New toys at WireWorld

[mwagener]

Here it is, the new Euphonix MC controller.



The 56 SmartSwitches have little LCD screens and the lables change according to the function they are assigned to. You can hook up 4 DAWs at the same time via Ethernet (ProTools, Nuendo, Pyramix, Logic, Final Cut Pro, DP, or any other) and with a push of a button switch between them and all functions change to the connected DAW. Nuendo runs under the EuCon protocol (so does Logic and Pyramix), where every function is assigned to a knob or button on the control surface, total integration, makes editing a breeze. ProTools, Digital Performer and Final Cut Pro run under Mackie/HUI control.

It has four assignable high res 100mm faders and a touch screen for easy channel access. You can add faderpacks of 8 faders each and build a complete console controller. I still mix through the Sonys but all the DAW functions are now on the MC. Anybody want to buy a slightly used Presonus Faderport Check it out here



I also got myself a pair of the new Mojave Audio MA200 LD tube mics:



Great all around microphones, love 'em on cymbals, piano, acoustic guitar, percussion, basically everything that needs a clear smooth top end and a nice big body. Haven't tried them on vocals yet (been mixing for a while), but I could imagine those to sound great on vocals.


Another fantstic mic I have at the studio right now, is the Royer R-122V tube ribbon. Very similar sound to the R-121, but a bit more fat midrange, very even frequency response with a lot of oompf. This one is not cheap, so I am still debating if it cuts too deep into my Sushi budget.


And finally, on order and on the way (I hope) the new SSL Alphalink MADI SX analog/AES to MADI converter. It has 24 channels of balanced analog in AND out, as well as 24 channels of AES in AND out and 64 channels of MADI in and out, plus MIDI in/out. SSL bought those products from Sydec in Belgium and modified them to their taste. Looks like a great box to me.




With the second RME MADI card in my Nuendo computer, I now have 128 I/O available

That's it for now, and it's not even Christmas yet

[Killahurts]

Michael, that's some excellent slutty gear there. Congratulations!

Question: If the DMX's ever went south and/or couldn't be repaired, would you then begin to build your mix platform on the Euphonic system, i.e. more fader expansion, etc.? (You know why I ask).

I didn't know the smart switches had little LCD's.

Wow.

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by Killahurts

Michael, that's some excellent slutty gear there. Congratulations!

Question: If the DMX's ever went south and/or couldn't be repaired, would you then begin to build your mix platform on the Euphonic system, i.e. more fader expansion, etc.? (You know why I ask).

I didn't know the smart switches had little LCD's.

Wow.

I'm not sure yet. I might go back to an analog console with automation or expand the MC into an 5MC with four fader packs. I guess it all depends on how fast computers are at the time. Lets hope those little consoles hold on a bit longer

[vudoo]

Micheal,

The MC controller looks really interesting. Can you tell me how much it costs ??? and how is its integration with ProTools ??? Is it only a controller or does it have a monitoring section, and if so, is it any good ??? Thanks

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by vudoo

Micheal,

The MC controller looks really interesting. Can you tell me how much it costs ??? and how is its integration with ProTools ??? Is it only a controller or does it have a monitoring section, and if so, is it any good ??? Thanks

It's $20,000 for the controller alone and the faderpacks are about $22,000 for each 8 fader bucket. You also need a frame if you get the faders and some other parts. The whole console with 32 channels and the controller is around $130,000, about the same as the extended Icon.

It does connect to PT via the Mackie/HUI protocol. There is a monitor control section and Euphonix now includes the "Studio Monitor Express" software with which you can map the inputs and outputs of your converters to the monitor section and control them from the MC. With Nuendo (3.2 and up) the MC controls all the functions of the "Control Room section", very cool.

More info about the MC and the 5MC here

[TRW]

Awesome Michael!

I am very keen to hear your feedback on the MC as you live with it through a few sessions.

I am considering one myself and they feel fantastic!

I would love it if you could post a more detailed feedback on the MC with Nuendo in a few weeks...

Also keen to hear your views on the SSL/Sydec Alpha/iBox converters in comparison to whatever else you have in your rig....

We are considering a very similar set-up here.

