Background:
I have been mixing techno (records) for a long time. I have been creating nice techno tracks with Live/Reason/NI for some time. I have some external gear - mc505, 303, sp808, asr88, bcr200, ect...
I would like to start playing my sets sets in a live performance would aprreciate some advice!
My Live setup usually consists of
- Channels 1-8 dedicated to 8 impulse drum kits
- Channels 9-16, various softsynths
- Channels 17-x, samples, misc.
The way I forsee myself playing live is having complete midi control of ableton in a fast and efficient way. Ex. Mute bass drum channel 1, switch to synth channel 15 and manipulate effects rack, switch to channel 6 and filter out cymbols, switch to channel 1 and unmute bass, etc..
I am looking for a controller that would allow me navigate and control scenerios like this rather quickly. I thought the bcr200/bcf200 would suffice, but after using them there are some limitations I can't live with.
After doing some research I think that a "control surface" is what would fill this void. Specifically something with auto faders and channel banks so I can switch to any channel within seconds and control it. I have looked at the Mackie Control and the MAudio Project Mix and they both seem suitable for my goals.
What do you guys think? Do I need a "control surface"? Are there other products than the ones I mentioned that would allow me to utilize alot channels aside from the remote sl (small faders)?
If you are performing dance type music (not laptop djing/mixing), do you use more than 8 channels? If so, what hardware do you use to control?
Controller for techno live pa
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Michael-SW
- Posts: 2054
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:05 pm
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
You know that you can run the BCF in Macke Control mode and then have a small "software display" on you computer instead of the LCDs on the surface? Should allow you to test the concept out at least.
Note that with Mackie Control, you can certainly control any number of channels (volume, pan, sends). But controlling effect/synth params etc on the fly is another matter since you basically don't have any control over the mappings and might have to step through a lot of params until you get to the one you want. Might work ok if you embed you effect chains/synths into racks. That way you will always be able to access the 8 most important params and you decide who those are.
I think a BCF/BCR should work fine as long as you are comfortable switching presets. You could eg always have track volume on the faders and track mute on the buttons but remap the knobs to different CCs when you switch preset. That way you could have a preset for each channel, but still retain global control regardless of preset.
Note that with Mackie Control, you can certainly control any number of channels (volume, pan, sends). But controlling effect/synth params etc on the fly is another matter since you basically don't have any control over the mappings and might have to step through a lot of params until you get to the one you want. Might work ok if you embed you effect chains/synths into racks. That way you will always be able to access the 8 most important params and you decide who those are.
I think a BCF/BCR should work fine as long as you are comfortable switching presets. You could eg always have track volume on the faders and track mute on the buttons but remap the knobs to different CCs when you switch preset. That way you could have a preset for each channel, but still retain global control regardless of preset.