Reddit reviews Korg nanoKONTROL2 Slim-Line USB Control Surface, Black

OP, I feel you. PUBG plane audio vs footsteps is exactly why I solved this myself.



You can get a USB midi input device, I would suggest this one that I have been using for almost a year now: https://www.amazon.com/Korg-nanoKONTROL2-Slim-Line-Control-Surface/dp/B004M8UZS8



Then you can get a paid software called volume power mixer: https://www.actualsolution.com/power-mixer/



The software looks like garbage and so does the website but it runs beautifully, is simple to use, never had an issue and they didn't steal my credit card. I can also confirm it runs on Windows 10 just fine, despite its obvious age. Also has a trial period if you want to play with it before buying any external hardware.



Now all this software does is let you map input signals to saved volume profiles/actions. So in my setup what I've done is go to korgs website to figure out all the midi command signals that their sliders use (midi is a standard so you can use another brand for sliders if you want as long as it uses midi) and map those to saved actions on the program. The sliders work exactly as you would think, and are bound directly to the program, not using the shitty Windows mixer to identify it that other apps use, which I ran into. This means no matter how many reboots or changing order/number of programs you have open, your PUBG slider will always work if you have the power mixer program running.



I have system volume, discord volume, mic volume, DotA, PUBG, other games all on sliders with instant mute buttons as well. It's pure luxury my dude. I never have to alt tab, or go to another monitor, or right click into that shitty Windows mixer again.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Korg-nanoKONTROL2-Slimline-Controller-Black/dp/B004M8UZS8 ?

OK so your problem is you have two of those headsets linked above and you need both running at once to the same computer?

Alright, no problem. You can do a couple different things to get this going.

How professional are we talking here? I mean obviously you have some sort of budget to pay for the audio interface or did you already buy it?

On a smaller budget and semi-pro results I'd probably buy a few decent USB headsets with noise cancelling, then use Asio4All to virtually multiplex the USB headsets into one 'virtual audio interface'. Then you can route the virtual interface however you like.

You can have both recording and both playing back and using a DAW you can software mix.

Then I'd probably get a USB MIDI fader control for all the levels. In your DAW you are going to map these faders to the headphone and mic levels of your multiple headsets. Having those faders handy will help you get your levels right and quickly.

Lastly I'd buy a vocal VST with presets for podcasting. I highly recommend Izotope Nectar Elements. This software will eliminate background noise (via the noise gate), add whatever reverb you want so it sounds like you are in a different room, properly EQ you for voice, and a host of other things. Nectar Elements is only $35 here.

Total price: $95 + tax/shipping on headsets + $60 if you go with the optional MIDI fader control. Less than your audio interface (or about the same price with the optional faders).

The only downside is that the USB mics won't be that useful if you upgrade to a full professional system. The upside is you are only spending $60 on this and it'll work - probably far better than what you've got going now. The MIDI fader control is infinitely useful and can still be used when you upgrade down the road.

If you have $45 to spare the korg nanokontrol2 can be used as a mixer with traktor for practice. the layout will be a bit weird compared to a usual mixer but i was able to learn how to mix with it before getting a full-blown controller.

http://www.amazon.com/Korg-nanoKONTROL2-Slim-Line-Control-Surface/dp/B004M8UZS8

I will do my best. I am only a month in to this madness. And when I started I wanted to emulate a workflow similar to how stuff was done in the early to mid 90s. Sort of faux hardware sequencing. The reason being every time I sit in front a DAW for a creative project I feel devoid of inspiration. So here's the current setup:

Hardware:

iPad Pro 1st gen connected to a USB hub via Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter.

LYFNLOVE USB Hub 3.0 Splitter,7 Port USB Data Hub with Power Adapter and Charging Port

KORG nanoKontrol2 connected to USB hub

Behringer UM2 connected to the USB hub and hi/low out of Model D

Behringer Model D connected to USB hub for midi control and UM2 to pass audio to iPad

So how does all this work together? Well the center of my workflow sits AUM AUM is my mixer, playhead, midi routing, and effects insert hub. It's the glue that ties all the widgets together with a unified clock.

For synthesis I am currently using the following apps: MOOG Model 15, MOOG Animoog, Audiokit Synth One, Audiokit FM Player, Menace, and Blamsoft Viking Synth which I can run many instances of. And now of course The Model D.

For Sequencing the Synths I am using the Rozeta suite.

And for percussion/drum machine I am using Patterning 2 which I absolutely love to death. With my quest to eventually go all hardware and possibly just a eurorack it's going to be hard for me to let go of this because I like it so much.

For effects/DSP I use all of the apps produced by Audio Damage, Inc., Kosmonaut, & RE-1 Tape Machine

For misc I use an app called Sector which is a nice sample slicer with a cool interface for introducing randomization to a sequence + effects to slices.

As previously mentioned. I am new to this and still learning. The apps I've mentioned merely are the tip of the iceberg as far as what /r/ipadmusic is capable of. I'm trying not to go too deep down that rabbit hole because I intend to go full hardware eventually. But it has been a great starting point to learn a lot of the basics and intermediate inner workings of how to use midi and some modular virtual patching.

