Avid S3 Still A Good Buy Tail End of 2022?

[Chevron]

Seriously considering getting an Avid S3 for our studio, and have done a lot of research on the S3 control surface/ audio interface and it looks great.

Mildly considering 2 x Avid S1s too, but the S3 just seems like a more elegant surface with the extra knobs and buttons.

We won't use the audio interface side, which seems to add to the cost - but I guess it would be cool as a backup, and maybe a good option if working remotely with a Laptop and a set of headphones.

Any reason to rethink getting an Avid S3?

[Dizzi45Z]

I still love mine and would have a hard time functioning without it. I can see why you would hesitate not knowing if a new S3 might not be coming out around the corner. Perhaps look to buy one used or refurbished at this point?

I personally like that I don’t have to attach iPad screens to the S3 and I hope that a new version doesn’t follow the S1 approach.

[its2loud]

Sales of the Avid S3 ceased on 31st of December 2021. Avid will support the S3 until Dec 31st 2026.

[JFreak]

My only gripe about S3 is that level leds are on wrong side of the faders.

[Chevron]

Originally Posted by Dizzi45Z

I still love mine and would have a hard time functioning without it. I can see why you would hesitate not knowing if a new S3 might not be coming out around the corner. Perhaps look to buy one used or refurbished at this point?

I personally like that I don’t have to attach iPad screens to the S3 and I hope that a new version doesn’t follow the S1 approach.

Thanks, the S3 sure looks like a great controller and the tablet holder is a put off for me on the S1.

If I understand it correctly, having plugins like the Avid Channel Strip parameters easily displayed across the top row of knobs looks super useful.

Originally Posted by its2loud

Sales of the Avid S3 ceased on 31st of December 2021. Avid will support the S3 until Dec 31st 2026.

Thanks for those dates. Curious what will happen after support ends.

[reichman]

Thanks for those dates. Curious what will happen after support ends.

Based on recent history with ICON and Artist Mix and Control, my guess is that S3 will continue to work with the latest Eucon software long after 2026, it just won't be tested or guaranteed by Avid. New features will come out that won't appear on S3. Regarding the hardware, that will be trickier. We'll probably be able to buy new faders from Digikey after 2026, but buttons and OLEDs might be issues.

It's a great surface, and I intend to mix on it for as long as possible.

[JFreak]

^what he said.

Even those super nice ICONs still working, but I fear Apple Silicon is a barrier that bricks them. I hope I am wrong, though. With that said, it has taken considerable time in M1/M2 and we are still running on Rosetta without native support. Writing is on the wall, Avid has approx. one year to get everything ready, Apple may drop Intel code from the next place after Ventura.


EUCON however is safe.

[Eric Lambert]

Certain Avid console components have been tough to come by. We got one of the earlier ProControls and ended up with about 5 of them in various rooms and we've certainly had our share of headaches dealing with failed hardware. We ended up keeping a spare unit in storage just for parts.

[Dizzi45Z]

Originally Posted by JFreak

Apple may drop Intel code from the next place after Ventura.

EUCON however is safe.

I'd be surprised if Apple did that (actually probably not). The latest intel Mac Pro's have not been out very long and cost a fortune. They would sure disappoint their Mac Pro users if they dropped Intel support that quickly.

[BScout]

For historical context:
Last G5 Mac Pro was shipped Aug 7, 2006.
Last macOS that supported the G5 was 10.5.8 released Aug 13, 2009
First macOS that did NOT support the G5 (10.6) was released Aug 28, 2009

So there's reasonable certainty there will be 3 years of support following the last shipping Intel Mac.