ProTools Corner - June 9, 2009
A column for tips, tricks, and other fun stuff related to ProTools.
By Brian WhiteHyperControl: Controlling Pro Tools with the Axiom Pro
Recently, M-Audio introduced and shipped their new Axiom Pro line of USB MIDI controllers to the world. To the untrained eye, the Axiom Pro looks like any other well equipped MIDI controller, featuring drum pads, a full compliment of sliders and knobs, and even a slick new paint scheme. But so what? Most of us already have keyboard controllers with those features, what makes the Axiom Pro so special? The Axiom Pro is the first keyboard to support M-Audio’s new HyperControl technology, allowing the controller to automatically sync up and control Pro Tools and other DAWs instantly, without the need for complex CC routing or tricky “programmer” software. I recently had a chance to demo an Axiom Pro 49 with HyperControl in Pro Tools and thought I would share some of my experiences here at the Corner.
The Hardware
The Axiom Pro comes in three different flavors: 25, 49 and 61 keys. The 49 and 61 key models feature 9 sliders and 8 rotary encoders, while the 25 key features only 8 encoders. All three models support the HyperControl technology, but the 25 key versions will integrate with the Pro Tools mixer a bit differently due to its lack of sliders. I thought the hardware itself felt pretty solid; the keys feel nice (definitely different, if not a bit better than the original axiom) and the drum pads are what I have come to expect from M-Audio, responsive but not as super-sensitive as some of the other pads on the market (which could be exactly what you want). As each person has their own tastes and preferences when it comes to controllers and pads, I suggest you demo one to see if you like the action.
HyperControl
While I found that the hardware was sufficiently impressive, that wasn’t my main point of interest in the Axiom Pro, it was the HyperControl integration that intrigued me the most. The HyperControl protocol allows the Axiom Pro to automatically detect and control Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic and Reason right out of the box, without the mind numbing configuration and inconsistency of other similar controllers. Not only can the Axiom Pro do the usual MIDI CC mapping you may be accustomed to with virtual instruments, it can fully integrate with the pro tools mixer and plug-ins in a way that no other controller has matched to date (and in my opinion, this includes the Novation Remote SL with the latest version of Automap). What this means is that the Axiom Pro could potentially replace your control surface’s functionality, saving you desk space and giving you more options when you are on the road.
Setting up HyperControl
First off, the Axiom Pro is a class compliant USB device that will work as a standard MIDI controller without any drivers, just plug it in and play. Secondly, HyperControl is pre-installed with Pro Tools 8, so there is no need to use the included installer CD unless you are running Pro Tools 7.4 (the lowest version of pro tools that hypercontrol will support). In fact, you may run into trouble (as I did) if you try using the installer CD with Pro Tools 8 already installed. My overly confident personality had me plugging the disk in before reading the manual and I screwed up my PT 8 install by overwriting some (apparently) important files with the 7.4 hypercontrol installer.
If you are running Pro Tools 8 you should be able to plug-in the Axiom Pro to a USB port and enable it in Pro Tools. Choose Settings > Peripherals and navigate to the MIDI Controllers tab. Choose “M-Audio Keyboard” for slot #1 and set Receiving from: “Axiom HyperControl In” and Send to: “Axiom HyperControl Out.”
I highly recommend downloading and installing the latest Axiom Pro firmware from M-Audio’s site, as it fixes a few bugs and has been updated pretty consistently since the controllers initial release (I am using firmware version 1.0.2-2).
Using HyperControl
Once enabled in Pro Tools, I actually found the HyperControl fairly intuitive to use. Without getting into the manual I was able to bank tracks, control mixer channels, control plug-in parameters, and use the transport to play and record. Because the sliders are not motorized, it does take a bit of finesse to get them to the same value as the current mixer setting, but the display helps achieve this task by showing the current state of the fader in Pro Tools.
The real test for me though was focusing and controlling a plug-in. Simply by clicking on the “Ins” soft button in mixer mode, the Axiom Pro focuses its rotary encoders on the selected track’s plug-in inserts and allows you to bank through the controls in pages of 8. I found the focusing of specific plug-ins to the encoders quite easy, but the defualt layout of the controls would vary from plug-in to plug-in so it took a little getting use to the mappings. Ultimately, I ended up using the new “Learn” mapping command found on every plug-in window to create custom mappings of my favorite plug-in’s key features. Plug-ins with many parameters I found better served via traditional mouse control on screen.
To learn a new mapping on the Axiom Pro:
1. Make sure the Axiom is in Mixer mode and that you have the plug-in focused to the rotary encoders.
2. Click on the learn button at the top of the plug-in window in Pro Tools, it will highlight in red.
3. Click on the parameter you wish to map.
4. Twist the rotary encoder you want to map the parameter to map on the Axiom.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to map more controls
6. Exit mapping mode by clicking on the “learn” button again.
ASCII Keystrokes
For the ambitious keyboard tweak-heads out there, the Axiom Pro can also remap buttons to send ASCII keystrokes to the system, allowing you to map keyboard shortcuts to most buttons (like the drum pads). The manual was not super intuitive in this regard, but after a bit of poking around I figured out the basic process.
To Assign an ASCII Keystroke to a drum pad
In this example I have mapped one of my drum pads to the undo command in Pro Tools:
1. Hit the drum pad you want to assign the keystroke to.
2. Press “Edit” and hit “2” on the numeric keypad, this will take you into controller edit mode.
3. Use rotary encoder “E1” to hi-light the “Type” field.
4. Twist rotary encoder “E5” until it shows “ASCIIKeystroke”
5. Twist encoder “E1” again to hi-light the ASCIIKey field
6. Twist encoder “E5” to select the key (example: “Z” for the Z-key)
7. Twist encoder “E1” gain to hi-light the Modifier field.
8. Twist encoder “E5” to select the modifier (example: Command)
9. Exit the controller edit mode or repeat steps to assign another key command.
In Closing
I found the Axiom Pro to be a pretty cool addition to my Pro Tools set-up. Does it replace a full-fledged control surface like the C24 or Command 8? Not exactly. I think if you are in the market for, and expect the features of a dedicated control surface (e.g. full-throw flying faders, LED displays on each encoder, etc) you may be a bit disappointed in the Axiom Pro. But if you are in the market for a solid keyboard controller with some really awesome Pro Tools integration, you will be pleasantly surprised, especially once you take the time to program ASCII key maps and start using custom “learn mode” mapping for your favorite plug-ins. Other than that, my only real gripe would have to be price, but this isn’t your entry-level keyboard controller. Ultimately, I felt that it presented a much cleaner integration with Pro Tools than my Novation Remote SL at around the same price point. While I still prefer the Novation’s key action and LED displays (like I said, just my personal taste), the Axiom Pro’s tight integration with Pro Tools can’t be ignored.
Pro Tools tidbits
Celemony has once again delayed the public beta for DNA technology (now due in August)
Waves introduced the Grand Masters Collection, a collection of mastering plug-ins
Pro Tools Corner on MacMusic:
The fine folks over at MacMusic/440 Network have made me a VIP Moderator of their PC and Mac Pro Tools forums. Come on over and join the community!
PC Pro Tools Forum
Mac Pro Tools Forum
If you have a Pro Tools related question that you would like me to take a shot at answering or have any feedback, please send it to brian@audioMIDI.com. I will do my best to select the questions that seem to stump the most people.
