To Dock or not to Dock?

[Tyranor]

Hi everyone,

In a couple of months time I'm planning to buy S3. I'm an editor and want to have faders so I can quickly adjust levels, panning etc.

But I'm not a mixer. At least at the moment. Would love to mix in the future though.

In that regard, do I need too buy a Dock with S3 or just S3 will be enough? A friend of mine have both and he is happy with the setup. But he is a re-recording mixer. On the other hand, I spoke with a mixer from big Post facility and he basically said that he thinks that Dock is pointless, all you need is an iPad with PT app instead.

Would be interesting to hear your feedback about it, especially from those who use Dock in conjunction with S3. Is Dock useful/irreplaceable or after some time you think you could have done without it? Would it be useful for an editor? Did Dock speed you up? Did Dock improve your workflows? If so, in what way?

Overall I quite like the idea of S3+Dock, feels in some ways as budget S6 but at the same time not only I need to buy the Dock but also an iPad.


Thanks in advance for any feedback/info.

[albee1952]

Kind of a tough call for anyone else to make for you. I would suggest getting an iPad and experimenting some. A used 2nd gen can be found for less than $200 and while it may NOT be compatible with the DOCK,(Avid recommends an iPad air2, I believe), it still runs the PTControl app fine(so you can get a good idea of what goodies are addressable from the iPad). In theory, the S3 can do nearly everything without the DOCK, but the DOCK does add a lot of handy control(focus fader, automation modes, transport.....). In any case, it will change the way you work if you dig in deep enough. Having worked for several years without faders, I added an Artist Mix here and find I don't reach for it nearly as much as I thought I would(old habits die hard).

also, take a look at the Presonus Faderports(the older single-fader model still gets plenty of use here) and the new Faderport8 has a lot going for it for a fraction of the S3(in fact, the DOCK, with a new iPad 2 AIR and the Faderport8 is still less than just the S3)

[SteSo]

In my case the dock was an absolute gamechanger in terms of Automation, Shortcuts and working with layouts and groups. As I'm often have large sessions, this makes it very comfortable to keep it under control. The grouping and recall of tracklayouts is maybe done with PT-Control as well. Automation absolutely not.
I'm using the Dock with Artist Mix. On the Mixes I mostly have my VCA's. VCA spill let's me think about buying an S3, too. But as albee wrote, maybe it's the best way to start with the iPad and look how things workout.

[reichman]

The Dock rocks. I am a mixer, so I'm constantly on it doing automation mode changes, Preview, Punch Preview. I'm on the knobs all the time, and the absolute best thing about the Dock is having the wheel in "Move Sel" mode. You'll wonder how you ever used Pro Tools before.

Even when I'm just editing the Dock gives my Back and Play, mark in and out, transport, etc.

My suggestion would be to buy the Dock first, and then see if you need S3.

[EddieJones]

Originally Posted by albee1952

take a look at the Presonus Faderports(the older single-fader model still gets plenty of use here) and the new Faderport8 has a lot going for it for a fraction of the S3(in fact, the DOCK, with a new iPad 2 AIR and the Faderport8 is still less than just the S3)

I know I work for Avid ;-) But...you can't compare a FaderPort8 to a S3...its night and day...16 knobs, VCA spill, Layouts, Softkeys, integration with the Control App/Dock and continual feature additions (as opposed to HUI). The lower cost alternative Controllers have their place, but there's a reason the S3 costs what it does.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by EddieJones

I know I work for Avid ;-) But...you can't compare a FaderPort8 to a S3...its night and day...16 knobs, VCA spill, Layouts, Softkeys, integration with the Control App/Dock and continual feature additions (as opposed to HUI). The lower cost alternative Controllers have their place, but there's a reason the S3 costs what it does.

I certainly agree with you. I was just offering some "budget" options that might do the job the OP needs

[Jazzbass56]

I Agree with Reichman's comment, I would get the dock first, then the S3

[Maro Records]

Originally Posted by EddieJones

I know I work for Avid ;-) But...you can't compare a FaderPort8 to a S3...its night and day...16 knobs, VCA spill, Layouts, Softkeys, integration with the Control App/Dock and continual feature additions (as opposed to HUI). The lower cost alternative Controllers have their place, but there's a reason the S3 costs what it does.

You're right, but S3 also costs so much because it is also interface, has audio In and Outs, which are used by ... maybe 5% of all owners in the world, and rest pay a lot for nothing. Why Avid doesn't want to put on sale something reasonable wich would cover this hole between S3 and Artist Mix???
Or even better - something ala fader packs for Dock (8 faders/channel strips) which would cost even less than Artist Mix. I'm sure this would be a commercial hit for Avid - every owner of Dock would consider buying at least one right away, and also this would make many many new customers of the Dock... Well, that's my wishes and thoughts 😉

[EddieJones]

Totally agree, I think a user should be able to chose the audio interface.

[reichman]

Maro: S3 is the surface that fills the gap. For years, people said "hey Avid, we need something between the Command|8 and the C24!"