@@neoaureus it’s amazing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Takes time to get used to it but once you are….. WATCH OUT. I’m using with logic and I’m never going back.
Setup Guide I decided to set up a separate mixing/mastering station in my studio using SSL equipment. I purchased a UC1, UF8, Fusion, Bus+ and Big Six. I have been using Reaper for about ten years but am not a power user. I have relied a lot on Kenny Gioia's video tutorials. My goal was to get all of the SSL pieces working together with Reaper. Unfortunately SSL does not fully support Reaper in setting up the UC1 and UF8. So I had to wade in (over my head) into getting Reaper and the SSL equipment, the Big Six, UC1 and UF8 configured so that they would function together. SSL's technical support was responsive but they did not have knowledge of Reaper. I could not find any RU-vid videos or other information on how to configure all the this equipment together. So I decided I would offer a few comments on what eventually worked for me. The SSL User Manuals are very good in explaining the functions of the equipment. The Fusion and Bus+ provide no particular connection or configuration issues. They are easy to set up and operate. The SSL User manuals and RU-vid videos for the Big Six, UC1 and UF8 explain how to physically connect each piece to a computer (in my case a Windows 11 pc). They also do a good job of explaining how to download the software - 360 plug in mixer, Channel Strip 2, Channel Strip 4k b and Bus Compressor 2. The only difficulties I encountered in this were due to my total inexperience with using iLok software manager. But the process worked fine. So I suggest that one follow the SSL videos and User Guides. Just one comment. The Channel Strip 2, Channel Strip 4k b and Compressor 2 are VST's and it is best to allow the SSL downloader to put these in the default folder - which is the Steinberg VST Plugins folder. Pay attention to Reaper's warning that VST plugins should not be placed in the Reaper plugin/FX folder along with the standard Reaper plugins. With regard to the USB connections, I offer the following advice. Use either the USB cables that SSL provides or very high quality cables. Do no use any USB cables longer than 1 ½ meters. Do not use a hub for any connection. Connect the UC1 USB cable from the UC1 to the UF8 “thru” USB input (which is a USB type A input). Run a USB cable from the UF8 USB output (which is a USB type C connector) to your computer. Connect the Big Six USB output to a separate USB connection on your computer. After all the SSL software is installed, go to Options > Preferences > Audio > Midi Devices. A table will pop up. There will be a table listing twelve SSL V MIDI Ports for Input and under that there is a table listing twelve SSL V MIDI Ports for Output. Under the Mode column of each table, enable all twelve ports. Do this by right clicking each port under Mode column. A window will pop up. Click enable. Do this for all input and outputs. Twelve MIDI Inputs and twelve MIDI Outputs are therefore enabled. I do not know if it is necessary to enable all twelve outputs and inputs but that is what I did and it works for me. Right click again on the SSL V-MIDI Port 1 line in the input table. The small window will again pop up. Click on “Enable input for control messages.” You do not have to do this (and cannot do it) for the SSL V-MIDI Port 1 line in the output table. Go to Preferences > Options > Control/OSC/web. Under the blank window, click Add. Another blank window will pop up. There will be a line titled “Control surface mode.” Click on the small down arrow to open up another window with a list of options. Select Mackie Control Universal. (If you are using more than one UF8, I think you also need to select Mackie Control Extender, but since I only have one UF8 I do not know for sure). Click OK at the bottom of the window. I suggest at this point that you restart your computer. Then turn off everything - the computer, the Big Six, UF8, UC1, Bus+ and Fusion. Then I do the following: The order is important. Turn on the UF8 and UC1. Turn on your computer. Start Reaper. Open the SSL 360. Check that the Options setting described above are sill there. Open a new track and ensure that you can find and open the Bus Compressor 2, Channel Strip 2 and Channel Strip 4k b. Turn on the Big Six. Ensure that the USB connection light in the upper right of the Big Six is on. (If you turn on the Big Six before turning on Reaper, the UC8 will not be happy and will pout. It will essentially refuse to talk with you or do anything at all except sit there with a blank stare on its face). In the SSL 360 software, choose Logic Pro for Layer 1. There is no option to choose Reaper. Reaper is not fully supported in this manner - er, not supported at all. (I have seen that someone chose to use Studio One instead of Logic Pro, and this might work. However, SSL technical support recommends using Logic Pro. Most of the soft keys in SSL 360 are already programmed with commands that correspond to Logic Pro commands. Some of these work with Reaper and some do not. I chose to reprogram all of the SSL 360 soft keys. It is very easy to do. Moreover, I did not really like most of the commands that were per-programmed anyway. The SSL 360 video and the SSL User Guide for the 360 are very good at showing how to program the soft keys. I found it actually fun. So, for me everything is happy working together. I find it remarkable that the 360 mixer, UC1, UF8, Channel Strip 2, Channel Strip 4k b and Bus Compressor 2 plugins all correspond to each. When a control is moved in one, it immediately shows in all the others. Pretty cool I think. I also like that the transport controls in SSL 360 work. I duplicate these controls in the first group of soft keys on the UF8. I have also programmed the soft keys to do such things as save, open new project, metronome, undo and redo, snap and unsnap, etc. I like using these instead of resorting to my mouse. But everyone will have a different approach to all of this. The outside plugin controls on the UF8 do not work with Reaper but SSL has been very clear about this, and to me it is not a big deal.
