Daw Controllers... Options

[breeyark]

Everyone,

Setup is a PowerBook 1.2GHZ, with FW based stuff.... I/O is MOTU 896HD, HD is a 250GB FW800 drive by LaCie, VI's are the built in stuff in Logic Pro 6.4.3, and also have NI Battery 2, with a Novation RMT25 as my midi controller/interface.

Finding that mixing, tracking, etc, is cumbersome with the mouse, and looking to hear feedback on some of the units out there by Radikal (SAC 2.2), Tascam (US2400), Mackie (Universal) and others that I might be missing.

After a read of some reviews, I'm ranking the Tascam last, but haven't got feedback on the Mackie and Radikal. Which one you you all find better? I'm leaning to the Radikal, because it's USB based, and I've lived through timing problems with MIDI.

Thanks,

Dennis

[Nels]

You've got a FW Interface and a FW external hard drive(nice choices, by the way), so why stop there? Don't know what negative reviews you could have possibly read on the Tascam, unless you're referring to the USB Models.

The Tascam FW 1884, as many here will post and have, is probably the best bang for the buck ....
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?Produ...Category=Mixers
and now there's the FW 1082 ...
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?Produ...udio_Interfaces

But if all you really want is to have hands on control of your DAW, then yes, the Radikal Sac 2.2, I presume, will do the job very nicely. Almost bought one myself. Looks cool too!! It also has some nice features that the Tascam lacks. An LED read out, for one. Still can't believe Tascam left that out. And too bad The Yamaha O1X turned out to be such a dud/falsity/hoax/lie.(As I write, still a driver issue)

Yes, the Radikal is most definitely a great contender, but if I'm not mistaken, folks that use Logic, in most cases prefer to use the Mackie Universal. Yes, it's midi based, but from all that I've read, seemingly Logic and Mackie were made for each other. http://www.mackie.com/products/mackiecontr...ol/mcu_faq.html

As for me, I'll wait a bit more ...for something much like the Tascam(FW), but without all the bulk and it has to have an LED. I'm betting we won't have to wait too much longer for the next batch/generation of Surface Controllers.

I wish you much luck in deciding which way to go .......and Happy Holidays to all,
Nels

Set-up: 15" Alum. PowerBook 1.25GHZ w/Superdrive / Motu 828mkII / DP 4.5 / Technics WAS1 Acoustic Modeling Synth & Midi Controller / Fostex DMT-8VL Digital Multitracker / Lacie D2 Extreme 250GB ...Software: Guitar Rig / Trilogy / Stylus

[breeyark]

Nels,

Thanks for the feedback. I don't need the FW1884. It would be a redundant piece of gear, since I already have the MOTU 896HD for all my audio I/O, and the Novation for my MIDI control and I/O. The equivalent Tascam piece would be the US-2400, which, has more fader banks than the Mackie or the Radikal, but, doesn't have the control over Logic and DP that the Mackie and Radikal have.

Acutally, I read a great review on the Radikal yesterday...bottom line between that and the Universal is that if you use Logic, both have exactly the same capabilities. The difference is the price. The Radikal is about 30% more expensive. BUT, if you use Nuendo, or DP along with Logic, then the recommendation is to go with the Radikal, because it integrates better with other programs than the Mackie. The link to the review is...

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may03/arti...dikalsac2.2.asp

I also liked the 4xUSB ports on the back, along with the layout.

Anyways, thanks for the feedback. Any other DAW controllers besides those I mentioned that I am missing?

Thanks,

Dennis