There is no doubt that the trackball consoles and the Editor Keyboard from Blackmagic Design are solid devices and ideally suited for DaVinci Resolve. The prices are fair, and for specialised workstations in the film and TV industry they are even extremely affordable. But what about lone wolves who are just starting out in the new world of work, or hobby filmmakers who have already had to spend a lot of money on a sufficiently powerful computer? Are there alternatives to pushing a mouse?
Blackmagic Design does not make it easy for third-party providers, because protocols for controlling Resolve are not published. This is part of the business model, as the development of the complex and powerful programme is co-financed by the sale of hardware. This is why, for example, the popular Loupedeck is not yet compatible with Resolve. But a developer from Amsterdam has taken up the challenge and programmed around the handicap. It took Glenn Venghaus three years to persuade Akai’s APC40 controller, a favourite in the music world, to work with Resolve and The APC40 requires fewer switching operations and provides even more feedback, making the functions of large control consoles accessible as far as possible. This device is durable, equipped with very precise controls and, with its numerous operating elements, requires fewer switching operations(tinyurl.com/ssm9wh6).
Addendum for the online version of this article: In the video below, Glenn Venghaus shows an update that allows the HUD to always be enabled via devices with a web browser.
But it’s even cheaper: even with a version for the small Arturia Beatstep, most of the functions can now be controlled(tinyurl.com/sm2f7y3). The small controller/sequencer from France is popular in the music world and can be found for well under 100 euros. You also need the inexpensive ControllerMate software from OrderedBytes (approx. 30 US dollars) and the Beatstep Resolve Edition. This is available in several versions, and this has to do with the type of control. The software benefits from the fact that Resolve’s graphical user interface can hardly be customised, as it has to be able to determine the exact position of the controls.
This is why there are separate versions for different resolutions and for operation with one or two screens. The Base Kit with just one version is available for 100 euros, two versions for 125 euros and the Extreme version for 175 euros includes all resolutions for one or two screens. Upgrades are also available. We tested in the standard resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 for 27-inch monitors. It is important that Resolve runs in the fullscreen window and that only the icons are displayed at the bottom of the pages without labelling so that everything has its correct place. As MIDI unfortunately does not work identically on all localised versions of the Mac OS, the author offers adapted versions of his kit. Otherwise a German system will not find the connections to Fairlight.
Installation
The first installation is time-consuming, because not only the Resolve Edition has to be installed. First comes ControllerMate and its registration. Here, especially with Catalina, you must ensure that you have the necessary rights to control the computer. These permissions must be correct, as the programme itself cannot provide any warnings. This is followed by the one-off installation of a suitably prepared open source toolkit, which is automatically downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. Now the Beatstep Resolve Edition, which is personalised for each user and, if necessary, updated for further downloads in the event of updates. Finally, you need the free MIDI Control Centre from Arturia to load the templates into the controller and configure MIDI in the Mac OS and in Resolve if you also want to control the essential functions in Fairlight. The installation program creates a RAM disc on the desktop, which you should definitely stay away from.
This complex procedure should not deter interested parties, as a detailed video by the developer explains each step in detail and even describes the remedy for operating system or Resolve errors. In addition, each start procedure checks whether everything is working correctly and issues a warning if necessary. Most of these steps are only required once anyway, as long as there are no fundamental changes to the computer or Resolve. We must also emphasise the excellent support from the developer, who responds very quickly and provides individual assistance. This is an advantage of dealing with small companies, where you are not put through endless FAQs and waiting loops only to be left helpless again at the end. Incidentally, his company is called Tachyon Post (tachyon-consulting.com) – tachyons are hypothetical particles that are faster than light.
Hardware
For the price, the small Beatstep controller makes a surprisingly solid impression. It should also be able to withstand a lot in practice, as musicians are usually not exactly gentle with their equipment, depending on their style. The first thing you should do is print out self-adhesive labels for the keys; the template is supplied as a modifiable Illustrator file and as a PDF, otherwise you would be quite overwhelmed. The software uses the key illumination for user guidance, and the respective assignment of the keys or the rotary control is also displayed when the HUD key is held down. You should largely keep your hands off the mouse and only use it for functions that are not yet controlled by the controller – and there aren’t many of those. The computer keyboard, on the other hand, can be assigned to your own preferences, only JKL and the numeric keys for printer lights should remain unchanged.
Operation
Of course, this includes the entire grading, the parameters in the inspector, most of the cut and trim functions and the controls in Fairlight (MIDI also comes into play here). But Glenn has even recently made the custom curves controllable, as well as the parameters of numerous OFX effects and even the new Cut Page in version 16 is supported (switching from Edit via A/B). Even 5 custom OFX assignments can be created with the controller and its visual feedback, but only for parameters that can also be controlled in Resolve with the centre mouse wheel. Of course, the large rotary knob at the top left serves as a jog wheel and proves to be very useful. MIDI must also be configured for Fairlight. precise when cutting and trimming. It goes without saying that the complex possibilities cannot be learnt in a day, even if the assignments reveal a clear, logical structure. The concept makes it clear that the author is not a programmer with little practical experience, but works in post-production himself. His video (vimeo. com/264606144) is helpful and should be watched as a supplement to this report if you are interested. You may want to download it and watch it step by step, as Glenn Venghaus proudly demonstrates how quickly you can work with the device. But in the end, training is essential, similar to learning to write blind.
Comment
Beatstep or its bigger brother, the APC40, are the perfect solution if you’ve upgraded your computer and don’t have enough money for the Blackmagic consoles, but still want to work smoothly without ruining your wrist with the mouse. The smaller controller is even useful for a laptop on the move. There is really only one catch: the whole thing is only available for Mac OS. There are said to be people who have a Hackintosh machine configured for this reason alone ..
