The Focusrite Control 2802 is gorgeous, but the price tag is a bit on the high side.  I would be curious to see if it would work with Sonar X2.  I've been doing the home studio thing for over 20 years, and I'm really tired of upgrading audio interfaces and computers every two years.  I'm glad I didn't buy the VS system - I almost pulled the trigger on it when it came out.  Surely Cakewalk/Roland wouldn't deprecate the VS - right?  What I'm truly amazed about is that I'm still using my Tascam FW-1884 as a control surface; oh wait - I haven't tried it with X2.  Perhaps I spoke too soon...
  

Greets all fellow 700 users...

Thought it might be interesting to see where folks are sitting since the last update.

I've done a several small projects since X2 and the 700C started to co-operate better after the last update and the funny thing now is that apart from some occasional erratic odd moments, the whole combination is 'generally' usable again. Yes it is not fully implemented but I have to say that having been forced to go back to mouse and fader/transport only land prior to the last update, I've found the surface to have become just a very pretty transport control with nice faders and some handy features.

I've always found editing with the 700C awkward so perhaps my situation/usage is different to others but what are folks here thinking now? Stick with it as it is still the best option or have you considered other options like the Focusrite above that will no doubt also have some integration issues?

The support from Roland we know is seemingly at an end(?) and we are left with a usable combination again for basic duties so what are your thoughts folks? Heck even the MCU appears to be left behind...

Are we finally at the 'as good as it gets' stage and gazing over at PT land as the only real contender for full surface hardware options..although we know THAT isn't going to happen.

Cheers....at least it is nice to be able to use this damn gear again.

Hi Mully

I'm right there with you. Since X2a things are working very stable (I only get crashes when freezing 3rd party synths from NI and IK, so I stopped putting things in the freezer). Last 3 projects went quite well ...

Like you I don't do much editing directly from the surface. However, I tried most of the options from the manual when X2a came out and found most editing feature functional as documented (and reported what I thought wasn't) but meanwhile I forget some of the shortcuts and should do some more learning ... however, some things are just quicker anyway when using the mouse.

I ran into the problem that nudging clips (e.g. for fixing timing issues) from the surface crashes Sonar which is unfortunate as I'd love to be doing this from the surface solely by ear rather than mouse as this always involves the eyes ...

I also reported the non-functional channel locking feature (plus other things) and about a month ago received mails that these problems have been handed to development (I reckon this means that testing could verify that problem). So I got hopes that X2b brings some more fixes for the VS-700.

As the support from Roland is non-existent I don't think there will ever be any new VS-700 features (talking about firmware here). I do hope, though, that Cakewalk finds a smart way to fully support take lanes from the VS-700 as it stands now. Currently take lanes involves the highest number of unnecessary mouse-clicks IMHO.

Even if this would be the 'as good as it gets' state, I will hold on to what I've got for quite a while longer. I'm not under the impression that the VS-700 functionality hurts my current workflow; I feel quite productive ... or put it differently I waste much more time elsewhere ;-)

I don't see many serious alternative options at the moment, either. Touch won't do for me. Not for mixing. Any other controller is far poorer supported in Sonar anyway (still no updates on the MCU side). So my MCU clones sit there for headphone sub mixes only while they could easily control pro channel ...

Anyway, as work becomes more demanding, I will eventually also have to look across the fence and buy into another (more industry standard) DAW software and become proficient in its use. Whether this will be PT, Cubase, Ableton, whatever depends more on the work and projects that turn up. Cubase claimed with the release in December to support all controllers. Probably just marketing bollocks, but may be worth a try with the VS-700 in mackie mode ... but I hope to postpone this to the cold and long winter evenings and do more interesting things meanwhile. well, over here summer hasn't even started ...

so long

I'm actually kinda happy I never bought the 700C.  I've been using the 700R for about 3 years now- atypically.  It's been a bit of a PITA to control monitors (I'm using the SPDIF out into a RME MultiFACE II SPDIF in- and then using the RME's software to control the volume of the monitors).  All-in-all it's been a bit more mouse intensive than I want but I've been happy with the quality.  Lately I've invested in the V-Control Pro app for the IPad and an APro 800 midi controller.  When I buy a dedicated monitor controller (looking at the Dangerous system) then things will be less mouse intensive.  Overall, I'm happy with the quality of the VS700R's convertors and mic pre's (although I've got some other world-class mic pre's with which to work).  ...so I guess I'm not in y'all's boat with the controller... 

the above message was repeated here...
 

