Best Custom MIDI Control Surface Builder?

ZenMaster

@sigma79 said:
I guess loopy will be good when it gets midi and is cpu opitmised.

A side ipad for midi ( loopy knobs and sequencers ) to a loopy audio ipad would be good.

Oh yeah, it getting the MIDI loops in 2.0 will actually be very helpful in this use case.

The Push 3 also does have ADAT already. So I suppose that us at least 8 tracks of bi-directional communication. Maybe that'll be enough if I just utilize the iPad FX's as mostly master FX sort of stuff. And more detailed FX are just contained within Ableton/Push.

Could use something like this for travel too so I could leave the 18i20 in the studio: https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/mchstreamer-box

ZenMaster

Update:

I am getting a used Push 3 Controller. My plan is to use the Push 3 as my computers' audio interface, my 18i20 as my iPad's interface, and then patch the two together via ADAT. And then patch them together via MIDI as well.

This will give me bi-directional MIDI, as well as Audio.

iPad will be used mostly as a control surface, but will also use some iPad sequencers.

And then the audio connection will let me mess around with using the iPad for so master FX.

Layout wise I'm planning to eventually get a second iPad, and so in the center of the desk will be the Push 3, and flanking either side of it will be the iPad's.

Really excited for this setup and appreciate the input.

I'm going to start with LoopyPro as my control surface builder. But if it becomes constraining for whatever reason I will try out TouchOSC.

ultracello

@ZenMaster said:
But one question I have for you all since you have experience with touchscreen control surfaces, how do you find they they compare to physical controller like a LaunchControl XL sort of thing? Meaning, how's the accuracy of the knobs feel in comparison in your experience?

See here the post and also the comments: https://roadmap.loopypro.com/feature-requests/p/change-label-text-with-actions-special-symbols-for-text-layers-that-are-replaced

I think if this is added, of course an iPad still lacks of haptic feelings but you will be able to dial in parameters to your need very quickly. You would see at first sight Loopy Pro internal and AUv3 plugin changes (placed on top or very next to widgets).

Personally I'm still not sure if I would use then the iPad only or together with some good Intech Studio MIDI controllers for haptic feelings. But it looks like I would stick with Loopy Pro only, just using a MIDI foot controller but for hands just the iPad. But imho programming Intech Studio MIDI controllers is really not fun – at least rudimentary LUA skills are needed. And I think one can get used to it to perform life without haptic feelings. On the other hand I think about a setup which runs some Intech Studio MIDI controllers so not a single touch (once the LP project is loaded) is needed. Also without any MIDI controllers for your hands the setup is more portable. Has all its pro's and con's.

ultracello

Also configuring Loopy Pro pages and widgets is so more powerful than any hardware MIDI controller out there. Just think about (follow) actions switching to other pages with all that buttons and faders to your needs. Which hardware controller is so versatile? Never found any hardware MIDI controller layout which is perfect. Especially for total controllerism control-freakism.
(While writing down these lines I think I will only use Loopy Pro without any MIDI controllers for the hands.)

ZenMaster

@ultracello said:
See here the post and also the comments: https://roadmap.loopypro.com/feature-requests/p/change-label-text-with-actions-special-symbols-for-text-layers-that-are-replaced

Oh wow, yeah that seems incredible!

I think if this is added, of course an iPad still lacks of haptic feelings but you will be able to dial in parameters to your need very quickly. You would see at first sight Loopy Pro internal and AUv3 plugin changes (placed on top or very next to widgets).

Personally I'm still not sure if I would use then the iPad only or together with some good Intech Studio MIDI controllers for haptic feelings. But it looks like I would stick with Loopy Pro only, just using a MIDI foot controller but for hands just the iPad. But imho programming Intech Studio MIDI controllers is really not fun – at least rudimentary LUA skills are needed. And I think one can get used to it to perform life without haptic feelings. On the other hand I think about a setup which runs some Intech Studio MIDI controllers so not a single touch (once the LP project is loaded) is needed. Also without any MIDI controllers for your hands the setup is more portable. Has all its pro's and con's.

Yeah I think the sensible thing for me to do start out with is stick with the iPad + a Push 3, and just see far that gets me on its own. If i do not end up hankering for more haptic feedback, then clearly the flexibility of the iPad will really pay-off.

biggir

Have you found a midi control builder with many synth already implemented ?

ZenMaster

@biggir said:
Have you found a midi control builder with many synth already implemented ?

I have not, but this is not my particular goal. I'm ok customizing a mapping one time, and then saving that template for personal recall at any time in the future.

Phil999

just to mention, Lemur is now a one-time purchase. Midikinetics, the new owner, decided to abandon the subscription model for long time users. One can still rent Lemur for a month, or several months, but when one wants to own it, it is $100.

Besides, Lemur can run in the background.