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CM Labs MotorMate & MotorMix
Workstation Consoles |
Digital Studio worksurfaces or digital controllers are all the go at the moment. A steady stream of new releases from recognized hardware and software manufacturers are popping everywhere at your favourite authorised dealer. Visually, there is not much difference between digital controllers and their digital/analogue mixing console cousins, with faders, solo and mute buttons and all range of trim, balance knobs and transport buttons. Digital controllers are basically manufactured to integrate with computer software recording set-ups and control all the programming/selection duties normally performed with mouse or key commands.
Being a staunch software recording convert using primarily Digidesign Pro Tools and Emagic Logic, I have always entertained the idea of purchasing a controller to compliment my recording system but have been put off by the price. Let's face it, they only perform the tasks achieved with mouse/key controls. Or do they?
Upon unwrapping both the CM Labs motor mix and motor mate from the bubble wrap I was knocked out by how well these units are constructed and how cool they look visually. Made in the USA really means outstanding quality these days, especially with so many respected USA and European mass manufacturing out of China.
First of all I will point out the differences between the larger and more feature laden MotorMate and the MotorMix. The MotorMate has a monitor panel that consists of 2 speaker controls with a push button on/off switch under each and a headphone control pot that coincides with the headphone jack on the front edge of the MotorMate. This monitor panel works with the external Monitor Interface Module which was provided with the units on test but without the 15 pin D-Sub cable to connect so I was unable to test. The online manual states (and the distributor has confirmed) that the Monitor Interface Module and cable is supplied with the MotorMate. Again a CM Labs SixtyFour Analogue Studio Router was supplied but unfortunately without the relevant cables to connect to monitoring and MotorMate (Distributor rushed this brand new product to us in order to make the edition deadline, unfortunately cables were left behind. Apology noted). There is an RS 232 connector on MotorMate that connects to the SixtyFour or an MP-8 eight channel mic preamp. I must say that the SixtyFour is a serious piece of kit (think supreme quality, high end internal circuit boards and wiring) and in conjunction with the MotorMate would make for a fine studio indeed. In conjunction with MotorMate and MotorMix the SixtyFour Router allows you to Monitor in Surround Sound and controls outboard gear, monitor speakers and headphones. The CM Labs Sixty-Four 32x32 Analogue Router with level controls and 90 memories retails at $3799.00 inc GST.
Where both units have eight pots underneath channel selection switches which are LED lit clear plastic with individual metering supplied by the LCD strip that runs across the top of both units, the MotorMate has a view stick to the right hand side of the eight pots and a comprehensive time code display. The transport section of the MotorMate is brilliant and is larger and more usable than the MotorMix with big chunky buttons ala an old tape machine transport, a huge jog wheel that has numerous applications and believe it or not, cut, copy, paste and delete buttons. Seriously functional design and so usable. Underneath the Monitor pots on the MotorMate are the navigation controls that are used for various editing applications.
So the differences between the two units are the transport, navigation, monitor, time code displays, stand alone loop, punch, locate, audition, midi, on-line buttons and headphone jack on the Motormate. The differences in the back panels are minimal with both units possessing midi in/out, accessory connection, contrast dial, power on / off, AC connections and the MotorMate with RS-232 and Audio I/O connections.
Both units are incredibly compact but feature a wealth of buttons and dials without appearing to be too busy. Motormate has eight touch-sensitive motorized faders. view buttons, bank, group and a left bank of buttons that are used for different applications. Each channel strip has the usual solo, mute buttons and 4 multi mode switches and eight multi switches underneath the eight rotary pots that control a variety of functions. The MotorMix has a row of buttons that act as its transport section and while not of the standard of the larger unit, they perform more than adequately and to be honest it is just a dream to not be using the space bar and key commands.
I always approach any new piece of gear with a little trepidation wondering how many hours it may take to get the thing up and running. The CM Labs MotorMix and MotorMate were a breeze to set up and in no time at all I had faders automatically mirroring my on screen mix and vice versa. Both units connect via midi in and out ports (too simple), in my case a Digi 002 rack. Using Pro Tools version 6.2.2 it is as simple as selecting peripherals in the the setup menu and selecting MotorMix under MIDI controllers. Basically every move you make in Pro Tools can be controlled with the CM Labs units. I would like to make it clear that the sound, unless using aforementioned preamps and routers does not travel through the MotorMix or MotorMate. The units just replace the mouse and key commands, but they do so much more.The recording process is sped up beyond belief, after using one of these units for a couple of days I was literally flying. Increased productivity means happier clients, less hours, more money etc. The CM Labs units make recording so much more intuitive, it is truly wonderful to start using the ears again rather than solely staring at the screen for twenty four hours in a row. Units can be linked together for a complete dream studio setup and it appears that most major software makers are supporting CM Labs units. As stated before, I used the MotorMix with Pro Tools and Digidesigns support and integration of this control surface was nothing short of brilliant. I guess the software used and the support of CM Labs is going to make or break how valuable the control surface is going to be, but if Pro Tools is anything to go by, once you have connected one of these units to your interface it is going to be very hard to live without it.