Hey Thomas, thank you for sharing your findings with us! I'm sure that people in a similar situation that you were in would find this very helpful! We're glad to be a space where people can help each other out!
Other than the review by my good friend Fadi Hayek at SSL for Vintage King, I must admit this has been the best review of the UF8 I've seen to date! Thanks for pinpointing many of the functions on the unit. I've had mine for about two weeks or more and I love them! Enjoy!
That was a really well-done thought out review. Thank you so much I am also not a big fan of surfaces, but I might be able to find a place for something like this in my studio. You’re awesome. Liked and subscribed.
Thank you for the fine review a lot of info! Your new friend Tod from across the pond in Vegas. :) Since this was made have you heard about using it with Luna?
This is incredible - I can't tell what's more incredible the technology or the price. Just ordered one. I haven't been excited for a piece of hardware in years.
I worked on a friend's UF-8 with firmware v1.4 installed for a few hours and immediately came home and listed my my S1 and Dock on ebay, and bought a UF-8, cuz it was such a better experience. - Also - You can "hack" PT into giving you fake VCA spills. I do it, and it makes navigation when mixing so much easier. I can punch a single soft key and suddenly I'm only seeing the guitar tracks and their VCA. I even use soft key bank 5 to map all the shortcuts to the VCA spills. Other than the 4 digit track name limitation (which I've gotten used to), the only thing really missing vs EUCON is the ability to map mouse menu items to shortcut keys. If there isn't a shortcut key option for the command or function in protools, then you can't map it to a key. I wish AVID would allow custom keyboard layouts and shortcut assignments in PT the way Final Cut and Davinci do..... Also; with a 2nd HUI controller like the X-touch One you can have the dock+S1/S3 experience with a single fader on the VCA from the X-touch and the spill on the UF-8(s) along with transport control, pre-roll toggle, QP toggle etc. Once I got used to the UF-8 and found that the NumPad could do nearly everything the x-touch was doing, I decided the space it was taking up wasn't worth what i was getting out of it. So I sold it, and will likely add a UC-1 when I build my new mixing desk
Still waiting for somebody to make this kind of controller but one that uses the OSC protocol. Resolution would be absolutely of no concern then and neither would the flexibility. Reaper + OSC controller like this would be THE most amazing experience ever.
Hi Baraka, thanks for checking out our UF8 video, and we're very flattered to hear that James' way of describing the UF8 was the most helpful compared to the other videos out there :) Be sure to check out our videos in the future!
Looks interesting but I’d like it if had dedicated transport control buttons vs using the same buttons for other functions and possibly have to switch back and forth
Hi Nicolas, that's a fair point it would be good if it did have dedicated transport controls, you could however program in transport controls into the soft keys as a workaround solution
Too many buttons with 1..2....3....4....5.... etc. I'm sorry No transport buttons on a controller, how many assignable numerals? How can we remember and no overlays
@@StudiosparesTV Faders were just OK. Yes, they're 100mm faders but that's really not that important when you only habe 128 steps on those faders. I thought I could deal with 6 character track names but .. I was wrong. Only a few buttons are programmable. A real waste when you have two of them. After the startup light show.. You can NOT change button colors. Who wants their transport controls up at the top when there are unused cursor buttons that can be programmed. The displays were pretty weak. Contrast varied between them. Text not very bright. Unprogrammable. In a dark control room, could not see the button labels. Considering how much these cost I was not impressed. I went with Lemur on an iPad. I am on Windows with Nuendo.
Darn. I already own two S2's and a Dock. That "Focus mode" where you hover the mouse over a knob looks killer. I'm not going to jump ship just yet, but it looks as if SSL nailed it.
Hey, naturally it's down to personal workflows, but it really is a great bit of gear and hits the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned. - If you decide to make the switch, you know where we are!
A very comprehensive and informative review, as usual, cheers! However, as with any DAW controller, I am really not convinced that its easier/quicker than knowing all the keyboard shortcuts and having a magic trackpad, thats just me. The UF8 looks like the best to date though, and SSL are high end stuff.
