Blue Cat's Remote Control
by Blue Cat Audio · Utility · Virtual MIDI control surface
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Remote Control is a virtual MIDI control surface for controlling and monitoring MIDI-controllable plugins and hardware.
It comes in 16, 32 and 64 parameter versions with response curves and a skinning language for custom layouts; it costs $49.
Best for: Sound Design. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: MIDI-controllable, metering, synths, undo/redo, sound design, transparent, utility.
What it does
Remote Control is Blue Cat Audio's "virtual MIDI control surface and monitoring tool." It puts a panel of knobs, faders and switches inside the DAW that send MIDI CC to other plugins or external hardware, and shows incoming MIDI values.
- Control and monitor: drive MIDI-controllable plugins and external devices in real time, and watch CC values on meters and curves that show how a value changes over time.
- Control types: knobs, faders, switches, meters and 2D joystick-style XY pads that move two parameters at once.
- Sizes and skins: 16, 32 and 64 control versions (up to 64 controls per instance) and 30 built-in skins.
- Response curves: set a custom curve for each control, and remap incoming CC to other numbers or channels with different curves.
- Automation to MIDI: turn DAW automation lanes into MIDI CC messages, or turn incoming MIDI into automation, with custom control names shown in the automation lanes.
- Custom surfaces: build your own controller layout with Blue Cat's KUIML skinning language, with transparency and 70 to 200 percent zoom.
- Workflow: MIDI learn, undo/redo, a presets manager, preset recall by MIDI CC or Program Change, and no CPU load when bypassed on silence.
The developer's page lists version 3.12 (September 2024). It works at any sample rate and is also in Blue Cat's All Plugins Pack and Crafters Pack. The demo allows up to 5 instances and regularly bypasses the plugin for half a second.
Source: Blue Cat Audio product page
When to use it
Remote Control is a MIDI control tool, not an analyser: unlike Insight 2 or SPAN, it does not measure audio, it monitors and sends MIDI values. It is the better pick when you want to drive a hardware synth or a MIDI-only plugin from DAW automation, with one named panel of controls instead of raw CC lanes. Compared with drawing CC data in the DAW's piano roll, it gives you labelled knobs, response curves and XY pads that the host can record and automate. Unlike a tablet app such as TouchOSC, it runs inside the session and needs no extra device. The catch is setup time: mapping a big panel by hand takes a while.
- Best for: building an editor for hardware synths that have none, controlling several MIDI devices from one panel, and converting automation to CC.
- Genres: any; most useful in hybrid hardware and software setups.
- Look elsewhere if: your DAW already gives you good MIDI CC lanes or a dedicated editor exists for your synth.
- Tip: check that your host can route MIDI out of a plugin before buying; the plugin needs it to reach other instruments.
What producers say
Reviewers see it as a niche tool that is very useful for people who need unified MIDI control, but fiddly to set up.
- MusicRadar (version 2.0, 2008) praised the unified MIDI CC control, skinnable panels and scalable response curves, calling it "a real lifesaver" for the right user.
- Sound On Sound described it as a way to create "a front end for a device that has none" or run several devices from one panel.
- Criticisms: MusicRadar found it "fiddly to set up" and confusing at first; its complaint about missing Program Change control has since been addressed.
Where to buy
- Best Service: $46.07
- Blue Cat Audio: $49
- Plugin Boutique: $49
- PluginFox: $49
- AudioDeluxe: $49
Tutorials and reviews
- Blue Cat's Remote Control, The Virtual Control Surface Plug-In In Action
- Blue Cat Audio releases Blue Cat's Remote Control 3.1 - Virtual Control Surface Software
- Blue Cat Audio - Remote Control
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