D8B with Pro Tools

[clarksorley]

Hi, We acquired a Mackie D8B (software version 3) recently with the intention of using it with Pro Tools 8.

Anyone know if I we should be able to have control of PT's channels, mutes, pans, transport etc. and if so how that might be achieved.

We tried creating a midi map on the Mackie but Pro Tools doesn't seem to see it.

Any help much appreciated, thanks.

Clark

[Axeman098]

You will need software version 5.1 to enable HUI control along with the MIDI. I'm not sure how you're configured/connected to the PC, but you may want to look into the other thread on here relating to converting the D8B into a control surface for your DAW. You SHOULD be able to have limited control in PT 8, via either MIDI or HUI, but again you will need to upgrade to 5.1 for HUI to work (someone else correct me if I'm wrong please).

You may want to watch this:

http://youtu.be/sNtHdg0FA0k

This is the solution currently being developed by Marc Girard, and is discussed in the other thread on these forums. As you can see, Marc has gone to great lengths to incorporate many cool features into his conversion software. This provides FULL mappable control to the entire D8B console for your DAW, and bypasses the physical limitations of the single MIDI card/HUI combination, and provides some unique features and assignability you simply cannot get from the D8B any other way. One of the main drawbacks however is, you give up the Analog I/O of the Mixer, and would need to use external pre's.

[clarksorley]

Thanks for replying to my question last week.

The friend who gave me the desk said he had managed to get 24 channels of control (faders, mutes, pans etc) to work with Cubase Nuendo. The other day we got Logic to do much the same. Unfortunately not Pro Tools which in typical fashion seems to be less accommodating.

I will try and get a hold of the software update as suggested and see how that goes. If I understood properly, it will only allow for layers of 8 PT's channels to be controlled at a time, yes?

Marc's epic endeavour to turn the D8 into a complete control surface looks impressive but if it rules out the mic inputs then unfortunately it wouldn't do for me.

I will post back with any progress for the sake of adding to the knowledge base.

[Axeman098]

If your not willing to give up the Mic Pre's, then Marc's solution to my knowledge at this point will not support the Analog Mic Pre's. The purpose of Mar'c efforts, is to utilize the board as a control surface, by reverse engineering the Mackie protocol so that your PC DAW (And Pro Tools I hope), See the Mackie D8B as 3 Mackie Control universal units. Marc's solution uses a custom Serial Cable to bypass the control limitations you are now facing. For most, losing the Analog I/O is not a big loss, because by today's standards, the pre's are quite dated. However, the board's Control capabilities, make this a great low cost alternative to a C24 costing thousands of dollars. Full utilization of the D8B's fader's, vpots and surfaces provides all the same cool functionality as the Digidesign peice, minus the I/O. I have better Pre's rack mounted anyway

I also like the fact that marc's solution helps a legendary peice of hardware find new life. I especially like the fact that Marc's solution helps save me a few thousand buck too