Pro Tools Controller?

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booyah14

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Alright I've bought the basic recording stuff, a digi rack, computer all that jazz. I hope to start recording bands for some money within the next few months so I had a question about a controller. I definitely want one down the road basically to bring in customers and for the wow factor. Since I've always just used the computer I think it would be a more enjoyable experience. I must first say that a control 24 is not an option because I have heard the horror stories and am not interested. I must also say that I know I have a lot more important things to get before a controller, but I figure it never hurts to get a few suggestions to start narrowing down what I want. I do not want anything that either looks cheap or is not fairly big, I'm thinking about 24 tracks since I would want to record the bands live for the most part. Any suggestions would be awesome.

Also, if anyone could explain how some people use different types of mixers even though they aren't linked to pro tools. I have never understood this, so any comments would be good. Thanks.
 
The Digi002 is pretty pricey, but works exclusively with ProTools.
 
the 002 works more than just with PT. but if you already have PT, there is no point in getting the 002 too just for the control surface (unless you want to upgrade)
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/category/c808
there is a bunch of ones there.
And: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/category/c784

The Mackie Control Universal is nice. I personally liked the Control 24. It has a ton of features and is used in a lot of studios. The Pro Control is pretty cool too, but will be very pricey. What setup are you running right now?
 
So you want big and non cheesy? Honestly your cheapest option is probably the control 24, go to duc.digidesign.com and check out the control 24 section, its like any other piece of hardware, sometimes it breaks and usually when it does the people who have the broken ones bark much louder than the ones who's gear works fine. I'm sure there are thousands of people that are more than happy with their control 24's. If you want something simple tascam makes a 24 fader board, its not completely cheesy looking but also doesn't give you that big board look so that may be an option. I think mackie makes a few control surfaces that you can add additional faders to but I'm one that doesn't care for the looks of that. If you want flashy try digi's d-control its only 15 grand, well 30 if you want 24 faders.
 
I really think the control 24 would be the most logical choice for me but I have just heard so many horror stories and it definitely sounds like they just don't have any support for it anymore. Any suggestions would be great. Been looking around at the ones mentioned so far and a few of them might work out.
 
99% of the Control 24's problems have been solved, and it is still very supported. Digidesign still views it as a very functional controller, and I would think it should be supported for some time now.
 
booyah14 said:
I definitely want one down the road basically to bring in customers and for the wow factor.
Click to expand...
You mean you actually let your customers into the control room?!? :eek:
:eek:


















:D
 
Haha with the plan to get them to record there strictly!
 
i lure mine in with promises of candy and cute puppies



....then when they're not looking, I record them! bwahaha
:D
 
Could someone explain the faders to me. I read it but I don't think I quite understand what they were saying about them.
 
The faders are motorized, so they will move along with your automation in Pro Tools, or any other program you are using. You can also write automation from the faders, so you can have a more natural feel to fader moves instead of using a mouce, or the pencil tool.

Assignable in banks means that by defualt (most likely) the controller will assign track one in Pro Tools to fader one on the controller. If you have a 32 channel session, you just have to bank over and the controller will automatically reassign your tracks from left to right. You can also assign like the drums to be channels 1-8, guitars 9-12, and so on.

Look at the faders as being a controller for paramaters in Pro Tools. Lets say you have a snare on track one. When you move the first fader on the control surface, the fader in Pro Tools moves in relation to the fader moves you are doing on the controller.

You can assign multiple parameters to those faders. So if you want to control the level of a plug in, you can do some from those faders.

Fader flip means that you can assign the fader to control just about anything you want it to, while volume control will move up to the rotary encoders.
 
Does this controller have any support at all?
Also, I don't know what it's called but do the faders memorize their places after you have adjusted volumes?
 
booyah14 said:
Does this controller have any support at all?
Also, I don't know what it's called but do the faders memorize their places after you have adjusted volumes?
Click to expand...

Yes. The controller displays current track information, and that would be refellected by the fader positions.

I assume you are talking about tech support? I would assume they would. E-mail them and ask?
 
I should rephrase that. Say I have gotten the basic levels where I want them and turn this off. If I worked on something else, and later loaded this up, would it then go back to the levels I had before?
 
All it does is read where the levels are in Pro Tools, then reflect that on the board.

Lets say you are working on a guitar track. You move the fader to +3, and then close the session.

When you open it back up and turn the controller on, the controller should snap that fader to +3.

But if you were to shut the controller off, and change something, then turn the controller back on, then it will read your current settings.
 
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