Hi Micheal, thanks, we're so glad you enjoyed the video and found it informative! That's completely fair enough, if you can work with keyboard shortcuts, all the power to you. The choice behind buying a DAW controller like the UF8 will ultimately dependant on the user, their ability, setup/budget, situation and so on. But yes looks like a new step forward for SSL, we're certainly excited to see where they go next!
UPDATED COMMENTS: After my original comments, I decided to try the UF8...actually two of them and my opinion has changed on the UF8 for the better. The Mackie Controller had dedicated transport controls, jog wheel, and time display on the top right. On top of that they have a Expander unit which provides 8 additional channels without the same transport control features which makes sense. Two SSL UF8 had duplicated controls which I originally though did not make sense. However if you have two UF8's, I have Soft Key 1 with the transport controls on the top and on the 2nd unit, different favorites to go to. The plug in features on the SSL UF8 work much better than the Mackie and I like the faders better. It takes less space height wise over the Mackie and I like that all the custom controls you create, it lists the favorite on the scribble strip. This is something the Mackie does not do. I ended up using a label maker which looked messy though helpful. With the UF8, using USB instead of Midi gives more fine tuning and using it with the 360 software is another plus. I also have the UC1 and love it. To have two UF8's with the UC1 seems appealing. Plus it does not take as much real-estate in front of you. I agree UF8 is not perfect as dedicated transport controls could have been put on the left and provide only 4 Send buttons on the left but I am getting use to the controller and am really enjoying it.
Oh how I wish SSL would re-do the nucleus. I've had every controller under the sun, the Qcon and Avid and even the presonus. I just learned how to mix on big mixers and want that tactile, moving more than one slider at once control. The UF8 certainly looks sexy but what it is GLARINGLY missing is a transport section - if SSL would come out with a modular transport controller then we could customize our own desks - say, two UF8's, a UC1, and a transport section (back forward stop play record plus jog wheel) then I'd be in heaven. Hey, since the transport section will be small, what will fill up all that extra space to make it the same footprint as the UF8 and UC1? How about a monitor controller built into the same unit! A big fat knob, multiple monitor selection, dim/mute and mono selector. Oh and the other thing I love about my Nucleus is the fact that it's got TWO SSL preamps built into it - that alone just about covers the cost if you're buying 500 series SSL pres. KEEP GOING WITH THE MODULAR DESIGN SSL, just PLEASE add the transport/monitor controller section. I don't need a Matrix, I don't need a Delta or Origin, I need 16-32 channels, transport, monitor controller and switchable EQ section. You're almost there.
@@StudiosparesTV of course, the thing is that something like the Delta or Origin contains a lot of features someone like me doesn't need and which are expensive. Most the recording in my studio is done a couple of channels at a time, maybe as many as ten if I'm micing a drum kit but mostly one instrument at a time. So I don't need 24 or 36 full channels with preamps and everything, it's expensive and it takes up a lot of space. I love the smaller form factor where it's just a 100mm slider then cut/solo/select and a scribble strip. I currently use a Softube console 1 as a channel strip and that makes sense to me. I don't need to pay for and then have all those channel strips and preamps. Having the two extra pres on the nucleus made it a great value buy if the price difference is 50-100k, I'll just put a pair of SSL 500 series pres into a Lunchbox.
Nice overview. I have a Presonus FaderPort 8 and since I use Studio One, I am unlikely to move away since it is perfectly aligned to Studio One and not generic like the Mackie Control mode (like I feel with the FP8 in Cakewalk). One thing I like here that I wish that the FP8 had done was to add the pan/switchable knob for each channel rather than just a single knob that works on the currently selected channel. I also wish the FP8 knobs were not "stepped" and instead smooth - I don't know which one these are, but they looked to be smooth from the video. But a thing I really like about the FP8 is the dedicated transport section that is always there. I'd be hard-pressed to spend $1,000 (ish) on this since I already have the FP8 and it is so well suited and I got it for like $380 (new but eBay), but it really is an attractive control surface that appears to be well thought out. Thanks for the video.
What differentiates this from the Behringer XTouch? Extreme similarities, despite proprietary operating software layers. Let’s throw the Avid S series in there as well.
Hi Juan, fundamentally the XTouch and UF8 are similar in functionality, however the UF8 is geared towards building a virtual control console that integrates with the UC1, SSL plugins and your DAW of choice. I hope this helps.
I've been shopping for a new studio control surface and so far the Avid S1 is it for me . I currently own a Qcon and that is ok but I like the touch screen stuff combined with actual faders. Some needs to make one and make it expandable. It has to grow with me.
