Presonus FaderPort

[Igotsoul4u]

Anybody try it with protools?? Looks pretty cool. Hopefully it doesn't suck.

[Loudnoize ent.]

Yeah I'd like to know as well. Thx...

[RusRant]

Not with Protools, but I have had no issues with it. It is the best thing I've bought recently.

[MWPROJECT]

IT seems to work pretty well in Logic. I'm having a few issues with PUNCH mode, marker, and my footswitch working properly though. User and output button is unfunctional until the firmware update is available.

I'll keep you posted on whether the other stuff is resolved.

[scdafunkyg]

Yeah, I am interested in picking one of these up as well. Judging from the competition, Frontier Designs is building one as well. However, the interesting thing there is that their "Fader Port" does not require a separate power supply for the motorized fader, everything runs off of USB power, even the motorized fade. However, the Frontier Designs seems way more elaborate in it's functionality. I am looking for the most basic and simple route. I travel around alot with my laptop and I wonder if Presonus has any plans to avoid me having to lug around yet another wall wart????!

[RusRant]

I actually returned mine. It worked great, better than mouse by far. But all but the fader I could do from the keyboard. I bought a track ball and that works better for me. OH well.

[Igotsoul4u]

i picked it up and i like it. Its not super detailed as far as response time but its a billion times better then the mouse or manually writing in data. I'm diggin it and it seems to work fairly well althought the usb connector was acting up do to a very loose fit.

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by Igotsoul4u

i picked it up and i like it. Its not super detailed as far as response time but its a billion times better then the mouse or manually writing in data. I'm diggin it and it seems to work fairly well althought the usb connector was acting up do to a very loose fit.

what do you mean response time? like a lag between movement of the fader and corresponding fader in the DAW? how long is the response time?

how does the overall build quality feel? metal box or plastic? do the buttons feel like they'll break in a year? could you drop the box off your desk and expect it to survive?

how's the fader? smoothe? heavy-enough feel (not shitty plastic like 002 faders, for example?)

thanks!

--jon

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

what do you mean response time? like a lag between movement of the fader and corresponding fader in the DAW? how long is the response time?

how does the overall build quality feel? metal box or plastic? do the buttons feel like they'll break in a year? could you drop the box off your desk and expect it to survive?

how's the fader? smoothe? heavy-enough feel (not shitty plastic like 002 faders, for example?)

thanks!

--jon

I don't really notice any lag with the Fader Port. It is build very well (yes, I think it could survive a drop from your desktop) and the fader feels fine. I use it with Nuendo and all the functions work. Great little box. Jon, come on by and check it out if you like.

Originally Posted by scdafunkyg

However, the interesting thing there is that their "Fader Port" does not require a separate power supply for the motorized fader, everything runs off of USB power, even the motorized fade.

Not true, it does need an external powersupply just for the motorized fader, everything else works off USB power.

[scdafunkyg]

Michael,

I was referring to Frontier Designs' Alpha Track. It does not require a power supply fo r the motorized fader.

[Igotsoul4u]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

what do you mean response time? like a lag between movement of the fader and corresponding fader in the DAW? how long is the response time?

how does the overall build quality feel? metal box or plastic? do the buttons feel like they'll break in a year? could you drop the box off your desk and expect it to survive?

how's the fader? smoothe? heavy-enough feel (not shitty plastic like 002 faders, for example?)

thanks!

--jon

The construction seems really nice except for the USB port which I haven't had trouble with since I got a longer USB cable and taped it down. The box is plastic but with the rubber feet it feels very solid on my desktop. I am guessing it would take a fall and be just fine. The buttons are plastic and should last. The fader itself feels good and is what I expected it to be. It feels better then the DIGI002 and most other digital mixing boards. Its pretty smooth overall.I think the response time thing could be in my head. Its probably me not used to grabbing a fader. I basically put it right into action while I was in the middle of a mix so I didn't really want to go crazy with it and end up screwing things up. I felt like I was maybe mixing with my eyes more then my ears. I was getting some levels and it seemed like the number wouldn't change like it did on the ICON i am used to working on. On the ICON the level value would change immediatly when touching a fader where the presonus did not. Like I said, need to live with it more to figure out if its just in my head. By no means is this something that will keep me from using it constantly. I will be able to start from scratch on my next mix and that should give me a better feel for it.

