Can anyone who owns and uses a DAW like the Mackie Control Universal please tell me 1. How often you use it with Vegas
2. How much of the mouse work it replaces
3. If your glad you got it, or was it a cool idea that never really gets used?

thanks very much

Grant

MCU really isn't an DAW. It's a control interface. Tracktion, ProTools....those are DAW's.

As for your queston, MCU is a real shortcut, a timesaver and a convenience. I would feel rather bogged in molasses without my MCU. I use it in Vegas and Tracktion. Wish I could use it in Sound Forge.

I like my Contour Shuttle Pro... been using it for years.

More often, I find myself using keyboard shortcuts, especially jkl editing.

I've had a Behringer BCF-2000 control surface (8 flying faders via midi) for a few months, which can be used with track volume envelope automation for a multitrack mixdown. It was inexpensive, and it works... not sure yet if it will be with me long-term. If I keep it, it will be to rough out multitrack mixes, then go back and adjust envelopes by hand.

Then there's the issue of repetitive motion injuries. I use a trackball a lot, and have a small tablet too - this really helps if you tend to get mouse wrist.

MCU really isn't an DAW. It's a control interface. Tracktion, ProTools....those are DAW's.And, if you ask me, Vegas is also a DAW, albeit without MIDI. If MIDI and loops are important, then there's ACID, though the MIDI and tempo controls are limited, compared to Sonar, etc...

Thanks alot guys.

I guess im trying to figure out if i buy one will i use it everyday, or will a mouse and key board with a good memory of the shortcuts make it to unusable

cheers