7 Best DAW Control Surfaces (That Don’t Suck) –

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A control surface is a MIDI/USB device that can be connected to your DAW and used as a controller for your DAW. Apart from digital mixers. In the first part of this guide, we’ll do a deep dive into the top Logic Pro X control surfaces you can buy right now. To be more specific, we’.
 
 

The 6 Best MIDI Controllers for Logic Pro X in .5 Best Control Surfaces For Logic Pro X [Updated ]

 
If you managed to get a big control surface you can be able to change the whole look of your studio.

 

Mixer controller logic pro x free. 8 Best Control Surfaces For Logic 2022

 

The number of devices that can be used simultaneously depends on the number of free ports available on your system. Using multiple control surfaces allows you to control more tracks and channels, effects, and other parameters simultaneously. The faders feel nice and responsive under the finger and buttons feel satisfying to press and are well placed for easy access.

What sets the X-Touch apart from most of the other control surfaces in this list its main counter display. They are large multi-touch displays which responds to finger touches and gestures similar to how we interact with tablet devices and smartphones which makes RAVEN displays incredibly instinctive to operate upon first use. The multi-touch abilities kind of play second fiddle to the smart batch command system, which makes long winded processes such as exporting stems in Pro Tools as simple as clicking a virtual button in the RAVEN command.

Slate has clearly reimagined what the control surface user experience should be for the future and with the RAVEN software 3.

This option appears to be getting quite expensive… is this worth it? The Avid Dock and the Avid Control App are indivisible, once you understand that the whole package starts to make sense, it brings tactile control to the parts of the app which benefit from it and brings deep touchscreen control to Pro Tools. We were wrong, it makes the App so much better and it worth it on its own but if you add an S1 or an S3 it gets really interesting with near S6 levels of control. Its features extend into the free iOS Avid Control app which is a necessary component to the system.

The Dock can be used as a single device, of course with an iPad inserted into its base, or as part of a larger system. If your mixes regularly have high track counts and you need quick and easy access to them then the FaderPort 16 is surely worth checking out. It is by far the cheapest 16 fader control surface you can buy today. This is an impressive little surface which like the S1 can be used in multiples either with or without the accompanying UC1 plugin controller to give a big console feel.

For Pro Tools users the lack of Eucon is going to limit the depth of integration with the software but this is a clever and effective implementation of HUI which has won many fans in the production community. You might not find the best use of a control surface if you’re the only one in your home studio.

But the moment you’re recording others — a band, other artists — you’ll find that a dedicated controller is almost a necessity.

While most control surfaces work well with Logic Pro — it is one of the most popular DAWs in the world after all — there are some that perform better than others. In this roundup of the best control surfaces for Logic Pro X, we’ll look at some of the top options you can buy right now.

As with other guides, we’ve divided this into two parts. In Part II, I’ll cover the essentials you should consider when buying a control surface, as well as how to get the most out of your current setup.

His first experience with electronic music production dates back to Cubase 3. He lives in San Diego and freelances as a producer and part-time DJ. In the first part of this guide, we’ll do a deep dive into the top Logic Pro X control surfaces you can buy right now. To be more specific, we’ll look at the top controllers based on different requirements live performance, home studio, etc.

Do keep in mind that like the rest of this website, these selections are aimed squarely at serious home producers who want to upgrade their skills and equipment. With that caveat out of the way, let’s start by looking at our top choice for the best control surface for Logic Pro X in PreSonus, which makes some of my favorite amateur-targeted studio monitors, also makes a fantastically flexible control surface, the FaderPort.

Affordably priced yet feature-rich, this control surface gives you immediate access to key DAW features at your fingertips. A large volume control knob and a master fader let you control key parameters. And a small size means that it takes up little space on your desk. Great compatibility and robust build quality make it our best control surface for Logic Pro X for producers on a budget. It doesn’t clutter the unit with a gazillion buttons and screens. It is specifically designed to be easy to use — and gets top marks for that.

