Which control surface?

lumpo · Post by **lumpo** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:57 pm

I have been in logic land (using logic control) and recently returned to a Pro Tools HD2 system. As a former DP user, I think I might go back to using DP as a front end to PT HD7.

Can anyone recommend a control surface that will handle this situation? ie work with DP as a front end to PT?
TIA

waxman · Post by **waxman** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:11 pm

m-audio projectMix i-o is great

matwell · Post by **matwell** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:17 pm

For Pro Tools, I've done sessions on an Icon a few times and Pro Control a few times. However, those are only for Pro Tools.

As far as a "universal" control surface, I've only worked with the Mackie Control. I was very impressed with it, and (once I've got some disposable income) plan on adding one to my studio. It works with PT, DP, Logic, etc. Interchangability is very important to me, that's why I like the Mackie.

martian · Post by **martian** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:10 pm

how well do the LCD scribble strips work? Do they have a native driver? or are you control or HUI emulation?

I got an FW1884 - I might have bought the project mix if it'd been around when I was buying

quite happy tho wi me tascam

matwell · Post by **matwell** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:28 pm

martian wrote:how well do the LCD scribble strips work? Do they have a native driver? or are you control or HUI emulation?

I got an FW1884 - I might have bought the project mix if it'd been around when I was buying

quite happy tho wi me tascam

Wish I could be more detailed for you, but I've only done one brief session with the Mackie Control. The scribble strips seem to work ok, although abbreviated, of course. Not sure about the native drivers, or HUI emulation. I'm betting that with PT, it's using HUI emulation. Not sure about DP though.

Mr_Clifford · Post by **Mr_Clifford** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:48 am

M-Audio project mix works well with both DP and Pro-Tools.

lumpo · Post by **lumpo** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:19 pm

So, does the M-Audio device work correctly in the given situation of calling up PT TDM and RTAs plugs etc using DP as the front end? Sorry to be persistent, but I need to choose wisely.

waxman · Post by **waxman** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:31 pm

M-Audio was bought by Avid which also bought Digidesign.

It has modes for Cubase, Protools, Logic, Live, DP, Sonar

The DP mode controls everything. Scroll through windows, scrub, auxes, pan, plugins, sel, rec, mute, markers window..... and a bunch more...

the scribble strip is great and you can go into meter mode and see the levels. I find myself not using the mouse or looking at the screen.

ProjectMix is just way better then the Mackie or hui... The faders feel much better. I have seen them for as little as $1000 on ebay...

mountain · Post by **mountain** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:48 pm

Project Mix can be expanded to 24 tracks ma?
and both project mix and mackie Universal control have automation fader like Digi002 ma?
Pls advise
Struggle with MUC or Project Mix
but I think I need 24 tracks around.

lumpo · Post by **lumpo** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 4:37 pm

Thanks for the replies, but the M-Audio website specifies the unit you suggest as working with PT-M powered. I need something that will function with HD (ie TDM).
Any other expoeriences to share from those who are using DP/PT HD?
TIA

Mr_Clifford · Post by **Mr_Clifford** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:57 pm

It needs PT-M powered if you want to use the audio I/O, but you can use the control surface part of it on any version. I just did a mix on a Pro Tools TDM 'Mix' system using it. All the buttons do what they should. Don't know about opening up pulg-ins etc. though as we didn't try to do that from the project mix. Faders worked great though.

sstillwell · Post by **sstillwell** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:33 pm

When you hold in "Aux 1" button during power-up, it goes into "Protools Mode", which essentially means that it emulates a Mackie HUI. Most of the other modes, including DP mode, are based on the Mackie Control Univeral.

All of them work well, I think that the Digital Performer mode (hold down "Pan" while powering up) is one of the strongest integrations on the unit.

Mr Clifford is right...you can use the control surface totally independent of whether or not you're using the audio interface. Kind of a waste to not use it, but hey...

As far as I know there are no channel expanders or fader packs for the ProjectMix, but the audio I/O does include ADAT in/out for a total of 18 inputs/10 outputs, plus 2 headphone mixes.

It's a pretty cool unit, really.

Scott

davedempsey · Post by **davedempsey** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 8:09 pm

Have you looked at the Radikal SAC2.2? It works very well in DP and is also coded in 'tools.

billf · Post by **billf** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 8:40 pm

davedempsey wrote:Have you looked at the Radikal SAC2.2? It works very well in DP and is also coded in 'tools.

What dave said.

Plus, the SAC works in Final Cut 5, Logic, and Soundtrack Pro.

MOTUnation.com

Which control surface?

Which control surface?

M-Aduio

Control surface for PT HD (TDM) and DP