Best Controller Yet? RA Micro 4k and RA Control Software

[@YEE941]

the mapping is killer, console 1 and the ssl uc1 should have have this feature

[@G_handle]

You still use Console 1 right? How's the new RA controller fit next to C1?

[@thrice911]

Killer upgrades! Literally can't wait till mine gets here 🙌

[@Steviee8]

nice video, Can you run 2 at the same time? Or only 1. I see RA has the Micro 3 as well. It would be cool to have one for Channel strip application and have the Micro3 to take care of different kinds of controls.

[@michaelharvey1461]

Thanks for this, Matty. You reviewed the MP Controller from MPMidi a little while ago. Obviously, it's a very different device and approach, but I'm curious which one you think would work as a pure-play plugin controller. I have the SSL UC1 and like it a lot, but SSL does not support (at least not in an accessible way) quick mapping of any plug in whereas both the MP Controller and the Micro 4K do. My hesitation about the Micro 4K is that even though it can technically control any plugin, it seems that once you move away from the SSL channel strip paradigm which is what the hardware itself resembles, you have to do some mental gymnastics to decide and then remember which knob you assign to which plug in parameter. For other EQs and maybe compressors, that might not be too hard, but for things like delays and reverbs, say, you need some level of mental abstraction to just view the Micro 4K as a generic set of knobs and switches. What's your take on that?

[@mixedbymatty]

This one is the one I actually use in my setup if that means anything. I didn't keep the mp Midi. It' just wasnt' for me. I understand what you are saying about the delay. You might want to check out Mulligan. It's a software that works with Pro tools that you can map anyway you want with any midi controller. Prob gonna do a video about it soon. :)

[@michaelharvey1461]

@@mixedbymatty Thanks for the quick reply! I'm a Logic user but contemplating migrating to Luna as I'm in the UAD/SSL general hardware/plugin camp. When you say that you are using this one in your own setup, does that include for controlling a wide range of plugins, not just the ones that map conceptually to the SSL-type channel strip layout which is clearly what the Micro 4K is based on? Thanks for the great content!

[@antcall6779]

Great as always Marty!🤘

[@MixedByDotRob]

Looks great! This could be the best controller next to the Stream Deck! 😀 I'll try it!

[@j_wah3084]

Thanks for this video! Does the wrapper "remember" mapping across sessions?

[@blakematthews6374]

My only concern here would be what if the wrapper loses support at some point and you basically can’t open old projects because it’s lost all of your plugin settings that were loaded in the wrapper.

[@JeraCravoMyself]

Great point

[@RocksolidAudioEngland]

That is a valid concern yes. We are working on a way to make this doesn't happen but in general this can also happen with updated plugins you currently use regardless. Maybe that fab filter setting doesn't sound the same 8 updates down the line. But we are working on making our host completely backwards compatible 👍

[@totemadept]

This is very cool and something that’s helpful to people trying to make their workflow faster. There seems to be some concern for longevity in the comments

[@stevedoesnt]

How well does this thing work with selector switches, like the freq selector on a pultec style eq? Does this work well with Reaper? Did they fix the lack of support with AU plugins? Cheers!

[@bohred99]

Matthew i believe has said he hopes to have AU compatibility by end of 2023

[@Jollificationa]

I don't see the the little magic "Wrapper Box" when opening RA Control plugin.... tested with VST3 / AU

[@AtTheSourceStudios]

How did you get it to find Waves plugins from the scan? I've deleted and replaced the paths multiple times and it jsut sits there scanning. I talked to someone on facebook who said to make a new folder and put the plugins in it but waves plugins are weird and I've tried that even and it still won't find it. I'm in the states so returning really isn't an option but as it stands it can't read any plugins... any help would be much appreciated

[@javamboy]

I bought this for well over a year and the RA Control software is still not available. The earlier version was really buggy, I am using it in Cubase, every time I quit and reopen the program, all setting are revert to default. I cannot save the changes. So I guess it works in Studio One?

[@jesseharradine9861]

Love mine! One major bummer was realizing all non spark UAD plugins (UAD SSL included) are vst2 and the RA control plugin doesn't work with VST2 only VST3 ... so bunch of uad plugins don't work with it, until they upgrade to VST3

[@RocksolidAudioEngland]

The host is vst3 compatible. Did you mean the other way around ? Ra control is not vst2 compatible

[@JeraCravoMyself]

And what about AU plugins?

[@jesseharradine9861]

@@JeraCravoMyself not compatible with UAD AU plugins or UAD VST2 plugins (from my understanding/testing) UAD is apparently coming out with VST3 upgrade to their plugins (who knows when), as of today, you can only use the UAD SSL plugin with mouse mode but not RA control plugin

[@JeraCravoMyself]

@@jesseharradine9861 Ohhh, that is a bummer. So no AU at all? It only runs on VST3?

[@bohred99]

@@JeraCravoMyself Matthew i believe has said he hopes to have AU compatibility by end of 2023

[@KeithMarvK]

Is it still mapped the next time I open the project or start a new project?

[@RocksolidAudioEngland]

Of course. In mouse mode it also maps your previous project too.

[@JoernConrad]

In general this is a great idea and also a great system ifnit works. But on my Windows 11 based system there is no chance to get it work the way it should. The first problem is when there is another USB device like a Midi keyboard connected. In this case the "RA Control" crashes. If I disconnect the Midi Keyboard "RA Control" works, but it flashes between "connected" and "not connected" every two secounds. I have had a try in two different systems. Generally a good device in a good build quality, but with the actual version of "RA Control" and the actual firmware of the 4k sadly technical waste.😕

[@RocksolidAudioEngland]

Ra Control is a public beta so will have bugs. Our latest update has solved a lot of these issues as well.

[@jahmoresound7895]

This would be worth it If the knobs were somehow motorised with recall or at least LEDS to show what position the knob is in in the plug-in before soft takeover

[@Gang-25j]

Then the price would be high..and most of you would cry about it… so no they should never do that.

[@MiterAlmeida]

RA control was not working with bitwig for me and the software itself was using a lot of CPU. I also noticed it keeps sending non stop midi messages to system even when not using it so just by having it plugged could already cause overhead

[@RocksolidAudioEngland]

This constant midi message is a handshake between the software and the controller to keep it connected. Fairly standard procedures

[@EliasUKMusic]

Agree it’s standard. This MIDI message send every few seconds also happens with the likes of the PreSonus Faderport.

[@marekvoosen]

I saw and read about it, that it doesn´t work that great with their software overall? Are there real problems Matty? Never saw you using the Rocksolid Channel Strip 2 and you bought also a Console 1. Why? Do you really use this Rocksolid one? Thanks for an independent answer. No leds, you have to watch too much on the screen!?

[@FLAVMEDIA]

Solid as a ROCK:))

[@assistantassistant5516]

Wrappers are not a good idea in the long run

[@danymalsound]

325 bucks for a specific channel controller feels a bit high... just my $.02

[@Gang-25j]

The uc1 does the same thing for one plugin… but you all kissed their ass over it, and it’s $800 plus

[@sideast]

aint nothing faster than a mouse !

[@azamat19]

Wrappers of the worst thin anyone can do. You won't be able to open the session at one point in the future.

[@RocksolidAudioEngland]

Ra control isn't simply a wrapper. It's actually 3 different control systems for which you can pick. Host , mouse or midi mode

[@YngHstlr]

this thing is ridiculously overpriced

[@Patrick-t4y]

It's a big shit !