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audiokid 11 December 2016

Baton Rouge, Louisiana—December 2016… Compact and easy to use, the PreSonus® FaderPort™ 8 Mix Production Controller connects via USB 2.0 to provide precise tactile control over your favorite DAW’s mix and automation functions, including complete transport control. With 8 touch-sensitive, motorized, 100 mm faders and 57 buttons covering 78 different functions, you can quickly zoom in on audio files for editing, adjust your click-track tempo with a simple tap, modify plugin parameters, manage aux mixes—and, of course, control track levels with the touch of a finger.
The unique Session Navigator provides easy access to eight mission-critical functions for maximum flexibility. Dedicated buttons are provided to instantly arm all tracks for recording; control mutes and Solo Clear; view only the tracks, buses, and VCAs you want to see; and more. You’re not limited to preset controls, either: Four programmable User buttons let you quickly and easily access your favorite functions.
Large, illuminated buttons make finding the function you need quick and easy. Eight high-definition digital scribble strips provide visual feedback. And if you select a track with your mouse, the FaderPort 8 will follow your selection, giving you another way to quickly access the function you need.
The FaderPort 8’s streamlined workflow and support for the Mackie Control and HUI protocols make it fast and easy to control virtually any DAW. No driver installation is necessary; just plug the control surface into a USB port and take command of your mix and plugins.
When used with Studio One, the FaderPort 8 is a revelation, letting you do things like bypass all the plugins on any track with one button-press and open the Channel Editor and enable your faders to control each channel's custom macro. Use the Control Link feature so that the Pan/Param encoder can follow your mouse, providing instant hands-on control of any parameter—or lock the encoder to the current parameter. Use the Session Navigator to quickly scroll through the different sections in the Arranger track; and more. You’ll be amazed how much faster you can work.
For more information, please visit www.PreSonus.com/products/FaderPort-8

Comments

Boswell Mon, 12/12/2016 - 06:16

Brother Junk, post: 445679, member: 49944 wrote: I find this part a little confusing. Unless it's a typo, USB 2?

USB2.0 is the correct name of the high-speed USB version that came after the USB 1 family. The numbering allows for USB2.1, USB2.2 etc as functional updates, but none were needed before the new-specification USB3.0 came along.

Brother Junk Mon, 12/12/2016 - 06:23

Boswell, post: 445683, member: 29034 wrote: USB2.0 is the correct name of the high-speed USB version that came after the USB 1 family. The numbering allows for USB2.1, USB2.2 etc as functional updates, but none were needed before the new-specification USB3.0 came along.

No, I mean USB 3.1 was out 3.5 years ago. USB 3.0 came out 7 years ago.

USB 2.0 came out in 2000. About 17 years ago...only 5-6 years after internet was mainstream.

It just seems like a weird time to be installing USB 2.0

A 2016/17 device using USB 2.0? Do those types of devices just not need a fast throughput?

Brother Junk Mon, 12/12/2016 - 06:52

Makzimia, post: 445685, member: 48344 wrote: It's going a little off topic, but, in my experience USB if it's needs are small, like just data streaming, are fine at 2.0. Where it comes unstuck, IMHO, and many others, is in stressed real world recording situations. More bandwidth = always better when throwing audio back and forth.

I agree, more bandwidth = always better. You base your tech on the future...not the past.

I'm not trying to knock the product. I like Presonus, I've owned a number of their products, and used even more in the studio. I haven't a bad word to say about them.

I'm just confused as to why that device, in what will shortly be 2017, is using USB2.0? I see laptops now that don't even support it.

I dunno, it just caught my eye, and I'm stuck wondering...."why?"

All that said, it looks like fun.

Boswell Mon, 12/12/2016 - 06:53

Makzimia, post: 445685, member: 48344 wrote: It's going a little off topic, but, in my experience USB if it's needs are small, like just data streaming, are fine at 2.0. Where it comes unstuck, IMHO, and many others, is in stressed real world recording situations. More bandwidth = always better when throwing audio back and forth.

Ha! Like the time I got called in to see if I could throw any light on why a colleague's new USB3.1 audio interface caused his PC to drop samples on other devices, irrespective of buffer size set. In the end, I connected the USB3.1 Gen 1 device via a USB2 lead to force USB2 connectivity, and all worked well. He wasn't aware that you could do that.

You might need USB3.x for high-speed video and networking, but USB2.0 is fine for most audio interfaces, and causes less upset to other devices.

Brother Junk Mon, 12/12/2016 - 06:55

Boswell, post: 445689, member: 29034 wrote: Ha! Like the time I got called in to see if I could throw any light on why a colleague's new USB3.1 audio interface caused his PC to drop samples on other devices, irrespective of buffer size set. In the end, I connected the USB3.1 Gen 1 device via a USB2 lead to force USB2 connectivity, and all worked well. He wasn't aware that you could do that.

You might need USB3.x for high-speed video and networking, but USB2.0 is fine for most audio interfaces, and causes less upset to other devices.

I hear you Bos...

But they didn't have to put 3.1 in it. 3.o would be fine...unless that causes hiccups too?

What you are saying is (essentially) is that 2.0 is fine right now. What about 5 years from now? It just seems like a funny choice, but if it works, it works.

Boswell Mon, 12/12/2016 - 07:03

No, its the USB3 connectivity that caused the issue (note no version number). USB3.1 Gen 1 has the same 5Gbps speed as USB3.0 anyway. Gen 2 has the higher rates.

What it comes down to is that some PC manufacturers have more tuning to do to get their systems to work well with a mix of USB device speeds. It's relatively early days.

Tony Carpenter Mon, 12/12/2016 - 07:23

If a laptop/PC has even 3.1 it's backward compatible via an adaptor to 2.0, is it not?. I get that some systems will be crap no matter what Bos, but it's still better with more, IF DONE RIGHT :D.

Oh and Bos, there's a reason Chris and I, and others went MADI instead of USB for our Orion 32s. At the very least in that case, VAST improvements.

Back to topic... new FaderPort 8 shiny, new, should work real nice, good value and competition to the Mackie MCUs.

Boswell Mon, 12/12/2016 - 07:34

Makzimia, post: 445694, member: 48344 wrote: If a laptop/PC has even 3.1 it's backward compatible via an adaptor to 2.0, is it not?. I get that some systems will be crap no matter what Bos, but it's still better with more, IF DONE RIGHT :D.

It's the IF DONE RIGHT that I was talking about. Not all PCs are.

Makzimia, post: 445694, member: 48344 wrote: Oh and Bos, there's a reason Chris and I, and others went MADI instead of USB for our Orion 32s. At the very least in that case, VAST improvements.

Yes, agreed. It's one of the reasons I'm still on FW800.

Dale Carter Sat, 02/03/2018 - 05:17

I know this is an old thread, but the USB only transmits control commands from the surface to the computer/interface, so the data speed doesn't matter. There is no audio transported over this USB, so USB 2.0 is more than enough. In fact, it makes sense to use the oldest standard that suits your needs precisely because of the issues listed above with USB 3.0.

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