[kmshroom]

ICON (both D-Command and D-Control) definitely has a MUCH quicker response time than this thing. Anything that's Ethernet-based is going to be WORLD'S faster than a USB device. All USB control surfaces have varying degrees of lag (depending on how well they make it, of course!). Less w/ Firewire (such as 002).

[RusRant]

There is a slight lag time when making fader moves, but it's very, very minimal.

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by scdafunkyg

Michael,

I was referring to Frontier Designs' Alpha Track. It does not require a power supply fo r the motorized fader.

Sorry, misread your post. Any idea when the Frontier box is going to be on the market? Looks interesting.

[T9c]

The website says Jan., so maybe Feb. by the time it's distributed well. I like the display. Something the FaderPort doesn't have. I wish they had these USB transports a few months ago when I bought a doggone Mackie Control. I was just looking for another transport to keep at the desk so I could simultaneously use my Tranzport in the tracking room. Moving it back and forth, such a pain...
Still, the MCU has been a great addition to my setup.

[George Necola]

here is a video about the frontierdesigns Alphatrack

http://www.frontierdesign.com/Products/AlphaTrack/Demo

cheers

[George Necola]

Faderport:



Alphatrack:

[mwagener]

Hmm, my Faderport looks different, must be an old photo

[RusRant]

Hmmm, thats pretty nice looking. Like the extra knobs and LCD screen.

Originally Posted by mwagener

Hmm, my Faderport looks different, must be an old photo

That wasn't a photo, it was a drawing... More like this?

[H-Rezz]

Man that Alphatrack looks awesome, love the LCD , now where was my credit card again

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by Lou Judson

That wasn't a photo, it was a drawing... More like this?

Yes, thanx. Man that's a pretty good drawing

[piano]

I just picked up a faderport a few days ago and spent 15 straight hours recording one of my students for a CD for the Juilliard School of music.

With that many takes, I put the faderport though a beating.

Overall it is a FANTASTIC little box. I love the light up buttons!

I recorded in Logic on a G5. In 15 hours straight there were no audio pops (that I detected) or crashes.


It has a few quirks......
1) Powered by USB and a wall wart for fader movement.
2) In Logic you can not use the assignable "user button" or the "output button" - I never had the need for them --- but it would be nice to use (promised in a future update)
3) When I bounced down the tracks Logic would not recognize the Faderport. (Not a big deal at that point)

I love to see that fader movement.

Highly recommended.

[Bdiggy]

I'm curious if the Frontier would be harder to see in less than perfect lighting especially the transport buttons. It kinda reminds me of the Apple black keyboards... i hated those. Are they backlit? I wonder. I like the additional controls at the top. Does the Faderport also support paramater control of plug-ins?

Thanks!
Bdiggy

[Bdiggy]

Went ahead and bought the Faderport last night. So far I like it alot except for the panning resolution. Need more time with it though. Pretty darn cool so far.
So nice to ride a fader again....I know I'm showing my age.

Peace
Bdiggy

[Chris Kress]

Using it in Nuendo, there is native support. It does not use HUI mode or Mackie Mode.. The fader response is pretty close to if not equal to a digidesign console.. The video demo on the Frontier web site shows their units fader looking pretty slow to respond and follow automation.. Who in the world is going to use those knobs for EQing??

For Nuendo, I cant imagine a better unit that the Presonus. The buttons are solid and light up. I do wish the panning were a little more responsive...

[Bdiggy]

Did some more mixing with it this afternoon and I'm loving it. I'll never go back.
How much was that D control?

[Tony Shepperd]

I have been using the Faderport for about 3 weeks now. It's awesome, I love it!
I don't know why Digidesign didn't build and sell something like this with ethernet. They are missing a huge market.

[Bdiggy]

Tony,

Whats funny is that I and a friend commented 2 years ago while doing 12 hour mix days how much we would love to have just one fader to write with. Why oh why didn't I invent this darn thing...next time I guess. Glad your liking yours.

Bdiggy

[Killahurts]

Does anyone know what the resolution of the fader is on the Presonus, or even the Alphatrack?