Wanting a solid control surface for DP 9.5

[Rick Cornish]

Yeah, I'm running DP 10 and the Icon Platform M is still cooking.

Thanks!


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[Rick Cornish]

I just noticed a new iCon control surface: the single-fader Platform Nano. The specs only qualify it up to High Sierra, but I know other folks are using iCon Platforms on Catalina. Anyone have any experience with this one?


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[greg328]

I have a Mackie DP control surface I never use—I’ll sell it to anybody interested—!?

Greg
Austin TX


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[Michael Canavan]

As others have said, the iPad with a Mackie emulation software is pretty good. In the studio the Slate Raven cannot be beat.

I'm going to post again that one of DP's shortcomings is in fact its lack of control surface support.
Logic, Bitwig, and Live all offer support for dozens of controllers. This means things like NI Komplete Kontrol type universal knob and fader support for FX and instruments that you can modify to taste for these surfaces.

In all three of those DAWs you have the ability to take a fairly generic piece of software like the AKAI MPK series and map support for various plug ins, your mapped controls for various parameters pop up as you select the device.
this can also be done with faders in the mixer etc.

At this point I don't know if it will ever happen, but it would be great if MOTU took it on, MIDI assign is cool and all, but basic things mapped to faders and knobs is super convenient and makes software that much more enjoyable to use.

[RobKaplowitz]

I found this thread when trying to get my XTouch (or X-Touch) Compact to work with DP. First - thanks so much to seedylee for the Mackie Mode - totally the solution - FYI, the way to start it in "MC Mode" as they call it is to hold down the bottom left-hand button (#1, with a light grey "MC" etched next to it) while powering up.

Then, to put it in this thread for other noobs like me who had to look it up elsewhere, under Studio / Bundles / MIDI I added the controller, then, under Setup / Control Surface Setup, I Selected Mackie Control as the Driver, Mackie Control as the unit and Input / Output Ports XTouch-1 / XTouch.

Out of the box, it gives me fader control for tracks 1-8 and the Master, transport control, and the button above the fader lights up when fader automation is in record mode. I'm still trying to figure out how to assign other faders to the banks, rather than having to track the faders I want to mix to the top of the window, and to see what else it does - but - for fader automation for $350? Very viable. Fader automation on playback is a bit choppy, but it's really smooth for mix entry.

FYI -be careful about your Track Grouping! It's definitely not a great controller for a bunch of grouped tracks at different levels - I had 7 grouped tracks, 2 faders all the way out, 2 at -3 and the rest at U; the second I touched an X-Touch fader, things got way wonky, in terms of the -inf faders relationship to the rest. But I imagine that's really more about DP and Mackie Control than the X-Touch.

I may also dig into the (PC Only) control software thru parallels later - but for the "I need a fader to mix this thing!" needs of right now, it's totally on the mark. I've also ordered one of the their single-Fader versions - I'll report back if that works.

[stubbsonic]

There is a new knob-based control product on the horizon from a particular despicable company. I'll not mention the company or the product, but in case someone is very much needing that functionality, they can perhaps use these obvious clues to discover it.

If someone has an issue with me calling said company despicable, just let it go. If you love that company, feel free. We can disagree to agree to disagree.

[CharlzS]

I've also ordered one of the their single-Fader versions - I'll report back if that works.

I think you're lucky because the Compact version has few function buttons and no scrub/scroll/zoom controls compared to the full version or the One. I have the single fader One version and many of the buttons do not map correctly. DP has its own flavor of Mackie Control that is unsupported on the X-Touch series. I wish Motu would provide a standard layout version of the MC driver rather than the DP modified version. I've had better luck configuring the X-Touch One as HUI with DP, but have become frustrated and removed it from my rig as did seedylee.

[sayatnova]

I've also ordered one of the their single-Fader versions - I'll report back if that works.

