Control Surface for Traveler Mk3

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ggrantly

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Hello Listers,

Last year I solicited some help on a new Traveler Mk3, and some mention was made of using a control surface that could be used as a external mixer when recording to a MBPro. I've been on the fence with regard to selling the Traveler since it is underutilized. But after looking at my options, realized why I purchased it; it is a versatile piece of hardware. I will probably keep it if I can add a mixer-control surface for recording. I think all I really need on this is 4-6 faders, but maybe I don't know what the options or possibilities are? If a control surface could be used while editing in FCP or Logic that would be really good. I called both Sweetwater and BH, and neither rep was familiar with the Traveler, and further, each didn't think this could be done. OK now the questions:

Realize I am all Apple; FCP, Logic, Soundtrack Pro.
What piece of hardware(s) is capable of doing this, starting at the low end.
What type of interface would it have; FW, USB, or Midi?
Some type of channel mapping must be needed, is this difficult or unreliable?

Thanks in advance for any advice,
Grant
 
I'm not sure about the specific apps, but I THINK FCP recognizes Mackie HUI protocol. There are many devices that will emulate HUI... serach "control surfaces" at Sweetwater, say. The control surface will be independent of the Traveler; it's just the software you have to worry about. They can be FW, USB, MIDI, or ethernet... likely bluetooth now, too, and wifi (there are, eg, iphone and ipad apps that act as control surfaces). Some recorders act as control surfaces (eg, Zoom R16 or R24 at the very bottom end... i wouldn't recommend!).

Now mixer and control surface are different things (though some devices combine the functions). What exactly do you want to do with this?
 
I want to use the Traveler for the audio interface while recording (preamps), but avoid using the Cuemix software or the physical knobs on the Traveler for mixing. An iPad app would be awesome, but a dedicated device would be fine also. Bus powered would be really good. If I could use the box for edit mixing, that would make my day.

Grant
 
Well, many of the control surfaces would work well in post for editing and mixing... but I'm still not sure what you'd hope to achieve in a recording situation. The control surface would not control the preamps of the Traveler(*)... and might be pretty unwieldy for mixing live (though certainly workable in some situations... but think of computer, interface, control surface, cabling, power... for that, an actual mixer would be a lot better. Think also about some of the new digital mixers that also act as control surfaces (e.g., A&H Zed R16). Unfortunately, the cheaper ones of these don't have automated faders as do dedicated control surfaces... this is very helpful in post, though not so much in production.

(*) CuerMix actually sorta opens up the possibility of an iApp or something controlling the gain on the Traveler... MOTU has a free iApp to control Digital Performer; not sure if it controls gains... but they may have something in the works, or something that works with CueMix might be out there... few preamps in a similar price range have digital control like the MOTUs do... so those are the best hope for remote gain control....
 
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Thanks Ullanta,

I was carousing utube last night for info on this and found the same video. Now I just need an interpreter...well a photo is worth a few bucks. Looks like they did it with a midi interface, so it can be done! I'd like to see if it can be done with a plain iPad - usb connection.

On another note, I have been looking at the whole control surface - ipad possibilities and using one for a control surface for Logic, FCP, Sound Track Pro, and Pro Tools, and others, seems like this is pretty well worked out, with some applications having better integration than others. I purchased a copy of AC-7 Core which seems to be well thought of. My original mission was to have control over my Traveler when recording, but now there seem to be much more available than I thought. If you haven't seen how this works take a look. This might not be as wonderful as a Mackie control surface or another high end dedicated box, but if you have an iPad and $10, it is sure worth a look for anyone editing sound.

Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qstiKDlU07E
 
I'm not totally certain (although I know it's a case with RME hardware), that the traveler can receive MIDI using the Mackie HUI protocol to use the internal mixer without a computer, so you can use any control surface which uses that.

Another alternative with tablets/phones etc is to run a VNC application to open a remote desktop and use the mixer screen in Logic/Cuemix etc
 
The traveler cannot be controlled by MIDI directly… controllers must interact with CueMix software on a computer, which in turn controls the traveler.
 
ullanta said:
The traveler cannot be controlled by MIDI directly… controllers must interact with CueMix software on a computer, which in turn controls the traveler.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected, I assumed MOTU would put that in as it can be controlled in standalone mode from the front panel
 
Yes, I had never thought of that before, but it would be a great feature for them to add... Maybe in the mk4?

Since all the Motu interfaces have CueMix, that would add a whole new life to much of their product line as portable digital mixers.
 
In the italian u-tube video it did show the ipad interfacing Cuemix via a midi interface. Clearly displayed the iPad controlling CueMix, WOOHOO. That was great news. I am going to try it wired direct via usb first, and if I can't make that fly, I'll try a via midi. Now the next question is, since the traveler has midi, what are the chances of using that port?

Grant
 
As far as I can tell, that's what they're using in the video, no? I'm remembering, not watching now… but I think they had a midi adapter for the iPad, connected by midi to the traveler.
 
Just FYI, of you want something tiny, have you looked at the Korg nanokontrol? http://www.korg.com/nanoseries2 ? It's USB, but tiny, and it seems like it could easily be configured to work with CueMix...
 
If I had looked around more, I would have found this; instructions for how to do it!

file:///Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/MOTU%20Control%20Surface/CueMixMackieSurfaces.bundle/Contents/MacOS/CueMix%20Mackie%20Setup.app/Contents/Resources/CueMixMackieSurfaceHelp.htm

Grant
 
Bringing this thread back to life, I was able to link my iPad as a control surface to Moto CueMix as a control surface. In my case, this gives me a control surface for my Traveller Mk3. Haven't recorded with it yet, but the connection, via the iPad app AC-7 Core and a midi interface was very easy once all the steps were figured out. The Apple and CueMix help left out essential steps, so that was a frustration. Once connected It seems to work fine controlling the mix faders. I'll report back when I get the chance to record something. This same arrangement will work with Logic, STPro, and probably most others. This is pretty great news for Traveller owners as well as anyone else needing a mobile or compact digital mixer solution.

Grant
 
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