What's the point of the hardware interface control panels ?

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- What's the point of the hardware interface control panels ?

Posted by BelgianGuru on Aug-19-2004 12:47:

What's the point of the hardware interface control panels ?

Hi,

and btw Hey Cheggy ! I thought something happened to you, didn't see you posting anymore lol

Now, I went to the store this morning, and I saw all these neat toys wiiii. I played on the virus a bit which was fun as hell, looked complicated though

But I saw this thing, I believe it's called a 'Mackie control' or something ? What's the point of it ? Is it simply so you don't have to drag your mouse around anymore ? And if I have sliders and knobs on my midi controller keyboard, what's the point of having it then ?

Am I missing something here ? Is it JUST to replace the mouse moving/clicking with sliders ? Or is there built in effects or something ?

Posted by DJDIRTY on Aug-19-2004 15:29:

Hi, I use mackie control to Control my cubase sx. You can get avay with totaly not touching the mouse. I still use the mouse, but i hardly touch any sliders in the mixer windows with a mouse anymore. You also have other function buttons that you can assign to. Like create new track, or any other function -that's up to you, to make your working in cubase or logic faster, less frustrating.
They created mackie control to speed up your work flow, all the main functions are right in front of you, or like i said you can assign the most used ones so you have them under your button and not have to do keyboard shortcuts or search with the mouse on screen. And the sliders on your mackie control transform the software mixer into hardware like unit.. except you get no audio going in, it's all in software... but It's like a virtuall mixer with hardware controls..
I use it all the time, and working without one would take me a lot of adjustment.. It's nice addition to your studio..

Check out mackies website for more info..
he's a link to the pictures of my mackie control
http://community.webshots.com/user/djdirty

Posted by BelgianGuru on Aug-19-2004 15:46:

Hmm, but I noticed they didn't come cheap at all, why not buy a fresh new synth with that money instead ? I do understand it's a load more fun with one though, I definately want one, but I don't think I'll get one the next couple of years, unless I happen to earn a little more cash then usual.

Does it also help if you let's say .. have like 10 instrulenbts, and not that many midi inputs on your soundcard, to simply put them in the mixer, and then one giant midi cable out to your soundcard ? Solving the lack of midi inputs on your soundcard..

Cheers !

PS : How much did you pay for it ? Did you buy it new or used ?
PPS : Your studio is sweet as sugar, and hot as a centerfold ! Nice !

Posted by DJDIRTY on Aug-19-2004 16:07:

Hey there..

Well I got the mackie control new, it was aboout $1600 cdn when i got it, and it was a while ago, prety much right after they came out..
You can get them chaper on e-bay thease days...

I was thinking about another synth when buying the mackie control, but i owned many synths before, and right now i have pretty much what i need. I can do anything with my virus c + i have the powercore virus as well, and whole bunch of softsynths, and the cs6x with AN1x board inside it ... The only thing I am thinking about is a nicer set of monitors, and used nord 3 somtimes in the future....

Posted by BelgianGuru on Aug-19-2004 16:12:

That's a lot of money fop more comfort though. Don't think I'll ever buy it hearing that price

Posted by Dj Thy on Aug-19-2004 20:54:

Well it's certainly easier to work (a lot). Generally that's for the generation that still knows how to work with hardware.

It's like synths. Don't you prefer fiddling real knobs on a hardware synth, instead of tweaking the same buttons with your mouse, on the screen. Same thing.

And expensive. Well quality has it's price. Communication with several software packages must be ensured. Design must be so that it speeds up workflow, not the opposite. If it's too expensive, take a look at the new Behringer stuff (yeah I know, Behringer... compared to high quality brands they're crap, but you can't complain for the price), like the BCF/BCR2000. If you are happy with the sound of your audio app (so, you don't want an outboard mixer "for the sound"), and you want hands on control, those things are ideal for that.

Mackie Control is one of the most popular ones, because it's well supported, and well designed (motor faders by P+G, I'm building my own controller, for the crappiest motorfaders by P+G you pay 80 eur a piece...). But that doesn't mean there aren't other companies that make similar stuff, like Radikal Technologies, Doepfer, Kenton.

Besides, if you think the Mackie is expensive, take a look at the new control surfaces from Digidesign and SSL (agreed, they contain audio parts too). The fully fledged versions go for around 60000$ (and boy, that SSL AWS900 is great).