Hello everyone,

I've been looking for professional grade DAW controller,
only reasonably looking piece I found is AVID S3...
...but for 4900€ it's quite an expensive choice,
especially when I am by no means going to use ProTools (using Reaper), and also I sincerely hate AVID,

anything similar to recommend?

 

Depends what you want to control I guess and with how much depth, but plenty of affordable options out there, and depends how 'pro' you want it to be. My experience with DAW controllers is that you don't really need pro-grade at the S3 level any more as consumer level gear can achieve the same productivity and usability without the price tag. Some, even offer more than 'pro' controllers.

* Presonus Faderport 8
* Presonus StudioLive CS18AI
* iCon QCon Pro
* iCon QCon Pro X
* Mackie Control Universal Pro
* Tascam FW1884
* Behringer X-Touch
* Behringer X32
* Softube Console 1

I would start here and even combine controllersas it would be way cheaper and more for your money. As an example, the Presonus StudioLive CS stuff is pretty awesome at a fraction of the S3 price and I would consider it 'pro' quality too. I don't use Reaper though, so not sure on compatibility etc.

 

Last edited: Mar 25, 2017

+1 for the QCon stuff.. esp. with their new line of controllers. Best bang for the money

 

Try these http://www.zzounds.com/item--ICNQCONPROX or http://www.zzounds.com/item--ICNQCONPRO. They even expandable with more fader sections.
I would like to have the S3 but is WAAAAAY to expensive because it has the AVID name on it.

 

i nearly get the price of the s3 and truth be told it is one heck of system.
waht i dont get is ssls nucleus 2 5k pretty retarded and no that much different than v1

so
nucleus v1 is """""relative cheap"""" 2nd hand
also the eucon/avid artist

still older but quite the following Bcf/bcR2000
since mackie protocol..... practicly always working

and there is a thing from radikal industries. 2c k something
found it
this seem "pricey" but alright

lots of tuts for diy touchscrren things (very cool software available)
and not to leave out. jl cooper gear is very flexible

 

You could achieve this fairly easily and cheaply. You could use an iPad or such, or buy a multi-touch screen monitor and lay it flat. You could then just run Lemur or TouchOSC on the iPad or on a cheap android tablet outputting screen to the touch screen monitor or run Nox on your DAW machine even and have the touch screen as an additional monitor to put Nox on whilst running Lemur or TouchOSC on it.

 

I'd say your best bet is one of the Mackie HUI controllers. Maybe Mackie Control Universal Pro, and such. Look them up on eBay. ;) All of Mackie DAW controllers are freaking awesome and priced reasonably. Especially on eBay. Cheers!

 

uhmm..

how does the iCon QCon Pro (X) wed with Studio One and UAD' plugins as inserts?

 

Last edited: Mar 26, 2017

I have a mackie control universal 1gen. I bought it for a 100 bucks used from a friends local studio that upgraded to a protools desk. I love this thing. It works seamlessly with reaper and ableton live using the hui protocol. Right out the box with no tweaking or workarounds. I would also highly recommend the mackie stuff just because the prices are cheaper and the build quality is just like their old logo. A tank. I have a lot of mackie gear actually. 16 channel mixer. 820i 8x2 audio interface. The universal control and 2 mackie PAs with 15's. But I was never a fanboy, I just ended up with their products and never had any problems with any of it.

 

define "professional grade"

 

I've had a Behringer BCF2000 since 2009. It's outlived a Digi 002 mixer, a Presonus Faderport, a M-Audio Trigger Finger Pro, and the control surface capability of my Qu-16 mixer. This thing is rock solid and with MIDI ports and footswitch control, you can't ask for more for the price tag. Without a doubt, the best Behringer products are those that don't pass audio . The only downside is that the motorised faders are a little noisy. BTW, scratch off your list controllers without motorised faders if you don't want to run faders every time you load up a project.

 

@saltwater we use DHD 52/MX modular systems in our broadcast studios http://dhd-audio.de/index2.php?opti...jpg&title=&w=800&h=531&mode=0&print=0&click=0 , so something comparable but for purely control during mixing

 

Mackie Universal Pro.... Very affordable and they are the default standard.

 

there's nothing replicating a proper channel strip, and the top tier ones are totally overpriced.
your only option is to build a controller yourself with arduino and custom chassis made with wood or alluminium, you must have an electronic background, nothing else in the market as far as i know, probably something modular in Eurorack format but they cost an arm and a leg.

 

Icon Q-Con ... the best of a bad bunch, but 7-800 bucks is way too much considering all the limitations.

 

If you want that grade controller - FairlightUS comes into mind (although at a steep price)

 

hmm never heard about Fairlight , but those EVO and QUANTUM look interesting,
base models cheaper than AVID S6L and way more cheaper than Studer Vista series...

 

I use multi touch monitors as well as ipad. i know the hp 23tm is like 200 on ebay or less. works great, I use 3 of them. easy plugin editing, no mapping needed.

 

recently picked up a NI S61, and I love love love it. the keybed is the most amazing I've felt, its actually a musical instrument to me. I use it in combo with an apc40 mkII and its about as much controller as I could want. though not in the same league as some of the other suggestions above.

 

i just ordered a Nektar Panorama P1 last week ;-)