LUNA with Faderport 8/16

[VRW]

Hi guys,

is there any chance/hope to get better functionality for the use of the Faderport 8/16 series with LUNA?
I know UA have focused on the SSL controllers as well as on the Softube Console 1 system which certainly is
very nice, professional stuff.

However, the Faderport 16 is the most intuitive yet very convenient DAW-controller and really useful in many
ways (unbeaten with large sessions containing tons of tracks, super intuitive automation etc.) which it is simply great
to work with and theoretically it kind of works with LUNA but not great at all.

Besides Studio One of course, the FP16 works exceptionally fine with Mixbus 32C for example.
With Pro Tools and Logic it's useable but not really great as well.

It would be such a cool thing if you could improve the experience and functionality for the FP8/16 in conjunction
with LUNA. If Harrison could do that for Mixbus, UA definitely should be able to get it done imo.

Thanks,

Volker

 

[chrisharbin]

I'm not exactly sure how to answer this question, but my Faderport 8 works well with Luna. Reading your post, I'm not sure exactly what the problem is. Faders and other things work well here.

 

[LesBrown]

I'm not exactly sure how to answer this question, but my Faderport 8 works well with Luna. Reading your post, I'm not sure exactly what the problem is. Faders and other things work well here.

Same here.

 

[Bask]

I used to be able to bank across tracks in Luna with my FP16 and after an update a while back it won't do it anymore. Banks fine in Logic.

 

[chrisharbin]

That's odd, but then again MCU compatibility is a little dicey. My Arturia Keylab doesn't work well at all (other than the keys)

 

[UA User]

That's odd, but then again MCU compatibility is a little dicey. My Arturia Keylab doesn't work well at all (other than the keys)

Same here. I think compatibility with Arturia’s controllers was broken in a Luna update a long time ago. I don’t expect UA to fix it (since it’s been so long), but I hope I’m wrong.

If I find myself with extra cash at some point, I may get an SSL or Softube controller. I’d love to be able to get hands-on with mixing in Luna.

 

[MakerDP]

If Harrison could do that for Mixbus, UA definitely should be able to get it done imo.

To be fair, Harrison has nothing to do with FP functionality in Mixbus. That was all users making it work. Which is possible because at its core Mixbus is really just a freeware open-source DAW that they put some spit and polish on. Don't get me wrong, it's a great product and I would most likely be using it if were not for LUNA.

 

[VRW]

To be fair, Harrison has nothing to do with FP functionality in Mixbus. That was all users making it work. Which is possible because at its core Mixbus is really just a freeware open-source DAW that they put some spit and polish on. Don't get me wrong, it's a great product and I would most likely be using it if were not for LUNA.

Thanks y'all for your replies! Like you guys wrote in your comments above, it seems to be the MCU compatibility which might be kind of a problem. Basically it does work, but first of all there are a couple of functions/knobs not assigned at all and those which are, sometimes do work as it is supposed to, sometimes not (just losing it). And, honestly, it´s quite the same even in Logic. Not so great.

That´s something which never happens with Studio One (which might be clear as the FPs were made for it) but, what surprised me a bit, it also works great and reliably with Mixbus 32C. The whole Plugin Edit-functions for example even work better and more reliably in Mixbus than in Studio One itself today.

Well, of course, the basic functions like Fader, Pan and Transport functions do work but that´s not all you want from this 16 Fader-controller finally.

Now, you say that Harrison theirselve have nothing to do with it? I´m no technician at all and maybe you have better insight than myself but I researched the issue a bit and found a note from Presonus where they thank Harrison for having implemented the "Studio One protocol" in Mixbus for the Faderport series to work seamlessly with Mixbus. So it seems that they at least have done that...?

Anyway, that´s what you get in Mixbus. In Mixbus 32C you have a ton of choices as for controller protocols but if you have connected your Faderport 16 to your system and you open Mixbus after having left Studio One, the Faderport automatically is fully functional, fully working without even having to adjust the Protocol to MCU, HUI whatever. And like mentioned before, in some particularly parts the FP16 even works better than with S1 itself.

So, whoever made this work that professionally, congrats, the result is more than satisfying.

I just wished UA could make this possible for LUNA as well. Just because the combination of the Faderport 16 together with LUNA could be very attractive for many users if it would work as flawlessly as in S1 and Mixbus. If Harrison could implement the "Studio One protocol" in Mixbus, maybe UA could do it too. Or something else which makes it work as well as this.

