I am looking for a cheap MIDI fader controller to ride dynamics, expression and so on when using orchestral libraries in Kontakt. I have seen a lot of pros used the Kenton Control Freak, but it's virtually impossible to find.

I'm looking for something with a small footprint (studio real estate is getting precious!) And cheap, but reliable and easy to use/programme.

Any recommendations?

 

Korg Nanokontrol would be the most compact and can be found under $50 but has like 30mm faders.

Nektar P1 has 45mm faders, and lots of encoders but takes up more space and is more expensive.

Evolution UC-33 has 60mm faders but a good 15 years old at this point so driver support may be iffy.

After this you'd be looking into motorized faders like the Icon Platform M (now Waves something)

The issue is that outside of orchestral composers theres no market for 8 x 100mm non-motorized faders.


Have you considered an iPad and touchOSC? From the Spitfire Cribs series I've seen many composers moving to it.

 

I hadn't considered touchOSC. However, I user Metagrid on my iPad as a shortcut controller for Cubase, so iPad already in use!

I just thought of something too. I have a Mackie Control Universal that's set up and I've only ever used for mixing track levels. Is it possible to flick this into some kind of instrument controller to use the faders to control a plugin, and therefore the controls I'm loking to control?

 

If I remember correctly MCU has 5 modes for the Pots: Pan, Instrument, Effects, and Sends (and one I cant remember right now). Of course you'll have to "flip" the pots with the faders.

 

Another choice might be an expression pedal.
I use a Roland EV-5 routed through Audiofront's "Midi Expression io" 3-input unit, along with two footswitches, one generally for the sustain pedal and one free to assign to a favorite keyswitch.
The Audiofront interface lets you set pedal curves, has USB and MIDI out (can be routed in pretty much any way).
https://www.audiofront.net/MIDIExpression.php

 

While i don't understand why you literally ask if a midi controller can control midi parameters, the answer is yes. No need to buy anything, after all the MCU beats the cheapo stuff.
If you still wanna buy something cheap:
AKAI Midimix, here:
https://www.thomann.de/gr/akai_midimix.htm
Korg NanoKONTROL Studio, here:
https://www.thomann.de/gr/korg_nanokontrol_studio.htm

 

Metagrid supports multiple pages, doesn't it?
I'd just add a page with faders, configure them, done. Saves your precious real estate too.

 

I do this as well. Works great. I also have faders on my Akai MPK61 controller that are assignable, and have a nanoKontrol for portable etc... many different ways to skin that cat..(although not sure why anyone would want to skin a cat....)

 

I have the UC33e and it's amazing.

 

JL Cooper Fadermaster Pro or Behringer BCF 2000. Both top Notch.

 

Studiologic SL MIXFACE, is a good controller too. Of course Nectar Panorama P1 is more advanced.

https://m.thomann.de/cz/studiologic_sl_mixface.htm

https://www.studiologic-music.com/products/mixface/

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2019

https://www.musicstore.de/nl_NL/EUR/Behringer-X-Touch-USB-DAW-Controller/art-PAH0015337-000

 

ive had a behringer BCF2000 for years and it has never let me down