thank you for your great work...super helpful!

SUPER useful video, Dom! Thank you.

Thank you Dom! Nice open video... and I love my CC121❤

Beeeeeen waiting for this review! 👐🏾🔥

Yay another informative video, nice one!

Hi Dom! If you want to select the plugins in a comfortable way press and then . Now you can select the plugs with fader 1.

Great and honest explained.

Great video! I love your energy. I will stay on this channel a little bit longer today

You are absolutely right , the Follow feature would be great !

Dealbreaker for me is the channel select, have to wait and see if they fix that. Thank you for an awesome video!

much appreciated 💪

Thanks Dom, you just saved me £1000, hopefully they will sort these issues out in the near future. I did however buy the SSL UC1 which I can't wait to use.

Thanks!

it's my second "thanks" to this video. I was going to buy the UF8 for Cubase, I already have the CC121, and I forgot about the limitations from the first time when I saw the video, thanks to this video that I watched again today, you made me spare 1000€ ! So thank you Dom

Thanks Dom - you just saved me some cash. I was very close to selling my FP16 for a UF8. The FP16 suffers from some of the same ailments (and Mackie Control), but at least it has dedicated transport :) Also, I have found that when I need to record from another room (drum room, etc) Cubase IC Pro is excellent if you have an iPad and your DAW is on your network. I always enjoy your videos. Thank you!

A good review Dom as it talks about the good things. And at the same is very clear about the downsides. I think you are nailing the problem with Mackie Control based faders. Generic control. And generic is 80%. For many this is good enough. But when you want the real thing you have to go with native controllers. On this note: I love the SSL UC1 as it natively controls my SSL plugins - specific control, not generic - so it is like working on a console. But I wouldn‘t go with the UF8 for generic DAW control.

I do have UF8 since it was released so it's been some time now. I do use Cubase Pro. I totally agree with everything you said Dom commenting UF8's good and bad sides. To be honest I only use it for faders, the rest I can do much quicker with either mouse or keyboard shortcuts or/and few of my custom macros (which I have keyboard shortcuts for)

I love your comments, I used Mackie type controller. And 30 years Pro Tools experienced. Eucon is the solution BUT need someone to program the button, (I actually will ask my assistant to do it) . When I mix in Pro Tools Eucon make sky different. And I order CC121 after watch your video…. Learn a lot from you … and Yes, I will used Cubase more and more, after 30 years in Pro Tools

Great vid! One helpful advice: You can automate that the Softube plugin is on every new track you make.

Hey Dom, thank you for your video !! To have the transport bar at the right bottom of the UF8, you just have to press & maintain the CHANNEL button and the Arrow change of colour :green for play, red for record, etc... :)

Hey Dom, maybe midi 2.0 will be the solution for some of the controller issues you are facing. It's complicated though because not only does the DAW need to support it in terms of utilizing midi 2.0 for mixer control functions, but then also the controller needs to also be midi 2.0 compatible to have that two-way conversation with the DAW mixer. We know that midi 2.0 is backwards compatible with midi 1 but what we're talking about here is implementing 2.0 to have a two-way conversation with the surface controller such as the SSL piece. So when you click on a Cubase track, it might still use one protocol to change values as it does now, but it could also use midi 2.0 to tell it what channel you just clicked on in the DAW.

Thank you for another great video! Every now and then I am thinking about another controller and UF8 came into my mind too. The thing is...I think it is just impossible to find THE perfect controller, it just doesn't exist due to the limitations like Mackie Control etc you talked about. As a result and because of my limited desk space I'll stick to my combination of keyboard, mouse, Elgato Streamdeck XL and the CC121 which overall works best for me. Oh, if anyone wants to buy an old and shattered Steinberg Houston just send me a pm. 😉

With FaderPort 8 you just press the rotary encoder and it syncs with the selected track in StudioOne. That should be easy to implement for the SSL UF8 also.

Hi Dom! I think SSL UF-8 is an great high quality controller and it works perfect what it can do. But...I agree totally with you about "what it can't do" and I HOPE..SSL will listen and hear what you said in this video so thank you so much for making this one! I'm using UF-8 from the day it came out, I made some changes in SSL 360 software to fit better with Cubase and my workflow, but you said exactly what would be better if SSL work on that. Thank you!

