I was struck by the words of Dehuszar and Legros in another thread mentioning controllers. I have a similar passion for dual-monitors and what a difference they can make.
But I know virtually nothing about controllers. Which ones are good ? Are there many different types or different things different models are good for ? Can you use the same controllers easily with different apps ? Can a controller be used with multiple apps at once each controlling a certain part ?
I notice Ableton is now selling a software controller bundle (UC-33) here:
I use Novation's Remote 25 - very well designed piece of hardware (it's software is well thought out too).
Intuitive and logical in use and easy to set up your own templates. A new version is coming out soon with even more controllers and audio interfacing - these are currently the best controllers on the market as far as I'm concerned!
There seem to be a lot of controllers that will efficiently pilot a variety of softwares like UC16, UC33, remote 25 etc.. but one thing i got recently aware of is that unless you have a certified controller for the logic automation API (like mackie, sac or logic of course) to automate Logic software, then it can be quite tedious to program the box to fulfill your needs. What we want is to be able to switch the box ON and start tweaking the knobs
I use a sac2k for logic, UC16 and UC33 for fruity loops and other stuff... parhelia/3 lcd 17" displays... I know, but it's ok to show off sometimes
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: legros on 2003-08-19 09:37 ]</font>
I have purchased the UC-33 and the Novation Remote 25 (though it's still shipping). The UC-33 is great. I've only had a chance to do some basic mixing in Cubase with it, and a little with the Lounge Lizard 2 (my CW setup is awaiting a new laptop). The UC's faders seem a little stiff, but they are not assembled the same way a Penny & Giles or some such luxury would be, and might need some breaking-in time.
Also, the UC only has 32 presets for settings, however, this is 32 settings for controller assignments not strictly for devices, so depending on what you're doing, you can adjust the Pulsar devices controller presets to match the UC's settings much easier than trying to make a UC preset for each device.
Judging from the reviews of the Novation (which I eagerly await) it's built a little more solidly than the UC, but I wouldn't call it flimsy and I definitly like the feel of the knobs.
The Remote will obviously be a better if all you want to control is a synth, or an effect on a synth, whereas the UC has mixing and the like in mind, though the UC is small enough to fit on most full sized controller keyboards, so you could easily put all the Minimax knobs (or at least most... haven't counted yet) on the UC and go to town.
do a search on 'midi yoke' and 'midi bome' for convenient midi routing...
i think yoke does the multiple app thing, while bome can translate keyboard strokes to midi msg. or is the other way around? both free and much praised by ableton users.
so get the ableton package and have your controller and a workaround for the export feature
