Thanks Paul. I tried a Platform M+ and ended up returning it after endless conversations with icon. Was considering trying again with the V1M but wondering why I couldn't find any in-depth reviews and then came across your video. Thanks so much you have saved me a big waste of time and money!
thanks so much for this honest review. As others have said, I was also about to pull the trigger, but aside from all the other problems, the fact that I can’t automate plug-ins, is showstopper. Thanks again for making this video.
Thanks for this video Paul. I just got the P1-M for 3 days and is really frustrating, lot of issues, buttons not working, other ones from the panel that fire another command... I thought I was not understanding the unit but watching this video I realized that this units are still not prepared to be in the market. Im gonna return it. Thanks!
Been using Mackie MCU Pro for about 15 years and found that it was getting erratic to realise that 15 years of many production is quite asking for any audio machine! The problem was mainly with the motorised faders and mine were of an lod type that are very hard to find... So i bought a new Behringer X-Touch with no issues. The Mackie was also with no issues, just tired and needed to be retired. I suspect the faderport from Presonus should work very well also. Anything that uses the Mackie MCU protocol will work just fine.
😳.....😅Glad i saw this video and comments about it's performance. Was really loving the looks of this controller and the bigger versions but it goes to show that looks are not everything. Icon apparently didn't want to invest anymore money in R&D i guess and decided to use consumers as bug hunters instead of taking the time to properly test and fix software/hardware issues. I must admit though that i was already skeptical about their controllers and software stability when during their demos it was shown that you have to hold down a specific button when starting up your daw. I was like "oh, looks like their programmers cant figure out how to get the Daw and controllers to immediatly communicate with each other during DAW startup without resorting to an end users physical intervention." They need to fire their programmers.🤨
@@thegreatbrankoniI have all 3 too and they keep getting better over time, there are limits to what they can do I guess. I might be long gone by the time MIDI 2.0 is actually something you can put your hands on.
@@thegreatbrankoni Stop the bull5hit....the SSL UF8 just recently had to update the UF8 because of user issues with the Mackie MCU protocol (which they made videos about also)
Im glad i found this. The main reason im looking at the new icon stuff is the big scribe strips / LCD screen! Im half blind. All the other controllers the LCD is flat and that does not help me at all. I have the old Icon Platform M and it works for the most part. when i did have problem's help took forever. Its to bad this is just what i need or ICON PRO P1-M with the add on screen would be just fine. But by the time you add the screen your got almost $650 bucks in a plastic toy. ATM i just using label tape on the Platform M like the good old days marking a console. I think ssl and softube have the best option for build and stuff just working. Thanks for posting...
Hay, thank you for the review, I had an Icon QCon G2 Pro, and what you covered on your new controller regarding the issues I had exactly the same plus’s a couple of others. Was thinking about maybe giving them a second chance with this controller, absolutely no chance now, it looks the business but performance is very poor. Going to look at the SSL controllers. Keep up the good work
I appreciate your video and views. The meter issue as others pointed out looks like need for firmware fix. I've been using a Tascam US2400 since 2005 (got it 2nd hand for $700), sadly it may be giving out on me. Switching between Cubas and Luna I'm noticing when going back to Cubase it is difficult to connect with my DAW. I hope it's user error, if not I will need a new controller. The icon v1-m was looking very appealing.
New firmware and iMap is out since this video was made. Master faders and Master Meter won't work at all with HUI. It's an HUI thing not Icon. They addressed a lot of items now. I use my 24 channel set up on a Windows machine with Pro Tools have never had any issues with them. I know Logic/Mac seems to have more issues and the new M Macs have also been adressed now.
Going to stick with my X-Touch a while longer. I love the look of these, but I need them to work. Maybe after some firmware updates they will be ready.
Great review -- really helpful. I nonetheless plan to pickup a V1-M given the basic automation. I have a hybrid environment with no dependencies on digital plugins. Basically digital tape :) Also Cubase if that matters. No doubt ICON would appreciate your evaluation.
To be honest, my desk had some really buggy behavior too until I installed the firmware on the primary and subsequent devices. Since then, I’ve not any issues with the faders not giving proper feedback. The master LED doesn’t work which is annoying. The Jog wheel is the only way to adjust parameters on plugins. Outside of a few annoying things I’m really digging this controller
I would be VERY interested in hearing from someone who still has this unit if any of the issues you raised have been resolved. Seems like software issues that could be corrected, and I say that being a programmer myself. I don't use Logic, and wonder if the metering issues are specific to that DAW. I have been using a Faderport 8 for years, it is a bit older but it works for what it does. Using a DAW controller fits my workflow I was seeing the V1-M as a replacement for both it and my Stream Deck, everything in one unit and expandable to 16 channels. But now I am wondering if I am better off staying with what I have, or maybe upgrading to a Faderport 16 even though it is older. Not as advanced, but it has been rock solid for me. I welcome any comments from those who are currently using the V1-M. I currently use Studio One, but am starting to migrate to Ableton. No DAW-wars please, but if you are using the V1-M with either of these DAWs I welcome your thoughts. I have seen the video on Home Recording Made Easy, and hope Dave will post additional videos soon.
Mmm, they're quite expensive, so I'm hesitant. However, as I udnerstand it, Logic doesn't play very nice, but I use Reaper, so maybe it works better, there.
