[kev_obrien]

I am seriously looking into purchasing the Evolution UC-33e controller, to use for playing out (controlling Ableton)

Has anyone had any positive / negative experience using this piece of kit?
From the research I have done so far, it seems like a solid unit, it looks sharp, and it's dirt cheap ($159 I found one for at Amazon)

[SonicAcademy.com]

its ok for the money but it feels very cheap and doesn't have a sturdy build.

[kev_obrien]

SonicAcademy.com wrote:

its ok for the money but it feels very cheap and doesn't have a sturdy build.

Thanks for the input. We'll see how it goes, I took the chance on it, should be arriving today or tomorrow

[kev_obrien]

Well I got it the other day, and I would say it's decent kit.

It did take a few hours of trial and error to figure out exactly how to assign all the controls the way I wanted them within Ableton, but I eventually figured out that all I needed to do was enable "Remote" under the midi sync settings in Live.

It does have a slightly plastic feeling to it, the sliders don't have any resistance or weight to them, neither do the knobs, so it is very easy to over or under-turn when making adjustments. But like any equipment, once I get used to the feel of the controller, that won't be a problem.

The rotaries are unfortunately a little but close to eachother, so I have to be very careful not to inadvertantly turn other knobs when making an adjustment.

Other than that, I like the possibilities that this control surface offers. Right now I have put together a pretty nice setup for DJing, and made it to where the only time I will ever have to touch the laptop is for loading or moving tracks to different places within my environment. Just wanted to give my early review on here, in case others have questions about it in the future.

[SYATIKA]

well these are the many reasons why i decided to buy a bcr2000 for use with ableton. freakin love that thing, even though it looks like complete crap, but the lights are pretty

i've had the chance to play around with a uc33e and agree that it feels quite like a toy. the long faders are freakin awesome but if i really needed those kinds of faders i would just get the bcf2000 cause those bad boys are built to last like a mofo. kinda sounds like i'm advertising beghringer here don't it...

honestly i wouldn't get any other products from this company cause of the quality for example in their soundcards and mixers being cheap, etc.... but as a controller for ableton their ACE

[kev_obrien]

Yeah, I have heard the Behringers are decent, but you are right, they do look like complete crap lol But as long as it works I guess, right?

Basically for when I am play out with the UC-33e, I am going to leave the middle row of rotaries disabled, to avoid mistakes with inadvertantly moving knobs. This still leaves me enough control to control the EQs and some fx on 3 different tracks, while also having sliders to control volumes, and more FX. I have also programmed a couple of the press buttons to use as kill switches on EQs, and assigned buttons to launch up to 6 track slots

The BCR2000 looks like it could be useful, but there are certain things that i prefer to use sliders for, especially volume and crossfading.
We will see how it goes when I start really using it more, and especially once I can test it in a live setting. Eventually I am going to have to go with something pricier, and one thing that annoys me about the UC33e is the lack of illumination on the controls. Little tiny led specks on the sliders are not going to cut it in a dark room

[SYATIKA]

and these are all the reasons why i chose the berghinger over the uc33-e in the first place. i've already used the bcr once live and it works freakin awesome
build is awesome, doesn't feel like you're lugging a toy around, still fits in a bookbag, and gotta love those freakin lights. hold on i'll post up a video from youtube that my friends posted, quality is shit but you can still see my toys and my lappy

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=tXAC1lj0-eI

basically am using teh bcr2000 with a triggerfinger, to be honest i don't even use the pads on the TF, actually prefer launching with the mouse. use the TF for the 4 faders on it since i use 4 channels. lately have been messing around with using knobs for volume control and think i can get adjusted to it no problem. lots of people nowadays just have this toy frenzy and buy stuff without really knowing what they want out of i was the same way. kinda hard to resist a new toy that has shitloads of shiny buttons that flicker and make all kinds of nice shiny effects

[djsukhoi]

My last promo mix was recorded with UC-33, nice one controller. It has everything what i need to use it with Ableton.
you can check the mix on this link: www.myspace.com/sukhoidj

Peace!

[The Stain]

kev_obrien wrote:

I am seriously looking into purchasing the Evolution UC-33e controller, to use for playing out (controlling Ableton) Has anyone had any positive / negative experience using this piece of kit? From the research I have done so far, it seems like a solid unit, it looks sharp, and it's dirt cheap ($159 I found one for at Amazon)

I had one.Good for the price.I sold it.Totally useless because it's not motorized.
8 channels are not enough for using as a DAW mixer.For live performance it's okay.
I choose over the behringer becaue its potmeters are limited.Good for using one vst synth at a time.

[kev_obrien]

The Stain wrote:

kev_obrien wrote: I am seriously looking into purchasing the Evolution UC-33e controller, to use for playing out (controlling Ableton) Has anyone had any positive / negative experience using this piece of kit? From the research I have done so far, it seems like a solid unit, it looks sharp, and it's dirt cheap ($159 I found one for at Amazon) I had one.Good for the price.I sold it.Totally useless because it's not motorized. 8 channels are not enough for using as a DAW mixer.For live performance it's okay. I choose over the behringer becaue its potmeters are limited.Good for using one vst synth at a time.

