Automated Faders vs Manual Faders

[grobichaud]

Hey everyone... I was wondering what peoples take is on whether it makes a difference if the control surface they are using for mixing has automated faders or manual ones? I see that there is a huge price gap depending on the size of the console of course but does it actually make a difference after you have been using it for a while?

examples:

Automated:

PreSonus FaderPort | Sweetwater.com
JL Cooper Fadermaster 4/100 | Sweetwater.com
Euphonix MC Mix | Sweetwater.com

Manual:

Evolution UC-33e | Sweetwater.com
Novation ReMOTE ZeRO SL | Sweetwater.com
CME Bitstream 3x | Sweetwater.com

[XirRec]

The main difference between automated and manual faders is that automatic ones are used with DAWs.

When you use a DAW like pro tools, and you are using an automatic control surface, and you adjust the levels in Pro tools instead of the control surface, the faders will slide to their new position.

WHen you have manual faders, and you adjust levels in Protools, then the faders will not synchronize with you DAW, and that can cause problems...

Bear in mind that you can still control automated faders manually...

[Benmrx]

Originally Posted by grobichaud

Hey everyone... I was wondering what peoples take is on whether it makes a difference if the control surface they are using for mixing has automated faders or manual ones?

IMO, yes it makes a big difference. For one, with only manual faders you can basically forget about using "touch mode", which for me is the most commonly used automation mode.

[GZsound]

I have recently started using a console with automated faders and I must say it's pretty neat.

Especially if using the console for mixing. Using manual faders was sometimes difficult because of having to remember fader moves throughout a song. With the ability to set and recall scenes and motorized faders, it's a matter of getting it right and being able to duplicate it easily.

Of course, mixing ITB with automation and envelopes makes automated faders oboslete.