I'm looking into getting a motorised mixer control surface in order to have the ability to be more hands on with my mixes & general Ableton use.
I'm struggling to find the best option that'll work with live. Has anyone had any positive (or negative) experience with any controllers?
The SSL UF8 is looking like a strong contender, I'm worried that you can't open/close track groups though. I'm also aware that there's probably something that does all the things the UF8 does for a fraction of the price.
has anyone had any experience with it working with Live yet?
The Softtube console 1 & fader also look good, I'm a bit concerned about using their software though, I'd much rather the controller actively control Live. Although the SSL etc desk sound emulation seems like a nice touch.
Presonus FaderPort also looks like it could work well. There's just something about the design of it that feels really off-putting to me though.
Any help much appreciated!
Thanks,
Hector
Best mixer Control Surface for Live?
-
jestermgee
- Posts: 4500
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:38 am
Re: Best mixer Control Surface for Live?
Can't comment on the ones you have listed, the SSL looks quite nice and compact but I don't see transport controls on there and seems many of the controls are geared towards probably logic or something, they don't make much sense for Live.
I have the old reliable Mackie MCU MKII which I have used for the last 10 years tho there weren't as many options back then to choose from. I started with an Alphatrack (same thing as a faderport) and that was actually pretty useful as it did everything an MCU does, just with only a single track. I chose it over the faderport since it had an LCD for feedback and I loved using it but eventually needed more control so cheaped out and bought a BCF2000 which was certainly good for multiple tracks and the cost at the time, just was clunky to use and without a display at all it was hard to know where you were in a session but proved the usefulness of more control.
I eventually sold off both the BCF and Alphatrack and ended up with the MCU which I still use, tho not as much but it has mostly been rock solid as it is quite a simple machine really. The LCD backlight has died once and I damaged a fader when I dropped something on it but both these were easy enough to fix with a bit of knowledge and time.
It is great for accessing parameters to automate as you can switch the parameters onto the faders and use them to adjust plugins and effects, great to do sweeps, and it allows full navigation of tracks including open/close of groups by using the track select. Most controllers using the MCU protocol should work the same.
The transport buttons on the thing are great and the jog wheel I have mapped through Bome midi translator to do scrubbing with a modifier key I can select ranges to easily split/consolidate/cut direct from the controller etc. Granted that much of the functionality has been replaced with Push now but I still use it to adjust and automate fades and channels. Having a 9th fader for the master control is useful and it can display channel levels on the LCD strip with a button press.
However, It's probably not something I would recommend if you are tight on space and I think they still demand a high price for an old controller (tho second hand in good condition at the right price they would be a good option). It is big, heavy and by default many of the function buttons are not labelled for Live but I have a custom magnetic overlay I made with all the live functions printed on it which works well. It also has 16 custom user buttons which I have programmed via Bome Midi Translator to add things like split, 2nd monitor view and many other macro functions I never remember to use...
A cheaper alternative to the Mackie is the newer Behringer X Touch which I have no experience with but it looks like a modern version of the MCU with most of the same functions and a much cheaper cost. If I were to ever replace my MCU i'd probably look at an x touch which I see there are even single channel versions like the faderport.
I have the old reliable Mackie MCU MKII which I have used for the last 10 years tho there weren't as many options back then to choose from. I started with an Alphatrack (same thing as a faderport) and that was actually pretty useful as it did everything an MCU does, just with only a single track. I chose it over the faderport since it had an LCD for feedback and I loved using it but eventually needed more control so cheaped out and bought a BCF2000 which was certainly good for multiple tracks and the cost at the time, just was clunky to use and without a display at all it was hard to know where you were in a session but proved the usefulness of more control.
I eventually sold off both the BCF and Alphatrack and ended up with the MCU which I still use, tho not as much but it has mostly been rock solid as it is quite a simple machine really. The LCD backlight has died once and I damaged a fader when I dropped something on it but both these were easy enough to fix with a bit of knowledge and time.