The SSL bundle with the UF8, UF1, and UC1 solves all the problems that individually each does not.

I had an alpha track frontier (single fader) and it had a DLL which installed and gave better integration. No idea why Strindberg and other vendors don’t do this now. Fully agree with you on mackie protocol.

Oh wow those faders ARE fast. I've always considered the Penny and Giles faders on the old Mackie MCUs the god-mode flying faders, but that is goddamn impressive.

I hope so much that Steinberg finally brings a follow-up for the CC121. In the best case scalable for example with an 8 fader extension.

I’m using a Yamaha dm2000 as a controller and it follows I got it used but 24 faders track arming all the aux and matrix select buttons select sends and cue sends for channels and the channel strip controls the Cubase channel strip. Also some soft buttons and other buttons in the master section on the dm2000

Thanks for your honest review, this is one of the things Im super fan of every video you do. Bybthe way what did you replace the CC121 for the play / record and transport ?

I'm just watching your video and wanted to push a channel subscription, but I see I've done it in the past. I have UF8 and I must say I don't use it! UF8 can replace the keyboard and mouse, but not in professional projects where you need speed in ideas. The lack of functions in the buttons also let me down a bit, and some really good functions could be attributed. I think this is a good product for beginners. This is my opinion;) I'm using Nuendo 12

Thanks Dom, great video. Would be interested to know how did you put the 360 plug-in on each channel so the uf8 would work, manually one by one, or did you figure out away to automate it, if you did manage to automate it - do tell 😀. There was a 360 software update to 1.3 recently that put the transport buttons on bottom right so is alot better, it’s not perfect nor like a transport section but is a lot better than before.

Hey Dom, thanks for the vid! Lots of helpful information. I’m wondering if there’s any way SSL could upload their control template to the Cubase Midi Control. I doubt they would because the uf8 simply has too many options or program changes that are very specific. It would be sweet if they could though, that way you could keep everything the way it is but you’d be able to custom assign the “empty buttons” or the ones that do nothing to something like using the bottom left buttons to transport controls.

Thank you for your video Dom. I own a CC121 and have also flirted with the SSL devices. But in the end, it's hard for a generic controller to top the cubase-specific integration of the CC121. If I didn't have so many different mixing plugins for EQ, compression, etc. the UF8 and UC1 combo would be exciting. But the question is also, as a digital native, do I need to bring a hybrid approach from the "old days of the SSL console" into my house. I'm used to working with a mouse and keyboard and the CC121 is the perfect complement to that. So despite the sexy products, we should always ask ourselves if it's an improvement to the workflow at all. And that's exactly what you're doing, thanks for that!

Dom.. You're right on it! At least four - as you say, "Deal Breakers" Mackie Control is an old vestige of the past and I agree.. SSL. Step up and take control! The unassigned buttons at bottom left could have been a dedicated transport control matrix. Most things could be addressed in software and firmware updates. Maybe they'll watch you're video and take some advice. I'm surprised these issues weren't spotted at the beta test stage. You were polite enough not to mention the price. But at this price point I'm expecting better integration and superior ergonomics. Thanks Dom.

1m used do desks with many more faders, 8 channels is the sub/VCA/aux fader group, a pure midi controller, or even digital desk that integrates seamlessly into DAW‘s

Great video thank. I’ve been in touch with SSL as I hit the same issue around the lack of track follow in the MCU protocol. It turns out it’s Steinberg implementation of MCU that is lacking also. Apparently Logic does successfully have its track selection followed by UC1. But of course that’s of no use to any musician with a serous need for a DAW such as Cubase or Nuendo. So maybe you - as a clearly influential supporter and advocate of Steinberg, may be able to persuade them to look again at their MCU implementation in the light of SSL’s new flurry of products (that make Cubase APPEAR weak by mistake). Anyways - big fan of your incisive logic and very impressive musicianship. Thanks.

