Anyone using AVID S1 with Logic Pro?

[Kevin Nolan]

I'm interested in acquiring a DAW controller for Logic Pro and the AVID S1 looks interesting.

I wonder if anyone is using the S1 with Logic, and if so, how you find it?

Thanks!
Kevin.

[IAA]

I use a euphonix artist series running Eucon and have done for many years. Works perfectly for me.

Ian

[Wonks]

Given the very recent sale of Avid to STG, and the not inconsiderable price of the S1, it might be wise to wait and see what happens with Avid.

viewtopic.php?p=879333#p879333

If they do drop or sell-off the hardware side of things, you might find yourself with an unsupported bit of hardware in a years time. Which doesn’t mean it immediately won’t work, but as Logic evolves, it won’t keep up with the changes, so its usefulness on more than the basic transport and fader functions could suffer.

If the hardware side carries on, then no problem.

[ceejay]

I use a euphonix artist series running Eucon and have done for many years. Works perfectly for me.

Ian

... likewise with an Avid Artist Mix and Logic ...

[Kevin Nolan]

Thanks for the replies. Great to hear the Eucon protocol actually works with Logic as they claim.

I hear you Wonks - it's always a risk I know and this buy out by some kind of investment fund doesn't inspire confidence - but - I'm shocked how poor this market is - there's basically nothing else of quality as DAW controllers our there - the S1 looks like the only game in town frankly!

[MarkOne]

I was very happy with my Icon Qcon G2, until downsizing meant a control surface didn’t fit my personal circumstances, it worked flawlessly with Logic.

[Tomás Mulcahy]

Only game in town? Where have you looked? Makepro, Waves, SSL, Asparion and JL Cooper all make high end DAW controllers in the same or higher price range as the Avid S1. A little lower in price are Presonus, Faderfox, Icon and Mackie. Seems like a lot of choice, to me.

Been using a Frontier Alphtrack here for years since I don't gel with multi-fader control surfaces.

[ore_terra]

Only game in town? Where have you looked? Makepro, Waves, SSL, Asparion and JL Cooper all make high end DAW controllers in the same or higher price range as the Avid S1. A little lower in price are Presonus, Faderfox, Icon and Mackie. Seems like a lot of choice, to me.

Been using a Frontier Alphtrack here for years since I don't gel with multi-fader control surfaces.

… but nothing integrates with the DAW as deep as Eucon controllers.

I’ve got 2 S1’s and 1 Dock with Cubase and it’s great. I didn’t use to gel with multi-fader control sirfaces before either

[Kevin Nolan]

Only game in town? Where have you looked? Makepro, Waves, SSL, Asparion and JL Cooper all make high end DAW controllers in the same or higher price range as the Avid S1. A little lower in price are Presonus, Faderfox, Icon and Mackie. Seems like a lot of choice, to me.

Been using a Frontier Alphtrack here for years since I don't gel with multi-fader control surfaces.

… but nothing integrates with the DAW as deep as Eucon controllers.

I’ve got 2 S1’s and 1 Dock with Cubase and it’s great. I didn’t use to gel with multi-fader control sirfaces before either

A lot of that stuff you mention is really underwhelming in my opinion.

The SSL is good too but I just don't like the blunt raised front edge (I accept that's a personal preference thing)

Overall, honestly, I am surprised at how poor the choice is. The AVID S1 range is to me the best, but the apprehension is what the longevity of support for it will be - AVID have a habit of dropping support on hardware.

[Luke W]

The AVID S1 range is to me the best, but the apprehension is what the longevity of support for it will be - AVID have a habit of dropping support on hardware.

Generally speaking, they support a product for five years after the last date it's available to buy, and list the dates online. So under normal circumstances it's pretty predictable how long something will be officially supported for.

Current End of Life dates

Products past End of Support date

However, as Wonks pointed out, the current situation may well change things...

For what it's worth, I don't have an S1 (it's on my list too!) but I'm using a Dock, and whilst I've only done a few bits here and there with it, it jumps into action and does exactly what I'd expect.

[Tomás Mulcahy]

A lot of that stuff you mention is really underwhelming in my opinion.

A lot, but not all? How about Slate Raven Mti2? I think I'd go with that myself, closest thing to a Soundcraft VI2 which I really enjoyed using a while back. But this little lot meets my needs adequately.

[MOF]

Have you considered Logic Remote on an iPad/phone?

[muzines]

… but nothing integrates with the DAW as deep as Eucon controllers.

I've never used a Eucon device - what does it do "deeper" than the Mackie Control protocol, that was designed for Logic and supports just about anything you can do in Logic?

Or were you specifically referring to Cubase, rather than all DAWs generically?

[ManFromGlass]

Still running the Mackie control here. It’s ancient and still does all I need from it. Over the years I’ve had 3 faders replaced. I understand replacements aren’t available anymore.
I found I was faster with the mouse for some of the deeper things it can do so I don’t use it as comprehensively as some. I absolutely love the jog wheel for zipping back and forth through the song, especially long ones. That and having Start Stop etc buttons under my left hand (I have the unit on the left side of my desk) means a bit less of mousing and might help keep the carpal tunnel at bay.

