The Best All Rounder MIDI Control Surface | VS Faderbox

Not paid or sponsored by VS but its creator Robert got in touch with me and I've been beta-testing it for the last couple of months. It's a great product!

I've had a few questions on the channel recently about the control surface that sits on my desk. In Episode 1 of The Basics, I showed two controllers ideal for different applications: the Behringer BCF2000, ideal for desktop use, huge faders, lots of features - but heavy and clunky; and the Korg NanoKontrol2, perfect for travelling, compact, lots of faders - but short faders that make it difficult to use accurately. I wondered if there was a control surface that could do both, and I think I've found it - the VS Faderbox.

In this video, I'll show you the VS Faderbox and how I use it within my workflow.

I am a composer, producer and musician, based in London.
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[markrobinson]

IF you are doing professional music, the competition is brutal and if you are composing strings ... fades are critical... this fader-box could pay for itself in an afternoon of composing.

[NicStride]

I'm really shocked that there isn't more of a competitive market for faders and midi CC controllers, seeing as almost all composers now use VSTs and most good mix engineers rely so heavily on fader moves.

[Luigi]

For that price you might as well make one yourself. I made a fader box with 16 smaller faders using an arduino last week and it cost me far less than this and I still had to buy a lot of general stuff like wires and other equipment. Was also fun and a great learning experience if you're into this kind of stuff

[humancaos]

faders need to be motorized and knobs need to be endless encoders or you could just as well use a mouse because you will need to move the faders and knobs to their right place before they do anything in the software or they will jump when you touch them. and it's a nightmare

[jayneubauer]

I am also an M-Audio Axiom user (61 in my case), and have been using the faders on that all along. THIS is EXACTLY what I have been looking for! It is just enough controls, long throw, without too many channels (for my purposes, anyway) and extraneous controls that I won't use or are redundant since I have them on my controller keyboard. Thank you!!

[ScottGlasgowMusic]

Due to your help, I got my VS Faderbox 2 weeks ago! Thank you so much! Very highly recommended.

[AndreasSaag]

For anyone interested, i ordered mine a few days after this video came out, it shipped from UK on June 16, arrived in Sweden on June 21 then the super slow customs in Sweden (your country might be better) held until recently and it was delivered to me on July 7. So far I really like it, I had expected a little more resistance in the faders but I think it’s probably for the best because recording two big faders simultaneously with one hand it would probably have been hat to do accurate fast movements if the faders were not moving quite lightly.

[ReubenCornell]

At that extravagant price I would hope your new mic would sound freakin' incredible.

[FredrikJonassonMusic]

This makes sense to me, for orchestral music I need 4 faders at max. Only thing I personally really would like to have seen on there is a pitch bend.

[richardklender]

Thanks Dan for your wonderful channel! All of your videos, which I've enjoyed are quite well thought out. You are a gifted composer/teacher and I wish you continued success. Thanks for sharing your insights with us on so many topics. Am currently enjoying your Gentle Grand samples as well... I also use LogicPro X and your insights to setting up symphony files/templates has been quite helpful. Currently using my FaderPort 8 as a MIDI controller for my Spitfire products. Works pretty well however I like the small footprint that Faderbox controller offers. Yes, your Neumann mic sounds quite professional (warm lush tones with nice subtle proximity effect). I've been an audio engineer for about 45 years now and the audio is probably the most important part of any YouTube video so kudos there. I've been a published writer for ages but scoring is fairly new to my writing arsenal, so I'm enjoying it quite a bit using Tundra, Abbey Road and Apassionata Strings... Hope to add the BBCSO on their next sale. I always look forward to what you have to share with us next...Thx... Klender

[lazyriver]

Just received notice that his next batch has shipped. Looking forward to receiving one soon! Thanks for your review, Dan!

[lascosascomosean]

For that price, they should be at least MOTORIZED faders....

[SeanSecret]

I'm curious why there aren't more "long and small MIDI faders only box" type of products?
There are some I guess but they're not really meant for music making

[zdravkodimitrov]

For that money it should have at least motorized faders and the ability to change the midi channel from the interface.

[fnt]

finally. i spent ages to find something like this. but now i need one with 6 faders

[Undervelvetskies]

I was using the Korg myself because of Oliver's videos. It was great for travelling, but I did struggle with the size. I recently set up TouchOSC on my iPad and phone. It's ideal for me because it's customisable, fairly easy to set up, you are only limited by the size of your screen, and it's cheap. But I guess the main downside is the screen, if you need that tactile aspect, it might not be for you. Having it on my phone for when I can't take my iPad around with me is great too.

[WilliamMorrisMusic]

Nice, I like the stripped back format of it. I think the price needs to come down a fair bit though.

[michaelkelly]

Mic sounds great. Your tutorials are excellent!

[alexthio_pianist]

Mic sounds good, Dan. I'm listening with my studio speakers with volume around 40% - and you're coming through with lush bass tones and excellent clarity.

[ilovegoogleandyoutube]

wow 4 whole faders! incredible. take my money