We asked the Experts team to nominate their product of 2021, here is Julian Rodgers’ entry… do you agree?

I don’t buy much gear but nearly all of the gear I have I use every day. I’m long past the acquisitive stage where I just want everything. I’m sure we’ve all been there! These days I don’t tend to get plugins unless they do something I need. When it comes to hardware I’m even more selective because, unlike software, I have to find somewhere to keep it.

Nowhere is space more precious than on my desk and for my product of the year to earn a slice of such valuable real estate is testament to exactly how powerful it is. My product of the year is the Avid S1.

My past experience of control surfaces ranges from the Command 8, the JL Cooper Motormix, SSL Matrix, D Command and D Control. Although it took me an inordinately long time to finally get to a Eucon surface, the previous generation(s) of Pro Tools controllers was well known to me and I loved the D Control. The D Command was OK but the D Control was easier, better and just cooler than its smaller sibling. 

What Did I Love About The D Control?

To start with, the faders. The Alps units on the D Command were OK, the chrome conductive plastic on the first generation Matrix weren’t but the P&G faders on the D Control were proper faders. It makes a difference.

Secondly, VCA Spill. Once you’ve experienced VCA Spill there simply isn’t any going back.

Thirdly, Custom Fader Groups. Highly configurable. If spilling a VCA doesn’t give you what you need, just set up a Custom Fader Group.

I could go on but the D Control managed to stay relevant long after it had been discontinued. There was only one thing. It’s massive! Even if it was free and guaranteed compatible with Pro Tools for years to come I wouldn’t have one today because it’s just such a big thing.

The D Control is a big surface and as such it doesn’t rely on secondary functions and menu diving nearly as much as the D Command (I will get to the S1 soon, I promise) because of this I valued its depth, as in how many controls it presents in the centre section and channels, but the unit I worked on was a 16 fader D Control, the smallest available. Although the 32 channel model looks nice and symmetrical, you really don’t need as many faders as you think you will if you are using a control surface properly. This is why, when presented with the Eucon controllers I thought that a single S1 would probably be enough. If you have quality faders (important - see my first point about the D Control), an easily accessible system of VCA Spill, and a way to customise fader layouts (Custom Fader Layers on the D Control, Layouts in Eucon) you can probably do most of what you need without surrendering your desk to a control surface. I’ve plonked a keyboard down on a bank of faders too many times in the past. I’m not doing it at home!

Why Do I Love The S1?

It’s small (I think I’ve covered why that is so important already…) it’s properly built - small shouldn’t mean cheaply built, and it’s really useable without a tablet. Of course it’s even more useable with a tablet but, although I know that you can use inexpensive android tablets as a dedicated screen, I have never got round to buying one so I use my iPad. Most of the time with the Avid control app running on the tracks page and frequently not at all because as anyone who uses their only iPad in their studio, it’s frequently not there! I have a life away from the studio and while I might intend to bring it back when I borrow it for use elsewhere in the house, it often doesn’t come back!

The point I’m making is that lots of people seem to think you need a tablet to use the S1. This isn’t true. I can do all my most common tasks from the S1 on its own. Track navigation, VCA spill, accessing sends and plugins - all perfectly accessible from the hardware.

Isn’t It A Problem Not Having A Dock Or A Second S1?

I’m not going to say it wouldn’t be nice sometimes. The Avid Dock, in combination with one or more S1s and some suitable tablets, makes a fine controller. I just think that for me, having one S1 which can be picked up in one hand and moved to one side when I don’t need it is more useful to me than a bigger, more capable control surface. I probably need a second iPad though…

This is a case of one size not fitting all and I spend more of my time typing than I do mixing. I sometimes wish this wasn’t the case but the point is that the S1 meets my needs and I can share my workspace with it rather than having to surrender my workspace to it!