Thanks very much and merry early xmas to you!
-Tom

[TRW]

OH also, can you machine control your R1 recorder from the MC? I wonder if Euponhix would make a ethernet transport interface so that one of the workstation buttons could be assigned to a tape machine or similar for track arming and transport...

that would rock!
-Tom

[C.Lambrechts]

WHOOOHEEEEEEEE


Awesome stuff Michael. Good to know you have a Eucon controller. I would love to spend some time behind one and explore the editing possibilities of that beast in depth. Too bad you don't live around the corner ...

[pan60]

cool !

[Lindell]

Now that's slutty Michael !!!

[Lindell]

Originally Posted by mwagener

the faderpacks are about $22,000 for each 8 fader bucket.

boooyah......ouch.....crazy crazy expensive

[Jules]

Whole lotta controlling going on!

[Killahurts]

Originally Posted by mwagener

It's $20,000 for the controller alone and the faderpacks are about $22,000 for each 8 fader bucket.

$20k for the controller doesn't bother me.

But $22k for 8 faders is just crazy. WTF for?

How can 8 extra faders (when it comes with 4 already) be more money than the unit with the brains?

[redroom]

Looks a sweet rig

I noticed you got the Chandler plugs up

[shanabit]

Whats the size/brand of those LCD's? As the controller is WAY TOO SLUTTY for me

Steve Tushar uses one of those, its sweet http://steinberg.net/694+M52087573ab0.html

http://nuendo-post.com/

[EduardoApolonia]

Very nice controller!!!!

Originally Posted by mwagener

That's it for now, and it's not even Christmas yet

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by shanabit

Whats the size/brand of those LCD's?

Those are Dell 2407WFP 24" monitors, very cool. On a good day you can get them for about $680 a piece.
Dell monitors

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by Killahurts

$20k for the controller doesn't bother me.

But $22k for 8 faders is just crazy. WTF for?

How can 8 extra faders (when it comes with 4 already) be more money than the unit with the brains?

well, the faderpacks are just a bit different than the built in ones. They also have screens with all the info. looks very cool IMHO.

[Infernal Device]

Very nice Michael! What do you the Chandler plugs on?

Dual 24's--you go boy!

[Killahurts]

Originally Posted by mwagener

well, the faderpacks are just a bit different than the built in ones. They also have screens with all the info. looks very cool IMHO.

Oh.

[adamcal]

Those 2 Screen look like a pretty serious acoustic reflection/barrier, find any problems there?

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by Infernal Device

Very nice Michael! What do you the Chandler plugs on?

Dual 24's--you go boy!

Everything love 'em. Mostly drums, drum room, lead vocal, backing vocal, bass etc., instant glue. IMO they are the closest sounding plug-ins to the real thing (and I have both )

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by adamcal

Those 2 Screen look like a pretty serious acoustic reflection/barrier, find any problems there?

Yes, there are definitely reflections off those screens. I just got everything set up, now I have to fine tune the setup. I might have to seriously move some stuff around, maybe build another console.

I am kind of thinking about maybe, possibly, perhaps, probably??? moving the whole studio into a new (bigger) home, if I ever get a break in my schedule. That would be the time to re-plan the setup.

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by TRW

OH also, can you machine control your R1 recorder from the MC? I wonder if Euponhix would make a ethernet transport interface so that one of the workstation buttons could be assigned to a tape machine or similar for track arming and transport...

that would rock!
-Tom

I lock the R-1 to Nuendo with a SMPTE track. Nuendo has a plug in that generates SMPTE based on the Nuendo timeline and the R-1 locks perfectly to that. I don't think the track arming works with the MC and the R-1.

The R-1 by itself doesn't work with the MC, it needs a console with audio channels (analog or digital). My R-1 is now degraded to a MADI patchbay and as soon as I have all my projects transfered into Nuendo it will be retired, another $66,000 paperweight. BUY ANALOG!!!

[Fuel]

Such a cool studio!

[dkatz42]

Very cool, but definitely pricey. Too bad it bundles up too quickly, though. I don't need a frame or another monitor, but I do need more than four faders, and the step cost of something bigger than the base unit is pretty extreme.

