Midi Controller?

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a midi controller that works well with Reaktor?
I've got a separate keyboard already, im just looking for something thats got lots of knobs and sliders and isn't to expensive.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

what's your budget?

Reaktor can be set up to accomodate just about any kind of controller that deals in Midi CC (continuous controller) data, which is all most contemporary controllers attempt to do. I use a Kenton Control Freak SE, which is great, but overkill if you just need CC data. Also, the Kenton came into the world before the era of the USB-powered midi controller, so it isn't the most travel-friendly solution. . . since you'ld need a usb midi inteface and a place to plug in your wall-wart when goin' laptop with it. Maudio is the only company I know of that offers full USB support for most of their interfaces.

I just found out about the Maudio triggerfinger, which is a clone of the Akai MPC-style drumpad controller with 3 sliders and 8 or so knobs thrown in. It's $200 at 8thstreet.com, but I can't find any reviews on it. It's a cool solution if you need drum pads too. I've heard conflicting reviews on the reliability of Maudio stuff. Edirol controllers are great, but they all have keys or audio intefaces built in. Stay away from anything made by Fatar or Studiologic at all costs, they have caustic customer service (I'm speaking from first-hand experience), and a repuation for shipping an obscene percentage of lemons.

Pretty much everything nowdays is some form of performance controller (keybaord, drumpad, etc) with knobs and sliders thrown in. The sliders/knobs only solutions tend to be models that were introduced a few years ago. The boxes from Kenton, Peavey, and Doepfer, while sturdy, offer no USB support.

So it really all depends on what you're needs are.

good luck,

WH

 

If you're just lookiing for lots of knobs, the Evolution X-Session is very inexpensive and has 16 knobs, a crossfade slider and 10 buttons you can program. The buttons are toggle only (alternates between two values on alternate presses).

 

I recommend Behringer's BCR2000. You get a lot of knobs, each of which gives you led feedback as to its position, so you can see this in the dark. More important, because knob position is indicated by led, the unit can change the value of knobs when you switch from one assignment of knobs to another. So you can program the controller to control various banks of CCs and switch between them, without causing the values that you send to your computer to jump. You cannot do this with devices such as the XSession. That is, supposed on the XSession program 1 assigns hardware knob 1 to CC1 and you set the knob to 0; then invoke program 2, which assigns knob 1 to CC20; now as soon as you move that knob CC20 will jump to 0, or 1. On the Behringer, when you switch programs, the value of the knob changes, and this is shown on the led readings. Also, when the computer sends CCs etc. to the Behringer, the led readings change to give you feedback. Finally, I am pretty sure it uses optical encoders, so it will last a long time; and it's a very good value.

 

I didn't know behringer was making midi controllers now, nice find! There stuff is made in China, right? If it's built well and reliable, then it's a great deal.

-wh

 

I just have ordered a

Doepfer Drehbank

it has 64 potis of which every can have two functions each bank... I'm gonna post here my experiences...

 

How are you gonna keep track of all those knobs dr. orange!?

 

;-)

there are little bars to label 'em, but I don't think that I'm gonna use all of them, nor live

 

wow, that m-audio triggerfinger looks pretty sweet for ableton live use...
Tbrixtonite, in response to weeklyhaircut saying he heard mixed opinions on m-audio, i have had excellent luck with their midi ionterfaces and controllers (i have had 4 and my brother has 1). their cheaper audio interfaces seem to have buggy drivers (for winXP, the mobilepre and the ozone, the ASIO drivers crap out on both of them for me and my brothers setups, i have to select the directX drivers and then select ASIO again for them to not sound very glitchy, distorted).

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, i'll check them out.
The Behringer's BCR2000 seems to be the kind of thing im after, i'll see if i can find any bargins.

Speaking of bargins i saw a controller called a phatboy on ebay for £30. Does anyone know if its any good, or does this price reflect the quality?

 

i think its another pre-usb controller (well, before usb was used for such things). you need a midi interface and power supply

 

I just bought the Behringer BCF2000, i managed to get it for £75!! from bluearan.co.uk.

 

Well, I am glad you got a good price...but I wouldn't in fact recommend the BCF as highly as the BCR. The BCF has actual motorized faders and not as many knobs. Because the faders are motorized, when the unit changes values (e.g., when values change on your computer, or when you switch banks), the knobs have to move, which takes time and makes noise. I think the LED design on the BCR is much more elegant and you get more knobs.

 

I promised you to tell you my experiences with the Doepfer Drehbank. I just got it, but what I can say is that the controller-app is, at first sight, quite complicated. But, and that's what I need, the "controller-range" is limited... What I wanna say is that there are no endless controllers, so you know everytime the starting- and stop-point. But it's still supporting RNPN. I can't compare Behringers edit-software to doefher's one, but I think doepfer's one allowe you to do much more adjustments. I love it. Also the design.

 

The Drehbank looks nice and solid, but don't you think the lack of continuous knob movement is a major caveat? What will you do about all 64 knobs being in the wrong position when you change patches or load up another project?

From what I've seen on the market, only the Behringer BCR series and the Mackie Control C4 solve this problem elegantly. I have a BCR2000, and am simply blown away by it's price/performance ratio. $129?? Insanity. It was $200 when I bought it, and I considered that a steal. Who cares about reliability at that price? And it seems solid enough. No problems so far. I give the ease-of-use an 8/10.

The Mackie, with LCD strips for every row of knobs, induces mad gear lust. Unfortunately, it doesn't support USB and lacks a MIDI thru port. WTF was Mackie thinking? I guess they figured it will only be used in a studio environment. Looks bulkier than the BCR, too, which is extremely light and the perfect size for me.

 

I just bought the BCR2000 and find it very fun to use. Price was very good and endless rotary with leds is a *must*.

b.

 

Hi,

I have been thinking of getting one of these, how big are they?

Cheers

Andy

 

Approx. 33x29x10 cm.

b.