Fairlight Desktop Audio Editor / console info

Hi,

I'm looking for some more information, or some kind of demonstration of what the audio editor (hardware panel) can do. I just found out that this panel exists, and it looks like something that could help me in the process of speeding up the audio edit. But since it's almost 5k, it's not something i would just buy and see if it's something for me. Also in combination with the (upcoming?) release of the desktop console it looks very promising. So far i only found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbrkDmaoiTg&ab_channel=LeoHsiung
But i don't speak Chinese ^^ And it doesn't seem to be that much in depth

Is there some more video content out there which demonstrates all of the coolness of this panel?

User manuals for both the Desktop Audio Editor and complete Console are provided within the Resolve 16 (August 2020) manual in Part 12 Chapters 162 and 163 available from the Support page.

Hi Rick,

I bought a full setup about a month ago (thanks in part to Reynaud). Faders, channel control, LCD and Desktop Audio Editor.

All I can say is that it's awesome and a great workflow optimizer. Very tight integration between the software and hardware, the hardware is built like a tank, everything is very smooth and tight, feels like precision gear built to last. Like the software, new features and options are being added to the hardware regularly, but it's eminently useful as is. Fairlight was originally designed to be operated via the hardware controllers, and most operations are a button press or two away on the DAE, much easier than mousing around a screen (unless you like that way of working).

Everyone is different, so I would suggest trying one out at a BMD reseller if possible. It is a significant investment.

Hi tlegvold,

That's pretty cool to hear.

Do you use it in combination with a "normal" pc setup? So with the panels sitting on you desk next to your keyboard/mouse or whatever, or is it like in the product pictures with the panels build in the dedicated desk? My goal is to have one system where i do both the video edit and the audio.

@reynaud, The manual gives me very specific information about certain buttons and it is useful. But i wanna see it in practice to give me a better feeling about it. I'm gonna give it a good read anyway, thanks for pointing me there.

problem is that there is no reseller here that can help me with a trial session. I contacted a few, and the products are not in stock, and there is no real knowledge. I don't really have a problem with blind dates, but this would be a blind marriage ^^

The incredible Fairlight hardware control surfaces have been around since the '90s and once you have used one, you are liberated from 'mousing around' and trying to remember which keyboard keystroke does which operation. I joined the Fairlight club in 1996 when I put in an Mfx3plus controller in my audio post studio, and remainded convinced that Fairlight was the fastest, most ergonomic DAW ever since, despite the rise of Pro Tools during that time.
The BMD Fairlight Editor is virtually the Fairlight Xynergi, which could also do some Windows software operations. Perhaps BMD might enable switching the panel to operate Resolve video editing, but BMD do of course have this covered with other panels.
Dave Taylor

Hi Dave,

That is a very interesting insight.

What is your experience with the hardware from that time, combined with the software (resolve 16/17) from this time? Do you still use that same panel?

I just found this playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_giDCUM7OY&list=PLF9665FF296441E84&index=2&ab_channel=wavedistribution

It looks really awesome, but it's also quite old. I wonder if experienced fairlight users still experience the same speed/flexibility/robustness in combination with the new resolve software.

Hi Rick,

not sure what you mean by "normal" PC. I use a 2019 Mac Pro 16 core machine, running Catalina 10.15.7. Smooth as buttah.

I bought the panels separately with the thin metal frame to connect them together, and have them on my desktop next to my trackpad and keyboard. The FAE is the standalone/desktop version. Because I will probably end up with additional panels and have nowhere to put the (100+kg) frame they offer, this seemed like a better option for now. In my previous studio I had built my own custom furniture to hold my gear, currently in storage while Covid-19 rages and I work from home instead.

With the announcement of v17 I also ordered a Speed Editor, which is small enough that it should find room on my desk as well. My main focus is sound, so it's more for my own exploration into the world of picture editing and small personal projects.

Totally understand wanting to see and try it out first, it's not a small investment. I was lucky in that BMD has an office here in Los Angeles so I was given a comprehensive tour of the system. I also considered Avid S3 (or a few S1s), as it would work with multiple software. Not as tightly integrated with Resolve, but basic functionality should work. The quality (IMHO) was not the same as the BMD hardware, and while I don't use ProTools (probably the only guy in Hollywood that doesn't, lol!) it would have been handy with several other audio software packages I use regularly.

As a long time Nuendo user, I also checked out and wanted to like the Nuage system, but it too fell short in comparison to the Fairlight system. It's kind of like with the software, they both will do pretty much the same thing, but the way in which operations are structured and the paradigm they present is quite different. For my brain and way of working, Fairlight seems much more intuitive and straightforward (for the most part - there are of course exceptions!), and I was only introduced to it a few years ago, have slowly been learning it and transitioning more and more of my work over to it. (Again, thanks @Reynaud!)

You might want to look up some videos on YouTube for Xynergy (the previous incarnation of the FAE), there are a few out there, as well as an older Australian/British video about the CC-2 if I'm not mistaken that also covered a lot of what the hardware system is capable of. All old, but the modern system does much the same, and they are working on adding features that are still missing from what the old system was able to do.

From what I've been told, BMD has updated and modernized the hardware to improve upon the original Fairlight designs. So it's mostly the same, but enhanced.

Hope this helps!

Hi tlegvold,

That's pretty cool to hear.

Do you use it in combination with a "normal" pc setup? So with the panels sitting on you desk next to your keyboard/mouse or whatever, or is it like in the product pictures with the panels build in the dedicated desk? My goal is to have one system where i do both the video edit and the audio.

@reynaud, The manual gives me very specific information about certain buttons and it is useful. But i wanna see it in practice to give me a better feeling about it. I'm gonna give it a good read anyway, thanks for pointing me there.

problem is that there is no reseller here that can help me with a trial session. I contacted a few, and the products are not in stock, and there is no real knowledge. I don't really have a problem with blind dates, but this would be a blind marriage ^^