Any Softube CS1 MK3 users here? I have run into an issue with writing automation...

[Sayat Nova]

Hello Everyone,

I just updated my Softube CS1 Fader MK3 to the latest update two days ago: 2.6.4. I am on S1 7.1.1.
Everything has worked perfectly for the past few months with the whole CS1 MK3 system and S1. It has been a pleasure to work with.

Yesterday was the day I finally said I am going to really learn about automation in S1. I watched a load of Gregor and Joe vids, took my notes and then got to work on a practice session. Sadly, it was a very frustrating experience, as S1 and the CS1 Fader MK3 consistently kept randomly losing connection and dropping out every few seconds and randomly sputtering back to life, then dropping out a few seconds after that- but only when recording automation. When it drops out, both the LCD on the CS1 MK3 faster track and the S1 track in the DAW mixer window show no response, even though I am still moving the physical fader on the CS1 Fader unit.

I verified the following for trouble shooting:

• This happened with any automation source: volume, pan, and sends
• This happened with busses and individual tracks
• It happened with any setting for the Automation input flavour: Trim, Latch, Write
• This happens with any fader track on the CS1 Fadere MK3 unit (so, not a bum fader on one track of the unit...).
• As soon as I am NOT recording automation, everything runs smoothly and works like it did before...

Can anyone with a CS1 Fader MK3 unit try to run some automation recording and see if it works for you? I have no idea what to try. I have a message sent to Softubes' CS. Hopefully, I will hear something back soon. In the meantime, I thought I'd check here.

Also, just to verify: I am supposed to be able to record in more than one tracks' automation at the same time, yes? For example, I am trying to record live volume automation for 3 busses as a performance, like we can do with an analogue console. I thought this is supposed to also work with this set-up?

Thank you for any help and info. So glad we have this forum!

 

[dean.winter]

Hi Sayat,
Just tried it here with my Console 1 Mk3 fader. Seems to work fine - I write enabled 3 tracks and created automation via the faders for both pan and volume on multiple tracks simultaneously. I'm on a P.C. instead of a Mac like you, so potentially not apples-to-apples, but it does work here.

Hopefully the Softube folks can help get you sorted, and if there's something else I can try out I'm happy to help.

Dean

 

[js1]

Don't have the fader, but I do have the console. I ran into issues where the controls weren't behaving correctly. Originally, I had the console plugged through a hub. Plugging it directly into the Mac cleared up the issues.

Not all hubs are created equal, and in the Mac space, there's lots of port expanders and hubs that claim USB3 compatibility that run at USB2 speeds.

Something to try, and if you're already plugged into the Mac directly, never mind...

 

[Sayat Nova]

Hello Everyone,

The Fader is connected directly to the Mac, and the Console is connected to the fader. So, this is what they recommend.
I tried to adjust the Trim Automation in the preferences: default 50%, 0%, 40/60/70/80%, nothing fixed this issue.
I have never noticed any dropouts in normal usage for months, now. Only when recording automation using the Fader which I did for the first time this week...
Any automation entered with mouse works perfectly, and the Fader tracks it perfectly...

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Sayat Nova]

Still waiting for a reply from Softube support, apart from Oskar telling me he sent the issue to the tech Folks. they are probably all at Super Booth!...

In the meantime: more trouble shooting:

I have also an X-Touch One. It works perfectly. Interestingly enough, when I move the channel fader on the Softube Fader Mk3, the X-Touch One fader also tracks the movement. This is normal. However, when I record automation movements with the Fader Mk3 and it freezes and drops out, if I immediately use the X-Touch Ones' fader, the automation input picks right up and works perfectly with no drop outs... If I just use the X-Touch Ones' fader to input automation, it works flawlessly and does not drop out. If I switch back to the fader in Fader Mk3, it works for a few seconds then drops out randomly, every time...

So, I can use a single fader to input volume automation with the X-Touch One, but I cannot do more than one channel at a time, and I cannot input pan or send levels... Ugh.

- Maybe this is something: I did have to enter the X-Touch One as an input device in S1, But I did not have to do this for the CS1 devices, since they need the plugin to set-up communication... Maybe we need to also set-up the CS1 devices as inputs in S1, as well as use the plugin to make it work correctly?

Is anyone with the CS1 Console and Fader Mk3 using only the plugin, or have you also set-up the input devices in S1, as well?

Thank you for any help.

 

[dean.winter]

Still waiting for a reply from Softube support, apart from Oskar telling me he sent the issue to the tech Folks. they are probably all at Super Booth!...

In the meantime: more trouble shooting:

I have also an X-Touch One. It works perfectly. Interestingly enough, when I move the channel fader on the Softube Fader Mk3, the X-Touch One fader also tracks the movement. This is normal. However, when I record automation movements with the Fader Mk3 and it freezes and drops out, if I immediately use the X-Touch Ones' fader, the automation input picks right up and works perfectly with no drop outs... If I just use the X-Touch Ones' fader to input automation, it works flawlessly and does not drop out. If I switch back to the fader in Fader Mk3, it works for a few seconds then drops out randomly, every time...

So, I can use a single fader to input volume automation with the X-Touch One, but I cannot do more than one channel at a time, and I cannot input pan or send levels... Ugh.

- Maybe this is something: I did have to enter the X-Touch One as an input device in S1, But I did not have to do this for the CS1 devices, since they need the plugin to set-up communication... Maybe we need to also set-up the CS1 devices as inputs in S1, as well as use the plugin to make it work correctly?

Is anyone with the CS1 Console and Fader Mk3 using only the plugin, or have you also set-up the input devices in S1, as well?

Thank you for any help.

Hey Sayat - just the plugin here, not set up as an input device.

Fingers crossed for you getting this to work.

Dean

 

[Sayat Nova]

Hey Sayat - just the plugin here, not set up as an input device.

Fingers crossed for you getting this to work.

Dean

Thank you. But, I believe you are on a PC, not a Mac? Maybe this is part of it?...

 

[dean.winter]

Thank you. But, I believe you are on a PC, not a Mac? Maybe this is part of it?...

Yep, I'm on a PC. Might be different.

Dean

 

[Sayat Nova]

In case anyone else is affected by this issue: So, I updated S1 to 7.2, and the problem is the same... did not help: writing automation with a Fader MK3 continuously drops connection and randomly pops back in for a few seconds and drops out again. Every time... Softube have not sent any tech help to adresse my issue, it has now been 23 days... Not a great look for them and does not feel great, just saying...