SmartAV Tango DAW Controller

[TRW]

I think it gives 8ch overview at once and displays more detailed EQ/Dyn settings on the right of the TFT.

My issue is how does it map 3rd party EQs and Comps... switched items such as URS etc. I NEVER use the stock Nuendo/SX EQ or Dyn and wish the software was like Tools, where the mixer is empty until I tell it otherwise.

Fingers crossed.
-T

[Geert van den Berg]

Originally Posted by TRW

My issue is how does it map 3rd party EQs and Comps... switched items such as URS etc. I NEVER use the stock Nuendo/SX EQ or Dyn and wish the software was like Tools, where the mixer is empty until I tell it otherwise.
-T

I can't answer your question but I think it won't show graphs of 3rd party EQ's. The reason for this is that most EQ's have different curves at the same numerical settings. However I might be wrong, because it would still be usefull to have a small visual approximation. So I hope it can do this and maybe the mapping of 3rd party plugins can be programmed and added with software updates? We will know in a month or so...

[kdm]

Originally Posted by TRW

I think it gives 8ch overview at once and displays more detailed EQ/Dyn settings on the right of the TFT.

My issue is how does it map 3rd party EQs and Comps... switched items such as URS etc. I NEVER use the stock Nuendo/SX EQ or Dyn and wish the software was like Tools, where the mixer is empty until I tell it otherwise.

Fingers crossed.
-T

8 ch overview would be excellent, as would 3rd party plugin support.

Fwiw, I used to only use 3rd party plugins and have most of the usual suspects, but N4's EQ and comps (new/updated for N4) are quite good and for many things they are just as good. I know that's heresy in some circles, but you'd be surprised what pricier alternatives actually cancel 1:1 with Nuendo's EQ.... and Nuendo's comps really do work well and sound good, just not as flexible as others like Flux's Solera, Purecomp, etc.... but that's another topic for another thread.

[aotwmusic]

From what I saw, it shows a general curve for each of the 8 channels and then you can dial in one channel at a time on the right hand side. The controls were nifty for what it did offer - a different button for each q, frequency, and peak/dip but I have no idea on the 3rd party deal. Like I said previously, I've got my eyes set on the Matrix so it was more of a novelty than and interest when I saw it at NAMM.

[coder]

the website is now online! and tango does support 3rd party plugins

[SonicGravity]

"SASSI is an acronym for S mart A nd S exy S creen I nterface"

Huh? Too much Foster's?

[Geert van den Berg]

Originally Posted by coder

the website is now online! and tango does support 3rd party plugins

Woohoo! thumbsup

[sigmatibet]

everything is too cool to be true!
but my only question is: where do I put my monitor? On top? Isn't in a bit uncomfortable?

[Geert van den Berg]

Originally Posted by sigmatibet

everything is too cool to be true!
but my only question is: where do I put my monitor? On top? Isn't in a bit uncomfortable?

Basically this is the same issue with every controller, I would use an Ergotron monitor arm or something similar, then you can put your monitor in different positions. You might want to edit on the side of the controller with a regular keyboard if you have to do lots of editting. And when mixing you can slide it above the touchscreen or keep it at the side, I think you won't need it as much anymore with this controller anyway. At least I hope so!

Ergotron Products>Desk Mounts

[TRW]

This does look good, and the fact that you can config the TFT layout to do what you want it very cool.

Hopefully this is THE one. I'm not too concerned about the need to hang the main screen above it, at least they integrated a keyboard and space for a mouse.

So far, on paper, the most ergonomic design.

-T

[sigmatibet]

another question.
Looks like direct competitor has to be Euphonix. MC works fine, but it seems to me that Artist series is very buggy and unstable.
This point is crucial. Are Tango customers going to be beta-testers again or do you think this time we'll find a product that will have a stable and reliable system?
Just curious


(about monitor desk mounts: I agree with you, and is not a big issue anyway)

[eskatonic]

Does the Tango handle any audio inputs / outs for monitoring purposes?

[macleodgrant]

so what's the price of this thing?

[kdm]

Price is on the new web page: $7490 US. 12-fader expansion planned to be $6490 US.

[eskatonic]

Anyone know if the Tango offers any audio monitoring functionality?

[TRW]

Pretty sure it doesn't which is a plus for me as I want to use something pure and high-end for monitoring...

[eskatonic]

Call me kooky but I'd hope for $7.5K, this control with a touch screen monitor attached would have some monitoring capabilities.

[screentimeimages]

I spoke to the US distributor the other day. The system has no IO or monitoring functions. Still looks nice.

[AMIEL]

Originally Posted by mikesilence

around 4800 Euro plus tax (19%)... so around 8800US$

Is that the real price??? mmmm ... maybe just keep the Euphonic in my mind...

[matt thomas]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

Is that the real price??? mmmm ... maybe just keep the Euphonic in my mind...

Tango is being introduced at US$7,490

narco

[matt thomas]

I emailed smart av and asked a few questions, apparently you can use more than one expander

narco

[HHaynes]

Originally Posted by DrDeltaM

Maybe they meant 12" ?

