What Fader Controller should I get?

[musixgood]

Hi I switch between using Ableton Live Lite 8 and Adobe Audition 3.0 for multitracking from my digital piano, vocals, and sometimes micing acoustic guitar, all through a Fast Track Pro USB interface hooked directly to my laptop. I found out about mixing surfaces such as the Presonus Faderport and Behringer BCF2000 which I am both really wowed at, but unsure of their actual purposes in terms of me as a beginner. Are the advantages of the Behringer BCF2000 over the the Faderport worth it, or is there possibly another controller anybody would recommend? Thanks!

 

[musixgood]

Also, are there any other neat accessories or equipment that I could add on for better convenience / sound quality? All answers would be appreciated!

 

[Seidy]

Also, are there any other neat accessories or equipment that I could add on for better convenience / sound quality?

decent set of monitor speakers and room treatment

 

[musixgood]

bah i live in a dorm tho, so i wouldn't think nailing foam in the walls would be a good idea... let alone changing the layout of the room itself :/

i keep looking at beginner guides like tweakheadz but none of them say how to expand from the basic setup, i.e. buying rack equipment or what not. any help on this?

 

[Jim Lad]

In all honesty, unless you have spent the last thirty years glued to a mixing board, there is little advantage (if any) to buying a surface controller unless it serves other functions such as audio interface or stand alone recorder.
My Korg D3200 will act as a control surface as will many of the stand alone recorders with midi I/O.
The Zoom Series of stand alone recorders will also serve as control surfaces and the Zoom R16 also serves as an audio interface but spending the money on a surface controller that does only that? Naw.
You're in a dorm so I'm presuming from that that you are a student and were actually born into the computer age.
If so, you will do just fine with a mouse.

 

[legionserial]

The Tascam US-2400 is pretty awesome if you can find one. 24 bankable motorized faders, all the knobs and switches you'd want for EQ's, effects, muting, soloing etc. Lots of pretty lights. They were discontinued a few years ago but they still float around on ebay. I used to own one. I sold it because I wasn't using it much and I had some unexpected but urgent expenses. I regret it to this day.

 

[CFox]

In all honesty, unless you have spent the last thirty years glued to a mixing boar, there is little advantage (if any) to buying a surface controller unless it serves other functions such as audio interface or stand alone recorder.
My Korg D3200 will act as a control surface as will many of the stand alone recorders with midi I/O.
The Zoom Series of stand alone recorders will also serve as control surfaces and the Zoom R16 also serves as an audio interface but spending the money on a surface controller that does only that? Naw.
You're in a dorm so I'm presuming from that that you are a student and were actually born into the computer age.
If so, you will do just fine with a mouse.

^^^^This^^^^ +1

You, need to ask yourself whether its just gear lust you are dealing with.

 

[legionserial]

^^^^This^^^^ +1

You, need to ask yourself whether its just gear lust you are dealing with.

This is true. For what they cost, and given that they add nothing to your sound, just a little bit of convenience (which is debatable depending on your workflow), you need to assess whether your money might be better spent elsewhere.

 

[Jim Lad]

I sold it because I wasn't using it much

Once I discovered that the Korg worked as a control surface, I didn't need one any more.