M-Audio Hypercontrol Heaven
By Paul Dakeyne
| Posted in Music Technology
Literally ‘mouse free’, full DAW transport integration, flexible control over mute, pan and solo’s, easy track selection with non-jump volume sliders… selection, launch and full parameter adjustment of plug-ins and virtual instruments, rotary manipulation and responsive drum pads.. shall I go on?
My previous post here was highly anticipating the Axiom Pro 49‘s arrival. What I hadn’t fully expected was the overwhelming kick ar*e quality of M-Audio’s latest software. Still on a re-familiarising learning curve with Pro Tools (M-Powered), I embarked on experimenting with Hypercontrol using one of the pre-loaded ‘personalities’ for my workhorse DAS, Logic Pro 8. After connecting the Axiom with a USB cable (no drivers necessary on a Mac) and initialising in Logic’s ‘control surface’ preferences, it was good to go.
Hypercontrol operates in two modes: ‘Mixer’ and ‘Instrument’. In Mixer mode, track selection (in banks of 8 or individual) alongside mute and solo are quickly accessed at the touch of a dedicated button. The ‘transport’ controls work effortlessly and efficiently enabling start, stop, FFWD, rewind, cycle and record whilst ,using soft button access, the selection of inserts, sends and EQ is executed (aside from enabling a ‘send’ in a tracks channel strip, still no mouse used to this point).
On top of all this, the Axiom rotary encoders handle track panning and scrolling through plug-in choices. Let’s take a selection of Logic’s Tape Delay here for example. By hitting ‘edit’ this gives access to pretty much all the adjustable parameters the plug in requires- feedback, high cut, groove, flutter, dry/wet mix – you name it. Writing automation from hereon in is gonna be a dream.
After loading a virtual instrument into a channel, we now move into ‘Instrument’ mode. With no ‘click and midi learn’ necessity (Hypercontrol addresses everything thrown at it – so far, no exceptions), the hard/software combination again instantly addresses every parameter you wish to get all ‘hands on’ with. I loaded up an instance of one of my fave VSTi’s and within minutes, I found myself recording automation passes I’ve never before achieved. It really is both ridiculously simple and creatively satisfying. Moments later, I’d created a new ‘pad group’ and was hammering out beats via the Axiom drum pads in no time at all – fun or what?!?
All this communication between user and software is handled in the small, but clearly readable (reversible colour palette) Axiom screen. The semi-weighted keys are a joy to play. The pitch bend, mod and data dials are tactile and accurate in their response, and the build quality and aesthetics are top class. Definitely, the best purchase I’ve made in the last 12 months 
Tags: axiom pro, Controller, DAW, hypercontrol, logic pro 8, m-audio, pro tools, virtual instrument
Hi, my question is: is the axiom keyboard action as good as, for example, the studiologic vmk161 organ\’s one?
In other words: is that action one of the best we could have today in a master/controller keyboard?
How much better is than the previous axiom series?
Sorry for my english
Thanks
Giacomo
Giacomo