My rig is as follows:Klaus wrote: Sorry, what isn't working - MCU emulation and Cuemix FX ?
Klaus
Macbook Pro 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
OS: 10.5.8
CueMix FX 1.6 48575
DP 6.02
MotU 828mk3 connected directly to Macbook via Firewire (9-pin port @ 400Mb/s) up-to-date Firmware
Tascam FW-1082 connected directly to Macbook via Firewire (6-pin port @ 400Mb/s) up-to-date Firmware and all available drivers installed
I have successfully controlled DP6 with the Tascam, even without setting anything up in Audio-MIDI Setup. The Tascam is set to "Mackie Control Mode" as opposed to "Mackie HUI Mode" or Tascam's "Tascam Native Mode." Simultaneously, DP6 successfully uses the 828mk3, which tells me there's nothing wrong with the Tascam unit or the connections (specifically, connecting both units via firewire).
Upon reading previous posts about adding a new virtual "Mackie" device in Audio-MIDI Setup, I created a "Mackie Control" device and connected the in and out ports on the top of the new device to the FW port 1 in and out. This resulted in the new device appearing in CueMix's list of available controller devices. However, the Tascam and CueMix still don't communicate well. When I scrub faders in Cuemix, I see the MIDI out light on the Tascam illuminate, but that's all.
I have noted that within DP, the selection of control surface that works is the "control port" of the FW-1082. Unfortunately, I can't pick this MIDI option when setting up my control surface from within CueMix.
I contacted MotU and got some very irksome "answers" from "Magic" Dave Roberts:
ME: was it the intention of MotU for Cuemix to have the same level of compatibility with control surfaces as DP has?
MotU: It was not. The Mackie protocol was written for DAW control. CueMix is a different type of application that has some crossover with a DAW. The Mackie protocol supports volume and pan functions in CueMix, but it does not access the effects parameters and other functions such as audio analysis tools. We saw a way to add basic external control surface support to CueMix with the Mackie protocols, so we implemented what we could.
ME: Think of the studio owner who has invested in DP and a nice control surface, and then discovers he can't control the new Cuemix for which he bought a new Firewire I/O because of the promise of fantastic new abilities.
MotU: It's never a bad idea to check compatibility. If CueMix is not working with the Tascam, it's because the Tascam is not providing 100% Mackie compatibility. I have seen other non Mackie controllers that do work with CueMix (Behringer for example), and other devices that do not (Frontier designs)... If the control surface then does not work with CueMix, that suggests that yes the problem is the CueMix is not seeing the Tascam as a true Mackie control surface. In my experience, some control surfaces "look more like" a Mackie device than others. CueMix is more specific in it's compatibility requirement than DP.
ME: Does MotU have any plans to update Cuemix with a broader compatibility requirement?
MotU: That's a very strong possibility. We have had continuous requests for more sophisticated external control of CueMix. We have been looking at this closely. It's possible that we will implement additional control surface support for CueMix.
This conversation pretty much echos what other posters have reported: MotU acknowledges they are responsible for NOT making CueMix easy to control, and then try to blame the controllers' manufacturers for not writing their Mackie protocol correctly.
PLEASE, let's all pressure MotU to invest a wee bit of time on solving this control issue
I am currently looking for a list of CONFIRMED compatible control surfaces for CueMix FX - at least the pan and volume controls. I plan on hooking the physical MIDI ports on the back of the Tascam to those on the back of the 828mk3, but I have pretty dismal hopes.