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Control surface

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:25 am
by titodave
Hello!
I´m searching for a control surface (midi) for cubase sx 3.1 and scope mixers...
Can i do that with TASCAM US-2400 ?
Do you know another solution for me?
Thank you from Spain and sorry for my english!

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:55 am
by irrelevance
Have a look at the berihnger BCR or BCF2000 controllers. Very cheap but quality seems good. Give a visual feedback with LED's and the BCF has motorised faders.

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 9:03 am
by moxi
or build yourself your own MIDI surface that perfectly reply to your needs:

www.ucapps.de

you won't find better ;-) !

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:01 am
by Lima
moxi wrote:or build yourself your own MIDI surface that perfectly reply to your needs:
... Like this one :-P

Image

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 4:01 am
by dawman
That is awesome !! Do you use one 4 SFP? This looks like a very customisable item. Sweet.

Thanks 4 The Hook-Up,

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:31 am
by irrelevance
moxi wrote:or build yourself your own MIDI surface that perfectly reply to your needs:

www.ucapps.de

you won't find better ;-) !
Nice link moxi! Sequencer project looks very interesting.

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 8:41 am
by moxi
here is the seq I've build, it's a really awesome gear, with a perfect timing, and the next update will let you use it as MIDI controler too in the same time! :

Image

on the other side I use the MIDIbox64E to control the scope Mixer and some synth.

I hope one day creamware cards will support the Mackie protocol cause it's possible to build a mackie control emulation with the MIDIbox project...If the new boss can read this.... :) , or at least will add some usefull functions as automap for easy setup of the midi controls...

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:34 am
by dawman
Is it only a step sequencer, or can you do real time multi-track style?

This forum is full of talent.

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:43 am
by moxi
it's a step sequencer, but you can have from 1 to 32 steps per bar (you can set different number of step for each track) then set the track to play twice, 4th... faster (or slower) and you can chain tracks...(there is 16 tracks, each with 3 layer that you can assign to notes, CC, velocity... (so you can play chords if you need)
this way you can trigg up to 48 note events at the same time!
It's not possible to record multiple track at the same time, in fact I use it to create quickly some great patterns (and to tweak them in real time) -like using Fruity Loops- then record in Cubase one time my set is what I need, to do more fine mixing. This sequencer is for live tweaking , it's not the same way of thinking than cubase or Logic.

the fact that a lot of parameters can be directly tweaked lead to different creation, it's something hard to explain..

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:22 am
by dawman
I know, that's why I'm interested. I've used hardware sequencers for years for FX, lighting, Prgmd tracks. They are so dependable also, as they have one function. Could I have some sort of PDF on this if possible. I really love that major DIY look. Hardware toggles are sweet !
Please speak of this more,

Jimmy V.

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:39 am
by Lima
I use it for SFP: for mixing and for controlling some synths.
You're right Jimmi, it's very customizable! It has 16 bank of 16+8 controllers (16 for the knobs and 8 for the switches) and the parameters are freely assignable. But its best feature, in my opinion, is the speed of sending the CC. And think that it is the smallest of the family: for example there's a project with 64 controllers and support for motorized faders and encoders...

:-D

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:27 pm
by moxi
Could I have some sort of PDF on this if possible
the best way to know how it work is to rerad the tutorials:

http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_seq_tutorial1.html

and to read all the related info on the ucapps.de web page, cause a lot of infos can be found in many place on the web site..
They are so dependable also, as they have one function
For this one, there is more function than I really need! you can even drive analog gear via CV, route parameters of a track to another parameter of another tracks, and a lot of things that will be to long to list.. And it's the same thing for the MIDI controlers..
If the construction is done with care, this project can really be equivalent or better than commercial controlers....

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:41 pm
by hubird
really great stuff Moxi! :-)

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:27 am
by dawman
Brotha' Man Moxi,
DIY is not one of my strengths, is there a specialty shop in Deustchland somewhere, where I could send a design, and have something built ? I'm hoping to have mixer surface that could go to Solaris, and ProWave templates as well. This dog just might hunt.

Honestly, I Could Fuck Up A Steel Ball, Safety First,

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:22 am
by bassdude
Wow this project has really advanced since I last took a look years ago. I think I'm getting the itch to build my own mixer control surface now.

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:36 am
by titodave
thank you very much!!! :o

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:45 pm
by valis
Jimmy, there are quite a few users out there who will build stuff for you. You can order most of the necessary parts and premade circuit boards from various forum members at ucapps & midibox.org if you start hanging out there.

There's also a #midibox channel alongside the #scope channel in EFnet. themuted there built quite a few Mackie Control emulations (among other things) that have had me wanting to build my own for a few years now.

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:50 pm
by dawman
I can't figure out how to get back in there @ EFnet. Alfonso sent me a link up but I think I have to download something from JAVA right?
@ any rate, thanks 4 the tip Val. I shall try again in the morning.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:17 am
by irrelevance
Jimmy do you mean you need a chat client? Mirc is a very good chat client and there is minimal setup involved. I've never checked out the scope channel on efnet though.
I'm very interested in this project. Moxi already received my thanks in a pm :)
If you check in the www.ucapps.de wiki there are links to online vendors offering kits:

http://www.mikes-elektronikseite.de/sho ... /index.htm
Makes the process very straight-forward.

I've actually got a link at RS components uk so if anyone if thinking of ordering individual components for this sequencer project let me know and hopefully I should be able to get a good deal.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:36 am
by NAS
Mikes good for kits but smashTV is much better
Higher quality PCBs and smash is always updating his designs to make construction simpler
http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/
Most of the time you will find him on the IRC too