faderport vs alphatrack? - Page 2

cowrange · 1st July 2008, 04:14 PM

I tried the Alphatrack. Feels like a toy. Man props to anybody who can map their plugins to three tiny knobs and not go crazy. It takes me so long to check to make sure I have what I want on the knob, that I'm annoyed and by that time I've done the eq with the mouse and moved on. I returned it. I think the Faderport will fit the bill for me better. I just want a solid fader.

Jorg · 11th August 2008, 03:47 AM

I'm really interested in the AlphaTrack but theres one thing I'd really like to know:

Is it possible to use it on any plugin incl vsti's in Cubase?
I would like to use it mainly for automating cutoff filters like the TBK from Sonalksis or the cutoff filters on vsti's.
Also can the fader be used for all these things? I'd prefer that over the knobs.

EDIT:
Actually another point thats really important to me is how the Alphatrack will know what track I wanna control. Is there a way to set it so that it automatically controls the track currently selected in Cubase?

TornadoTed · 11th August 2008, 11:20 AM

I haven't tried the Alphtrack but I got a Faderport a couple of weeks ago and am very happy with it.

The fader feels nice and it follows everything the mouse does. It is great for someone like myself who mixes mainly OTB but needs a to write a bit of automation now and again.

Mertmo2 · 11th August 2008, 04:37 PM

I have the Faderport and I really like using it. I am getting some things done a lot faster and more musically. The fader feels fantastic, what can I say...
However, there are things about it that are really stupid and annoying as well. Mostly, I can't believe that I can't just hold down the left/right buttons and have it cycle across all the channels one by one until I get to the one I want. DUMB! So if I'm at one end of a huge mix and I want to be at the other end I have to sit there and hit the button 24 times to get there. ARGGH, I hate that. I know that I can use the mouse to get me into the correct bank of 8 and go from there, but that defeats the whole purpose to me. Also, if you are on a channel that is part of a group, you can get stuck in there in a way, it's like you can only get out in one direction, THEN you are free to go left/right thru the channels. AND it seems like if you go too fast in one direction through the channels it thinks you want to rename a channel and brings up that dialog box, forcing you to go to the mouse to get out of the box...

These things truly annoy me, but I still like using the thing for sure. This is all ProTools, BTW. 7.4 on a mac. Never used the Alphatrack so I can't comment on that.

Jorg · 11th August 2008, 05:49 PM

I was soooo close to buying a MCU Pro again. I used to own one and loved it. However I don't really mixed with it. I only used it to auomate certain plugins and vstis.
I just took the risk this morning and bought an alphatrack. I absolutely love it. That's exactly the kinda thing I needed for my studio. I wish instad of the ribboncontroller it'd have a jog wheel but thats no big deal.
The thing works amazing in Cubase.

Theres only one problem I haven't figured out yet:
It says in the Alphatrack manual:

Quote:

As with the encoders, the fader and buttons here will affect the currently selected track or bus, regardless of whether it is selected with the AlphaTrack or the mouse. AlphaTrack will follow tracks selected with the mouse on the Mixer panel, and if “Sync Project and Mixer Selection” is enabled in Cubase Preferences, the Project panel as well.

However I can't get the Alphatrack to follow the track selections I'm making with the mouse. It just stays on Track 1 no matter what I do. I have ticked the "Enable Auto Select" Box in Cubase.
Can anyone please help me with that problem.

EDIT:

A good look around on the Frontier Webpage sorted it:

Quote:

Pressing Shift + Plug-In on AlphaTrack toggles between VSI and IFX modes.

Works like a dream now!!

The dman · 11th August 2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

if “Sync Project and Mixer Selection” is enabled in Cubase Preferences, the Project panel as well.

That should do it.

Jorg · 11th August 2008, 06:10 PM

Got it sorted now. I updated the Cubase plugin manually. Now it works.

However theres another problem. I can control all plugins but not the actual vsti. I cant access the paramaters of any instruments. Only the plugins that are on the inserts of an instrument.

Does anyone know how to do that?

The dman · 11th August 2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorg

Got it sorted now. I updated the Cubase plugin manually. Now it works.

However theres another problem. I can control all plugins but not the actual vsti. I cant access the paramaters of any instruments. Only the plugins that are on the inserts of an instrument.

Does anyone know how to do that?

From the Alphatrack manual

"• AlphaTrack can now select and edit VSTi plug-ins in the VST Instrument panel as well as insert effects plug-ins. Pressing Shift + Plug-In on AlphaTrack toggles between VSI and IFX modes."