Hi Tom, it's certainly about personal preference. You have to find what best works for you and your workflow. Both the UF8 and the S1 are great choices. Are you looking to replace the Qcon or for is it an additional control surface you are after?
@@DVTOM If you need nay hel[p deciding, don't hesitate to contact our sales team at sales@studiospares.com or 020 8208 9930 who will be more than happy to discuss options with you.
I like it. I'll buy it when it's used. As of my logitech ergo trackball mouse does the trick😂. I treat my scroll wheel like a fader. Works great in fl studio
Digital Performer will work will the SSL UF8, but with limited compatibility and is not officially supported or tested by SSL. I'm led believe that Digital Performer supports faders, pans and channel banking only.
I have a question: Is it possible to choose a plugin and then insert it on an empty slot on a channel or do you need to reach for the mouse to do that? And is it possible to change the order of pluginchain only with the UF8. Im maybe asking for too when taking the price of the UF8 into consideration, bit my point is this: I see little or no point of a controlsurface if you still need to grab that mouse 50% of the time (this is the very reason i sold the S3, which is alot more expensive than the UF8).
@@StudiosparesTV The UF8 is the DAW controller I always wished for. Brilliant design, very high quality. You can feel that they know exactly what they’re doing and that a lot of thought went into the tiniest detail. It’s great!
Fundamentally no, but the Fadeport is geared to integrate seemly with PreSonus Studio One software. The UF8 is geared towards building a virtual control console that integrates with your SSL plugins and your DAW of choice. I hope this helps.
Hey Tim, The SSL UF8 allows you to create shortcuts and easily navigate through your DAW timeline without needing your mouse. The fader will control whichever track is assigned to that fader. Turning the EQ knob on channel 5 will allow you to scroll between your banks. The cursor keys are really useful for navigating projects too, although their functions may vary depending on which DAW you are using. I hope this helps, don't hesitate to contact us with any further questions you may have!
@@StudiosparesTV thanks for the reply - I guess what I was asking is whether it is totally necessary to hit the ‘Select’ button on a track to actually select it, or is just touching the fader enough. Is there a setting to turn this function on? I’m looking for a replacement for my Console 1 Fader which can do this via a setting, but the lack of scribble strips means I don’t use it...
the ssl name does instil purchasing faith but a grand for 8 faders? as a casual ableton producer with some out board gear i cant justify that. im still shopping for a straight 16 channel analogue desk and currently looking at mackie and yamaha mg.
If it's not justified with your current setup, we can't say fairer that! If your still shopping for an analogue mixer and want to talk spec to see what works best for you don't hesitate to get in touch with one of our Sales team they will be more than happy to help: call us on 020 8208 9930 or email - sales@studiospares.com
They do give you the Allen key so you cant complain, I prefer the tight grip of an fallen key with the right fallen key bolt than a small Phillips head bolt that could tear up with the wrong size screw driver, I say I prefer fallen keys for professional equipment bolts
Hi Gunforhirenz, we can see both sides, a small Phillips head bolt would be convenient and more common than a hex bolt. Either way it's certainly importantly that the legs fit tight and secure when you're using them in your workspace. It's an expensive piece of kit to replace if it falls!
@@williamtopping I hear you man!!! I don't see why the UF8 wouldn't work in FL Studio as of my Avid Artist Mix does and it's a Eucon unit. Hopefully the SSL UF8 does because I have my Artist Mix live for sell on Reverb and Ebay as I'm typing at this very moment.
I’ keep hearing to stay away from the QCON PRO G2 .. i was almost ready to pull the trigger on it with the expanders then noticed there weren’t a whole lot of reviews online esp the bad ones where ppl complained about the company’s lack of support in the USA and the fact they are not being truthful on the integration with DAWS i have been just waiting and waiting t see if this UF8 is what i should get I’m also tempted to get the PRESONUS FADERPORT 16 but not sure because i want to use LOGIC PRO and don’t want to make a mistake with this purchase- Highland 199 said it was CLUNKY (THE QCON ICON PRO G2 CONTROLLER
It's always best practice to do your research on a product before buying like you're doing, in regards to the UF8, it integrates with all major DAWs and includes workflow ready templates for Ableton Live, Cubase / Nuendo, Pro Tools, Logic Pro X and Studio One. But the best advice we can give is to get in contact with one of the Studiospares Sales team, they will be more that happy to give you the best advice on which controller will be best suited for you. Please call us on 020 8208 9930 or email - sales@studiospares.com
Hi, the UF8 can work across multiple DAWs but operating from the same system at one time. You're welcome to discus with our team if you have any more questions sales@studiospares.com
We know what you mean, but even naming some of these pieces of gear can be unfair on other viewers who might already own them. So, we're trying to be diplomatic. But if you really want to know what we would recommend, just call one of our team at Studiospares, and they'll help you. Thanks.