At the heart of the FaderPort is an innovative and highly satisfying degree encoder. Anything you need to move and select and draw and drag will be handled by this encoder. So it’s a good thing that the build quality on it is fantastic — it can take a beating, and then some more. Complementing the encoder is a single mechanized fader.

The fader is also touch sensitive — a feature often found missing in more expensive Logic Pro X control surface. If you’ve ever felt dissatisfied by your fades and automations, you’ll love using this fader — external hardware make it much easier to get fine control over your automations.

Moving a mouse around feels hardly as intuitive as dragging a touch sensitive fader — and this one works wonderfully well. The rest of the controls are designed around a single goal: to complement your keyboard-mouse, not to replace them. I appreciate this approach, especially since most producers are already used to the keyboard-mouse combo. Far too many control surfaces try to do everything and the kitchen sink, forcing producers to retrain their habits.

This unit recognizes that that is neither feasible nor desirable. Build quality is solid throughout. I particularly like the dimensions.

It’s small enough to take minimal space on your desk, yet not so small as to make the buttons and faders unusable. I prefer this smaller footprint over some of the larger control surfaces that take up too much desk space. What’s left to consider is compatibility. Which is expected since they’re from the same brand.

If you use Studio One, buying this control surface is an absolute no-brainer. That said, you’ll find that the PreSonus FaderPort is also one of the best control surfaces for Logic Pro X, with tight integration out of the box. The buttons are a little hard to press. There are also reports of compatibility issues with the some versions of macOS Catalina. Recommended for: A powerful, capable, and most importantly, affordable control surface for home studios. Excellent compatibility with most DAWs, a touch-sensitive motorized fader, and an excellent encoder make it one of the best control surface for Logic Pro X in Right out of the box, the sleek and compact design of the device is lovely to behold.

The top panel comes in black matte while the rear has an orange hue. The slim design makes it easy to move about with this surface control; it fits in a backpack easily and will be great for DJs that move around. On the top right of the device, there is a Send All button. South of this is the Solo button.

Below the Mute button are the Record-Arm buttons. Use it daily and use all its features: transport, shuttle, mix, pan. Looking at the new expansion module, in fact. I’m still using my Tascam FW over ethernet, but this is getting tempting. The Behringer videos about the X-Touch are well worth watching. The problem with Behringer is that they haven’t done software in-house, nor do they understand it. Their hardware is getting better all the time. So, if the device does what you need now, as-is, or maybe with one firmware update that Behringer won’t even know the version number of you’re golden.

Just don’t count on new manuals or new software or a flow of firmware updates. They see gear as just stuff they design, have made, and sell. Then they move on: design and have a new one made, and sell THAT. They don’t live in the past. The one you got in January? That’s ancient history.

You want what? Updated wrappings for King Tut’s left foot? You must be kidding. We promised a manual? Well, oops, our bad. The effete snobs who say Behringer gear is crap are mistaken. The fabrication was once shaky. Not anymore. And the chips are so good now It kicked the butt of far costlier gear. It rules at 24 bit k in Logic. In Windows you need a driver, well, that’s where things get harder. Whoever coded that puppy is probably in clinic by now.

I have an FCA Behringer released a firmware update but there is no way to determine which version you’re running.

Get the idea? So would I trust something like the X-Touch for Logic? Only if enough Logic Users swear it’s flawless. And it seems that’s the case, it was maybe tested on Logic X so we’re in luck. I wouldn’t expect it to do every other thing a Mackie can do, or reliably talk X or anything. Last edited by Fernand; 22nd August at AM.. Oh, yeah, I have a Behringer XR18 mixer – that works just fine as well. Price, performance, build quality.

