"Best bang for your buck" option for MIDI controller?

[Eric L]

I want to try to find a used MIDI controller and have a few friends in the audio industry that I can ask to look around for me, but I'd like to know if there's a particular model that isn't necessarily the most expensive or the most flashy, but is the most flexible at it's price point.

This looks like such a fantastic idea and looks like it would be so handy!  I can't wait to see if I can find a board (that I can afford) and get it set up!

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Thom Dyson]

The Behringer X Touch Mini seems very popular. Good size and enough controls. I have a Beatstep. It works OK, but the buttons take are larger than the Mini and take a bit of force. I'll probably get a Mini.  If I had enough desk space, I'd get something with motorized faders, like the popular Behringer BCF-2000.

[David Bump]

I'll second the X-Touch Mini; it's what I ended up buying after some extensive searching.  You can get a new one for $60 from Adorama (and occasionally Amazon).  I'm very happy with it, and not just from a cost perspective.  It's a great size--you can set it on your lap like a keyboard, and tuck it away when you don't need it.  Between the two layers built into the controller, and MIDI2LR's profiles, I honestly wouldn't want any more knobs or buttons, for the way I use Lightroom.  I initially wanted motorized faders but now that I've used the knobs, I'm a convert.  It's particularly nice to be able to assign the knob's built-in button click to reset the value that the knob rotation modifies.  Now that I'm used to that, I'd have a hard time adapting to faders, I think.  My initial plan was to start with one Mini, and add another if I loved it, and felt like I needed more knobs and buttons.  Now that I've played with layers and profiles, I doubt I'll ever expand.

[Brian B]

I found a new Novation Nocturn off eBay for less than $30 earlier this year.  Has 8 dials, 8 buttons, 4 "bank" buttons, and a customizable number of pages per bank (if that makes sense).  It also has a big slider, that I haven't found a good use for, and a "speed dial", which unfortunately is not user mappable.  Only changes I wish for are a built in button on each dial (to reset the slider, I have the main buttons mapped to do that for the most part), the speed dial being mapped, and a motorized slider (or no slider and a couple more buttons instead).  Using it on a Mac, works great once I wrapped my head around how to set it all up. I pair it a Logitech G600 mouse (tons of buttons) and can do a lot with a couple devices.  

As to the X-Touch Mini, I agree that looks like a solid option as well.  Good luck!

[OffCornerDev]

I am working on a DIY Midi controller. I don't know if you're a type of person that likes doing things their own way, but it is going to be the most flexible controller for sure. 

I've ordered some parts from china, so it's going to take ~1 month for shipping though. 

I am planning to build it using an Arduino micro controller and then some rotary encoders. There is a working prototype with one potentiometer and two buttons running on my desk already. I think I am going to make a post about the whole project once it's done.

The cool thing is that it really does not require many programming skills; however, you will want to solder the pieces together in the end.

[David Bump]

OffCornerDev, I would love to hear more about your project!  That sounds like it's right up my alley.

[OffCornerDev]

Hi David,

While my parts have not arrived yet (it does take a long time from China... at least it is really cheap), I can send you a list of things that I have ordered or that I could recommend.

Starting off with the Microcontroller:

I am using an Arduino Uno Clone. You could go for the original Arduino Uno; however, that would cost you about 10x that much...

Here's a link to a generic arduino uno clone:

http://bit.ly/2spnIfc

You can also make the project smaller by getting an arduino nano clone. For example this one:

http://bit.ly/2spBZsw

For experimenting, you could get yourself a breadboard: http://bit.ly/2spp3Tg

Then you'll need the rotary encoders: http://bit.ly/2r6iTUf

To make everything look very clean, I have ordered the following aluminum knobs for the encoders:

http://bit.ly/2s9eYJY

I am going to solder the pieces together using some kind of a wire... Some LEDs and Push Buttons would also be nice... 

My plan is to put everything together into a box made of acrylic glass. I will make a separate post once the parts have arrived and I start with the project.