Can you make a comparison with a other daw controller like the Qcon g2?...I think the only difference is that ssl uf8 can control more than one DAW, which for me it is not usegul, I only work with logic so who is this DAW controller to the others that actually do the same things for less price...
Hi Mario, what a great suggestion! It is something we'll consider for future video for sure! It's all dependant on the user and their situation/setup. The UF8 provides a more advanced arsenal of usability and features that SSL is known for compared to other controllers. You're right there are other cheaper alternatives but for users looking for the multiple DAW control that the UF8 provides, for example, it's well suited for them.
Hi Tommy, we pitched your question to SSL and they have replied saying: "Unfortunately, MIDI CC is not currently possible with UF8" However, we have had a think and we think there's a work around. You can basically implement the same idea on any MCU device already. If you use one of the User modes, and you map the controls to anything you want, it depends how you want to use it. We offer 14 day returns so you can order - test it out and return back to us if you can’t get it working! :)
Hi Mac, we weren't too sure so we pitched your question to the folks at SSL and they've come back with an answer. Unfortunately, SSL no longer supports Soundscape, so there won't be support for it to UF8.
Sorry but in my opinion it is not correct to say that faders have typically 128 steps resolution. By hui or mackie universal control protocol, faders use pitch wheel midi message to exchange data. Pitch wheel midi message accounts for a resolution of 14 bits, 7 bits for MSB and 7bits for LSB bringing the number of steps available to 16384. So if SSL is communicating using 10bits they are actually underusing the protocol and doing worse then some other competitor
Hey James. thanks for the review. Do you know, if you hook 2 of these up, do the buttons on both units have the same shortcuts or do they operate independently so you could have one set of users keys on one unit and another on the other unit? I have Avid S1's right now and all units have 8 user buttons along the bottom but they all use the same 8 shortcuts rather than being able to program each separately. Cheers
Hi Jose, at the minute the UF8 is not compatible with UA's LUNA, but a UF8 profile for LUNA is something that is highly likely to be introduced in the not so distant future. As soon as we know we'll be sure to let you know!
Hi there, we believe it's only the SSL 360° control software you have to have running when using the UF8 as it opens up the true power of the UF8. We agree it is a real shame Reason isn't officially supported by the UF8, although basic functions may work in Reason but you may experience issues with more advanced functions. We have our fingers crossed that Reason will become officially supported in the future with SSL!
The top of the LED screens. I come from using another brand with dedicated transport control which I sold to get my UF8s, and it really doesn't bother me that SSL has placed them there. You'll get used to it.
@@StudiosparesTV Not atm. I have a lot of hardware controllers...everything from Nektar to ol BCF2000...trying to find something that is generic. I love the SSL/Softube ideas and tie up...but perfection would be a wrapper that you can house the actual strip components (Think Metaplugin etc), but use any plug, hide in behind a generic front end like a channel strip (that is user config graphics etc) and THEN use a generic controller that has the bits in the right place. Im working on it...but I like the static workflow of UF8 with a definable engine. Thanks again for your review...gave me a number of ideas. I can see the value...I actually code for an OEM midi company (doing the Live remote scripts) and hopefully the proof of concept might motivate :-)
hi, we are sorry for the late reply. It will work, but with limited functionality. solidstatelogic.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017483377-Which-DAWs-work-with-UF8-
Hey, it certainly is about finding the best workflow for your own setup. Easy of use and functionality is important when you're creating in the studio. Which controller are you currently using?
There are a few other options out there if you're looking for something a little bit different. You're welcome to contact our sales team on 020 8208 9930 or sales@studiospares.com if you have any questions or want some suggestions.
That's because Luna doesn't have any control surface support yet. Drew at UA has a UF8 and is testing it with the alpha version of Luna with control surface support. It's only a matter of time until Luna will have control surface support. :-)
@@ChrisWhittenMusic I have a UF8. It works very well with UA Console when you install UA Midi Control (with Mackie license) by Radu Varga. The UF8 also works very well with Studio One.
Hi Alex, that’s a great question! We are currently in the process of double-checking with an SSL product specialist to find out for you. The predominant use for the thru port is to connect a second UF8 rather than taking up a second USB port on the computer when running 2 x UF8s together, we are currently trying to find out if you can utilise the thru port for different functionality. As soon as we have an official answer for you Alex we'll come straight back to you!
