Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
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Here's where to talk about preamps, cables, microphones, monitors, etc.
Here's where to talk about preamps, cables, microphones, monitors, etc.
Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
I'm downsizing ... and upgrading.
Got rid of my Tascam DM24 and was either going to go with the Slate MTi, or a USB fader controller.
I need a monitor controller so I bought a simple Radial MC3.
It sounded so horrible. Stereo image completely disappeared at low volumes. Noisy pot. Sound was gritty.
I returned it thinking i had a bad unit.
Got the second one and...same thing.
I went online to search reviews (post purchase ) and found people having the same issue.
Returned it, got my money back.
Question ... I don't have the budget for something like Crane Song, Dangerous, etc ... But i did come across this ...
Mammoth Cave Audio
http://mammothcaveaudio.com
The build looks amazing.
Was looking into the Ground Control Deluxe mkII
My needs are
1. Headphone Amp
2. Multiple Inputs (if possible)
3. Dim/Mono Switch
Anyone have any good luck with a Monitor Controller for under 1k?
Been seeing some smaller boutique companies online but wanna get some opinions.
Obviously there's the Big Knob, Presonus, etc ... but my colleagues are very underwhelmed by their performance.
anyone wanna chime in?
*edited for a typo
Got rid of my Tascam DM24 and was either going to go with the Slate MTi, or a USB fader controller.
I need a monitor controller so I bought a simple Radial MC3.
It sounded so horrible. Stereo image completely disappeared at low volumes. Noisy pot. Sound was gritty.
I returned it thinking i had a bad unit.
Got the second one and...same thing.
I went online to search reviews (post purchase ) and found people having the same issue.
Returned it, got my money back.
Question ... I don't have the budget for something like Crane Song, Dangerous, etc ... But i did come across this ...
Mammoth Cave Audio
http://mammothcaveaudio.com
The build looks amazing.
Was looking into the Ground Control Deluxe mkII
My needs are
1. Headphone Amp
2. Multiple Inputs (if possible)
3. Dim/Mono Switch
Anyone have any good luck with a Monitor Controller for under 1k?
Been seeing some smaller boutique companies online but wanna get some opinions.
Obviously there's the Big Knob, Presonus, etc ... but my colleagues are very underwhelmed by their performance.
anyone wanna chime in?
*edited for a typo
Last edited by wonder on Sun Nov 29, 2015 12:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Dual Quad-Core 2.8 GHz Mac Pro 3,1 • Yosemite • 24 GB RAM • MOTU 2408mk3 (x's 2) • DP 10.xx • Finale 25 • Logic • PT 12 • +outboard gear
Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
Coleman Audio M3PH: http://colemanaudio.com/
They've been around for a long time, they're built like tanks and a lot of people use them. You also get a terrific headphone amp that's got plenty of power to feed your cue. The only downside is that it's passive and you're subject to capacitive loading if you're dealing with long cable lengths, but this is true with any passive controller.
For what it's worth, I've been slamming my M3 for 12hrs/day since'99 and it's still going strong. They're not nearly as pretty as the Mammoth Cave, but I suppose it's what's on the inside that matters.
Good luck on your search,
rich
They've been around for a long time, they're built like tanks and a lot of people use them. You also get a terrific headphone amp that's got plenty of power to feed your cue. The only downside is that it's passive and you're subject to capacitive loading if you're dealing with long cable lengths, but this is true with any passive controller.
For what it's worth, I've been slamming my M3 for 12hrs/day since'99 and it's still going strong. They're not nearly as pretty as the Mammoth Cave, but I suppose it's what's on the inside that matters.
Good luck on your search,
rich
2012 Mac Pro 3.46 Ghz Westmere 12 Core_96G Ram_OSX 10.12.6_DP 9.5
Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
I'm not too worried about look. I just happened to find Mammoth during my searches and liked the build quality.rnappi wrote:Coleman Audio M3PH: http://colemanaudio.com/
They've been around for a long time, they're built like tanks and a lot of people use them. You also get a terrific headphone amp that's got plenty of power to feed your cue. The only downside is that it's passive and you're subject to capacitive loading if you're dealing with long cable lengths, but this is true with any passive controller.
For what it's worth, I've been slamming my M3 for 12hrs/day since'99 and it's still going strong. They're not nearly as pretty as the Mammoth Cave, but I suppose it's what's on the inside that matters.
Good luck on your search,
rich
A friend of mine has the Coleman and he loves it.
I'll look into finding a used one possibly.
Dual Quad-Core 2.8 GHz Mac Pro 3,1 • Yosemite • 24 GB RAM • MOTU 2408mk3 (x's 2) • DP 10.xx • Finale 25 • Logic • PT 12 • +outboard gear
- Gravity Jim
- Posts: 2005
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Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
Maybe this works for you, maybe not:
I realized as I dumped my Tascam DM3200 for the Raven (and was shopping for the same stuff as you and thought the Coleman looked good) that I had a headphone amp and could easily switch monitors and check a mix in mono via Digital Performer's output... And that all I really needed was a passive volume control.
So I bought a TC Electronics Volume Pilot. It's a big, brushed aluminum (perfect desktop match for a Mac keyboard) knob with one long cable with an XLR breakout at the end. It's a passive pot that plugs in between your interface and monitors, so it doesn't affect the sound at all. Simple, elegant, just nice to use, and about 50 bucks online. Absolutely perfect for my set up.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... &A=details
I realized as I dumped my Tascam DM3200 for the Raven (and was shopping for the same stuff as you and thought the Coleman looked good) that I had a headphone amp and could easily switch monitors and check a mix in mono via Digital Performer's output... And that all I really needed was a passive volume control.
