Neyrinck have released a new version of V Control & V-Control Pro. But V-Control Pro 2 is way more than an upgrade of V-Control Pro.  Paul Neyrinck has rewritten it from the ground up to produce a controller platform that works with Pro Tools, as well as other DAWs like Logic Pro, and Cubase and is an open platform ready for other controller manufacturers to jump on board.

V-Control Pro 2 - A New System

V-Control Pro 2 is a completely new system that provides a new way for controllers to connect to DAWs like Pro Tools, giving you control of your projects using almost any device. You can adjust the mix at a live show with your phone. Tap your watch to start recording from a drum set. Set up a 32-track mix console with two tablets. Use a laptop to get a large time counter display. 

To achieve this Paul has created a new infrastructure, and a new licensing module. Instead of buying an app in the app store, apps are now free.  You pay a license for the configuration software that lives on the computer that runs your DAW for which you pay a fee of $49.99 per year. The license can be activated on a computer directly or an iLok USB key, depending on your preference. 

Built On Core Control

Core Control is the new technology designed by Paul Neyrinck to be at the core of this new platform. It was partly driven by the fact many users contacted him asking for features that were impossible because of antiquated, proprietary control protocols. To break out of these, Paul created the Core Control system to solve these problems. Core Control was inspired, in part, by ASIO, CoreAudio, and MIDI. These technologies enable different brands equipment to work and play nicely together and Core Control has been designed to do the same for DAW controllers. Paul has made Core Control an open-source system that uses standard technologies, which means the end of proprietary protocols and a new beginning of control innovation.

Legacy V-Control Pro 1 Support

V-Control Pro 1 for the iPad is fully supported by V-Control Pro 2 and does not require you to buy a license to continue to use the original V-Control Pro app. So existing users of the V-Control Pro iOS app can carry on using it without spending any more money. 

To use V-Control Pro v 1.9, just download and install V-Control Pro 2 and connect just like you did with Ney-Fi previously. Don't worry that the Ney-Fi App now is called V-Control Pro 2.  It will all work just as before without you having to spend anymore money.

At any time in the future you can optionally purchase the V-Control Pro 2 license to get new features such as 32-track control, smartphone control, and Android support. But no existing user is being forced to 'buy their app again' or spend more money to keep what they have got. Neyrinck have made sure that existing users can continue to use V-Control Pro just like they have being doing without having any issues or spending more money.

Windows Support

Unfortunately the Windows users will have to wait a little longer to be able to access the new system of for existing users to be able to update their plug-in. Neyrinck are hoping this will only take a couple of days.

If you are a Windows user, and updated your V-Control Pro app, even though we understand that the notes did advise that the update wasn't supported for use on Windows, then as long as you have a backup of your iOS device, you can roll back and restore your iOS device to a backup that pre-dates when you upgraded V-Control Pro. Unfortunately with the way Apple has designed, built and runs the iOS App Store, if you don't have a backup there is nothing that can be done. You will need to wait the couple of days until Neyrinck have resolved the Windows support for their new software.

So What Do We Get With V-Control Pro 2?

By creating an open platform, Paul has resolved a number of restrictions that were in previous systems.  The first one is you can now have multiple devices and apps feeding into one system. With the app on the computer, in Pro Tools you can allocate up to 32 tracks to be controlled by a range of apps on different devices, including iPhone, iPad, Android devices, in a web browser using V-Console and using a Slate Raven. So James for example could have his Raven and an iPad in the control room and an app on his smartphone with one fader and transport functions in the drum booth with him.

Secondly Paul has created this open platform so that other controller manufacturers can support and access this platform and access Pro Tools and other DAWs.

Controller Apps

V-Control Pro 2 uses controller apps on mobile devices, browsers, and MIDI hardware controllers. You can install one of several apps on your device, available via the dedicated V Control Pro website. V-Control Pro will connect them to the DAWs on your computer such as Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic Pro, and many more.

V-Console, for example, provides an eight or sixteen track bank of faders, mute, solo, and full transport control. V-Panner will provide two surround panners to work with Pro Tools and V-Remote will provide basic transport control with the Apple Watch.

Because V-Control Pro 2 uses the open Core Control system, new controller apps can easily be created for new and existing applications. 

Controller Devices

Because V-Control Pro 2 is built using standard web technologies, many kinds of devices can control media applications on your computer. In terms of hardware the new platform supports any combination of iOS, Android, MIDI, Computer Browsers and the Slate Raven.

The support of MIDI Controllers opens up this platform in all kinds of ways. It is possible to create maps for all kinds of MIDI devices. Once created they could be shared.  Wouldn't it be nice if there was a user section on the new V-Control Pro 2 web site where users could upload MIDI mapped profiles for a range of device?  It might even be possible to bring back some unsupported controllers, wouldn't that be cool?

Connect Controllers To Media Applications

V-Control Pro 2 runs as a menu-bar application on your Mac computer (Windows coming soon). It automatically connects applications such as Pro Tools, Cubase, and Logic Pro to controller apps and devices. The Setups window shows all your devices, applications, and connected setups. It also provides powerful custom configuration for MIDI controllers. You can configure multiple devices for up to 32 tracks of mix control. Unfortunately because of the limitations of the way Avid structure the HUI access, it is only possible for this new platform to access 32 tracks on Pro Tools, but you have complete freedom on how you choose to allocate the different tools and devices to access those 32 tracks. Paul explained to me that you could have 2 iPads accessing the same tracks in two different spaces for example.

V-Control Pro with Pro Tools and Avid Surfaces

V-Control will operate with these control surfaces. Pro Tools does supports using V-Control Pro together with ethernet controllers such as S6, D-Command, C24, and Pro Control. But there are a number of limitations users need to be aware of....

• If you have V-Control and an Avid ethernet controller then the two controllers are always banked to the same channels and V-Control Pro is banked to the left eight channels of the ethernet controller. In addition, the plug-in editing in V-Control Pro will be disabled.
• Pro Tools does not transmit metering to V-Control when it is used in conjunction with another Avid controller.
• The Control 24 only allows one additional MIDI peripheral to be used at the same time. This means you can either set V-Control as one HUI controller or one surround pan controller.
• To enable the V-Control Pro to operate as an independent controller you can temporarily disable the ethernet controller in Pro Tools.

Want to Know More About V-Control Pro 2?

Paul and his team have set up a dedicated website with loads of information, setup guides, installers and tips and tricks to get you going.