22" would easily fit 16 faders underneath

A 22" monitor indicates the diagonal measurement of the screen. I'm typing on a 22" widescreen LCD and it's horizontal measurement is 18.5" - then look at the layout of the Tango and you'll see the encroachment of the controls to either side of the slider bank to get a picture of how its laid out - pretty much a standard displacement.

On another note regarding HUI-vs-MCU-vs-other control protocols: remember that devices like those from SmartAV and Euphonix (are there any others?) transport their data over LAN/Ethernet and use as higher-resolution byte word than the standard 7-bit nibblized word of MIDI. In round numbers, it's about 8 times better resolution and 250+ times faster data I/O. (not to mention the data pipe that a 100BaseT network has over a dedicated MIDI connection)

For systems that can only be controlled through HUI emulation, the data still comes in via the network pipe, but is then transformed into a MIDI control stream (with it's reduced word byte and data throughput) that is sent into a virtual input on the device. It's much better latency than a direct MIDI connection, but you're still limited on resolution. That's the only way PT will make itself available to a device like this because Digi tends to lock folks out of the deeper API layers that they leverage fully with their own hardware.

dfegad

I'm a long time Nuendo user, and have been looking for a replacement for my TASCAM FW-1884 for some time. The Euphonix MC Pro didn't have the layout flexibility I was looking for as a composer and sound designer, and the price was more than I wanted to pay. The SmartAV Tango looks like it has the best of all worlds and is priced right between the MC Pro and their Artist Series (which Euphonix won't sell to me, as I'm a PC user - blech). I'll be taking delivery of one of the first Tango units in the US for a two week (risk free) test drive at the end of this month (or whenever they start shipping them out). I'll update this thread whenever I get it in, and have enough time with it to form an impression.

[scking]

$7500 is too much for something that ugly with only 8 faders.

Try again.

[coder]

Originally Posted by HHaynes

I'll be taking delivery of one of the first Tango units in the US for a two week (risk free) test drive at the end of this month (or whenever they start shipping them out). I'll update this thread whenever I get it in, and have enough time with it to form an impression.

thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup

I don't know if anyone noticed the SmartAV Video from the Summer Namm08 ->

Musician's Friend - Summer NAMM 2008 - Video Highlights and New Products

It's the last Video...

[DrDeltaM]

Originally Posted by HHaynes

A 22" monitor indicates the diagonal measurement of the screen. I'm typing on a 22" widescreen LCD and it's horizontal measurement is 18.5" - then look at the layout of the Tango and you'll see the encroachment of the controls to either side of the slider bank to get a picture of how its laid out - pretty much a standard displacement.

I know how they measure screens The only picture available at the time was some tiny unclear thumbnail. And yes, a 22" screen did seem a bit big then for just 8 faders. On new pictures it's obviously more clear how it's layed out.

[HHaynes]

Originally Posted by scking

$7500 is too much for something that ugly with only 8 faders.

Try again.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There's a lot more to film scoring/editing that matters than fader count - and a device that's built like a tank and has a huge soft-assignable touch-screen interface is well worth the price.

The Euphonix MC Pro only has four faders in the default configuration, and has a street price above $15,000.00 US. Then again, that device isn't just about the faders - it's one amazing bit of kit if you've got the budget and you're workflow is wired that way.

If you're looking for gobs of touch faders in a low cheaper package, find a TASCAM US-2400 used. Why they stopped building these things I'll never understand.

[jamwerks]

Originally Posted by narco

I emailed smart av and asked a few questions, apparently you can use more than one expander

This product looks like a real winner. I hope that it's intergration with Logic is complete and seamless. As for the fader pack, strange to me that they're making 12's and not 8's, given that the central unit by it's design seems like it must be placed right in front of you. So adding 12 faders (to the left) means lots of moving right and left out of the sweet spot. I for one would have prefered adding 8 on the left and 8 on the right. I'm sure that they've thought all this out. Time will tell.........

[sigmatibet]

I'd rather prefer one single 12 channel unit.
Anyway the ability to easily and fast scrolling thru channels makes the number of channels under your hand not so problematic. You can focus sweetly on the channels you need.

[HHaynes]

Originally Posted by jamwerks

This product looks like a real winner. I hope that it's intergration with Logic is complete and seamless.

I don't know how complete or seamless that it might be - but - I was told that they implemented Logic and Nuendo first because they both havefairly mature APIs that can access functions "under the hood".

I would expect that Sonar wouldn't be far behind, and my fingers are crossed for Vegas - since I use that quite a bit for rendering mid-line video files for review/sign-off by the directors I work with. Tough honestly I don't know how many video apps they're targeting with this platform - probably will just access it in some HUI emulation mode and let it go at that.

[Animus]

Originally Posted by HHaynes

If you're looking for gobs of touch faders in a low cheaper package, find a TASCAM US-2400 used. Why they stopped building these things I'll never understand.

Well it's obvious. It doesn't have a LED scribble strip. That's an absolute necessity with a controller so it will give you a clue what track you are affecting, otherwise you will have to be counting faders to locate the one you need which would be a pita.