These Icon controllers are being given away as the 1st place prize of the upcoming mixing contest that is a part of my new mixing course "Mixing Master Class Vol 2" available on July 15th 2024. See here: www.homerecordingmadeeasy.com/new-sales-page-mixing-master-class-vol-2
I have these 24 channel set up and it is probably the best controller out there. I agree its one cohesive flowing unit as compared to the SSL. I plan on going up to 32 channels once I make more room on my desk. It's easy to use and easy to program.
Great detailed review Dave! Mackie still makes the MCU XT Pro control surface extension which allows you to expand the Mackie MCU Pro control surface and gives you eight more fader channels without the transport controls & jog wheel.
Nice Second review :) A lot of people have a lot of issues with this product myself included at the start :( but I have to say Icon were great and helped straight away and the latest update makes the Jog wheel 1st class and with the focus mode its an incredible controller now :) Having the programable buttons is like having a stream deck built in and once you get used to the programming the buttons an amazing addition to the controller ... There are still a one or two gripes when using it with Cubase and Nuendo but i am hoping that these will get sorted as we moved forward :) I also think that Icon should seriously look at making this work with video editing software as i think there is a hell of a lot of things you could use this with say Final cut or DaVinci resolve :) And for people like me who do video and music production it would be a double whammy :)
It looks nice and if it works good with all daws it would be perfect. At least it’s not tight up in an ecosystem as far as I can see so that is a plus for me. Good video 👍🏼
Hi Dave. Great tutorials as usual. I watched part 1 and bought the V1 as a result and I am so pleased with it. Have you any idea at this stage what the second row of LCDs are used for?. I know in the first video you kind of dismissed them as you had no use for them but it would be helpful to know their purpose particularly if they only work with certain DAWs. I have bought a lot of hardware over the years on your recommendation but as I live in Ireland I really cannot buy from Sweetwater as the import duty is too prohibitive. However I do have a lot of your courses and really enjoy your methods of teaching. Regards Alan.
Thank you Alan. I really appreciate your support. Dont forget, the Mixing Master Class Vol 2 course is coming out on Monday. www.homerecordingmadeeasy.com/new-sales-page-mixing-master-class-vol-2
Do you happen to know how to select more than one channel on the boards? I'd like to move faders and pans similarly to the way you can in studio one where you dont have to group tracks/channels. Additionally, do you happen to know who at presonus can assist with some even deeper integration with the controllers? Would be nice to have the master channel meters and second screen working.
A comprehensive overview (both parts 1 & 2) that closed the deal for me. BTW, I have a ProjectMIX I/O collecting dust from very many years ago. It was a nice console with fader automation and stuff, but it was practically abandoned not long after its debut. So this particular niche of functionality doesn't come without reservations. Nonetheless, knowing your commitment to serious gear, I'm confident the very affordable Icon is worth the investment. Sweetwater is my primary supplier, but looking to B&H given availability. Great reviews -- thanks!
Available on zzounds, Im not affiliated with them, just thought Id mention them, the V1-M is $1100, available on two plans ($92 * monthly * 12 months or $183 * monthly * 6 months) and the V1-X for $900 ($75 * monthly * 12 months or $150 * monthly * 6 months). As a guy who works with orchestral music, it is a welcome change to have 64 channel availability, I just dont have that kind of space. To give you an idea, you need 15.13 inches for the depth, 7 inches for the height, 19.1 inches for the main unit and 12.2 inches for each extender, totaling 104.5 inches for 7 extenders plus the main unit (8.7 feet).
I'm looking at one of these, the P1-M, presonus faderport 16, and the X-Touch. It seems like they'd all fit my needs. I like the professional level of this the best, but the price is a little high considering I could get 24 channels on the x-touch for about the same price as one one of these with a majority of the same features. Would you happen to know if x-touch or faderport will be refreshed any time soon?They both came out around 6-8 years ago and are getting a little long in the tooth at this point. Right now it looks like Icon is the only company actively creating new DAW controllers.
No idea. I don't work for Presonus or Behringer so I would not wait for a company t o "maybe" put out a product. If you're ready, then pick one and go for it
Can you please test two important things? 1) I'm not familiar with Studio One, but in Cubase (and I believe others), there is a bar under the faders in the mixer, that shows what channels are controlled with the surface. With the UF8, if you select a channel on the screen that is among the channels with the bar, the surface follows the selection. If you select a channel ousede this group, it doesn't. Mind you this is not a limitation of the UF8. It's a limitation of the Mackie protocol. This results in endless manual scrollong, in larger projects. The Eucon protocol doesn't suffer from this limitation. 2) Does it follow the visibility settings in the DAWs. It's extremly annoying having hundreds of channels, that are hidden in the DAW, clogging up the control surface! I really wish that the manufacturers of control surfaces (and DAWs) would get together and come up with a better protocol than Mackie. The recording industry thrives on standards! Seriously, the Mackie control was "invented" (a long time ago) as a low cost MIDI based protocol, for budget gear. Ii was never intended to be used in professional equipment.
Kinda pointless unless you really want faders but plug ins is where we spend most of our time. It's so much easier to do all those things with the mouse
Actually iMAP is responsible for some of the data communication between the DAW and the controller, so yes. It's best to have the iMAP running in the background.
These Icon controllers are being given away as the 1st place prize of the upcoming mixing contest that is a part of my new mixing course "Mixing Master Class Vol 2" available on July 15th 2024. See here:
www.homerecordingmadeeasy.com/new-sales-page-mixing-master-class-vol-2
I have these 24 channel set up and it is probably the best controller out there. I agree its one cohesive flowing unit as compared to the SSL. I plan on going up to 32 channels once I make more room on my desk. It's easy to use and easy to program.
Nice!!
