DAW/DVW control surfaces

tcbetka wrote on 4/1/2010, 11:27 AM
Hi all...

I have Vegas Pro, and SONAR. I am looking at control surfaces, and have been looking at both the Cakewalk VS-700, but more so the Mackie MCU Pro, with Extender. I play drums, and need (well, would like...) at least 16 channels of control. Certainly that is not an absolute requirement--because the VS-700 only has 8 channels, and you simply change banks. But for a couple hundred dollars less, I can get a Mackie MCU and an Extender. I realize that this would be a more generic solution, but as far as I know, the Mackie products work extremely well with both Sonar and Vegas. By the way, I also have a Mackie Onyx 1640 firewire mixer, and like it very much. So I have no problems with Mackie's quality, from a personal experience standpoint...

I've seen an article (review) that Spot had written for the original Mackie MCU, back a few years. I know he uses Sonar as well as Vegas, but I've never asked him about this. But does anyone else have any opinions or input about this issue?

Thanks in advance!

TB

Comments

rs170a wrote on 4/1/2010, 11:36 AM
My co-worker has a studio at home where he runs Vegas Pro and Sonar with a pair of Mackie 01V 96s and they all play very nicely together.

Mike
tcbetka wrote on 4/1/2010, 11:41 AM
I don't know what those are... I have heard of Yamaha 01V96 boards, like these:

http://www.adkproaudio.com/viewitem.cfm?id=2892

Is this what you mean?

The problem here is not that I don't have a board--because I do. The Onyx board works great. I simply want a control surface to mix with; ergo the MCU Pro or VS-700.

TB
rs170a wrote on 4/1/2010, 12:54 PM
Sorry.
Yes, those are the boards I was referring to.
I just spoke to my co-worker and he's been using a Mackie MCU since it first came out with Logic Audio, Vegas and Sonar.
He remains very happy with it.

Mike
tcbetka wrote on 4/1/2010, 1:10 PM
Ah cool... And those aren't even the "Pro" (USB) units. I have heard that the new MCU Pro model is more slick than the earlier units.

I am leaning in the direction of the Mackie units, simply because of the generic nature of the configuration--and of course, the number of channels I can get for the same money. I wish I could find a store near me with a unit in stock, but I've had no such luck (for either Mackie units, or the VS-700). So I guess internet shopping and YouTube videos will have to do.

Thanks for checking with him.

TB
Al Min wrote on 4/1/2010, 1:43 PM
I have Vegas Pro and Sonar also. I use use a Tranzport and a Behringer BCF 2000. The BCF apparently is not supposed to work under Win 7 64 bit but I have managed it. Both units are woking fine in VP9 and Sonar 8.5.
tcbetka wrote on 4/1/2010, 1:57 PM
Wow...those Behringer units look like a lot of bang for the buck! How are they, in terms of quality? Have you had any problems with them?

I will check out some online reviews of them. Thanks!


TB
Al Min wrote on 4/1/2010, 2:40 PM
Hi Tom. They work flawlessly on both Sonar and Vegas. Getting them to work in Vegas takes a few more mouse clicks but its worth the effort. I use the Tranzport in Vegas for its jog wheel next/previous buttons (great for jumping to markers). I thought that the BCF was not made anymore, but no doubt they are available second hand. The BCF is very good quality and has motorized faders.
TimTyler wrote on 4/1/2010, 4:05 PM
I use the old, non-USB MCU with Vegas and it's great for mixing tracks.

It's really not that hard to get it working if your MIDI interface is well-recognized by Vegas. I have a FA-101.

I tried the Berringer control surface a while back and it was messy. I suppose it could fit the bill, but for me it was clunky.
arenel wrote on 4/7/2010, 1:41 PM
There is an Alesis Master Control with a street price of about U$800. Anybody try that?
Ralph
willqen wrote on 4/8/2010, 2:43 AM
The Mackie devices have button overlays that you can get for both Vegas and Sonar that are a big help.

Will