Command 8 vs. MCU

biv0uac · Post by **biv0uac** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:59 pm

Has anyone ever used the Command 8 to control DP? Does anyone have an opinion as to which one has the best control for DP?

Thanks!

Terence

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:50 pm

biv0uac wrote:Has anyone ever used the Command 8 to control DP? Does anyone have an opinion as to which one has the best control for DP?

Thanks!

Terence

WEll, according to Digidesign, the unit is intended exclusively for ProTools - so I doubt it would be the best choice for a DP user.

Phil Jeffers · Post by **Phil Jeffers** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:15 pm

biv0uac wrote:Has anyone ever used the Command 8 to control DP? Does anyone have an opinion as to which one has the best control for DP?

Thanks!

Terence

Correct C|8 is for Pro Tools HD & LE exclusively (and is unable to be expanded).

Don't buy one for DP!

biv0uac · Post by **biv0uac** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:19 pm

According to the manual of the Command 8, unlike all Digi hardware, there is a standalone mode where one can program CC assignments for buttons, faders, and (knobs) pans. (Page 45)

So although it may be an extra step, one can configure CC messages in DP for controls of some basic parameters in DP which is quite a cool feature. Has anyone set up a template for this that you can email to me?

I mainly use DP 4.6.1 for my Surround projects and PT LE for my stereo sessions etc. so my time is divided up about even between the two DAWs and both are equally important for me to use.

So I guess my REAL dilemma is- How good is the MCU at controlling PT?-which is probably another forum.

PS.- In DP 5, is there an automatic map feature like in Logic, where you can move a knob/fader/button in Logic, then on your controller and the DAW remembers the map? That would save me a lot of time.

Thanks for the input!

Terence

Phil Jeffers · Post by **Phil Jeffers** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:29 am

I think this is only for MIDI, not any audio parameters.

Not too sure...

I have both... I can try it for you if you like (with DP 5).

biv0uac · Post by **biv0uac** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:16 pm

Phil,

Sure, if you can please do and let me know the result at your earliest convenience.

Thanks!

Terence

Phil Jeffers · Post by **Phil Jeffers** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:50 am

Hey, no worries - I'll post back soon!

Phil Jeffers · Post by **Phil Jeffers** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:47 pm

biv0uac wrote:Phil,

Sure, if you can please do and let me know the result at your earliest convenience.

Thanks!

Terence

Heya,

You definitely cannot initialize it as a Control Surface under control set-up. With DP 5.13 one can only choose HUI (i.e. older Mackie controllers under HUI protocol - not sure about Command8 ), Mackie Control (I have one - they work great - also can be added to) or Radikal SAC (which incidentally gets a big plug via MOTU in their ver.5 manual.

You may be able to connect the C|8 to DP via Audio MIDI set-up for a MIDI controller - I'm not sure. I usually deal with audio only, so maybe you can ask Digidesign or MOTU about that.

Best,

Phil J.

homebilly · Post by **homebilly** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:24 am

command 8 = sh*tty faders

MCU = less sh*tty faders

i have a HUI, baby HUI and MCU. i love them all!!!

stephentayler · Post by **stephentayler** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:45 am

If its predominantly faders, mutes, pans and sends you want, the Euphonix MC Mix is great, especially as it will work in Native mode for DP6.......

cheers

Stephen

homebilly · Post by **homebilly** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:25 pm

i forgot that that was coming out. i saw the 3 that MOTU had at NAMM and those faders felt quite nice. it wasn't on so i didn't get to try it out but the faders were happening. $1000 is a bit much for an 8 pack with no transport buttons.

me loves me baby HUI on the desktop. the EUphonix is much thinner and sleeker that anything out there as well.

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:57 am

The Command8 will control other software, but you don't want it for anything other than ProTools.

Now that new Euphonix MCMix, NOW we're talking!

Phil Jeffers · Post by **Phil Jeffers** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:12 am

BradLyons wrote:The Command8 will control other software, but you don't want it for anything other than ProTools. Now that new Euphonix MCMix, NOW we're talking!

Command 8 will control MIDI only... Isn't that right?

Can it be used under HUI?

stiefelmusik · Post by **stiefelmusik** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:53 pm

That's correct. MIDI only, and it cannot be used under HUI.

In a nutshell, do not buy a Command8 unless you plan on using it with Pro Tools. I have one, and it is a joy to use -- WITH PRO TOOLS! The few times I've tried messing around with stand alone mode, programming the rotary encoders, buttons and sliders with CC messages to control other programs (e.g. Live and Reason) it has been pure frustration. Extremely disappointing in this respect. While it is true, one can get some rudimentary control of other programs out of the Command8, the overall experience in comparison with using it with Pro Tools makes you wonder why Digidesign even bothered making a stand alone mode available. For example, take something as simple and useful as the transport: the Command8 transport is pre-programmed to execute MMC messages only in stand alone mode, making it useless for any program (like Live) that does not respond to MMC.

Anyway, I don't mean to bash the Command8: it is a superb tool for Pro Tools, and if one only intends to tweak a parameter here and there in other programs via stand alone mode, it's fine. Otherwise, get an MCU, Euphonix, or something else. Because my studio desk is so short on space, and I couldn't really justify getting another dedicated controller just for DP, I got a Novation Remote 37 SL which uses the HUI protocol to communicate with DP. Not the most elegant of solutions, but it gives me a decent MIDI controller plus a few octaves of great feeling keys on the desk, which keeps me from having to get up out of my chair just to audition a synth patch or lay down a quick riff.

Phil Jeffers · Post by **Phil Jeffers** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:26 am

I thought so, I thought - sh_t if it does, then why did I buy a MCU!!!

BTW - there is nothing wrong with MCU or C|8 faders - nothing at all.

You can replace the little concave C|8 faders (with C|24 ends).

Don••™t think of a C|8 (or even a MCU) as a third party mixer - it••™s a controller, designed to do every thing a mouse does with sliders, rotary knobs and buttons. Actually, it••™s like one big mouse.

Try mixing something without faders, its complete frustration!

MOTUnation.com

Command 8 vs. MCU

Command 8 vs. MCU

Re: Command 8 vs. MCU

Re: Command 8 vs. MCU

Command 8 Stand-alone mode

Thanks!

Re: Thanks!