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Reader SurveyEdit Review: FutureVideo MC-20PRO
Sep 1, 2006 12:00 PM, Reviewer: Tom Patrick McAuliffe
Multi-fuction controller commands multimedia attention.
The Media Commander MC-20PRO, which ships this month, is designed for easy control of the Jog/Shuttle dial and function buttons in one reach.
When I'm in the edit suite cutting video or audio projects together, I want control. The more I have, the easier it is to realize my vision and get it done efficiently. There are various third-party Jog/Shuttle controllers on the market; the problem is many of them are dedicated to just one nonlinear editing (NLE) or digital audio workstation (DAW) system. The new Media Commander MC-20PRO from FutureVideo is a multi-functional, programmable Jog/Shuttle controller that aims to put an end to those limitations.
Usable with any Windows 2000/XP-based PC system or application, the MC-20PRO features user-assignable functions that allow an integrated approach to controlling media playback and recording and editing functions. It's a comfortable, flexible device that is customizable to user specifications with 22 assignable keys, the traditional Jog/Shuttle control, internal Flash memory, and USB I/O.
Equipped with three of the most commonly used post-production control functions (keyboard commands, transport control, and Jog/Shuttle operations), the MC-20PRO is a lightweight, ergonomic tool with fully programmable controls at a reasonable price. With the MC-20PRO, you need an optional MC-100 VTR controller for each video tape deck you would like to remotely control. The MC-20PRO controller also features a GPI for triggering and using auxiliary devices that support this protocol. The included KeyAssigner Windows software is an easy-to-use mapping and labeling system for the 180 possible key assignments that can correspond to whatever software function or feature you'd like to assign.
The product includes key maps and templates for popular nonlinear editing software. There are also up to 72 additional assignments for the Jog/Shuttle, which has four dynamic settings to precisely control its feel to the end user. The MC-20PRO's four key sets (Base, Alt 1, Alt 2, Shift) allow you to control and work with four software applications at once. Taken together, FutureVideo's hardware and the software make it easy to set up the unit for the particular software app you are using and the particular way you like to edit. An OEM model is also available for manufacturers and system integrators to bundle with their own editing systems.
I was able to get one of the very first MC-20PRO units, which came pre-configured with the hot-key template for Adobe Premiere Pro 2. That proved handy. There are many other templates for other video-editing programs, including other versions of Premiere, Canopus' Edius, NewTek's VT4 NLE, and the audio apps Vegas and Acid from Sony. The unit comes with a half-dozen pre-printed templates and some blank ones (so you can print your own).
I had some configuration problems on the computer side, but once I upgraded my USB drivers and virtual communications port settings, I was off and running. I loaded the KeyAssigner software and rebooted, and Windows XP's hardware wizard detected the new device.
Controlling Premiere Pro was straightforward. It's as simple as pushing one button instead of several. For reviewing footage quickly and finding audio cues of video match frames, nothing beats a Jog/Shuttle. And with the way the unit is designed, you can easily control the Jog/Shuttle dial as well as reach all the buttons without moving your hand's position.
A few features separate the MC-20PRO from other multimedia controllers. First, there's the ability to custom-configure it to a particular software application and then save out those templates. The ability to have four different key sets onboard at one time allows you to move from, say, an NLE to an audio app to a DVD authoring application with the push of a single button.
FutureVideo’s KeyAssigner software allows the user to assign hot-key evolutions to a single key on the MC-20PRO.
The KeyAssigner software is easy to use, with an interface that looks like the controller's buttons for assigning keystrokes and key sequence macros. Also, whatever template you are using when you power off is retained, so you are right back where you started when you power up again.
The company is also considering setting up an online forum where MC-20PRO users can swap templates as well as discuss the ins and outs of the product. Though callback support was timely and knowledgeable, users helping users around the clock is always best.
For each VTR you plan to control, you will need to add a FutureVideo MC-100 transport controller, which at several hundred dollars can be an expensive proposition. But, the MC-100 does allow you to control up to 16 total VCRs, cameras, DVD players, and audio decks. I did not test this feature because my main use of the MC-20PRO would be as a controller device for computer software applications. I was looking for a solution that would help relieve the stress on my wrists and increase productivity, and I found it.
Although the product is aimed at Windows users, I also ran Adobe Premiere Pro on a Mac G4 running Microsoft's Virtual PC 7, and I was able to custom-configure basic functions for iMovie and ProTools. It would be very wise for FutureVideo to get Mac friendly, as the MC-20PRO would be a godsend to Final Cut Pro users.
A Bluetooth/wireless version will be in demand in short order, I should think. Going wireless would allow me to sit on the other side of the room, (perhaps in a recliner?) and control my entire editing system.
The ergonomics of the MC-20PRO are fine and very solid, but for the future I suggest that FutureVideo try making a version with a molded-in hand imprint or finger grooves to make it even easier to hold in the palm of your hand. But the MC-20PRO is still nice to hold. From the sturdily constucted body with easy push buttons to the smooth feel of the Jog/Shuttle to the KeyAssigner software, the MC-20PRO is a solid addition to your edit desk.
In the past I've mentioned the fact that once you use dual monitors for NLE and DAW work, you'll never want to go back. This product is a little like that. I've used various keyboards, mice, control balls, and power controllers, and this product is by far the most rugged and configurable. FutureVideo has a long history of creating innovative, cost-effective solutions for professional video makers and backs that up with good support. The Media Commander MC-20PRO upholds that tradition. It's a useful, affordable tool that will be well worth the investment for Windows users that edit a lot.
bottomline
Company: FutureVideo
Laguna Niguel, Calif.; (949) 363-1286
www.futurevideo.com
Product: Media Commander MC-20PRO multi-function Jog/Shuttle controller
Assets: Ergonomic design, good feel, fully configurable.
Caveats: Template printing can be challenging but rewarding.
Demographic: Video editors looking for a better human-to-NLE interface and control of multiple programs and decks.
PRICE: $399
Contributing writer and reviewer Tom Patrick McAuliffe is a former member of the US Navy's Combat Camera Group and is also the editor-at-large for Singer & Musician magazine.
To comment on this article, email the Digital Content Producer staff at dcpfeedback@prismb2b.com.
