Tracktion Software

MarioC · Post by **MarioC** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:50 am

Has anyone demoed, or use the Mackie Control Universal? What are the pros and cons?

It says that it is compatible with Tracktion2. I was just wondering if it would be good for a final mix. Real faders all that. http://www.mackie.com/products/mcu/index.html

djsubject · Post by **djsubject** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 4:32 am

basicly, its full controll of allmost everything all from a controll box,

9 faders 8 rotery controlls & crap loads of buttons + full transport controlls with jog wheel

Subz

valley · Post by **valley** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 4:38 am

yup - very cool -- and they do work great with T.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 4:43 am

What if you hate Tracktion but love the control surface? Is it vendor-lockin or can it be used to control FLS and eXT, etc.?

djsubject · Post by **djsubject** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 4:50 am

james0tucson wrote:Is it vendor-lockin or can it be used to control FLS and eXT, etc.?

Mackie Control Universal

its in the name

its one of the most suported controll serfices out there (from what i have seen)

Subz

valley · Post by **valley** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 4:54 am

It's up tthe software how it supports the MCU, but a lot of apps do. FL doesn't, but then that's not really FL's game. Logic, Nuendo, Vegas, and plenty of others do support it.

I'm sure there's a full list on Mackie's site. The unit comes witha number of lexan overlays that allow for customized legending for buttons and controls.

@marioc - check out the Tracktion Reference Guide (not the user manual) for more specific information on how the MCU integrates with Tracktion.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:14 am

djsubject wrote:
james0tucson wrote:Is it vendor-lockin or can it be used to control FLS and eXT, etc.?

Mackie Control Universal

its in the name

its one of the most suported controll serfices out there (from what i have seen)

Subz

I don't see a manual online, or any details about the MIDI implementation. It *is* MIDI, right?

I use Audition, but I'm not interested in the other software it directly supports. I want to know whether I can, say, make an FL dashboard for it, and whether it can be programmed to be what *I* want it to be. I'm seeing it as a possible upgrade to my Peavey PC1600x, with shuttle controls and buttons that can send whatever complex messages or sysex, without regard to what Mackie wants it to do.

Essentially, I want to know if it's future proof and hacker friendly.

A full technical manual would be a good start; I'd be happy to educate myself. Link?

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:16 am

valley wrote: I'm sure there's a full list on Mackie's site. The unit comes witha number of lexan overlays that allow for customized legending for buttons and controls.

I'm not interested in customizing the appearance of the thing. I want to know if the *functionality* of the thing can be customized, and how and to what degree.

For instance, I use a Peavey PC-1600x that's got memory and a microprocessor and can essentially be programmed to do anything. If it had a shuttle control I wouldn't even look at anything new

valley · Post by **valley** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:51 am

james0tucson wrote: I don't see a manual online, or any details about the MIDI implementation. It *is* MIDI, right?

Not really. It uses MIDI connectivity but it isn't standard MIDI as such.

I use Audition, but I'm not interested in the other software it directly supports.

To reiterate:

valley wrote:It's up tthe software how it supports the MCU

I'm not sure what you are asking. The MCU doesn't support *anything*. Software supports the MCU. If you have a specific app in mind, ask the developer of that app how they support the MCU, if at all.

I want to know whether I can, say, make an FL dashboard for it, and whether it can be programmed to be what *I* want it to be.

You probably can, but you'd be on your own. That's not what the MCU is designed for, and I'm not sure how much of the spec is public.

I think you have the wrong idea about the purpose of the MCU though.

I.E:

Essentially, I want to know if it's future proof

Yes. It's the HUI, it is pretty much the standard in its game. Most stuff that provides MCU style functionality also provides an MCU compatibility mode, but:

and hacker friendly.

No. It isn't a supersized M-Audio UC-33, and it probably wont lend itself well to being used as one.

valley · Post by **valley** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 6:16 am

BTW, according to the MCU produce page Audition has MCU support:

http://www.mackie.com/products/mcu/index.html

I'm still not sure if it does what you are looking for based on your description, but that's probably a question for the Mackie support forums, or the Adobe forums.

semiquaver · Post by **semiquaver** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:29 pm

I got one and absolutely love it: the responsiveness and synch w/T is awesome. I didn't think I was going to use the jog wheel but I use it *all* the time. it is *not* programmabvle at all but you know what? in my view thats to the good: the implementation is pretty comprehensive and you don't have to spen a month laying out commands.

quantize · Post by **quantize** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:51 pm

fruity doesnt support it? thats a bit crap...after youve used one, you realise it does set a standard..

valley · Post by **valley** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 10:23 pm

semiquaver wrote:I got one and absolutely love it:

I'm glad it worked out for you.

Have you got the T Lexan yet?

valley · Post by **valley** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 10:27 pm

quantize wrote:fruity doesnt support it? thats a bit crap...

I'm not sure this is fair really. FL is not written really for people who are likely to be buying the MCU. The C4 I can see being of more use to the average FL user, but not so much the MCU.

quantize · Post by **quantize** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 11:03 pm

valley wrote:
quantize wrote:fruity doesnt support it? thats a bit crap...
I'm not sure this is fair really. FL is not written really for people who are likely to be buying the MCU. The C4 I can see being of more use to the average FL user, but not so much the MCU.

nah dont buy that train of thought...Reason 3 supports it...im always reading how reason and fruity are really professional apps (and i agree they are in good hands)...the MCU is not expensive.