Avid Pro Tools S3 16-Fader Surface Control

Small format, big mix

Get a streamlined yet versatile mixing system for the modern sound engineer. Based on the award-winning Avid S6 control surface, Avid S3 delivers intelligent control over every aspect of Pro Tools and other DAWs. All in a more portable and affordable surface. But don’t let its small size fool you. While it’s ideal for space-confined and on-the-go mixing, it packs enormous power to handle large sessions and turn around projects faster. Plus, it pairs perfectly with Avid Dock and the Avid Control app to extend your workflow further.

Gain better control over your mix whether you’re making music or sweetening soundtracks. Interact with 16 touch-sensitive, motorized faders to bring more life to your mix. Record-enable tracks right from the surface. Solo, select, and mute channels. Change automation modes. Navigate projects using the touch strip transport controls. And keep an eye on your levels with the built-in meters.

View, access, and adjust multiple facets of your music or soundtrack project quickly using the 32 touch-sensitive, push-button style rotary encoders. Use the top-row channel control encoders to make changes to inputs, inserts, sends, groups, and more. Use the second row of assignable channel encoders separately to control plugins, pan, EQ, compressor, and other parameters. And view names, settings, status, channel metering, and more through the 32 OLED displays.

No need to use a separate audio interface to record and monitor sessions. Avid S3 features a built-in 4-input, 6-output AVB Core Audio interface to connect your studio (Mac only). Record vocals and instrument performances through two high-quality XLR mic/line inputs and two TRS line inputs. And connect studio speakers, headphones, and other gear to four line outputs and one stereo headphone output.

Avid S3 supports EUCON, a high-speed Ethernet-based technology that enables the hardware to communicate directly with any EUCON-enabled application-and vice-versa. That means you can use it to control Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Logic Pro, and other audio software to speed and ease recording and mixing tasks. And when paired with Avid Dock and/or the free Avid Control app, you gain full monitor control capabilities, touchscreen workflows, and customizable soft keys.

Features:

Bring S3 to your attention

With the latest EUCON software, you can now set how S3 reacts to actions you perform in your DAW. Simply select the behaviors and DAW areas you’d like to engage to attention in your EUCON General settings. For example, if you select “Name” to be actionable, you can click on any track name in your DAW and S3 will automatically attention that same track on its surface. Or select “Fader” and whenever you click on a fader in your software, S3 will automatically put that fader into focus.

Work faster and more flexibly

You can also now set Plug-in, Pan, and Send windows to open and close automatically whenever you select them for editing to speed things along. You can also suspend all faders from following automation, view fader values in track name displays for a custom length of time, and enable/disable all plugin automation with a surface shortcut. And when using S3 with Avid Dock and/or Avid Control, you can take full control of any EUCON-based monitoring system, including Pro Tools | MTRX, XMON, D-MON, and monitor sources in your DAW.

Navigate sessions more easily

When using S3 with Pro Tools, the surface now fully supports ICON-favorite “Scroll to Track” and “Scroll into View” features, making it easy to scroll Pro Tools windows and bank your control surface accordingly to get to the tracks you need faster. With Scroll to Track, you can quickly search for and scroll to a track by typing the first few letters of the track’s name. With Scroll into View, you can quickly scroll a track into view by clicking on the track name.

Spill VCAs on the S3 surface

Using the Avid Control app or Avid Dock with your S3? Tap on any VCA master in the Avid Control app and its slaves will spill directly onto your S3 surface for easy access and control. When finished, simply retap the VCA master to “unspill” the tracks.

Control Surface:

Take complete control of your studio

Experience the deep and versatile DAW control only Avid can deliver. With its intelligent, ergonomic design and EUCON support, S3 puts tightly integrated recording, editing, and mixing control at your fingertips. Work smarter and faster-with your choice of apps-to expand your mixing capabilities and job opportunities. And because S3 is application-aware, you can switch between different DAWs in seconds. Plus, its compact footprint fits easily into any space, giving you full reign of the “sweet spot.”

Work smarter and faster

S3 combines a traditional console layout with the advancements of Avid S6, ensuring intuitive operation, regardless of your experience level. From interacting with tracks and editing plugins, to writing automation, you get the tactile control you need to create better mixes faster. With much more precision than working with a keyboard and mouse. Plus, when paired with Avid Dock and the Avid Control app, you can accelerate your efficiency even more.

Experience exceptional integration and ergonomics

No other surface offers the level of DAW integration and versatility that Avid control surfaces provide, and S3 is no different. Its intuitive controls feel like an extension of your software, enabling you to mix with comfort, ease, and speed. Plus, you’ll get plenty of rich visual feedback to inform and guide you towards creating that perfect mix.

Create your mix, your way

With EUCON technology at its core, not only can you mix sessions using Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, and other DAWs, you can also customize the surface for your task at hand. Create up to 12 custom mixer layouts and recall them to the surface at any time. It’s ideal for mixing drums, vocals, dialog, sound effects, and other groupings. Plus, you can switch between applications with ease, giving you the choice to work with what you want. And the capability to take on any project that comes your way.

