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slovill
slovill
Inspiring
March 17, 2014
Answered

Which control surface do you use, would like to use or have used for audio?

  • March 17, 2014
  • 13 replies
  • 32969 views

I am shopping control surfaces for mixing audio in Premiere Pro CC. I am buying used so I would sure like to get it right the first time. I am looking for feedback from those who have used a control surface as well as those who have just looked around. I have searched high and low for information from Premiere Pro users but have found very little. Even the Audition folks have not shared much information about experiences with audio control surfaces.

Here are some consoles I've looked at but cannot determine compatibility (due to lack of information):

  • Mackie Control Universal MCU Pro 8
  • Digidesign Command 8
  • Digidesign Digi 002 Pro Tools Console
  • M-Audio ProjectMix I/O Control Surface
  • Icon QCon Pro USB Midi Controller Station
  • Behringer B-Control Fader BCF2000
  • Radikal Technologies SAC 2.2 DAW controller
  • Avid Artist Mix Control 8 Fader Euphonix DAW Mixing Control Surface
  • Tascam FW-1884 Firewire Control Surface
  • Tascam FW-1082 Firewire Control Surface
  • CM Labs Motormix
  • CM Labs Motormix 2
  • CM Labs MotorMate
  • Novation ZeRO SL MkII MIDI DAW Control Surface
  • Nektar Panorama P1 USB Midi DAW Control Surface
  • Alesis Master Control

If you have experience with any of these consoles, or have any to add to the list, specifically with Premiere Pro, please leave a note here. I believe there will be others who will check this discussion looking for the same answers as I. Documentation of these control surfaces is very thin when it coms to discovering if they are MCU or EUCON protocol (or other) - and even if I was able to discern a flavor I still do not know which features will work in Premiere, such as transport controls, faders, plug-in modifiers, et al.

So I guess my goal here is to come up with a list of work/don't work features for each of these control surfaces and more so we can make informed bang for the buck decisions. My budget for a used control surface is $300-400, but I'd be willing to go to $500-600 or more if the features/integration were significantly better.

Thanks!

    Correct answer slovill

    I appreciate everyone's information provided here.

    I took delivery of the Behringer X-Touch a couple months ago. Plugged it in to USB port, set PP and Audition preferences/control surface to Mackie, and voila! Everything began working with no problems. Only complaint? No back light for button labels... so I added a USB powered mini light to one of the two USB ports on the back of the control surface.. I customized a few of the buttons for PP and Audition and added my own P-Touch labels.

    Some other observations...

    • Read, write, touch and latch function as expected.
    • Mute and solo function as expected.
    • The flying faders are a little jumpy, but the mix is smooth.
    • PP has been occasionally locking up while playing the timeline, but I can't say the control surface is causing it (I can't say it isn't, either).
    • The LED header above each fader follows PP and Audition track labels and effect settings.
    • TC display matches Adobe timeline TC.
    • I have not used controls to tweak audio track effects settings, so no feedback yet for those functions.

    I am happy with the X-Touch and think it's a good value for those in need of a control surface for simple mixing. I'll try to report on deeper functions as I use them. If anyone else has delved into deeper functionality, please report it here for everyone's benefit.

    13 replies

    R Neil Haugen
    R Neil Haugen
    Legend
    March 4, 2020

    For each device, mapping things is done within the manufacturer's setup for that. I know Tangent has a separate app that handles all mapping, so one doesn't change the mapping through the Premiere preferences but in Tangent's Mapper.

     

    The Tangent surfaces ... I've both a full Elements and a Ripple ... also can 'touch' the Track mixer, which makes that a valuable multi-tool for editing ... but can't be set for affecting the Clip mixer. As noted in your other post, I've asked the Tangent people for the ability to set Clip mixer values but I don't know if it's a Tangent mapping thing or if the Premiere API they use doesn't have a connection for the Clip mixer.

     

    I do have a UserVoice for this ... and that is where "we" need to all pile on to get traction for fixing this. Adobe's upper managers live by metrics. UserVoice is their preferred metrics gathering device. Let's give them some metrics.

