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dubstar

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 17, 2008
73
0
I am looking to get a dedicated controller for the mixer. I have a Novation Remote SL 37, but I dont like having to toggle back and forth to control the mixer.

I am interested in these 4 controllers:

Evolution uc33e
Korg NanoKontrol
Behringer BCF2000
Novation Nocturn(knobs, so probably not advisable)

Anyone have experience with any of these, good or bad?

I want something with easy setup/learn functions. or already mapped for the mixer would be awesome.
 
I am looking to get a dedicated controller for the mixer. I have a Novation Remote SL 37, but I dont like having to toggle back and forth to control the mixer.

I am interested in these 4 controllers:

Evolution uc33e
Korg NanoKontrol
Behringer BCF2000
Novation Nocturn(knobs, so probably not advisable)

Anyone have experience with any of these, good or bad?

I want something with easy setup/learn functions. or already mapped for the mixer would be awesome.

I can recommend the Novation BCF2000 with a few caveats.

Mainly that it isn't touch sensitive, so if you want to overwrite automation with touch mode it can be a pain, but there is a work around I found.

Now the following steps will make your BCF2000 almost touch sensetive, in doing this you will lose the 8 Function keys (automatically set up for your screensets, for which I use my number pad anyway, it's right next to my BCF2000).

What I've done is reassigned the buttons, so what was mute is now a button which when pressed tells Logic that a touch sensetive fader has been toched, so you can write over any automation without fighting the motorised faders, when the button is released the faders go back to moving around to whatever automation was already there. This means that you'll have to use two hands to do it and you'll be limited to doing this with 4 channels at a time (four fingers on the buttons and four on the faders), unless you have more than two hands.

When finished your top buttons (the first ones directly under the V-Pots) will have these assignments.

Top button - Touch on/off
Lower shift and Top Button - Mute
Upper shift and Top Button - Solo

Now heres how you do it,

In logic go to preferences>control surfaces>controller assignments

Now go to Tracks>(no Mode)> Ch 1 Fader

Follow the same path for fader 1-8

In the dialoge box copy the following into Touch/Release, replacing what was there

For fader 1 - 90 10 Lo7
For fader 2 - 90 11 Lo7
For Fader 3 - 90 12 Lo7
For Fader 4 - 90 13 Lo7
For Fader 5 - 90 14 Lo7
For fader 6 - 90 15 Lo7
For Fader 7 - 90 16 Lo7
For Fader 8 - 90 17 Lo7

Next go to Tracks>(nomode)>Ch 1 Mute

Follow the same path for mute 1-8

In the dialogue box copy the following into Value Change, replacing what was there

For Mute 1 - 90 36 7F
For Mute 2 - 90 37 7F
For Mute 3 - 90 38 7F
For Mute 4 - 90 39 7F
For Mute 5 - 90 3A 7F
For Mute 6 - 90 3B 7F
For Mute 7 - 90 3C 7F
For Mute 8 - 90 3D 7F

Next go to Control Surface: Logic Control>(No Mode)>F1

Follow the same path for F1-F8

In the dialoge box delete the data in Value Change
Do this for F1-F8 (if this last step isn't done every time you mute a track Logic will change screensets)

Since working out the above, I may have changed what I do personally, but using the same technique.
Also you'll want this

http://www.opuslocus.com/lcxview/

But with a few issues, the BCF2000 is well worth the price, as any other motorised fader box cost between 6 and 10 times the amount (i.e. the mackie, and/or Euphonix)

But if you can stretch with the money I'd get a Novation Nocturn too (I love mine), as they are fantastic for plugins and instruments, whereas the BCF2000 can be troublesome with those, but excellent for your levels, pans, sends and basic mixing parameters.

Edit.

Ahh you've got the Novation SL, so the notcurn would be pointless as it's included on the SL more or less :)
 
thanks so much for the detailed response.

You're welcome :D

As I recall I hated my BCF2000 after purchase, just because of it not being touch sensitive, but after fooling it into thinking it was it became a really useful tool.

But for Plugins, and instruments the Automap system by Novation is perfect, especially now it's matured, whereas it's not as intuitive using the BCF2000.

I do keep on thinking about a Mackie controller, but it's not worth the money for my needs considering the BCF2000 and Notcturn do just as good a job more or less.

One quick word of warning though, and I'm not sure how common this is, my BCF2000 manged to fry its USB port (after about 3 years), but it works fine using my old midi interface, so no real harm done.
 
AC-7 Pro

If you have an Ipad you might want to give AC-7 Pro a try. It works great for me, it's based on the Mackie control surface. Make sure to follow the instructions when setting it up.

I was very very skeptical about this app. There are a few negative reviews out there but I would try it before you buy anything else.
 
good suggestion, but I don't have an iPad, if they were a couple hundred cheaper I would go for that option.
 
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