Can you comment on FP vs CC121 fader noise?
Apologies, I didn’t realize you’d also used the Nektar Panorama CS12, in addition to the FP you favor.
I’d love to hear/ read more of your personal comparisons between the two (apologies,
I’m sure my memory is incomplete, but I mainly seem to remember your posting complimentary ones about the FP and negative ones about the CS12; not so much direct comparisons based on your personal observations).
Thanks in advance!
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@alexis,
I use the FaderPort and Cubase together with a friend who has a small home studio.
When the CS12 came onto the market, I naturally read this too. During a visit to a music store, I discovered the CS12 there and was allowed to touch it and try it out briefly for about one hour.
While this I was also able to see how the motorized fader works. The “clack-clack” of the CS12’s fader movement was clearly audible. However, as both devices were not standing next to each other, I cannot say for sure whether the FaderPort is really quieter. It seemed that way to me.
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@AlanP,
PreSonus has been on the market with the FaderPort for 13 years. Back then, there was a version 1, which was continuously improved.
An early bonedo test report states that a motorized fader from the Japanese brand ALPS was already installed by PreSonus.
Such motorized faders were also in the CC121, as the motorized faders from YAMAHA were always from ALPS.
It can therefore be assumed that the fader from the FaderPort is as good as the fader from the CC121. Only the fader caps can of course vary.
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I have two FaderPorts from PreSonus.
The motorized fader of the newer FaderPort is quieter. When the fader moves to its target position, it brakes a little beforehand. This makes the clicking noise quieter. This improvement has been made internally to the hardware, i.e. not through changes to the firmware.
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After looking into the pdf document “device tuning” posted by CKB, it became clear to me again that the FaderPort is the best replacement for the CC121.
Being able to operate the AI function optimally - also as a jog wheel - was one of the central strengths of the CC121 and now only the FaderPort can do this so well. There are other controllers with a jog wheel, but only the FaderPort has it in the right place, ABOVE the transport section, which also has the best design you can find, I think. 
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One important thing should be considered when comparing the FaderPort and the CS12:
If you have been working with the device of your choice for a long time, you will probably want to keep it because you have gotten used to it. That was the case with the CC121.
What will it look like in ten years’ time? That is an important question.
Will there be a replacement if your device breaks?
I think there will be more chance of finding a working FaderPort in the future, because the company behind this device is PreSonus, which wants to use it to sell its StudioOne DAW software.
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I agree with that. I can’t look into the future, but I also believe that the availability of the FaderPort is well secured for the future.
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Good point!
To play devil’s advocate … the beautiful results here, re: the Cubase application, seem to be very “CKB- dependent”.
What will CKB be doing in 10 years to keep things current?
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You won’t become dependent on me.
The script is available as source code. I have also included enough inline documentation in the source code so that another programmer could continue working on the script if, for example, some monsters should kidnap me… 
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Hi folks,
something else I would like to mention…
One feature that is unique to the FaderPort is
that it has a surface to comfortably rest the ball of the hand on.
This allows me, for example, to put my hand down while I comfortably use the Rotate Knob as a jog wheel. I can do this for hours without getting a cramp in my hand. This detail makes the FaderPort a professional studio device.
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You haven’t mentioned one important argument yet, butterfly,
the price difference, that makes the FaderPort so interesting. 
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Note:
The new update of fp-wizard (Version from June 6, 2025 )
was published here in the Steinberg Forum.