 
 

Download Logic Pro X for Pc – Windows 7/8/10 [Latest Version] – Webeeky.The Best Control Surface for Logic Pro X in

 
 

The second thing we miss in Avid Artist Mix is a dedicated transport panel. However, Avid cleared that it is a control surface for mixing and not for recording controls. Even, it should have a transport control. If you are finding a control surface that you could use in your home studio as well as outside recording then Novation Launchpad is for you. For budget home studios it would be a perfect fit.

Let have a detailed look at the Novation launch control. If you are a music producer then you can now focus on your music production without worrying about the DAW handling by traditional keyboard and mixer. Novation launchpad has eight 60mm non-motorized faders. These faders are good for mixing but the lack of motors in faders makes them useless in automation.

If you want to add some automation to your tracks then you have to rely on your mouse and keyboard. However, for volume balancing, 60mm faders work well.

Novation Launch control can be used with Novation Launchpad. By owning both of them you get full control over your DAW. Launchpad has assignable buttons that can be used as transport and edit controls.

In fact, if you want a full-featured control surface, you need both of them. With bus-powered features and lightweight, it is perfect for outside recordings like concerts programs. Just plug it in with your laptop and make the magic happen.

Imagine under 70 bucks you get 8 faders and also a transport control which you missed out on costly Logic Pro X control surfaces. This tiny control surface has eight faders, eight knobs dedicated solo, mute, and record arming buttons as well as dedicated transport controls. It has 8 non-motorized small faders and 8 dedicated knobs. These faders are not full length but can be used precisely in mixing if your hands are set up on the faders. As well as you get a dedicated solo, mute, and record arming buttons for each track.

Here I have provided the details of 5 best control surfaces Logic Pro X. I think now you have a clear picture of your future control surface. I personally recommend control surfaces equipped with dedicated transport controls and both the control surfaces have transport dedicated panels. If you have any queries on these control surfaces then drop your comment below, I will answer your queries.

Make sure to share this article with your social circle so that your friends could also choose better gears for their home studios. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Table of Contents. However, one drawback is its thick design and clunky control surface. If you like to work sitting on a chair, Behringer X-Touch Universal will feel uncomfortable and difficult to use.

But, apart from its dimensions, it gives a superb performance. FaderPort 8 by PreSonus is one of the most effective control surfaces which packs a lot of features in it. The efficient production controller will save plenty of time mixing and controlling your DAW or Logic Pro software with FaderPort 8 control surface. It features mm motorized, touch-sensitive 8 faders that follow automation perfectly. If your home studio is loaded with a lot of equipment and you are interested in every musical detail, PreSonus FaderPort 8 will help you in achieving a perfect combination of results.

The ability to edit common plug-in settings from your control surface is also impressive. Therefore, PreSonus Fader Port is extremely user-friendly. At the end of the day, it is your pick to choose the best control surface that will suit your music production, as well as controlling Logic Pro. However, we have to say that investing in a good control surface will amplify your mixing process.

Brian Clark is a multi-instrumentalist and music producer. He is passionate about practically all areas of music and he particularly enjoys writing about the music industry.

Privacy Policy — About — Contact. MIDI Controllers. And drivers. Great win principal, but doesn’t have the ergonomics of the MCU, which, if you could find a second hand unit around, or even a MK2, you would be much better off IMO. Whatever works ;-. The X-Touch sits to my left on top of a 12u rack, basically desk height. Have it on a “book stand” designed to hold large books open, like reading at a lectern.

The faders and transport are exactly in the right spot. I can read the scribble strips just fine. On occasion I bring out a full keyboard and drive Logic with 2 keyboards, faders, and trackpad My left hand is learning ;-. Attached Thumbnails. The mackie Logic control units are cheap used.

Were these USB? I toggle between the 2. The keyboard in my picture is a multi-system Bluetooth keyboard, but I could just as easily plug in a wired keyboard to the X-Touch. I have been known to pop a thumb drive in the back to copy some sessions around. I have a love-hate relationship with my Artist Control the Euphonix, pre-Avid. It is the perfect form factor regarding features and size.

