The Behringer X-Touch Compact is the largest model of the newest USB MIDI controller series. This controller can be used with all MIDI capable devices or relative software and offers connection with DAWs via the Mackie Control Mode. This creates countless possibilities and uses such as a light controller or for quick access to synthesizer filters in live operation or as a classic control console for recording. The Dual-Mode offers something very interesting. All parameters are placed at your finger tips and can thereby communicate with the first level of light control software for example, as well as control a second DAW.
Behringer X-Touch controller adds a whole new dimension to your music production, by giving you more hands-on control over the most important parameters. With the HUI and Mackie Controller support, the X-TOUCH is compatible with all professional DAWs and every fader, knob and button is fully assignable.
The X-Touch is equipped with nine 100mm faders (eight channels and one master) that are not only touch sensitive but fully motorised so will follow any automation written in your DAW. Each of the eight channels has an customisable LCD Scribble Strip which allows for information about the channel and parameter they are controlling to be stored for quick navigation and simple recall of settings.
Each channel also has a fully assignable rotary control with an LED collar to show current value. The X-Touch has 92 illuminated buttons in total, ranging from dedicated mute, solo, record and channel select buttons on each channel strip, to transport controls and global channel type buttons. There is also a large LED timecode display to show exactly where in your projects timeline you are.
With the addition of Ethernet connectivity for RTP (Real-Time Protocol), MIDI and expansion, the Behringer X-Touch has everything you need to get a more hands-on control of your studios virtual elements, with the option to expand as your studio does.
Feels like a professional console, excellent faders and buttons. All MCU features implemented, feels snappy and reliable! Only downside : no coloured scribble strips in MCU mode :(
I use this with Cubase 10 pro, Both this and the X-touch compact I have are great, solidly built (even if the faders sound like a 1980's teleprinter) I got the compact first, but this is much more useful mainly due to the automatic labelling, and it actually does speed up workflow and can do quite a lot if you figure out how. Now here comes the but... Behringer's support is non existent, there is effectively no manual, Behringer's online videos are adverts and are little practical help, and if anything give an inaccurate impression of what the machine can do. The only way you will figure out how to get the most out of this thing (about 4/5 of the features Behringer hints at will eventually work in Cubase when you know how) is to spend hours scouring the internet for what other users have posted, fortunately there are some people out there who really do understand it and are willing to share, though it takes a while to find them. Why Behringer cant be bothered is beyond me, although the claim is that this a) this uses standard MC protocol and it's Steinberg's fault they wont talk, and b) with the many systems out there it would be too much to expect Behringer to provide implementation advice, or customisation for them all - both of these claims seem pretty flimsy to me. This is a great bit of kit - if they would only help people to be able to use it, it would be peerless.
It's a Mackie Control, stop yer whingin.
If you must have somethin to criticise, the jog-shuttle seems to be a bit rickety on all of them. A huge plus would be an in depth guide to navigation of the unit and its parameter pages on PDF. You'll spend 4 or 5 days cursin at it before you find your way around. Then, in 3 month's time, you'll find what you had concluded just wasn'y in it.
Don't listen to me... It's a good bit of kit.