Mackie Control Universe or Behringer B-Control?

djshubs · Post by **djshubs** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:10 pm

Help me choose between the Mackie Control Universe, BCF & BCR combo.

I wonder why Mackie is so expensive in comparison to the Behringer BCF
although it has most of the same features as the BCF.

Please help.

Thanks.
Shubs

johnpitcairn · Post by **johnpitcairn** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:16 am

You get what you pay for.

1 - LCD screen and transport display. Until you've used one, you don't realize how useful it is to have continually updated parameter names and values etc right there on the hardware.

2 - Penny & Giles touch-sensitive motorfaders. These aren't cheap (unlike the behringer's non touch-sensitive faders).

3 - LOTS more buttons. No shift-this and option-that...

4 - Jogwheel

5 - Decent documentation, support, and quality control.

In general, the Behringer units feel pretty cheap, because they are. They're great bang for the buck, but I've used both a real MC and a BCF emulation, and the BCF doesn't feel anywhere near as good to use as the MC. Plus I can use the MC without looking at (or being near) the computer screen, which is very liberating, and impossible with the BCF.

longjohns · Post by **longjohns** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:21 am

the bcf works well for me. there's no doubt that the function layout on the emulation is really weird for many functions. i have almost the entire computer keyboard mapped to this and that - so i define mappings to the keyboard rather than navigating the bcf menus.

i can see it being an advantage to have the displays on the unit itself, but i just position the bcfview window over the status bar at the bottom of the live screen - and the only reason i ever need to move it is if i need to tweak midi mapping values

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 7:23 am

The question is........what are all the hosts/plugins/and type of music you do? How much of the time is spent on making music? Are you in a band, and how many/type members?

I just recently worked in great lenght with a mackie.........it was the shit.......I mean REALLY! I'm not even familiar with it.....and it just worked. I want one so bad, I could PEE! But I'm taped out..........ok.......back to the subject.........

really, for a controller, you can't beat it. Of course........there is that price thing.............

Rahlo · Post by **Rahlo** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:50 pm

This is another vote for the mackie, from a guy who still owns (for the moment) the bcf2000. I just picked up a brand new Mackie Control off craigs list for $500 shipped.

The difference is like night and day, for real. Having the LCD and all of the visual feedback is off the chain!! It really has helped to change/streamline my workflow, especially with Reason. It's so easy to navigate between modules, and then tweak every single parameter to create/design your own sounds! I have Adam Jay to thank for showing me the all around dopeness of the MCU!

The bcf2000 is sweet for what it is and how much it costs, but if you look hard enough, there are still deals to be found out there--especially on craigs list! I had two other cats ready to sell me their units for $600.

Krugger · Post by **Krugger** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 3:35 pm

it's true, once you get the Mackie running for a week or so, you find a mirror and ask your WTF you've been doing all this time with anything else.

sh*t, just switching it on is fun as the faders run through the auto-test.

and it JUST WORKS. No dodgy emulation issues, nothing. And Mackie USA is quick on shipping any overlay for your DAW provided it's been made (and I actually live in the UK) I've tried it with Ableton, Tracktion 2, and now due to my MacBook with Logic Express 7.2.

2 thing to bear in mind:
1) Price - although I picked up mine on eBay, 6 months old, warranty left for £480 - which is bloody cheap here in the UK for an MCU (new £699)

2) Space - it's take a bit of space compared to the Behringer.

Now do yourself a favour and go and buy one!

Kr.

djshubs · Post by **djshubs** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:01 pm

Any recommendations from where to buy it?
Where would I get a good deal and have a legit warranty etc.

Thanks for the help guys.

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 8:16 am

geeeez, my friend paid pretty close to full price....although , he did get the guitarcenter 15 mo no interest.

Musicians friend has the 12 mo anything over 499..........other than that........I got nothin'..........

Rahlo · Post by **Rahlo** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:19 pm

djshubs wrote:Any recommendations from where to buy it?
Where would I get a good deal and have a legit warranty etc.

Thanks for the help guys.

If you're in India, you'd probably be better off trying to get one from a retailer like Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Sam Ash, or one onf the many other online music type stores.