Set up a studio in any size space

Whether you’re at home, tucked in a small suite, or on the go, S3’s compact size, power, and extensive DAW control put you in the driver’s seat of your studio. Wherever you want it to be. What’s more, S3 features a built-in 4×6 interface, enabling you to record, mix, and monitor sessions with just the surface and your laptop (supports 48 kHz and 96 kHz, Mac only). Or monitor audio using S3 standalone. No additional audio interface required.

Use the same technology pros trust

S3 delivers incredible workflow acceleration, highly responsive handling, and deep DAW integration. All of it built on proven technology, trusted by top audio professionals in the most demanding production environments. The result: you get the exceptional, dynamic performance you need to deliver the best sounding mix possible-on time, every time.

EUCON:

Experience deep, integrated control

Avid S3 features EUCON, enabling the hardware to fully integrate with your favorite creative applications. This groundbreaking technology communicates control information for faders, knobs, displays, and more between the surface and whatever application is in focus on your computer. And because it’s application-aware, you can work with multiple applications and quickly switch between them at the touch of a button.

Work with your favorite tools

With S3, you get a versatile control surface that plays extremely well with others. Record, edit, and mix music and audio in Pro Tools, Pro Tools | Ultimate, Media Composer, Nuendo, Pyramix, Logic Pro X, Cubase, and more.

Control multiple apps and workstations

With seamless application switching, the surface instantly adapts all controls and displays to your current audio or video software in seconds. You can even lock parts of the surface to one app while using the rest to switch between apps-perfect for monitor and transport controls. You can also control multiple workstations running any compatible EUCON-enabled software on your extended network from one surface-ideal for multi-workstation workflows and facilities with machine rooms.

Get great flexibility for the future

Avid continues to develop EUCON, making it easy for our partners to introduce new features and functionality to your favorite software titles through updates. In fact, EUCON even supports HUI and Mackie Control protocols, giving you even greater versatility in any studio.

Get extensive software control

Unlike the HUI protocol which provides only cursory control, EUCON goes deeper, minimizing tedious mouse clicking, so you can work faster. Mute, solo, and record-enable tracks. Edit waveforms. Assign and edit plugins. Navigate projects. Write automation. Trigger macros. Access VCA groups. Perform surround and 3D panning. Create and recall layouts. And a whole lot more-right from the surface.

Work with your favorite creative tools

From Pro Tools and Media Composer, to Logic Pro, Cubase, Nuendo, Premiere, DADman, Pyramix, and more, a wide variety of audio and video applications support EUCON. Get the deepest level of integration when using Avid’s creative tools. You can also control multiple applications and workstations from a single surface and quickly switch between them with the touch of a button. Or even place tracks from different DAWs on the surface simultaneously.

Take total control of all monitoring

EUCON not only speeds up the tracking, editing, and mixing process, it’s also integrated into Pro Tools | MTRX, XMON, D-MON, DADman, and other monitoring solutions. Remotely control source selections, speaker cuts, fold downs, monitor profiles, signal routing, talkback, cues, and more for any monitoring situation-from mono to immersive audio.

Gain better insight into your mix

EUCON isn’t just about physical and touch control; it also enables your control surface to display extensive visual feedback of your session. From track names, channel metering, automation statuses, and plugin settings, to gain reduction meters, EQ graphs, and scrolling Pro Tools waveforms, you get the detailed information you need to create better mixes faster.

Compatible Software:

Accelerate your workflow with Avid S4

Supported EUCON-enabled applications*

• Avid Pro Tools
• Avid Pro Tools | Ultimate
• Avid Media Composer
• Avid Media Composer | Ultimate
• Avid Media Composer | Enterprise
• Avid XMON EUCON
• Adobe Audition
• Adobe Premiere
• Apple Logic Pro
• Digital Audio Denmark DADman
• Harrison Mixbus
• MOTU Digital Performer
• Magix Samplitude
• Magix Sequoia
• Merging Technologies Pyramix
• Steinberg Cubase
• Steinberg Nuendo
• Trinnov Audio D-MON

Supported Mackie Control/HUI-enabled applications

• Ableton Live
• Cockos REAPER
• Propellerhead Reason

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Hardware:

• Channel strips/faders: 16 (up to 6 fader banks)
• Encoders: 32 total (each with highresolution OLEDs and tri-color function indicator)- 16 assignable encoders, 8 channel control encoders, 8 global control encoders
• Metering: 16 10-segment meters, with pre-and post-fade metering options
• Analog inputs: 4 total-2 XLR mic/line inputs and 2 TRS line inputs for connecting mics, instruments, and other devices for recording
• Analog outputs: 4 total-2 XLR line outputs and 2 TRS line outputs for connecting studio monitors
• Headphone output: 1 (1/4-inch TRS) with level control
• Ancillary I/O:
• 2 USB 2.0 ports (for connecting a keyboard and mouse)
• 1 footswitch port (1/4-inch TRS),
• Kensington lock slot
• Height (front, rear w/knobs)
• 1.3 inches, 2.8 inches (3.2 cm, 7.2cm)
• Width
• 28 inches (71 cm)
• Depth
• 14.3 inches (36.3 cm)
• Weight
• 13.8 lbs (6.2kg)