Squeaky wheel gets the oil 
Thank you for this information. No SSL for me, then. It would still be good to know your system. Here, on a Mac M2 Ultra, on a 4k screen, Softube’s interface is perfect. However, I don’t like their new console-less software interface (with duplicate EQs and compressors). I do, however, love Softube’s sound. What stops me is that Softube ignores the immersive (otherwise multimono in PT).
p.s. That said, the less controller the better here. The keyboard, with 3 screens, is perfect.
I own the UC1 and use it mainly for music. I had the UF8 in the studio at the time but sent it back because it didn’t have track follow and was of poor quality.
What I miss about the UC1:
- DeEsser
- more flexible EQ and Comp.
I don’t really use SSL Link. I’m going to switch to the Console 1 + Fader. At first I wanted the Avid Dock and S1, but with Softube I’m open to all DAWs.
I use the Stream Deck for the control room and automation.
Now all that’s missing is a jog wheel.
Pretty much my conclusion, too, although the most recent addition of a small Loupedeck S makes a difference. 
I cannot use a mouse or trackball anymore after decades of use. They make my wrist hurt too much. I use a tablet now; it is better but still fatiguing. Using a mixer or other hardware controller lets me use both hands, and requires more variety of hand and arm movement, so I am less sore and fatigued even after many hours of work. Also, using a controller means I look at the screen less, and listen more. This is my preferred way to work.
We are on a Windows 11 workstation. We have lots of apps and plugins here, and there are only two vendors whose software has poor GUI: Softube and iZotope. Both know about it.
Actually, one more: Nuendo. The Nuendo GUI has a really ugly white bar at the top of windows. We run the whole system in dark mode, and Nuendo’s glaring white menu bar looks ridiculous.
These are good points. For my part, what I don’t like very much, apart from anything that doesn’t work in a controller and any intermittent problems or problems linked to daw or OS updates (my keyboard and mouse work in any case), is that on a 700-track project, like the one I have under my nose, I’m always wandering around. I’m also wandering around on screen, it’s true, but I can search for a track or use the options in Nuendo’s Mixconsol. I find my way around better and faster. One more tool is often one too many. The only thing I’d accept, but can’t afford, is an Avid S6 or the equivalent from SSL or Neve. Now it’s starting to be worth it. But I’m not even sure. What I’d like is a fairly large screen, like a 4k, but not very high, 4 or 5 inches, so that I can have a series of faders right in front of me, between my keyboard and my central screen. The equivalent of a controller, but on screen. I’ve looked for this type of screen, but never found it.
I think version 14 will have a full-screen option.
Seems to me the hardware manufacturers have not caught up to how we are actually working these days.
Most people are right-handed, so they hold their mouse upright. I don’t understand why manufacturers put the transport wheel on the right. Just for that, I can’t work with this type of controller. But that’s personal.
Agreed, I use my tablet with my right hand and transport control and jog wheel on the left.
The bottom section of the UF1 makes Nuendo a breeze to use. We configured the Secondary Transport buttons (above the Primary ones) to be our most used edit commands (Selection, Range, Cut, etc) and color coded them. It makes editing quite enjoyable and fast.
If SSL would adopt the Nuendo API, it would be a great controller. Build quality alone is top notch. As it is now, we only use a few of its functions. Our compromise on the fader and screen is to use an SSL channel strip only on the most important tracks.
That can’t be Steinberg’s fault.
Yes, it can be. I am sure it is. It is most likely Steinberg’s method on how they implement MCU in Cubase/Nuendo. If Logic and Reaper can provide a flawless follow selected track feature, why can’t Steinberg?
This is what SSL states on their website.
Cubase, Nuendo, Ableton Live, Studio One, Pyramix
The MCU implementation of these developers means that it is not possible to follow the selected track via MCU. However, SSL 360 v1.6 brings enhanced DAW control (faders, pans, sends, colours, solos, mutes, selected track) to these DAWs via the Plug-in Mixer Layer, where it is possible to follow the selected track.
It’s the same with all the controllers that use MCU for Cubase/Nuendo. And honestly… it feels like Steinberg’s DAW controller implementation is still from the 1990s.
I suppose that Presonus’ Faderport Classic unintentionally ignores the official MCU standard in some ways and that they built it in respect of their own Studio One software which may have MCU similarities with Cubase/Nuendo as Wolfgang Kundrus and Matthias Juwan were former Steinberg developers.
I’m sure Steinberg could solve this problem by changing the way their software interacts with hardware and the MCU protocol. It’s almost 2025 and things like this should not cause any user headaches anymore. But it still does. Veeeeery annoying.
I do music production and mixing with the UC1/UF1 as my main controllers. I really enjoy that setup, even there’s some limitation of course. I learned to enjoy the SSL workflow and I reproduce a virtual SSL console, the best setup with these controllers in my opinion.