I have a raven 2 since it launched, but 2 months after using it, it became just a nice 24” monitor, and believe me, I’ve tried. I have the UF8 for a week now and I’m loving it think I wanna get 2 more
@@parryjack6057 My sentiments exactly! I have two UF8s and waiting to purchase the third one in a few weeks. 24 Faders has always been it for my studio setup since the Mackie MCU Pro with extenders I replaced. Although having one UF8 will work excellently for anyone wanting a great control surface.
What I dont like is the position of the mute,solo and select buttons! If your faders set up beside a button...you would have to place your finger in between... Or if you had say a hook of 4 tracks and you wanted to mute them all at the same time ( doing an automation pass ) you risk hitting the faders! They could have placed them above the faders. It’s ugly where it is now...and poses the aforementioned risk!
That's a fair point Triniti, it will just take some time to get used to the UF8's layout and workflow as to not cause any trouble while working. But like anything, once muscle memory is learnt this can all be avoided :)
@@StudiosparesTV yes Understood. The reason why things like this happen is due to not having enough mixers that mix on consoles in the room when they are developing it. Another flaw and poor design choice is the LCDs! The eye and brain has the ability to quickly identify the color black when amongst other colors! The displays used to show various numerical values should have been non back lit but instead only provide light and color to text on display while the rest of the display would remain black or NON powered pixles.this would insure blacks would be indeed black in that no power is being sent to that portion of the LCD’s pixel and that pixel is turned off thus producing the color or the visual of “ Black” . the text being presented could be whatever color related to the channel or even be a simple white or green. I can see that with several years of using this unit the first thing to go would be the LCD ( of course depending on the quality of the LCD ) Along the area where they have the strange button placement...this area could have been used for high res metering for each channel instead of just a LCD indication of activity via the LCDs above each fader! ( unless Euphonix /Avid has a patent on this of course) They could have found a way implement this. I dont see folks using this to actually mix but make a few choices...maybe mute here or solo there or maybe an automation pass here or there or a quick balance but not any long term mixing due to its button positions
Although it is not officially supported, there are still usable functions. See here: solidstatelogic.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017483377-Which-DAWs-work-with-UF8-
@@highland1997 while growing up in the mixing world, i realized the heart of the studio was the mixing board. Creating that magic with the uf8 allows you to get deeper into the plugin world without effort. The uf8 console finally offers in depth integration that allows you to do away with the mouse and focus on the sound. The mouse and in the box usage destroys the creative detail thats needed for mixing. Remember, the best records of our time was mixed without a computer and the uf8 brings back that magic. With that being said, the price is no problem because they nailed the integration with studio one and Logic. I’m sure the other daw integration is top quality as well. It’s obvious they took their time with this one. If they create the same magic with LUNA, a lot of pro studios will be in trouble moving forward. Trust me. Get this baby ASAP!
@@redviagra thank you for your in-depth reply, from the reviews I’ve red and your feedback, I think I’ll be investing in one, think it will be in a couple of months, currently have a icon qcon pro g2 at the moment, it’s ok but just feels clunky, think the uf8 is a different level and more refined with a lot more functionality. Once again thank you for your reply, very much appreciated
@@highland1997 @UCmUIX4BZW6n5ocg6ZzLnF-Q I too have grown up with faders, so controllers such as the SSL UF8 offer that tactile feel that you just can't get from a mouse. It's the difference between programming a guitar part or physically playing it on a guitar. There is a level of creativity and control that you that helps you with the production and I think it also allows you to make quick and responsive mix decisions. If you guys are in the UK and are looking to invest, give us a call and we'll make sure that we look after you. (Dave @ Studiospares)
The original Hui when used with Pro Tools is quite fast actually. its missing functions like flip to faders for plugin control and such and yes its super old! However it had 1024 steps even then! I dont know how Avid ( then Digidesign ) did it..the Hui was fast and fluid when using Pro Tools ( banking and nudging faders ) I have 3 huis to this day! I take them apart and service them ...the fader motors would die over time... there is no fan so the unit does get hot! I wish Mackie would revisit the hui and offer a better version with the same look and style same button placements just add a fan for cooling and add in the extra chip for MCU. The Hui protocol was made for Pro tools so i guess thats why its so much faster! Maybe the Hui has some memory chips inside thats being used by Pro tools alone! I love the Hui even if its old...it has a real meter bridge, monitor section and talkback and a dedicated plugin section .( it is a pain to dial through a long list of plugins ) Then I wish folks would get past this 32 fader advertised limit. This limit might not exist with Cubase / Nuendo.Unless that SSL software somehow controls the units access there should be no limit. The only reason this 32 fader limit exists is due to pro tools via hui being limited to 4 ports with in Pro tools but in Nuendo ...I can add as many Huis as I wish!
