Wanted small midi controller

[brettbrandon]

I spent quite a bit of time looking for the same thing. Wasn't able to find much. This is one I was looking at before going with the Korg. It may work for you but I haven't tried it myself. I'm not sure if it would need a translator.

http://global.novationmusic.com/midi...ollers/nocturn

EDIT: Just came across some I haven't seen before...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...r_Control.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ontroller.html

Brett

[RandyHyde]

I spent quite a bit of time looking for the same thing. Wasn't able to find much. This is one I was looking at before going with the Korg. It may work for you but I haven't tried it myself. I'm not sure if it would need a translator.

http://global.novationmusic.com/midi...ollers/nocturn

EDIT: Just came across some I haven't seen before...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...r_Control.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ontroller.html

Brett

If you look hard enough, you can still find some Mackie C4 units on eBay and the like. I picked up one new in the box for around $400-$600.

32 vpots (rotary encoders) with scribble strips.
I've actually got it working with the Wide mixer view in SAC (and it works pretty well) though it uses the Mackie template so you only get one control surface on the machine with the C4.
Cheers,
Randy Hyde

[RBIngraham]

30 mm faders would be pretty worthless I would think. Those are even smaller than the Korg Nano are they not?

[brettbrandon]

30 mm faders would be pretty worthless I would think. Those are even smaller than the Korg Nano are they not?

Actually, the Nano is 30mm as well...

Brett

[RBIngraham]

Actually, the Nano is 30mm as well...

Brett

Oh well I'll sit corrected then.

Is that actually usable for live mix? Obviously you're using it so I guess so. I think I would probably program it to limit the MIDI data values it will send out (high and low values) so I could have a bit more precision over than short of a throw.

I have never used my Nanos for live stuff other than the occasional button to activate something. Mostly I just used the faders to rough mix things in a DAW and then I will finesse in the DAW itself.

[brettbrandon]

I think I would probably program it to limit the MIDI data values it will send out (high and low values) so I could have a bit more precision over than short of a throw.

I do have the upper limit brought down a little. The highest I can push a fader with it is +6 dB.

Brett

[Cary B. Cornett]

I understand what you're saying and that is what I meant by absolute values vs. relative values. I just don't think these semantics are universal between manufacturers in anyway. At least not to my knowledge anyway. Some might call what you say is a rotary encoder a pot or vice versa.

And those that do would be wrong. Although both have knobs, and both rotate, beyond that they are two completely different things. You cannot simply replace one with the other. I suppose you could bust the stop on a pot, but that would not make it a rotary encoder.

[Butch Bos]

I just ordered a Novation Nocturn
It has 9 rotary encoders with led ring and buttons and is (hopefully) programmable only $69 from BH
Thanks all for the suggestions
I will let you know if it works

Butch

[RBIngraham]

And those that do would be wrong. Although both have knobs, and both rotate, beyond that they are two completely different things. You cannot simply replace one with the other. I suppose you could bust the stop on a pot, but that would not make it a rotary encoder.

So is there some organization out there that has made this some kind of official designation? I'm actually seriously asking here, because I know of no such organization or specifications. Just because several manufacturers might call a pot something that has end points and a rotary encoder does not doesn't mean that is a term that actually has some official designation. That was my point. If there is some official organization that has created a standard nomenclature on this please let me know.

For example, I just looked at the Mackie web site for their MCU surfaces, they call their knobs V-Pots and in a quick scan of their spiel on the main page for these devices no where did I see the word rotary encoder mentioned.

So I don't think there is any sort of standardized lingo. My point here is that as an end user you need to read the details and make sure you know what you are buying. Just because something says it has a "pot" doesn't mean it has end points on the knob and just because something says it has a "rotary encoder" doesn't mean it's going to be free spinning. Or at least that's the way I see it and I will continue to not make assumptions based on what a manufacturer puts on their web site.

[cgrafx]

From an engineering standpoint

A "Potentiometer" or "POT" is an analog variable resistance device.

It may have partial, single or multiple turns but is never a continuous device. They travel from least resistance to most resistance and that is the end of travel in either direction.

A "Rotary Encoder", also called a shaft encoder, is an electro-mechanical device that converts the angular position or motion of a shaft or axle to an analog or digital code.

A rotary encoder may or may not have endpoint stops, but unlike a "POT" there is nothing in the mechanical design that prevents it from free running.