     

    Neil

     

    Allow Control Surfaces to Set Clip Mixer Values

    Everyone's mileage always varies ...
    D
    Diiorio
    Participating Frequently
    March 4, 2020

    I just bought the x-touch compact.  I don't think it's designed to use with adobe premiere.  I've been working on getting it working.  I can use the x-touch to control the TRACK MIXER only as opposed the CLIP MIXER.  The big difference is that when writing to the tracks with track mixer the keyframes you write stay where they are on the track which may be useful if and only if you are working with a fiished product where you will never have the audio move.  if I go back to a project and try move something all the keyframes stay where they were on the track and don't move with the clip.  Can you control the CLIP MIXER with your x-touch?

     

    I can't get any of the knobs to work which was one of my big ideas.  I use a tangent wave for color correction all the time.  I move a knob on the wave and it applies lumetri for me and moves the appropriate setting like hue or brightness or whatever.  This should be like that for audio.

     

    I've read that you can assign things, but i just opened the button assignment panel and you really can't assign anything as it just isn't editable.  I'd love to hear how you set up your buttons.  I went to PREFERENCES > CONTROL SURFACE and that opened the window where I chose Mackie and Edit.  Then I went to Button Assignments.  In that panel I have no way of modifying anything.  What do you think I'm doing wrong?

     

    i had big hopes and dreams.  seems useless.

    D
    Digitalman42
    Participant
    August 6, 2019

    Thanks for your report about the X-Touch.  That sold me on getting this over the lite version.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed I will have a similar experience with it.  I'm also hoping to include Bome Midi Translator Pro (https://www.bome.com/products/miditranslator​) in order to map some of the unused buttons to PP video editing functions and the jog wheel as well.  I just wish Adobe had better support for specific hardware like the X-Touch.  I'll try to remember to report back here my findings on the X-Touch in Mackie mode paired up with Midi Translator Pro.  If anyone else has experience with this software product and the X-Touch, please reply with your experiences.

      B
      Boudewijn Pelt
      Inspiring
      October 26, 2019

      You can now do much more than mix audio with your MIDI controller. I have made a new control-surface plug-in, PrControl. With this plug-in you can edit lumetri, trigger commands, mix audio and control transport. And it is fully configurable.

      https://peltmade.com/prcontrol.html 

        slovill
        slovillAuthorCorrect answer
        Inspiring
        April 19, 2016

        I appreciate everyone's information provided here.

        I took delivery of the Behringer X-Touch a couple months ago. Plugged it in to USB port, set PP and Audition preferences/control surface to Mackie, and voila! Everything began working with no problems. Only complaint? No back light for button labels... so I added a USB powered mini light to one of the two USB ports on the back of the control surface.. I customized a few of the buttons for PP and Audition and added my own P-Touch labels.

        Some other observations...

        • Read, write, touch and latch function as expected.
        • Mute and solo function as expected.
        • The flying faders are a little jumpy, but the mix is smooth.
        • PP has been occasionally locking up while playing the timeline, but I can't say the control surface is causing it (I can't say it isn't, either).
        • The LED header above each fader follows PP and Audition track labels and effect settings.
        • TC display matches Adobe timeline TC.
        • I have not used controls to tweak audio track effects settings, so no feedback yet for those functions.

        I am happy with the X-Touch and think it's a good value for those in need of a control surface for simple mixing. I'll try to report on deeper functions as I use them. If anyone else has delved into deeper functionality, please report it here for everyone's benefit.

          MonoxideWorks
          MonoxideWorks
          Inspiring
          November 24, 2016

          Hey slovill,

          How goes your X-Touch experience with Adobe Audition CC 2017 update?

          Thanks

          MonoxideWorks
          MonoxideWorks
          Inspiring
          April 14, 2016

          Behringer BCF 2000 user here. Used with Audition CC 2015.1 release Build 8.1.0.162

          In our experience the closest mode to make it work with Audition is the "Mackie Control Mapping for Steinberg" [MC C] mode. The faders work fine, track select, mute and solo. Transport works fine too.

          Although there is no way to engage "touch". There are however direct commands for "read", "write" and "latch" for automation. The only way to get to "touch" mode is to automate via "write"; upon finishing first pass, playhead will return to start position and the automation setting will automatically switch to "touch". Although "touch" mode does not function smoothly, upon touching the faders for an automation edit; the faders seem to fight the edit as if it's in "read" mode.