So I bought a TC Electronics Volume Pilot. It's a big, brushed aluminum (perfect desktop match for a Mac keyboard) knob with one long cable with an XLR breakout at the end. It's a passive pot that plugs in between your interface and monitors, so it doesn't affect the sound at all. Simple, elegant, just nice to use, and about 50 bucks online. Absolutely perfect for my set up.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... &A=details
Jim Bordner
MacPro 5,1 (3.33Ghz 12-core), 32g RAM, OS X 10.14.6 • MOTU DP 10.11 • Logic Pro X 10.2.5 • Waves Platinum, UAD-2, Slate Digital, Komplete, Omnisphere 2, LASS, CineSamples, Chipsounds, V Collection 5[color]
MacPro 5,1 (3.33Ghz 12-core), 32g RAM, OS X 10.14.6 • MOTU DP 10.11 • Logic Pro X 10.2.5 • Waves Platinum, UAD-2, Slate Digital, Komplete, Omnisphere 2, LASS, CineSamples, Chipsounds, V Collection 5[color]
Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
Gravity Jim wrote:Maybe this works for you, maybe not:
I realized as I dumped my Tascam DM3200 for the Raven (and was shopping for the same stuff as you and thought the Coleman looked good) that I had a headphone amp and could easily switch monitors and check a mix in mono via Digital Performer's output... And that all I really needed was a passive volume control.
So I bought a TC Electronics Volume Pilot. It's a big, brushed aluminum (perfect desktop match for a Mac keyboard) knob with one long cable with an XLR breakout at the end. It's a passive pot that plugs in between your interface and monitors, so it doesn't affect the sound at all. Simple, elegant, just nice to use, and about 50 bucks online. Absolutely perfect for my set up.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... &A=details
Thats so funny ... i just ordered a Level Pilot to get me by till I can get the "full monty".
Dual Quad-Core 2.8 GHz Mac Pro 3,1 • Yosemite • 24 GB RAM • MOTU 2408mk3 (x's 2) • DP 10.xx • Finale 25 • Logic • PT 12 • +outboard gear
- Gravity Jim
- Posts: 2005
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Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
It's a cool unit.
When you have it, start looking for simple strategies to handle monitor switching and such in DP. You might find the Level Pilot is all you need.
When you have it, start looking for simple strategies to handle monitor switching and such in DP. You might find the Level Pilot is all you need.
Jim Bordner
MacPro 5,1 (3.33Ghz 12-core), 32g RAM, OS X 10.14.6 • MOTU DP 10.11 • Logic Pro X 10.2.5 • Waves Platinum, UAD-2, Slate Digital, Komplete, Omnisphere 2, LASS, CineSamples, Chipsounds, V Collection 5[color]
MacPro 5,1 (3.33Ghz 12-core), 32g RAM, OS X 10.14.6 • MOTU DP 10.11 • Logic Pro X 10.2.5 • Waves Platinum, UAD-2, Slate Digital, Komplete, Omnisphere 2, LASS, CineSamples, Chipsounds, V Collection 5[color]
- mikehalloran
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Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
Really, you should listen for yourself.Obviously there's the Big Knob, Presonus, etc ... but my colleagues are very underwhelmed by there performance.
In my neck of the woods, the Mackie is the go-to monitor controller. The Presonus gets a lot of love,, too.
DP 11.31; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave
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Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
Agreed. But these are a few guys whom I trust and respect their ears.mikehalloran wrote:Really, you should listen for yourself.Obviously there's the Big Knob, Presonus, etc ... but my colleagues are very underwhelmed by there performance.
In my neck of the woods, the Mackie is the go-to monitor controller. The Presonus gets a lot of love,, too.
They both went with Coleman in the end.
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- Rick Cornish
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Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
The Apogee Quartet does everything you want and sounds awesome. I've been running mine for about three years and have never regretted the purchase. Not cheap, but I believe they're on sale now.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Rick Cornish
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64mB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs, and Mac OS Sonoma). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64mB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs, and Mac OS Sonoma). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
- mikehalloran
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Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
Well, after much reading and buying this and that — and returning same — I went and bought a Radial MC3 to replace my "ok but not great" Behringer.I need a monitor controller so I bought a simple Radial MC3.
It sounded so horrible. Stereo image completely disappeared at low volumes. Noisy pot. Sound was gritty.
By tweaking the trim pot, I have no issues with the stereo image collapsing even at below whisper volume. I like the ability to set the DIM pot level.
It is dead quiet. "Grit" in the audio? None. Here's hoping that it stays this way. I am going to separate the sub from my mains this weekend to see if I like it better.
I considered the Mammoth Cave but like the Mackie Big Knob and Xenix, it just takes up too much real estate on my desk. The controls are better placed but no control of the sub from the desktop tipped the scales in favor of the Radial so I took the chance. Crawling on the floor to tweak my subwoofer is not one of those things I can do easily so the trim pot on the MC3 made me want to try one out.
I question their claim of being a passive unit. There is a power supply, necessary for the LEDs and the headphone amp to work, of course. However, if you disconnect it, the entire unit shuts down. Hmmmm...???
I wish it was a bit more ergonomically designed but it is doing the job nicely and that is what counts.
DP 11.31; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5.2, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 Pro, Toast 20 Pro
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5.2, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 Pro, Toast 20 Pro
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Re: Monitor Controller ... Mammoth Cave?
You might like this product line from New Old Sound. I have the McONE and love it... http://new-old-sound.com/products