Softube Console 1 Fader User Manual

CONSOLE 1

FADER

USER MANUAL

Supporting VST/VST3/AU/AAX Native

Rev. Oct 02, 2019

ii |

Softube User Manual

© 2007-2019. Softube Console 1 is a registered trademark of Softube AB, Sweden. Softube is a registered
trademark of Softube AB, Sweden. All specications subject to change without notice. All Rights Reserved.

Other company and product names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective companies. Men­tion of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement
nor a recommendation. Softube assumes no responsibility with regard to the performance or use of these
products.

Softube products are protected by patents SE526523 and SE525332, and related patents/patent ap­plications, including WO06054943, US11/667360, US2004 0258250, EP1492081, EP1815459, and
JP2004 183976.

Your rights to the software are governed by the accompanying software license agreement (End User Li­cense Agreement).

Disclaimer

Every eort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. However, there are a
chance that we have made mistakes, and we hope that you understand that we are only humans. Please let
us know about the mistake, and we’ll x it in the mix (or in the next version of this manual).

Support

On the Softube website (www.softube.com) you will nd answers to common questions (FAQ) and other
topics that might interest you.

Support questions can be posted at http://www.softube.com, where we will help you as fast as we can!

Web: www.softube.com
E-mail: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone] (9 am – 5 pm CET)

CONSOLE 1 FADER USER’S GUIDE | III

Contents

1 Hello and welcome! 5

What can Console 1 Fader do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Where can Console 1 Fader be used? . . . . . . . . . . 6

2 Setting up 7

Installing Console 1 Fader,

the short version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3 A quick start 8

Using Console 1 Fader in new project . . . . . . . . . . 8

Using Console 1 Fader in an existing project . . . . . . . 9

4 DAW Control 10

5 Working with Console 1 Fader 12

The small plugin window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

The On-Screen Display (OSD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

OSD with Console 1 Fader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

OSD with Console 1 Fader and Console 1 . . . . . . . . 14

Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

What is the best insert slot? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

iv |

6 Using Console 1 Fader with Console 1 16

7 The ner details: Every function carefully described 18

10 sliders, 53 buttons, and 1 knob . . . . . . . . . . 18

The faders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

The Track Selector buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

The volume LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Mute/Bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Solo/Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Display On/Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Display Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Load Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Load Strip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Fader Mode: Persistent versus Temporary . . . . . . . 25

Sends 1–3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Character. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Input Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Low Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

High Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Layer Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Assign track(s) to layer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Assignable controls 1–3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Solo/OK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Mute/Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Pan/Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

A word on Mid/side stereo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

10 Cool ways to use Console 1 Fader 34

11 Troubleshooting 37

12 Useful information 38

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Firmware upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Block diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Hardware specications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Legal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

13 SOFTUBE AB’S END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT (“EULA”).FOR

PLUG-INS AND OTHER SOFTWARE PRODUCTS
(ver 2019-06) xlii

8 Using Console 1 Fader with Apollo Central 32

9 Using Console 1 Fader without the hardware 33

| 5

1

Hello and welcome!

Console 1 Fader is a set of physical, motorized faders for your digital audio
workstation (DAW ).

Console 1 Fader lets your ngers do the delicate job of mixing the levels of your
audio tracks. Plus pan, mute and solo, high/low cut, drive, aux sends, and more.
In short, you get the benets of working with a physical mixer, without the price
and size.

Console 1 Fader also integrates seamlessly with Softube Console 1, the hard­ware channel strip that comes fully loaded with EQ, compressor, gate, and more.

Welcome to a hands-on experience that marries our digital audio world to
traditional, tactile qualities.

6 | HELLO AND WELCOME!

What can Console 1 Fader do?

You can use Console 1 Fader in a number of ways, some
which may not seem quite obvious. In fact, Console 1
Fader performs practically every task of a mixing desk
(aside from EQ, dynamics, and eects), including con­trolling several faders at one.

When you connect Console 1 Fader to your computer,
you get these physical controls:

• Solo and mute

• High Cut and Low Cut lters

• Aux sends 1–3

• Softube's Drive and Character

• DAW transport buttons

• Layering of tracks

• Pan/balance

• Stereo width

• Ah yes, you can control the volume too

Where can Console 1 Fader be used?

e Console 1 Fader soft- and hardware can be used
as a channel insert in all 64-bit VST, AU, and AAX
compatible digital audio workstations (DAW:s). Console
1 Fader has been qualied to work with the following
DAW:s.

Mac OS:

• Ableton Live

• Bitwig

• Cubase/Nuendo

• Digital Performer

• Logic Pro X

• Pro Tools

• Reaper

• Studio One

Windows:

• Ableton Live

On top of that, Console 1 Fader oers 100 mm motor­ized Alps faders and DAW Control (remote control of
volume, pan, solo, mute, and aux).