          We have not tried it with Premiere Pro and we have not tried programming it yet.

          Hope this helps.

          B
          brianb48677142
          Participant
          February 6, 2016

          Any new Control Surfaces for PP in 2016? do the X-touch series work?

          T
          ToltekM
          Participant
          September 10, 2015

          Stumbled across this post and i'll chime in incase you haven't made a decision yet.  I'm using the Avid Artist Mix w/ CC 2015 and it works extremely well.   Very easy to adjust the clip and track volume w/ the faders.  The track names show up in the displays and record/automation works great as do the panning knobs, solo and mute buttons.   Very pleased w/ my purchase.   

          R Neil Haugen
          R Neil Haugen
          Legend
          September 11, 2015

          Good to know. Thanks ...

          Neil

          Everyone's mileage always varies ...
          M
          MalcolmM1
          Participant
          March 20, 2015

          My Bella DV keyboard jog/shuttle does not work with Premiere Pro CC either!  Now I'm just using a regular keyboard with keycap stickers and a trackball.  Very annoying about the Bella keyboard, it was nice to have with Vegas Pro.

          M

          R Neil Haugen
          R Neil Haugen
          Legend
          March 21, 2015

          File a bug report ... then turn right around and file a feature request! Seriously on both those. This is something that just needs attention for so many people trying to get their output up to the higher speed that is always necessary for better profitability. Or even just getting a bit of family time now & then ...

          Adobe Bug Report /Feature Request form ...

          https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

          Neil

          Everyone's mileage always varies ...
          M
          MalcolmM1
          Participant
          March 12, 2015

          PreSonus Faderport ($135) does NOT work with Premiere or Audition.

          The icon Qcon lite ($200) does NOT work with Premiere but it DOES work with Audition, when programmed in "Logic/Mackie" mode.

          What is the deal with Premiere?  It has the same drop down menus in Audition, but does not work? very strange.

          I like using an audio control surface with my NLE, makes balancing tracks easier during the edit.  Round tripping to Audition is fine for a final mix down, but what about all the test renders that need sound too?

          Malcolm

          Kevin-Monahan
          Community Manager
          Kevin-MonahanCommunity Manager
          Community Manager
          April 17, 2014

          Hi slovill,

          Check out this link, I hope it helps you: http://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/control-surface-support.html

          Thanks,
          Kevin

          Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio
          C
          ChuckSwan
          Participant
          March 18, 2015

          I have the Avid Artist (formerly Euphonix) MC Transport and MC Control surfaces.  I would call the integration in Audition to be weak at best.  Jog/Shuttle (next to fader control) is one of my high priority functions and it is basically useless.  Sends the playhead all over the place.  Scrubbing is nonexistent.  Also, note that you cannot use the full range of the faders on the MC Control because Audition/Premiere only allow +6db max gain whereas the surface is laid out for +12.  Took me a but to notice that the top of the hardware fader range was clipped.  Thought I was having a senior moment.  ;-)

          In Premiere, the Jog/Shuttle is somewhat better.  But, or course in any Avid app it is perfect! 

          The Eucon software is VERY configurable, and I can't help feel the folks at Adobe really just need to provide us with a suitable config template for their apps.  Now after fighting my way through dialog replacement on my current project, ProTools is looking pretty interesting.  Perhaps Adobe only tested it with the MC Mix module.  Really should find some time to try to adjust the templates.

          -Chuck

            R Neil Haugen
            R Neil Haugen
            Legend
            March 18, 2015

            I'm not running any kind of surface ... just a Wacom tablet for the left hand (lefty here), Microsoft "Natural Ergonamic" keyboard with it's 10 or 15 extra configurable keys, and a Kensington Expert Mouse trackball with 2" ball, surround ring, & four large paddle/buttons. I'm thinking about how I've got them set and it could easily be improved.

            I've not been that encouraged to look at dedicated "surfaces" yet as the Adobe implementation for just PrPro & Sg seem perhaps not completely ... there, from the comments such as the above. It would be nice to see Adobe really go after getting these interfaces ... interfaceable? ... wouldn't it?

            Neil

            Everyone's mileage always varies ...
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