small usb/midi controllers

[Tyler Fric]

Hi,

I am interested in getting a midi controller with lots of knobs and sliders
for controlling soft synths, effects and my Roland Sonic Cell. The
keyboard I use doesn't have any controls but the keys (not even
pitch/modultation).

I've been looking at the 2 octave keyboards from novation, m-audio,
behringer and roland specifically. I also like the korg nanoKontrol.

Can anyone recomend something that works well with Alsa? Does anyone know
of any problems with using these through usb?

Thanks




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[justin smith]

I recently got an m-audio oxygen8 and a behringer bcf2000. they both
work with alsa midi via usb, as simple as plugging them in, no
configuration needed on my machine or the remote machine.

The oxygen8 is about $100us new and has a two octave keyboard with
large keys that have a nice feel, eight knobs, a spring-return
pitch-bend wheel, and a mod wheel, and 6 midi transport control
buttons, plus a midi out jack and a plug for a sustain pedal.

The bcf2000 (should be about $200us) has 8 motorized continuous
controller sliders, which send a cc when moved, and move when you send
a cc to it. it also has 32 virtual knobs, eight accessable at a time,
also settable via cc, with an led ring indicator on each, and a
continuous turn knob, with multiple programmable settings for the
rings (one looks like a good panning control, another volume, another
trim maybe?). there are actually four groups of eight knobs,
switchable with four buittons, and one group of knobs actually
visible. each knob also doubles as a button that sends a note on/off
on press/release (I think?) and has a pair of lit on/off buttons below
it. Also there are some transport controls, learn functionality, and a
number of factory presets for working with various daws. it also has
plugs in the back for a sustain pedal and an expression pedal, a midi
in, and two midi outs.

The bcf2000 can do SO MUCH, I have had it for a month and have barely
started looking into what it can do. It also broke on the way home
when I first got it (I shoved it kind of ogrishly into an overpacked
bike bag so I could bike it home), one of the fader buttons did not
work. Then I moved to a new place, again shoving it kind of crudely
into a bag for the move, and UNBROKE the damned thing, so now it is
good as new. But it is a behringer, so I am treating it with kid
gloves from here on.

Both do exactly what they are designed to do, with minimum fuss (I
have been writing custom software to use the bcf200 using preset 2
"generic mixer" preset, and have not tried using it with ardour yet,
though I did find instructions for doing so online - I would be
tempted to just make a pd patch or midish script to convert the output
of the bcf2000 to something existing software can use, rather than
learn it's arcane preset loading and editing procedure).

Some company also made some cheap very tiny controlers, a drum pad, a
set of sliders, and a keyboard, each under $50 (though I don't know
anything about durability or how well they work).

On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 4:30 PM,  <tfric@...> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am interested in getting a midi controller with lots of knobs and sliders
> for controlling soft synths, effects and my Roland Sonic Cell. The
> keyboard I use doesn't have any controls but the keys (not even
> pitch/modultation).
>
> I've been looking at the 2 octave keyboards from novation, m-audio,
> behringer and roland specifically. I also like the korg nanoKontrol.
>
> Can anyone recomend something that works well with Alsa? Does anyone know
> of any problems with using these through usb?
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Linux-audio-user mailing list
> Linux-audio-user@...
> http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
>

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[Frank Kober]

I recently got a nanoKontrol and it works flawlessly with alsa.
Configuration of the attribution of the knobs in 4 programmable scenes is done using a dedicated utility which (fortunately) runs under wine. The documentation says if you want to use the advanced configuration of the knobs, you need to install a special korg midi driver, but I do not see anything that does not work using just alsa (and wine for the programming) :)
It's a good compromise
The making/finishing looks quite cheap so imho do not expect to survive spilling beer on it.

cheers


--- En date de : Lun 15.12.08, Justin Smith <noisesmith@...> a écrit :

