The tutorial will work for V8 and Vista. there may be slight variations but they will be that - slight. The principal is still the same. Load the drivers, switch it into Mackie mode. Set up the control surface in Sonar with the INs/OUTs etc and away you go. Any problems just post up, there are several of us on here that use them so help is never far away. A great bargain piece of kit once you've got it set up.

Thanks Blades! Got me set right up and running.

This thread should be a sticky.

Has anyone figured out a way to assign fader channels on the BCF2000 to specific channels? When I'm using synths, I don't always need a fader for the midi tracks, just for synth output. Also, I would like to assign fader #8 to my main output or main bus when I'm not using more than 7 channels. Any advise?

You'll need to set it up via ACT. You can't assign the faders on the fly to synths in Mackie mode. You can use the faders to control main outputs or busses in Mackie mode though you just need to put the BCF into the correct mode using 1st shift (top left button in the right hand panel) with top right button for buss mode and 2nd shift (below 1st shift) + top right button for main outs.

I find the Mackie mode excellent and use a PCR-800 for synth control, but if Mackie mode doesn't suit you - ACT's the way to go.

Thanks for the tip!

The new mode in one of the 8.x updates that allows you to have the control surface only show the channels which are not hidden is not a solution to thins, but helpful, at least. Maybe you'll get lucky.

Basically, if a track is hidden or is contained in a folder that is collapsed, the faders of the BCF will not align to them. So if you have collapsed all of the track folders except for the last one (for example), channel one on the BCF would line up with the first exposed track in that last folder. If you then expanded a folder above that one, slider one on the BCF would automtically move to control the first exposed track in the track view. If it so happens that you only have 3 track sin taht top folder, then 1/2/3 sliders would control the three tracks in top folder, and 4/5/6/7/8 sliders would control the first 5 channels of the other exposed folder.

Does that make sense?

To make that feature work that way, go to Options...Controler/Surfaces and then in that dialog, look across the bottom and you'll see "Control Strips Visible in:". Choose whichever view you want the faders to follow. My example above has it chosen in Track View. The old default operation is in All mode.

Hope this helps.

hello i would like to know how to hook up 3 bcfs 2000 or more with Sonar 8

I haven't done this, I believe CJ has and I'm sure he'll chime in but as I understand it you need to set the ID of the units to 1, 2, & 3. Then set up the first unit as per Blade's tutorial then add the additional 2 BCFs as Mackie XT in the controller/surfaces dialogue.

Blades,
Did you ever get a chance to make a download for these?
thanks
oz

Excellent tutotial blades!! thank you very much for the effort to produce it!

I was studying the possibility to purchase this unit and now I am convince!

thanks a lot and kepp the good work for the Community