Question

I am a new owner of Studio One 3 and its amazing. Now I want to purchase a control surface. What do users feel about the difference between The StudioLive CS18AI Rack Control Surface versus the Fader Port 8

I am an amature and I am happy to save my money to buy the CS18 but the Fader Port 8 may meets my easy needs. Just want to know what you experts think about both of these units and hoping you can help me to decide what I should purchase.

Answer 1

THIS STATEMENT HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
      I own neither. However, I own an Alesis MasterControl and Presonus' new SL Series 3 [which for some reason they sold prior to activating DAW functionality!]. Still, I started my home studio with an old Fostex R8 and a small studio-capable analog mixer [it wasn't fun mixing prior to automation] and have tried many similar products and not to make light of your question but you're asking whats better, peanut butter and jelly or a steak. Both have the ability to satisfy your hunger but one is elegant and filling. If you're a hobbyist or looking for general recording capabilities... Faderport is for you. If you want your skills to develope and maybe advance a hobby to a career... the CS or perhaps the SL Series 3 is for you. In the end the value isn't the cost but what you may create from it.

Answer 2

I couldn't agree more with JamesHoward. I have both the CS18AI an the fader port 8 and use both. I like to have the transport buttons closer to me when I'm working so the fader port stays close to my side. If you are ever planning on trying to make any money with your efforts or if you ever want to be able to live stream a concert (awesome add to your offerings to potential clients) then I would wait and get a StudioLive series III console after PS adds the DAW functionality. The CS verses the faderport is really a question of how many tracks do you want to automate at the same time. If you're ok with one at a time then stick with the fader port if you want to automate more than one at a time then ether go with the CS18 or wait for DAW mode on the Series3 consoles. The CS18 has not allowed me the ability to leave the mouse out of the workflow yet and from what I've seen in the PS user community is not many people have the CS18 which means PS will not likely do much else with it. I understand that possibility and am not knocking PS for that choice since the development costs are considerable and the community is small. I am actually trying to find out if the CS18 will control the new series 3 rack mixers and will likely head in that direction when I upgrade my interfaces.

Hope this helps and good luck, have fun.