True. I definitely think it serves a much better purpose for live performance than it does for using as an actual control surface for production. it only has the 8 sliders so theres no way you can use that to mix a track, but those sliders can be put to good use in a live setting, especially for DJing

[AureliusScott]

Francis Preve uses it and lives by it much better than trying to set up everything on an 800 mixer plus easy to go with to @ live gigs just plug and play

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good synths makes good sense

http://myspace.com/djaureliusscott

[kev_obrien]

AureliusScott wrote:

Francis Preve uses it and lives by it much better than trying to set up everything on an 800 mixer plus easy to go with to @ live gigs just plug and play

Gui Buratto also uses it in his live setup! Even with all the advanced stuff he has, the customized lemur, etc, he still uses uc-33e as his control surface.. goes to show that plenty of well-known artists see the value of this thing. It's so light, so portable, so easy to set up.. I really like it.

It is VERY uncoventional when it comes to DJing though (the setup), so of course every single time I play I get looks. speaking of those looks, this sounds like a good thread, I 'm gonna make one

[AureliusScott]

Figured I would tack on my inquiry about another midi on this thread

the CME Bitstream 3x



any expieriances??

_________________
good synths makes good sense

http://myspace.com/djaureliusscott

[papworthma]

kev_obrien wrote:

It did take a few hours of trial and error to figure out exactly how to assign all the controls the way I wanted them within Ableton, but I eventually figured out that all I needed to do was enable "Remote" under the midi sync settings in Live. .

how did you get yours to work? I have enabled remote and it still doesnt work.. did you do anything else? did you use the preset 21 to control ableton? am completely stuck.. any help be great

[kev_obrien]

papworthma wrote:

kev_obrien wrote: It did take a few hours of trial and error to figure out exactly how to assign all the controls the way I wanted them within Ableton, but I eventually figured out that all I needed to do was enable "Remote" under the midi sync settings in Live. . how did you get yours to work? I have enabled remote and it still doesnt work.. did you do anything else? did you use the preset 21 to control ableton? am completely stuck.. any help be great

To ensure that your controller is sending signals, just turn a knob or move a slider, if you get a midi message light blinking in the top right corner in Ableton, then the device is sending midi commands to the software and it should be set to go.

I did not use any presets actually. I left it on whatever the default preset is, and then mapped everything on my own.

when you go to the midi settings in Ableton, they should be setup like this:

Control Surface: UC33-e
Input: UC33-e USB MIDI
Output: Microsoft GS Wav (if you run windows, otherwise I guess whatever owuld be default for mac)

Takeover mode: NONE

Midi ports:

Input Track: On - Sync: OFF - Remote: ON

Input Midiin: ON

everything else should be set to OFF.

once these are all configured, simple click the MIDI icon in the top right corner of Ableton, it will turn blue and you are then set to start mapping.

Hope this helps

[Justin Sane]

Hello,

Honestly, I have been playing out for a while and I have tried a bunch of inexpensive controllers including the new akai controller but out of them all I love the new Vestax VCM-600 Ableton controller. This controller is excellent for playing out and for in my studio. I got tired of tiny little controllers with bad faders. This piece is great and is worth the price. I wouldn't advise it if you are looking for a tiny inexpensive controller though.

Justin Sane

[ttothey]

HELP ME!!! i don't know how to setup ableton so that it works with my evolution controller!!! please!!!!!!! =(

[kev_obrien]

ttothey wrote:

HELP ME!!! i don't know how to setup ableton so that it works with my evolution controller!!! please!!!!!!! =(

once again, this is exactly what I did to set mine up....

plug the controller in, DO NOT START ABLETON until after it is plugged in!

To ensure that your controller is sending signals, just turn a knob or move a slider, if you get a midi message light blinking in the top right corner in Ableton, then the device is sending midi commands to the software and it should be set to go.

I did not use any presets actually. I left it on whatever the default preset is, and then mapped everything on my own.

In Ableton, go to preferences... then you go to the 'midi sync' settings in Ableton,

they should be setup like this:

Control Surface: UC33-e
Input: UC33-e USB MIDI
Output: Microsoft GS Wav (if you run windows, otherwise I guess whatever owuld be default for mac)

Takeover mode: NONE

Midi ports:

Input Track: On - Sync: OFF - Remote: ON

Input Midiin: ON

everything else should be set to OFF.

once these are all configured, simple click the MIDI icon in the top right corner of Ableton, it will turn blue and you are then set to start mapping.

all u have to do is click a control parameter in ableton (such as volume slider), and then move the control on the uc-33e that you want to control that parameter)

Hope this helps

[BrianCody]

The Uc-33 is a good controller as a start off but find it fiddley and fidgity compared to others . The one big downside is that in time as with most equipment the connections get corroded/worn or dusty making the knobs get a mind of their own and become useless .

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