Mackie Control Universal + Extender Configuration

SixStringGeek · Post by **SixStringGeek** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:35 pm

With the new MCU Pro coming out, the non-pro's have been available at fire sale prices (about 60% of new). So I took advantage of that and scored one MCU + 3 extenders. Unable to tell if they can live nicely on the same MIDI bus, I solved the problem by getting a MOTU Microlite MIDI interface to drive them with each surface getting its own MIDI bus. So far so far.

Configured the Control Surface Driver in MOTU. Good.

Turned them on and watched in wonder as all the little faders did their little calibration dance. Joy oh Joy! Except for one fader on one extender - called Mackie for warranty replacement.

Read the Mackie manual and inited the boards in mackie mode. Good. In DP, I created 24 stereo audio tracks, 8 aux tracks and a master fader. Saved this mixer layout as "24x8x1".

Tried the solo/mute/rec buttons on the channels of the mackie - the screen versions show the changes. Good.

The mackie status lights on the solo/mute/rec buttons do not change to echo the stats. Bad? Should they? Is there some MIDI loopback I need to set up for that?

Quitting DP, then relaunching causes the Mackie to go a little nutty and leaves faders/lights in random states.

Panner led status do not change to reflect position. Same problem as status lights?

Moving faders on Mackie moves the fader in DP - once. Subsequent moves of the mackie faders simply move themselves back.

Other oddities occur. So it seems to sort of work, but I don't feel like I've quite got it dialed in. Any experienced MCU users, please chime in.

giles117 · Post by **giles117** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:39 pm

Those glitches are normal to the MCU's

It can be annoying. I just powercycle and/or open the control surface setup window and close it... Does a reset and off you go....

When you get the lost fader movement you described, the MIDI has glitched. I have a microlite as well, and periodically I had to unplug the USB and plug back up....

Dwetmaster · Post by **Dwetmaster** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:40 pm

I would say that you have to make sure you have the latest firmware on your MCU and all the latest driver you might need. My MC works really well.

Where did you get your deal. I'm actively looking for an extender...

SixStringGeek · Post by **SixStringGeek** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:23 pm

Dwetmaster wrote:Where did you get your deal. I'm actively looking for an extender...

I do most of my shopping at zzounds.com. They usually have the best price, they have 30 day money back guarantee (which they have been good about honoring) and everybody I've ever gotten on the phone over there is a musician.

They had the MCU for $699 and extenders for $499 but they are all gone now.

The firmware is v2.1.0 - is there newer?

SixStringGeek · Post by **SixStringGeek** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:01 am

Well, sort of. I suspect the USB hub I'm using isn't up to the job. Figured this out when trying to play a regular MIDI sound module from a controller keyboard. Kept getting stuck notes or dropped MIDI data. Which would explain the extreme squirreliness of the Mackie - half the MIDI events are falling on the floor.

I eliminated the hub, plugged the microlite into the USB port directly, and it is MUCH better. Moved my controller keyboard to MIDI IN 5 on that and things are working as expected. Of course, I have not port for the iLok or anything else.

Happily, I just ordered a new USB hub with more ports - here's hoping it can handle the load because I havent even got all the USB devices I have plugged in all at once right now.

Thanks for the tips.

jbsound · Post by **jbsound** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:41 pm

I wonder if this is just something with DP, rather than the MCU. I've had issues with DP and a HUI I owned for a number of years, running a Mackie d8b in HUI mode, and now the MCU. Never had any issues with Cubase at all.

It's annoying at the least. I never got a good response from MOTU on the issues with the MCU.

Anyone having the same experience with DP and the MCU?

JB

giles117 · Post by **giles117** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:31 pm

I'd say the DP, MCU combo I ran was about 80% reliable.....

To elaborate...

I could definitely do a 12-16 Hour Mix session with it. Leave it on over nite, etc... BUT when I quit DP and restarted DP it would get funky. I had all my MCU's on one power switch for a quick power Cycle. The HUI was rather flakey. Dropping MIDI Communication at will. Whether in PT or DP

But overall the relationship between the MCU and PD was a good one. Aside from the annoying glitches.

I think my issues were 1 - CoreMidi was still glitchy (still crashes at times) and 2 - The MicroLite disappearing off the USB Buss

SixStringGeek · Post by **SixStringGeek** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 2:11 am

jbsound wrote:I wonder if this is just something with DP, rather than the MCU.

