doncolga

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

Interesting story about this. I have the original Mackie Control. I did have the Logic Control. You may know this but the Logic control preceded the Mackie Control. One reason I never say anything good about Apple is because of what happen when they bought out Emagic. I had been very much into Logic and had bought it with Sound Diver and an AMT 8 and then a Logic Control. Apple in effect said all PC users are now orphaned. We had no recourse. We could buy a Mac and continue using Logic or switch. I choose to stay with CW which I had been with longer anyway. Now I mentioned this situation to the guy at Guitar Center where I had bough nearly all my gear from and he offered to exchange it for a Mackie Control. Believe it or not I took a week to decide and traded in the L C for the Mackie Control. I haven't looked back since except with a bitter taste in my mouth from a rotten apple. 
 
The Mackie Control and the Logic Control are the same device. The firmware is different. 
   

They're fast becoming obsolete, within two years IMHO touch screens will obsolete this technology, particulary for the hobbiest/home studio/project studio owner.  Why would you bother with a control surface if your screen can do the job.  But again just my opinion.

Go w/ a touchscreen.  There is also the vs100 which was on sale at Guitar Center for $300 I think.  Motorized fader.  Plus interface.  Plus location recorder.  Plus SONAR front end.
 
@

Along the lines of the last two posts about control surfaces becoming obsolete, and touch screens, an iPad makes a fine control surface when paired with a good app, such as V-Control Pro.
 

BenMMusTech
They're fast becoming obsolete, within two years IMHO touch screens will obsolete this technology, particulary for the hobbiest/home studio/project studio owner.  Why would you bother with a control surface if your screen can do the job.  But again just my opinion.

I think this is said by some one that may have never used a quality CS. I have used a touch screen and they are not the same or offer the same things. 

40 faders, 40 x 4 knobs of EQ / Comp / Sat . Instant recall
All laid out comfortably before you.
 
Yes.
 

John

BenMMusTech
They're fast becoming obsolete, within two years IMHO touch screens will obsolete this technology, particulary for the hobbiest/home studio/project studio owner.  Why would you bother with a control surface if your screen can do the job.  But again just my opinion.

I think this is said by some one that may have never used a quality CS. I have used a touch screen and they are not the same or offer the same things. 

Actually I have used decent control surfaces and I have used Ipad controllers as well.  Were you are right is they do feel different, that is a control surface and a touch screen.  The tactial feel of a control surface vs a touchscreen is up to the indivdual but you get use to the different feel. 

I hope to never have to use a touch screen in my studio.

I've spent thousands of $ for mics, pre's, A/D, computer, and plug-ins. I still don't use a control surface, and I came from an analog console. For me, the mouse is the easiest and most accurate way I can tweak. No longer do I mix directly with faders as much as I do with incoming signal and output of the final plug-in on any given channel. I also don't Automate using faders much anymore, either.
 
A control surface is nice, but they can't control everything on your screen, and you're forced to still use a mouse. Plus, and I'll agree with bitflipper, if the control surface isn't a great one, (in my opinion, a FULL 32+ channel console), it's going to get in the way. I haven't liked any of them I've tried, except the big $60,000 AVID consoles, and I still don't like a track-ball.
 
More, if you have issues with Sonar, issues between Sonar and the console, or simply issues with the console, I think you'd be literally throwing it off the desk and grabbing the mouse.
 
So, if you've come from a console, and really miss it, I'd shop for a GOOD control surface, and learn it inside-out. Work out any kinks, and keep sailing. For me, I'm happy spending the money elsewhere. I simply can't justify the money for a decent control surface.

For maybe a tiny bit of perspective,I bought a perfect cond. VS-100 for $163 AUD,but I have yet to use it as a controller,it's just easier[for me ATM]to use X2,via the mouse/touchpad[laptop]and the left/right clicks.
 
I have to say though the sound,both going in,but especially controlling it going out is far and away better than all of the "bus" powered USB interfaces,that have come and gone in the last 2 and a bit years,there is definitely something to be said for an interface that can draw more power than the 5volt maximum of the USB buss.
 
I would probably look at the control part of the equation far more seriously if I had the VS-700 though,they're definitely not so low priced down here used,in fact I've yet to see more than  one,which is possibly an attest to people keeping them,a bit like the RME brand in that regard,I've only seen one used Babyface on Ebay here,RME's attraction for me is the well written drivers,especially for USB[hint Roland-or at least an update! for the VS-100]
Bob