Review: Euphonix MC Control

Nov 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Nick Peck

IMPROVE YOUR WORK FLOW WITH SPEED AND STYLE

BONUS MATERIAL
Using the Euphonix MC Control With Other Programs
Download the Spec Sheet as a PDF

Soft Highlights

The MC Control has three views — Tracks, SoftKeys, and Setup — which you select using three virtual buttons near the bottom of the display (see Fig. 2). Tracks view displays up to 32 tracks simultaneously as icons. You can set record, mute, or solo status for each track directly within the Tracks view window, or you can select them to assign them to a fader for further attention.

SoftKeys view displays as many as 24 virtual buttons in the middle of the screen. You can have an unlimited number of soft-key banks organized any way you like. Setup view allows you to regulate the control room and monitor levels in Nuendo or Cubase and lets you control mixer levels in products that use Maestro. In addition, an included application called Studio Monitor Express provides complete control room and monitoring functionality to any Core Audio app (such as Logic Pro) that lacks such capabilities.

EuControl's soft-key editor is the MC Control's coolest aspect (see Fig. 3, below). This feature allows you to edit, create, and configure touch-screen and surface soft-key buttons for any app. You can assign one or more EuCon, HUI, Mackie Control, or navigation commands to each soft key. You can also assign your choice of icons, colors, and fonts to each soft key. You can even use soft keys to change the data wheel's function, and they work with any application.

Plug-in Control

The eight data-control knobs give you hands-on, real-time editing of plug-in parameters. In Logic Pro, for example, you select a plug-in for editing by selecting a track and then pressing the insert's data-control knob. All plug-ins assigned to that track then appear on the knobs, and pressing the appropriate knob opens the plug-in window onscreen and maps the first bank of parameters to the knobs.

The selected parameter's name, value, and knob position are displayed next to each knob. Any changes are reflected in real time within the DAW's plug-in window. The Page Forward and Page Back buttons scroll between banks of parameters, and the Back button moves you back up the hierarchy to the plug-in selection view again. Once I got used to the system, I found it to be comprehensive and pretty easy to use.

Considering the MC Control's flexible approach to programmability, I would love to be able to custom-map plug-in parameters to the data-control knobs. That would allow me to access my eight favorite parameters at the same time.

Sound and Vision

The MC Control is a visionary product. Though it took me a while to find my sea legs, once I delved into what it was capable of, I really liked it. If Logic Pro were my primary DAW, the MC Control with a pair of MC Mix fader packs would be my control surface of choice. Its minimalist, Star Trek-inspired design has an undeniable wow factor, and its programmability and feature set are powerful. That said, I would still prefer a different type of data wheel and a larger LCD touch screen, but those are quibbles. If you like to tinker with your work flow, and especially if your primary DAW is a EuCon-aware application, then MC Control is a heavyweight contender.

Nick Peck is a composer, Hammond organist, audio engineer, and sound designer in the San Francisco Bay Area. His latest CD, Fire Trucks I Have Known, is available through CD Baby.

PRODUCT SUMMARY

 

GUIDE TO EM METERS

5 Amazing; as good as it gets with current technology

4 Clearly above average; very desirable

3 Good; meets expectations

2 Somewhat disappointing but usable

1 Unacceptably flawed