RevBob
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Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
I know there have been previous threads on what to use for gear, but I am looking for more updated info and feedback from users on their gear with the latest Sonar X1. I need a new control surface and I/O with the following in mind: 1) Using Win7 Pro 64 and Sonar X1 Expanded 64x 2) Need at least 4 analog XLR inputs, 8 preferred 3) Hoping to have 24/192 4) External sync preferred - word clock/smpte 5) I have USB 2.0, 3.0 and Firewire as well as PCIe 6) need midi I/O to consolidate 7) need control surface and I/O to work well together - for work flow 8) don't need built-in fx and synth hardware (have plenty) 9) need monitor out options for doing 5.1 surround 10) need control options for doing surround 11) want motorized faders that sync well, at least 8 and a master 12) prefer scroll knob with transport Ideas, suggestions, have at it...
post edited by RevBob - 2011/10/09 19:06:06
Rain Computers Ion Studio Custom PC Xeon 8-core 3.1ghz processor, Win7 Pro 64x, 24gb RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5450, Sonar X2 Producer Expanded 64x, NI Komplete, Kore 2, Maschine, SoundminerHD, Adobe Premier and Audition, MOTU 828mk3, M-Audio Axiom, Event20/20 Monitors
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Eraser
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/09 18:50:27
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☄ Helpful
Hello,
My setup is working nicely with Win 7 Pro 64 and Sonar X1. I am using an RME Fireface 800. This rig is rock solid and never has an issue. I wasted a year with another rig before getting this one. For my control surface I am using a Mackie Control Universal Pro. This rig is also awesome and expandable if I require more faders down the road. All of the specs for these can be found online. Pretty sure they take care of everything you mentioned above. Neither are cheap but sometimes, as in this case, you get what you pay for.
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RevBob
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/09 19:13:10
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@ Eraser-thanks! I was looking at RME Fireface 800 and UFX. How hard would it be to configure the outs for 2 different mixes: A 5.1 surround mix(6 channel) and a stereo(2 channel) using the existing outs?
I also glanced at the Mackie Universal. I like the expansion capabilities, but heard the manual is lacking and have had issues with their live mixers as far as dependability goes and inconsistent phantom power on pre's.
Its great to get positive feedback from a hands on user. THANKS!
Rain Computers Ion Studio Custom PC Xeon 8-core 3.1ghz processor, Win7 Pro 64x, 24gb RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5450, Sonar X2 Producer Expanded 64x, NI Komplete, Kore 2, Maschine, SoundminerHD, Adobe Premier and Audition, MOTU 828mk3, M-Audio Axiom, Event20/20 Monitors
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riojazz
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/09 19:38:32
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The Tascam FW-1884, though discontinued, meets most of these requirements but the one that stopped me was your #10, surround. Does any control surface handle this?
Software: Cakewalk by Bandlab; Adobe Audition; Band-in-A-Box audiophile; Izotope Ozone; Encore; Melodyne; Win 10 Pro, 64-bit. Hardware: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd; Roland Integra-7; TCE Finalizer; Presonus Central Station, Behringer X-Touch. Home built i7 with 16 GB RAM, SSDs.
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RevBob
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/09 23:44:49
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@ riojazz Nice piece of gear. However, it's only 24/96 won't do 24/192. Which is not a deal breaker for me if its a cheap option and the FW-1884 can be found used. Another issue is I don't think there are drivers for Win7 64bit.
How is it working for you in win7 64x? What drivers are you using? The Roland V-700c has a joystick for surround, but I'm a little disappointed with Roland. I had a VS-2480 I was using for a control surface and it has an option for channel strip with a joystick for surround, but Roland dropped support for R-BUS so there's no 64bit drivers, no support for peripherals, and no template for Sonar X-1.
I don't like the fact that the VS-700 is so expensive and comes with a copy of X1 Producer and all this stuff I don't need, but Producer owners don't get a discount or rebate on the Roland gear.
I like the OctaCapture for I/O but there's no word clock/smpte and no link for the VS-700c.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Rain Computers Ion Studio Custom PC Xeon 8-core 3.1ghz processor, Win7 Pro 64x, 24gb RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5450, Sonar X2 Producer Expanded 64x, NI Komplete, Kore 2, Maschine, SoundminerHD, Adobe Premier and Audition, MOTU 828mk3, M-Audio Axiom, Event20/20 Monitors
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chuckebaby
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/10 01:09:28
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thats quite a demanding list you got there..minus a few things and im sure youll find something to go with sonar.
i have a v-studio and i find it works well with sonar but not with cubase or other daws.as if your looking to work with sonar exclusively id recomed one
Windows 8.1 X64 Sonar Platinum x64 Custom built: Asrock z97 1150 - Intel I7 4790k - 16GB corsair DDR3 1600 - PNY SSD 220GBFocusrite Saffire 18I8 - Mackie Control
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riojazz
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/10 10:42:45
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The FW-1884 drivers work fine in Windows 7 64-bit. There's a long story there... You do have to be sure to roll back to the legacy firewire driver. Tom Deering (deeringamps) has a complete set of documentation and instructions available, if you need it. About 18 months ago, when Tascam would not release Frontier Design's drivers for Windows 7, many of these units went on the used market. Now, of course, we have to hope it will work under Windows 8, since Tascam has announced it will not help us anymore.
