Waves FIT is a hands-on control unit for eMotion LV1 live software mixer. This device has been produced by Waves Audio and MIDI control manufacturer MIDIPLUS and is now compatible with the HUI/Mackie protocols for Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Live, and Cubase.

If you already own a Waves FIT Controller then you will need to update the FIT firmware. With this update, FIT can now function as your controller for these DAWs, with FIT controls mapped to specific DAW parameters. FIT also comes with four DAW-specific plastic covers, showing which FIT knobs control which DAW parameters.

Waves FIT Controller Specifications

General

• 16+1 touch-sensitive 100mm motorized faders

• 16 clickable rotary encoders

• Touch & Turn clickable rotary encoder

• Mute, Solo, Select and 1.14” TFT Display per fader

• User-assignable keys

• Tap tempo pad

• 8 fader layer selectors

• 8 utility buttons

USB

• 2x USB LED light ports

• 1x USB 2.0 high-speed port

• Class-compliant USB device for Mac and Windows

Power Supply

• 12V DC input

• DC power adapter (DC 12V/2.5A, centre-positive)

Environmental Specifications

• Operating temperature: 0-40°C / 32-104°F

Dimensions

• Height: 69 mm / 2.71 inches

• Width: 449 mm / 17.6 inches (with side brackets for 19” rack)

• Depth: 284 mm / 11.18 inches (<7U)

• Weight: 4.28 kg / 9.43 lbs

DAW Compatibility

• FIT is compatible with Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Live and Cubase

Notes & Known Issues

• Pro Tools:

  • If some faders do not reach their correct position upon session launch, simply toggle a layer forward and back. This should solve the issue.

  • If HUI connection error notifications show, you can set them to ‘Don’t show again.’ Do not be alarmed by such notifications: the connection is ok.

• Logic: Only the first 16 parameters of a plugin will be mapped.

• Ableton and Cubase: When a channel’s level is at unity (zero) in Ableton or in Cubase, there is a slight offset of the FIT faders (not precisely at zero)

Price

The Waves FIT Controller for eMotion LV1 is priced at $1200.

Observations

The first thing to note is that the FIT Controller is that it is HUI only so the integration with Pro Tools is not as tight as Avid’s Eucon. But what you do get is 16 motorised faders for the price of an Avid S1 Eucon powered control surface and a third of the price of Avid’s 16 fader S3 Eucon powered control surface.

When we look at the recently released SSL UF8 HUI based 8 fader controller, the Waves FIT HUI based HUI controller is just a little cheaper than the SSL.

You will need to decide whether HUI will work for you or whether you need the improved integration Avid’s Eucon will give you, but as a 16+1 faders the FIT controller is a cost-effective solution.