Hi, I'm looking for a small, possibly portable midi control surface. It should be something quite like the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol F1 (unable to link because newbie, sorry :P). The F1 seems pretty perfect but I don't know if it's technically suitable/compatible, since it's mainly a DJ live remix tool. I just want to control channel faders (one at a time is fine) and trigger midi notes with the pads in normal home studio work. The pads are more important than other functions, but it'd make sense to have at least a fader and maybe a knob in the same device since it's taking tabletop space anyway. Any ideas?
 
Thanks in advance! And have a great summer!

Personally, I would wait a few months for this:
 
http://www.behringer.com/EN/products/X-TOUCH.aspx

From F1 documentation:

The default mode of the F1 when pressing SHIFT + BROWSE (MIDI) with TRAKTOR connected
uses the high-resolution, high-speed NHL protocol, offering a great deal of interactivity and
"playability" specifically designed for using TRAKTOR's Remix Decks (User Map mode); however,
there may be situations where you would like to use the F1 as a MIDI controller for controlling
other MIDI-compatible software. In MIDI mode, the F1 will send ordinary MIDI-standard
signals.

So it will loose many goodies (for which you have to pay), but it will work.
 
SONAR supports surfaces which trigger standard MIDI messages directly or throw some software (as Novation). The only other "generic" protocol recognized is Mackie. You can find the list of explicitly supported devices in the "Preferences"/"MIDI"/"Control surfaces". Just add new surface to see the list (but I do not think something from there is good for your purpose).
 
So you can choose from all surfaces triggering Note on/off from pads and CC from sliders/rotors but there is no special SONAR support for any of them. Pads (like other "instruments") should be tested by own fingers, even for complete Noobs like me there are so different...
 

azslow3
From F1 documentation:

The default mode of the F1 when pressing SHIFT + BROWSE (MIDI) with TRAKTOR connected
uses the high-resolution, high-speed NHL protocol, offering a great deal of interactivity and
"playability" specifically designed for using TRAKTOR's Remix Decks (User Map mode); however,
there may be situations where you would like to use the F1 as a MIDI controller for controlling
other MIDI-compatible software. In MIDI mode, the F1 will send ordinary MIDI-standard
signals.

So it will loose many goodies (for which you have to pay), but it will work.
 
SONAR supports surfaces which trigger standard MIDI messages directly or throw some software (as Novation). The only other "generic" protocol recognized is Mackie. You can find the list of explicitly supported devices in the "Preferences"/"MIDI"/"Control surfaces". Just add new surface to see the list (but I do not think something from there is good for your purpose).
 
So you can choose from all surfaces triggering Note on/off from pads and CC from sliders/rotors but there is no special SONAR support for any of them. Pads (like other "instruments") should be tested by own fingers, even for complete Noobs like me there are so different...
 

Thanks. What about the pads by the way, do they usually have velocity sensitiveness?

ShreddingDragon
Thanks. What about the pads by the way, do they usually have velocity sensitiveness?

Usually yes, they should be called "buttons" otherwise. But every producer explicitly specify when they are sensitive.

Akai MPD18 could fit this picture. I just wonder if Sonar will really communicate with it. :D
 

ShreddingDragon
Akai MPD18 could fit this picture. I just wonder if Sonar will really communicate with it. :D

SONAR will, without problem. As Control surface, for Matrix, MIDI input, etc.
 
But please note that Akai pads are a kind of "heavy".

I have a Korg Nano Kontrol 2. It was a little tricky to set up but it works for what I want. I wish they made one with just playback controls and no track controls.

I use several devices rather than a single integrated unit:
Frontier Tranzport - just transport and track controls, but has an LED screen that tells you what track and time that SONAR is on. It's a wireless unit and I can take it anywhere in the studio for punch in work or just bulk recording
 
Akai MPD18 - If you apply the popular mod from MPCStuff.com, this is the best velocity-sensitive pad set that I have found. A little fiddly to program, but with 3 banks of 16 layouts, you can store 48 separate layouts. I use Bank A for Addictive Drums and bank B for the General MIDI layout. It also has a single fader which is setup for master volume on SONAR for those moments when something happens to be real loud. 
 
Akai APC20 - a recent addition gives my faders with 4 different setups (for mixer, effects, etc...) that are button selected and an array of launch pads for Ableton. Somewhat crude transport controls but functional. 
 
I also use hotkeys on a wireless computer keyboard for a variety of things. These are all compact and fit easily on a desktop under a dual monitor layout (on Ergotron arms to keep the desktop clear for controllers. I prefer the versatility of multiple small (and cheap) control surfaces rather than the uber-integrated systems...

Why not a touch screen? I love mine. And two people can use it at once. I do this most often when a friend and I both have our own th2 instance we can mess with while we play.