In a world exclusive, Post Production Expert Alan Sallabank, who has been beta testing the new Avid S1 control surface, together with the new Avid Control app, now available on iOS, Android and Amazon Fire, from prototype to production pilot, shares his experiences and observations in this very special review.

The New Avid S1 Control Surface

Here’s what Avid say about it -

Massive mixing power for small spaces

Get the unparalleled speed, rich visual feedback, and software integration of Avid's high-end consoles in a slimline surface that's an easy fit for any space or budget. Avid S1 gives you deep hands-on control of your favorite audio and video software and, together with the free Pro Tools | Control app for iPad (iPad not included), provides great ergonomic efficiency, easy touch workflows, and S6-style metering and processing views, so you can navigate large sessions quickly, mix more intuitively, and turn around better sounding mixes fast.

The New Avid Control App On iOS, Android and Amazon Fire

Along with the new S1 surface, Avid has developed a new version of the Pro Tools Control app, updated with new features and tri-platform support. In order to use the new Avid S1 or the new Avid Control app you will need the new version of EuControl - 19.12. Now Avid Control can be used on all major mobile platforms, as well as any Eucon enabled DAW or NLE and unlocks the option to purchase a much more cost-effective tablet to use with the new S1, Avid Dock or the Avid Control app by itself.

Avid S1 Features

The S1 has eight faders and eight rotary controllers, along with eight multi-coloured assignable function keys and eight OLED displays.

The faders feel a lot smoother and higher quality than the previous Avid Artist Mix controllers.

This pretty much matches the spec of the old Avid Artist Mix surface, but also adds a whole new layer of functions and unparalleled visual feedback.

When combined with an Avid Dock, the amount of control and versatility is simply mind-blowing, and so far I really have only had the chance to scratch the surface, using it in my normal line of work - post-production, although I did do so music mixing recently, and it was a joy to get my hands on faders and physical knobs.

There is also a footswitch input which is assignable through EuControl.

You Really Have To See This In Action

Photos really don’t do this control surface and tablet combination justice, so we have made a video showing off some of the best features…

EuControl Is The Future For DAW Control

I’ve been using this exclusively with Pro Tools Ultimate, and the amount of control you can have over all aspects of your mix is unparalleled, as is the amount of visual feedback. There are exciting new features coming on top of this new control surface package with multi-platform support. You can have layouts and VCA spill, which are great tools for maximising your mixing efficiency.

It’s worth remembering that EuControl and the Avid Control app are completely free - you do not need to own Pro Tools to download, install and use them, and now with Android and Amazon versions also available, you are no longer locked into using a more expensive Apple iPad to go with the S1 or the Avid Dock.

Although Avid Control and EuControl are primarily developed with Pro Tools’ feature set in mind, they can work with any EuCon enabled software or hardware - the monitoring section can control Avid X-Mon or MTRX / DadMan software and we understand that all any developer needs to do to support EuCon is get in touch with Avid. For example, I would love to see my Intonato monitoring controller come up in the monitoring page and be able to activate the talkback from the footswitch input.

A New Way Of Using EuControl

As of version 19.12, Avid’s EuControl surface management software now supports the new Avid Control app and the new S1, with specific functions available.

In order to use more than one tablet at a time, you have to have a compatible control surface, which currently is just the S1, but it is possible to run up to five tablets - four S1 “meter bridges” and one tablet in the Dock, if you have one.

The setup can be a little confusing initially, so we have made a short video to show you how to avoid the common pitfalls.

Is It Really That Good?

I’ve seen a lot of mixing consoles and assignable control surfaces in my time. As regular listeners to the podcast will know, my all-time favourite has, up till now, been the AMS-Neve DFC. The S1 with Avid Control is really changing that and also helping get me on better terms with it’s bigger siblings - the S3, S4 and S6.

When I recently used an S6, having been using the S1, Dock and Avid Control, I was amazed at how many functions directly translated across, and how easy using the S1 and Avid Control regularly, made it jump up when “playing big time”.

It strikes us that Avid has gone about the initial development of this surface in a different way. Rather than endless focus groups asking people what they want (everyone will want something vastly different), they’ve laden it up with everything they can do, then trimmed it back to have the essentials and the most requested features - enhanced visual feedback and the flip faders mode being mine.

As I’ve been privileged to have an S1 since the prototype stage, I have been struck at how stable and feature-laden even the Alpha versions of the software and hardware were. Of course, there were a few bumps in the road, but within a month we felt confident enough, while it was still in Alpha stage, to take it to HHB’s post-IBC event, where it absolutely rocked the night and didn’t crash once. That in itself is remarkable.

Should I Buy This?

I would definitely say YES. Especially if you, like me, are used to using more than eight faders, finding that it enhances your speed and efficiency. In terms of value for money, with a Huawei or Amazon tablet instead of an iPad, you could get this for around £1425. Shopping around, you could put four of these together, along with an Avid Dock and five Android or Amazon tablets, for around £6650.

That gets you 33 decent faders, 40 good solid rotaries, 32 meters with Pan / EQ displays, 32 OLED displays, the list goes on. It actually really feels solid and not likely to break at a moment’s notice. Plus the packaging is great and comes with everything you need to get going, apart from the tablet of course.

In my humble opinion, this is the best physical product Avid has made in years. I predict it’s going to sell like hotcakes. Get your order in quick before they sell out.