It seems like there would be a decent market for a controller that fell somewhere between this class of device and the Mackie stuff. It's about 20x the cost of the Mackie stuff, which is relatively primative and long in the tooth at this point (and still uses MIDI, for gosh sakes.)

If I could get 24-32 faders and a bunch of knobs for low five figures I'd be a very happy man.

[Mark Cattano]

Michael

I've been wondering about those MA-200's. Thanks for keeping us informed. That
Euphonix controller looks like 'da bomb!

Mark Cattano
Magneto Studios
www.heedmusic.com
www.myspace.com/markcattano

[Mark Warren]

Originally Posted by dkatz42

Very cool, but definitely pricey. Too bad it bundles up too quickly, though. I don't need a frame or another monitor, but I do need more than four faders, and the step cost of something bigger than the base unit is pretty extreme.

It seems like there would be a decent market for a controller that fell somewhere between this class of device and the Mackie stuff. It's about 20x the cost of the Mackie stuff, which is relatively primative and long in the tooth at this point (and still uses MIDI, for gosh sakes.)

If I could get 24-32 faders and a bunch of knobs for low five figures I'd be a very happy man.

WOULDN'T WE ALL.

I'm still so surprised that someone has not come out with an updated advanced version of the Control 24 sans any of the mediocre preamps.

At first when I saw the price I thought it a bit much for the Euphonix, but then after watching some of these more in depth videos it has me actually wanting it, but still the price is a tad high. Videos - http://www.euphonix.com/post/products/mc/mc.htm

The first Steve Tushar video is really cool, and gets into some of the logic of how this guy sets up his Euphonix MC. And hell yeah, if this thing was in the low teens price wise it would be a super buy, especially when if you think about it you could just add some of the Mackie fader packs to each side of it, and sort of make your extra fader banks that way, instead of paying $22K a pop for extra Euphonix 8-fader packs

Michael, how you are liking it so far? Has it been easy to setup and implement? Any immediate drawbacks, or anything so amazing you're like 'Holy crap, where I have been without this?' [unlikely to hear from Michael Wagener, but still a valid question ]

[vudoo]

There's a new controller from Digi coming out soon...probably announced for winter Namm. It will replace the C24.

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by Mark Warren

. . .
Michael, how you are liking it so far? Has it been easy to setup and implement? Any immediate drawbacks, or anything so amazing you're like 'Holy crap, where I have been without this?' [unlikely to hear from Michael Wagener, but still a valid question ]

I like it a lot. The one hurdle I had/have to get over is, the MC can be configured any which way, so you can have your transport controls on the left or right and the same with any soft switch. That is very confusing in the beginning until you have it set up exactly the way you want it for your style of editing etc. Once you do, you can save your preferences in a file and recall them at the beginning of the session. There might even be a way to make it start up with your setting automatically, but I haven't found that yet. Once you get used to your personal layout, it becomes immensely useful and it would be really hard to live without it, saves a lot of time. Right now I'm still finding new and exciting things which immediatly get incorporated into my layout. It actually does a lot more than I initially had expected.

I jumped right in and used it during the current recording sessions, without getting into the manual too deeply and it has not hindered the flow of the session at all. The good part is, that you can still use the keyboard as much as you want, if you get into a pinch. The main thing it does, it keeps you from having to access a ton of menus and lays out the important functions (any you want) on the surface. I have it set up so my right hand can pretty much stay on the trackball plus control the transport functions and the left hand is doing all the button pushing and scrolling for the editing functions. It is definitely an improvement in handling "computer tasks". Nuendo starts feeling like a tape machine/console setup again, and I can concentrate more on production rather than engineering.

The other good thing is, the box is so intimidating to anybody who has not worked with it before, musicians stay away from it and don't touch any controls they are not supposed to touch.

Since I am still using the Sony consoles, I am not missing any faderpacks right now. Maybe one day when I move to completely mixing in the box, I might add some faderpacks.

The only downside I can think of is one unique to my setup. It sits on my right side, next to the console, so I am listening mostly with my left ear (mono) to the speakers when I am facing the MC. It makes it a bit harder to get into the zone when mixing. This would not happen if the MC was set up correctly in the middle between the speakers. Some day...