It is great for accessing parameters to automate as you can switch the parameters onto the faders and use them to adjust plugins and effects, great to do sweeps, and it allows full navigation of tracks including open/close of groups by using the track select. Most controllers using the MCU protocol should work the same.
The transport buttons on the thing are great and the jog wheel I have mapped through Bome midi translator to do scrubbing with a modifier key I can select ranges to easily split/consolidate/cut direct from the controller etc. Granted that much of the functionality has been replaced with Push now but I still use it to adjust and automate fades and channels. Having a 9th fader for the master control is useful and it can display channel levels on the LCD strip with a button press.
However, It's probably not something I would recommend if you are tight on space and I think they still demand a high price for an old controller (tho second hand in good condition at the right price they would be a good option). It is big, heavy and by default many of the function buttons are not labelled for Live but I have a custom magnetic overlay I made with all the live functions printed on it which works well. It also has 16 custom user buttons which I have programmed via Bome Midi Translator to add things like split, 2nd monitor view and many other macro functions I never remember to use...
A cheaper alternative to the Mackie is the newer Behringer X Touch which I have no experience with but it looks like a modern version of the MCU with most of the same functions and a much cheaper cost. If I were to ever replace my MCU i'd probably look at an x touch which I see there are even single channel versions like the faderport.
-
hectorplimmer
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2020 9:19 am
Re: Best mixer Control Surface for Live?
Thanks for the response.
The MCU does look great, I'm definitely in need of something more compact though, something that can fit on my desktop would be perfect.
I'm also avoiding Behringer after the whole Peter Kirn publicity stunt with the anti-Semitic tropes.
I'm going to keep doing some homework & Hopefully test out one or two mixers too in order to find what works for me.
The MCU does look great, I'm definitely in need of something more compact though, something that can fit on my desktop would be perfect.
I'm also avoiding Behringer after the whole Peter Kirn publicity stunt with the anti-Semitic tropes.
I'm going to keep doing some homework & Hopefully test out one or two mixers too in order to find what works for me.
-
properLofi
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2021 7:35 pm
Re: Best mixer Control Surface for Live?
It really depends how much money you want to spend and what functionality. The Icon Qcon Pro G2 and Pro X are both well made with full Mackie control. Specific templates Ableton as well.
They also do a more compact Platform series of modular controllers.
They also do a more compact Platform series of modular controllers.
Re: Best mixer Control Surface for Live?
Quite similar to what jestermgee wrote:
Had an alphatrack, upgraded to a mcu pro, now with additional xt, so 16 channels in direct control, which is fantastic. They built like a tank, but yes quite large. Every year or so I look at smaller alternatives, but also every year reading user reports of people actually using them with Live, I accept that for the time being I will keep the mcu and xt. (faderport 8/16 and the icon stuff seems to be problematic).
I'm also in the middle of bringing the Mackie C4 to live with Live11 for proper device control with 32 encoders and display strips
Had an alphatrack, upgraded to a mcu pro, now with additional xt, so 16 channels in direct control, which is fantastic. They built like a tank, but yes quite large. Every year or so I look at smaller alternatives, but also every year reading user reports of people actually using them with Live, I accept that for the time being I will keep the mcu and xt. (faderport 8/16 and the icon stuff seems to be problematic).
I'm also in the middle of bringing the Mackie C4 to live with Live11 for proper device control with 32 encoders and display strips
Re: Best mixer Control Surface for Live?
A bit of a tangent but ...
I really think Ableton ought to bring out a mixing control surface to complement Push.
I really think Ableton ought to bring out a mixing control surface to complement Push.
-
hectorplimmer
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2020 9:19 am
)-
clive_damagedgoods
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2011 3:23 am
Re: Best mixer Control Surface for Live?
For anybody who is interested: the Mackie C4 now works with Live 10 and 11 and also has nice additional features that the mcu never had, like group/ungroup and lots of others.
You'll find it @
https://github.com/markusschloesser/MackieC4_P3 be sure to read the wiki for all additional features and what works.
Also for anybody who is shying away from controllers using the mcu scripts: you can modify those to incorporate what you want