Single fader Control surface

Hey fam,

Been checking out control surfaces to speed up workflow in my DAW and since i dont have a desk, using a mouse is a pain in the backside (usually end up with mouse and pad on my mpc). When recording myself this is a major hassle.

I have been looking at single fader control surfaces, and wanted to know if anyone has experience using either the Frontier Alphatrack or the Presonus Faderport - or if there are any others i am overlooking.

Size is a big issue, so nothing larger than the mpc1000, and i want a good fader, i was looking at the BCF2000 but i feel the lack of fader control and transport buttons will bug me out.
I want to be able to arm and record myself from my vocal booth without going back and forward to the computer, as well as record synths from where i sit at my mpc without reaching for the laptop or mouse.
Something within the $100 to $300 price range is plenty.

Seriously almost sold on the Frontier Alphatrack, but would love to hear some other opinions.

Peace

Peepin'

also, for the time being until you grab that... check to see if your daw has an app (if you have a tablet or smart phone) because you may be able to get one that can do some of those things over your wi-fi.... which might come in handy until you make the decision.

A little above your price range, at $399US, and no dimensions seem to be available, but seems to be approximately the same size as the MPC1000...

Behringer X-Touch Compact

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/X- ... MPACT.aspx

have used a frotier alphatrack with logic studio 8 for some time now and must say that it speeds up the workflow while mixing a lot when you learnt the functions.
the fader feeling is ok and i like to write automation lanes with it.
also plugins windows will pop up if you select them and you can control many parameters from the alphatrack. saying that i am still way faster with the mouse in the channel eq. control of sends is also good.

in production there is not so much i use it for other than the channel fader and the pan pot.

one weird thing about the alphatrack is when you use it with a laptop with no dedicated grounding on the power supply, the display on the alphatrack will flicker and jump between values if you touch the fader or one of the rotary encoders - this is just a grounding problem and will go away if you use another piece of equipment with a proper ground in the power cable (i use a motu 828 mkII connected via firewire and that does the trick).

the decicion was between the frotier alphatrack and the presonus faderport, but the presonus lacks some things like eq and plugin control (there may be a way to change this with the midi learn function, but still there are no dedicated buttons), also the touch strip on the alphatrack is great for navigating the arrangement and zoom in and out.

as i got the alphatrack from a friend who switched to a command 8 for free i am very happy with it. now the next thing to do is to check it out with logic pro x that i got just a few days ago... not much time to mess around, yet.

peace, jo

thanks for all the replies.

Simon, i didnt know they had bought out a BCF on STEROIDS! damn that thing looks nice, the ability to use it on hardware and in a switch use it on DAW is a killer combo. The extra knobs might make me seriously consider this, i just wonder if the faders are an upgrade on the previous versions. Fitting it in my room would require some hardcore re-arranging though haha

Debauch - i have looked into getting a ipad / windows tablet with some kind of control software, but have not yet played around, thanks for the reply. My friend had put me onto some app a while back but i have forgotten to try it out.

Jo, Much appreciated.In regards to Laptop growl, i get that now anyway (unless the laptops unplugged from the wall socket). so no biggie.
I would mostly use it for recording of individual live instruments and arming my DAW for mpc recording - so this very much sounds like it ticks all the boxes. I was also tipped in the alphatrak direction over the faderport due to the extra functions.

Like Debauch said, if you have an iPad or when you do get one check out the Neyrinck V Control Pro app. It'll provide you with what you need that the AlphaTrack has and more. Plus wirelessly so you don't have to worry about stretching the USB cable across the room to your vocal booth. To me it sounds like you need a Frontier Design Tranzport for the arm to record instead of the AlphaTrack if you are leaning towards that. Look into what that does. The iPad app will give you both of those products in one.

I have an AlphaTrack and I like it a lot, but the V Control is just a lot better with more faders and features.

peeping tom wrote:Simon, i didnt know they had bought out a BCF on STEROIDS! damn that thing looks nice, the ability to use it on hardware and in a switch use it on DAW is a killer combo. The extra knobs might make me seriously consider this, i just wonder if the faders are an upgrade on the previous versions.

Only just released at NAMM recently, probably not available for a little while.

I expect the faders would be an upgrade on the BCF, as they bought out Midas and Klark Teknik a while ago, and built a new factory in China to manufacture both. These would not be on the same level as Midas faders, but would be a budget version of them, and are probably similar to, or the same as, the faders in their recent X32 digital mixers.

They have also stepped up MIDI keyboard controllers to the next level, with touch sensitive motorised faders, but only 60mm faders, compared to 100mm faders in the X-Touch Compact and larger X-Touch...

jigdagod wrote:Like Debauch said, if you have an iPad or when you do get one check out the Neyrinck V Control Pro app. It'll provide you with what you need that the AlphaTrack has and more. Plus wirelessly so you don't have to worry about stretching the USB cable across the room to your vocal booth. To me it sounds like you need a Frontier Design Tranzport for the arm to record instead of the AlphaTrack if you are leaning towards that. Look into what that does. The iPad app will give you both of those products in one.

I have an AlphaTrack and I like it a lot, but the V Control is just a lot better with more faders and features.

Yeah, the wireless route is one option i will have to SERIOUSLY consider before making any decisions, the possibilities of using Ipad and touch surfaces with DAWs looks endless. Guess i just need a ipad huh?!

I'm basically down to either the alphatrack, or getting into this ipad business and copping something of that nature. i'll end up watching pron on the ipad in my studio or playing games though haha.

well depending on the daw, many of them offer andoid apps.. many are to control the daw remotely.... so even some cheap andoid tablet can be dirt cheap and work... but won't be as nice as an ipad or some fancy tablet.

SimonInAustralia wrote:Only just released at NAMM recently, probably not available for a little while.

The bigger X-Touch was one of the only things I saw at NAMM that would be a decent upgrade to what I already use (Steinberg CC121).

Coz wrote:The bigger X-Touch was one of the only things I saw at NAMM that would be a decent upgrade to what I already use (Steinberg CC121).

Not sure if it has a MIDI controller mode, like the Compact, which would be a little limiting for me.

yep ipad is pretty good in terms of apps.. I can't remember which one i have, it's a hd version because i have a ipad mini, has transport bank select, and a template for reaper!!! yes..

IT also works with my fireface uc..

Gives all track information back to ipad aswell..

And then you get all the ios synths with it aswell..

I bought one of those ur44 .. HAs midi in and out, 4 mic pres , stereo line in .. It's a perfect combo for the mpc1000 .. And it's ios compatible ... Pretty dope...

yeah this touch tablet stuff has got me pretty excited haha.

Just copped touch OSC and looking at trying out some of the APPS the guys over at the Cuckos forum have posted.

I have a focusrite, so the idea that i can use it with a tablet and a camera kit is pretty rad.