Jorg · 11th August 2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The dman

From the Alphatrack manual

"• AlphaTrack can now select and edit VSTi plug-ins in the VST Instrument panel as well as insert effects plug-ins. Pressing Shift + Plug-In on AlphaTrack toggles between VSI and IFX modes."

Exactly! Found myself already. The manual that came with the Alphatrack didnt include that info but I found it on there webpage. Thanks a lot anyway.
How good is this thing by the way!! No need for a MCU for me anymore!

road2music · 5th September 2008, 06:03 PM

i have only had experiences with the mackie universal control at one studio i went too, but i own a presonus faderport and i think it is amazing for the cost (£100)/($200), unless you can afford £900 for a MCU,
the faderport is very easy to use and easy to setup with cubase or any kinda of music production software you use, the motorised fader works amazingly even though i still use the mouse for controlling the mixer in cubase, i mainly use the play stop and pause buttons and channel selection buttons the faderport, i have had no problems at all with this product and would highly recomend the faderport to anyone especially at the cost it is,
if you can scrape another £800 then yeah go for a mackie LOL

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11th August 2008, 03:47 AM	#32
Jorg Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Liverpool Posts: 461	I'm really interested in the AlphaTrack but theres one thing I'd really like to know: Is it possible to use it on any plugin incl vsti's in Cubase? I would like to use it mainly for automating cutoff filters like the TBK from Sonalksis or the cutoff filters on vsti's. Also can the fader be used for all these things? I'd prefer that over the knobs. EDIT: Actually another point thats really important to me is how the Alphatrack will know what track I wanna control. Is there a way to set it so that it automatically controls the track currently selected in Cubase? __________________

11th August 2008, 11:20 AM	#33
TornadoTed Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 863	I haven't tried the Alphtrack but I got a Faderport a couple of weeks ago and am very happy with it. The fader feels nice and it follows everything the mouse does. It is great for someone like myself who mixes mainly OTB but needs a to write a bit of automation now and again. __________________ Ed Lewis Giant Wafer Studios, UK www.giantwafer.com www.myspace.com/giantwaferstudios

11th August 2008, 06:10 PM	#37
Jorg Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Liverpool Posts: 461	Got it sorted now. I updated the Cubase plugin manually. Now it works. However theres another problem. I can control all plugins but not the actual vsti. I cant access the paramaters of any instruments. Only the plugins that are on the inserts of an instrument. Does anyone know how to do that? __________________

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1st July 2008, 04:14 PM	#31
cowrange Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 50	I tried the Alphatrack. Feels like a toy. Man props to anybody who can map their plugins to three tiny knobs and not go crazy. It takes me so long to check to make sure I have what I want on the knob, that I'm annoyed and by that time I've done the eq with the mouse and moved on. I returned it. I think the Faderport will fit the bill for me better. I just want a solid fader.

11th August 2008, 04:37 PM	#34
Mertmo2 Gear maniac Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 258	I have the Faderport and I really like using it. I am getting some things done a lot faster and more musically. The fader feels fantastic, what can I say... However, there are things about it that are really stupid and annoying as well. Mostly, I can't believe that I can't just hold down the left/right buttons and have it cycle across all the channels one by one until I get to the one I want. DUMB! So if I'm at one end of a huge mix and I want to be at the other end I have to sit there and hit the button 24 times to get there. ARGGH, I hate that. I know that I can use the mouse to get me into the correct bank of 8 and go from there, but that defeats the whole purpose to me. Also, if you are on a channel that is part of a group, you can get stuck in there in a way, it's like you can only get out in one direction, THEN you are free to go left/right thru the channels. AND it seems like if you go too fast in one direction through the channels it thinks you want to rename a channel and brings up that dialog box, forcing you to go to the mouse to get out of the box... These things truly annoy me, but I still like using the thing for sure. This is all ProTools, BTW. 7.4 on a mac. Never used the Alphatrack so I can't comment on that.

5th September 2008, 06:03 PM	#40
road2music Gear Head Join Date: May 2008 Location: enfield Posts: 33	i have only had experiences with the mackie universal control at one studio i went too, but i own a presonus faderport and i think it is amazing for the cost (£100)/($200), unless you can afford £900 for a MCU, the faderport is very easy to use and easy to setup with cubase or any kinda of music production software you use, the motorised fader works amazingly even though i still use the mouse for controlling the mixer in cubase, i mainly use the play stop and pause buttons and channel selection buttons the faderport, i have had no problems at all with this product and would highly recomend the faderport to anyone especially at the cost it is, if you can scrape another £800 then yeah go for a mackie LOL