AZ Controller for X-Touch

There are several things about X-Touch, AZ Controller and another plug-in from me (AZ), but not "AZ Controller" which can be confusing (partially my fault, sorry). So:
 
* X-Touch has 3 variations, Compact, Mini and the third, lets call it "Big". Mini has no preset. Compact has AZ Controller preset which can do almost everything control surface in Sonar can, but that preset is for blind musicians and so not general user friendly (no LEDs, many functions are audition specific).
 
* so the rest is for "Big" version (with display, jogger, etc):
1) the device by itself is a Mackie Control Universal clone. So in can be used with stock MCU Sonar plug-in.
2) stock MCU Sonar plug-in was not updated since long time, so some original functionality is "broken" when used with modern Sonars (X+), especially: ProCh EQ and Comp are not working (an attempt to control Compressor can crash Sonar). There is my mod of the original plug-in (NOT AZ Controller), which fix that problems (so EQ and Comp buttons are working)
3) what you see on the device is a "generic" MCU buttons layout. Sonar has own layout for MCU, corresponding overlay for X-Touch in PDF format you can find on Behringer forum
4) MCU/XT can not control SoftSynth Rack and ProChannel modules (other then EQ and Comp with my mod). Also mapping FX plug-ins to encoders is done throw manual text file editing (otherwise there is "default" mapping, normally far from perfect). All other mixing aspects of Sonar are covered.
 
There is MCU preset for AZ Controller. But at the moment it is not recommended to use. It was never tested. It was written as a prove of concept, mimicking original MCU plug-in. It gives no benefit over my moded MCU plugin other then bugs...
 
There is a plan to rework MCU preset for AZ Controller (and Controller itself), supporting direct Network communication with X-Touch and colors (so X-Touch follow Sonar strip colors and requires no MIDI bridge on PC). It is unclear when (if) I implement that.
 
Finally about the hardware:
* it is unclear either "Big" faders have hi resolution (Compact has low resolution faders for sure)
* some people report faders are noisy and "jumpy", other report they are in "acceptable" range
* some people could not get time display to work (other have no problems with that)

For mixing with Sonar, MCU is still the best (not counting obsolete devices like VS700).
For controlling effects, modern trend is Softube C1 with own channel strip and UAD.
All depends from what you need and how much you are ready to spend. MCU Pro is the "original", and while XT provides the same functionality, it is build from different (cheaper) components and has no extenders (Mackie XT and C4). At the same time it works throw network and can control XAir Behringer rack mixers, which can overweight the "originality" if that options are important for you.
For Synth control especially with Kontact, NI keyboards is obvious way to go. But they do not have DAW controlling section other then transport. If you play keyboard and want basic DAW controller with motor faders, Behringer Motör can be an option. It has less buttons then XT but the same faders.
Finally, for one strip DAW control, Faderport or second hand Alphatrack are working fine (cost less and save the space).