Any Console 1 users here?

Well, I made the jump after side-eyeing it for about 9 months and bought gwlee's old one. I've only had it since Tuesday PM, but I absolutely love it. The recent system updates seem to be pretty great -- but since I started using C1 after the update, it just seems like a really fancy new product and not something that's been around since 2014. The hardware is heavy duty (more than I expected), and there are multiple settings for different levels of sensitivity on the encoders. I've had various quality midi controllers over the years and this one is the most tank-like.

I definitely think what you get out of it definitely depends on how much you are invested in the Softube & UAD software ecosystems. To be able to physically control my UAD plugins feels like they got an update -- no you can't control every parameter, but what I'm finding is that the majority of the time I don't need the additional parameters. If I do, just open the plugin like I normally would. The amount of time I'm saving zipping around between tracks and making adjustments means I don't mind when I want to pull up something more specialized on a problem area. I just think of it as patching in a hardware insert.

I have a good amount of Softube's stuff (Empirical Labs, Weiss, Chandler, British Channel, etc), and they all really do have different characters. It's an embarrassment of software riches when you're rapidly switching between a Weiss EQ, a Chandler Curvebender, an API 560, or a Pultec. It's two button clicks and an encoder twist. Within an hour, I'm flying around on it without looking at the screen or the C1. Just listening like I do when I'm using hardware inserts. The results have been instantly worthwhile, and I think I'm going to splurge later today on the remaining C1 strips while they're on sale.

My long term plan is to treat the C1 as the front end for a summing mixer (currently planning on the 5059). That way I get clean and easy filters, gates, transient shaping (underrated!), and eq's before going out to the mixer and using hardware inserts as needed. I imagine I'll use end up using the Drive & Character sections of the C1 less at that point -- but honestly they sound a lot better than I expected it to with a lot more subtle nonlinearity in the saturation even at low settings.

The main takeaways for me: it works seamlessly with Ableton, and it is dramatically speeding up my workflow. I look forward to doing the boring work because it feels so much better being hands-on, and is so much faster and less tedious than I am used to. Fewer trips to the plug-in folder, less indecision, more interesting sounds thanks to listening versus looking. It's great, and I really have that same brain feeling I had when I was learning on a console way back when.

Depending on your DAW and your existing workflow and your existing plugin collection, I think it can really make life a lot easier.

Can’t remember off the top of my head about mappings, but stuff like compressor linking or high pass adjustment. Things I’ll usually be doing on busses later in the process or where I’ve already got presets and I’ll pull up the regular version of the plug-in.

I got hyped on hands on control of the api 560 and the EQP-1, and Helios which I always forget to use, but sounds great. Also some fooling around with the Fairchilds. Hoping to dig in more on the compressors the next few days just to learn any potential limitations. I’m hoping the their recent addition of more UAD plugs means they are going to dig in on that and make more stuff available. Best case: they open things to 3rd party devs - although I know it’s a bit more complicated than a simple midi mapping.

The reason I decided to pull the trigger is that I've already moved to a workflow where I pretty much use the same channel strip on every channel. Either the bx_9000J or the Lindell 80. So it kind of made sense to go all in on this approach, it really works for me.

My plan is to use Console 1 for most of my individual channels and then use hardware for my busses. Mixing in various specific color plugs either in C1 itself or as an additional insert. I'll probably still use hardware compression for kick and snare just cuz I like the way my DBX 160 sounds on those but the rest I'll save for various group busses.

Given that I already work like this and combining it with FP16 in Studio One, I think I'm gonna end up with a pretty efficient workflow.

I have one with the SSL strips (now with UAD SSL too!) and the Neve strip - if UAD/Softube add the UAD Neve 88RS then Console 1 will be perfect for me.
It also works well with other UAD plugins.

The only negative is the auto gain make up on the compressors - I wish they gave the option to turn it off.

I use my C1 in conjunction with a Faderport 16 and a Crane Song Avocet and it makes for a nice little faux console.

Though I'd love to have an actual analog console!

I'll find out soon enough on my own (Wednesday I think), but are there UAD plugins that you think work particularly well with the C1 format?

deaconblues this may be a dumb question but here goes.

Is the C1 software "always on" for lack of a better term?

Here's what I mean.

Let's say I'm doing something on a channel in my DAW (Studio One) like tweaking a reverb or who knows what. If I reach for a knob on the C1, does it make an adjustment on that channel instantly or do I need to activate the plugin in some way? Does that make sense?

There are no dumb questions!

Yes. The C1 follows what you do in the DAW (at least in Ableton).

For example:
I set my gate and eq on track1 on my Console 1.
When I click with my mouse on track 2 and adjust the reverb decay, the LED on the Console 1 follows with me and lights up track 2.
If you grab the the C1 encoder for Low Mid Gain and crank it, it will make that change on track 2, and not track 1 -- which is where you were when you last interacted with the C1 hardware. It would drive me nuts if it didn't do this, but I'm pretty sure it can all be turned off.

This is why they recommend putting C1 on every track (buses and master included). I have been using the "track select" buttons to move around my session, and Ableton has an auto-hide function when moving between tracks which minimizes mousing.

This is awesome if I'm understanding it correctly.

So it really does function like a piece of hardware. I can just grab a knob on whatever track I'm working on without having to select anything else. That's pretty awesome.

Yeah. I don’t think that had really clicked with me until I used it. Very helpful.

Might have to take the stuffed animals out to an actual paying gig first, then maybe they can play “recording a band for money”. 

I have one here that I’m no longer using with the American console also.

I’ll let them go for a great price. I’ve gone full hardware based.

Are you on pro tools? If so, workflow is weird.