Software: Cakewalk by Bandlab; Adobe Audition; Band-in-A-Box audiophile; Izotope Ozone; Encore; Melodyne; Win 10 Pro, 64-bit. Hardware: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd; Roland Integra-7; TCE Finalizer; Presonus Central Station, Behringer X-Touch. Home built i7 with 16 GB RAM, SSDs.
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RevBob
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/10 13:44:27
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@ chuck - Yeh, I've been doing a full rebuild here and I'm need to invest in gear that will keep up with contracts in game audio and the soundtrack stuff I'm doing. Having the ability to work with HD audio and surround makes a difference.
Are you using both the 700c and the 700r? Is there anything you don't like about it?
Thanks. @ riojazz - thanks for the heads up. I may drop you a PM if I decide to go in that direction and need to chase down drivers - but I don't want to get caught with gear that doesn't have support again.
Rain Computers Ion Studio Custom PC Xeon 8-core 3.1ghz processor, Win7 Pro 64x, 24gb RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5450, Sonar X2 Producer Expanded 64x, NI Komplete, Kore 2, Maschine, SoundminerHD, Adobe Premier and Audition, MOTU 828mk3, M-Audio Axiom, Event20/20 Monitors
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riojazz
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/10 15:07:46
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You're welcome. Should you decide to go that way, the drivers for Windows and for SONAR are all available on the Tascam website. These are native drivers, not just Mackie emulation. Search for recent posts by deeringamps for other helpful links; several of us contributed to a pretty good knowledge base that he maintains. Note: the control surface does not control the Pro Channel. As far as I know, no one has attempted to map commands that might, even if it is possible. And, I have not yet tested it with Expanded.
Software: Cakewalk by Bandlab; Adobe Audition; Band-in-A-Box audiophile; Izotope Ozone; Encore; Melodyne; Win 10 Pro, 64-bit. Hardware: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd; Roland Integra-7; TCE Finalizer; Presonus Central Station, Behringer X-Touch. Home built i7 with 16 GB RAM, SSDs.
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RevBob
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/12 15:41:20
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So I am still weighing options but would like more input from Sonar X1 64x users. Anyone else? Current suggestions on current supported gear:
Control Surfaces: Roland VS-700c, Mackie Control Universal,
I/O: RME Fireface 800, Roland VS-700r
What else are people really happy with?
Rain Computers Ion Studio Custom PC Xeon 8-core 3.1ghz processor, Win7 Pro 64x, 24gb RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5450, Sonar X2 Producer Expanded 64x, NI Komplete, Kore 2, Maschine, SoundminerHD, Adobe Premier and Audition, MOTU 828mk3, M-Audio Axiom, Event20/20 Monitors
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bigboi
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/13 00:48:36
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As an owner of the vstudio (audio interface and controller), I have some input for you.
1. The vs700r has worked flawlessly in both Sonar and Studio One. The mic pres sound GREAT, and on my win 7 system (i920 processor), I can get latency down to around 4 ms. Not too shabby.
2. The vs700c is PERFECT if you only plan to use Sonar. It works DECENT with Studio One, but most of the functionality is lost. It is an expensive setup for sure, so you REALLY need to be in love with X1 to go this route. I am moving more and more into Studio One, and find that I paid ALOT of money for a controller that does not do much at all. I am not ****ing, mind you, I knew what I was buying when I got it. I just wish X1 did not end up embarrassing me so much in front of clients....I would still be using it for production.
As it stands, I do all of my preproduction in Studio One (using a combination of MOTU gear and vs700r and 700c. I bump the tracks out, then record vocals and instruments in X1. I know it seems long winded, but Studio One just FLIES when it comes to making tracks and being stable.
My 2 cents.
I7 920, 8 gigs ram, Newest gigabyte motherboard, 100 gig ssd for operating system and program files, 1 TB 7400 rpm for storage, Full V-Studio system, 2x Motu 2408 MKIII, 2x Motu 24 I/O, Maschine, Kore 2, Virus TI2, Korg m3, Novation Supernova, Novation D-station, Mo Phatt, Elektron Machine Drum, MicroKorg XL, Arturia Origin, Korg Triton, Roland jv2080-completely expanded, Avalon 737SP, 3 Sony premiere monitors, 2 event 20/20 studio monitors, Autotune AVP1, TC Helicon Voiceworks, 1 TC Electronics Powercore 6000, 1 Powercore Firewire
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RevBob
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Re:Your feedback please: Control Surfaces and I/O - Sonar X1
2011/10/13 11:42:44
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@ bigboi - Thanks man, great input. There is a level of commitment to Sonar involved with the purchase of the V-Studio. Surprised you haven't moved onto a StudioLive mixer.
Curious, how has X1 embarrassed you in front of clients?
And how's Machine working in X1? - heard some issues lately and was thinking of picking up Maschine.
Rain Computers Ion Studio Custom PC Xeon 8-core 3.1ghz processor, Win7 Pro 64x, 24gb RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5450, Sonar X2 Producer Expanded 64x, NI Komplete, Kore 2, Maschine, SoundminerHD, Adobe Premier and Audition, MOTU 828mk3, M-Audio Axiom, Event20/20 Monitors
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