Well in my case, it is definitely a lousy USB Hub. Eliminating the Hub solved my problem. New hubs on order.

jbsound · Post by **jbsound** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:02 am

SixStringGeek wrote:
jbsound wrote:I wonder if this is just something with DP, rather than the MCU.
Well in my case, it is definitely a lousy USB Hub. Eliminating the Hub solved my problem. New hubs on order.

I was actually talking about the MIDI-based MCU, not the USB MCU Pro. I can see how a USB hub can create issues too.

Seems to me that when asked to chime in, a number of users reply with something like 'works about 75-90% of the time', which may be an indication, that something with the implementation of the controller is not complete.

Again, I've never received a clear answer from MOTU on the issues I have seen. The fact that this is not working close to 100% of the time is frustrating.

Jurgen

SixStringGeek · Post by **SixStringGeek** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:19 am

jbsound wrote:
SixStringGeek wrote:
jbsound wrote:I wonder if this is just something with DP, rather than the MCU.
Well in my case, it is definitely a lousy USB Hub. Eliminating the Hub solved my problem. New hubs on order.
I was actually talking about the MIDI-based MCU, not the USB MCU Pro.

Me too. Also, from what I gather, plus what I know about engineers and keeping costs down (I do computer software for a living - music for fun) - MCU and MCU Pro most likely are exactly the same internal firmware implementation - but Pro has the MIDI interface built in with only the USB port exposed.

I sincerely doubt Mackie has done a complete new protocol for the Pro. The whole thing smells like a marketing driven 'upgrade' with USB interface to make it seem more 'modern'.

At its heart of hearts, I'll bet it speaks the same MIDI protocol and uses the same firmware. So it will have all the same features/issues.

Time will tell I suppose.

jbsound · Post by **jbsound** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:59 am

SixStringGeek wrote:
jbsound wrote:
SixStringGeek wrote: Well in my case, it is definitely a lousy USB Hub. Eliminating the Hub solved my problem. New hubs on order.
I was actually talking about the MIDI-based MCU, not the USB MCU Pro.
Me too.

I got it.

Using a USB MIDI interface running through a USB hub with the MCU...

Well, the MCU we have here is plugged into a USB MIDI interface that goes straight into the Mac. Still having some issues.

Bringing this back to the point that was made earlier: Cubase seems to have no issues at all with the MCU. DP is a different story and it's been like this for a number of releases. Either MOTU and Mackie are not talking to resolve the issues, or there may be another 'valid' reason why it is so much harder getting this right in DP.

And I definitely hear ya on the MCU Pro. I considered checking it out, but was afraid that the protocols internally are the same. They just eliminated a latency issue inherent with MIDI, in addition to getting rid of yet another component that sits between the controller and the software.

There is definitely an advantage of combining the MIDI interface portion with the controller.

I'd have to agree with you though. It's going to be interesting to see how it shapes up.

Jurgen

SixStringGeek · Post by **SixStringGeek** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:25 pm

OK, so it seems no USB Hub works. None. Called MOTU. They say 'we don't support USB hubs with our MIDI interfaces'. This is gonna be a mess by the time I rewire everything through the MIDI express. So much for using the micro lite as a MIDI submaster.

auptown · Post by **auptown** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:22 pm

Odd... I am using a Micro Lite through a powered USB hub with no problems. I don't have a lot of other traffic on the hub, but some.

Oh, and I am using the Micro Lite to hook up an MCU and extender. All working OK.

Go figure!

guyreilly · Post by **guyreilly** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:16 pm

I have been using a MCU I got for a great deal on ebay ($415!!!) for a few weeks now with excellent results. I read somewhere that is best to use a dedicated MIDI interface for MCU units so I am using my old Tascam US-122 USB audio/MIDI interface just for it only, then I run my other gear through my midisport. No issues to report except I can't seem to get the wheel to jog, only scrub...

One thing I am disapointed about is that I can't focus on a track in DP by touching the corresponding fader on the MCU. I can do that in Cubase and enjoy it quite very much, thank you, it is a much better way to select tracks when composing... If only C4 wasn't a buggy rubbish heap on Intel

Does anybody know how to make that work in DP? I would send you a thousand smilely faces if so!!

Here's a little preview for you:

guyreilly · Post by **guyreilly** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:17 pm

One other thing:

The MCU is sweet for controlling CueMix. It works seemlessly and is very handy.

MOTUnation.com

Mackie Control Universal + Extender Configuration

Mackie Control Universal + Extender Configuration

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