[ topic: PreSonus FaderPort 2 (2018) midi remote script ]
Here’s a list of all 409 functions that are included in the new version of fp-wizard:
* 159 functions for each track:
* equalizer 1..4, gain with knob
* equalizer 1..4, frequency with knob
* equalizer 1..4, Q-factor with knob
* equalizer 1..4, on / off with button
* compact equalizer 1..4 overview with four LEDs
* handling of EQ parameters optimized for recording of automation
* set EQ parameter to default value with button
* adjusted default parameter values for EQ bands 1..4
* restore EQ parameter in default function with button
* copy EQ parameter value from track to track functionality
* pregain with knob and LED feedback
* pregain level LED in 9 steps:
* off, grey, blue, cyan, green, yellow, orange, orangered, magenta
* automatic bidirectional synchronisation of pregain level LED
* reset pregain to 0 dB with button
* restore pregain in reset function with button
* copy pregain from track to track functionality
* phase 0° / 180° with LED feedback
* prefilter bypass on / off with LED feedback
* summarized switch for prefilter bypass and phase in 4 steps with button
* prefilter low cut frequency on / off with button and LED feedback
* select low cut frequency slope with button and LED feedback
* summarized switch for low cut on / off and slope in 6 steps with button
* low cut frequency with knob
* reset low cut frequency with button
* restore low cut frequency in reset function with button
* copy low cut frequency from track to track functionality
* prefilter high cut frequency on / off with button and LED feedback
* select high cut frequency slope with button and LED feedback
* summarized switch for high cut on / off and slope in 6 steps with button
* high cut frequency with knob
* reset high cut frequency with button
* restore high cut frequency in reset function with button
* copy high cut frequency from track to track functionality
* send 1..8, level with knob and LED feedback
* send 1..8, bypass on / off with button and LED feedback
* send 1..8, pre / post with button and LED feedback
* compact send 1..8 overview with four LEDs in 2 banks
* fast navigation to EQs & sends from anywhere with button combination
* toggle send bank 1..4 / send bank 5..8 with button
* handling of send parameters optimized for recording of automation
* set send level to default value -oo dB or 0 dB with button
* restore send level in default function with button
* copy send level value from track to track functionality
* set all 8 send levels to -oo dB with button combination
* cue send 1..4, level with knob and LED feedback
* cue send 1..4, pan with knob and LED feedback
* cue send 1..4, bypass on / off with button and LED feedback
* cue send 1..4, pre / post with button and LED feedback
* compact cue send 1..4 overview with four LEDs
* set cue send level to default value -oo dB or 0 dB with button
* restore cue send level in default function with button
* copy cue send level value from track to track functionality
* set cue send pan to default value -oo dB or 0 dB with button
* restore cue send pan in default function with button
* copy cue send pan value from track to track functionality
* set all 4 cue send levels to -oo dB with button combination
* send level LEDs and cue send level LEDs in 9 steps:
* grey, blue, cyan, green, yellow, orange, orangered, red, magenta
* automatic bidirectional synchronisation of send level and cue send level LEDs
* cue send pan LEDs in 7 steps:
* grey, blue, cyan, green (center), yellow, orange, orangered
* automatic bidirectional synchronisation of cue send pan LEDs
* Quick Control 1..8 for tracks and plugins with knob
* Quick Control 1..4 for tracks and plugins with fader
* simultaneous optimized control of track and focused Quick Controls
* automatic synchronization of Quick Controls when changing tracks
* toggle Quick Control value to min / mid / max / old with button
* functionality for copying Quick Control values from track to track
* direct link to Channel Editor with button
* direct link to Instrument Editor with button
* solo on / off with button
* mute on / off with button
* arm on / off with button
* toggle monitor state on / off with knob-push and LED feedback
* bypass cue sends on / off with button
* bypass Channel Strip Gate with button
* bypass Channel Strip Compressor with button
* bypass Channel Strip Tools with button
* bypass Channel Strip Saturator with button
* bypass Channel Strip Limiter with button
* compact Channel Strip overview with five LEDs
* status if Channel Strip module is loaded with LED feedback
* automatic bidirectional synchronisation of all Channel Strip functions
* write automation on / off with button
* read automation on / off with button
* modify pan with optimized grid with knob
* set pan to center with button
* set pan to full left with button combination and LED feedback
* set pan to full right with button combination and LED feedback
* restore pan in center function with button
* copy pan value from track to track functionality
* realtime VU-Meter LED in 10 steps:
* off, grey, blue, cyan, green, yellow, orange, red, magenta, flashing
* default VU-Meter dB thresholds: -48, -24, -12, -6, -3, -1.5, 0, +1.5, +3
* VU-Meter peak control with LED and button
* clipping functionality with reset function
* volume with motorized fader with bidirectional functionality
