Behringer BCF2000 Help Please <<SOLVED>>

 I'm hoping either Blades or FBB might be able to help me here. I just got the lovely BCF2000 controller, installed the drivers, firmware already up to date, put it into Sonar mode, launched Sonar, connected the controller (I'm following Blade's video up to this point). Then, 'Connecting...' says the Sonar controll surface display. That's it - nothing else. I've tried uninstalling, reinstalling the drivers, set the emulation mode to everything under the sun. The BCF View app doesn't register anything either. The unit is recognised by W7 as soon as I plug in the USB cable, which I've also swapped with several others. It's driving me crazy - I just want my controller to work! Anything you can suggest to try before I wrap it all back up and return?

Hi FBB - thanks for coming in. I'm using the Behringer W64 drivers (I did try uninstalling them but W7 just loads them straight up again on reboot). The BCFView app just gives me a blank LCD screen - no matter what emulation mode the unit it in. I'm trying to use the NCSo mode, and tried U-1 to 5-4, though really not even sure what they do. Sonar sees the unit and the midi ports (often 3 at the same time). But no matter which combination I select I always get the connecting light.

IIRC there isn't much set up of the unit to do other than switch it to the Sonar Mackie Mode. If the BCF drivers are recognised in MIDI--->Devices it should (in theory at least) work.

You should see 3 different drivers if connected correctly. The reason I mentioned different drivers is that Behringer have some available from their site and Windows 7 also has a different set.

Again IIRC one set works the other doesn't but can't for the life of me remember which ones, sorry.

If the drivers are recognised are you using the MackieControl (not the XT) option when connecting in the control surface dialgoue?

Just to stress again I suspect (know) it'll be the drivers causing the issue. I've been through this more than once attaching the BCF, annoying but well worth the frustration when you do get it running.

In ACT mode, which is how I now use mine, there's no motorised faders and apart from the knobs, faders, and buttons under the knobs not much else will work.

The Mackie mode is the way to go, I only use it in the other mode as I already have a Mackie and XT attached.

If you do want to try the different drivers as well as uninstalling the unit you need to uninstall the Behringer drivers using the Windows--->Control Panel--->Programs uninstall.

Once you've done that attaching the unit will then force Windows to use its own drivers which may make a difference or not. Hopefully another BCF user will jump in with some help but when I'm back in the studio later I'll have a look and see if I can work out what set mine is using.

Update:

I did as sys restore to uninstall all the drivers, rebooted and plugged the unit in.  Configured for NCSo, U-1. W7 drivers installed and I loaded Sonar.  This hung on start up - the only way I could get it to launch was by unplugging my audio card.  BCF2000 midi drivers show up as BCF2000 and duly selected.  Mackie Control selected as the surface and pointed to the correct IN/OUT.  Get the constant 'Connecting...' message.

Installed the W64 drivers from Behringer.  Exactly the same result.  Only difference now is I can plug the soundcard in at the same time (this may have been a red herring).

It seems sad, but I don't think this is going to work in X2.  I'll install 8.5 and see if that works.  My only alternative is to use in ACT mode, which loses the moving faders and the transport, plus solo/mute, eq and all the other good stuff.  On second thoughts, it might just go back to Amazon.

Thanks Fireberd.  Can you confirm you are running the BCF in NCSo emulation mode, and also whether you have it set to the default U-1 or any of the other settings (in the global settings menu on the BCF).

It seems you are lucky - I just can't get it to connect at all, except on ACT and even then only the faders without motors, and the pan pots.

Thanks!  If you boot the BCF while holding down the 4th upper button you will eventually see EG in the display.  From here pan pot 1 sets the USB/MIDI mode, and pot 5 seems to set a midi channel.  I've tried all sorts of combinations here but I suspect yours is running the default.

Interesting about the driver.  Again I tried both with the same fail result. Also tried a fresh install of X2-64, same result.

Wow.  I found this thread: http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2439693&mpage=1&print=true and followed the advice to start a new project, save, launch twice etc.  And I have a working BCF.  At least until I turn it off.

To recap: Windows native drivers, USB Mode 1, Channel 1. 8 hours +.

I'm sure that won't be the end of it though!  What's making me laugh is that the noise of the moving faders is already making me cross.  The Faderport was whisper quiet!

Glad you're sorted, I'd forgotten all about that thread but I was as confused in that one as this.

I've just checked my driver and it is the Behringer driver. Epic fail in my contribution to this thread then....

The prochannel doesn't work properly with the Mackie protocol. It's a known issue. You should 'see' whichever module is first in the PC chain but that's it.

Hopefully that'll get fixed at some point but it's been like that since the ProChannel was introduced.

I've been having the same problem. Sonar X1 still works fine with the BCF2000 but once I upgraded to X2 I got the same results as u. I opened the same project with both X1 and X2, but only X1 would let me use the BCF. hope there is a fix to make it work as it did in X1, but thanks for posting about it. Kinda a lame situation, but it's better than nothing