PreSonus FaderPort 8?

admin · Post by **b0b** » 30 Mar 2021 10:59 pm

I'm gearing up to record local bands with an iMac. I've ordered a PreSonus 2626 interface to handle the microphones. Looking at the PreSonus FaderPort 8 because I like real faders. Does anyone here use it?

https://www.presonus.com/products/FaderPort-8

Studio One seems to be a good DAW. I notice that some of you use it. I figure integration would be seamless if I use all PreSonus hardware. Comments?

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 31 Mar 2021 12:11 am

Bob, I have the Presonus SINGLE Fader Port unit, the first issue. While of course the 8 Port unit would be nice for tracking a number of instruments at the same time, the single port is very flexible, it can move between tracks easily and recalls all previous settings.

The real benefit to these Presonus units is they are compatible with all DAWS, they communicate with Mackie and HUI control . Just shy of plug and play.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 31 Mar 2021 2:06 am

Good luck with the Presonus hardware. EVERY new (not used) Presonus recording interface I tried had a hardware problem from new. I tried several including the last one about 4 years ago after I bought Studio One 4. Latency was poor too.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 31 Mar 2021 7:01 am

I'm using the original FaderPort Tony mentioned (the single fader one) with Studio One on an old Mac Pro running High Sierra, pretty much plug and play, no issues.

I actually find the transport, record enable controls, etc. more useful than the fader (I can park that small controller right by the 'steel guitar position'), but it all works just fine.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 31 Mar 2021 7:30 am

Disclaimer: I know very little about the new fangled computer DAW based recording stuff. (Tascam 788 lover here)

That said, just to be clear regarding a previous post by someone, and correct me if I'm wrong............

The Fader Port 8 is a DAW CONTROLLER, and is NOT an audio interface.
Therefore, latency should NOT be an issue with regards to the Fader Port 8.
If that post really intended on addressing the quality/reliability, that's another issue.

Per Bob's initial post, the Presonus Quantum 2626 is an 8 channel interface.
If there are any latency issues, THIS is where they should show up, NOT with the Fader Port 8.

Like I said, correct me if I'm wrong.

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 31 Mar 2021 7:35 am

b0b, I don't have the need for the 8 channel FaderPort, but do have the new Single Channel FaderPort... It's very handy sitting right beside me at the steel instead of reaching over the guitar for the keyboard all the time... I use mine with Studio One and an 1824c Interface. I think you'll love it, and lots of YouTube videos to help you get everything you can out of it.

Tim Kowalski · Post by **Tim Kowalski** » 31 Mar 2021 7:37 am

Hi bOb
I chose the Behringer X-Touch over the Faderport 8 because it has many programmable hot keys. It really speeds up workflow for me. I haven't had any issues with it using Reaper. The Sweetwater site has instructions to set it up with Studio One.

I love the motorized faders. It can also be expanded to 16 channels with the extension unit.

I'm sure that the FP-8 is a very good unit. I have one of the original single Faderport units and it has served me well for a very long time.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 31 Mar 2021 7:39 am

I've had Faderport 8, and also Faderport 16. NOW, I'm back to single Faderport. I found that mixing in Studio One with the memory mix is just as easy, or even easier, just using the mouse or single Faderport. The transport buttons on the Faderport get plenty of use.

bOb, For live mixing the Faderport 8 should do well.

I've owned a lot of Presonus equipment and had zero problems, except for when I plugged the wrong power supply into an interface and fried it. I called Presonus and told them what I'd done. They said not to worry about it and they fixed it for free. Even paid the return shipping.

See the song "You're Still On My Mind" here in another recent thread. It was recorded in Studio One with Presonus equipment.

RC

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 31 Mar 2021 1:39 pm

I had a Behringer X-Touch that I used until I shut down my home recording studio. I liked the (very quiet) motorized faders. If I remember correctly Studio One automatically detected and configured for the Behringer.

Joseph Carlson · Post by **Joseph Carlson** » 1 Apr 2021 6:01 am

Another Presonus fan here. I have bought way too much of their hardware over the years.

I happen to think Studio One is the most intuitive DAW I have ever come across. I like it so much I recently convinced my employer to buy an additional license for my work laptop. (I'm not a pro, but I use Studio One for editing podcasts and online training modules at my day gig.)