With the current state you certainly can do your work if you want to use LUNA with the FP but it´s not a joy and not a great flow finally.

And if you have to master large projects with tons of tracks, busses and plugins, you probably will go to use one of the other two DAWs (I even have stopped using -my once beloved- Pro Tools because of it´s relatively poor performance with the Faderport 16 via HUI).

It´s a real bummer because I still think LUNA is the by far best sounding DAW available today. Things sound phenomenally in LUNA.

Thanks again for all your replies.

Cheers.

 

[Quint]

Have you looked into Stream Deck? The problem with all of the various hardware controllers out there is that everybody has their own criteria for what they need/want to be implemented, and that's users AND DAW companies. UA is no different. I doubt there will ever be a HW controller made which actually achieves that level of widespread integration. It'll always work really well with the DAW it was designed for, and then work in varying degrees of acceptability with every other DAW. It is what it is.

In any case, Stream Decks are inexpensive, and you can customize them exactly how YOU like, and with with very little effort/know how. It's stupid simple to to set up a Stream Deck to do the basic stuff that your typical hardware controller can do. The FP16 doesn't have a button for controlling "X" in Luna? Well, it may not, but I bet you can make one on a Stream Deck.

Nearly every (all?) feature that is available on your FP16 can pretty much be also done on a Stream Deck, not to mention that you can also add in all of the Luna shortcuts as buttons on the Stream Deck as well. Using Trevliga Spel's MIDI/MCU plugin for Stream Deck, you can implement anything MCU that is currently able to be controlled via MCU in Luna, for example. And then, if you throw Keyboard Maestro into the mix, that's when things get really powerful, though I imagine the stuff you're talking about wanting to be able to do is basic enough that you wouldn't even need to use Keyboard Maestro to do it.

I've given up on any HW controller ever offering exactly or near to exactly what I want, but now I don't care because I use Stream Deck alongside my HW controller (SSL UF8 in my case). So you can use pretty much any HW controller you want for basic things like faders, mutes, rec, solo, transport, and then use Stream Deck for everything else. At that point, almost any HW controller will get the job done for the basic things like faders.

Anyway, look into Stream Decks. You might like what you find. It was a total game changer for me.

Just curious. What's a specific example of a feature that the FP16 does how you like it in S1 or Mixbuss that it can't do with Luna?

 

[MakerDP]

The only thing I really wish I could do on my FP8 is arm tracks for recording. Other than that it does what I need it to do. People have different needs though. I also use METAgrid for more complex control too though so that fills in some gaps. Someday I will look into the Stream Deck but for now I'm happy not spending any more money than I absolutely have to

 

[VRW]

Have you looked into Stream Deck? The problem with all of the various hardware controllers out there is that everybody has their own criteria for what they need/want to be implemented, and that's users AND DAW companies. UA is no different. I doubt there will ever be a HW controller made which actually achieves that level of widespread integration. It'll always work really well with the DAW it was designed for, and then work in varying degrees of acceptability with every other DAW. It is what it is.

In any case, Stream Decks are inexpensive, and you can customize them exactly how YOU like, and with with very little effort/know how. It's stupid simple to to set up a Stream Deck to do the basic stuff that your typical hardware controller can do. The FP16 doesn't have a button for controlling "X" in Luna? Well, it may not, but I bet you can make one on a Stream Deck.

Nearly every (all?) feature that is available on your FP16 can pretty much be also done on a Stream Deck, not to mention that you can also add in all of the Luna shortcuts as buttons on the Stream Deck as well. Using Trevliga Spel's MIDI/MCU plugin for Stream Deck, you can implement anything MCU that is currently able to be controlled via MCU in Luna, for example. And then, if you throw Keyboard Maestro into the mix, that's when things get really powerful, though I imagine the stuff you're talking about wanting to be able to do is basic enough that you wouldn't even need to use Keyboard Maestro to do it.

I've given up on any HW controller ever offering exactly or near to exactly what I want, but now I don't care because I use Stream Deck alongside my HW controller (SSL UF8 in my case). So you can use pretty much any HW controller you want for basic things like faders, mutes, rec, solo, transport, and then use Stream Deck for everything else. At that point, almost any HW controller will get the job done for the basic things like faders.

Anyway, look into Stream Decks. You might like what you find. It was a total game changer for me.

Just curious. What's a specific example of a feature that the FP16 does how you like it in S1 or Mixbuss that it can't do with Luna?

Thank you very much for your kind and comprehensive reply.