Softube’s Drive technology

Softube started in 2003 by emulating distorting circuits,
more specically tubes. We wanted to make the best
emulations on the market, and by 2007 we felt we had
enough knowledge to release our rst product. Ever
since we’ve been fascinated with distortion of all types.

Hey, where did you think the company name came
from?

• Bitwig

• Cubase/Nuendo

• Digital Performer

• Pro Tools

• Reaper

• Sonar/Cakewalk by BandLab

• Studio One

is list of qualied DAW:s expands over time. If your
DAW is not listed here, chances are Console 1 Fader
will work perfectly in your environment, but we make no
guarantees. It’s always a good idea to try a demo version
rst.

| 7

Setting up

2

Installing Console 1 Fader,
the short version

Connect Console 1 Fader to a USB port and hook up the
power supply. Go to www.softube.com/my-account and log
in or register an account. When asked, enter the activation
code on the card included in the box (format: XXXX­XXXX-XXXX-XXXX). Download Softube Central, install
and activate Console 1 Fader. Make sure the Console 1
On-Screen Display app is started. Go!

(ere’s a more detailed installation description

on page 38)

8 | A QUICK START

A quick start

3

Using Console 1 Fader in new project

Instantiate Console 1 Fader as an insert eect on as many audio tracks as you want. e plugin is called “Console
1” in the plugins list, since it shares software with Console 1. Your computer will automatically detect what Softube
hardware items that are connected to your system, so the right plugin will always be loaded.

After instantiation, Console 1 Fader conrms its presence by moving the corresponding slider up.

As work progresses and you add more tracks to your project, add Console 1 Fader on those tracks too. If your track
count exceeds 10, you can easily access the higher numbered tracks by pressing Page + on your console. Pressing
Page – takes you back again.

At the bottom of the Console 1 Fader channels, there is a row of buttons, the Track Selectors. If you want to adjust
Pan or Width, or choose a Layer, press the appropriate Track Selector button rst, or simply touch the fader of
that track.

ere are numerous other functions available with Console 1 Fader. Read more about them in the detailed sections
below.

Using Console 1 Fader as a
volume control for an eects
input or return can be a very
good idea. Just imagine how
eective dynamic reverbs and
echoes can be in a song.

You can even instantiate
Console 1 Fader on the master
bus to create a really smooth
fade-out. You should use the
Solo Safe function found in
the small plugin window, to
make sure that the master bus
is always open, even if you solo
another track.

CONSOLE 1 FADER USER’S GUIDE | 9

Using Console 1 Fader in an existing project

You may want to add the luxury of ngertip control to a project that has
already been started. Nothing could be simpler! Just instantiate Console 1
Fader as an insert eect on all audio mixer channels, preferably as the last
eect. From now on, you’re able to tangibly control your mix.

10 | DAW CONTROL

4

DAW Control – Console 1 Fader becomes part of your DAW

Softube has worked closely with DAW manufacturers to integrate our soft- and hardware. is
DAW Control allows you to control your DAW’s channel selection and name, volume and pan,
solo and mute, and even aux sends, remotely from Console 1 and Console 1 Fader.

Software that supports DAW Control:

• Cubase/Nuendo

• Reaper

• Sonar/Cakewalk by Bandlab

DAW Control

• Studio One

Track Name and Track Number control is supported by the following DAW:s:

• Ableton Live 8.4.1 and newer (AU only)

• Cubase 8.0.5 and newer (VST3)

• Digital Performer (AU only)

• Nuendo 6.5 and newer (VST3)

• Reaper 5.50 and newer (VST3)

• Sonar/Cakewalk by Bandlab (VST3)

• Studio One 2.6 and newer (VST3)

Please note, that Console 1 Fader integration only
works with the correct plugin format (see above).

CONSOLE 1 FADER USER’S GUIDE | 11

Important note about DAW Control

In DAW Control mode, volume changes made in Con­sole 1 Fader directly aect the channel faders of your
DAW. us, Console 1 Fader’s position in the insert
rack is not important.

However, when you’re using Console 1 Fader in a non­DAW Control environment, Console 1 Fader runs in
series with other insert eects. Consequently, in this
mode it makes sense to place Console 1 Fader after your
other eects.

You should keep this in mind when working. Some pl­ugins – like e.g. distortion, compressors et cetera – sound
dierent when incoming audio gets softer or louder.

Example: Let’s say you have an electric guitar track, and
that Console 1 Fader is not in DAW Control mode. e
slot after Console 1 Fader may be an overdrive plugin.
When you pull the Console 1 Fader slider down, the
guitar will sound cleaner, because its input into the over­drive gets softer. is may not be what you want.

VST2 and VST3 – which is which?

Plugins come in various formats, and it’s important to be
aware of the dierences.

In Studio One, the VST2, VST3 (and on Mac, AU)
versions of plugins have dierent symbols. In the second
image, the symbols preceding the formats mean VST3,
VST2 and AU.

