Question for anyone who makes music

[djglenn]

Is anyone aware of some kind of a controller (either special-made mouse or separate unit) that's made to work with most of the popular music making programs? (or hell, even just for one) Like something with some knobs, buttons, sliders, etc....to make the work flow quicker? Essentially, it would come with it's own program that can interface with the music making program; and you could assign the knobs and buttons to whatever function you want in the program.

Not a midi controller. Something that would control the program itself. Say for example, you want to raise the volume on track 6, instead of moving your mouse pointer over to it and slowly moving your mouse up....you can just use the controller knob to 'manually' do it. (I find that sometimes when you go to adjust things, your mouse goes haywire and rather than +1 in volume, it gets jacked up to the uppermost limit! Or sometimes it's almost impossible to go up by small amounts in some cases)

Hope that's a clear enough explanation.

Thanks

Glenn

[Rambunkcious]

Glenn,

Frontier Design Alpha track
Mackie Control
Euphonix MC Mix, MC Control
Jazz Mutant Lemur

Problem with most controller surface's that are dedicated to controlling DAW's restrict you altering the mackie control or HUI template, which is what its using to communicate with the program, there are exceptions however like the MC Control or Lemur.

Tho most are not consider midi controllers in the conventional term, they all transmit midi between the hardware and computer even if it isnt on a midi cable. In the past couple of years, OSC (Open Source Control) has taken precedence over midi however this new protocol is hardly supported by most of the DAW companies. (I know Native Instruments supports it)

In respect to the mouse issue, most DAW's have the option to alter values (faders, knobs, etc...) in smaller units.

e.g. In Pro Tools on a mac holding down the command key will let u change values in 0.1db

What DAW are u working in?

Hope that helps
Bunkcious

[djglenn]

FL Studio

Usually, holding Control (or is it Shift?) will work with changing the smaller increments in FL and in many plugins. But thought it would be easier to have something in the mouse that could already do this. And to be honest, I like actually 'touching' something. Especially when trying to figure out which value will work the best (in terms of say, some of the knobs that control parameters other than volume).

Anyhow, I'll take a look at those you posted.

Thanks

[djglenn]

The Alpha track looks exactly like what i need. Unfortunately, looks like it doesn't support FL Studio yet. Actually, none of those do. Which makes me wonder, I've noticed that a lot of software/hardware doesn't support FL Studio. I think older versions weren't exceptionally great, but recent versions are just as good as other DAW's. How come developers don't include it? Seems like Reason and Acid are always included. I don't have much experience with either, but from what I've seen, FL Studio isn't much different from Reason. Reason is more complicated IMO. So makes me wonder if the FL Studio designers aren't too friendly with developers. Or if their code is somehow much different from the rest.

Any insight into this?

[admin]

It'll probably take a while for them to support it. Could depend on FL Studios developers as well. I think its pretty much a one man show so maybe there isn't time for it.

I've got a microKontrol and a little disappointed that Reason is the only program that actually shows parameters automatically based off of what device is selected. The one program I don't need it for..

[sven hauck]

I've got a Novation Remote SL25 with automap functionality. Automap scans all your plugins and creates an automap version so that when you load a plugin, all the controllers are mapped. Quite happy with it. It also includes the standard templates for your favorite sequencer.