Has anyone got experience of using USB hardware controllers? I'm looking to control two mixers worth of channels (28 channels in total) in Reason from a single device, instead of using the rodent to fine-tune the sliders every time.

I'm loking at either the Mackie Control Universal or Behringer B-Control Fader BCF 2000. Any reccomendations / horror stories?

Hardware controllers are basically useless unless your software provides tonnes of functions for it. Eg. in Cubase I can use my BCF to control volume, pan, EQ, sends and all kinds of other shit, for all channels, without having to remap anything or dick around with presets. The only other cheap controller which offers this is the Novation Remote, but they don't have motorised faders.

Mackies are overkill. Alot of people sell them soon after buying them. A BCF will give you the same (important) functionality, just less channels at once. If reason has full Mackie control support, get a BCF, don't even think twice. If reason doesn't, buy a Novation Remote.

Otherwise, don't buy anything :P
Every other controller on the market is crap; you'll rarely use it and you will regret it.

<3

Thanks for the reply mate - With Reason you can edit the control mappings so if I can nail the sliders and the EQ's I'll be well happy. It'll sit nicely along with a brand new desktop audio PC setup. I'll post the spec and some pics as soon as it's all in place.