Ableton Forum

Hi Everybody,

I have just got to grips with Live and currently shopping for a controller

I will be using it mainly for DJing so i would like it to have as many faders as possible with comfortable access to knobs for live action

Have been looking around and basically these are the few that arouse my curiosity

CME Bitstream
http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/pr ... eam3X.html

Novation Remote 25SL
http://www.novationmusic.com/product.as ... hive=False

Pioneer cdj800
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v ... 20,00.html

Like I said, it will be for DJ use....although if I buy the Novation it may inspire me to spend a bit more time on Reason.....

Anybody have any of these products? Any reccomendations?

Want to buy one ASAP but just struggling to weigh it all up

Thanks

Ben

Forgot to mention that I have read absolutely awesome reviews on the Novation but is it really the best and most comfortable for DJing on Live?

I mean, I have read that it works really well with Live but it doesnt look quite as comfortable as the Bitstream which I have read not so much positive feedback

Thanks

Any other controllers worth mentioning?

Welcome!

There's tons of controller info in the forum. 'Search' is your friend!

I would seriously reccommend 2 x faderfox lv2 controllers.

they are designed specifically for live.

i dj with 2x lv1's

expensive way to go though.

r u in the uk?

try www.digitalreaction.co.uk for CME stuff

wow, the faderfox looks pretty spot on.....

why do you use 2? and how easy is it to configure and access different effects, i cannot see any knobs for effects/eq control

many thanks

and how would it connect to my powerbook?

They are modular.

One the one unit you can flip between faders 1-6 and 7-12, the pots you can flip between fx1 and fx 2.

By having two units you have access to all 12 faders and twice as many pots.

The design is very clever.

if you operate 12 channels in live, and you have effects on each channel - if you select the channel from the faderfox the pots only apply to that channel.

So, where you have 8 pots accross the 2 units, you effectivly have 8 pots per channel

multiplied by 12 channels gives you 96 individual pot controls.

Then you get 4 effect pot channels, so that adds another 16,

and then you have the crossfaders and all of the buttons to use as well.

The design is insanely perfect.

you do have to get used to controlling the channel from the unit, and sometimes you need to flick between effect groups to get the pots you need but that is real easy ater a practice for a couple of hours.


To connect them to your powerbook all you need is a small midi interface like a edirol um-1 or midisport uno.

These operate using only Midi, so when you use them with live its as easy to assign the controlls in live. it comes with a few preset sets so that you can use right away but i have completely reprogrammed mine.

It really is hard to see how good they are until youhave had a go of one.

oh and they are small.

What size powerbook do you have??


If you have a 12" one then you can setup entirely on a lid of turntable.

Pretty handy at gigs, askthe vynalist for a lid, setup, and then just slide in when the last record goes on - mix across.

Wow, thanks so much for the info.....this thing really looks the business....

Think I will start by getting one, practising (and saving) before picking up the second

I won't lie.....I am still rather confused......I dont see how you can effectively have (with 2 units) 8 pots per channel or (i presume) 4 pots per channel for 1 unit.....and then the multiplication

Although, like you said, after a bit of playing around, I'm sure it will make sense

Everything looks fine....as long as I have easy access to the eq and various effects then I'm happy as....

My Powerbook is 15" but I'm sure I can make room.....

The connection suggestions you made look pretty spot on also....saves me having to splash out on a external sound card i guess

Ben Oboe wrote:Wow, thanks so much for the info.....this thing really looks the business....

Think I will start by getting one, practising (and saving) before picking up the second

I won't lie.....I am still rather confused......I dont see how you can effectively have (with 2 units) 8 pots per channel or (i presume) 4 pots per channel for 1 unit.....and then the multiplication

Although, like you said, after a bit of playing around, I'm sure it will make sense

Everything looks fine....as long as I have easy access to the eq and various effects then I'm happy as....

My Powerbook is 15" but I'm sure I can make room.....

The connection suggestions you made look pretty spot on also....saves me having to splash out on a external sound card i guess

Precisely, all of your comments and assumptions are correct.


I started by getting one, because of the reviews saying it was the best, i was confused, when i first set it up and started playing with it i thought it was awesome.

I got the second one about 2 weeks later, havnt looked back since.

Are you in the UK?

Yes mate, currently in Portsmouth

Wilxon....

How do these compare against the Xone 3d. Saw a demo of the 3d on their website and looked pretty cool. Are the Faderfox better than the 3d?

I originally planned to sell my Technics, DJM600 and a CDJ1000 to buy a 3D.....It has gotta be the ultimate Ableton Controller/Mixer

But the Fader Fox looks like it has almost exactly what I would need from the 3D....I am happy to keep my DJM600 and use maybe 2 of the fox's as the equivelent to either side panel of the 3D..... saving a good £1200 and the horrific thought of selling my decks.....plus the likelihood of finding a club with a 3D is slim so for taking your Ableton skills out live, you could alomost fit the fader fox in your back pocket (prob not a great idea, but you know what i'm getting at)

Wilxon, I think you may have sold it to me

big tango november wrote:Wilxon....

How do these compare against the Xone 3d. Saw a demo of the 3d on their website and looked pretty cool. Are the Faderfox better than the 3d?

The Xone 3d has technolgy built into them so you can sync Live to what your playing on vynil. This controller is a combination Decks and Computer controller. Tis technology is impressive but i cant really see the point because you can just have all of your tunes in live.

The only comparison between these and the faderfox range is what you can control via midi.

The 3d i think from memory has 8 faders, 8 pots and 24 buttons and a few other things.

But the faderfox has way more control, and they are small and light enough to fit in your laptop bag.