This Icon iControls review looks at a compact, affordable DAW control surface from Icon Pro Audio. The iControls gives you physical faders, encoders and transport buttons for mixing and recording, so you spend less time clicking a mouse and more time working by ear. It’s aimed at home and project studios that want hands-on mixing control without a large footprint or price.
Icon iControls Overview
- 9 faders: 8 channel faders plus a master.
- 9 encoders for pan, sends or plugin parameters.
- 18 buttons for functions such as mute, solo and record arm.
- 6 transport buttons: play, stop, record, rewind, fast forward and loop or cycle, depending on mapping.
- A joystick for navigation or X/Y control.
- 4 layers (scenes) of control assignments.
- Class-compliant, USB bus-powered, with no drivers or power supply needed.
- 2 USB ports for daisy-chaining extra iControls units or other devices.
Mackie Control Support
Layer 1 of the iControls uses the Mackie Control protocol, which is supported by most major DAWs, including Cubase, Logic Pro, Studio One, Reaper, Ableton Live and others. In Mackie Control mode, the faders, encoders and buttons map automatically to your DAW mixer, with bank switching for larger sessions.
Layers 2–4 are user-definable. Using Icon’s iMap software, you can assign controls to MIDI CCs for plugins, virtual instruments or other software that supports MIDI learn.
Faders and Encoders
The faders are short-throw and non-motorized, which keeps the price and size down. Because they aren’t motorized, they won’t move by themselves to follow DAW automation or recall positions when you switch banks. Many DAWs offer pickup or takeover modes to avoid sudden jumps. The encoders are useful for pan, send levels and plugin control.
Using iControls in Your Workflow
Recording
Transport buttons let you start, stop and record from the controller, which is handy when recording yourself away from the computer screen.
Mixing
Physical faders make static balancing and level rides more natural. Moving several faders at once is far faster than clicking them one by one. For mixing workflow tips, see our DAW workflow for mixing sessions.
Plugin Control
Using the custom layers, you can map encoders and faders to synth or effect parameters for hands-on tweaking.
Build and Size
The iControls is compact enough to sit beside your keyboard or laptop. It’s mostly plastic, as you’d expect at this price, but it feels sturdy for desktop use. The joystick adds flexibility for navigating or controlling two parameters at once.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable hands-on DAW control.
- Mackie Control support for broad DAW compatibility.
- Compact and USB bus-powered.
- Custom layers via iMap.
- Daisy-chainable for more channels.
Cons
- Non-motorized faders don’t follow automation.
- Short-throw faders offer less precision than full-size ones.
- No display to show track names or values.
- Mostly plastic build.
Who Is the Icon iControls For?
- Home producers who want physical faders and transport on a budget.
- Laptop producers with limited desk space.
- Anyone moving from mouse-only mixing to hands-on control.
If you want motorized faders and displays, a larger control surface is the step up. If you need keys and pads too, see our guide to the best MIDI controllers.
Setting Up the Icon iControls
- Connect via USB. The unit is class-compliant and bus-powered, so it appears as a MIDI device straight away.
- Add a Mackie Control device in your DAW. In your DAW’s control surface settings, add a Mackie Control (or Mackie Control Universal) device and select the iControls as input and output.
- Test the faders and transport. Move a fader and press play to confirm the connection.
- Set up custom layers. Install Icon’s iMap software to assign controls on layers 2–4 to MIDI CCs for plugins and instruments.
- Save your setup. Keep a consistent mapping across projects so the controls become muscle memory.
Tips for Mixing With Non-Motorized Faders
Because the faders don’t move by themselves, they can disagree with the on-screen values after you switch banks or load a project. Check whether your DAW has a pickup or takeover mode, so a fader only takes control once it passes the current value. It’s also a good habit to glance at the on-screen mixer before making large moves. For level rides on vocals or leads, record automation in “touch” or “latch” mode, then refine it with the mouse if needed.
Verdict
The Icon iControls is a practical, affordable way to get hands-on control of your DAW. Mackie Control support makes it easy to set up, and the custom layers add flexibility. If you can live without motorized faders, it’s an excellent value starter control surface.
Icon iControls vs MIDI Keyboard Controllers
Many MIDI keyboards include a few faders and transport buttons, so you may wonder whether you need a separate control surface. A keyboard controller is built around playing notes, with mixer control as a bonus. The iControls is dedicated to mixing and DAW control, with more faders, encoders and buttons laid out like a mixer. Many producers use both: a keyboard for playing and the iControls for mixing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Icon iControls work with my DAW?
Most likely. It uses Mackie Control on Layer 1, which is supported by most major DAWs.
Are the iControls faders motorized?
No. They’re non-motorized, so they won’t move to follow automation.
Does it need a power supply?
No. It’s USB bus-powered and class-compliant.
Can I use more than one iControls?
Yes. Its USB ports allow daisy-chaining to add more control.