FRONTIER DESIGN GROUP ALPHATRACK

Jun 1, 2007 12:00 PM, BY JASON SCOTT ALEXANDER

ONE-HAND BAND

So, what's it like to edit and mix a full tracklist with just one fader and a keypad of controls? On AlphaTrack, it's surprisingly efficient.

When first opening a project, the LCD displays three adjustable parameters, one for each of the touch — sensitive encoders. The exact parameters displayed depend on which of the five mode buttons is pressed below the encoders. That will normally default to Pan, displaying Track, Marker and Panning position. When any one of the encoders or the fader is touched, the display instantly updates with additional information about that parameter, including more precise numeric readouts for values, longer track or parameter names and larger level or bar graphs. Turning or pressing an encoder will engage changes, and releasing the encoder returns you to the previous display. This form of cooperative on-demand menu scaling proved inspiring and liberating from the usual doldrums of chasing the mouse cursor.

The encoders are a bit stiff to turn, and their incremented detents are not as fine as I'd like. Also, the fader cap could use a deeper curvature.

Cubase/Nuendo has the ability to view or access only specific types of tracks or buses. AlphaTrack conveniently allows selection or filtering of these views, including user-preset views, from an encoder. Strangely, the Cubase/Nuendo implementation doesn't allow you to select a track with the mouse and have controllers such as AlphaTrack follow; therefore, AlphaTrack must initiate all track selection. Frontier is working with Steinberg on a solution that will still allow all of AlphaTrack's other elements (sends, EQ, plug-ins, etc.) to follow as normal.

For hosts that support user assignment of controller functions, you can load up a handful of your most frequently used commands or edit strings. In Nuendo, for example, you assign such custom key bindings in the Device Setup window where there are literally hundreds of functions available, making the AlphaTrack extremely adaptable to many different needs. Even the footswitch is user-definable. The real time-saver of AlphaTrack, though, is also its coolest feature: the touch-sensitive jog and shuttle strip.

What may look like any other ribbon controller has the unique ability to distinguish between one finger sliding across its surface — initiating jog mode — or two fingers spaced slightly apart, which shuttles the time line. Faster and more intuitive than a wheel or mouse, user dynamics make it even more powerful. Sliding both fingers slightly to the right shuttles the time line slowly in that direction; slide your fingers further to the right and the time line moves faster. Slide your fingers to the left to slow things down or go backward. Lift one finger and precisely scroll the playback where you want it with the other finger, or you can tap on the ends of the strip to navigate through your projects' song markers. Driver version 1.1 added audio scrubbing in Cubase/Nuendo by holding down Shift while touching the strip. I can't believe it took this long for somebody to come up with such an ingenious system.

JUNIOR TRACK STAR

As with my beloved TranzPort, AlphaTrack hasn't seen a day without use in my studio. Quite simply, AlphaTrack works the way you work. It is optimized to handle the same type of in-depth mix and edit tasks as any large-format controller out there, only easier and oftentimes faster.

In stark contrast to the many science lab-style control surfaces available, AlphaTrack is immediately comfortable, familiar and intuitive to use. The layout puts commands ideally within reach of any finger, making it possible to multidial with two or more fingers without skipping a beat. You can literally ride the fader while touch-assigning an EQ band, dialing up a Q value and navigating song markers without lifting your wrist.

Logic and Logic Express are the only two major DAWs not to have native support of AlphaTrack yet, but many of AlphaTrack's basic features can be used productively with Logic in HUI mode by selecting it in the Preferences/Control Surfaces/Setup screen. It's also worth noting that because each plug-in individually determines which, if any, of its parameters are revealed through the DAW's user interface to controller devices, you may come across the oddball plug-in that you won't be able to control fully with AlphaTrack.

Trumping devices such as the PreSonus FaderPort, AlphaTrack is the only one of its kind to provide integrated window views and tactile knob control of your EQ and plug-in world, not to mention user-assignable access to custom edit functions and a jog system that will blow your mind the first time you try it.