I'd like some advice on midi controllers whose faders can be assigned to any MIDI CC

[CLAUDE MARC BOURGET]

I'd like some advice on midi controllers whose faders can be assigned to any MIDI CC, in order to make good use of automation in my use of the Synchon Player. I'm on Nuendo (under Windows 11). This is far from obvious. I see the JL Cooper masterfader, which looks fantastic, but it's only in MAC. I don't know whether SSL's UF1 allows the fader to be assigned to the MIDI CC of choice. I don't see anything to that effect on the SSL site. 

So I'm wondering what controller Vienna users use to maneuver among MIDI CCs, like expression or whatever.

Any help would be most welcome.

[Mary]

Hallo Claude, try finding a Behringer BCF2000 controller! I got one in 2004 and used it every day. Then about a year ago after some 22 years of intensive use, it died on me. I tried another controller, Arthuria it was if I remember correctly. But I really missed the 100mm long faders on the BCF2000 and the possibility to assign all the functions to the machine. The BCF2000 isn't produced anymore for a long time. It's very popular among people like us working with sample libraries. I got a second hand BCF2000 for 100 euros. And I'm over the moon! See if you can find one. If so: Grab it! You wont be sorry.

Best:

Willem

[CLAUDE MARC BOURGET]

Hello Willem,

Thanks for your answer.

I just bought a BCF2000 on Reverb, but it was defective and I returned it. Then I looked for others and the prices were high. On the other hand, at least under Windows, several aspects of this rather old controller made me worry about compatibility. This morning, I decided on an Xtouch One (quite rare themselves today, but found on eBay). I figured what was good for one Berhinger device was good for the other, especially newer ones. On the Nuendo forum, however, it says you have to adopt the MCU protocol.

[Mary]

Hello Claude,

What a pity about the BCF2000 you had to return. I'm still on Windows 10 and the BCF2000 performance absolutely flawless in my setup. Tell you what: I have a X-touch one as well! Together with the X-touch Extender. Very nice combination. I should've bought the X-touch. You know the big one. But I first got the X-touch one. I thought that would do but its only one fader. Now with the Extender the X-touch One functions as the master section. I use the Extender as a mixing console and the BCF2000 as a midi CC controller. I'm sorry but I fear the X-touch One as a CC controller is simply incomplete. That's just my opinion Claude. I may be (hopefully) wrong. Lots of success with your (re)search of a Midi CC controller.

 

Best:

Willem

[CLAUDE MARC BOURGET]

Hello again Willem,

I must add a true piece of information gleaned from the forums that may be useful to the community. The X-touch One, and maybe all Berhinger products (and this may be the problem I had, finally, with the BCF2000), do not work with AMD Ryzen computers. Berhinger has provided an update (version 2.0) to the firmware in this direction, but this can only be done on an Intel computer first. Once done, the device can be connected to AMD Ryzen. Note that I had done this update with the BCF2000 from a MAC (logically, without knowing the above-mentioned problem), but the thing failed and I could not connect to AMD afterwards. I don't know if the device was really faulty or if the new BCF2000 firmware doesn't contain a patch for AMD.

That's all. Kind regards.

[ravez]

This one works for me [url=https://www.korg.com/caen/products/computergear/nanokontrol_studio/]KORG Nano Control Studio[/url]

[Mary]

Hello Claude, so you did the BCF2000 update from a MAC but afterwards it couldn't connect on a Win11 AMD computer. Have I got that wright? I forgot to tell you that I have the BCF2000 connected via MIDI. It doesn't run well if not at all with USB! So who knows it would have worked with........ Too late. By the way thanks for pointing me out to the 2.0 firmware version for the X-touch One. I just checked and my machine is still on version 1.10. I'll check for an update and for the Extender as well. ravez mentioned the Korg Nano Control Studio. I have the little brother Nano Kontrol 2 up in the closet. I remember setting up was a nightmare. I got it to work but its tiny faders and knobs are way too small for my clumsy fat fingers. By now you must have found out there are dozens of CC controllers in a wide price range. I'm sure you will succeed in finding the right one for you Claude. I wish you lots of success and fun in doing so.

 

Best:

Willem       

[CLAUDE MARC BOURGET]

Yes, the BCF2000 didn't work after the update. I also tried midi.

For the X-touch One, I confused it with the X-touch, which doesn't seem to be at the same level. Your version 1.10 is the right one. 

I have two Korg nanoKONTROL2 in the cupboard. It's unusable for me too.

Best regards.

[Mavros]

I use a Sparrow fader box from Midi Maker as midi controller. The faders are nice and long and have an OK feel for the price. I get nice constant automation curves without hickups. They are not motorised as most mixer faders are but that is OK for midi controlling.

I use them on Cubase and Logic on a Mac but they should work on Windows as well. You can chose how many faders you want 3, 4 or 8. I use only 3. CC1, CC11 and a variable like CC23 for e.g. vibrato. You can allocated each fader to any cc you want in a separate little program (Windows 10 and 11 version). 

[CLAUDE MARC BOURGET]

I've read a review of these faders, which says that they forget the top 5% and the bottom 5%, so you then have to correct by hand. Is this true? That's why I haven't moved on to these Sparrows.

[ravez]

yeah the NanoKontrol2 looks pretty bad, that's why i bought the Studio 

[Mavros]

All three sparrow faders record perfectly from 0-127