Using an app like "hairless-midiserial" it is possible to use the arduino clone as a midi device. Then it's just a matter of setting everything up and telling the arduino to send MIDI messages when the encoders are turned. You could even add buttons which would change the channel of the encoders. That way you could use 5 encoders to control 20 things for example...

[David Bump]

Great info!  I have a couple of Arduinos hanging around actually, so I just need some encoders.  I'm tempted to get the kind that have an integrated push button (pressing down on the knob), as I've come to really like that feature on the Behringer for resetting the value that was modified by twisting the knob.  But this would allow me to make a completely custom console.  Hmm.
Thanks!

[OffCornerDev]

Hi, the encoders that I ordered have just arrived. 20 units, each with a push button. I will start working with them next week, can't wait to test them!

[Martin Kukielka]

Hi!

I'd also like to try MIDI2LR and at the moment I'm thinking about buying a  Behringer X-Touch Mini (~72 Euros here in Germany) or an Korg nanoKONTROL2 (~55 Euros).

Which one should I prefer?! Any tips or advices?

Regards
Martin

[Wolfgang G]

I use the X-Touch Mini, it works OK. Quite compact, can be used with PC keyboard and mouse.
Very good for the money, perfect to find out if that whole concept works for you.

My main probs:
- Buttons need some force, I'd prefer a PC keyboard like response.
- 8 dials are OK, but 16 would be better - without switching banks. Maybe use 2 of them, maybe turn the second one by 180 degrees, so the knobs are next to each other. But does MIDI2LR support 2 controllers??

[Wolfgang G]

What's your progress - as I need an upgrade from my X-Touch Mini, I'm quite interested in your solution :)
I might be able to help a bit with coding if needed, I'm an embedded software engineer, but not with too much free time :D

[OffCornerDev]

well... i played around a bit and then had other projects to work on. the encoders seem to work properly (i got it working with 2 encoders right now).
there are some "issues" or things that I expected differently: the knobs register 20 steps for a full turn which in my opinion is a bit too little. I'll try to work on the project tomorrow and update you guys on it (including pictures maybe?)
cheers and sorry for the late reply!

[Wolfgang Gauch]

The encoders of my X-Touch mini have 25-30 steps per turn.. didn't count exactly. It works ok. maybe 40 would be perfect.

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[Run Asulin]

Any news on the DIT Arduino controller?   I was looking into doing something like that :) 

Would love to see how (or if) you progressed!

[Shir0]

Behringer X-Touch Mini without hesitation.

Because the knobs are clickable, meaning you can assign them to "reset" the parameter you assign to the knob. That is the feature which made me buy the x-touch. And I had already multiple good midi controller.

And the fact you have also a visual control of the value of each parameter, and two banks A / B, are also very great features.

For the configuration, you find a least two person on youtube who give all their settings. Great for starting.

[Shir0]

Damn', didn't see the date... =_=

Sorry for the necrothreading

[Josh CuriousJosh]

Hey Shiro... 

Do you know how "fine tune" the controls can go with the xtouch mini? 

like can it do fine adjustments if you go slow?

[OffCornerDev]

Hi,

Unfortunately I somewhat abandoned the project. My main issue is that I just prefer the Apple Finder + Photoshop Raw editor workflow much more. Lightroom feels so restricting and huge every time I open it.

I think building the diy controller is possible, however the rotary encoders only had something like 20 steps for a full turn, which is definitely not precise enough. 
Overall, I think an off the shelf controller is going to be a much faster and cleaner method, but if you have the time you can try building your own!
I had it working with 2 controllers and adding a few more is not a big problem. I just never ended up building a case and soldering everything together properly...

Cheers and sorry for the super late reply!

[Sam AY]

Hi there,

I currently have a diy rotary encoder setup working with midi2lr.  However, it doesn't synchronize with LR, so when I edit a photo and set exposure to +10, when I select the next photo, it'll also be +10.  The "pickup mode" works, but were you able to get your diy setup to synchronize?