best MIDI controller for use with DP 7.24

denekawa · Post by **denekawa** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:29 am

Hi
I'm reading some of the issues folks are having with various MIDI controllers and am wondering which is the best one to purchase for working in DP 7.24? One that was suggested to me was the M-Audio Axiom Pro 49 but I have no experience with this controller. Any input I could get from you knowledgeable folks would greatly be appreciated as like so many I'm on a budget and don't want to have to sell the controller after using it for a month or so because it was incompatible. Cheers and thanks so much for taking the time!

stubbsonic · Post by **stubbsonic** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:52 pm

I'd suggest you choose your controller based on feel and features, and see if there are some controllers that are on the "don't-buy" list.

denekawa · Post by **denekawa** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:29 pm

Well from what I've read almost all of these newer controllers are compatible with every known DAW except Digital Performer. It never makes the list of any supported DAW's that these MIDI controllers are plug n' play with. There seems to be a whole in depth process of having to do assignments for all of the know and pads with DP that isn't present with other DAW's. For whatever reason this is reality, I'm not going to switch DAW's for the sake of a controller. I just want to find out which ones folks use and how compatible it is with DP. I've researched a number of them from CME, M-Audio and Akai to name a few but none of these mention DP as being on their list of supported DAW's. That is why I posted to the forum, to find out from real users what they feel is best or at least adequate.

denekawa · Post by **denekawa** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:30 pm

Well from what I've read almost all of these newer controllers are compatible with every known DAW except Digital Performer. It never makes the list of any supported DAW's that these MIDI controllers are plug n' play with. There seems to be a whole in depth process of having to do assignments for all of the know and pads with DP that isn't present with other DAW's. For whatever reason this is reality, I'm not going to switch DAW's for the sake of a controller. I just want to find out which ones folks use and how compatible it is with DP. I've researched a number of them from CME, M-Audio and Akai to name a few but none of these mention DP as being on their list of supported DAW's. That is why I posted to the forum, to find out from real users what they feel is best or at least adequate.

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:40 pm

A lot of it depends on how you are used to playing and what you will be doing. I have a small Edirol 61 note on my desktop, a PC2 sitting next to me and a few other controllers for various purposes. If you're used to piano, a weighted kbd is important. If you're entering notes for notation, then a less responsive kbd can work. Stay away from M-Audio.

stubbsonic · Post by **stubbsonic** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:07 pm

So let's make a distinction between controllers with "issues" and those that don't officially "support" DP. Generally, if a MIDI controller works with OS X's Core MIDI, then it will work with DP. Some may require a driver to be installed, and some will be plug & play with Core MIDI.

Sounds like you are talking about controllers that have some preset assignments for sliders/buttons/knobs to optimize them for some DAW's, but not DP. Which begs another question: How difficult is it to assign a MIDI controller to control some parameter in DP? How difficult is it to make those control assignments work across the board for any project new or old?

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:11 pm

No. Not presets at all. I program the controllers to my liking.

FMiguelez · Post by **FMiguelez** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:16 pm

I LOVE my Novation SL MK II. Not for paying the keyboard, but because of its tons of programable faders, knobs and buttons. GREAT if you must use a lot if MIDI CCs.

It works perfectly with DP, VE Pro and Waves. You can program it yourself or use Automap if you prefer.

http://www.novationmusic.com/products/m ... s/sl_mkii/

mhschmieder · Post by **mhschmieder** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:10 pm

I just sold one of the best controllers ever made yesterday, and recommend you consider it as a possibility, as it covers some rare MIDI parameters with dedicated knobs and is one of the few keyboards to send them via its MIDI Out port: Yamaha CS6x.

Yes, it's a synth and proto-workstation (it bridged between the oddball EX5 design and the later MOTIF series). So what? It's cheaper used than most dedicated MIDI-only controllers, and has more features than most of them! But of course you may find that you need auto-map type features, which is an important thing to determine up front as it significantly limits the number of applicable devices.

I bought an Alesis Q25 last year as it fits on my computer table (unlike any of my synths) and thus works well for quick-capture and spontaneous sessions. It only has a couple of knobs/wheels/sliders, so I augment it with Korg's NanoKontrol. Both models were recently updated with more controllers and more features. An ergonomic and cheap solution.

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 7:57 pm

I have an M-Audio Keystation 61es. I don't remember how old - but it has a few years on it. It gets the job done for me but my needs are slight at best. I play with one hand only and automate very little. It does work, though. I will replace it at some point - too big and too heavy for me to use easily.

denekawa · Post by **denekawa** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:00 pm

Thank you all for your informed and valuable replies and for taking the time to answer this post. The information you have given me is invaluable in making a decision as to what to purchase. I'm currently using an old Yamaha CVP-5 and although it technically works, the miss delay makes it almost unusable and there are no jobs, sliders, mod wheels, etc that help me get inside DP. I sincerely appreciate it.

I've avoided using a bona fide controller for many years and always worked with DP kind of hands on, but there are so many time saving features that you have all pointed out that are worth having and relatively inexpensive to initiate. I will look at all of the recommendations you have given me and with price and availability in mind make a choice. You folks rock! Many thanks!!!

Prime Mover · Post by **Prime Mover** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:34 am

I really can't imagine why any controller would be "incompatible" with a certain DAW. MIDI is a universal standard. If it has a MIDI out, it will be compatible with DP as much as any other software/hardware. Now, if it has a USB out, then you're talking about OSX core MIDI drivers, of which I can't imagine that not every single controller on the market has. And that's still not DP. By the time the data stream gets to DP, the controller has no idea what DAW it's working with, it doesn't have to parse the data differently from one program to another, that's the OSs job, and that we KNOW is compatible with DP.

You're probably referring to whether Digital Performer is listed on the box. Well, DP is one of the lesser used DAWs these days, so they just didn't bother including it. But in this case, if it lists Logic or Mac, then you can be 100% confident that it will work with DP.

And even then, in the rare instance the USB doesn't have Mac drivers, do like all us old-school folk and get a cheap MIDI interface. My controller was made before USB became big, it has serial port... a mac serial port. I just use a small $30 MIDI -> USB controller/cable, and it works just as well as any USB device. In fact, all a USB plug on a keyboard means is that it has a USB/MIDI interface built-in. It's still doing the same conversion process, so you're really not cutting down any latency (of which, for performance, there is virtually NONE).

Trust me, don't even bother with compatibility as a deciding factor. Turn that part of your brain off, concentrate on getting the best CONTROLLER you can find that fits your needs: does it feel good to you? (everyone has different preferences of touch) Does it have enough sliders/nobs for what you want to do with it? Does it have a nice number of controller pedal ports? (this is a must for me, for instance) And of course, what's it's maintenance track record?

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