BitStream Pro Midi Controller
reviewed by tijn, 1 Jan 2001, Add/view comments (13 comments)


RATING: 8/10

Company: WaveIdea (www.waveidea.com)
Price: Euro 529 (incl. 19.6% VAT)

Like: plenty of faders+knobs, ease of use
Dislike: small faders, buttons (now fixed)

Pictures:
full unit -  front -  back -  size/lfo

Reason contains an enormous number of parameters that can be controlled, either by using the mouse, your computer keyboard, or a MIDI controller/keyboard. Just the Subtractor alone has over 80 parameters that can be changed. Originally I tried to control these things using my computer keyboard and my mouse, but this did not make life very easy. I know now, after playing around with the BitStream for a while, that the only way to operate and tweak Reason to its full extent is by using an external MIDI controller.

What do you get

MIDI controllers come in various shapes and sizes, but the BitStream is one of the only ones I have seen that comes with faders, knobs and buttons. The BitStream, which has a metallic case with a clear front panel design, has certainly got enough to control any aspect of Reason. The unit contains:

? 8 faders (30mm)
? 32 knobs
? 8 on/off buttons
? LFO
? LCD

Setup

The BitStream unit arrived at my door in a box containing the unit, and a CD-ROM. The lack of a manual did not really surprise me because these days's manuals are included on the CD. The CD contains the BitStream software, the manuals in English, French, and Spanish, and a large number of demo/shareware software programs. Because I could not wait to try it out, I plugged the MIDI in & out into my soundcard and set Reason up so the BitStream could remotely control it. To my surprise, the unit worked straight away. No set-up, no config, and no need to install the supplied software. Just select the parameter you would like to control in Reason, tick learn from MIDI input, and twist the knob. Within 10 minutes the BitStream could control any aspect of the Mixer, Subtractor and Redrum. This is the benefit of the 1st operating - control change - mode.

Control change mode

In this mode, the faders, knobs and buttons send standard MIDI controller numbers between 000 and 127. A group switch on the unit allows you to select the range of controller numbers used. Group A transmits MIDI controllers 000 - 047, group B transmits 048-083, and group C transmits 084-127.

In total you can operate all 127 MIDI controller messages per MIDI channel. The BitStream allows you to easily switch between the 16 available MIDI channels by using the channel up/down buttons. With the 127 control messages and 16 channels, you could, if you wanted to, control over 2000 parameters. This should be enough for anyone, and it also shows you the limitation of most MIDI controllers. Remembering which fader/knob controls which parameter is a nightmare.

User defined mode

The 2nd operating mode is a user defined mode, and you will need to install the BitStream software to operate this. Two downsides of the software supplied on the CD-ROM - 1) there is no Mac version on the CD (beta version available from WaveIdea), and 2) the installer used for my version was in French. Besides that, the software was relatively easy to operate. It allows you to save a custom config to the unit, which can then be used in live sets away from your computer.

The BitStream, in user defined mode, allows you to include a 16 char description for each controller on the unit. With some tweaking you can therefore overcome the above-mentioned problem, but it is not straightforward. This also brings me to mention one of Reason's shortcomings. Reason does not allow you to save a predefined set of controller messages for say a Subtractor so that each time you create a new unit you will have to set the remote control option for the specific parameters.

In the user programmable mode, MIDI messages can be assigned to all 48 controls. This 24-byte MIDI message can consist of standard MIDI controllers, RPN, NRPN or even SysEx messages. Because Reason doesn't use anything apart from MIDI controllers, I did not really use this 2nd operating mode.

Physical feel

After using the BitStream for a few weeks, overall the controllers feel solid and comfortable. The unit I tested was the first build version. From January, the new build version will be available. The knobs are excellent, and the slight rubber texture gives a feel of control and precision. The knobs also have a good resolution and allow you to exactly go from 0 through to 127. The only downside of so many knobs is that the space between them is not great. On a number of occasions, whilst enthusiastically turning and twisting, I accidentally moved other knobs.

The faders are good and easy to use, although I did expect to see some protection on each side of the fader to prevent food and dust getting into the unit. WaveIdea have confirmed that this is fixed in the units that go on sale from January, which will contain rubber dust covers. This is important if you, like me, eat whilst working. Some people, especially those used to professional mixing desks, will find the faders a bit short. However, in return for the shorter faders you get more controllers, and you are still able to select all of the 127 values, but this does require you to be precise.

I did not really like the buttons and switches used on the unit I tested. The 8 on/off switches felt like they could break, and I was not always sure whether I pressed them hard enough. Again, after speaking to WaveIdea, they indicated that the buttons on their new unit have been replaced by better quality pushbuttons with less course and height resulting in a better feeling. I found the switch used to select the controller group A, B or C not as easy to use as it could be. I would have preferred 3 buttons, 1 for selecting each group. That way you can securely and quickly change between the controller groups.

LFO

One of the unique features of the BitStream is its in-build LFO feature. The LFO enables you to generate Square, Triangle and Sine waves and with the three additional knobs you can control frequency, offset and amplitude. The LFO generated value can be inserted into any MIDI message. However, because Reason has build in LFO functionality, and you could use the Matrix unit to simulate LFO, I don't think this feature is very useful if you only use the unit with Reason.

LCD Screen

Many of today's MIDI controllers do not contain a screen with info about the controllers that you are turning. The BitStream does include this extremely useful feature. Whenever you turn a knob, slide a fader or touch a button, the 2x16 character display shows the current description, the value, the group (A, B or C) and the MIDI channel.

New version

As mentioned, WaveIdea have informed me of the release of their new, updated, unit. This new unit has got better quality buttons, fader dust covers, new ROM version 1.3, future ROM updates with the help of specific software available from the website, and a shift function which enables you to view the settings of a controller without sending MIDI. So overall, they seem to have addressed the minor downsides of the unit I tested.



Conclusion
I am very satisfied with this MIDI controller. It offers all the functionality you need for operating Reason, and it has a number of features, like the LFO and MIDI in/out, that are useful when it comes to operating other equipment. The unit I tested will get a rating of 8 out of 10. With all the improvements made, the new unit would probably have received a 9.