I have seen Stream Deck already and it looks like a very clever and versatile solution. It´s just that, after 15 years of constantly working with multiple DAWs, controllers, desks etc. I want to/need to simplify my studio set up and workflow and focus on a couple of things only.

I initially got my Faderport 16 because I deeply wanted to have at least 16 hardware faders and an overall super intuitive operation. I had looked into the SSL controllers which finally were too expensive as I would have to get two of it for 16 faders as well as were not really intuitive to handle.
I also had looked into the new Softube stuff which seemed to be a little less technical in the use than the SSL but, first of all, one would have 8 faders only again and secondly Softube still have not released their MK2 faderbank!

Anyway, I thought the Faderport 16 was relatively affordable and offered the "real 16 hardware faders experience". Further it offered a really intuitive workflow. And I have to say, I have never looked back in regards to the controller itself. It´s great to work with it.

The only downside I have experienced through the last months was that the only DAWs it would offer the desired smooth and intuitive workflow were Studio One and, surprisingly, Mixbus 32C. I still have Pro Tools Ultimate, Logic, LUNA, MB32C and Studio One installed on my system for compatibility reasons but I simply have stopped using the first three because of the clumsy and non-fluent experience with the FB16 with these.

Theoretically all these DAWs should work and they basically do but in a limited way, accompanied by missing functions or even malfunctions (one of the very annoying bugs with LUNA for example is, that, if you are in Plugin Editing Mode and you go to the next bank of the plugin settings, it sometimes loses the connection to the plugin editing page and while you are thinking to adjust the parameter of the plugin, you change the volume of the fader on your track without knowing it at the first time. It does not happen every time but on a random basis). That's absolutely not cool if you are on a session with 60-70 tracks and busses and you don't even realize at the first moment that you have changed the meticulously worked out volume/automation of your track. And there are just a few things in general that do not work as well as they do with S1 and MB.

Because I love my UA gear, my UAD plugins (all the beautiful API console emulations etc.) and the sound quality of LUNA that much, I thought I could ask UA for a better implementation of the Faderport series, like done in Mixbus for example. Honestly I don´t expect something to show up finally just because UA definitely seem to focus on the SSL controllers as well as on the Console 1 stuff. I just wanted to ask for it though at least.

I myself therefor will focus on the DAWs which the Faderport 16 does work perfectly fine with in the future. Studio One has developed greatly and has become a serious and useable alternative to PT and Logic over time. And it certainly will get just better by the support of Fender. So hopefully will Mixbus by the influence of SSL. LUNA always will be my love and favorite when it comes to audio quality though. UA have done a great job on that indeed.

Thanks again for your kind reply.

Cheers.

 

[Quint]

Thank you very much for your kind and comprehensive reply.

I have seen Stream Deck already and it looks like a very clever and versatile solution. It´s just that, after 15 years of constantly working with multiple DAWs, controllers, desks etc. I want to/need to simplify my studio set up and workflow and focus on a couple of things only.

I initially got my Faderport 16 because I deeply wanted to have at least 16 hardware faders and an overall super intuitive operation. I had looked into the SSL controllers which finally were too expensive as I would have to get two of it for 16 faders as well as were not really intuitive to handle.
I also had looked into the new Softube stuff which seemed to be a little less technical in the use than the SSL but, first of all, one would have 8 faders only again and secondly Softube still have not released their MK2 faderbank!

Anyway, I thought the Faderport 16 was relatively affordable and offered the "real 16 hardware faders experience". Further it offered a really intuitive workflow. And I have to say, I have never looked back in regards to the controller itself. It´s great to work with it.

The only downside I have experienced through the last months was that the only DAWs it would offer the desired smooth and intuitive workflow were Studio One and, surprisingly, Mixbus 32C. I still have Pro Tools Ultimate, Logic, LUNA, MB32C and Studio One installed on my system for compatibility reasons but I simply have stopped using the first three because of the clumsy and non-fluent experience with the FB16 with these.

Theoretically all these DAWs should work and they basically do but in a limited way, accompanied by missing functions or even malfunctions (one of the very annoying bugs with LUNA for example is, that, if you are in Plugin Editing Mode and you go to the next bank of the plugin settings, it sometimes loses the connection to the plugin editing page and while you are thinking to adjust the parameter of the plugin, you change the volume of the fader on your track without knowing it at the first time. It does not happen every time but on a random basis). That's absolutely not cool if you are on a session with 60-70 tracks and busses and you don't even realize at the first moment that you have changed the meticulously worked out volume/automation of your track. And there are just a few things in general that do not work as well as they do with S1 and MB.

