Anyone tried the new MCU Pro controller with DP5.1
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:19 pm
PLease post any goods/bads you've encountered with the new Mackie Control Pro. and extenders or C4 Pro.
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Anyone tried the new MCU Pro controller with DP5.1
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:14 pm
So far, no reported issues--but it's also just started shipping, give it a few weeks or a month.
Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 7:44 pm
I purchased one two weeks ago from my Sales Engineer at Sweetwater. It took a little bit of a struggle to get it working with DP via USB but somehow it just started to work (must've been some setting I changed, I just don't know what - it was kind of a miracle at the time). The problem was that the MCU Pro wasn't initially seen in any software (DP 5.11, Tracktion, CueMix) and all documentation that came with the MCU Pro instructed that the user reference "such and such" other documentation that turned out to all be in regards to the original MCU (MIDI, not USB connection). The unit was only seen as a MIDI interface via USB, not a full-fledged control surface.
After I got it set up I noticed that the Stop button in the transport was lopsided and stuck a bit while depressed. I wrote My S.E. at Sweetwater and he had a new one sent to me immediately (very impressed with Sweetwater's exchange process). Now I've got the new one but it's not getting recognized in DP again, so I'm tracing my steps to figure out what combination of moves I originally went through to get it working. This one seems to be functioning properly (mechanically), now I've just got to get it talking to my software again...
Despite all the negative, this is definitely a solid piece of gear and until the first one got swapped I was very happy with its control over DP.
If anybody has any info on how to get this thing to be seen as a control surface via the USB interface, rather than just a USB MIDI interface please drop me a line or reply here - I've been yanking my hair out trying to get it working and have tried pretty much everything I tried the first time. In the DP control surface setup it is only showing an IAC driver bus 1 & 2, but no MCU Driver like it did the first time I tricked it into working. I'll probably call for support once I get pissed enough to give up
.
After I got it set up I noticed that the Stop button in the transport was lopsided and stuck a bit while depressed. I wrote My S.E. at Sweetwater and he had a new one sent to me immediately (very impressed with Sweetwater's exchange process). Now I've got the new one but it's not getting recognized in DP again, so I'm tracing my steps to figure out what combination of moves I originally went through to get it working. This one seems to be functioning properly (mechanically), now I've just got to get it talking to my software again...
Despite all the negative, this is definitely a solid piece of gear and until the first one got swapped I was very happy with its control over DP.
If anybody has any info on how to get this thing to be seen as a control surface via the USB interface, rather than just a USB MIDI interface please drop me a line or reply here - I've been yanking my hair out trying to get it working and have tried pretty much everything I tried the first time. In the DP control surface setup it is only showing an IAC driver bus 1 & 2, but no MCU Driver like it did the first time I tricked it into working. I'll probably call for support once I get pissed enough to give up
.Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 8:31 pm
this doesnt sound good. Are you plugged into a USb hub>?>??
Re: Anyone tried the new MCU Pro controller with DP5.1
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 5:16 am
So its a MCU, but in silver and with a USB? What else? What's more 'professional' about it? (please don't say more LED's!)daddyunicorn wrote:PLease post any goods/bads you've encountered with the new Mackie Control Pro. and extenders or C4 Pro.
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 7:46 am
Nope, no hub - straight into my MacBook.
I'm not going to say that there's a big difference between the MCU and the MCU Pro, however, having used both I will say that the MCU Pro does indeed look and feel more professional. I know that sounds kind of stupid, but I'm planning on using this (along with two extenders) in my (small) commercial studio opening early next year and I honestly didn't want the old MCU to be the first thing a client sees and reaches for when they come in. This unit's strengths are in the details - like how the switches and jog wheel don't jiggle around, or how the solo, rec, mute, and select switches all light up as a console's would. There's really nothing too ground breaking in the feature set that justifies buying one, it just feels and looks like a more professional unit, that's about it... oh, and it can act as a MIDI interface
. I'm happy with it, and am glad I picked this one over the regular MCU, if I could only get this new one working with DP (grumble, grumble, grumble)...
I'm not going to say that there's a big difference between the MCU and the MCU Pro, however, having used both I will say that the MCU Pro does indeed look and feel more professional. I know that sounds kind of stupid, but I'm planning on using this (along with two extenders) in my (small) commercial studio opening early next year and I honestly didn't want the old MCU to be the first thing a client sees and reaches for when they come in. This unit's strengths are in the details - like how the switches and jog wheel don't jiggle around, or how the solo, rec, mute, and select switches all light up as a console's would. There's really nothing too ground breaking in the feature set that justifies buying one, it just feels and looks like a more professional unit, that's about it... oh, and it can act as a MIDI interface
. I'm happy with it, and am glad I picked this one over the regular MCU, if I could only get this new one working with DP (grumble, grumble, grumble)...Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 7:49 am
When I get back home tonight I'll call or write Mackie about this issue I'm having and post their reply here - hopefully it will help somebody else who's in my current shoes.
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 5:38 pm
OK, so I just figured it out...
The MCU Pro is seen only as a MIDI interface, one with four ins and outs. You have to create a MIDI control surface (1x1) and route it through Free MIDI (ch1 x 1). So to put it more simply, use the MCU Pro as a USB/MIDI interface but create a Mackie Control device in the software to route into it, this will provide the Mackie MCU drivers as an option when selecting in the control surface setup.
Sorry if this was blatantly obvious to any of you, I just figured that if the device could be run off the USB buss that it would/should just be recognized directly as a control surface by the software. Oh well, all works now! I hope this helped somebody!
Greg
The MCU Pro is seen only as a MIDI interface, one with four ins and outs. You have to create a MIDI control surface (1x1) and route it through Free MIDI (ch1 x 1). So to put it more simply, use the MCU Pro as a USB/MIDI interface but create a Mackie Control device in the software to route into it, this will provide the Mackie MCU drivers as an option when selecting in the control surface setup.
Sorry if this was blatantly obvious to any of you, I just figured that if the device could be run off the USB buss that it would/should just be recognized directly as a control surface by the software. Oh well, all works now! I hope this helped somebody!
Greg
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 5:42 pm
Just to be clear, you should end up with two Mackie Control Units in the MIDI device manager, one real (4x4) the other imaginary which is used as the control surface plugged into ports "1x1" (1x1 Mackie control) of the 4x4 interface. Got it? 
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 6:39 pm
Just wait until summer namm...
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:03 pm
Uh... Waxman... Do you know something the rest of us don't? Is there some exciting control surface coming out that you have seen or heard of...? C'mon, spill it!
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 3:31 am
DP interface maybe?
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 8:48 pm
my lips are sealed
Re: Anyone tried the new MCU Pro controller with DP5.1
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:07 pm
More LED's would be nice- Best would be if there are more characters displayed in the scribble strip- say 8 instead of ten would make scrolling through big sessions much easier. How many characters does it display in MCU mode?Phil Jeffers wrote:What's more 'professional' about it? (please don't say more LED's!)
Thanks
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:06 pm
The differences (thus, adding the "pro" suffix) There's a 3x3 MIDI interface off the back panel. USB connector, should you choose to go that route. Weighted jog wheel. Slightly tweaked form factor, meter bridge is now more upright, sides are skinnier. Basic layout is identical. Improved lexan overlays. If you're considering "upgrading," I'd hold off a while. A lot of folks are experiencing trouble with their Pro units. It needs a good firmware revision or two before it's ready. I, personally don't see enough of a difference here to justify the purchase, if you already have the MCU. The old one works fine, and you're not getting that much more functionality. There aren't any innovative button/fader features, which is, at the core, what the MCU is all about.
MJD
MJD