S3 MAJOR design flaw

[Sonopolis]

Yesterday I had the chance to play around with the S3 to try out a couple of things that I had questions about. As expected, the S3 is much more solid than the Artist series controllers, especially the rotary encoders are of better quality, you can actually use them to adjust EQs, Compressors and Pan. Still I'd like to have the ability to set the acceleration of the knobs.

That being said, the S3 software seems to be in early Beta stage. Some severe bugs, lots of illogical choices and inconsistencies. Even worse, so many not implemented features and so much wasted possibilities like blank encoders and green-only multi-colored LEDs. Not to mention the cumbersome Eucon software with its late '90th interface.

Well, so far I saw a chance to have a really nice mid-class controller, if they'd get the software right someday.

But when trying out the automation one thing struck me that makes it basically impossible to use this controller as a professional mixing desk. It's been mentioned before that the placement of the Select and Rec/Auto keys is unfortunate. I know that this was designed as a live-mixing console, but these buttons between the faders are absolutely essential if you don't want to use a mouse. The problem is, it is definitely impossible to use these buttons without touching a fader. So when you're in Latch mode and want to drop out of Automation-Write on a channel or select that channel to view a plug-in window, you will always touch a fader and write automation.

I really don't know what to make of this. For me this makes the S3 essentially useless. The only possibilities I see, is to swap out Mute/Solo with Select/Rec via a preference or - maybe better - to introduce an Automation Mode in the lower row of encoders.

But with all the already missing features can't see this happening.

[LukeHoward]

Originally Posted by Sonopolis

Yesterday I had the chance to play around with the S3 to try out a couple of things that I had questions about. As expected, the S3 is much more solid than the Artist series controllers, especially the rotary encoders are of better quality, you can actually use them to adjust EQs, Compressors and Pan. Still I'd like to have the ability to set the acceleration of the knobs.

That being said, the S3 software seems to be in early Beta stage. Some severe bugs, lots of illogical choices and inconsistencies. Even worse, so many not implemented features and so much wasted possibilities like blank encoders and green-only multi-colored LEDs. Not to mention the cumbersome Eucon software with its late '90th interface.

Well, so far I saw a chance to have a really nice mid-class controller, if they'd get the software right someday.

But when trying out the automation one thing struck me that makes it basically impossible to use this controller as a professional mixing desk. It's been mentioned before that the placement of the Select and Rec/Auto keys is unfortunate. I know that this was designed as a live-mixing console, but these buttons between the faders are absolutely essential if you don't want to use a mouse. The problem is, it is definitely impossible to use these buttons without touching a fader. So when you're in Latch mode and want to drop out of Automation-Write on a channel or select that channel to view a plug-in window, you will always touch a fader and write automation.

I really don't know what to make of this. For me this makes the S3 essentially useless. The only possibilities I see, is to swap out Mute/Solo with Select/Rec via a preference or - maybe better - to introduce an Automation Mode in the lower row of encoders.

But with all the already missing features can't see this happening.

I don't find it too bad. I think it depends on your hand size (mine are small but pretty chubby!). But you're right, you do need to be careful not to bump the adjacent fader.

[Sonopolis]

Originally Posted by LukeHoward

I don't find it too bad. I think it depends on your hand size (mine are small but pretty chubby!). But you're right, you do need to be careful not to bump the adjacent fader.

Mine are small, too. No, seriously I want to see the person who can get through a mix without accidentally writing fader automation when pushing one of these buttons.

[Norrie]

Can't say it's been a issue for me at all and my hands are not small.

[bcwiz]

And the meters on the left side of the fader instead of the right as in the software. Ha!

[Sonopolis]

Originally Posted by bcwiz

And the meters on the left side of the fader instead of the right as in the software. Ha!

Yes, that's very irritating too. But at least this does not make write unwanted automation

[Norrie]

Originally Posted by bcwiz

And the meters on the left side of the fader instead of the right as in the software. Ha!

I don't find this a issue when I am mixing with my S3 I am looking at the S3 not the computer screen

Have you been hands on with one ?

[Dizzi45Z]

Originally Posted by bcwiz

And the meters on the left side of the fader instead of the right as in the software. Ha!

Having owned an S3 for about 5 months now, I have to agree. I always have to remind myself which side the metering is on for which fader since it flips between the software mixer and the control surface.

[Logichead]

I started reading this link since I am considering an S3. Has the software caught up yet or is it still in development?

Thanks.

Best...H

[EddieJones]

There have been over 10 software releases since the start of this post with many features added and 100's of bugs fixed...its a completely different product now....