Ableton Forum

i like having immediate access to the main track-level parameters without having to click through menus/sub-menus. are there any form factors available that look like a traditional mixer without the audio i/o? ideally, the controller would be laid out like a traditional mixer with dedicated endless encoders for at least 2 sends, volume, pan + buttons for mute, solo, record-arm per track. the behringer bcr2000 looks okay, but are there any other options?

apc40-mk2

Novation launchcontrol xl, livid instruments ds1

I use (and love) the Mackie MCU. My most used piece of gear (even above the Push) but i've had it for years. Costly beast but the fact it will set its Faders and other controls automatically for a project means you open your project and start right where you left off just like Push does.

I have owned the BCF in the past (not the BCR) and for the price you can't complain really but I almost came to hate using it because nothing is labeled for Live, the quality is rather meh but it does work. Just made me wish I had something better at the time.

the mcu looks really nice, but yeah... kind of expensive. i don't even necessarily like faders unless they do total recall/snap-back when changing device/focus... same reason i want endless encoders. i just wish there were another prosumer quality controller like the bcr2000 with a bunch of endless encoders and buttons lined up like a mixer. i just learned about the yet-to-be-released xtouch compact by behringer that looks really close to what i want, but the motorized faders on something that cheap is suspect. if one of the hardware companies made that with a few more endless encoders instead of the faders, i'd drop $250-$350 on it, if the build quality was decent.

more info on DS1
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/08/m ... -preorder/

Jekblad wrote:more info on DS1
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/08/m ... -preorder/

that'd be perfect if it had endless encoders with feedback... i wonder how hard it'd be to mod the bcr2000 into a different case. it just looks cheap and plastic-y.

aha... this might fit the bill: https://store.djtechtools.com/products/ ... er-twister

slicedbread wrote:i don't even necessarily like faders unless they do total recall/snap-back when changing device/focus... same reason i want endless encoders.

That's exactly what it does and why I use it. Has encoders but I find faders much easier to get tight automation and the faders can be switched from track/send/device and update positions automatically.

jestermgee wrote:I use (and love) the Mackie MCU.

Checked it out. Pricy, and still not good enough.
If it also had 5 (at least, better 8 so it corresponds to Lives Rack layout)) endless encoders (with feedback) per track, I would probably start dreaming about it, but like this, it just leaves my GAS cold.

Endless encoders in a nicer case:


http://lividinstruments.com/news/code-midi-controller/

http://www.mackie.com/Products/McuPro/PDF/Live5_MCU.pdf

http://www.mackie.com/Products/McuPro/O ... onLive.pdf