I’m looking to have simultaneous access to main track controls in T1-T4 of the A4mkII.
I’d like access to;
Vol
Pan
Filter Freq
Resonance
Dly Send
Rev Send
I know I could probably build this out in the Perfomance section, but I think having it dedicated would be best for me.
I feel it’s pointing me to the FaderFox units… but which one would be best?
I’m looking at the PC12 as an option that I could also swap ‘setups’ to use on the AR and OT.
Is anyone else doing this? Controlling the A4 tracks externally?
Sliders for volume (personal preference) Can be used for the 6 parameters you require.
+Great feeling knobs and DJ style fadercaps.
-Encoder caps have a tendency to fall off, better glue them.
Fairly cheap im comparison to faderfox
-Not exactly compact. Bit heavy to carry around. Wish they made this with just a fader section and more compact.
You can program the pads to do program changes. I have mine setup so you can use the 16 pads to change to patterns 1-16. 8 presets are used to switch between banks A-H.
+Pads have good options built in for midi command programming. can be used for more than just (drum)notes, but you get that option.
+You have 6 knobs on the right with a great sturdy built but smooth action.
I appreciate there’s enough room for custom labeling for the faders and knobs. Instrument/midi makers should pay more attention to this.
-No room for labeling the pads. Labeling rubber pads not really possible.
Special tip: You can set a fader to control aftertouch. Aftertouch can act like a performance macro in that it controls multiple parameters. But the macro doesnt have to be set in a performance page/kit , so its like having an extra morph option for (every) sound in your kit, that never resets (across pattern/kit changes) unless you move it.
Not trying to discourage a faderfox to be clear, never tried one and they seem appealing. Wish there was a cheaper middleground, like a simple faderbox with dj style fadercaps.
I think I might have figured out a ‘thinking outside the box’ solution that’s right under my nose…
I have a BeatStep Pro.
If I use the ‘Control Mode’ section of that I can set up the rotary’s and buttons, and pads, to all work across the 4 midi channels I need for the A4. Boom.
So it gives me 4 rotary knobs per channel, so I’ll have to make allowances… but, I get a bunch of pads I can use too.
Another bonus, I can have each unit I want to control (AR, A4, OT, etc) set up as dedicated Projects in the BeatStep Pro that I can pre-map.
That looks like a good solution for problems that aren’t mine… the main issue I come across with the A4’s controls as they are is that it doesn’t let you (easily, quickly) adjust 2+ pan positions, 2+ filter freqs… and I do a lot of this on the fly (spreading 2 tracks left and right, or lowering one filter freq while raising another, transitions, etc).
You’re right; the MPD does not allow you to assign multiple parameters simultaneous across multiple midi channels, under a single knob or fader. It needs to adress an A4 performance macro or Aftertouch sound config already set up in A4 to do that.
I will argue from personal experience that a DJ Style fader is pleasant to morph macros quickly, as opposed to doing it with a knob on A4 (or beatstep). That’s something you might agree on and want to consider when looking for a controller that suits your needs. A Faderfox MX12 with those caps could be great but I have no experience using that. I’m not clear if it will allow the use of a single fader/knob to adress multiple midi values (over multiple channels).
Your question is interesting and got me thinking how i could set it up myself, to work around the limitation of the 1 value p/knob of my MPD. To set up something like you want, using my Midi Solutions Event Proccessor. MIDI Solutions Event Processor Plus; 32 Event MIDI Event Processor
I havent tested it but i suppose you could program the Event Processor to generate multiple CC values from a single knob, from any controller hooked up to it. The included image shows how i would try to set up the controller to generate such a midi macro from its IN port to OUT. I have not tested it yet.