Those problems were EXACTLY my problems using X-Touch + Extender. Another thing that bothers me A LOT (besides the missing auto bank function, which is Steinbergs fault. Logic does the autobank, btw) was that I HAD to read the channel name to know exactly which fader I was working on. X-Touch had coloured strips but due to Mackie Protocol limitations, the coloured strips cannot change colors. This is the reason I switched to Avid S1 + Avid Dock (much more expensive solution, but it works AMAZINGLY in Cubase). In S1, I can see the channel colors in the tablet above or in the channel buttons below the faders. It makes my mixing workflow SO much faster. I don't even need to read the channel names. For editing plugins parameters, the Dock is a blast. Very fast to reach the plugins parameters. It's an expensive solution but reliable. In the past, when using X-Touch, I did a very NERDY workaround to overcome some of those limitations of the mackie protocol using MaxMSP between Cubase and the X-Touch. So, when I press some keys on the X-Tocuh, the MIDI information would go to Max MSP.. it manipulates this MIDI info and then send it to cubase (and vice versa) making the things so much better, but still not close to what S1 + Dock has to offer. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m9l_oc943ty4o2g.html

Hi Dom - just wanted to suggest something for your transport controls. What I did was purchase a wireless numeric keypad - small and easy to move where you need it.

Hi Dom, very informative video thank you. Would just say that Nektar have written dedicated controller software for Cubase and other DAWs, and it's really good, or at least the P series is, which is what I use. Of course the trade off is build quality, manual faders etc etc. I agree with you, manufacturers are really missing a trick by still using Mackie. Also, the UF8 is ridiculously expensive, but it might seem less so with dedicated software. Thanks gain.

Hi Dom! Love your videos. Can you use the UF8 to control midi Cc for virtual instruments?…please let us know if you can use the faders for expression, modulation and all other midi cc for sample libraries from Spitfire or OrchestralTools? Thanks

If you hold down the channel knob for a second or two the arrow buttons and the button in the centre becomes transport controls

great video, its impressive how fast the channel faders are, i´m also not a fan of Mackie Protocool, i´m using an Avid Artist Mix, which runs with the Eucon protocol and its great and problem like mentioned at 13:50 does not exist, if you jump with the mouse from channel 5 and select channel 483 the avid artist mix follows instantly thanks to Eucon!, i´m on cubase too. but i have to admit, the faders seems not as fast and as quiet as on the SSL UF8.

Thank you for the video. I have been saying for way too long mackie control was great for its time but is in need of an overhaul for the last decade. I still can’t understand why steinberg hasn’t spear headed this given their vst implementation in the market. A new standard is desperately needed.with midi 2.0 now becoming the standard, you would think the possibilities would be endless.

In Cubase you cannot make Track by default have incorporated any particular plugin. That would be beneficial for Softube Fader 1.

Have you tried Avid's Eucon stuff? Is that any better workflow-wise?

In Magix Samplitude Pro X, you can make the controler follow the time line selects or mixer.. So clicking on a channel will bring the track on the controler. So I'd say it's a DAW problem and not controlers...

Softubes Console 1 Fader solves that problem, if you commit to the workflow 100%. Works great for me!

Hi Dom. Just want to say first that your videos are simply the best. I'm wondering how you feel about the UF8 after the release of the 360 link update. It seems they may have solved the channel select issues. Would you consider a re-review?

Just to mention - the EUCON protocol has all the features you are looking for...working nowadays on AVID products. I still use the Artist series and have access to all the Cubase 12 PRO commands including all the macros and short-cuts.

Hello, I prefer by far Avid S1. With the avid S1, your faders auto bank to the selected channel in the Daw! For me it's also very important for the workflow.

I know this video is a year old now but I've just found it, very useful, thank you. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried the Qube Audio Mobi... it does a different job (channel strip controller) but it's deeply integrated with Cubase and runs on MIDI remote (and also generic remote), it's super customisable and looks nice :D

Great review and thanks for voicing the mackie control issues - a long standing frustration for me and many others. It would also be nice not to have to purchase a JL Cooper Fademaster to properly control midi/CCs, especially for orchestral libraries. I don’t understand why manufacturers don’t do deep daw integration for the most popular daws. Is it that cost prohibitive for them to develop? I dunno but it seems like they would sell way more units if they did.