I think you're lucky because the Compact version has few function buttons and no scrub/scroll/zoom controls compared to the full version or the One. I have the single fader One version and many of the buttons do not map correctly. DP has its own flavor of Mackie Control that is unsupported on the X-Touch series. I wish Motu would provide a standard layout version of the MC driver rather than the DP modified version. I've had better luck configuring the X-Touch One as HUI with DP, but have become frustrated and removed it from my rig as did seedylee.

So, is the general take away at this point that there is no really good solution for a control surface with DP 9.5, or 10?... I am just coming to this now and it looks like this is the case. I would love to be wrong, just asking to see if I should bother with this before wasting time and money for no reason...

Thank you for any insight!

[CharlzS]

So, is the general take away at this point that there is no really good solution for a control surface with DP 9.5, or 10?... I am just coming to this now and it looks like this is the case. I would love to be wrong, just asking to see if I should bother with this before wasting time and money for no reason...

Thank you for any insight!

I think that depends on how much functionality you’re looking for in a control surface. If you’re just looking for faders, pan knobs and record, mute and solo buttons along with transport there’s a bunch of stuff out the that fits the bill and probably works well. When you go beyond that is where you bump up against limitations. The only thing I’ve run into that supports the DP template for the MCU is the Android control surface app TouchDAW. I have just fooled around with it running on a cheap Android tablet and got it working, but not used enough to endorse. There’s a lot of respect for Raven around here so you might want to engage those folks.

[sayatnova]

So, is the general take away at this point that there is no really good solution for a control surface with DP 9.5, or 10?... I am just coming to this now and it looks like this is the case. I would love to be wrong, just asking to see if I should bother with this before wasting time and money for no reason...

Thank you for any insight!

I think that depends on how much functionality you’re looking for in a control surface. If you’re just looking for faders, pan knobs and record, mute and solo buttons along with transport there’s a bunch of stuff out the that fits the bill and probably works well. When you go beyond that is where you bump up against limitations. The only thing I’ve run into that supports the DP template for the MCU is the Android control surface app TouchDAW. I have just fooled around with it running on a cheap Android tablet and got it working, but not used enough to endorse. There’s a lot of respect for Raven around here so you might want to engage those folks.

Thank you for the info, it is appreciated.

[waterstrum]

I'm still using the old Neyrinck app in my iPad.
Works great!
Faders, pans, transport, markers etc.
Plus, it has an assignable window that can grab any of the DP panes.
Can give access to any floating window.
I haven't found anything that it lacks for my remote control needs.
Way more than good enough for recording acoustic guitars in the booth with no assistant.
Wish MOTU would make one.

[CharlzS]

I'm still using the old Neyrinck app in my iPad.
Works great!
Faders, pans, transport, markers etc.
Plus, it has an assignable window that can grab any of the DP panes.
Can give access to any floating window.
I haven't found anything that it lacks for my remote control needs.
Way more than good enough for recording acoustic guitars in the booth with no assistant.
Wish MOTU would make one.

Forgot about that one - V-Control. That probably is the best tablet control surface app. I had the original version until my iPad fritzed. It pretty much covers it all. There's some sort of free version available: https://neyrinck.com/v-control-pro/applications/

[CharlzS]

Maybe some potential here: https://www.solidstatelogic.com/product ... b=overview
DP is not listed as currently supported, but programmability looks to be a strong point. Maybe some gear lust kicking back in.

[mhschmieder]

Hah, CharlzS beat me to it! I too am interested in this new SSL module, as I am thrilled with their "big knob" two-channel Audio I/O desktop module, which I bought during my five month working in North Carolina as I didn't bring my RME or other gear with me. Really well built, great sound and superior ergonomics to anything on the market. First look at this mixer looks slightly strange though, in terms of ease of workflow, so hopefully we'll see some good in-depth demos soon, and it'll be customizable to support DP10. It's also a good price for what it offers.

[TnMike]

I have a Slate Raven Mti2 that I'm selling.
Barely used...I have long fingernails on my right hand and it was a little hard to use a touch screen.
A really cool control surface though!