> De: Justin Smith <noisesmith@...>
> Objet: Re: [LAU] small usb/midi controllers
> À: tfric@...
> Cc: linux-audio-user@...
> Date: Lundi 15 Décembre 2008, 3h56
> I recently got an m-audio oxygen8 and a behringer bcf2000.
> they both
> work with alsa midi via usb, as simple as plugging them in,
> no
> configuration needed on my machine or the remote machine.
>
> The oxygen8 is about $100us new and has a two octave
> keyboard with
> large keys that have a nice feel, eight knobs, a
> spring-return
> pitch-bend wheel, and a mod wheel, and 6 midi transport
> control
> buttons, plus a midi out jack and a plug for a sustain
> pedal.
>
> The bcf2000 (should be about $200us) has 8 motorized
> continuous
> controller sliders, which send a cc when moved, and move
> when you send
> a cc to it. it also has 32 virtual knobs, eight accessable
> at a time,
> also settable via cc, with an led ring indicator on each,
> and a
> continuous turn knob, with multiple programmable settings
> for the
> rings (one looks like a good panning control, another
> volume, another
> trim maybe?). there are actually four groups of eight
> knobs,
> switchable with four buittons, and one group of knobs
> actually
> visible. each knob also doubles as a button that sends a
> note on/off
> on press/release (I think?) and has a pair of lit on/off
> buttons below
> it. Also there are some transport controls, learn
> functionality, and a
> number of factory presets for working with various daws. it
> also has
> plugs in the back for a sustain pedal and an expression
> pedal, a midi
> in, and two midi outs.
>
> The bcf2000 can do SO MUCH, I have had it for a month and
> have barely
> started looking into what it can do. It also broke on the
> way home
> when I first got it (I shoved it kind of ogrishly into an
> overpacked
> bike bag so I could bike it home), one of the fader buttons
> did not
> work. Then I moved to a new place, again shoving it kind of
> crudely
> into a bag for the move, and UNBROKE the damned thing, so
> now it is
> good as new. But it is a behringer, so I am treating it
> with kid
> gloves from here on.
>
> Both do exactly what they are designed to do, with minimum
> fuss (I
> have been writing custom software to use the bcf200 using
> preset 2
> "generic mixer" preset, and have not tried using
> it with ardour yet,
> though I did find instructions for doing so online - I
> would be
> tempted to just make a pd patch or midish script to convert
> the output
> of the bcf2000 to something existing software can use,
> rather than
> learn it's arcane preset loading and editing
> procedure).
>
> Some company also made some cheap very tiny controlers, a
> drum pad, a
> set of sliders, and a keyboard, each under $50 (though I
> don't know
> anything about durability or how well they work).
>
> On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 4:30 PM,
> <tfric@...> wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am interested in getting a midi controller with lots
> of knobs and sliders
> > for controlling soft synths, effects and my Roland
> Sonic Cell. The
> > keyboard I use doesn't have any controls but the
> keys (not even
> > pitch/modultation).
> >
> > I've been looking at the 2 octave keyboards from
> novation, m-audio,
> > behringer and roland specifically. I also like the
> korg nanoKontrol.
> >
> > Can anyone recomend something that works well with
> Alsa? Does anyone know
> > of any problems with using these through usb?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Linux-audio-user mailing list
> > Linux-audio-user@...
> >
> http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Linux-audio-user mailing list
> Linux-audio-user@...
> http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user

     
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[svoufff at free]

I got an M-audio Axiom25 some days ago.Works out of the box in
Archlinux, showing in qjackctl as soon as you turn it on.
Very cool device with 25 keys, 8 rotary knobs, 8 pads, pitch/mod,
transport buttons etc..and a great backlighted lcd screen.For faders you
would have to go to Axiom49 or 61.


Le Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:30:45 -0800 (PST),
tfric@... a écrit :

> Hi,
>
> I am interested in getting a midi controller with lots of knobs and
> sliders for controlling soft synths, effects and my Roland Sonic
> Cell. The keyboard I use doesn't have any controls but the keys (not
> even pitch/modultation).
>
> I've been looking at the 2 octave keyboards from novation, m-audio,
> behringer and roland specifically. I also like the korg nanoKontrol.
>
> Can anyone recomend something that works well with Alsa? Does anyone
> know of any problems with using these through usb?
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Linux-audio-user mailing list
> Linux-audio-user@...
> http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
>

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[Nick Copeland]

Some parts of this message have been removed. Learn more about Nabble's security policy.

