Blackmagic Forum

Looking over the NAB 2018 press conference and seeing the Fairlight panel announcement, I'm curious if the panels are basically a big midi control surface? I found this video on the Blackmagic Design YouTube page with a bit of overview on the panels:



For $20,000 - $49,000 it seams like an awfully big jump if it's just a midi controller, even if it is more integrated than simple HUI or MC control.

I've been looking at control surfaces for a while and was waiting for the announcement of the Fairlight panels, and from a cost perspective, I may have to look into some of the more budget friendly options: Avid Artist Mix, Avid S3, PreSonus Faderport8, Xtouch, Xtouch compact, ect....

Anyone have experience with these controllers in Fairlight? there seams to be a few threads here and there about them. With Fairlight getting more integrated with Resolve, and seams to have some buzz surrounding it as actually being a valid tool for mixing final deliveries, I'm hoping there can be some discussion here.

Ryan Bloomer wrote:For $20,000 - $49,000 it seams like an awfully big jump if it's just a midi controller, even if it is more integrated than simple HUI or MC control

The Fairlight 2 bay Console pricing (under $20k) is in line with Avid's S6 M10 8-5 (entry level 8 fader model - $22k US), while providing a lot more functionality such as the dual LCD Monitors (that can apparently display either video or parameter control, depending on if the source is SDI or Ethernet), 12 faders, and a much more complete 
Audio Editor panel.

The 5 bay 48 fader Fairlight console (around $48k) is also more affordable than Avid's entry level 16 fader S6 M40 16-5-D ($62k US).

Avid's equivalent to the 5 bay Fairlight console, is the S6 M40 32-9-D which is still only 32 faders, and retails at over $112,000 US. The basic S6 pricing doesn't include many available add-ons such as the Master Post module ($6k US), or the Master Joystick Module ($5k US).

Remember, the S6 is just a well integrated hardware controller.

An S6 becomes ridiculously expensive very quickly, depending on what one needs. Most colleagues with S6 consoles invest in much more affordable options such as the Colin Broad TMC-1 S6, the PD1-S6 or PD-3 Film Monitor Remotes, rather than pay a premium for the Avid equivalent.

The other equivalent option is Yamaha's Nuage controller for Nuendo/Cubase, which retails for roughly $25k US for a 16 fader unit (12k US) and the Master unit ($13k US), which is in line with the Fairlight 2 Bay. But, the Nuage system doesn't include a frame, nor the LCD monitors, nor as many physical tactile controls.

The largest Nuage system (48 faders + Master unit) retails for roughly $34k US without a frame, LCD monitors and the extra controls provided by the Fairlight Console.

In terms of pre-release pricing mentioned during the NAB press conference, and the pre-announced panel options, the Fairlight Consoles seem to sit well below the Nuage at the entry level, and a bit above it at the high-end, but critically, all the Fairlight configurations are well below the equivalent Avid solution.

For audio post at the high-end, there are really only three options:
Avid's ProTools with an S6
Nuendo with the Nuage
Resolve / Fairlight with the Fairlight console

I've been looking at control surfaces for a while and was waiting for the announcement of the Fairlight panels, and from a cost perspective, I may have to look into some of the more budget friendly options: Avid Artist Mix, Avid S3, PreSonus Faderport8, Xtouch, Xtouch compact, ect....

The Fairlight prices (quoted in the linked to video and during the NAB press conference) seem to be for complete pre-configured systems.

Since this is being touted as a modular system, you could start simply with a 2 bay frame and the edit panel, and then slowly upgrade over time with a Fairlight Console Channel Fader, Channel Control, LCD Monitors, Panners, et cetera, as need and budget allows.

The large gap, from a user's perspective, is an equivalent to Avid's S3 controller with the ProTools Dock in the $5-6k US price range. Something as simple as the Fairlight Console 
Audio Editor standalone (with a dedicated "Master Fader"), or perhaps combined with a desktop style Fairlight Console Channel Fader.

No Fairlight Console LCD Monitor, Channel Control, or Console Frame, just the bare essentials for SFX or dialogue editors. Something that can be placed on a desktop or table, or placed in a shock mounted rack case. This would cover most use cases, and budgets, while still providing a lot of scope to expand over time.

Thanks for the detailed response Reynaud.

I'm hopeful they make the modules competitively priced, or make a "desktop" model in the future like they have with the grading panels. As the panels are set up now, it does seam a little out of reach for most desktop workstations, and more inline with large facilities.

Ryan Bloomer wrote:
I've been looking at control surfaces for a while and was waiting for the announcement of the Fairlight panels, and from a cost perspective, I may have to look into some of the more budget friendly options: Avid Artist Mix, Avid S3, PreSonus Faderport8, Xtouch, Xtouch compact, ect....

Anyone have experience with these controllers in Fairlight?

The Presonus Faderport 8 is around $500 and apparently can be made to work more-or-less with Resolve (v. 14, haven't seen any posts about 15); see https://answers.presonus.com/23432/anyo ... ci-resolve

I looked in the Resolve 15 manual to see if there's any mention of compatibility with non-Fairlight control surfaces/consoles, but I didn't find anything (although search isn't working reliably for me in the PDF).