It includes everything from MIDI controllers and mixers to dedicated DAW controllers. Keep in mind that the definition of a “control surface” itself is hazy. Fine changes and automations, always hard to do with the mouse, feel tighter and more intuitive when you do it with a control surface. Most importantly, a control surface brings back, well, control to your production. Panning feels more natural when you have a rotary knob to do it. It adds a layer of intuitiveness to your production that a keyboard or mouse or even a MIDI controller can't offer. There comes a point in every producer's journey when intuitiveness and speed trumps everything else.Īnd at that point, you should invest in a control surface.Ī control surface essentially brings your DAW out of your computer screen and onto your desk. Using a complicated multi-key keyboard shortcut to switch tracks isn't the same as tapping a single button to do the same. Dragging the mouse does not feel the same way as dragging a fader to control the volume.

While these can suffice, they're hardly intuitive. From switching tracks to controlling the volume, so much of it happens with the mouse and, sometimes, the keyboard.

As a producer, so much of your time is spent fiddling around with your DAW.

What is control surface