Anyone using regular hardware synths as controllers?

[Josh D]

Kurzweil PC3x is doing a pretty good job so far. Easy to set things up in Live's MIDI mapper. My Logic 8 weeps.

Just thought we should have a proper "doing things the hard way" thread.

[loquat]

I mapped my drumKat into Live by making a user remote script. It seemed hard at the time, but I managed all right. Now my drumKat matches up with the Drum Rack. Makes life some much easier.
On the otherside of the equation my Korg N364 has the shittiest interface on the planet. I wish it had knobs that I could map to Live. Oh well there are plenty of cheap interfaces out there. I do like using external synths because it frees up so much CPU.

[3dot...]

used to use the Nord lead as a controller...

[Formic]

I'm using an Alesis Micron, imho a fantastic little synth for the money. OK its not the ideal controller as it only has 3 assignable knobs and two sliders, but alongside my APC40 I have enough control for my needs.

Its nice small and cute and fits easily on my desk, the analogue sounds are great, it has a huge amount of modulation possibilities, sequencing, fm, effects etc etc, amazing little beast

[exper]

I'm using my oberheim matrix-6 as my controller right now. The levers for pitch and mod are kind of cool. And there are lots of pedal jacks for sustain and even triggering. Probably not the best key action, but then again, I'm not trying to do Thelonious Monk standards...

[SubFunk]

my Roland XP-30 serves as my main midi keyboard and partly as a midi controller as well.

[Ubunoir]

Ensoniq EPS. I haven't found another controller with as nice a key feel (to me), although it's quite noisy.

[Ajbbklyn]

Just got a KORG M50-61 workstation. Still need to set up properly for external setup and for proper integration with KORG's proprietary standalone/VST/RTAS/AU plug-in editor software. Also, the 64-bit USB-MIDI driver is in beta. But, it seems to do a fair enough job controlling Live using the default driver.

[aizo]

When I need to have more keys I use the JP-8000 as a controller

[channelite]

I use the Korg MS2000R as a controller. I made my own custom script using the instructions in this post:

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=104540

[Tarekith]

Virus Polar TI2 here is my main controller now, unless i happen to move the APC over from my DJ set up. I have the Polar's 8 envelope knobs set up as a generic controller in Live, since their layout matches Live's macro rack knobs exactly. Much better feeling knobs than any midi controller I've used too.

[Josh D]

I have the Polar's 8 envelope knobs set up as a generic controller in Live, since their layout matches Live's macro rack knobs exactly.

I was wondering if there was a consistency in knob usage this way. On my Kurz, it's just sliders with "MIDI #" on them, so I try to make them do the same thing between Sets. Kinda hard when you're always using different effects and so on, so the sliders end up doing rudimentary things like: Track volume, A/B send amount, etc.

[roach808]

this used to be my live controller back in like 02-03. before we had all these fancy newfangled USB-Midi controllers.

[3dot...]

this used to be my live controller back in like 02-03. before we had all these fancy newfangled USB-Midi controllers.

ah... the prophecy... truely a classic... brings back memories...