Mackie Control Universal 8-Channel Master Controller

Control most popular audio sequencing software. Automated optical-touch faders. Backlit LCD.

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Mackie Control Universal Pro 8-Channel Master Controller with USB

    • New $1,299.95
    • List: $1,689.99
      • SAVE: 23%
  • Installment Plan:4 payments of $324.98
    • free ground shipping
    • In stock
    • 32 people rate: 8 out of 10

Simply put, Mackie Control Pro Series controllers give your music production software what it needs to feel complete. Learn More...

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Mackie Control Universal 8-Channel Master Controller reviews

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74 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

 

3 People wrote reviews

Read all Mackie Control Universal 8-Channel Master Controller reviews...
* * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10 zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

"Great basic mixing....mouse bad, this good!"

Feature:
Its a basic piece of equipment, upgradeable, lots of buttons though i find many do go unused. Flying faders are nice but are extremely light like a feather, could use some beefing up. Pan pots are probabaly the weakest feature, but still work a million times better than using a mouse (ugh!). The best feature is that it senses when you touch the fader (i.e. not just move it) and starts recording when it senses your electrostatic body ground (or something like that). I can go back and see where my brain went for the touch and direct edit in logic in case my fade was a little weak. I guess it compensates for the "too light" feel of the faders that make a good fade difficult.

Quality:
Seems very well made despite being very light, surface never seems to get dinged or scratched. Design overall is excellent and well thought out.

Value:
I don't know how i could ever go back to using the mouse. The control unit value is excellent, but the extenders (beyond 8 channels) are where they sock it to you. They figure they got you hooked with the main unit and if you want extenders (and you will...) its basically almost as much as the core unit. Kind of like Kodak selling cameras at cost and when you're committed they whack you on the film. Wait, aren't inkjet printers like that too?

Desirability:
It looks good in the studio and will sell clients (that is, if you need to in a preproduction studio), or at least give artists you're working with some confidence in that it looks like a pro type of unit. The lower priced Tascam doens't give that impression.

Sound:
A must have for medium budget preproduction studio. You gotta close your eyes and feel the mix even if its just a reference.

Support:
I haven't needed support with this but my 1642 VLZ-Pro i use for an output monitor needed repair and they were phenominal.

Overall:
I'll use this one at least for another 3 years. I like the "bare bones aspect", I don't want integrated AD/DA or mic preamps, just something to get away from the mouse. Unless they can offer branded apogee a/d converters and neve pres i would rather buy those on my own. I think that Mackie sold themselves short when pricing the extenders, so many people will not be able to afford 24+ busses. Too bad for them, because when the competition comes up with a bigger (not necessarily better) thing (thus enters tascam), users with the 8 bus console will have fairly low investment and thus low switching costs. Yeah the faders are light and the pan pots somewhat weak, but despite that its still a great unit. I'll just be watching when the competition comes out with a comparable offering that has better priced extenders.

Submitted: 10/11/2004

Style of Music: R&B

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* * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10 zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

"Great features and easy to use. Just a little pricey though."

Feature:
A joy to be rid of the mouse and keyboard when using Cubase SX

Quality:
Great faders. sturdy buttons. only twiddly bit was the pots.

Value:
pricey but worth it.

Desirability:
excellent cause of the fact that you can expand this baby and it'll alway be up to date with the latest sequencer software.

Overall:
Brilliant addition to anyones home studio setup. The ability to add additional units is great too. As your studio grows in complexity, so your mackie controller does too. Going the computer route?? you need one of these!

Submitted: 8/21/2004

Style of Music: House & Dance.

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Mackie Control Universal 8-Channel Master Controller
Ever wish you could control Logic Audio, Pro Tools, Cubase, Digital Performer, SONAR and other major audio software, all from a single, hands-on control surface with real knobs and automated faders? With Mackie Control Universal, you can.

Mackie Control Universal is much more than a way to balance levels. It gives you realtime control over your music in ways your keyboard and mouse never will. With 100mm Penny+ Giles optical touch faders, a full sized backlit LCD, V-Pots for fast tweaking of effects and plug-ins, a full implementation of Logic Control, and shortcut navigation and editing for all major software including Pro Tools, this is the first and last desktop controller you will ever need.

At just one-third of the cost of other professional systems, with expandability via optional Control Extenders, Mackie Control Universal gives you the perfect hands-on surface to make music faster--no matter what software you use.

Features

New full implementation of Emagic Logic Control

Digidesign Pro Tools control via HUI

100mm Penny + Giles Motorized Touchfaders

Multi-function V-Pots for fast control of panning and effects

Comprehensive Automation controls

Full Meter Display with track names and parameters

7-segment Timecode display

Software-specific Lexan overlays

Expandable via optional Mackie Control Extenders and C4 module
"Universal" because there's almost no audio or video application it won't control! Nine touch-sensitive, motorized, 100mm faders and 8 rotary encoders for hands-on mix control. Transport buttons, a shuttle wheel, and shortcut keys for editing and other software operations. Backlit LCD display with track names, metering, parameters, and time code display. Connects via MIDI. Supports Logic, Pro Tools, Final Cut Pro, and more.

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