EQ Magazine - November 2008 - (Page 65)

synth bass sounds I use a lot”), and see a specific selection of patches. The CME-made USB keyboard controller is sweet: 32 notes, wood end panels, physical MIDI output, and a solid feel. But the main feature is 11 knobs, four faders, pitch and mod wheels, and 11 switches. Controller settings are mirrored on-screen in the software, but with a difference: The knobs use the “add/subtract” method of changing data, while the sliders, which control envelope parameters, use the “match-then-change” protocol (see sidebar, “Reconciling Physical and Virtual Controls” below). When you call up a preset, the software shows the current slider parameter value as solid, and the physical slider position as “ghosted.” This makes it easy to see the difference between the two. With virtual knobs, a blue ring around the outside shows the current setting. I find the knobs more convenient for “tweaking” sounds than for realtime live performance “fader slamming” and knob twisting; they’re fairly small and close together. However, I have used them for realtime control and as long as you don’t have to make lots of really fast movements, they work fine. If needed, you can tie the parameters to an external control surface. The four sliders adjust envelope attack, decay, sustain, and release. Two knobs are dedicated to the crucial filter Cutoff and Resonance controls, and another two knobs control LFO Rate and Amount. Four additional “Key Parameter” knobs bring out what Arturia considers a preset’s four most important parameters, and put them under hands-on control. The remaining knobs affect level, Chorus amount, and (temposyncable) Delay amount. The eight “snapshot” buttons seem more suited for live performance; you can save particular presets (edited or not), then recall them. These settings are saved on power-down. Remaining options include 1/4" connectors for Expression and Sustain pedals. What’s more, all the controls and switches produce MIDI control messages, so you can use them to tweak parameters in other software. While the Analog Factory Experience’s goal is to put a lot of sounds and a keyboard at your fingertips for a low price, what sets it apart is being able to grab some knobs, make some tweaks, and modify a sound for your particular needs. Why sound like everyone else? EUPHONIX ARTIST CONTROL SERIES PRICE: MC Mix $1,399.99; MC Control $1,999.99 STRENGTHS: Gorgeous, ergonomic industrial design. Compact. Very readable display. With supported applications, EuCon protocol gives better performance than MIDI. LIMITATIONS: Mac only (no support for PC apps). Few applications have native EuCon support. Euphonix created quite a stir when they went “downmarket” and introduced the Artist series controllers, and with good reason. We’ll concentrate on the MC Mix, then include a bit about the MC Control. The MC Mix has eight 100mm faders, eight knobs, multiple buttons, and an OLED (Organic LED) readout that is bright, readable, and informative. What’s more, you can “stack” four MC Mix devices for 32 faders, and add the MC Control for another four faders—36 total. While the Artist Series does HUI and Mackie control emulation, it also offers the EuCon protocol, which is 250 times faster than MIDI and has eight times the resolution. Currently, only Apple Logic Pro, Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo, and Apogee Maestro (for Duet and Ensemble) support EuCon; MOTU’s Digital Performer and Apogee Maestro (for Symphony) are slated for future support. With HUI/Mackie control, the list expands to include Ableton Live, Apple Final Cut Pro and Soundtrack Pro, Digidesign Pro Tools, Propellerhead Reason, and MOTU Digital Performer. A unique aspect of the Artist Series controllers is that while the main application installs on your Mac, you can control additional workstations by installing client software (EuCon Workstation) on other computers, and connecting everything via Ethernet. What’s more, the controller “knows” what protocol the application wants: For example, if you have Logic on one computer and Final Cut Pro on another, you can switch between applications and MC Mix will use EuCon for Logic, and Mackie Control emulation for Final Cut Pro. My initial experience running Logic was positive: The faders snapped to (CONTINUED) www.eqmag.com NOVEMBER 2008 EQ 65 http://www.eqmag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EQ Magazine - November 2008

EQ Magazine - November 2008 Contents Talk Box Sounding Board Punch In Brian Wilson Guitar Trax Bass Management Key Issues Drum Heads Vocal Cords Mix Bus Cheat Sheet Sony Acid 6 Abelton Live 7 Controller World New Controllers Analysis Room with a Vu

EQ Magazine - November 2008

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