The latest loopop video takes a look at the Faderfox EC4, a MIDI controller that’s designed to work with hardware instruments, DAWs and software instruments.
A unique feature of the Faderfox is that it lets you create a dynamic label for each knob, so it combines the flexibility of programmable controllers with the ease of use of having every control labeled.
The video takes a look at the EC4’s pros and cons, explores how to use it and looks at some alternatives.
If you’ve used the EC4, leave a comment and share your thoughts on it!
Topics covered:
0:00 Intro
1:55 Alternatives
2:35 Overview
4:10 Ableton Live
6:05 Hardware control
8:20 Display modes
9:00 Programming
9:35 Edit mode
12:25 Name mode
13:00 MIDI learn
13:20 Setup mode
15:00 Browser editor
16:20 Monitor
16:35 Pros & cons
A Behringer BCR2000 or Novation Zero SL MkII have similar features, but perhaps with more elegance in some areas and less in others.
The small footprint is pretty nice. Also nice that they included MIDI i/o even though it requires DIN adapters.
I’ve never heard of TRS A vs TRS B. Can someone explain what that is? Is that just reversing the connections of T and R?
Tragically, the BCR2000 is discontinued. I think it had twice as many knobs at half the price of this one, although it was looking a bit outdated by now, and this faderfox box looks very nice.
Behringer, in the name of the midi controller gods, please pause synth-cloning for a sec and give us a successor to the BCR2000!!! Digital labels for each knob, a pc/mac editor for easy customizing, and update the blah design for the 2020s.
Please Uli please!
To answer your question re: TRS A vs. TRS B MIDI adapter:
Yes, the wiring is different. Arturia and Novation products use Type B wiring. Akai, Korg, Line 6, IK Multimedia and Make Noise use Type A wiring.
An official standard from the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) has been decided: TRS Type A wiring.
Same old same old…….. next
eh but this is a quality good, a well built flexible instrument.
faderfox is the real deal. no need to be dismissive.
I really wish I had time/knowledge to build my own quality midi controller. Because the things I see missing in a controller are, recordable encoders so you can record the movements of the knobs/faders and onboard edits to reverse/speed up-down the recorded automation & sync.. then..
Snapshot recording: save all current knob/fader states in a snapshot and recall via push button. Similar to Elecktron boxes where you can tweak all parameters & then snap it back to original settings with a push of a button.
If anyone knows of a midi controller that does any of the above, please let me know!!
Even if you couldn’t specifically record controls, having the ability to use a switch to trigger: a ramp (with curve), an ADSR (with curves), an LFO, with detailed control of duration/rate, range/depth, start/end value, etc. would be really useful — especially given the absence of external controls.
Another thing I’d like to see is a mode of control where you engage a switch and the value begins to ramp (up or down), and when you release the switch the value stays at whatever value it reached during the ramp. With this, you could ramp up/down to some value and even use two switches to nudge up or down. Of course, this would be very useful for foot switches so you can set values without needing the same precision of a foot pedal.
I wonder if this kind of functionality could be engineered using a combination of a hardware MIDI control box and an app like MIDI Designer and/or MIDIFire.
everything the two of you suggest can be done in max or pd.
from my perspective, doesn’t make sense to host this logic on the controller.
If you want a simple setup without a host DAW, (i.e., just a controller keybaord, a knob controller and a sound module or a workstation) then it makes more sense.
Lemur in the iPad can do this in various ways.
on the iPad :D. it can do a lot more than any hardware midi controller and the very nice feature of Faderfox controllers is that they all have midi merge. So, you can chain them with each other or other controllers. So Lemur for complex midi control and a Faderfox for more tactile control.
Electra one is the midi controller you look @ it.
Finally encoders on a FaderFox…maybe a bit pricey, yes. But there’s a good chance it is built better than a BCR which is (or was) lightweight empty plastic. And by the way, Behringer might get back into controllers at any moment…
It’s true, the faderfox looks much more solid than the BCR/BCF-2000’s are. Behringers did a good job of getting good features into a cheaper box. Some might want to pay more for a more solid option. This is both solid and small. But no external ins.
Also, the BCR is a full fledged USB MIDI interface (perhaps this is also?)
ElectraOne is a much better alternative
https://electra.one/
Hadn’t heard of electra.one Looks great. Especially for those who prefer high-precision pots to encoders. Hopefully it’ll do more than 7-bit bog-standard resolution.
This is not even remotely a unique feature
€299,- that is the price for this thing. Two Novation Launch control XL, with 150% knobs each. Seems overpriced to me. Yes, it is compact, yes it can do nrpn, yes you can edit on the device itself, yes it has midi. Still too expensive.
Novation Launch Control is, unfortunately, not something to program hardware synths with. It is a shame they didn’t add midi out but I guess hitting a good price for Live users was their priority. People programming hardware MIDI synths are now a minority, I guess, and so the economies of scale are no longer there.
this thing is amazing…and i love Faderfox
I can’t stress how good the quality is and the support…it’s perfect professional musicians…I have like 30 midi controller boxes from all manufacturers…and the Faderfox stuff always makes me smile to use.
j
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