Unfortunately, the software never lived up to its potential. For example, the user interface for the Settings app is just horrible. It was originally written by a programmer in a hurry and never further developed.

And of course, it was a little bit expensive. Lauren Pass. I have a tascam but there’s no driver for logic x. What are you using it with? Maybe I’ll give an unexpected player I use it with Logic Pro x and it’s great With the X-Touch in Logic, how do you- -select among the various insert and send slots on a channel?

I just read the scribble strips ;-. Awesome, thanks! I’m sold. I view it as a cost-savings measure, in the hopes that it’ll cure my console lust Quote:.

Inserts are listed top to bottom, left to right. Choose the insert by pressing the VPOT. The Display will show the slot number, so 3rd plugin will display P3.

I would like to see some pics of x-touch setups. It seems like there would be a gap. Recommended for: A powerful, capable, and most importantly, affordable control surface for home studios. Excellent compatibility with most DAWs, a touch-sensitive motorized fader, and an excellent encoder make it one of the best control surface for Logic Pro X in Right out of the box, the sleek and compact design of the device is lovely to behold. The top panel comes in black matte while the rear has an orange hue.

The slim design makes it easy to move about with this surface control; it fits in a backpack easily and will be great for DJs that move around. On the top right of the device, there is a Send All button.

South of this is the Solo button. Below the Mute button are the Record-Arm buttons. As per Akai standard, this control surface is of solid build. It feels strong and reliable to touch. The knobs are small but not so small that they’re hard to use. The entire unit itself is small enough to fit comfortably on a desk. It’s also light enough that you can drop it into your gig bag and carry it around.

The included software editor is powerful and intuitive enough that you can also customize the integration as per your needs. Although it does not have as many features as some other surface controllers on the list, it offers great value for the price.

It lacks Device control, which I found to be a surprising decision from Akai. The knobs might also feel a little small if you have large hands. Some users report issues with the lights not lighting up — even when the rest of the unit works fine. A small quibble has to do with the quality of Akai’s gel buttons. These gel buttons can be found on all of Akai’s lower-tier devices, from MIDI controllers to control surfaces, and it’s never a good experience using them.

They feel sticky and not tactile enough. Akai, if you’re reading this, please find better gel buttons on your devices! It is affordably priced and works great out of the box. Perhaps it’s not the most full-featured controller around, but if you’re looking for the best control surface for Logic Pro X on a budget, you’ll love this unit. With regards to their design, I found the Behringer X Touch to be a rather thick and clunky control surface.

It is not as slim as many of the control surfaces I have tested. I’d even say that when placed on a desktop, you might have to raise your chair height an inch or two if you are sitting while operating it. The height and thickness make it a tad uncomfortable reaching for the faders and make it hard to see the display properly while sitting.

Despite the less than ideal thickness, this control device performs rather superbly, especially for serious producers. Aside from the physical dimensions, the device has connectivity options galore. While testing, I connected the device to Logic. It offers a really stunning functionality level with all the faders, knobs and buttons.

The device supports the MCU protocol quite extensively. The transport buttons here feel really firm and sturdy and are very functional. For example, they have lights to show their current status. The jog wheel also enjoys this design feature. That said, it is not as firm as the transport buttons and feels rather cheap and tacky.

The large, chunky size, however, makes up for this lapse. One of my favorite features — something few control surfaces in this budget offer — is the small LCD scribble strips at the top of each channel fader. This instantly tells you which track or parameter you’re controlling.

The standout feature for me, however, has to be the motorized faders. It’s one of the rare control surfaces on the market with a whole array — nine — of motorized faders. As mentioned earlier, the interaction with Logic is one of the best features of this device. It has full support with Logic as well as other DAWs. Despite the integration with Mac OS, the lack of a Mac editor is jarring. The build quality is a little disappointing considering the price. The motors on the faders is tacky and feels liable to break.

The lack of customization options in the editor is also a letdown.