Blue D-control in 2017

[Peppi]

Hi Guys,

First post here, long time reader

while the "end-of-life" date is coming near (aug 2018), a lot of D-controls are finding their way to the used market.

Do you think it's still a good idea to buy an old D-control, and what price would you pay for it?
(Does anybody has any intel in how long they will continue to work in PT?)


best regards,
Peter

[YYR123]

No one knows how long they (Icon Blue Series Controllers) will be able to work in PT. Avid will most likely not break it intentionally (it should last a long time since the x64 but jump already happened)

Is it a good buy? Depends for you....I got a D Command this past year and it's a wonderful controller and I am thrilled with it.

They are super functional and really stable and well built surfaces.

If the price is right, go for it....

[remotedude]

Blue D-Controls have been EOL for quite some time now. The black ones are just about reaching it. Having said that we are still using D-Control's on 12.7 with no issues at all. I think they will continue to work for quite some time. And if you can get a D-Control that hasn't been abused, has some spare parts to go with it, you can have a great controller for quite some time. I still like getting around on it better then the S6. Just lays out better for me.

[Peppi]

Does anybody know what the exact diffences are with the ES version?
I've read something about a different comm board an multi-mode.
Would it be possible for avid to disable the Blue's while the ES might still work?

Thanks,
P

[Drew Mazurek]

Originally Posted by Peppi

Would it be possible for avid to disable the Blue's while the ES might still work?

Thanks,
P

Can't imagine that happening. It's the protocol and the D Control profile in the Controllers folder in PT that allows it to work. I suppose it's possible that one could experience a bug or quirk that the other doesn't because of the differences you noted, but I highly doubt one would work and the other not.

[remotedude]

The big differences were the comm boards and PSU's. Having said that many Blue D-Controls I've worked on had updated comm boards and PSU's. Updated comms allowed for multi users. The PSU's are self explanatory. Just a bit better designed for longer term use. Faders, knobs, etc. were all the same. The color was changed when post houses complained that the original was too "happy". Or that was what I was told from AVID people.

If a D-Control fits your work flow and you can find a well taken care of unit, I think it would be a good option. Really depends on what you're doing with the surface.

[PTPerson]

I bought a D-Control end of 2015.

Added another 16 faders to 48 faders and working sweet with 12.7.1

It's amazing, I adore it. Having come from SSL and Euphonix boards, I think the D-Control is a beast.

Do it.