Great detailed review Dave! Mackie still makes the MCU XT Pro control surface extension which allows you to expand the Mackie MCU Pro control surface and gives you eight more fader channels without the transport controls & jog wheel.
Thanks for watching!
Nice Second review :) A lot of people have a lot of issues with this product myself included at the start :( but I have to say Icon were great and helped straight away and the latest update makes the Jog wheel 1st class and with the focus mode its an incredible controller now :) Having the programable buttons is like having a stream deck built in and once you get used to the programming the buttons an amazing addition to the controller ... There are still a one or two gripes when using it with Cubase and Nuendo but i am hoping that these will get sorted as we moved forward :) I also think that Icon should seriously look at making this work with video editing software as i think there is a hell of a lot of things you could use this with say Final cut or DaVinci resolve :) And for people like me who do video and music production it would be a double whammy :)
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
It looks nice and if it works good with all daws it would be perfect. At least it’s not tight up in an ecosystem as far as I can see so that is a plus for me. Good video 👍🏼
Thanks very much!!
Hi Dave. Great tutorials as usual. I watched part 1 and bought the V1 as a result and I am so pleased with it. Have you any idea at this stage what the second row of LCDs are used for?. I know in the first video you kind of dismissed them as you had no use for them but it would be helpful to know their purpose particularly if they only work with certain DAWs. I have bought a lot of hardware over the years on your recommendation but as I live in Ireland I really cannot buy from Sweetwater as the import duty is too prohibitive. However I do have a lot of your courses and really enjoy your methods of teaching. Regards Alan.
Thank you Alan. I really appreciate your support. Dont forget, the Mixing Master Class Vol 2 course is coming out on Monday.
www.homerecordingmadeeasy.com/new-sales-page-mixing-master-class-vol-2
Do you happen to know how to select more than one channel on the boards? I'd like to move faders and pans similarly to the way you can in studio one where you dont have to group tracks/channels.
Additionally, do you happen to know who at presonus can assist with some even deeper integration with the controllers? Would be nice to have the master channel meters and second screen working.
No to both, sorry.
Thanks! "Focus Mode" is a real differentiator. Have you used the Icon with Luna yet, and if so how was the experience?
have tried it with Luna yet
A comprehensive overview (both parts 1 & 2) that closed the deal for me. BTW, I have a ProjectMIX I/O collecting dust from very many years ago. It was a nice console with fader automation and stuff, but it was practically abandoned not long after its debut. So this particular niche of functionality doesn't come without reservations. Nonetheless, knowing your commitment to serious gear, I'm confident the very affordable Icon is worth the investment. Sweetwater is my primary supplier, but looking to B&H given availability. Great reviews -- thanks!
Thank you for watching!
Hi Dave, would u be able to try it out with Cubase.
I may in the future.
Excellent review! Faders rule!
Thank you kindly!
Available on zzounds, Im not affiliated with them, just thought Id mention them, the V1-M is $1100, available on two plans ($92 * monthly * 12 months or $183 * monthly * 6 months) and the V1-X for $900 ($75 * monthly * 12 months or $150 * monthly * 6 months). As a guy who works with orchestral music, it is a welcome change to have 64 channel availability, I just dont have that kind of space. To give you an idea, you need 15.13 inches for the depth, 7 inches for the height, 19.1 inches for the main unit and 12.2 inches for each extender, totaling 104.5 inches for 7 extenders plus the main unit (8.7 feet).
Thanks for the info. Here is the link to zZpunds for people who need it
www.zzounds.com/a--3990341
I'm looking at one of these, the P1-M, presonus faderport 16, and the X-Touch. It seems like they'd all fit my needs. I like the professional level of this the best, but the price is a little high considering I could get 24 channels on the x-touch for about the same price as one one of these with a majority of the same features.
Would you happen to know if x-touch or faderport will be refreshed any time soon?They both came out around 6-8 years ago and are getting a little long in the tooth at this point.
Right now it looks like Icon is the only company actively creating new DAW controllers.
No idea. I don't work for Presonus or Behringer so I would not wait for a company t o "maybe" put out a product. If you're ready, then pick one and go for it
Hi, do you think the d
V1-m is a better controller for Studio One 6 then the PreSonus faderport?
yes
Can you please test two important things?
1) I'm not familiar with Studio One, but in Cubase (and I believe others), there is a bar under the faders in the mixer, that shows what channels are controlled with the surface. With the UF8, if you select a channel on the screen that is among the channels with the bar, the surface follows the selection. If you select a channel ousede this group, it doesn't. Mind you this is not a limitation of the UF8. It's a limitation of the Mackie protocol. This results in endless manual scrollong, in larger projects. The Eucon protocol doesn't suffer from this limitation.
2) Does it follow the visibility settings in the DAWs. It's extremly annoying having hundreds of channels, that are hidden in the DAW, clogging up the control surface!
I really wish that the manufacturers of control surfaces (and DAWs) would get together and come up with a better protocol than Mackie. The recording industry thrives on standards! Seriously, the Mackie control was "invented" (a long time ago) as a low cost MIDI based protocol, for budget gear. Ii was never intended to be used in professional equipment.
I no longer have this in my studio so I cant test it, sorry
Lovely
It really is and these are being given away as part of the mixing contest. www.homerecordingmadeeasy.com/new-sales-page-mixing-master-class-vol-2
Kinda pointless unless you really want faders but plug ins is where we spend most of our time. It's so much easier to do all those things with the mouse
I agree, thanks for watching!
Again, imap does NOT have to be running in the background. That is entirely false.
Not according the the Iocon Pro audio's own video on their website.
Actually iMAP is responsible for some of the data communication between the DAW and the controller, so yes. It's best to have the iMAP running in the background.
great video
Glad you enjoyed it