[muzines]

Over the years I’ve had 3 faders replaced. I understand replacements aren’t available anymore.

You can buy used replacements off eBay fairly frequently, pulled from otherwise dead units. They're still quite pricey, but better than having dead faders. Having opened some up to try and repair them, and seeing what's inside, it's amazing they last as long as they do, tbh!

Having said that, my Mackies are not used right now, due mostly to space constraints, but I use a couple of smaller controllers (using the MCU protocol) and can basically do even more than the bigger MCU's can do, in a fraction of the desk space, and it's much more convenient for me.

I found I was faster with the mouse for some of the deeper things it can do so I don’t use it as comprehensively as some. I absolutely love the jog wheel for zipping back and forth through the song, especially long ones. That and having Start Stop etc buttons under my left hand (I have the unit on the left side of my desk) means a bit less of mousing and might help keep the carpal tunnel at bay.

It's certainly common that people who are very used to a mouse-centric workflow, often get a control surface, but find themselves still sticking to the mouse workflow they are used to. I think as well, mostly due to the DAW-centric way of working, mixing in particular has often become a concentrate/fix/automate one thing at a time approach, so a single fader box to control the track they are working on is often quite a good solution for some folks. Very few people in the box are using the old way where you'd get you and three mates for "all hands on desk" to rehearse mix moves and do passes until everybody got it right, so the days of needing 24 faders or more for most people is probably unnecessary (there will be exceptions of course)....

[ore_terra]

… but nothing integrates with the DAW as deep as Eucon controllers.

I've never used a Eucon device - what does it do "deeper" than the Mackie Control protocol, that was designed for Logic and supports just about anything you can do in Logic?

Or were you specifically referring to Cubase, rather than all DAWs generically?

All DAWS with Eucon support, I guess.

Custom layers for plugin control rather than “next page - next page - next page…” until you find the parameter you want to adjust, track color recognition (this for me is key otherwise it would take me 30 secs to find a track everytime I switch banks ), and a few other things but these 2 already make Eucon surfaces different than the rest.

Agree it’s a shame there are so few options!

[ConcertinaChap]

I've said this before but I still think it's true. Never underestimate the impact of a decent size surface on a member of the public. They're still conditioned to believe that a whopping great mixing desk is absolutely essential to a "real" studio and the sight of a big MCU (with ideally an extender) on your desk is very reassuring. When I've got someone new in the studio I like to turn the MCU on in front of them - the little dance the faders do never fails to impress.

Of course, if all you're normally mixing is yourself the foregoing is completely irrelevant.

CC

[ore_terra]

For that purpose I got a Soundcraft 6000 which cost me cheaper than a control surface…, but yes that is true

The S1’s plus a SSL uc1 between them is equally impressive but I got them at home, where I do everything that is not recording.

[ManFromGlass]

I still rely on lots of blinky lights on gear that might not even be hooked up

[ceejay]

Never underestimate the impact of a decent size surface ...

... yep, I've been using a Soundcraft 328 Digital as a control surface for yonks, but the Avid Artist Mix is a more convenient size with more options ... the 328 was destined for the scrap heap after twenty years, but I've now bought a couple of Alesis HD24 multitracks, so it has found itself a new life as part of a planned mobile recording facility ... never throw anything out!!!

[Blott]

I don't understand anyone who makes a DAW controller that doesn't have transport controls and a jog/scrub wheel - they are surely among the most commonly used functions (well they are for me at least) and I would have thought them a fundamental requirement for something that calls itself a DAW controller.
There are many alternatives that do offer this functionality that cost a lot less than the S1.
I understand the resolution that the S1 offers and it's integration and flexibility is superior over Mackie HUI, but dropping £1k on a DAW controller (plus maybe more for an iPad) for a DAW controller that lacks some core controller attributes would definitely be a no no for me.
Still, horses for courses and all that!
I suppose you could drop another £1200 to get that functionality from the Pro Tools Dock. That'd be nice system, but bloody expensive!!!
Good luck!

[muzines]

I don't understand anyone who makes a DAW controller that doesn't have transport controls and a jog/scrub wheel - they are surely among the most commonly used functions (well they are for me at least) and I would have thought them a fundamental requirement for something that calls itself a DAW controller.

Not everyone has the same needs. I've watched people work, and many are far more used to hitting the space bar to play/stop than reach out and find the transport section to do that. And often clicking with the mouse to playback from a particular point is faster than job/shuttling around (in modern DAWs there are many ways to move around, of course.)

Some people want a controller for hands on plugin control. Some people just want physical faders. Some people want a central control point with transport and mixer sections - there are different controllers and types to suite different needs - we don't all work the same way or have the same requirements.

[ore_terra]

I’ve ended up selling the Dock because I just didn’t use that

Space bar plus “+” and “-“ to navigate the project if I don’t want to touch the mouse does it for me. The jogwheel in the Dock is too slow, and I don’t use the scrub mode. This just works better.

I was only keeping it for the aux sends with the knobs, and once I got used to do it with the S1 I was ready to let the Dock go.

That said, you can indeed assign all those functions to the buttons of a S1