What are the differences between Control|24 and ProControl?
ProControl and Control|24 are both extremely powerful control surface options for Pro Tools, but there are distinct differences between them. Here are a few guidelines to distinguish the two:
Expandability
ProControl is a larger format, more professional control surface that can be operated by more than one user, if necessary. ProControl can be expanded up to 48 faders plus Edit Pack, so it can handle larger mixes more comfortably and with less banking. Control|24 is not expandable. It is a self-contained unit, fixed at a 24-fader configuration.
Dedicated Editing and Mixing Features
ProControl has a dedicated DSP Edit/Assign section and 8 character LED scribble strips that are able to display more information than the 4-character LCD scribble strips on Control|24. There is no dedicated DSP Edit/Assign section on Control|24, so its scribble strips have to toggle between two display functions: channel strip information and plug-in parameter information.
Surround Mixing Controls
The Edit Pack option for ProControl features two touch-sensitive motorized joystick panners, providing full access to all the surround panning controls in Pro Tools 5.1 software. Control|24 does not provide surround panning capability.
Metering Options
Edit Pack includes 8 high-resolution output meters for viewing up to 7.1 surround mixes, while Control|24 is limited to 6 regular-resolution output meters. Control|24 also lacks the dedicated, comprehensive MachineControl section featured in Edit Pack.
Full Control of Pro Tools
The Edit Pack option for ProControl, with its QWERTY keyboard and trackball, completely replaces the standard keyboard and mouse for computer input. Control|24 users will still need a computer keyboard and mouse or trackball to access Pro Tools commands.
Professional Look and Feel
The components (faders, encoders and switches) used on ProControl are higher in quality than those used on Control|24. Operationally, they will perform in an almost identical manner, meaning the data passed on to Pro Tools is about the same. However, these components on ProControl are substantially more expensive, giving users a more professional look and feel.
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