I have a question for anyone who uses control surfaces or a matter of opinion ... I like the idea of using a control surface instead of a mouse for everything and my question is this: I have a limited budget right now ( around $300.00) for gear and would I be better off using this for a control surface, different mics, plugins, tube preamp , etc ... I have a akai midi keyboard that can also be used as a control surface ... I like the idea but with this, I can only control the first 8 channels .. are all control surfaces like this and which ones work best with Sonar X2a ? I have most of what I need in mics and hardware except a tube preamp but not sure I can get what I need in a pre amp for $300 or less .. any info or opinions would be appreciated ..

Most control surfaces provide controls for 8 channels and then allow you to switch to additional tracks/channels using Bank buttons. So you have banks of 8 and switch when you want to control additional tracks in a project.
 
Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview

My VS-700 does 8 at a time.  I like it fine, esp since you can drag tracks around in Sonar and hide them.
 
One thing: with other control surfaces, I don't know how they integrate to Sonar.  For example, I can hide MIDI tracks in Sonar and they don't show up on the control surface.  If you don't have that feature, then you would just want to group.

Control surfaces are great. But really if you want to use one for mixing you need motorized faders and panners that know the current state and good ones are pretty expensive.

A huge problem is control surface support. A control surface is only as good as its implementation in the software. The problem arises with the constant updating of the DAW software. The once working control surface becomes broken and the responsibility to fix it usually falls through the cracks between Cakewalk and the developer so your left with a half functioning piece of hardware. I blame Cakewalk as much as I do the developer. If cakewalk makes changes that will effect their control surface API then they should take the time to update the API for backwards compatibility. They have not been good at doing that. My CM Labs Motormix only half functions under Sonar 7 while it worked perfect in Sonar 4.

The CM Labs Motormix is not limited to 8 tracks. It could control as many tracks, buses and mains as you have in your project. Most control surfaces function this way.

A control surface with MCU support is your best bet for DAW software compatibility.

On a limmited budget I'd probably use the money for something other than a control surface. Although I do believe there are some inexpensive ones maybe like Berlinger or something that people can chime in on and let you know if they work good.

IMO a cheap control surface is a waste of desk space and money. Without motorized faders, it's less than useless for mixing. You still have to look at the screen to see what's what. And I haven't mixed an 8-track project since, well, the days of 8-track recorders. Nowadays, 40 tracks is a small project.
 
I would make one exception: if you are a synthesist and you are fond of real-time parameter tweaking as a means of expression, then physical knobs are a must. But you can use an inexpensive controller such as a Korg Nanokontrol (60 bucks) for that.

I've never used a control surface.  Ditto on what bit said about still having to look at the screen.  I figured since I was still going to be looking at the screen so much anyway, I'd just do it all there.  I use the PC keyboard for transport control and you can set key bindings for lots of other things off the PC keyboard as well.

I agree with WDI entirely. I have an MC (Mackie Control) that has worked perfectly since the day I got it. I wouldn't be with out it. That said if all I had was $300 I would save my money and wait until I had enough for an MCU Pro or put it into better monitors or something. 
 
 
But in the end its up to you what you want to do with your money.
 
 

John
I agree with WDI entirely. I have an MC (Mackie Control) that has worked perfectly since the day I got it. I wouldn't be with out it. That said if all I had was $300 I would save my money and wait until I had enough for an MCU Pro or put it into better monitors or something. 
 
 
But in the end its up to you what you want to do with your money.
 
 

Hey John,
 
Which one in particular do you have?..MCU Pro?
 
Donny

You might wanna take a look on eBay for a used Tascam US-2400. It's got 24 100mm motorized faders and at least 24 rotary controls. They usually go for around $500.

V-Studio has motorized faders and is perfectly integrated.  Since Roland is apparently not going forward with this product, you can probably find one for not too much—but it would still be more than a few hundred bucks.  The Nucleus is great but it costs even more.