Icon Platform M

T
he Platform M+ is an
updated version of
Icon’s universal DAW
controller, and offers a
simpler and more
affordable controller
solution than their
fl agship QCon Pro X. At 20cm from
front to back and just 4.5cm high,
the M+ is pretty slimline, which is
good news as you can add up to three
further 8-fader extenders (Platform
X+) and LCD displays (Platform D) for
a 32 channel plus 1 master fader rig.
The build quality is excellent and,
although small, it is pretty weighty.
Interfacing with your computer is via
USB 2.0, with further proprietary
connectors on the back for the
Platform X+ and D expansions. Power
is via an external PSU. Platform M+
supports Mackie Control and Mackie
HUI protocols for use with a range of
DAWs. It also incorporates presets for
specifi c DAWs, which you select at
power up, and there’s one user-
defi nable preset. The manual
includes instructions for the required
DAW side settings, and I found set-up
with the DAWs I tried (Logic X and
Studio One) very straightforward.
The M+’s feature set is pretty
simple and functionality is universal
across DAWs. Each of the eight
channels includes a touch-sensitive
100mm motorised fader for channel
level, a push button rotary encoder for
panning, and four backlit push
DAW mixer, but in some cases it
takes on a different function.
Finally, Icon produce a support
app called iMap, currently available
for Windows, with an OS X version to
follow. This assists with fi rmware
updates and controller assignments
for the user-defi nable preset.
Overall the Platform M+
performed very well and, although the
feature set is pretty simple, you have
to factor in the reasonable price.
buttons. The buttons are for channel
select, mute, solo and record enable,
and are coloured red, blue, green and
red. There’s also a touch-sensitive
100mm master fader, although this
has no further associated buttons.
Channels can be selected using the
channel select button or will pick up
automatically from the fader, and for
the latter there’s a red activation LED
next to the channel number.
On the right-hand side there are a
number of backlit buttons handling
bank and channel navigation, mixer
window selection, DAW transport and
automation modes. At the bottom
there’s a push button jog wheel that
also combines with the dedicated
horizontal and vertical zoom selectors
for wheel-based zooming. Finally a
lock button stores the fader position.
Platform M+ focuses on key
universal functions, so there’s no
attempt to tackle more complex tasks
such as plugin editing. I did fi nd
some differences between DAWs
though, and one good example is the
mixer button. This normally opens the
THE PROS & CONS
+
Compact, slick and
robust design
Standardised core
feature applicable to
many DAWs
Integrated
mapping presets
for many DAWs
Jog wheel-based
transport and zoom
Sensible price
-
Feature set
quite limited
FM VERDICT
8.8
A compact and robust
DAW controller that works
on its own or alongside
further Platform fader
expanders. Basic but reliable
T
he Platform M+ is an
updated version of
Icon’s universal DAW
THE PROS & CONS
+
Compact, slick and
robust design
Standardised core
feature applicable to
many DAWs
Integrated
mapping presets
for many DAWs
Jog wheel-based
transport and zoom
Sensible price
-
Feature set
quite limited
The build quality is excellent
and, although small, the
unit is pretty weighty
Icon Platform M+ | Reviews
103
FMU326.rev_icon.indd 103 11/29/17 3:26 PM