First, each DAW supports its own format(s), like AAX
for Pro Tools, VST2/3 for Cubase, AU for Logic Pro X
and so on.

In the case of VST2 and VST3, Console 1 Fader’s inte­grated DAW Control only works with VST3. In some
DAW:s, it’s not always obvious which is which.

In Cubase, the VST2 plugins can be found in a folder
with the manufacturer’s name. In the case of Console 1
Fader: Softube. e VST3 version of Console 1 Fader
is found in a folder with the category name: Dynamics.
e VST3 version also has a /// symbol after its name.

VST3 and VST2 in Cubase

VST3, VST2, and AU in Studio One

12 | WORKING WITH CONSOLE 1 FADER

Working with Console 1 Fader

5

The control panels

When you instantiate the Console 1 plugin on an audio
track in your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), you
are greeted with a plugin window. is is a miniature,
one-channel version of the real Console 1 Fader inter­face and shows many of the functions for one track.

When you press the Display On button on Console 1
Fader (the physical unit), the big interface appears. We
call it the OSD, short for On-Screen Display. Every­thing you do on your physical console is reected here.

If you feel the OSD windows is too big, you can resize it
by grabbing the sizing handle in the lower right corner.

If you have a second computer monitor, you may want to
drag the OSD to the second screen. You can move the
OSD by clicking and dragging anywhere in the OSD
area.

The small plugin window

e Console 1 Fader plugin window, that pops up after
you have initiated the plugin on a track, can be used for
a number of things.

First of all, it provides an easy method for checking
that everything is working as it should. Just move the
slider to conrm that Console 1 Fader works correctly.
By clicking the Softube logo, you can see what version
you’re using.

Under Setup, dierent settings for Open GL (a standard
for rendering graphics on your screen) can be found.
ese may aect your CPU mileage or graphical issues
with non-supported DAWs. If you don’t want full DAW
integration, here’s where you can turn it o. e value
display setting can also be found here.

While travelling, and if your Console 1 Fader unit is not
available, you may use this small panel to make basic
adjustments.

Plugin window if only Console 1 Fader is installed

e Manual button in the lower right corner opens this
manual. Very handy!

Plugin window looks like this, if both Console 1 and
Console 1 Fader are installed

CONSOLE 1 FADER USER’S GUIDE | 13

The On-Screen Display (OSD)

When you press the Console 1 Fader button Display
On, your screen will be lled by a big, black mixer
window, the OSD (On-Screen Display). All actions on
Console 1 Fader will be reected here. is is where you
get a graphical feedback of all your edits.

Please note, that the OSD does not react to any form of
mouse action (except for resizing and moving the OSD).
All slider movements, button pushing and knob twisting
happen on the Console 1 Fader unit.

OSD with Console 1 Fader

e default OSD view is rather self-explanatory. e
left side shows the input section of the selected channel
with details about lters, phase, and gain. e right side
presents the output stage of the same channel with info
on drive, pan and volume.

e middle section shows the rst 10 channels, start­ing with the selected channel strip at the top and the
volume and track name at the bottom.

Pressing the Display Mode button takes you through
two further, much more screen-economic OSD displays.
ey show only a few parameters. If your screen is lled
with lots of information during your production process,
these miniature displays may be all you need at certain
work stages.

14 | WORKING WITH CONSOLE 1 FADER

OSD with Console 1 Fader and Console 1

If you are using both Console 1 Fader and Console 1,
there are a few more Display Modes than described
above.

e rst view shows 20 Console 1 Fader channels plus
the input and output section of the selected channel.

Pressing Display Mode takes you to a second screen
with Console 1 settings for Shape, EQ, and Compres-
sor. All changes you perform on your Console 1 will be
reected here.

Display Mode 3 and 4 are screen-economic miniature
modes. Display Mode 5 is similar to mode 2, but also
includes a frequency analyzer.

Automation

You have learnt to perform dynamic changes via a
mouse or touchpad, but with Console 1 Fader you’re
presented with the real deal – physical faders!

Automation with our hardware works just like when
using a mouse, only better. And with Console 1 Fader,
you can work with many sliders at once – try doing that
with a mouse!

CONSOLE 1 FADER USER’S GUIDE | 15

What is the best insert slot?

When Console 1 Fader is used in DAW Control mode,
it takes the place of the channel fader of your DAW.
So no matter where in the insert eects slot you place
Console 1 Fader, it will always aect the sound after it
has passed through all the other plugins on that track.

But when Console 1 Fader is not used in DAW Con­trol mode, its position in the rack makes a dierence.
Normally, Console 1 Fader works best as the last eect
in the insert chain. But if your project has sounds that
go through long echo or reverb eects, closing the fader
will also kill the echo/reverb tail. at may not be what
you want. In such a scenario, it would be better to place
Console 1 Fader before the time-based eects.

Please also read the section about DAW control on page

10.