It would be amazing to have the ability to add IP Controllers to SQ Desks (especially the IP-8 for new SQ Rack). I don’t know about anyone else but we’d happily pay for this functionality upgrade, perhaps in the same way we do for plugins. We’ve tried external midi controllers in the past but the mapping is such a faff and you have to have conversion between MIDI on USB with something like a BomeBox. The way the IP controllers work with Avantis or DLive is so much easier and with the new form factor would be perfect addition for installs and live where some hands on fader control is required.
Pretty please. Thank you.
+1
SQ-Rack & IP8.
+1!!
+1 (and it seems that A&H is planning a pretty big firmware update to coincide with the SQ Rack release, so it is possible this would be added at that time).
That being said, Mixing Station is a great way to get Midi support on the SQ. We use a Waves Fit Controller (with a DLive) and it works great. The Fit Controller is cheaper and WAY better than any of the IP offerings from A&H. Even if the SQ system supported IP controllers, personally I would be hard pressed to use them over Mixing Station and a motorized midi fader bank.
Fingers crossed @Brian
Like the idea about the mixing station but I do like the simplicity of the way A&H have integrated the IP controllers with DLive.
I’d also be a bit worried about relying on a PC and then an external controller there’s a few more things to go wrong there. What are you using to run Mixing Station is Mac best?
I understand the “simplicity” that the IP devices bring to the A&H ecosystem. I might be more willing to try them if they weren’t designed to be so limiting. The fact that they don’t offer a controller with faders, encoders and buttons all on the same unit is mind boggling. Add to that the very high cost of the devices (compared to other alternatives), and I simply can’t bring myself to purchase/use them. But there is definitely something to be said for their “plug and play” ease of use with the A&H systems.
I’m a Windows and Android user. I’ve used Mixing Station along with Midi devices using both. Yes, it is super easy to use a Midi device (like the Waves Fit Controller) with an Android device. (I’ve used it with an Android tablet). Obviously the Midi device connects to the computer/tablet via USB, but the computer/tablet can be connected to the A&H console via WiFi which is what I do when I am using a tablet.
Our current situation is a “Surfaceless” DLive system with DLive Director and Mixing Station running on a Windows computer. That computer is using a hardwired network connection and the Waves Fit Controller is plugged into the Windows computer. You can use both softwares at the same time, but obviously the Midi device only works with and controls the Mixing Station software.
To be honest, I actually like using Mixing Station better than the Director software, but I have to use Director with the RackUltra FX because those aren’t supported in MS yet. Outside of that, pretty much everything I need is available in MS and the customization that is available in MS makes the user experience much nicer overall IMHO.
Makes sense I think I’ll have to have a better look into Mixing Station. I do have an Icon controller that I’ve used in the past with a Bome box but sounds like I might get to where I want quicker with Mixing Station, but will still take a bit of fiddling about with MIDI mapping to get a custom set up. My use case is a custom controller with very specific controls that the user can interact with (e.g. only access certain channel faders or buttons)
Mixing Station supports a few of the more common midi motorized fader banks “out of the box”. What this means is that the developer has already mapped out the most common Midi commands. So fader 1 on the Midi device will already control fader 1 on your mixer by default, etc, etc, etc. Obviously not every Midi device has been “premapped” like this (and I don’t believe the ICON devices come premapped).
However it is very easy to change the premapped settings if you want to change their function, or set up a controller that doesn’t come premapped (like the ICON). That is because MS offers a “Find Controller” feature that allows you to press/move the hardware fader/encoder/button on the Midi device, and the software will automatically read the incoming Midi command and take you to the correct Midi command so that you can program it correctly. This makes it VERY easy to set up Midi devices and it’s pretty much idiot proof.
All you have to do is press the “Find Controller” button, then physically interact with the Midi button/fader/encoder that you want to program. The software will automatically find and take you to the correct Midi command and all you have to do is press “edit” to program in the functionality (from the drop down menu system) you want for that particular button/fader/encoder. It handles all the Midi code, etc required to make it work. Once that physical button/fader/encoder works like you want, you simply repeat the process for the next button/fader/encoder. Depending on how many physical buttons/faders/encoders you have to program, it could certainly take a little time to set up Midi hardware that doesn’t come “preprogrammed”, but the process is really point and click.
Hopefully that makes sense.
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