Digidesign Command 8 Control Surface for Pro Tools and Free

DIGIDESIGN COMMAND8 Details

Command|8
Compact control surface for Pro Tools TDM and LE systems

Command|8 puts integrated, tactile manipulation of Pro Tools TDM or LE systems running on Windows XP or Mac OS X at your fingertips more affordably than ever before. While there are several compact control surface options from third-party manufacturers compatible with Pro Tools, only Command|8 was made by Digidesign and Focusrite specifically for Pro Tools. As a result, Command|8 provides a great deal more sophisticated control with Pro Tools software, and has been tested and qualified specifically for Pro Tools.

Borrowing elements from Digidesign’s higher-end control surfaces, Command|8’s eight bankable channels of moving faders, rotary encoders, and displays enable you to control Pro Tools with the hands-on feel of a traditional analog console. What’s more, its onboard monitor system features Focusrite audio performance and quality, accommodating Pro Tools audio along with external inputs, speakers, and separately controlled headphone outs. A simple USB connection facilitates communication between Command|8 and your computer.

Command|8 also includes an integrated, fully editable MIDI interface and features a stand-alone MIDI controller mode, enabling you to use it with your favorite third-party MIDI applications and devices — any that accept MIDI control change messages for level, panning, solo, mute, MIDI Machine Control, and other mappable parameters.

For post production suites, Avid products are natively supported by Command|8, including Avid Media Composer. When used with Avid products, Command|8 can be used to control the Automation Gain Tool for recording dynamic volume automation as well as Solo, Mute and Snap Mode on and off. Better yet, Command|8’s onboard monitor section alleviates the need for an external mixer for speaker control.

Command|8 Features:

Inexpensive, full-featured control surface specifically designed for Pro Tools
Supports both Pro Tools TDM and LE systems (independently)
Simple USB connection to your PC or Mac
Compact size; comfortable ergonomic layout
8 touch sensitive motorized faders, 8 automatable rotary encoders with LED rings
Big, bright, 110-character (55 characters x 2 rows) backlit LCD display for easily viewing information
Integrated 1-IN/2-OUT MIDI interface (16 channel in, 32 out)
Standalone MIDI controller mode
Flexible Focusrite onboard monitoring section
Works natively with the Avid family of products’ Automation Gain Tool
May be used in conjunction with ProControl, Control|24, and Digi 002
Includes the latest shipping Pro Tools TDM and LE software

Specifications:

Dynamic Range: 102dB (unweighted, 105 dB or better A-weighted)
THD+N: better than 0.0015%
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz, ± 0.2dB
Maximum input level: +22dBu balanced (matches max. output level of 888|24s or 192 I/Os, +4dBu nominal; -18 dBFs reference level)

Dimensions:

Width: 17.125 in /43.50 cm
Height: 4.75 in / 12.07 cm
Depth: 16.375 in /41.6 cm

110-character LCD Display

Displays track names, track & plug-in parameter values, timecode, etc.
Channel View Controls

Plug-in or Pan/Send controls for a selected INSERT or SEND
Buttons: EQ, DYNAMICS, INSERT, PAN/SEND/PRE, PAGE,
Master Bypass, ESC

Console View Controls

Controls status display of pans, sends, or inserts across all channels simultaneously
Defaults to channel pan position; select A-E to determine which SEND or INSERT values are displayed in the scribble strip
Modifier Keys

Correspond to their computer keyboard counterparts

Fader Section

100 mm touch-sensitive moving faders with support for +12 dB fader scale
SELECT, SOLO and MUTE buttons and color-coded LED indicators
Multi-purpose rotary encoders with 11-LED rings displaying pan position, send level, etc.
Five-segment LED meters (0 to –42 dBFS)
Control Room and Headphone Controls

Control Room: Mute, Mono, and External Source monitor selectors; dedicated volume level control
Headphones: 1/4" stereo headphone jack; dedicated volume level control
Miscellaneous Controls and Indicators

Record-enable, Pan/Meter (with L/R indicators), Enter, and Undo selectors
Standalone button — Places Command|8 into stand-alone controller mode
USB and MIDI activity indicators
Master Fader/Flip Controls

Master Fader: Activate to move master fader control to the rightmost faders
Flip: Activate to move PAN/SEND or INSERT control from rotary encoders to faders
Navigation Keys

Four-key navigation pad enables you to BANK through software mixer eight faders at a time, NUDGE through mixer one channel at a time, or ZOOM in or out on track data horizontally or vertically, and move the play selector horizontally and vertically
Specialized Function Controls

Including Utility,Midi Edit (for MIDI mapping), PRE/Midi recall (recalls MIDI controller sets, MIDI maps, or Digidesign PRE parameter values), Fader Mute, and plug-in Focus
General Controls

Select Pro Tools interface window (Plug-in, Mix, or Edit), Loop Play, Loop Record, Quick Punch, and Memory Location
Transport Controls

Control common transport functions within Pro Tools (Play, Record, Stop, etc.)
Interfaces

1-IN/2-OUT MIDI interface
USB connector
1/4" Punch In connector
Outputs

Speaker outputs — 1/4" TRS (balanced/unbalanced) connectors with +4 / –10 push button
Monitor Inputs

Main and External Source stereo inputs — 1/4" TRS (balanced/unbalanced) connectors with +4 / –10 push button per pair
Power

Power cable connector
Power switch

Other views of DIGIDESIGN COMMAND8 (Click to enlarge):

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