Mackie Control Universal Pro

Mackie Control Universal Pro | Reviews
95
there’s no denying that the new look is
fantastic. The moulded, dark-grey
plastic with matching buttons has given
way to a sleek silvery grey metal with
clear buttons that illuminate. The jog
wheel is in a darker plastic and
beautifully weighted, and this (dare I
say it) more professional feel is
extended to the improved Penny + Giles
touch-sensitive, optical faders.
The result is a unit that looks like
something from a Soho post-production
suite, and whose sharper edges make
for a snug fi t when the extenders and
add-ons are present, giving the feel of a
large console.
A peek at the rear panel of the MCU
Pro reveals the biggest improvement of
all. The single set of MIDI connectors
has been replaced by a USB socket and
three sets of MIDI connectors. This
means you don’t have to have a
separate MIDI interface to use it any
more. You can plug it straight into your
computer and then use the MCU Pro
itself as a MIDI interface, for keyboards
or additional controllers.
The other major improvement to the
MCU package is the inclusion of
Tracktion, the simple but highly
effective DAW app recently acquired by
Mackie, which contains lite versions of
some of the fi nest plug-ins available
– Amplitube and Sampletank for
example. Now you get an entire
sequencing and hardware controller
package right out of the box.
In Use
As is often the case in the corporate
world, the new range has probably been
booted out the door a little early to meet
release schedules and there are a few
teething problems. The very fi rst C4 Pro
units had an inherent MIDI delay, which
prevented proper display unless
connected by a separate MIDI interface.
Mackie have recalled these and the
bug has now been fi xed on all
subsequent units. Also the USB MIDI
implementation isn’t quite right on the
bundled Tracktion software in the fi rst
run, preventing full USB-only operation
and resulting in some general
‘bugginess’. This will be fi xed in an
update though, and it all works perfectly
with Tracktion V3 (which will
automatically be offered to new users
regisetring Tracktion2.1 and can be
downloaded from the Mackie site).
Functionally the MCU Pro and C4
Pro work as well as they always have,
but the feature set varies depending on
the software you use. At the moment
the C4 Pro isn’t supported on as many
apps as the MCU Pro, most notably Pro
Tools. I’d like to see support for
GarageBand and Bias Peak added at
some point.
This is still a very new product
though, and has only recently (at the
time of writing) appeared on the Mackie
website. Only the Quick Start manuals
are available at the time of writing, and
news of updates will be coming thick
and fast over the coming weeks I
suspect. Ableton Live users may require
something more
specifi c for live
performance work,
but the Pro series
supports it, and
‘Lexan’ plastic
overlays are
available for Live
and the other big
apps.
Teething problems aside the MCU
Pro remains my fi rst choice for a
hardware controller, and by extension
the C4 too. They feel great (and now
they look great), and the USB interface
is a welcome addition.
Whether you can be weaned away
from a mouse is another thing. Some
users are so used to operating with a
mouse and keyboard that a change is
unthinkable. Also, there are some
functions you’ll always need the
keyboard and mouse for, so you’ll be
keeping them around anyway. If you’ve
never worked with faders, then
balancing up your sub masters
intuitively by hand is an entirely different
and superior way of doing things.
SPECS
MCU Pro
Supported Apps: Acid Pro 6,
Audition, Cubase, Digital
Performer, Final Cut Pro 5,
Logic, Live 5, Nuendo, Pro
Tools, Reason 3,
Samplitude, SAWStudio,
Sesquoia, Sonar,
Soundscape, Soundtrack
Pro, Tracktion, Vegas
Interfaces: USB, Three
MIDI In/Out
Additional Controls:
Weighted Jog/Shuttle wheel,
Channel Buttons, Record
ready, Solo and Mute –
all illuminated
Bundled Software: Mackie
Tracktion 2.1 sequencer
Dimensions:
429 x 419 x 120mm
Weight:
5.4kg
C4 Pro
£869
Supported Apps: Logic,
Reason 3, Sonar, Tracktion
(Check for updates)
Interface: One MIDI In/Out
Bundled Software: Mackie
Tracktion 2.1 sequencer, C4
Commander Pro MIDI editor
Dimensions:
429 x 254 x 120mm
Weight:
4.9kg
ALTERNATIVES
JazzMutant Dexter
£1,800
The uber-futuristic multi-
touchscreen controller
currently supports Logic Pro
7.2, Cubase 4, Nuendo 3
and Sonar 5. Pro Tools and
more is assured down the
line. It’s very expensive but
brings touchscreen control
like large format digital
consoles.
jazzmutant.com
Behringer BCF 2000
£172
This set of eight 100mm
motorised faders, not only
works a treat but is an
absolute bargain. Plus, it
now comes in a wonderfully
Mac-a-litious white fi nish
for those superfi cially
stylish studio types.
behringer.com
Balancing up your sub masters
intuitively by hand is a entirely
superior way of doing things
VERDICT
BUILD
VALUE
EASE OF USE
VERSATILITY
RESULTS
A sophisticated new look with new
USB, expanded MIDI, and full
sequencer thrown in.
FMU194.rev_mackie 95 9/10/07 14:41:51