Icon Pro Audio’s Nadir Omowale takes us through the company’s range of USB-MIDI controllers
Icon’s DAW controllers are designed give you accurate, precise control over all of your music and recording projects. Despite the obvious benefits of recording and mixing with a Digital Audio Workstation, many producers and engineers will know that nothing beats having a set of faders in front of you, especially if you cut your teeth on a traditional mixing console.
Balancing levels, panning instruments, recording automation – all of these studio tasks can really benefit from the tactile, hands-on control offered by a control surface.
In this video from NAMM 2020, Icon’s Nadir Omowale take us through the full range of USB-MIDI control surfaces on offer from Icon Pro Audio.
Watch the Icon DAW Controllers Overview from NAMM 2020
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Take Control Of Your DAW
Acting as the missing link between the traditional, hardware-based recording studios and modern, software-based setups, Icon’s controllers offer a dedicated set of tools for hands-on control when you’re recording and mixing.
Each controller in the Icon range can be used with either a Mac or PC and supports many of the most popular DAWs, including ProTools, LogicPro, Cubase/Nuendo, Ableton Live, Reaper, Studio One, Adobe Audition, Reason and FL Studio. A set of included overlays shows the default shortcut keys for each DAW, and customised MIDI maps can be created using Icon’s iMap Software.
A selection of different sizes and modules are available to suit any setup, from the full-sized Icon QCon Pro X (with large angled meter bridge); the medium-sized Icon QCon Pro G2 (with flip-up display); and the compact, mobile Icon Platform M+.
All three base controllers can be expanded up to a maximum of 32 channels, with additional sets of 8 faders giving you the freedom to add as many channels as you need. All controllers and extenders feature the same rugged build quality, with 100mm motorised faders at 10-Bit resolution for precise control over levels and automation.
Each channel features illuminated buttons for track select, solo, mute and record arm, and a range of function and shortcut keys make light work of the most common recording tasks like saving and loading projects, and switching between automation modes. A transport section with jog wheel and play controls allows you to easily navigate your projects, set up loop points, and zoom in and out.
Both the QCon Pro X and QCon Pro G2 can also be set to a specialised ‘Plugin Mode’, which enables the use of the faders, buttons and rotary encoders to control plugins like EQ, Compression, Reverb and other FX.
Find out more about Icon DAW Controllers
Wireless control via Bluetooth
As touched on in the above video, the single-channel Platform Nano can also now be controlled wirelessly via an optional Bluetooth adapter, turning the Platform Nano into a ‘Nano Air’.
Communication with the host Mac or PC occurs via a USB stick, with power provided by an optional battery which fits into the underside of the unit. The optional D3 Display can also be added to provide additional info while tracking.
The Platform Nano Air will be available in the coming months as an all-in-one unit, with existing Nano users also able to upgrade their device.
If you’d like to know more about Icon Pro Audio DAW Controllers, give us a call on 01727 821 870 to speak to one of our team.
You can also contact us here.