Pro Tools and Presonus Faderport

[bradch00]

Originally Posted by albee1952

I am still miffed that they removed the buttons for selecting MIX/EDIT windows)

No kidding! Thank-you, I thought it was just me.

[Ben Jenssen]

Thanks, everybody.
I'm still going for it.

Originally Posted by smurfyou

Well the Command 8 is still supported by PT unlike the Pro Control. So V-Control doesn't apply here.

Yes, so I really don't see what good it would do me. Just another piece of software, not that cheap either, for me to waste time on, configuring.

Originally Posted by smurfyou

Ben the Command 8 is much more integrated and functional than HUI. And much greater fader resolution.

Presonus says faderport is 10bit 1024 step, whatever that means. And C8 and HUI are both basically midi protocols, so are you shure?
It seems to me, from my research, that I will have almost all functions that I have now on the C8. (Except the mix/edit window button which doesn't bother me, as when I want to see those windows, I'll be using the mouse, anyway.)

Originally Posted by smurfyou

You should still be able to do a custom plugin map.

Are you saying that even if the plugin maker has implemented the parameter map, that I won't see it on the Faderport because of HUI?

Originally Posted by smurfyou

Just like with C8 if you use Eucon you'll lose metering.

Ah, bugger. I was hoping that wasn't the case.

[Ben Jenssen]

I only just plugged it in, set it to use HUI, set it up in 'Peripherals' in PT, took me about two minutes, and it looks very good. Even the small LCDs that I worried would be too small, seem quite OK.

First thing I did was to insert a Avid 1-band EQ, hit 'Plugin edit' on faderport, and it works! Phew.

I do notice, however, some lag in both gui faders and physical faders. Not much, so I'll see how it goes.

[Ben Jenssen]

Dave, and others: about the mix/edit window buttons - it's on the track buttons. From the special Protools section of the user manual:
1. Audio / Inputs. Press to view Mixer window. 

2. VI / MIDI. Press to view Arranger window. 

3. Bus / Outputs. Press to view Transport window. 

4. VCA / FX. Press to view the Plug-in window. 

5. All / User. Press to view the Session Setup window. 

(Arranger window here = Edit window in PT)

[smurfyou]

Originally Posted by Ben Jenssen

Are you saying that even if the plugin maker has implemented the parameter map, that I won't see it on the Faderport because of HUI?

No, I was saying you should be able to create a custom one. I thought that's what you were asking.

[albee1952]

Thanks Ben! I'll check that out as soon as the unit arrives. Seems they were a bit more obvious on the original FP In any case, enjoy those 16 faders! For me, my desk is too small

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by albee1952

Thanks Ben! I'll check that out as soon as the unit arrives. Seems they were a bit more obvious on the original FP In any case, enjoy those 16 faders! For me, my desk is too small

The buttons are on the faderport 8/16 but not on the single fader v2.

[Ben Jenssen]

Aftersome exploring, here's a few findings:

I was expecting more characters in the display, but no. The names of tracks are abbreviated to four(!) characters. In setup situations and such I can see that many more characters are possible to display and more lines of text.

When in 'plugin edit mode' only four(!) parameters are displayed at a time, and the number of pages of PI parameters grows to dusins. But at least the parameters are easier to read than on the C|8, because there is less abbreviation.

The two issues above, I expect is due to limitations in HUI protocol, and it makes me doubt the decision I made to move from C|8 to this.

The basic stuff with levels, panning and sends work fine, and it's of course nice to have 16 instead of 8 faders.

There is a 'midi mode' feature available at the touch of two buttons, which is supposed to turn eight of the faders into regular midi cc controllers. I can get into that mode, but I can't get any VI or plugin to react to it. (I thought maybe I could use that mode to control plugins, and create my own midi maps.) (I have enabled the extra midi mode 'device' in peripherals in PT, so I don't know what's wrong.)

The layout is fine, nice visibility, and I could be quite satisfied with this unit if it hadn't been for the two issues at the top of this post.

I might just return to the C|8, and sell the faderport to someone who can use it with StudioOne or logic and get my money back.

[albee1952]

Re the midi mode, did you check to see if the plugins offer a midi-learn function? I know that MiniGrand and DB-33 both have this as I have used both my Akai Advance61 and(formerly) a VOCE midi drawbar box. It was as easy as right-click on the plugin parameter>select Midi Learn>turn a knob or hit a button on the controller. It will be a bummer if the FP doesn't meet your needs. Maybe its time to look at S1, S3 or maybe a used D-Command?

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by albee1952

Re the midi mode, did you check to see if the plugins offer a midi-learn function? I know that MiniGrand and DB-33 both have this as I have used both my Akai Advance61 and(formerly) a VOCE midi drawbar box. It was as easy as right-click on the plugin parameter>select Midi Learn>turn a knob or hit a button on the controller. It will be a bummer if the FP doesn't meet your needs. Maybe its time to look at S1, S3 or maybe a used D-Command?

Shure, I have tested mini grand, and I enabled some parameters, and the rotary kontrollers on my midi keyboard work fine. The problem is on the FP, it just says 'MIDI MODE', and nothing works, faders do nothing. Could be something silly.


S1… well, I really like to have transport on the controller…
D-command… that's too much for me.