DAW control surfaces are one of the most useful pieces of peripheral gear for a recording studio setup. Melbourne Instruments ROTO Control is a next-generation peripheral that
The most impressive feature is its use of motorized faders. They’re the same ones used on Melbourne Instruments’ Nina and Delia synthesizers. These specific faders provide instant settings recall across 16,000 memory banks and control set by the user.
ROTO Control is designed to integrate with multiple types of hardware and software.
Operation Modes
It operates in three different modes, each with a distinct purpose – Mix, Plugin, and MIDI with Motion Recorder.
Mix Mode
Mix syncs the device to your DAW with the track names and assigned colors mirrored on the ROTO Control’s front panel.
This reduces dependency on your computer monitor during mixdown. When you change things in the DAW, like a track name, the display on the ROTO Control updates automatically.
Plugin Mode
Plugin mode syncs plugin parameters to the controller. It controls a maximum of 64 plugins on each channel with 128 controls for each plugin.
MIDI Control with Motion Recorder
In this mode you can control any MIDI device. Other hardware, software like virtual instruments, even lighting for live work! The Motion Recorder comes in as a mechanism to write automation data through the motorized dials, each with up to eight parameters.
Summary
ROTO Control provides a solution to a lot of the complaints people have with control surfaces. It’s compact, powerful, and is a perfect centerpiece for bridging the gap between your hardware, software, and workflow.
Melbourne Instruments ROTO Control is available at select retailers now for $419.
