I got a UC-33e, and I'm pretty pleased. The knobs have some room between 0
and 1, but the resolution is okay, the controls don't stick, and it's
completely programmable. There is also drawbar mode, which reverses the
faders. Although it seems that if a button is set to the standard note
on/off cc, it will not toggle, it sends note off on release. I had to set it
to cc 119 to get it to toggle. I'm guessing that's not a problem for you,
using Csound.
Also, you can set a global MIDI channel which affects all controls set to
channel 00, but controls not set to 00 are unaffected. I don't know if
that's standard, but it's a cool idea.

 On 10/29/05, Art Hunkins <abhunkin@uncg.edu> wrote:
>
> Does anyone know of a MIDI slider bank (control surface) that meets the
> following criteria? I can't seem to find one, though a few come close.
>
> 1) USB, deriving power from computer. (Wall-wart/AC power supplies are a
> needless nuisance, and performance on a laptop is a requirement today.)
>
> 2) At least 16 CC sliders arranged linearly or in two stacked rows of 8.
> Sliders should be 60mm throw or more. CC numbering should be consecutive
> in
> banks of 8 (i.e., some configuration should permit this).
>
> 3) At least 8 buttons arranged linearly, preferably under corresponding
> sliders. Buttons programmable for *toggling* note on/note off.
>
> 4) Buttons have corresponding LED's to show state on or off.
>
> 5) Compact footprint. (This rules out any units incorporating even a
> 25-note
> keyboard. Portability is again important.)
>
>
> The *closest* units I've seen so far are: 1) the Niche Automation Station
> (long since out of production), which has everything except USB. (It's
> basically a Peavey1600 with LED's.) 2) The Evolution U-Control UC-33,
> which
> is limited to 9 sliders, but has *3* other nicely aligned sets of 8 rotary
> pots. (No LED's, and the buttons are *not* user-friendly in their
> arrangement.)
>
> Any hardware info (recommendations) to share?
>
> FWIW, the above hypothetical unit could perform *all* the live Csound
> pieces
> I've done - portably, on a laptop.
>
> Art Hunkins
>
> --
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>



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