I have a Faderport 8 and I find it invaluable. I don't use many of the features, but the ones I do are huge time savers. My goal when using Studio One is to use my mouse as little as possible, which the Faderport facilitates.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 1 Apr 2021 8:17 am

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback. I'm going to buy it but, mindful of Jack Stoner's advise, I'll put it through all of its paces to make sure it's not defective. I'm as wary of Behringer as he is of PreSonus. They do make some good stuff, though. I used a Behringer mixer for my mics on Stella.

Studio One looks like a very good DAW, and the fact that several of you are using it professionally is encouraging to me. My limited experience with DAWs is:

GarageBand - not really made for musicians
Audacity - love it, but seems limited
Logic - very confusing

Until now, my multi-track recordings have all been on Roland V-Studio hardware. It seems that Roland has dropped out of the race, though. They haven't updated their audio interface unit since 2013 (USB-2 - 8 ms latency $:\$ ), and the V-Studio 2000-CD was the last model of the series. Sad.

Thanks again for the feedback and encouragement. I really appreciate it.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Apr 2021 12:38 am

Bob, while I am a Pro Tools user, if I had to move to another DAW it would be Studio One. The workflows are very similar and to me make very good sense. Studio One uses some different terminology but I believe Pro Tools users can sit in the Studio One Drivers seat in just a few minutes. Its a fine package.

Remember, every DAW, out of the gate, all we need to learn is how to arm a track with the proper input device, make sure we are not overdriving the input signal and then hit the red button and go ! Everything else we add if and when we need it. BABY steps !

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 2 Apr 2021 7:07 am

Tony Prior wrote:Bob, while I am a Pro Tools user, if I had to move to another DAW it would be Studio One. The workflows are very similar and to me make very good sense. Studio One uses some different terminology but I believe Pro Tools users can sit in the Studio One Drivers seat in just a few minutes. Its a fine package.

Remember, every DAW, out of the gate, all we need to learn is how to arm a track with the proper input device, make sure we are not overdriving the input signal and then hit the red button and go ! Everything else we add if and when we need it. BABY steps !

What Tony said... I actually DO use Studio One... I started on Reaper, looked at Audacity, and then bought a Mac mainly because of GarageBand... Did my first few recordings with it., but never liked the layout... the "faders" moving horizontally just didn't look right to any mixer I'd ever been on. I then bought a PreSonus interface that included the Free Version of StudioOne (Artist) I then moved to Studio One Professional, and the free stuff they through in with some of their updates is at times staggering... I've seen 50-100 free things with some of the Free Updates... Anyhow, I've always loved the intuitive workflow, that for me just works. Like anything there's a learning curve, but with all the YouTube videos available today, all you have to do is ask the right question.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 20 Apr 2021 9:13 am

I put together the new system yesterday. Seems to work well. My 2017 iMac has been upgraded with a 2TB SSD and 32GB of RAM. Printed the 400-page Studio One manual and put it in a binder.

The learning curve might not be as steep as I feared.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 20 Apr 2021 12:06 pm

Nice setup b0b... I've used Logic, Reaper, and now I'm on Studio One, and yeah, they're different, but they all work the same at the core if you ask me.

Learn how to arm a track and record (as Tony mentioned above) and from then on everything you learn is a plus. LOL.. My brain still works the way it did with multi-track tape recorders, and that translates ok to most.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 20 Apr 2021 2:03 pm

Good advice. Thanks, guys.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 23 Apr 2021 8:39 am

Looks like a nice little setup, b0b.

I have been using the Touch OSC app with my ipad, which does a lot of the same stuff as the single channel Presonus.Works great and cost me $4.99. I was about to go the route of a FaderPort but am happy for the time being.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 10 Sep 2021 2:36 am

b0b,
Let us know how youâ€™re getting on with the 2626......Thanks, Jim

admin · Post by **b0b** » 10 Sep 2021 10:27 am

I haven't done any field work with it yet, but the 2626 is working well for little one-man sessions in my garage. Still trying to master Studio One. The real acid test will be when I'm using all 8 inputs at once. I'm not ready to try that yet.

I've barely scratched the surface of capabilities of the FaderPort 8. Complicated piece of machinery!

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 10 Sep 2021 2:09 pm

b0b,
Thereâ€™s a lot to be learned....Take your time and donâ€™t get overwhelmed....To add insult to injury, you could be doing something correctly, and the program might just have a glitch (not your fault at all )....It will all come together in time...Jim