2 S3's: Yeah I know

[KeyplayerG]

I know that it has been explained that there are too many issues with cascading 2 S3's (in a master/slave relationship), to build a 33 fader setup (the 33rd being the dock). What I don't understand is WHY!

Cascade technology is over 20 years old! You can link DA7's, 02R-96's, DM2K's, DMX R-100's and that's back in the 90's and early 2000's! The ARTIST SERIES, which is your "bottom of the line" controllers have the same tech out to 36 faders (1 Control + 4 Mix units).

So WHY is it so difficult to apply that same technology, that already works with a single S3 + Artist Series (Transport), to 2 S3's?

Another thing I've been thinking about, since we can't have cascade tech on the 2 hardware units, is WHAT ABOUT VIRTUAL FADERS? The Roland VS series (VS880, VS1680, VS1880 & VS2480) have offered virtual tracks since the 90's. Couldn't Avid offer a version of that for the additional faders with a simple bank button?

I'm not talking about the bank scroll, I'm talking about a "Bank File." If we're on Bank "A" we're scrolling on Faders 1 - 16 up and down the mixer. But if we're on Bank "B," we're scrolling on Faders 17 - 32! Problem solved. You've still got your small footprint of a 16 fader Space with 32 (or more faders, since you're essentially just using a patch bay concept to activate which grid the hardware controls. So, why not 48 faders with a "C" Bank?) faders.

The biggest advantage there is that you're now not limited to 16 fader layouts! You could make a 24 fader layout with a simple toggling between banks. People doing pop records might not see a need for layouts exceeding 24 faders. But people doing film score work will definitely understand this need!

I'm not trying to star any fights or anything. I just don't get what is so difficult about solving this issue, since you guys already solved it in the cheap stuff. You're not "reinventing the wheel!" You're just "adding a trailer hitch!"

[uptheoctave]

To get you to buy an S6.

[KeyplayerG]

Originally Posted by James Richmond

To get you to buy an S6.

Well, you've got a point there. But, as anybody shopping for S3s is, clearly NOT in the same pricing strata of those purchasing an S6, maybe some consideration to those actually trying to purchase an S3 could be given.

[uptheoctave]

...

[EddieJones]

As I have said elsewhere, we would love to sell 2 x S3's but the work involved is substantial. Comparing it to other cascades is not really fair. If/when we do this it has to be reliable.

[KeyplayerG]

Originally Posted by EddieJones

As I have said elsewhere, we would love to sell 2 x S3's but the work involved is substantial. Comparing it to other cascades is not really fair. If/when we do this it has to be reliable.

That is my question! A comparison to EUCON CASCADE (Artist Series) seems fair to me. What is so different?

[EddieJones]

Quite a few things...from an extra row of knobs to vca spill

[Macsearcher]

Originally Posted by KeyplayerG

That is my question! A comparison to EUCON CASCADE (Artist Series) see.s fair to me. What is so different?

I've owned both and I can safely say that the S3 is in an entirely different class than the Artist Mix.
It's lightning fast and reliable. There's still some things that would make it better but it seems to me that most of these things can be addressed in firmware and software updates and are more related to Eucon than the actual hardware.
The Artist mix sat mostly unused for the most part as I felt there was too much menu diving involved.
I have a hotkey assigned on my mac to launch my screensaver and I now spend most of my time mixing from the S3. Love it.