FreeFlyBertl

I ran into the problem that nudging clips (e.g. for fixing timing issues) from the surface crashes Sonar which is unfortunate as I'd love to be doing this from the surface solely by ear rather than mouse as this always involves the eyes ... 

Hmmm... I'll have to try the surface for nudging. I've used the arrow keys on the keyboard for SO long that I still do it. The keyboard slides out directly under the 700C so it's simple to use in conjunction with the controller.

So I got hopes that X2b brings some more fixes for the VS-700. 

I wonder if there will be a X2b? Hopefully....

As the support from Roland is non-existent I don't think there will ever be any new VS-700 features (talking about firmware here). I do hope, though, that Cakewalk finds a smart way to fully support take lanes from the VS-700 as it stands now. Currently take lanes involves the highest number of unnecessary mouse-clicks IMHO. 

I think the take lanes are a better method and fixes one of the previous things I thought needed improvement. I haven't tried to learn their control with the surface yet. I agree also about new features... I think the honeymoon is over. 

Even if this would be the 'as good as it gets' state, I will hold on to what I've got for quite a while longer. I'm not under the impression that the VS-700 functionality hurts my current workflow; I feel quite productive ... or put it differently I waste much more time elsewhere ;-) 

I AGREE 100%. I definitely use the 700C more than the other three control surfaces I've had. More a matter now of gaining the trust back and using it more by making the effort to relearn more of the existing features. I'd like to see Garrigus for example do a mix on the 700C. Someone who is a gun on it for example to see how much I/we 'may' be missing.  

Anyway, as work becomes more demanding, I will eventually also have to look across the fence and buy into another (more industry standard) DAW software and become proficient in its use. 

Yes I think there is really only one other serious alternative if stepping away from Sonar but the it would be hard to change. Sonar right now does all it needs...just some more to discover perhaps.

Was good to hear some like minded thoughts from a serious user, thanks for the reply. Enjoy the pending warmth!

Sacalait

I'm actually kinda happy I never bought the 700C.  I've been using the 700R for about 3 years now- atypically.  It's been a bit of a PITA to control monitors (I'm using the SPDIF out into a RME MultiFACE II SPDIF in- and then using the RME's software to control the volume of the monitors).  All-in-all it's been a bit more mouse intensive than I want but I've been happy with the quality.  Lately I've invested in the V-Control Pro app for the IPad and an APro 800 midi controller.  When I buy a dedicated monitor controller (looking at the Dangerous system) then things will be less mouse intensive.  Overall, I'm happy with the quality of the VS700R's convertors and mic pre's (although I've got some other world-class mic pre's with which to work).  ...so I guess I'm not in y'all's boat with the controller... 

Monitor volume would be sucky for sure without the 700C. I use those knobs a LOT. The Dangerous system gear sounds interesting and popular.


The converters for sure sound quite neutral and clean, pleasantly so. I got my 700C new for about $1k US from the US so the hit was small but it's possibly once again the best controller I've had now that it is actually usable again. I've got some larger projects to tackle so it will get a decent workout soon, certainly the biggest since the 'glory' days of 8.5...should be interesting.


Cheers...

Oh yeah.. Mr Rehab (Robert?)... your rooms sure look like they have had some treatment. Any comments (albeit it off topic).... ? Would love to hear how you went about tuning/trapping your space etc.

Cheers.

Mully


Oh yeah.. Mr Rehab (Robert?)... your rooms sure look like they have had some treatment. Any comments (albeit it off topic).... ? Would love to hear how you went about tuning/trapping your space etc.

Cheers.

Hi Mick
 
Thanks for stopping by at my Fbook site. I don't want to bother others with private chats, but we can chat further via Fbook or the email which you'll find on the rehab's official website when it goes live in a few days (i don't put it in here to keep the spambots away)
 
Cheers
 
Rob

Sounds great Rob...I'll pop into the FB site again very soon and pester away....I like the look of what you've done.

Cheers.