I would be happy to answer any more questions. So far this (link to soundcloud, not just the one track RES is trying to make play)is most of what I've created with the newest to oldest representing the evolution of my learning curve. I have not recorded anything with the model d yet but plan to very soon.

You could keep it simple and just buy something like this -

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M8UZS8/

Well, I was wondering what OP was looking to do because my first inclination would be to go with a computer based solution such as the ENTTEC Open DMX USB along with any number of free programs that can drive this dongle. Long term he could pick up a USB MIDI board like Korg's Nanokontrol or Behringer's BCF2000 to give him fader access to his channels.

So I respectfully disagree. There are a number of software options out there that will certainly provide the same, if not more, functionality. It takes a little more work to put it together, but it can be a much more flexible option for the price.

Sorry it took so long to reply. Yes you can! As long as the controller is class compliant and doesn't require drivers. Korg makes the NanoKontrol http://amzn.to/2hKV2qk I've seen this one in action. Behringer has the X Touch Mini http://amzn.to/2jdfpfW

Here are your best budget options of gear you must have:

Headphones -

[Audio Technica M50] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVLUR86/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HVLUR86&linkCode=as2&tag=silastu-20&linkId=KJN5X2ZF3TL466SZ)

Sony MDR7

Monitors -

KRK RP5G3

M-Audio AV40

MIDI Keyboard -

Akai MPK Mini

Korg nanokey

Novation Launchkey

Moar Buttons & Knobs -

Korg nanocontrol

Korg nanopad

Microphones -

Shure SM58

Shure SM57

Recording Interface -

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

PreSonus Audiobox

I've been looking into similar products. Here's a couple on the cheaper side:

Korg nanoKONTROL2

Akai Pro LPD8

I agree it should be doable, I just wonder if it's already done and how user friendly it is.

The ultimate solution IMO would be physical control panels for this sort of thing. I'd recommend a combination of a MIDI controller, and modded autohotkey. Maybe not that specific controller, but it's cheap. A foot pedal controller might be even better.

I've bought this one: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071KH8H6S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I found that people made the Korg Nano work: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B004M8UZS8/?coliid=I1OALJLRNKH9IM&colid=3CXO481OCCO2V&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it but then I would have had to wait a few more weeks for delivery.

The korg is just about the same as the MPDs, I don't think he'd really be missing out on much besides a few extra knobs. Even then he could just grab one of these if he really wanted knobs and faders The really important thing when it comes to these drum pads is the feel and sensitivity, and I've read that the korg blows the MPD out of the water. Nothing more frustrating than trying to lay down some drums and you miss a hit because it didn't register.

The closest I can think of would be the GoXLR, specifically for the inclusion of controlling individual program volumes. There's not a lot out there that's specifically build to do so (although I really wish there were) and handle external inputs. Assuming your mix has an XLR out, this should be able to handle everything natively. Unfortunately, there is the price bump for the "streaming" features you may not be using. I've done a lot of research into it and there's a lot I like about it; if it weren't $400, it would be a no-brainer.

If you're willing to split the mixer into two devices / want similar for cheaper, I personally run a similar setup to your sketched one. My [Mackie 402](https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-402VLZ4-4-channel-Compact-Quality/dp/B00EDRUQXC/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=mackie+402&link_code=qs&qid=1558226702&s=gateway&sr=8-3] handles my PC, Chromecast, and Switch. I also have a Korg nanoKONTROL controlling individual program volumes with MIDI integration in Actual Solution's Power Mixer. It takes a little more precise config with Korg's KONTROL editor and PowerMixer itself than the GoXLR. That said, it does give more precise control over the channels, like panning left / right.

I have also used the PCPanel before, but wasn't a big fan of the interface / physical design. It's closer to your setup though and does requires less fiddling to get working than the Nanokontrol method.

(If anyone's familiar with digital volume channel controllers, "mixer" or not, please let me know. I thirst for more but they're hard to find.)

> It almost seems like the sim was designed to be used with hardware interfaced controls -- like it is barely usable without them.

I'm pretty sure that the sim was designed to be used with hardware controls, and Laminar's staff is indeed very tiny.

I think a lot of the reason that it lacks fit and finish is that Austin (the dude behind Laminar Research) has a perception that it's not something people care that much about - historically, X-Plane has had a better flight model, and that's been the big selling point. The main reason that I could see them focusing on usability elements like that would be if there were a perception that it'd bring lots of new users into the fold... but that's not really been their aim, from what I've seen. I think it's much more about "let's get the realism as high as we can", likely because that's where Austin's passion lies.

There are some workarounds, though. One could set up a plugin to give sliders for the atrocious knobs - IIRC the API isn't that hard.

You can also use non-flight-sim-specific controllers. For example, one of these gets you 8 sliders & 8 knobs for under $50. To interface with a flight sim, use GlovePIE.

Bit late, but yes!

I use a KORG nanoKONTROL2 with Power Mixer by Actual Solution. You can buy them both here.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Korg-NANOKONTROL2-BK-Channel-USB-Controller/dp/B004M8UZS8

http://www.actualsolution.com/power-mixer/

It works brilliantly, you can bind each program to a slider or knob to change volume, balance etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Korg-nanoKONTROL2-Slim-Line-Control-Surface/dp/B004M8UZS8