> > I am interested in getting a midi controller with lots of knobs and
> > sliders for controlling soft synths, effects and my Roland Sonic
> > Cell. The keyboard I use doesn't have any controls but the keys (not
> > even pitch/modultation).
> >
> > I've been looking at the 2 octave keyboards from novation, m-audio,
> > behringer and roland specifically. I also like the korg nanoKontrol.
> >
> > Can anyone recomend something that works well with Alsa? Does anyone
> > know of any problems with using these through usb?
> >

If you just want the controls you might want a look at the Novation Zero SL, perhaps a bit more expensive but has plenty of pots and stuff.

Has anybody got the Korg Nano working under Linux? I have an Oxygen8 that I carry around when traveling and as its for development rather than live work I would be very happy for something smaller. the Nano stuff looks like the business. Might go and try them out down at the local shop if nobody knows about interoperability. The NanoControl also has 9 faders, a top idea for Hammonds - 8 drawbars does not really cut it!

Nick.

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[Tyler Fric]

Thanks for all the advice,

I think I'll go with the Korg NanoKontrol for now unless I can find a
cheap Oxygen 8. The Behringer bcf2000's overkill for me - I just need a
few knobs for effects and synth parameters. If I'm going to spend that
much I'd rather have a second keyboard than extra CC's.

I found a good french site with a list of midi controls that work in linux:

http://www.linuxmao.org/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php?page=Les+surfaces+de+contr%C3%B4le

Les surface de controle fonctionnant sous Linux
(liste non-exhaustive à compléter par vos expériences)

    * Berhinger BFC et BRC 2000
    * Evolution UC16
    * Evolution UC33
    * M-audio Oxygen 8
    * M-audio Oxygen49 fonctionne sans probleme
    * Novation Remote25
    * Vestax VCI-100
    * Korg NanoKontrol (éditeur testé sous wine et ubuntu, aucun problème)
    * Akai MPD24
    * KORG M3 reconnu en USB

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[Simon Fielding]

> Subject: Re: [LAU] small usb/midi controllers
>
> Thanks for all the advice,
>
> I think I'll go with the Korg NanoKontrol for now unless I can find a
> cheap Oxygen 8. The Behringer bcf2000's overkill for me - I just need a
> few knobs for effects and synth parameters. If I'm going to spend that
> much I'd rather have a second keyboard than extra CC's.
>
> I found a good french site with a list of midi controls that work in
> linux:
>
> http://www.linuxmao.org/tikiwiki/tiki-
> index.php?page=Les+surfaces+de+contr%C3%B4le
>
> Les surface de controle fonctionnant sous Linux
> (liste non-exhaustive à compléter par vos expériences)
>
>     * Berhinger BFC et BRC 2000
>     * Evolution UC16
>     * Evolution UC33
>     * M-audio Oxygen 8
>     * M-audio Oxygen49 fonctionne sans probleme
>     * Novation Remote25
>     * Vestax VCI-100
>     * Korg NanoKontrol (éditeur testé sous wine et ubuntu, aucun
> problème)
>     * Akai MPD24
>     * KORG M3 reconnu en USB
>
> _______________________________________________
> Linux-audio-user mailing list
> Linux-audio-user@...
> http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user

If it helps at all, I have a M-Audio Oxygen 49 which works fine. Also, a Korg Nanopad
which works perfectly well, except that you need to run the Korg Kontrol Editor in wine
to program the pad. Finally, tomorrow, I am collecting a Behringer UMA25S and I would
happy to let you know how that works in a day or two if it would be useful.

All of these are on FC8 with PlanetCCRMA and a 2.6.24 RT kernel.

Cheers,
Simon
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[Luigi Curzi]

Il giorno Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:30:45 -0800 (PST)
tfric@... ha scritto:

> Hi,
>
> I am interested in getting a midi controller with lots of knobs and
> sliders for controlling soft synths, effects and my Roland Sonic
> Cell. The keyboard I use doesn't have any controls but the keys (not
> even pitch/modultation).
>
> I've been looking at the 2 octave keyboards from novation, m-audio,
> behringer and roland specifically. I also like the korg nanoKontrol.
>
> Can anyone recomend something that works well with Alsa? Does anyone
> know of any problems with using these through usb?
>

i have a m-audio keyrig 25; it works fine and it is cheap.

ciao
Luigi
--
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lo sbaglio, il momento di confusione, l'inopportuno

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A parte questo, ho in me tutti i sogni del mondo.

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