set this and my track assignments, inputs, track names, etc. Then I do a save as when I start something new. It saves a little time anyway.
 
You tell 'em, Chuck!

I've been using Cakewalk products since TwelveTone Systems Cakewalk v2. I use Sonar now and control the faders with a Fostex VM200 mixer. It works great. I also use a Roland VS840 with it. Sonar Auto-syncs with that when I hook it in via MIDI and Digital S/PDIF I/O.

I've done the same...I created a template file in which I preconfigured all of the remote control for sliders and knobs in the console view...and that's where I start every time.

Therefore, Sonar can be the master or the slave, without any issues with MTC/MMC.
 
MIDI control yes, MMC no...

What I indicated in my message a few months is true. SONAR does not accept MMC control messages, you can do the remote control dance to get the faders associated with a MIDI controller, but that is not MMC.

If MMC were working in SONAR, it would not be necessary to use a specifically configured template in order to use your surface. Further, you would get a number of other controls working as well. For me one of the big one is the transport control, along with mute, arm, and solo.

In my conversations and correspondence with the Cakewalk folks, they have indicated that better control surface support in coming in the future, but I have not seen any indications as to just how or when it will be available.

I am still using SONAR FWIW, and would add a Tascam DM-24 in a minute if I thought they would work well together.
 
OK, I'm listening.

If MMC were working in SONAR, it would not be necessary to use a specifically configured template in order to use your surface. Further, you would get a number of other controls working as well.
Click to expand...

I was not aware of that.

Most of my experience with a Cakewalk/Roland VS sync is with midi timecode - with either one master or slave, but both the PC and HD recorder rolling.

My desire for the "VS as control surface" scenario required the VS to be in a monitor mode - neither playing back or recording, just sending midi messages. I assumed this was an example of MMC since I'm not using MTC. There is also a setting on the VS that must be set to MMC=Master.

Thanks for the info. I'm still euphoric over the fact that I don't have to use the mouse for all my fader and pan automation and that I can still use the VS.
 
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