I have been using this control surface for a few months now, after upgrading from the original mackie control universal. This one is awesome! To be perfectly honest, this newer version doesn't bring that much for features to the table. One of the most notable is the fact that connectivity is now a lot easier. With this version, you can connect the mackie control universal plus three other expansion items, whether the extender pro or the plug-in controller C4, all with a single USB connection. You only have to connect the expanders to the main MCU unit with MIDI, and then the MCU can hook up to your computer via USB. This makes for a lot less cabling and mess on your desk. The look and feel of the unit is definitely a lot more sleek and professional now, and the LCD screen displays have been imrpoved. They are now easier to read and are angled so the whole set up is a lot more ergonomic. A nice thing about this control surface is that it is basically customizable to all major host platforms. The faders and panpots are obviously all going to work with any software, but the host specific interface and transport buttons can be programmed to work according to your specific host. Mackie even includes plastic overlay sheets that label the buttons properly for your given host. The faders on this unit are very sensitive in a good way, and are thankfully pretty quiet which reduces distraction when you have automated faders and you are trying to mix. Overall, this control surface is a great fit for me, and allows you to finally have some tactile control over your software in a way that makes sense. This unit is pricey still because it is relatively new, but get yourself one of these and a few extenders and you won't regret it. Best control surface on the market right now.