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FRONTIER DESIGN Alphatrack

Anyone use/own one of these with Cubase 4? I was going to get the Steinberg CC121 but these seem much better for less than half the price

Good and bad. It really all boils down to how well your DAW software supports the features. When I used Cubase it worked pretty well, but when I switched to Logic the support was not there, so I did not use it much. The unit is of modest build quality, not cheaply built but not solid either.

What else would you like to know?

That's about all dude,i just wanted to know how well it worked in Cubase really ie buggy/glitchy/stable, im after a well priced, fairly well built DAW controller. The cc121(which looked a good idea when it came out) seems like a glorified eq controller, i dont use Cubase eq's at all so seems pointless. Plus with something like the Alphatrack you seem to get more features for half the price

Alot is also going to depend on your workflow. I found myself not using a lot of the features simply because it was easier to just do it with the mouse. The switching between tracks can be a pain because generally I am not working on two tracks side by side.

Where it is extremely useful is during mixdown when making volume adjustments and not having to use the mouse. You can just listen and move the fader, without having to concentrate on holding the mouse button down. It also got a bit of use making EQ automations, however I found this a bit difficult with the knobs on the device because they do not turn very quickly. They are OK for general adjustments, but any big "filter-like" sweeps are damn near impossible. The resolution on the knobs is simply too coarse.

Cheers for the info dude

I use my AlphaTrack like an extension of my hand, primarily with Sonar, but also with Cubase (Studio 4/SL3). It's a very flexible unit, primarily for mixing, but also for tracking. I'm pretty old-school though - I come from a very musical background and spent over a decade working as a live audio/lighting tech, so I prefer having real sliders, knobs, buttons, keyboards, etc. over clicking a mouse whether I'm tracking, mixing, or composing.

I disagree with the earlier comment about the build quality - yes, it's primarily plastic, but I've had mine since the day they were available and I've dropped it countless times, had headphones, mics, etc. dropped on it, and my 1-yo son beats the hell out of it every chance he gets. Yet, it still looks nearly new and functions flawlessly.

Frontier Designs is also a very well supported company. They have an excellent forum and their engineers (and, I believe, their president/CEO?) are the mods, so they're pretty active there, very responsive, and very accomodating to suggestions. For example, a year or so ago I asked if there was a way to assign a custom function to Sonar's input trim control. There wasn't at that time, but FD contacted Cakewalk immediately, added the functionality, and a week later they asked me to beta test it. A few days later they released the update. THAT's the kind of customer service that earns my loyalty!




edit: typ0

You should check out the Presonus Faderport as well



Seems like a better choice, cheaper too.

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik so I prefer having real sliders, knobs, buttons, keyboards, etc. over clicking a mouse whether I'm tracking, mixing, or composing. edit: typ0

Same here dude, thanks for the reply

quote:

Originally posted by Subtle You should check out the Presonus Faderport as well Seems like a better choice, cheaper too.

Cheaper option but seems to lack features

Interface looks better and the design is more streamlined, and it has a slightly faster fader.

quote:

Originally posted by Subtle Interface looks better and the design is more streamlined, and it has a slightly faster fader.

The cc121 has these qualities but again, lacks features

presonus needs more knobs

i dont see the value in single fader controllers... you're going to be smashing the "next mixer channel" button so much it's just quicker to click it with your mouse.

i think save your money and get a mackie control, novation sl remote zero... or just get a griffin powermate/contour shuttle and use it like an AI knob.

quote:

Originally posted by echosystm i dont see the value in single fader controllers... you're going to be smashing the "next mixer channel" button so much it's just quicker to click it with your mouse. i think save your money and get a mackie control, novation sl remote zero... or just get a griffin powermate/contour shuttle and use it like an AI knob.

this too

I only have space for a small controller

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