Cubase 9.5 PRO and MACKIE Ultramix Automated Mixing

[altruistica]

Over the last thirty years I've used most home recording type gear in professional and semi-professional environments.
I moved from analogue to MDMs in the 90's and have used most of the hardware DAWs made by Roland, Akai and Yamaha as I never liked mixing on a PC. I've had a plethora of analogue desks over the years and have now settled on a system that has a Soundtracs Solo mixer as the bridge between analogue and digital. As such I record to a Fostex G24S 1" reel to reel, then digitise the recordings via 3 Behringer ADA8200 via a RME HAMMERFALL 9652 ADAT card. Once digitised I can then run Cubase as a tape recorder perfecting the mix using the Ultramix system ( a VCA system that sits on the Soundtracs Solo insert points.), before turning the G24S back on for a final mix pass. Now you may think me mad for wanting such a clunky system, but the sound of tape (even 1") with an analogue desk (and this desk in particular) adds a compression and bass end that kicks. I've never been able to mix digital signals that achieve the same punch or ability to 'gel'. The problem is this.

Because the Ultramix is such an old system, the software won't run well on Win 10. I have got it to run of a fashion using Windows Compatibility settings, but it isn't stable. I can run it on a laptop using Win XP but that means editing the mix data using the original software which was never updated or barely finished and in comparison to Cubase isn't a patch. So after fudging this for a while it got me thinking that the best results would be made by harnessing the Ultramix's best bits (the Ultrapilot control surface and the 19" rack's VCAs) and trying to use the midi data within Cubase or a VST editor that would run in Cubase. Using Midi-Ox I've identified the data that the Ultrapilot kicks out and now need to use something like Ctrlr.org to design something to fit. Problem is I'm a real novice at something like this. Is there anything within Cubase itself (I remember making simple editors in Cubase 3.1 forAtari...does the PC have something similar?). I don't really want to simply map the Ultrapilot onto Cubase's mixer as this wouldn't allow me to send the data out for a final mix when playing the G24S (I think?).

So has anyone any ideas on a way forward?

Thanks,
Al

[Kwackman]

I can't find much info on Ultramix, so I'm guessing a bit here.
But, I assume you run Cubase, and use the Ultramix software to change levels?
How do you actually change the levels? Is it using a mouse (or controller) on software faders?
If so, why not just use the Cubase mixer instead?
When you're happy, you can change the Cubase channel to listen to the incoming signal (your tape machine).
This means you go through a single A/D & D/A process, but keep using the soundtrax as you do now?
TBH, Once the audio is in Cubase (from the Tape machine) you might find just using The Cubase "audio" with the Soundtrax at the end will give you the same result?

[altruistica]

Thanks for the reply Kwakman.

The Ultramix system has a 16 fader 'Ultrapilot' (think of a Mackie 8-buss console with 16 100mm faders packed into an A4 size 'console') and a 19" 'brain' which has send and return jacks for 34 signals (32 and a stereo master pair). By connecting this unit to your consoles inserts, you have control of mutes and volume via the automated VCAs within the brain. The Ultrapilot instructs the Ultramix (19" rack) and the whole thing is recorded in software on a Win XP laptop. The original software was designed for Win 95 and received the barest of updates one Win 98 and XP appeared. This all operates by control change messages and probably a little bit of Sysex for saving setups etc.

The Soundtracs desk is an inline design where you can have 32 tape returns (I only need 23) and 32 line/mic sources all a routed to the mix if you want. This means it's ideal for simply bringing the line level digital sources in from the computer (from the dump from tape to comp), fashioning the mix, then firing up the tape machine. By selecting 'MIX' on each channel of the desk the signal paths of tape returns and Line are flipped and the tape tracks now follow the main channel path and via the channel inserts into the VCA automation path and out of the stereo bus. The beauty of it is that there is no D-A conversion going on apart from the stereo mix which I do flirt back into Cubase at the moment.......but may well get a 2-track mastering tape machine at some point.

I've spent a few hours today with CTRLR (which hurt my head) but it looks like it might be the solution.

[seon]

Old topic but I have a Soundtrac solo midi 32channels and I recently bought an ultramix with ultra pilot so I’m interested too.
Actually I’m on macOS and I managed to convert the original software in an Mac app using the softwares “wine” and “wine bottler” but I haven’t tried to hook up the whole system as I need a power adaptor for the ultramix first. I just know that I can open the soft on my MacBook pro but I’m not even sure the ultramix will be recognized.
Have you been able to find something since your last message ?