Which budget control surface?

oddstep · Post by **oddstep** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:34 am

I get a lot from a padkontrol / nanokontrol combination - the python script on cdm really extends the nanokontrol's functionality.

AlexMC · Post by **AlexMC** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:30 pm

evolwizard wrote:save for the apc40..it's worth the wait

Thta is FAR too much for me. I am 'curious' rather than 'expert' or 'enthusiast'.

It's like suggesting that a newly-qualified driver buy a Porsche, as 'it's what he'll want eventually'!

evolwizard · Post by **evolwizard** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:22 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-AKAI-APC4 ... 286.c0.m14

$399 free shipping

not a porsche, kinda like a hybrid toyota
affordable, functional, sleek and pays off in the long run.

AlexMC · Post by **AlexMC** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:57 pm

Watching a couple of well-specced controllers on eBay, so I'm holding back on a decision for now.

But thanks for all the input so far!

Dexes · Post by **Dexes** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:04 pm

Forget the toyota & the porsche, go for a Rolls Royce Stretch Limo:

But seriously now, before you run off and get a controler that looks fancy or which other people say is great, try and picture yourself on stage/in the studio and think what controls you'll actually need and use.

Maby think about getting 2 or more dedicated controles for different uses, as most probably you will not find a single controler that precicely meets your needs and spending extra money for a pad controler with small faders & transport controles (just about every second controler has the latter & at least 3/4 of the ones that don't, dedicate an unmarked button in any standard DAW template) is a bit of a waste if you go on to buy a mixer style controler and then have several buttons that do the same thing.
Even an apc won't necessarily be the all in one controler it's said to be, as if you want to control instruments/effects on different channels simultainiously (and dont want to loose control over sends my midimapping those knobs), you'll need something with more knobs...

In my current studio setup I use a BCF as a dedicated mixer, Remote zero sl MK I in automap to control more complex vsti's (or template 40 for native ableton synths & FX), the 8 knobs on my umx25 keyboard dedicated to the 8 controls of the audiorealism bassline, and a 5 octave hohner keyboard for playing melodies.
My live setup consists of the remote zero for basic mixing funktions, triggering clips/scenes, and a BCR with the encoders mapped to different effect/instrument controls.

You mentioned live looping with bass/guitar, so mabe a pedal board like the FCB 1010 might also be of use...

zalo · Post by **zalo** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:38 pm

hey dexes,

i dont see any trigger pads on that mixer/controller it simply wont do

time to get the fao schartz big keyboard

Rogue Scrunt · Post by **Rogue Scrunt** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:03 pm

I just bought a used alpha track.

very good controller only $100 used.

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:47 pm

AlexMC wrote:
evolwizard wrote:save for the apc40..it's worth the wait
Thta is FAR too much for me. I am 'curious' rather than 'expert' or 'enthusiast'.

It's like suggesting that a newly-qualified driver buy a Porsche, as 'it's what he'll want eventually'!

i also can see that for some folks it's to big, heavy and in need of a PSU for live playing, setting it up, dragging it around...

a padKONTROL / NanoKONTROL combo is tiny, weights nothing and does not need a PSU and might be all you need... different strokes for... blah, blah...

AlexMC · Post by **AlexMC** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:25 pm

You mentioned live looping with bass/guitar, so mabe a pedal board like the FCB 1010 might also be of use...

Hey, I MADE a foot controller from an old USB keyboard, some MDF and a bunch of footswitches:

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=112242

Check it out, a 42-button DIY controller for ~$50...

Guff Tong · Post by **Guff Tong** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 8:19 am

http://www.akaipro.com/lpd8

http://www.akaipro.com/lpk25

not quite in the shops yet but hopefully better construction than the korg nano series.

AceLuby · Post by **AceLuby** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:52 pm

I just picked up one of these:

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.c ... sku=620023

Great for what it is... pads and more pads. Has really good response too. Better than the MPD25 that I had used.

Guff Tong · Post by **Guff Tong** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 2:50 pm

AceLuby wrote:I just picked up one of these:

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.c ... sku=620023

Great for what it is... pads and more pads. Has really good response too. Better than the MPD25 that I had used.

If I had more space I'd have gone for that, though looking forward to taking delivery of my LPD8 in near future

(LPD8's got perdy orange lights on the pads too...)

AceLuby · Post by **AceLuby** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 2:56 pm

Guff Tong wrote:
AceLuby wrote:I just picked up one of these:

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.c ... sku=620023

Great for what it is... pads and more pads. Has really good response too. Better than the MPD25 that I had used.
If I had more space I'd have gone for that, though looking forward to taking delivery of my LPD8 in near future

(LPD8's got perdy orange lights on the pads too...)

I'm actually surprised on how small it is, ~12" square, though I debated on those LPD lines as well.

scientist · Post by **scientist** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:03 pm

SubFunk wrote:padKONTROL / NanoKONTROL

+1. covers all the bases. for me they replaced a remote sl zero, which in hindsight sorta blew.

Which budget control surface?

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