StandAlone-Controller for CueMix FX & Traveler MkIII ??

[MeWolff]

Hi,
my idea is to "build" a digital mixer out of the traveller MkIII and a BCF2000 or a similar small (cheap...) Midicontroller (Korg nanoKONTROL 2).
I know there were some messages already but I need to know if I can controll the traveller with MIDI WITHOUT a computer!!
That means just plugging the MIDI-out of the controller into the MIDI-IN of the Traveller.
Does that work?? Or do I ALWAYS need a computer when using a hardware controller?
Thank you very much, MeWolff

[SixStringGeek]

Got an iPad?

http://www.motu.com/newsitems/wireless- ... -your-iPad

[TinenTech]

I have used a Mackie Controller to control the Traveler (mk 1) as a digital mixer. It's not "small and cheap", but MOTU engineers have a great implementation for the MC and Cue Mix. It does not require a computer. The old Mackies (like mine) just connect to the MIDI IN/OUT of the Traveler; the new USB ones, I don't know. It gives you motorized faders, pans, and the REC switches work for +4/-10 level control on Traveler channels 5-8. The FLIP button of the Mackie flips the faders between showing the input levels, and the four mix bus master levels. The alphanumeric display of the Mackie shows the channel names of each fader, and which of the four mix buses is being shown/controlled. It has the SHIFT and OPTION keys so you can control all four mixes at once when you need to. If a device can mimic a HUI or MC, it should work.

When you are using it with a computer and Digital Performer, the Mackie Controller will automatically swap over to controlling DP if you wish, or it can stay "locked" on Cue Mix. The DP implementation of Mackie Control is really wonderful. It can do things (multiple fingers on multiple faders at once, for one thing) that the iPad doesn't.

As for the iPad suggestion: don't you need to have a computer with WiFi connected to the Traveler's FW or USB input in order for the iPad to talk to the Traveler? Can you use some sort of stand-alone hub? The Traveler Mk III doesn't have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth built-in, so...

Having said that, I usually find that using CueMix software from a laptop is the smallest, easiest solution, mostly because the sixteen "snapshot mixes" you can save/load in CueMix FX can't be recalled from the Mackie. Snapshots are crucial for live work.

[Airyck]

Is there any keyboard shortcut for recalling snapshots?

It would be cool if you could send a program change message to change snapshots...

[TinenTech]

No, the CueMix presets are NOT recallable via MIDI Program Change commands. I wish
I don't know how they're implemented in the iPad, but I haven't found a way to recall presets from the Mackie. I have to pull down a tab from the top menu on my laptop, then choose a preset from the list.

I think that's because the Traveler itself is itself a MIDI interface, and if you had a MIDI interface recalling its own presets there would be a logical loop there. Maybe there's a way with other MOTU interfaces like the 896?

[dewdman42]

I really wish the Traveler has preset capabilities also, to my knowledge there is nothing like that built into the box standalone mode.

But what you have raised is an interesting point, i was not aware that it was possible to completely control the Traveler as a standalone mixer without either CueMix on a computer or else the Traveler's own front panel. I am VERY pleased to find out right now that Mackie had a device which could control it via the MIDI port. That brings some hope to me. I don't really want to buy a mackie fader box, but if I could rig up an iPad app to do it, it would be so awesome.

I'm pretty sure the iPad app from MOTU only works to communicate with CueMix on a computer over wifi. In order to use an iPad to control the Traveler in standalone mode, it would be neccessary to first have some kind of MIDI interface on the iPad which somehow routes MIDI to the MIDI port on the Traveler. That is doable. Then you would need an iPad based Mackie emulation, then I guess it would work.

I REALLY wish MOTU would release something like that, because I use my Traveler exclusively for an in-ear monitoring mixer now and having some faders to tweak it at the gig on an iPad would really make me smile.

[dewdman42]

I have used a Mackie Controller to control the Traveler (mk 1) as a digital mixer. It's not "small and cheap", but MOTU engineers have a great implementation for the MC and Cue Mix. It does not require a computer.

With your MC are you able to adjust the levels of all 4 mixes in the traveler? How do you switch from one mix to the next?

I agree about snapshots being essential but I just can't be bothered with dragging my laptop to every show. An iPad maybe.

Anyone know if the Behrinnger MC clone would work for this?