Frontier, Alphatrack Motorised Control Surface

Product details

INTUITIVE AND TIDY!

If you're like me, you probably don't automate every track in your mixes, maybe ride the gain a little on vocals, and bring the guitar up for chotuses/soloes. This makes it hard to justify one of those 8 channel jobs (and I never used to ride eight faders at once even in my analog days), even if you have the space for one (which I don't). Enter the Alphatrack, a small anmd tidy, but comprehensive, answer to the mixing without a mouse problem.

Frontier Design Group’s new AlphaTrack™ combines a set of intuitive tactile controls in a compact and attractive package. Ride a high-resolution fader, turn real knobs, scroll and shuttle with the touch of your fingers, all with a control surface that fits your desktop and the way you work. AlphaTrack lets you work more productively and creatively without giving up a lot of desktop space.

AlphaTrack includes a 100mm, touch-sensitive, motorized fader which provides true 10-bit resolution for smooth and precise level control. AlphaTrack also has three touch-sensitive encoders, a feature previously found only on high-end gear costing thousands of dollars. These let you adjust track and plug-in parameters while the 32-character backlit display shows detailed feedback in response to your touch. The encoders provide quick control of pans, sends, EQ, plug-ins, and automation.

One of AlphaTrack’s greatest innovations is its touch-sensitive jog and shuttle strip. Slide one finger across its surface and your project’s timeline scrolls in response. Drop a second finger onto the strip, and now your fingers control the timeline’s shuttle speed. Zoom through your project with two fingers, then just lift one finger and slide to quickly set the precise position you want. And you can also just tap on the left or right ends of the strip to navigate through your project’s markers!

AlphaTrack also has a set of 22 buttons and 21 LED’s, including standard transport controls, per track record, solo, mute, and automation indication, and encoder mode control. When supported by the computer application, a set of buttons can also be customized with user-programmable functions.

AlphaTrack connects to your computer using just a single USB cable. This makes it quite portable, easy to connect, and compatible with laptops since no additional power supply is needed. AlphaTrack’s backpanel also includes a footswitch jack for easy punch-in recording.

AlphaTrack works on Windows XP and Mac OS X (including Intel Macs) with applications such as Pro Tools, SONAR (4+), Reason (3.01+), Cubase (3.02+), Nuendo (3.02+), Digital Performer (5+), Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, and REAPER. Support for more applications will be added regularly.

In case you're wondering, unless someone lends me a grand for one of the new Euphonix controllers (the four fader one obviously), I'll be buying one of these. DJ.