These are nice looking controllers.

I have a Mac and wouldn't be using Sonar.  How useful is the new version of ACT in other DAWs (e.g., Ableton Live or Logic) versus Sonar?  What will you lose from an ACT standpoint?  Will the ACT button still be useful?

Thanks!

Think of the ACT button as a quick way to recall a preset. You will not lose any functionality and there are control maps for all popular products on both Mac and PC.

Of course we are rather proud of ACT and feel you would get the best experience between hardware and software using our products with ACT. ACT is what enables the VS-700, the A-Series and more.

Robin

I would expect them to be with retailers in the next 4 weeks.

ACT is clumsy, time consuming and out of date (not to mention incomplete). 

Just plug an Axiom Pro into Pro Tools or a Novation SL MKII into Logic and you will see what I mean, it's like being thrust in a new century of technology.

It does push Sonar users in the direction of buying their new controllers though, which I think is Cakewalks intent.
It also turns people onto new software too, which probably doesn't help.

 

Hi,

If I'm paying $500 dollars for a controller, I want one that will work elegantly and with the minimum of programing with a variety of programs and Axiom Pro and Novation SL offer that capability with Hyper control and Automap. 

I've been using Cakewalk since around 1998 but am starting to use other programs now like PT 8 and Ableton Live and don't really want to have to buy multiple controllers for multiple progs.

It would be nice to see Cakewalk get involved with M Audio and offer hyper control compatibility in the next release. 

I had considered buying a Edirol PCR-500 just to use with Cakewalk, but I don't need two controllers sitting in from of me when one can do it all! I'm having a hard time getting ACT set up to do the things that the Axiom does automatically with other software. 

e.g. ACT is hearing my Axiom Pro control messages (using a GM template) but is only letting me program a maximum of 5 buttons and sliders and I have 9. Even the ACT templates don't show more than 5. The whole plug in is just horrible and very very user unfriendly. All I'm doing is spending more time learning Ableton and Pro Tools and realizing how awesome they are.  

Cheers.

So, what's the verdict?  If I buy an A500Pro, should I expect to have a relatively difficult time using it with non Sonar programs (like Ableton) compared to a new controller by Novation or Axiom?  Does it have effective control map templates for the other major programs or will I need to map everything myself?