* move fader to initial volume of Quick Track 1..4 with button combination
* move fader to -oo dB with button combination
* move fader to 0 dB with button combination
* reset fader to last volume with button combination
* enable / disable track with button
* 47 functions for transport:
* play with button
* pause with button
* recording with button
* stop with button
* return to last start with button and prevent option
* set left locator at cursor position with button combination
* set right locator at cursor position with button combination
* return to zero (RTZ) with button combination
* jump to end of project with button combination
* jump to left locator with button combination
* jump to right locator with button combination
* rewind with button
* forward with button
* fast rewind with double speed with button doubleclick
* fast forward with double speed with button doubleclick
* scroll left in timeline with button
* scroll right in timeline with button
* scroll through timeline left / right with knob
* toggle Scroll Mode normal / per frame with knob-push and LED feedback
* GPS (Global Project Scroll) with button and knob-rotate combination
* GPS possible in Play Mode or with an automatic Stop
* GPS automatic step sequence adaption
* GPS available everywhere, even in Custom Mode
* shuttle play with half speed with button combination
* shuttle play with double speed with button combination
* shuttle speed changeable while playing
* cycle on / off with button
* click on / off with button
* modify click level with knob
* start recording & playback by footswitch
* stop recording & playback by footswitch
* punch-in recording by footswitch
* punch-out recording by footswitch
* automatic state detection while recording by footswitch
* set Quick Marker 1..4 at cursor position with button combination
* jump to Quick Marker 1..4 with button combination
* toggle lock stop functionality with button combination and LED feedback
* jump to Quick Marker possible in Play Mode or with an automatic Stop
* next grid type as global function with button combination
* transport functions always directly accessible everywhere
* 43 functions for navigation and editing:
* previous track with button
* next track with button
* scroll through all tracks with knob without bank restrictions
* GTS (Global Track Scroll) with button and knob-rotate combination
* GTS toggle mute track functionality with knob-push combination
* GTS available everywhere, even in Custom Mode
* speed optimization within GTS functionality
* set Quick Track 1..4 with button combination
* jump to Quick Track 1..4 with button combination
* jump to first Track with button combination
* jump to last Track with button combination
* jump to Quick Track possible in Play Mode or with an automatic Stop
* horizontal zoom out with knob
* horizontal zoom full out with knob-push
* horizontal zoom in with knob
* vertical standard zoom out with button
* vertical standard zoom in with button
* vertical track zoom out with button / knob-rotate combination
* vertical track zoom in with button / knob-rotate combination
* vertical zoom out of waveform with button / knob-push combination
* vertical zoom in on waveform with button / knob-push combination
* go to nearest event left with button
* go to nearest event right with button
* scroll through events left / right with knob
* nudge selected event to left with button
* nudge selected event to right with button
* nudge selected event to left / to right with knob
* go to nearest marker left with button
* go to nearest marker right with button
* scroll through markers left / right with knob
* insert marker at current position with knob-push and LED feedback
* Markers Window within Marker Mode and Hitpoint Mode with button
* go to nearest hitpoint left with button
* go to nearest hitpoint right with button
* scroll through hitpoints left / right with knob
* insert marker at hitpoint position with knob-push and LED feedback
* toggle zoom / scroll with button
* 160 other functions:
* check all tracks as a self-learning function with button combination
* realtime optimization within the self-learning function
* fully automatic scrolling through all tracks for control purposes
* modify value under mouse with motorized fader with bidirectional functionality
* modify value under mouse with knob
* simultaneous use of motorized fader and knob for value under mouse
* toggle lock / unlock current value under mouse with knob-push and LED feedback
* toggle lock / unlock current value under mouse with button and LED feedback
* set value under mouse to min / mid / max value with button combination and LED feedback
* special memory functions for value under mouse for to write / read up to 5 values
* special memory functions for EQ for to write / read up to 5 sets of 20 values
* single button special memory write / read functions for value under mouse with LED feedback
* single button special memory write / read functions for EQ for all 20 values with LED feedback
* special memory functions for up to 4 fader positions
* pick up fader positions 1..4 automatically when Quick Tracks 1..4 are set
* modify Control Room master volume with knob
* set Control Room master volume to 0 dB with button
* restore Control Room master volume with button
* Control Room master volume dim functionality