@@triniticoclough6387 The original HUI units have been ahead of their time and may still be a good solution for you, I don’t doubt that. But a new device with this old protocol? I don’t think it’s a good idea.
@@maza2010ful Yes I do agree with what you mean... I guess its easier for companies to make new products and support these 2 protocols such as the Hui and MCU as they have become standards and working with these standards allows for a larger market where in a product can be sold Unless a new protocol comes into the market, these 2 will be used by the masses regardless of how old. Now if only Avid would license their own direct connect protocol. I’m sure when Avid acquired Euphonix they took there existing Eucon protocol and re engineered adding in there own direct connect to form a New version of Eucon. The problem with Eucon as it stands today is how it can disrupt midi. MIDI is not going away any time soon! It’s been around for years and years. Now there is even a MIDI 2.0- an updated even faster midi protocol that might compete with Ethernet in terms of speed. It has single cable bidirectional communication at a much higher speed than midi version 1. Its also backwards compatible! I would say building a controller that gives you the ability to decide what sections of your unit should use hui and what part would use MCU as they both have their own respective gains! Hui has good metering code but MCU has support for flipping of faders to control plugins and such. Of course then the daws would have to have the assignment capabilities to target the units allocations. This does not exist now..its one or the other ..if you choose both ..they fight for dominance ...I have tried this. It’s funny how a device thats set to MCU but HUI messages sent to it can show up either transport or mutes or something .. but if a device is set to HUI and you send MCU to it ...nothing happens...it seems that HUI is original code developed exclusively, where as MCU seems build based on other protocols to form one! I could be wrong lol
FYI It's ONLY 979 British pounds. edit: 979 pound sterling ! Or 1356.49 US Dollar. Save your 979 pound sterling , and hire a CUTE INTERN to come by twice a week to tickle your DAW's transport buttons and twirl those knobs ! And still have enough left over for fish and chips. : )
Can you imagine if this were an 8in 8 out interface built in also with transport controls. No brainer. There are options. Faderport 8 plus Arturia pre 8 for example? Same price.combined....Come on :) Even an Arturia Keylab or Novation SL does the same for less than half price with more
I am flabbergasted at the price of these kinds of devices. It's literally a glorified mouse (IMO). 1K Euros for something that might increase the speed of your workflow a couple of percent when you can get very powerful Audio interfaces for the same price seems kind of steep. If you can afford it then hallelujah but I think it's just a Blinky device that attracts more studio moths :)
It's objective as we all have different ways of working and navigating our workflow, but the main thing is that you are happy with the way you work, finding the best way for your own studio setup. There is certainly no right or wrong. What is your setup? :)
@@StudiosparesTV Absolutely, I'm not debating that. I personally have also tried multiple times to use a controller, that is usually just in the way, only to realise that I'm very quick with hotkeys, macros and the mouse anyway. I'm of course using no controller and my issue is simply the price of these things. Obviously the do not increase sound quality. Maybe your workflow but I seriously doubt there is anything you can do on that thing quicker than I could with a keyboard/mouse/macros.
At the end of the day, this is a sales pitch, it’s not impartial by pulling them up purely on the use of alien screws for the legs. I may investigate further, but right now it didn’t do anything for me… 😳
It is yes, but we also are genuinely big fans of the product. We think it is excellent, but understand that everyone has different needs and requirements when it comes to their personal workflow. Are you using anything similar? You're welcome to contact our sales team on sales@studiospares.com or if you have any questions or want some suggestions.
Allen & Heath SQ-5/6/7 does all of that control stuff with 16/24/32 moving faders, way more rotary controls, tons of buttons AND it's an infinitely configurable 48 channel mixer too... SSL are so far behind the curve... What a joke.
I'm the boss, and still haven't got my hands on one! Can't wait though, I've always been a huge SSL fan since my early days on E series SL4000's... Showing my age now!
If you need to add additional devices you have to purchase additional SSL UF8 devices.. Why?? Just make the UF8 have all the needed programmable buttons, etc and the additional units without (keep it simple and cost effective)! Almost ever other system uses this method .. why not you??
$500 for the SSL badge.....there are plenty of other HUI controllers that do near the same for far less money. If you are going to spend this then go for something with full professional features like Spill, Layouts and Custom Knobs and high resolution metering.
Hi Eddie, thank you for your comment. We understand your comment, but there is only so much that you can fit into a small footprint such as the UF8. Although these added features are definitely desirable, they could be implemented depending on how you configure your DAW.
@@StudiosparesTV You might want to check the claims about 10bit fader resolution...sure the actual faders are 10bit but the whole chain has to be 10bit all the way into the DAW for it to actually write 10bit data. This just isn't the case with Apps like Pro Tools that are standard HUI. The UF8 is only 9bit at best. From what I've seen when playing with it, its very coarse, especially the lower the fader gets. You can't even hit -10db or -20db accurately. The whole thing is some clever marketing and as I said you are paying for three letters.
