I’ve just been toying with my ancient M-Audio Trigger Finger controlling the AR’s track levels with its sliders and pots. I much liked having hands-on control over those, but not so much the form factor of this controller for that purpose. Looking into better options, though not many around with 12 sliders (Faderfox MX12). Though I could probably live with 8 faders and the remaining 4 track levels on pots.
Having performance controls mapped on the midi controller as well would be cool. Then I’d just flip between mutes and scenes on the AR.
One thing I’m wondering about: how do you guys/girls deal with parameter jumps when moving to a new pattern and kit while the MIDI controller is still in the previous kit state? Especially thinking of live gigging here.
A controller with parameter value feedback via MIDI in and snap/take over mode could solve that but I don’t think many do that (again, MX12). I do have an elderly BCR2000 that would do it but it’s way to large for this purpose (trying to keep my live setup compact) and the rotary encoders aren’t very nice for mixing levels.
For feedback to work I’d have to loop back AR’s MIDI output into the controller. I have 5 devices MIDI clocked by the AR, meaning I’d either have to use a MIDI splitter or loop back at the end of the chain. This also means most of these other devices have to have MIDI CC i/o turned off, given that the AR uses 13 channels. For my current setup this could work.
Anyone else cracked this nut and wanting to share thoughts/experiences?