* global undo and redo with button combination and LED feedback
* unsolo all tracks with button
* unmute all tracks with button
* arm all audio tracks with button
* unarm all audio tracks with button
* toggle read automation on / off of all selected tracks with button
* toggle write automation on / off of all selected tracks with button
* toggle enable / disable all selected tracks with button
* select previous quantize preset with button
* select next quantize preset with button
* scroll through quantize presets with knob
* set quantize to 4th with knob-push
* Quantize Panel within Quantize Mode with button
* clear performance peaks with button
* clear all Cubase VU-Meters with button
* clear FaderPort VU-Meter and FaderPort clipping with button
* single button summary for all three clear functions
* enable / disable FaderPort VU-Meter with button combination and LED feedback
* easy individual setting of the VU-Meter and other parameters in the script
* value table available with 36 typical dB thresholds for the VU-Meter
* color steps of the VU-Meter can be deactivated separately
* 3 footswitch types supported: a soft button (NC and NO) and a hard toggle switch
* 2 Start Modes adjustable in the script
* easy option to disable the complete pregain / prefilter functionality in the script
* easy option to disable the complete cue send functionality in the script
* easy option to swap the solo button and the mute button in the script
* easy option to change GTS track functionality to toggle monitor state in the script
* easy option to disable fast navigation to EQ Mode in the script
* toggle Motorfader Mode bidirectional / unidirectional with button and LED feedback
* extra direct Motorfader Mode for sending PitchBend data to MIDI tracks
* extra +QC1..4 Motorfader Mode for to select Quick Control for fader
* Quick Controls can be controlled simultaneously with knob and fader
* fast navigation to Quick Controls from anywhere with button doubleclick
* remember last Quick Control functionality
* toggle lock Quick Controls with button an LED feedback
* hide all / show all plugins within Quick Control Mode with button
* toggle through plugins within Quick Control Mode with button
* all Quick Controls at once total recall functionality with button combination
* automatic preparation for a total recall of all Quick Controls
* set volume of audio event with knob
* set fade in time of audio event with knob
* set fade out time of audio event with knob
* remember last Audio Mode parameter
* volume functions editors, play selection, crossfade and bounce with button
* fade in functions delete, standard, to cursor and to range with button
* fade out functions delete, standard, from cursor and from range with button
* fast navigation to Audio Mode from anywhere with button combination
* select Control Room source with button combination
* select Control Room monitor out with button combination
* replace and reset CR volume 0 dB value with button combination
* gliding LED color for EQ Gains as option in the script
* negative and positive EQ Gains in different colors as option in the script
* reset functionality for special memory functions with button combination
* toggle lock / unlock all FaderPort functions with special button / knob-push combination
* unlock / lock function executable during stop, play and record
* full bidirectional functionality
* automation supported for most parameters
* consideration of the touched fader functionality during automation
* all functions usable during play and record without realtime problems
* automatic fader shutdown on close
* optimized script reloading functionality
* integrated debugging options to support individual customizations
* automatic, optimized page mapping
* optimized button navigation
* user-tolerant operation for all button combinations
* ergonomically selected colors for LEDs with orientation support
* optimized thresholds of LED colors for each parameter
* integrated automatic midi data traffic reducer
* direct link to 51 free assignable custom functions on 3 custom pages
* switch between custom pages with just one button
* display the number of the selected custom page with LED feedback
* modify value under mouse with motorized fader in Custom Mode
* modify value under mouse with knob in Custom Mode
* all transport functions available in Custom Mode
* 8 custom default functions as preset
* hide / show left zone as custom default function with button
* hide / show lower zone as custom default function with button
* hide / show right zone as custom default function with button
* undo as custom default function with button
* redo as custom default function with button
* quick exit from all 3 custom pages as custom default functions with button
* 43 more free custom functions
* fast navigation to Custom Mode from anywhere with button combination
* single-page functional overview & quick reference guide
* measures for a device tuning
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Yes, AlanP, with the latest version from June 6, 2025, this is now possible.
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@AlanP
CKB has now also added the option of setting fade ins and fade outs very easily using the knob. I’ve used this several times now and find it very cool. 
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