cubase control surface - anyone got one ?

i57dwun4yb1pt8

I dont have room for a proper desk, but im sick of using the mouse

i need something to contorl cubase kinda of like a desk - if anyone has something or can recc one , feel free to post here.

im reaching end of tether on this ;_)

Alter-Ego

Behringer do dirt cheap control surfaces with motorised faders. No idea what the quality is like though.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

thanks man , i found this , but its mega bucks

http://www.dv247.com/invt/48196/

SeanHurley

I dont use Cubase at all so can't vouch for anything. Steinberg make this yoke:

http://www.dv247.com/invt/57061/

which may be of help, don't think it will work with any other programs tho.

progsound

What do you find is wrong with using the mouse???

teamdresch

Everything.

progsound

Im faster using my keyboard and mouse than a control surface i dont use the mouse at all that much mostly the keyboard if your not used to mixing on a desk i cant see the advantage of getting a control surface just get a better workflow by learning all the keyboard commands and once you get pretty nifty at it you will find your not using the mouse for all that much. Thats just my take on it everyone is different i guess

ZV Yoda

Behringer BCF2000... I had one a while back. Cost less than 150 new from Dolphin.co.uk. Motorised faders, great for that price.

It didn't work very well for me with Pro Tools (thanks Digidesign :rolleyes:... I ended up getting a Command8 instead) but apparently works great with Cubase

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3510506343548938321

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/3701-behringer-b-control-fader-bcf2000.html

I did a fair bit of research at the time & I think this was the fullest-featured motorised budget controller. Not great build quality, but there you go.

SeanHurley

progsound wrote: »

i cant see the advantage of getting a control surface just get a better workflow by learning all the keyboard commands and once you get pretty nifty at it you will find your not using the mouse for all that much. Thats just my take on it everyone is different i guess

I think for me the advantage of a control surface is that it helps to make you listen with your ears not with your eyes. For me mixing is a creative thing and using a mouse can make you think very technically towards a mix. I even like to put computer monitors to one side when miking on a proper desk. It is just a personal opinion but to me moving a fader or twisting a pot is far more intuitive. Granted this is more relavent when using a proper desk a control surface only gets you half way there.

PaulBrewer

DaDumTish wrote: »

thanks man , i found this , but its mega bucks

http://www.dv247.com/invt/48196/

Supposed to be a D-O- double GG , according to my London man.

bedbugs

I use a Mackie Control Pro. It's very nice. It definitely speeds up my workflow. Especially handy during mixing.

PaulBrewer

progsound wrote: »

Im faster using my keyboard and mouse than a control surface i dont use the mouse at all that much mostly the keyboard if your not used to mixing on a desk i cant see the advantage of getting a control surface just get a better workflow by learning all the keyboard commands and once you get pretty nifty at it you will find your not using the mouse for all that much. Thats just my take on it everyone is different i guess

The best controllers integrate keyboard commands into the work surface such as -

http://www.solidstatelogic.com/music/matrix/index.asp

The AWS console is actually supplied with different bags of button tops labeled to suit individual main DAWS whilst also being able to control 3 other Daws simultaneously.

It's that kind of integration that improves work flow, not just faders alone.

bedbugs

PaulBrewer wrote: »

The best controllers integrate keyboard commands into the work surface

It's that kind of integration that improves work flow, not just faders alone.

Agreed. The MCU is shipped with overlays that show you what the default controls are on the surface for each DAW. There's a PT one, Cubase, Logic etc. Lots and lots of control available and all buttons are freely assignable.

A really worthwhile purchase.

PaulBrewer

bedbugs wrote: »

Agreed. The MCU is shipped with overlays that show you what the default controls are on the surface for each DAW. There's a PT one, Cubase, Logic etc. Lots and lots of control available and all buttons are freely assignable.

A really worthwhile purchase.

So ends up actually faster than a keyboard/Mouse combo overall

progsound

PaulBrewer wrote: »

The best controllers integrate keyboard commands into the work surface such as -

http://www.solidstatelogic.com/music/matrix/index.asp

The AWS console is actually supplied with different bags of button tops labeled to suit individual main DAWS whilst also being able to control 3 other Daws simultaneously.

It's that kind of integration that improves work flow, not just faders alone.

That thing does look very nice but it would be way over the top for me as a daw controller (I know it fulfills other functions also) I mean how much does that thing retail for??? I wouldent say it would be any faster than using your keyboard mouse to be honest probably about the same for someone who is competent at using both.

I can however see the benefit of avoiding the trap of mixing by numbers by using one of these setups.

I simply turn off my screen hit spacebar and take some handwritten notes on the mix.

Like I said before though everyone is different so while I may be faster using my keyboard and mouse others may be polar opposite of me and be faster on a control surface best thing to do is try it out and get a feel for it.

bedbugs

PaulBrewer wrote: »

So ends up actually faster than a keyboard/Mouse combo overall

absolutely

BuddhaJoe

Maybe check out a nano kontrol?



Picked up one for 50 quid recently and its fantastic. Full transport controls and with its 4 scenes you can control 24 tracks. It isn't motorized or anything but its unbeatable for the price.

madtheory

The Behringer BCF2000 is hard to beat for the money. I use one with PTLE, with Editor's Keys stickers on a standard keyboard, gives me transport and shortcuts. Fast workflow, small money.

I don't see the point of transport controls when they're right there on the extended keyboard.

The Behringer will do stop and start tho. It also does solo, mute, pan and record arm.

Two issues with Behringer- no LED scribble strip, and slightly inaccurate faders.

The Euphonix controller is lovely, a joy to mix on, but costs six times more.

Neurojazz

There's always the jazzmutant option if your'e rolling in cash - http://www.jazzmutant.com/

or getting one of the new multi touch screens that will be *everywhere* in a couple of years... I've seen the prototypes and they are very, very usable for controlling apps.

It's a pity the SSL doesn't have the duende buss plugs built in (unless it does!) - i'd be saving like a madman if it did

studiorat

progsound wrote: »

What do you find is wrong with using the mouse???

Loose the mouse immediately and get a track ball. Much easier to work with. I have 16 channels of the Mackie Control Universal sitting in front of me which I can safely say I never ever touch. I doubt if it's even plugged in at this stage.

Track ball is the way forward!

shayleon

i love my frontier alphatrack, and it's quite cheap.
cheers.