Great review 👍 for me Asparion d700ft vs SSL uf8 is dilema but i don't see to much reviews for Asparion so i Will whait some time....

I was actually surprised that you didn't keep the Qcon Pro X! From what I've seen, it does not have the problem of the fader channels not syncing with the selected channel in Cubase.

Avid Artist and S series works exactly the way you are describing you would like the SSL to work, and they work seamlessly with Cubase.

14:00 in Logic you can set up for the fader bank bar follows the track selection

I used to have 10 controllers controlling everything on cubase. Now I got it down to using a surface knob with special software "works like your knob" and a traktor x1 mk2 and traktor F1 remapped custom for cubase. And if I could be honest. I really just need a mouse and a knob to do everything. Left hand always on one knob and right on mouse while sitting in the sweet spot, and I work faster now than I ever did with all those controllers. I am over have big controllers, give me more room for my coffee and better for my back.

Hallo Dom 👋 I saw in your old video about dr mix. that you covered the icon qcon pro X controller. I have the same problem that if I'm on track 1 of the controller but I move the mouse to example track 50, the controller stays on bank one to eight. Have you found a solution for this problem?

How about the monitors not displaying the channels main fader dBs in Cubase?? Am I missing something? When I move the fader I would like the screen to show the dB level so I know precisely how much did I move it for. Like when you adjust the sends level it shows the dB, but not when I move the channels main level fader. Is there a fix?

Hi Dom!! Thanks for this video. Question, may be a little off topic… what are your thoughts about Nuage if money was not a problem? Thanks for your work! Best Mauro

How to pen left and right on piano roll like when you do 808 i dont see option

I work in ProTools, so knowing how the UF8 with ProTools vs the Avid S1 + Dock compare to each other would be amazing if you have any advice on that, I would be very grateful!!!

Thanks for the review. You just saved me 1000 euros.

Have you tried the Mackie MCU pro? I used it several years ago with logic and liked it. I did purchases cc121 several years ago as well.

Check the latest update because the arrows are now the playback buttons and works seamlessly! If you’re looking to pretty much mirror Cubase mixer and not use the Cubase mixer on screen as much then this is a go all the way! The channel knob is definitely the quicker way to adjust plugins versus the fader knobs and faders. My update requests are the following: Easier ways to copy and paste customizable button page setups in 360 software Make the non functioning buttons customizable Add fader db display

Avid Dock and S1 offers much better integration with Cubase.

I just figured out that if you set one of your layers to another DAW like ableton you can then use that layer with midi remote in Cubase and switch between them…I’m a genius. So on layer 3 for me the knobs are assigned to the quick controls

Dom, I just got one of these. Does the UF8 sometimes refuse to go to the next bank of tracks or ignore the rotary encoder so your essentially completely stuck on the first 8 tracks?

You can relocate all parameters of a plugin with the remote control editor.

To cycle fast between 8 channel fader bank, instead of using the bank buttons use fine/shift button + the rotary channel encoder. Even if you have 100 tracks you'll get there faster. I also suffer this not having the "follow sellected track" in the controller...

13:39 I d'ont have this problem with Logic Pro x. It fallows the track I select. I never tried with Cubase but with logic it works correctly

For,the transport part this is why you have a foot switch input. So that you can start stop rec meters away ans busy hands

Is the track / bank follow issue in Cubase sorted out by now? Thanks

Hi DOM> Do not use Mackie, but instead, you easily with MIDI REMOTE in CUBASE, you create pages for all the functions you want. I did just that with my Platform M+ and it works GREAT Mechanically (the LEDs just wont work correct... and it does bother me a lot but... muscle memory wins, but then, it would be not just great but Superb, if the LEDs worked as they should) I created Pages and that is how I enable all the functionalities you described here with the UF8,

Channel sync with Cubase and solo mute sync will be available in 360 1.5 apparently so it says on the website. I just ordered a uc1, I’m crazy but I just love it

I use focus quick control and prarmeter setup with monogram for every plugin and vsti

With the latest update you have to long press the big encoder and then the arrow keys will become the transport section. In order to replace the CC1 21 you probably need to go for a single fader like Presonus Faderport or the 1 channel Behringer Fader. Even though I have a 16 channel UF-8 + UC1 setup, I‘m using the Presonus Faderport in parallel, as they are doing differnt things.

