The Best MIDI controller

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
wilxon
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Post by wilxon » Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:14 pm

Robin - do you use 2 LV1's???

robin
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Post by robin » Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:16 pm

wilxon wrote:Robin - do you use 2 LV1's???
Just one. I'm hanging on for the next wave before getting anymore. I can do almost all I need with the one though but more knobs and a few more buttons would help.

wilxon
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Post by wilxon » Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:35 pm

robin wrote:
wilxon wrote:Robin - do you use 2 LV1's???
Just one. I'm hanging on for the next wave before getting anymore. I can do almost all I need with the one though but more knobs and a few more buttons would help.
Also it having all of the controls witheasy access. The good thing about having 2 is that one is always in shift mode, so 8 pots instead of four pots and shift+ another four pots is dead handy.

16 faders is also better than 8.


are you planning to link the LV(3?) up with your LV1??? i wonder how this will work?

Do you know if the next wave will have 8 or 6 channels?

Sketchy
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Post by Sketchy » Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:10 am

hmmm, i am now being sold by the LVs. wilxon, what you said about them having 17 times more controllability than it seems on the surface sounds interesting. i need to try one out, which is well annoying cos i don't know where to try it.

also, it sounds like they're not usb from what was written below - is that the case?

bit weird if so.

thelike5
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Post by thelike5 » Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:47 am

Sketchy wrote:hmmm, i am now being sold by the LVs. wilxon, what you said about them having 17 times more controllability than it seems on the surface sounds interesting. i need to try one out, which is well annoying cos i don't know where to try it.

also, it sounds like they're not usb from what was written below - is that the case?

bit weird if so.
Yeah, they are not usb powered. You need to plug 'em into the old power outlet and then run a usb interface if you want to get 'em going with your computer...

I'll bet my bottom dollar that the new version (Winter NAMM?) will be usb powered. I guess Mathias at Faderfox decided to go the Doepfer way by not introducing USB yet. Funny thing, if you want a usb powered controller you STILL have to sacrifice build quality (m-audio, edirol, evolution, behringer etc. etc.). If it's solid and built you have to run an interface. I wonder if it has anything to do with old school mentality that a computer product HAS to be plastic and that folks like Faderfox and Doepfer think a large percentage of thier clients are using this equipment solely as a midi out controller to control external audio related hardware like rack mount synths and stuff. I peg Doepfer to be that sort of company (which is fine...) but Faderfox lists their products as being tailor made for Ableton Live and NI Traktor...usb please?

Yeah, it is kinda weird. I'd fully expect the new faderfoxes to feature usb and Doepfer will continue to carry on without it. I just can't picture Doepfer wanting to get invoved in writting drivers, etc...

robin
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Post by robin » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:00 am

thelike5 wrote:
Sketchy wrote:hmmm, i am now being sold by the LVs. wilxon, what you said about them having 17 times more controllability than it seems on the surface sounds interesting. i need to try one out, which is well annoying cos i don't know where to try it.

also, it sounds like they're not usb from what was written below - is that the case?

bit weird if so.
Yeah, they are not usb powered. You need to plug 'em into the old power outlet and then run a usb interface if you want to get 'em going with your computer...
The batteries last forever. I wouldn't use a power outlet.

To answer Sketchy what's weird about MIDI controllers not having usb? Most audio interfaces have a midi interface (I've just got am Echo Audiofire2, small but with a midi interface).
I'll bet my bottom dollar that the new version (Winter NAMM?) will be usb powered. I guess Mathias at Faderfox decided to go the Doepfer way by not introducing USB yet. Funny thing, if you want a usb powered controller you STILL have to sacrifice build quality (m-audio, edirol, evolution, behringer etc. etc.). If it's solid and built you have to run an interface. I wonder if it has anything to do with old school mentality that a computer product HAS to be plastic and that folks like Faderfox and Doepfer think a large percentage of thier clients are using this equipment solely as a midi out controller to control external audio related hardware like rack mount synths and stuff. I peg Doepfer to be that sort of company (which is fine...) but Faderfox lists their products as being tailor made for Ableton Live and NI Traktor...usb please?
I suspect the differece ebtween these big manufacturers and the little guys is that all their manufacture is outsourced to Taiwan/China. Faderfox etc are mad eby guys ike you and I, in Germany. It's natural that they can't compete in price. They do on their amazing customer service and build quality though. I'd pay a small premium for that ($300 for a faderfox, $200 for a uc33 even in the US).
Yeah, it is kinda weird. I'd fully expect the new faderfoxes to feature usb
I'm not arsed about usb to midi. I have that. I'd rather they got on with a really nice midi cotroller design like they normally do.

robin
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Post by robin » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:05 am

wilxon wrote: Also it having all of the controls witheasy access. The good thing about having 2 is that one is always in shift mode, so 8 pots instead of four pots and shift+ another four pots is dead handy.
Hmmm yeah that's a point.
are you planning to link the LV(3?) up with your LV1??? i wonder how this will work?

Do you know if the next wave will have 8 or 6 channels?
So I don't know. I'd personally like something bigger than the current devices. (like twice/1.5 the width with alot more knobs (and encoders with led marker rings? i can but hope). I guess we'll see soon.

wilxon
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Post by wilxon » Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:23 am

robin wrote:
thelike5 wrote:
Sketchy wrote:hmmm, i am now being sold by the LVs. wilxon, what you said about them having 17 times more controllability than it seems on the surface sounds interesting. i need to try one out, which is well annoying cos i don't know where to try it.

also, it sounds like they're not usb from what was written below - is that the case?

bit weird if so.
Yeah, they are not usb powered. You need to plug 'em into the old power outlet and then run a usb interface if you want to get 'em going with your computer...
The batteries last forever. I wouldn't use a power outlet.