Lot of similarities and same limitations as working on a studio console. Mixing on a console has a lot of limitations and that’s its beauty. Mixing on a console isn’t always fast, and it take some times for routing stuff etc…
Same with that virtual SSL. I love it
Hi guys,
desperately need your help, please !
I’m not new to MIDI controlling Cubase, atm I’m using a beautiful team of Console 1 Channel III, 2x BCR2000 via GR, Frontier Tranzport and a Faderport Classic - 100% reliable and tightly integrated, including track follow.
Recently added an SSL UF1, as HQ replacement for my ancient Faderport which is ready for retirement.
While the UF1 hardware is a stunning piece of engineering (and the reason I will keep it), the SSL software concept (MCU + 360°) is a total mess, not suited to a single channel controller by any means, imho.
Massive thanks to @bjoluc for his wonderful script, which goes a long way towards making the UF1 mentally sane - almost. Please allow me a handful of questions that still drive my nuts right now …
- the biggest gotcha - how can I set up the pan to be hardwired to “pan and nothing else”, and the 4 V-Pots to do “track quick controls 1-4 (5-8) and nothing else”, ever ?
atm both seem to be interactive in several maddening ways - the last thing I need from a single channel controller is to mess up settings on random other channels !
I’m aware this is a byproduct of MCU, a really unfortunate one, but is there no way around it ? - I found two buttons I cannot map without killing track selection & -follow (Sel & Flip), which I would rather use for Monitor & Listen of the selected channel. Any solution ?
- are there any other buttons I should NOT assign, as I would lose essential (MCU) functions ? Ideally, I would rather forget about MCU, banks, pages & stuff entirely …
Give me “simple” any day, real hardware typically has a single function per knob / switch - works for me !
I want to use my controllers blind, keeping the eyes on the big screens - I never understood the attraction of menu diving on tiny hardware displays - granted, the UF1 displays are superb, but still … - it seems V-Pot assignments often get lost as soon as I move to a channel in a different MCU bank, but not always / all - what’s up with that ?
- I still fail to understand how SSL 360 (the required driver, I don’t use the (optional) 360° Plugin Mixer) affects settings of some buttons, which I can also map via @bjoluc’s fine script ? Which mapping method should I use for these ? Kinda confusing …
that’s it for now, any help highly appreciated !
to give back a little something at least - if Cubase fails to load the script automatically, open it up with Notepad++ and change the MIDI ports from “SSL V-MIDI Port 1 Source” to “SSL V-MIDI Port 1”, and “SSL V-MIDI Port 1 Destination” to “SSL V-MIDI Port 1” as well, which is exactly as they appear in Cubase.
Credits to @bigmalh64, who posted a similar fix for his qcon lite !
again, major thanks to @bjoluc - you rock ! Best of luck for your exams - I perfectly understand this is your #1 priority right now, but maybe somebody else might have some helpful ideas too, in the meantime ?
cheers,
Disharmoniker
BERHINGER XTOUCH ONE
Dear All - I have just bought the above unit and can’t get it to work with VSTL. I could assign a small number of buttons from VSTL to Xtouch (using VSTL’s Actions & Shortcuts option), but some button and fader assignments are quite tricky. Anybody with experience in this area to assist!!!??
Respectfully, I wouldn’t sleep on the SSL Matrix 2 (and perhaps, just as a DAW controller), the SSL Nucleus. I have the Matrix and it is PERFECT with Cubase Pro 14. I can control virtually everything from the Matrix without touching the mouse. It works quite well with Pro Tools too. If you’re ITB primarily, the Matrix may be overkill because it is also a 16 x 8 x 2 analog mixer, monitor controller, HW floating insert matrix AND DAW controller in one package and the Nucleus 2 may be a better and less expensive option. My understanding, however, is that the Nucleus 2 is basically the DAW controller part of the Matrix. You can get a Nucleus 2 on Reverb for about $1,800-$2,000. If I were ITB only, I’d jump on the Nucleus 2 in a heartbeat.
I can’t tell from your profile what OS you’re on but if you’re on Windows there is a MIDI issue with the latest release. Here is a link to the thread at Microsoft.
Hi John
Thanks for your response. I am on V23H2?? (on an old Lenovo i7 laptop (2018) and I am on (I believe) 24H2?? on a newer Lenovo PC. My current problem is programming Fader controls to align with volume channels on VST Live. If you could havea manual (document) or ready-made template file (even if it means selling it), please assist.
Best Regards
Teboho Mpheteng
+266 58152685
I’m wondering if some of you using the UF1 also get this issue that the UF1 is going disconnected from Cubase Pro 15 after some time showing a blacked out UI in the MIDI Remote section and not coming back again when using the bjoluc script. There’s no other way than quitting Cubase entirely and restart it so that the UF1 comes back online. I also have the iCON P1-NANO and there is no such problem with it. The UF1 still shows up as online in SSL 360 so I strongly assume it must be a problem with Cubase losing contact.
I assume it has something to do how the UF1 is working by using the multicast protocol. I don’t think other controllers work that way, but I am not sure about that.