Or, you could try ebay or craigs list, but that'd be a little more risky than going through a traditional retailer. My dealings on ebay and craigs list have been nothing short of great! YMMV!

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 4:24 pm

djshubs wrote:

I wonder why Mackie is so expensive in comparison to the Behringer BCF
although it has most of the same features as the BCF

because behringer is bashed together with the cheapest parts avialable on this planet made by chinese kids in record time and quality checked one in a hundred thousand, including no service from behringer nor the possibilty to repair a unit. also behringer ONLY does reverse engineering, they steal all there so called "technologys" from companies that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars developing and engineering stuff and then produce it the above mentioned way.

that said the control surfaces from behringer are the ONLY thing you can possibly buy from them, because there is no actual audio signal going through and if you are lucky you get the one in a hundred thousand one, that is testet and will work for a little longer.

apropos · Post by **apropos** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 5:30 pm

This Mackie hype is a bunch of bunk. If money is no issue, then by all means, spend it on the Mackie. It is clearly a better product. However, the Behringer bashing is just off track. If you're trying to find a balance between cost and quality, the Behringer is the victor. I have a BCR-2000 and it takes a bit to set it up and figure it out, but when you do it becomes easy pretty quickly.
The BCR-2000 (or BCF) is really well-suited for a home studio on a budget, when the extra hundreds of dollars you would spend on the Mackie could be directed elsewhere.
Also, there are plenty of BCR/F users on these forums and KvR, so you won't feel alone if there is something you need to figure out.

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:51 pm

the behringer midi controllers are certainly ok-ish for the money you pay, no question. (i even consider getting a BCF for my logic / live home setup)

but if there is one company in the field of audio equipment which doesn't deserve a single, not one freakin' single good word for many, many reasons than it's behringer all the way. already the fact of permanently stealing technology, they are permanently in law battles because of that and lost many of them! (mackie, focusrite to name but a few)
is one good reason to utterly dislike them... (certainly for me!) and a second one is that quality is absolut none excistent! yes there are units that work fine, but getting one of those is like winning the jackpot in the lottery.

behringer is nothing but cheap utter crap! you want see any just half decent studio running behringer. it's all PCB so you can't repair a thing. it's a useless investment and not speaking about sound, eh... what? there is no sound in behringer. the controllers are ok, because there is, as i said already, no actual audio signal running through. and it remains the ONLY product from them worth buying!

Freakybeatz · Post by **Freakybeatz** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 5:25 am

SubFunk wrote:djshubs wrote:

because behringer is bashed together with the cheapest parts avialable on this planet made by chinese kids in record time

Ermmm... dont mean to mackie bash but havent they just moved all their manufacturing to China because its cheaper, plus havent they had some "qualtiy control issues" since this move, plus lets not forget the legions of people with problems with their MCU's in regards dodgy / sticky faders.

Theres no denying the Mackie is the only real "pro" multi platform controller out there at the moment and it is indeed one sexy slab of tech, but its not perfect and does have issues (not the least being lack ofstock since the china switch.)

So my advice, bang for buck its the behringer, for luxury and style its the mackie.
They both have glitches, thats undeniable so it depends on your budget and how much time you will really be spending with the surface itself.
If your just doing the odd tweakand still a mouse jockey by heart, why spend £700+ on a controller...? that will be overkill.

Personally I'm getting a Mackie if they ever get any into the UK! because I want the luxury! (and so do the clients) BUT...! I use a bcf with the laptop and its a perfect companion.

LIve long and Perspire...

Freakybeatz

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:10 am

you are right, no company is perfect and i never said mackie is top notch, just because i said behringer except their controllers is utter crap.

djshubs · Post by **djshubs** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:29 pm

what sort of flaws does the Mackie Controller have.. I know that it doesn't have a direct USB connection and requires MIDI I/O. Other than that if you guys could point out a few?

Although I live in India, I study in the United States. So I am looking for a good place from where I can purchase my controller. I am willing to spend few extra bucks for quality and service.

Mackie Control Universe or Behringer B-Control?

Mackie Control Universe or Behringer B-Control?

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