Because I love my UA gear, my UAD plugins (all the beautiful API console emulations etc.) and the sound quality of LUNA that much, I thought I could ask UA for a better implementation of the Faderport series, like done in Mixbus for example. Honestly I don´t expect something to show up finally just because UA definitely seem to focus on the SSL controllers as well as on the Console 1 stuff. I just wanted to ask for it though at least.

I myself therefor will focus on the DAWs which the Faderport 16 does work perfectly fine with in the future. Studio One has developed greatly and has become a serious and useable alternative to PT and Logic over time. And it certainly will get just better by the support of Fender. So hopefully will Mixbus by the influence of SSL. LUNA always will be my love and favorite when it comes to audio quality though. UA have done a great job on that indeed.

Thanks again for your kind reply.

Cheers.

Yeah, if there's bugginess associated with the MCU implementation within Luna itself, that's a UA problem, and UA has to fix that. There's probably not a whole lot that any HW controller can do about that, whether it be the UF8, FP16, or Stream Deck.

 

[MakerDP]

We were asking (begging?) for better Console 1 support for a long time before we got it. Well, "long time" is relative given LUNA is only barely about 2 years old. Give it some time, I'm sure it's on their list.

FWIW, Reaper also has really nice FP 8/16 support, but like MixBus, it's implemented by its user base.

 

[chrisharbin]

The only thing I really wish I could do on my FP8 is arm tracks for recording.

I'm not sure I understand, I can arm tracks on my FP8.

 

[Quint]

We were asking (begging?) for better Console 1 support for a long time before we got it. Well, "long time" is relative given LUNA is only barely about 2 years old. Give it some time, I'm sure it's on their list.

FWIW, Reaper also has really nice FP 8/16 support, but like MixBus, it's implemented by its user base.

Luna is four years old though, not two. I think that's why some of these kinds of threads are popping up more and more. People are asking for fixes and feature adds for a DAW that, though it's not "old", also isn't exactly all that "new" anymore either.

Universal Audio Releases LUNA Recording System - Press Room - Universal Audio

Universal Audio is the world’s leader in Thunderbolt audio interfaces, analog recording hardware, and UAD audio plug-ins. Explore products and shop now.

www.uaudio.com

.

 

[MakerDP]

Luna is four years old though, not two. I think that's why some of these kinds of threads are popping up more and more. People are asking for fixes and feature adds for a DAW that, though it's not "old", also isn't exactly all that "new" anymore either.

Universal Audio Releases LUNA Recording System - Press Room - Universal Audio

Universal Audio is the world’s leader in Thunderbolt audio interfaces, analog recording hardware, and UAD audio plug-ins. Explore products and shop now.

www.uaudio.com

.

Heh time flies.

Remember too that LUNA is highly customer-request driven... they pay attention to how many people ask for what features when they hit that feedback button. My guess is better PreSonus controller support is pretty far down the list.

 

[MakerDP]

I'm not sure I understand, I can arm tracks on my FP8.

In LUNA? Hmm... I'll have to look at that... Maybe it meets all of my needs after all... lol.

 

[chrisharbin]

In LUNA? Hmm... I'll have to look at that... Maybe it meets all of my needs after all... lol.

Yeah, the "arm" in the upper left toggles between "select" and.... "arm" Turns red.

 

[Quint]

@VRW

Hey, I'm curious to hear more about plugin editing/control page disconnecting on the FP16. I've been working on creating some profiles on my Stream Deck for the better part of a year. Among other things, these profiles allow for quick access to the plugin editing page by automating all of the MIDI messages into one button push. I wasn't previously having problems with this, but I also recently updated to Luna 1.5.5. (I was on 1.5.0 previously, I think) and tonight I was noticing that the plugin editing page on the my SSL randomly will revert back to the track name display page (same as you describe) from the plugin editing page without me doing anything. It didn't used to do this. It was working before, but now it is not, though sometimes it will work without reverting back to the track name display page. It's random when this problem occurs.

I'm beginning to suspect that this new problem I'm encountering is the same that you are reporting with your FP16. MCU is a kind of "dumb" language, and there shouldn't be any other protocols working in the background between Luna and the SSL, so I can't imagine how this could have anything to do with my SD profiles. They just automate the button pushing on the SSL. They're not mixed up in the code itself between Luna and the SSL. I need to do some more testing to try to narrow it down, but your comments kind of have me wondering. Hmmm....