OVERVIEW

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

DETAILS

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

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
• Weight: 11.3 lbs / 5.13 kg