To answer Sketchy what's weird about MIDI controllers not having usb? Most audio interfaces have a midi interface (I've just got am Echo Audiofire2, small but with a midi interface).
I'll bet my bottom dollar that the new version (Winter NAMM?) will be usb powered. I guess Mathias at Faderfox decided to go the Doepfer way by not introducing USB yet. Funny thing, if you want a usb powered controller you STILL have to sacrifice build quality (m-audio, edirol, evolution, behringer etc. etc.). If it's solid and built you have to run an interface. I wonder if it has anything to do with old school mentality that a computer product HAS to be plastic and that folks like Faderfox and Doepfer think a large percentage of thier clients are using this equipment solely as a midi out controller to control external audio related hardware like rack mount synths and stuff. I peg Doepfer to be that sort of company (which is fine...) but Faderfox lists their products as being tailor made for Ableton Live and NI Traktor...usb please?
I suspect the differece ebtween these big manufacturers and the little guys is that all their manufacture is outsourced to Taiwan/China. Faderfox etc are mad eby guys ike you and I, in Germany. It's natural that they can't compete in price. They do on their amazing customer service and build quality though. I'd pay a small premium for that ($300 for a faderfox, $200 for a uc33 even in the US).
Yeah, it is kinda weird. I'd fully expect the new faderfoxes to feature usb
I'm not arsed about usb to midi. I have that. I'd rather they got on with a really nice midi cotroller design like they normally do.
Batteries go on forever, when the low batt warning light comes on you still have 6 months left.

If your interface does not have midi (example Echi Indigo DJ) get an edirol UM-1 or a midisport Uno midi interface.

They are just like leads with usb one end and midi i/o the other.

Hey presto.

Faderfox is usb.

wilxon
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Post by wilxon » Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:26 am

Sketchy wrote:hmmm, i am now being sold by the LVs. wilxon, what you said about them having 17 times more controllability than it seems on the surface sounds interesting. i need to try one out, which is well annoying cos i don't know where to try it.

also, it sounds like they're not usb from what was written below - is that the case?

bit weird if so.
Yea, channel 1 is selected, and you set all of the controls with the exception of the faders to control effcts on channel 1.

Select channel 2 on the faderfox, assignall of the controls to channel 2 effects and so forth.

All you need to remember is to change the channel from the faderfox, and then whatever effects you have in front of you - you will be controlling.

itook4lefts
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Post by itook4lefts » Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:35 am

when you guys say the batteries last forever, how long are we talking? what kind does it take? if it's not big deal (ie cheap) using batteries, i don't see a problem with them not being USB. it saves a USB port, and it uses the mdi port on your interface which probably wouldn't get used otherwise.

robin - how's the audiofire2? i was thinking about getting one of those. it uses a breakout cable for the midi, right? what's it like? it's not flimsy or anything, right?

hoffman2k
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Post by hoffman2k » Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:56 am

itook4lefts wrote:when you guys say the batteries last forever, how long are we talking? what kind does it take? if it's not big deal (ie cheap) using batteries, i don't see a problem with them not being USB. it saves a USB port, and it uses the mdi port on your interface which probably wouldn't get used otherwise.

robin - how's the audiofire2? i was thinking about getting one of those. it uses a breakout cable for the midi, right? what's it like? it's not flimsy or anything, right?
I sold my LX1 a few months ago. It's still running on the battery's that where included about 20 months ago :wink:

A faderfox uses as much energy as a TV remote control.
Depending on your viewing habits. The remote might need a recharge before the faderfox though :wink:

robin
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Post by robin » Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:02 am

itook4lefts wrote:when you guys say the batteries last forever, how long are we talking? what kind does it take? if it's not big deal (ie cheap) using batteries,
I've had mine for 18 months and I've been through one set of bateries (cos I left the thing on doh). It has a auto powersaving mode if you don't touch it for a bit (it immediately wakes up when you touch it). It takes 4xAAA batteries.
I've got what's left of my remote control batteries at the moment but I've just got some 900mAh Duracell rechargables and we'll see how long they last next (I hate throwing batteries away).

Thing is I'm aware I sound like a salesman but I just really like the controller (and the build and the service from the company). I've tried a couple of other controllers (UC33 uc17) and tbh they don't really compare to this.

robin - how's the audiofire2? i was thinking about getting one of those. it uses a breakout cable for the midi, right? what's it like? it's not flimsy or anything, right?
This is also a very solid device at a stupidly low price (see).

I've had it since Saturday but the first impressions are that the signal I get out of this is nice and hot (as is the really loud headphone out). I had a Maya 44 USB (cost nearly as much) and the signal out of that was pathetic. I couldn't use the cue out in a club as it wasn't loud enough and most of the time I ran out of gain on club mixers to keep it the same level as the decks. Not good at all.

The midi dongle is pretty small and very robust too (I'm a stickler for neatness and it doesn't bother me).

When I've given the thing a full thrashing I'll post more fully about it.

itook4lefts
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Post by itook4lefts » Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:36 am

excellent guys... that's me 300 quid poorer at some point

robin
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Post by robin » Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:38 am

itook4lefts wrote:excellent guys... that's me 300 quid poorer at some point
:lol:

Glad to be of service... :)

axou
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Post by axou » Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:40 am

wilxon wrote: The problem that you may have with the lemur is that the screen is quite small,

I would like to map all of my view of live onto it so you can just push the right clips, but i doubt you could get em all on.

Good idea, should come in various sizes imo.
Don't forget that you can setup as many "interfaces screen" you want though. You can instantly switch from one page to another. Like one screen for track levels, one for clip triggering, one for FX, etc.

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