Is it possible to control from the controller on MIDI CC11 commands for example ?

Maybe the follow track issue has more to do with Steinberg not allowing it than SSL, same happens with Softube’s Console 1 and Pro Tools, and softube said that is Avid that is not cooperating

This comes across as a well made controller that is hampered by integration issues. I know all software has its quirks, but some of these minor issues are workflow killers. I think Softube might be the way to go for large orchestrations - at least for now.

What desk are you using! Nice to have portico 3 in front !

I have had my UF8 / UC1 for a while, Im not happy that the SSL channel strip plugin has to be in slot one In Logic Pro. When a channel strip is not in the top plugin slot, it requires a lot of button pressing to get the UC1 to follow the UF8 channel selection bringing the SSL channel plugin into view, and... don't get me started on the incredible hassle involved getting the SSL channels to run sequentially... 😕

is it possible to plug apollo solo with elysia expressor qube directly without mixer or preamp

Didn't you have a softube fader 1? Is this ssl one better than that?

Dom could you do a comparison of the ssl uf1 and the steinberg c121 both are very similar and itd be interesting how they compare and who would win in a shoot out.

Im happy with my Xtouch and my Novation lauchkey 49

Hi Dom! I follow you on KZfaq,and regarding the DAW Control surface for Cubase 13, I am trying to choose between the Presonus Faderport 16, the Behringer X-TOUCH Universal Control Surface and the Mackie MCU Pro USB & MIDI Control Surface, Can I please have your advice?,thank you.Doyle.

Dom, could you please make a video how you have linked your preference Mixer versions to the number keys ? Also have you already tried to customize the F1 - F8 ?? You should be able to do it in the Studio settings (due to the explanation in the SSL video) but as it seems it’s not possible in Cubase 12 anymore…

I have UF8 and UC1 and like you said they are very good. I was on SSL web page and they have an update schedule for late spring to early summer for firmware 1.5 which is for Cubase and looks like it address the issue you are speaking about. I like the UF8 but the real diamond is UC1 and how it controlled the 360 software. In another words hands on controlled of the console 2 and console 4K B emulations. what an innovated approach to this. Hope you take a look again and include UC1 in your review. I enjoy your reviews. Stephen

It seems to me, as the CC121 has been discontinued, that Steinberg/Yamaha should design a control surface along side someone like you, Dom. Especially, as you make tutorials for them as well. Would make sense, wouldn't it? Are you able to have any input?

Hi Dom, What about Icon Qcon Pro x controller? You made a video some time ago, I like its modularity to build a "console-like" setup with the extensions. Still, I have some thoughts about its behavior on Cubase, especially on navigating the session across the channels. Thank you!

Thanks for your video. Do you know if the iCon Pro Controller are better integrated in Cubase?

Im currently searching a new daw controller and this one was way up on my list! Glad sharing your experience! (great timing again). What about qcon pro x? have you ever used it? I would love to see a review about this unit! Maybe its time for icon to send you unit :)

SSL knew they were going to release the matching UF1, which resolves the transport control issues. It's great. Also unassigned buttons provide SSL room to issue advanced software updates.

Dom can you use the faders for cc controls?

I was also wondering why on earth such a controller don't have a dedicated transport section. Think the new Icon Pro series coming out might be great option.

I am looking for a mixing hardware that have that auto bank feature. There is endless request about this on vi-control and the steinberg forum I have heard that controller based on Eucon support the auto banking ? Anyone ???

Hello Dom, I've been considering purchasing a UF8, but after your very informative video, I'm having some second thoughts. I've been looking up Avid's S1. They have run on a different protocol called Eucon! I believe that was from their purchase of Euphonix some time ago. But, don't quote me. I was wondering if you had looked into it, and did a video? Also, since it's been almost a year since you've done THIS video, have you come across another new product that works better? Thanks 😃

Hey Dom, our UF8 follows whichever track we select in Cubase. We also have a Qube Mobi One, and when we turn the Track dial, the UF8 follows. Are you updated to the latest software? 🙂