Paul, I don’t want to come across as condescending, but Icon got a really bad reputation with past generation controllers because a lot of people skipped manual reading and blamed the quality of Icon’s products when, in fact, it was their own fault. I’m not saying that is the case here, but MIDI communication is pretty straightforward if you select the appropriate protocol for your device. We, after all, are engineers and we know it takes a little bit of effort to connect two pieces of hardware😊.
Thanks for your comment. I read the manual fully and am confident the issue was not with the configuration. I returned these units and purchased the SSL ones instead. The SSL are rock solid.
not using the mackie old and outdated cause people dont update there daw software system is the answer. daw manufacterers are slack at mackie style updates. Thats said proper scripting i believe is what helps alot on the Nektar unit. i dont believe it uses the mackie control protocol. Driven by Moss is awesome at scripting and fixing some issues with the mackie protocols he does quite a bit of stuff for bitwig and Reaper. i dont use reaper but he shows how reaper displays alot of info and allows you to script reright directly in the daw it self and hes modded the reaper scripting and come up with some amazing color related things .Driven by moss did a video with these icon units explain and demonstrationg things and what hes re written. go hunt it out on your tube i learnt a lot. I use bitwig logic and ableton and alwys use his scripts for bitwig hardware as it truly opens alot of stuff up hes a nice guy and the scripts are always free and a single file you pop in a folder on your system.
WOW just goes to show how experiences can differ. Maybe those issues are DAW specific? I have had none of these issues with Studio One. It has been working flawlessly. Also the one time i had to contact Icon with an issue on my old G2, they were wonderful and prompt in response. I am sorry to see your experience has not been good
ICON “PRO” is NOT a ‘pro’ gear at all. Years ago I had 24 ch Icon Qcon controller for almost 3 years. All this time using it I spent in touch with tech support, launching firmware upgradings and other procedures. To make it short I NEVER had my units working completely. When they fixed a problem, a new one occurred. So I sold them for half of the price. Don’t waste your time making tickets or so. Get rid of it, that’s my advice. Good luck
@@thegreatbrankoni you’re lucky you could do it… I just lost my money and my patience dealing with their ‘engineers’ giving bad firmware to solve simple problems. I just wanted to use the basics: transport, lights, changing banks, things like that. A beautiful but unreliable gear for professional use.
Stop the bull5hit....the SSL UF8 just recently had to update the UF8 because of user issues with the Mackie MCU protocol (which they made videos about also)
I made them aware at the time but their support response was ver slow and only via email. I ended up returning the units before my “cooling off” period expired. I bought the SSL controllers in the end and I’m very happy with them.
I dont have that problem with the meters not fully going down. It may be an midi issue. I installed a midi 3.2 card. So i have faster midi data transfer than standard 3.0
I returned the units as I found the support very slow and frustrating. I went with SSL in the end and I’m very happy with them. Could have been fixed by now, but I really have no idea.
I have always loved the idea of DAW controllers but the problem has always been that it becomes this big thing between me and getting work done. It's supposed to make functionality more accessible, which, on paper, it does, but integration is never perfect and then you start reporting bugs and quirks or just accepting the bugs if they never get fixed. My final conclusion, after trying many controllers, is that "no DAW controller = no dealing with problems = getting work done".
I am discussing this on my channel in my latest video about CS12 vs SSL units - and if we even need those. Feel free to comment - I totally get where you are coming from, that is what I am thinking too sometimes.
I have the V1m that i use with cubase and Nuendo and have lots of issues with mine :( Master outs not showing no colours lots of buttons not doing what they should :( Vert dissapointing :( I have the old model which works much better but the intimation they promised is just not there :( Maybe its just that i am not using it correctly or setup correctly :(
don't own the system and am interested in investing into the eco...wonder what king of connection are you using are you connected usb-c....and are you connect directly in what it looks like your mbp and not splitting signal it could be latency from connection...just a question cause I don't know your complete setup
Correct, I was using usb-c straight into the MBP. The signal was not split. The metering is a known issue I believe. The fader problem….i have no idea. I returned them and bought the SSL kit, which I’m very happy with.
I am using Cubase 12 with the V1-m with a PC and it seems to work perfectly. I will watch this video more closely and report back if there is anything I missed.
Did you try to reach out to their support? I'm interested in the control surface, but I don't want those issues. Apparently, the color issue is well known on Mac.
I reached out to support. Waited 5 days for an email reply which simply asked whether I was using the latest firmware. I replied and then waited another 3 days but got no further response. At that point I decided to return the units.
@@thegreatbrankoni I think your blessed they even got back. I think i still have a open ticket from 2019. lol... They could have a nice product if they worked out the bugs.
@@thegreatbrankoni good on you brother. I discuss that stuff on my channel - in general . Companies that do that are just heists...they grab money and then run and hide...Happens with plugins a lot.
All of this seems to be related to software. Should be able to be fixed with updates. Don't mean to invalidate your video - theres no excuse to release a product without robust software.
I totally agree with you. It’s definitely “just” software but it’s inexcusable to have such obvious bugs on a product costing over $1000. Combined with the lack of support and documentation, my confidence in the kit was eroded and I decided to return the units.
it's the chips too... not everything is fixable...And when the people are the problem, it doesnt matter whether software or hardware. He got no response after 5 days. They wont, and cant, or dont want to update that firmware. Tale your money to where they care about ya,.
If they would just do the work the product would be amazing, I have these units and I’m able to record and mix on them but there is so much wasted potential. They could be THE DAW controller of choice.
Just the "classical" product launch. Great hardware, bad software with rushed releases. Annoying, since it has so much potential. Please keep us posted in case you don't return it.
