Isn’t the AI function just a mouse scroll wheel? i.e. like what devices such as the nobcontrol offer?
Personally i was really disappointed in this new SSL controller, the hardware looks great - but it seems as though you have to install some middle-man software, such as how the Eucon operates - i.e. creates a virtual driver. But the end result it’s still only using standard MCU protocol.
So you’re getting nice big displays…But like so many, limited to 8 chars.
I was hoping they had their own protocol in place when i saw the large screens, i must admit. I really hope MIDI 2.0 sorts this controller issue out - but it seems just too open-ended at the moment.
Mackie/MCU is super long in the tooth yet still remains the only widely adapted standard, but it has the character limit, won’t auto bank based on your position in Cubase - And if you own multiple Mackie ‘powered’ devices Cubase wants to spread the controls across them, and there’s no way of duplicating across all.
Of course, Avid have Eucon too tightly wrapped which is the only other viable/established alternative.
Me personally, i run an old-school original Mackie/MCU - bulletproof and has been with me for many years. On my laptop i run either a Maschine Mk2 with MCU mode, or a Komplete Kontrol S49 Mk2 which i have created a custom MCU map via an on-screen MCU emulator.
In fact unlike most people, I use Mackie for plugin and instrument control more than i do for it’s faders/mixing - i would love an MCU controller, with screen, only with rotaries with the option to flip them to emulate faders. The Platform Nano (Plus it’s D3 screen) would be great but it’s only got 4 rotaries.
So many people don’t appreciate how deep MCU control is, and such all devices default to basic fader/pan controls as a priority.