S-3 vs D-Command

[Barry Johns]

Why would you buy an S3, when you can buy a D command used for roughly the same price. Actually a little less for the dark series, and a heck of a lot less for the blue series.

That is the question I'm faced with right now. The other thing that has to be considered, is to use the S3 with ProTools HD, you have to be on the HD support plan, otherwise you don't get any updates to the Eucon software.

[made]

The other thing that has to be considered, is to use the S3 with ProTools HD, you have to be on the HD support plan, otherwise you don't get any updates to the Eucon software.

where did you read that?

I had a hard time justifing the expense while having a nice ProControl collecting dust. If AVID keeps it's promise of adding features to the S3 it might justify the high price at some point.

but the size of the S3 vs. D-Command is unbeatable, EuCon softkeys are a great thing and VCA spill too.

If custom plugin mapping (or custom knobsets) are added the S3 beats the D-Command in my opinion...

[made]

The S3 customers only need to be on a Pro Tools support plan to get the latest features and functionality.

damn it, I just read this myself...

That was not part of the deal when I bought my S3.

I hope it turns out to be a mistake...

But the good thing is, I'm registered to the free iPad app that gives me free EuCon updates so far...

I am confused...

[Brandonx1]

Originally Posted by made

damn it, I just read this myself...

That was not part of the deal when I bought my S3.

I hope it turns out to be a mistake...

But the good thing is, I'm registered to the free iPad app that gives me free EuCon updates so far...

I am confused...

You are going to need updated pro tools software to use new versions of eucon. So if you are signed up for the support plan, you will be stuck and the current eucon version and the current pro tools version .

[made]

You are going to need updated pro tools software to use new versions of eucon

yeah, I get it, but it's a strange logic and a strange way of marketing.
Why open EuCon to other DAWs if you can only get the latest fixes of EuCon with a ProTools support plan... ???

No Cubase, Logic, DP, Nuendo user will ever buy an S3 if they would be forced into a ProTools support plan...

Avid should clarify this before it becomes a weird rumour.

[Brandonx1]

Originally Posted by made

yeah, I get it, but it's a strange logic and a strange way of marketing.
Why open EuCon to other DAWs if you can only get the latest fixes of EuCon with a ProTools support plan... ???

No Cubase, Logic, DP, Nuendo user will ever buy an S3 if they would be forced into a ProTools support plan...

Avid should clarify this before it becomes a weird rumour.

I don't think you need a pro tools support plan for nuendo/eucon updates. Just pro tools/eucon updates. Because when they add a feature to eucon, they need to change the code in pro tools to support that feature. So you will probably need to update nuendo at that time as well which will require you to pay Yamaha?

[Artist PM]

Originally Posted by Barry Johns

The other thing that has to be considered, is to use the S3 with ProTools HD, you have to be on the HD support plan, otherwise you don't get any updates to the Eucon software.

This is partly true.

EuControl and EUCON in the Artist/S3 world are conduits for features delivered by adapters.

You pay for access to adapters when you buy the control surface.

Features in adapters will vary based on a DAW vendors' commitment to development. It is a priority for Avid, so the latest features will always be in the latest version of Pro Tools.

JC

[Barry Johns]

Originally Posted by Artist PM

This is partly true.

EuControl and EUCON in the Artist/S3 world are conduits for features delivered by adapters.

You pay for access to adapters when you buy the control surface.

Features in adapters will vary based on a DAW vendors' commitment to development. It is a priority for Avid, so the latest features will always be in the latest version of Pro Tools.

JC

Today I go buy a $5000 S3. I buy to use with my current version of ProTools HD 11. I never had any intentions whatsoever of joining any support plan in the future. So I will not get any updates to my S3 to be used with ProTools 11 going forward, after the day I buy it?

[Barry Johns]

Originally Posted by Barry Johns

Today I go buy a $5000 S3. I buy to use with my current version of ProTools HD 11. I never had any intentions whatsoever of joining any support plan in the future. So I will not get any updates to my S3 to be used with ProTools 11 going forward, after the day I buy it?

C C C C C C C Crickets.........

[made]

I think Eucon is so complex that nobody can predict where Avid has to do changes to get things working.
So while I'm sure you will get all new EuCon releases for S3, I doubt you get all new features...

Like the PT Mixer is following the controller only in PT12 not 11.
Have to test if VCA spill is in 11...

That's from Avid:

With EuControl 3.3 we’ve also added VCA Spill to S3. There are a couple of powerful ways you can spill members to the surface and even a way to recall the last spilled VCA for quicker access.

We also managed to squeeze in the following fixes including the much requested fix for SHIFT + Fader touch not resetting to 0db!

What’s Fixed
• Shift + Fader touch does not set fader to 0dB (EUCON-2883)
• Meters on VCA strips do not update (appear) when creating a new VCA Master and assigning tracks (EUCON-3652)
• Changing Track meter width in Pro Tools does not update surface meters correctly (EUCON-3667)
• Dragging and dropping applications into EUCON Prefs not working in 3.2.2 release (EUCON-3689)
• Soft Key Icons in EuControl settings are pixelated on Retina displays (EUCON-3486)

OS Compatibility
• Windows 7 64-bit
• Windows 8.x 64-bit
• Mac OS 10.10.3+
• Mac OS 10.9.5

Pro Tools Compatibility
• Pro Tools 11.3.2+
• Pro Tools 12.1+
*NOTE: If you use EuControl 3.3 with Pro Tools 11.3.1 or earlier, meters will not appear on the control surface nor Pro Tools | Control app.