T2 and BCF2000

[bighorse]

I have a BCF2000 and I've been able to create midi controller mappings just fine. For me, this is a good reason to upgrade to T2.

But does T2 provide controller feedback? For example if I assign the faders on the BCF to different track levels, the motorized faders on the BCF don't respond to changes made to the actual fader levels when e.g. there is recorded automation, or using the mouse to move the levels.

This becomes an issue when reloading a tracktion file. Perhaps I'm being spoiled by Reason, which does support feedback (if I load a reason file the faders zip to their correct positions automatically, and all controls respond to automation - it works like a dream).

Just wondered if there is something I'm missing, I've checked the manuals but can't see how to get controller feedback happening.

cheers

[semiquaver]

maybe a related question: I was looking at Doepfer's pocket dial which is a controller with endless rotary encoders so it needs to get a handshake to tell it where to start from - anyone know if that might work with T?

[igglebop]

I've got a BCF2000 too and it works pretty well, with controller feedback and all. If you've got the latest firmware on the BCF, you can set it to "Mackie Emulation mode." Then go into tracktion, and under "settings" -> "external controllers" select "Mackie control universal" and select "BCF2000" as the midi input and output. In this way you can get the faders and pans easily working, plus the four buttons at the right will be set to play/stop/ff/rw functions, the rows on top will be Mute and Solo on/off, the Preset < > buttons will control track banks, and the other buttons will do stuff I haven't figured out yet. I know this is just a rough description, so if you want me to clarify certain parts just ask.

[bighorse]

thanks for that igglebop, sounds great! I haven't had the bcf long. I can't find "mackie mode" anywhere in the documentation.

[edit] OK, I found the instructions in the firmware docco. However, now I've discovered a problem: as soon as I select the BCF2000 to receive midi in the external controls settings, T2 just bogs down, and I get a spinning beach ball of death - I'm running OSX 10.3.8.

So, this probably works on PC OK, but not on Mac, I'm guessing...

thanks for your help!

[trs]

Can you control T2 Solo/Mute from BCF2000? If so how can you do that?
Cheers

[igglebop]

If you've got it set up in Mackie emulation mode like I described above, then it should work fine. You use the row of buttons located between the faders and rotary knobs. I remember holding down one of the "Shift" keys (see BCF firmware 1.7 documentation) makes the buttons do something else useful too. But I don't have it set up right now, so I couldn't tell you. Just experiment with it, and maybe we can eventually compile a file that explains what each control does.

bighorse - Unfortunately I can't help you there, as I am running a PC. I've read lots of complaints about the BCF drivers, so that may be your problem. Though, they have improved a lot since the initial product release.

[bewing77]

The extra right hand buttons have alot of functions. The left two encoder bank buttons (top right group) works as shift buttons. The "Store", "Learn", "Edit" and "Exit" buttons selects between Pan mode, Aux mode and Plugin mode. While in plugin mode you can control any automatable parameter with the rotaries. To flip through the pages of controlers on bigger plugins you hold the top shift and store, and flip back pages you hit the store button alone. With the shift buttons the transport controls and track specific buttons do other things aswell, like enabling loop mode etc. One of the shifts + one of the other top right buttons also flip the bcf so the rotaries and faders switch functions. I am trying to complie a small chart for it all when I get the time. Oh, it works best in Mackie Mode for sonar it seems to me.

[bighorse]

bighorse - Unfortunately I can't help you there, as I am running a PC. I've read lots of complaints about the BCF drivers, so that may be your problem. Though, they have improved a lot since the initial product release.

No worries, you pointed me in the right direction, I'll keep fiddling with it.

cheers

[chico.co.uk]

I've just bought a BCF2000 after hearing that it can emulate the Mackie Control (which i would love to have, but can't afford). When i say "just bought" i mean i walked through the door with it five minutes ago, and i've just come up to re-read this thread to see if i need new drivers. I've also flicked through the manual for about two minutes, and noticed that in there you have to choose which usb mode to set your BCF2000 to. There are four modes. At least one of them doesn't support controller feedback. Is it possible you've set the BCF to that mode? Try setting it to usb mode 3 instead.

[igglebop]

chico - I believe you can use any of the USB modes, the main difference is in how the BCF's midi in/outs are used. Just don't use a standalone mode.

For anyone interested, here is the downloads page for BCF drivers

Definitely install "BCF2000 Version 1.07," and look at the documentation, as it's needed in order to do Mackie emulation. You will also need to download the "Firmware update utility" in order to install this. This site has some excellent videos to guide you through the process.

I also like to use the "BCFview" utility, which is a virtual display for your BCF that shows which track name corresponds to which controller, etc. I believe it takes whatever T2 outputs that would usually be displayed on the controller screen, and instead shows it on the computer. The videos above cover this subject as well.

Unfortunately the control descriptions in the documentation don't seem to match up perfectly with the way T2 implements them, so bewing77's chart should be a great help. We should find a way to post that, so that if any user figures out further controls through their own experimenting, we can update it.

[chico.co.uk]

I have to say, that moment when you turn on tracktion and all the faders magically slide into place on an edit you created without this controller is a bit "wow". I'm liking this a lot so far, got mackie control emulation going and it seems pretty damn good. Quick question though ... if you move a fader on screen, it makes the hardware fader move, but does your fader make a small grinding noise while it's doing it? Mine all seem to, although they don't when I move them with my fingers. Wondering if i've set something up slightly wrong

[diverdee]

apparently the faders r supposed to be a little noisy, or so i've heard

[igglebop]

Yup, mine does too, don't worry about it. Here's one--after you move your faders physically, then does the motor on that fader "grab" a second later? It's not really a problem unless I try to make two separate consecutive movements on the same fader.

[chico.co.uk]

Yeah, i was wondering about that "grabbing" thing. I checked to see if the volume in T changes when the BCF does that, and it doesn't, but it's a bit weird. I read a review before buying where the guys seemed to indicate that he'd come across that and found a solution, will have to try to find that again

[chico.co.uk]

Okay, about the grabbing issue, this is the review i read that addressed it;

http://www.audiomidi.com/aboutus/review ... cf2000.cfm

Under the paragraph headed "The struggle within"

He worked around it by making another midi device the default midi out, although I've had no joy with this so far. Optimistic that there is a way to work around it though, as it does seem like a loop of some sort. Might even contact behringer to see what they have to say ...