Have I Been Conned?

[pa28]

After many years of using a Classic Faderport it finally gave up the ghost. I am now the owner of the latest Faderport2 Studio One.

Having been assured it will work not just on Presonus;s own products but there are multiple DAWS including Cubase it will work on. NOT.

I am using Cubase 8.5 Pro on a Win 7 Pro 64bit machine quitee simply this will not work under any circumstances the device shows up everywhere ie in midi manager, device manger etc it receives all midi inputs IE all controls on device transmit and shows as midi activity. I have tried this with 3 other pc's using Cubase 5, Nuendo 4 Cubase 8.5 32 bit/64 bit and Nothing

Am writing this on a laptop that has never had a Presonus device attached so no software conflicts and still ZILCH. Raised a support ticket with Presonus a couple of days ago and as usual has been ignored so sadly will be returning as Amazon's returns policy allows as "Not performing as expected" really hacked off with this and now need to get another controller, any good recommendations for Cubase?

[Sam Spoons]

Can't help with Cubase, and I don't have one but I'd say a Behringer X-Touch One would be worth a try. https://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_x_touch_one.htm

[The Elf]

Definitely X-Touch - it works well.

If you have an iPad and MIDI Designer you could also use my layout that emulates the Mackie MCU protocol and is very 'X-Touch-alike'... At the least it would give you chance to try it out before you choose something physical.

[pa28]

The Behringer does look like it could be replacement, and as a non "Apple" person the ipad option is unfortunately not for me.

Cheers

[fatbenelton]

Sorry if I’m stating the obvious, but the Faderport2 is set up for Studio One out of the box and you need to ‘set it up’ for other DAW’s by holding various button combo’s on startup. Can’t remember the Cubase one but it’ll be in the documentation...Once set it stays that way until you want to change it.

[fatbenelton]

Just had a look (P18 of the manual):

By default, the FaderPort is in Studio One operation mode. To switch to Cubase
/ Nuendo operation, press and hold the NEXT button while powering on your FaderPort, then press the Bypass button to enable Cubase / Nuendo (MCU) operation.
The FaderPort is a class-compliant device in both macOS® and Windows®. Simply connect your FaderPort to a free USB port on your computer. No further installation is necessary.

You then need to go into Cubase Studio set up and add a Mackie Control (which the fader port imitates)..there are some other settings but I’ll let you read the manual rather than copy it all here.

[pa28]

Fully aware of the procedure to select correct DAW on power-up. And have tried all 3 MCU options on all computers that I have with both Cubases(5 & 8.5 Pro)and Nuendo, and still nothing. will give Presonus one more day to respond before the label is printed to return this doorstop back to Amazon.

Would really like to hear if anyone has got this working same as I need.

[gingertimmins]

Have you done the firmware update?
Your cubase versions are quite old. Could it be that the new fader port is only compatible with newer versions?

[fatbenelton]

I’ve just dusted mine off and installed/set up without a hitch - Cubase 11 though.

[pa28]

Have you done the firmware update?
Your cubase versions are quite old. Could it be that the new fader port is only compatible with newer versions?

According to Presonus the firmware update is not needed for my setup. however I did do it just make sure it wouldn't work

[pa28]

I’ve just dusted mine off and installed/set up without a hitch - Cubase 11 though.

how does it show when adding a remote device. and is there a corresponding .DLL in say components in Steinberg?

[fatbenelton]

I’m on Mac/have no idea. I just set it up in studio and it works.

[pa28]

I’m on Mac/have no idea. I just set it up in studio and it works.

OK but my problem was on Win 7 64bit as said...

[fatbenelton]

Indeed you did but the set up in Cubase should be the same and equally simple. I’ll leave you to it.

[pa28]

Quite right and so it should be, but it isn't, so now hopefully Hermes carriers will be taking this well made doorstop back to Amazon tommorow. Behringer look like they will be getting my wonga now.

[pk.roberts]

Looking at the Tech Specs on the Presonus website, it does show Windows 10, 64 bit as the minimum spec required.

[pa28]

Looking at the Tech Specs on the Presonus website, it does show Windows 10, 64 bit as the minimum spec required.

Yep correct thats why I tried on Win 10 64 bit first to see if it was worth updating to Win 10 on my main music PC. But sadly complete failure all round.

So, on its way back tommorow and the "X Touch" will be ordered once refund in bank.

[pa28]

Well the X-Touch arrived, and all up and running using the same Mackie Protocol that Presonus said would work with Cubase but doesn't, really pleased with the extra functionally of this piece of kit, a different way of working as I had got used to with the Classic Faderport for many years, but hey-ho moved on and back to work..

[The Elf]

Thanks for coming back to let us know. It's good when these things work out.

For lots of extra switch functions you might also look at Stream Deck - that's the most used remote device in my studio, used to run Cubase, invoke macros, switch mixer views, run backups, open folders, change the colour of my studio lights... almost anything you can come up with. It's quite a life-changing device!

[Chromeman]

For lots of extra switch functions you might also look at Stream Deck

Which version do you have as a matter of interest? Amazon has a Mk1 and Mk2 version of the 15 key unit. 32 keys would be overkill for me I think.

[The Elf]

I find the XL better for the studio, as it works in rows of 8, which is a bit of a studio 'norm'. I standardise my top row to page navigation and program launching, so the rest is available for functions. My main Cubase layout is shown below (the rainbow takes me into a screen full of colours for colouring my tracks/parts).

But I also have the smaller 5x3, which is fine for my living room laptop.

BTW I see no advantage to the SD Mk2 - it even comes with a now fixed angle stand, which kills one of the Mk1's best features!)

[Chromeman]

Thanks for that. Very helpful re the different versions. Have gone for the 32 key in the end - as you said, having 4 banks of 8 makes a lot of sense for DAW use. Cheers.

[Sam Spoons]

I have the Stream Dock mini and it's very useful but I hate the wedge shape, the front panel is just not at the right angle for easy operation. I nearly bought the Stream Dock mk2 but thankfully spotted fixed front panel angle which made it a nonstarter. I have an original Stream Dock on the way from Thomann as I type.

[The Elf]

I have the Stream Dock mini and it's very useful but I hate the wedge shape, the front panel is just not at the right angle for easy operation. I nearly bought the Stream Dock mk2 but thankfully spotted fixed front panel angle which made it a nonstarter.

Here's my guess... The fixed stand is cheaper to provide.