BCR/BCF 2000 Questions

JM · Post by JM » Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:34 pm

Hello there people..

Well, it's about time for me to "upgrade" a little bit so I'm thinking what should I buy.. Guess who will gonna help me on this..

Firstly I will tell you how my thoughts about this..
I don't really like tweaking sound, fx, sends etc with my mouse so I want something to control all of them via midi controllers.
I was going to buy the Novation Remote Zero SL but after a litte research over the net I am thinking the combination of Behringer's BCR 2000 and BCF 2000.
Use of the BCF 2000:
Preset1: The 8 faders will control the faders "1-8" on Ableton and the rotaries will midimapped to the "pan" of each channel
Preset2: The 8 faders will control the faders "9-16" on Ableton and the rotaries will midimapped to the "pan" of each channel
etc.....
So, when I want to control the faders 1-8 I will call up the Preset1, when I want to control the faders 9-16 I will call up the Preset2 and so on..
Is this possible?

On the BCR 2000 now:
I want this controller for my soft synths mostly.. What I mean..
I want to make a unique preset for any of the soft synths I use.. Like: Preset1: NI Massive, Preset2: DSP Discovery Pro, Preset3: NI FM8, etc.
So, for example, when I want to make a lead with my Discovery Pro I will call up the Preset2 and all of rotaries of the BCR will control the synth.. (Of course I will assign every parameter before all of this)
Can these presets be saved so I can all them whenever I want to use them instantly every time?

I am not djing with Live so I don't want any dj-friendly controller.. I work only in arrangement..

For the effects and all the others I'm searching for a similar to Evolution X-Session(the old one) controller so I can assign whatever I want each time without saving it for future purpose..

So guys, what do you think? I haven't ever worked with midi controllers in particular except my "cheapy" M-Audio Keystation 49e(maybe will upgrade to Axiom 61 in the future)

**Before you tell me "use the search" button, I have already searched here and over the net but my questions are very specific so I didn't get any answer that cheers me up**

Thanx in advance!

JM

mr.adl · Post by **mr.adl** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:53 pm

Can only talk about BCF.
YES, it works the very same way you discribed. Use it in "Mackie"-Mode and it behaves really in a nice and way (it´s written in the manual how to do set it up that way).

JM · Post by JM » Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:01 am

Thanx alot for your response mate.. That's good news.. One step closer of buying them..

I would like to see more opinions though..

mr.adl · Post by **mr.adl** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:28 am

Another thing: for that price it´s amazing!
The motorfaders are good, not to loud, but this varies from BCF to BCF i heard, guess i am lucky cause my faders aren´t noisy.

In germany we have stores (like Thomann) which has 30 days money back guarantee, so you can try out and send it back if it´s not satisfying. Maybe you have a store which offers this service as well

Read lot´s of reviews about the BCF and the conclusion is always: "for that price there is nothing comparable around!"

More quality and options offers the Mackie Controll Pro, which is as 3-4 times as expensive so.... comes down to how much money you want to spend and what you really wanne do with it. For me it was that i just wanted to have Faders so i had more of a "real Mixer-feeling". Nothing more was needed, so I don´t need a whole Mackie Controll.

Best!

Thomas

JM · Post by JM » Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:22 pm

I will buy them from Thomann.. That's for sure.. It's top class!

Thanx for the further info..

robleighton22 · Post by **robleighton22** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:27 pm

just got a bcr2000 a few weeks back. havnt used as much as i thought have, but have been very busy with other stuff. mackie control is excellent really. i wish that the ableton plugins could b switched on off when u r selecting a plugin. not really a gripe, but just a slight annoyance. otherwise its ace for producing, but havnt had a feel for mackie control yet and still end up using my mouse for certain bits.

making templates is a breeze, and the way u can even program the leds is actually wkd. for the price i dont see anything that compares. ive used the sl zero briefly and hated the feel of the controls, bizarrely the bcr is really sturdy and the leds r an essential if u r using endless rotaries.

its one of the few products that gets very little stick, and user opinons r very high, plus lots of interesting presets. the bcr performer (quite a recent addition - do a search on the forum) is pretty cool if u wanna look at how ppl r providing even mroe use for the bcr.

dru · Post by **dru** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:28 pm

It's worth buying a BCF/BCR for the Mackie mode alone in my opinion.

JM · Post by JM » Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:31 pm

I see.. So, as mr.adl said before, I will able to use BCF the way I described..
What about the BCR? Is it possible to do what I wrote in my first post?

robleighton22 · Post by **robleighton22** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:02 pm

JM wrote:I see.. So, as mr.adl said before, I will able to use BCF the way I described..
What about the BCR? Is it possible to do what I wrote in my first post?

yes. if u want the bcr to control each softsynth with ur own maps, then u hav 32 presets to map. also as an alternative if u use bcr performer u can change custom maps without changing presets (this basically means the led feedback remains accurate and remembers the positions of each map u make, really usefull.

to b honest, mackie mode is great for production and wont require u to do any maps. u simply select the channel on the bcr, then select which plugin u want (again via the bcr), and the top of the 3 rows of rotaries r assigned to the plugin parameters, and then there are two buttons used to scroll through parameter pages. also use this with the 'huskervu' program and u get a lcd display which u place as u like in ableton. this will tell u what parameter is controlling what and is essential for mackie control. with mackie control all the mapping is done for u. i use the arp2600 to make sounds, and can use every parameter, with the huskervu display telling me what i am controlling. works perfectly to do what u want. but u would use either mackie control or custom maps. i hav mackie control on preset 2, and then the other presets r custom maps. for dj'ing i recommend making custom maps, for production, really mackie control (once u r used to the layout) pretty much does it. to b honest, i actually dont mind use the mouse and keyboard to edit things, definitely worth the money. u can pretty much use the bcr as u like, has a lot of possibilites

JM · Post by JM » Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:24 pm

Thanx robleighton22 for clearing this out! So, I think I will buy these two on September..

One more question..
When I am on BCR or BCF and change the presets, the changes will affect and the units as well right? Like a feedback from Live to the controller..

robleighton22 · Post by **robleighton22** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:05 pm

JM wrote:Thanx robleighton22 for clearing this out! So, I think I will buy these two on September..

One more question..
When I am on BCR or BCF and change the presets, the changes will affect and the units as well right? Like a feedback from Live to the controller..

bcr performer allows u to hav correct feedback...u change presets via a rotary knob rather than the preset buttons, and this allows the bcr to remember the led positions when changing to and forth presets. works well actually.

JM · Post by JM » Sat Aug 30, 2008 4:35 pm

You are talking about the BCR Perfomer by Covert Operators right? I just saw their video and looked their site.. That's wicked! Can't wait to buy them.. Oh, and I will definitely purchase some of these racks that CovOps made.. Looks very insteresting..
Thanx again for your help..