I've been craving a great control surface for using X3. I had a Mackie Control for a while but my house got broken into and it was the only thing they took (the alarm thwarted them, they could have gotten a couple Les Pauls, go figure). I've been using a FaderPort but the recent firmware updater rendered it read only and useless. All of the other ones are way out of my price range or only work with AVID, the Behringer units look like garbage.
I'm really tempted to go out and get another Mackie, but with the Gibson merger I'm thinking of holding off in anticipation of a TASCAM controller.
All I really need is a few motorized faders, a couple knobs, and transport controls. I don't really need another audio interface, my MOTU works just fine.
Is there anything in the works or should I just grab another Mackie?
 
P.S. It would be wonderful if Sonar had an option to exclude the control surface MIDI interface for MIDI channels. Nice to have, but not necessary if you're careful.

How about Touch screen monitors?

the Behringer units look like garbage.

 
If you are referring to the BCF 2000 you couldn't be further from the mark. They are of course not as good as an MCU but for the money there is IMHO no better value control surface out there. I say that as a current MCU + XT user that came from a BCF.
 
Cons - There's no scrub wheel, a few of the more minor functions are missing as there's no M2- M4 key, no LCD display although there is a virtual one that works exactly the same as the "real" thing, more functions require more than one key at a time but you soon get used to it, faders aren't touch sensitive (for automation control) and it has a smaller footprint (which may be a Pro)
 
Pros - It's less than 10% of the price, it'll do 90% of what an MCU can, smaller footprint, can be used as an ACT (or other) controller if not used in Mackie mode.
 
Suberb value. Mine is now used as an ACT controller.

Grin. :)
I like to keep them a bit farther away and fingerprints are annoying. OCD I know...

RajahP
How about Touch screen monitors?

VS-700C = best choice I have ever made for a controller with Sonar. However, I can't recommend it because there is no assurance they will continue to support it.
I hope they do, great piece of hardware that i can't work with Sonar without.

So this isn't what your looking for, but someone is selling an old Alpha Track for $60 USD. Not sure if he still has it. I'll see if I can figure out who it was if you're interested.
 
I still like and use mine. It's handy if one fader will do. I have a touch screen and don't use mine too often, but I'm not prepared to part with it either.
 
The alpha track is a lot less jumpy than the touch screen for fine work.

Following up on what fast biker boy said. Checkout the video on my website going over the bcf2000 in sonar. Look under the specific topics on http://blades85.com.

hope that helps.

I've used both the AlphaTrack and FaderPort - both are reasonable choices if you're looking for a simple 1-fader plus transport type of control. I suppose I prefer the FaderPort, although on paper the AlphaTrack looked more deluxe - I like the tactility on the FaderPort better. Just sold the AplhaTrack on eBay the other day... don't need 'em both.

Tom, I'm curious about your problems with Faderport. I'm running X3, and my Faderport is working perfectly. Have you tried reinstalling the drivers for it?

I like my Mackie Control.