SSL is all about sound not an expensive midi controller that does nothing new. Who can afford that? Maybe your millionaire DJ’s. Or maybe not, they’ve had a bad year. APC40 much more affordable!.
How does the APC40 compare with this as a Daw controller, say for ProToola ? I own one and use it with Ableton Live, but how would it work as a transport controller for other Daws?
It's a bit of a stretch to say that you are able to control plugin's in Pro Tools. HUI is limited to only 4 V-pots, meaning that even the simplest plugin parameters, will be spread out on pages after pages. It's a complete mess. It's not a SSL's fault, of course. I'm just a little disappointed. I have hoped they were able to get around some of these limitations, with the 360 software. But sadly, no. You won't even get better control, over their own SSL software. I don't get the reviewer here. If he think it's such a good idea to have a controller, why not get an S1? It's not that expensive. Seem odd?
Hey Lyd, sorry for the late reply! Fair points made. It's ultimately comes down to personal preference and needs with this type of product; as everyones workflow is so different. Are you using an S1 or anything similar?
It is not a "new level of DAW control" - it's just another Mackie control clone, following the same behavior as the original, with a few extra buttons on it.
Hey, sorry that the product isn't quite for you. We are a big fan but we also understand that everyone has a different workflow and requirements for products like this. Are you using a Mackie?
The UF8 is a major disappointment: (1) When you get beyond the hype you find that SSL have programmed the UF8 so that the plugin parameter names disappear when faders are flipped so it is ABSOLUTELY USELESS for writing automation in flip mode! It's such a basic requirement to know what a fader controls! (2) There no track colours! - They are essential and this has been requested time and time again by users. It's impossible to navigate a project easily when there are no colours to differentiate tracks AND made worse because ... (3) Track names are truncated so short. (Note to SSL: EDM track names are not simple scribble strips like "GTR 1" - Know your users please!). The truncation has to do with the Mackie legacy I understand but what I don't get is that Softube Console 1 pulls the full track names from Ableton. Hey SSL coders ... just copy the way Softube do it SSL - PLEASE! I'll happily add a track name copying plugin on each channel to pull the track name through in full if it makes the UF8 actually a usable tool. (4) Worst of all is the ridiculous amount of time it is taking SSL to go M1 native. My companion UC1 is redundant next to the UF8 when using the latest version of Ableton. If things don't improve both the UC1 and UF8 are going up for sale because it's just a frustrating waste of money on good hardware with underwhelming implementation. I've spoken with SSL and made them aware of these issues in a constructive way saying "hey guys, we need this and it'll make the products really usable". They just ignore my emails now and won't comment on whether any of this is coming. It's so frustrating to support them to be better but then see SSL releasing new plugins over sorting out major usability issues for existing customers. What incentive is there when they already have our money? Do better please
Hey Matt, thanks for your comment, it's always good to get feedback on the products that we are demoing in these videos! Every user is going to approach their workflow in different ways and have different requirements from their setup. We try to cover as many features about the products in these videos, but sometimes there are things that get missed, and people can be disappointed when the product isn't as they hoped. - It's not always possible for the manufacturers to pass on information about updates and changes as this information is often embargoed, which is probably why you haven't heard back from the team. If you decide to ditch the UF8 and UC1, would you look at alternative DAW controllers?
Without an extender, the UF* is a waste of money. Also in my opinion, it is being overhyped and that is because controllers from Berhinger, Avid and even iCon offer better features than this. Finally, I don't see why I have to open more than one DAWs at the same time if I am not in Rewire mode. So that idea of controlling three DAWs at the same time would be useless to most mixing engineers
Thanks for watching. No doubt there are fantastic alternatives out there, but the UF8 is designed for a specific market. The design allows it to be modular and integrate seamlessly with other SSL products, such as the UC1, allowing you to build your own console to suit your workflow. Do you use a controller, if so which one?
nice sales talk, however, it look like a toy, fragile, SMALL, and missing transport buttons , why?? the price is NOT justified! This comes from an SSL products owner and fan! UF8 is NOT what is supposed to be in my humble opinion, I better pay for 2 units from Avid S1 and dock and I have a pro looking crystal clear controller , not a toy. Sorry.Just which pro studio would use this? Really..
Hey Dan, sorry that it's not quite to your liking. Every studio setup has different needs and priorities for an individual workflow. You're welcome to contact our sales team on sales@studiospares.com or 020 8208 9930 if you have any questions or want some suggestions for alternatives.
