Had some more time with the S6 the other day.

[Drew Mazurek]

Some random thoughts:

1. shipping units are A LOT nicer than the prototypes I last saw at AES. Everything about them is better. The faders, switches, all displays, even the "finish" of the modules themselves. It has a serious high tech look and feel to it. The Master Touch module is solid now and takes all the touches with a solid feel now.

2. the software has come a long way as well. Still some major things to do, but they seem to be on track to meet the 1 year goal of making it do what ICONs do.

3. The Master Touch module seems to be a game changer in navigating sessions. Meters Universe View and the track matrix (Pro Control anyone?) make getting around super fast.

4. over 300 S6s have been sold in the first 8 months.

5. I see no point in getting an M10. Save your money up for the M40. Sucks, but I can’t see buying this thing without having the option to get the TFTs. (There might have been talk about plugin GUIs eventually getting onto the TFTs and/or touch panel )

I REALLY hate the way Avid creates artificial boundaries between product lines. It’s disrespectful to customers IMO.

6. The Master Touch Module is running Windows 8, and each module is actually a little computer running Linux!!

I’ll add more as it comes to me.

[Brandonx1]

Why do you think the tft's are a necessary? What's the main advantage? I normally only care about metering on the output channels, I don't need the scrolling waveforms because I'. Going to put a screen where the tft's are. What else am I missing?

[Drew Mazurek]

Originally Posted by Brandonx1

I'm going to put a screen where the tft's are. What else am I missing?

That's what I thought at first as well.

But when you see it in action, it changes things. They can display super hi-res metering for level and GR. They can show EQ/Dyn curves. They can do the scrolling waves which a regular monitor just isn't a substitute for IMO. Are they vital? I guess not, but I wouldn't not get them without first working with them.

Then there's the future. With AAX, the algorithm has been separated from the GUI, allowing cool new things like showing plugin GUI on the TFTs.

[Tom Graham]

Originally Posted by Drew Mazurek

Some random thoughts:

1. shipping units are A LOT nicer than the prototypes I last saw at AES. Everything about them is better. The faders, switches, all displays, even the "finish" of the modules themselves. It has a serious high tech look and feel to it. The Master Touch module is solid now and takes all the touches with a solid feel now.

2. the software has come a long way as well. Still some major things to do, but they seem to be on track to meet the 1 year goal of making it do what ICONs do.

3. The Master Touch module seems to be a game changer in navigating sessions. Meters Universe View and the track matrix (Pro Control anyone?) make getting around super fast.

4. over 300 S6s have been sold in the first 8 months.

5. I see no point in getting an M10. Save your money up for the M40. Sucks, but I can’t see buying this thing without having the option to get the TFTs. (There might have been talk about plugin GUIs eventually getting onto the TFTs and/or touch panel )

I REALLY hate the way Avid creates artificial boundaries between product lines. It’s disrespectful to customers IMO.

6. The Master Touch Module is running Windows 8, and each module is actually a little computer running Linux!!

I’ll add more as it comes to me.

Glad that you came back for another look and that you like what you see. As far as your comment regarding 'artificial boundaries' being created by Avid, you are of course entitled to your editorial opinion, but to be clear, the M10 vs M40 Master Modules are in fact different physical hardware with different processing power and are designed to do specific things. Just like the D-Command and the D-Control are different products with different functionality at different price points - so are the M10 and M40 systems. The S6 really does give more functionality and choice at roughly the same price point as ICON (which was priced in 2004). Also, there is a cost to design and further develop the software for the Display Modules (in fact version 1.2 just had a big set of improvements to the DM's) and that is part of the M40 system being more expensive.
For some customers - they may not need the extra visual feedback the DM adds and won't have to pay extra for that. You value the functionality of the DM's and it seems like a better fit for you.

[Drew Mazurek]

Originally Posted by Tom Graham

, but to be clear, the M10 vs M40 Master Modules are in fact different physical hardware with different processing power and are designed to do specific things.

Tom,
My understanding is that they are both Windows 8 touch screen computers. It's also my understanding that each module is a self contained linux "computer" that handles its own business, so to speak. So what exactly is it that is different in the M40 that allows it to control 8 workstations, 40 modules, and the TFTs, that the M10 couldn't be made to do?

Forgive me, but I find it hard to believe that those differences aren't "designed" in. Or maybe I am a cynical MF'er. Surely whatever the difference is, it's a few hundred dollars worth of stuff?? I'm curious.

[Stereo Missile]

Originally Posted by Brandonx1

Why do you think the tft's are a necessary? What's the main advantage? I normally only care about metering on the output channels, I don't need the scrolling waveforms because I'. Going to put a screen where the tft's are. What else am I missing?

Hi Brandon,

I opted to pay the significantly more for the m40 system to get the TFT displays, after using it you will get a better idea. The main thing for me which is so obvious that it is often overlooked, is that having the colour coding and scrolling waveforms on the TFT makes it super fast to find which channel you want. Instead of having to try to read the small text on the channel LCD next to the pan knob, you can just glance at the TFT and you know where you are in the session and which track is which. When you are banking through channels it makes it really fast as well to find exactly what you want.

Another little feature which is cool with the TFTs - when you spill out a plugins parameters over the knob module in expand mode, the TFTs display on the bottom all of the parameters in their positions so it's much quicker to find what you want. And of course when you page through the parameters it updates. Sounds like a small thing, but again it allows you to see what is where without leaning over the board to read the LCDs on the knob module.

For automation passes as well, you have the visual feedback of the waveforms for each channel right where you need them and can work faster. You don't have to try to match up which channel is where between your edit screen on your computer monitor and the channels on the board.

I would suggest trying both and see how it works for you. For me after working with the TFT's I just had to have them.

[Drew Mazurek]

Don't forget editing on the TFTs Steve!!

[Tom Graham]

Originally Posted by Drew Mazurek

Tom,
My understanding is that they are both Windows 8 touch screen computers. It's also my understanding that each module is a self contained linux "computer" that handles its own business, so to speak. So what exactly is it that is different in the M40 that allows it to control 8 workstations, 40 modules, and the TFTs, that the M10 couldn't be made to do?

Forgive me, but I find it hard to believe that those differences aren't "designed" in. Or maybe I am a cynical MF'er. Surely whatever the difference is, it's a few hundred dollars worth of stuff?? I'm curious.

The hardware/processing power are different in the units and the M40 is designed to handle the load of those extra modules and all that is happening with the MD's. Even if it is only "a few hundred dollars worth of stuff" as you say, (and I am neither confirming or denying that it is), that's not the point. As I said earlier there is a cost to develop and keep developing cool features like scrolling waveforms, channelstrip editing, etc… For roughly the same price as a D-Control (which really was the gold standard a couple of years ago for Control Surfaces) - you get even more visual feedback and better/more customizable metering. That has a real value - not an artificial value. I hope this makes sense and we can move on.

[Drew Mazurek]

Originally Posted by Tom Graham

I hope this makes sense and we can move on.

yeah, you can't fight city hall!!