EUCON 2024.10 huge update

[Guy Rowland]

I seem to have acquired a reputation over the years for many things. Not all good. But one of them is being The Guy who evangelises about using EuCon to control midi CCs in Cubase. Well somewhere along the line things broke a little with Cubase and my S1 - every time I switched channels in Cubase the surface would reset to the default fader config. And given that it was three awkward key presses to get into the Quick Controls mode, it all became a tiresome chore.

No longer! In fact it is now FAR better than ever. In fact it is like having a whole new control surface. Because - sing Hallelujah - you can now easily set up the surface for macros. And switch desk states (why on earth this was never there before is a mystery). All of which means no more cumbersome combination of keypresses - I can assign all 8 soft keys on the S1 to be all the different modes I use, in the configurations just as I like them. Mix on faders, press one button and have all my automated CCs ready to go, one button back to faders. I can even choose the colour.

At time of writing still waiting for the Control App to get its 2024.10 update live on the app store. But assuming no hiccups there, this is control surface nirvana. EDIT - updated now, all good.

Here's a full list of feature updates:

Avid Control “Tablet Mode” Selector
In addition to performance updates Avid Control has a new drop down for selecting mode. Once tablets have been added to the My Surfaces list, you can use the new Tablet Mode selector to assign tablets to an available mode. Assignments persist and take priority over list order. If a tablet briefly disconnects or you have to restart EuControl, Tablet Mode assignments are restored as they were before without further user interaction needed. Some of the rules have been relaxed so, for example, now you can have just a Remote tablet.

Latching/Non-Latching Talkback
A new Latching Talkback setting is available in EuControl Settings > Preferences. This allows talkback to be set to never latch, saving you from any embarrassing moments overhearing chatter between the control room and the live room.

New Softkeys
New Surface Soft Keys are available to focus different knobsets (functions) such as Input, Inserts, Dynamics, or Sends. Additional Soft Keys have also been added for function “page” navigation, to toggle Channel Mode on or off, and to toggle Flip on or off. Together, these Soft Keys let you easily create powerful surface navigation macros on a single Soft Key.

Here’s an example:

Quickly access Sends on Faders:

Create a macro to:
Focus Sends
Enter Channel mode
Engage Flip

Another macro could act as a “home” Soft Key to:

Focus Pan
Exit Channel mode
Disengage Flip
Function softkeys

New Surface Soft Keys let you open and focus each of the different tabs in EuControl Settings. When assigned, these Soft Keys toggle the associated tab (such as Surfaces, Applications, or Soft Keys) open or closed. When used to open a tab, they also bring EuControl to the foreground. Additional softkeys for Workstation and Application switching are also included.

Improved Indication of Channel Mode On hardware control surface OLEDs
Channel Mode is now indicated by a light yellow background making it easier to see the track data.



Improved Marker Display and Settings
The two previously available settings for Display Marker Type and Show Ruler Markers Colors Behind Track Markers have been consolidated into a single new setting that is more intuitive and provides better flexibility. In Avid Control Settings (gear icon) > Universe & Markers, the new, single Display Marker Type setting provides three choices: Ruler, Track, and Both. Use this setting to show only Ruler markers, only Track markers, or both.

Markers
Ruler Markers
Markers
Track Markers
Markers
Ruler and Track Markers

Additionally, Marker Timeline Zoom now works when double-tapping on empty space. In addition, new Zoom level choices of 32 and 64 are now available for the Default Marker Timeline Zoom and Marker Timeline Zoom levels.

Avid Control Desktop Show/Hide/Peek
New settings have been added to be able to bring Avid Control Desktop to the foreground when a fader, knob, or switch is touched on its linked surface, with an adjustable timeout. You can also use new Soft Keys to show/hide Avid Control Desktop. This allows the use of the high-resolution meter bridge for S1 and S3 when tablets are not desired but leaves your desktop clean for the DAW windows.

S4 and S6 additions
We’ve made several improvements to S4 and S6 workflows that should make things more efficient:

Remove ATO from the Trim switch
We updated the MTM DHCP Server software (automatically done when updating) This allows for faster booting, firmware updates and larger module counts.
You can now press and hold to reset all meter type and track meters back to unspecified.
1. Press and hold Display 1 to reset all individual strip meter layouts.
2. Press and hold Display 2 to reset all 13 global track type CDM Meter layouts to Unspecified.
Add to Layout (Layout+) now clears assignment if there is already an assignment
Improved PECDIR off disk and input meter sync when cascading busses and inserting plugins.
Added a manually adjustable sync amount to each track and a recalibrate sync option. Requires Pro Tools 2024.10 onwards.
We’ve also fixed sync issues for PEC/DIR on S6 consoles.

https://www.avid.com/resource-center/wh ... con-202410

[Linos]

All working for you Guy? Now I know that you are the expert to ask about Avid/Eucon. But the Avid S1 is too expensive for me, and the Artist Mix is EOL. For the same price as an old and used Artist Mix I can buy a new Faderport 8. I've read on Vi-Control that the Faderport can switch between mixer mode and cc mode now. It also has the scribble strips. I'm not sure whether the transport controld work in midi mode or not. If they do, the Faderport would work the same way as your setup, Guy. Is that right?

[Guy Rowland]

All working for you Guy? Now I know that you are the expert to ask about Avid/Eucon. But the Avid S1 is too expensive for me, and the Artist Mix is EOL. For the same price as an old and used Artist Mix I can buy a new Faderport 8. I've read on Vi-Control that the Faderport can switch between mixer mode and cc mode now. It also has the scribble strips. I'm not sure whether the transport controld work in midi mode or not. If they do, the Faderport would work the same way as your setup, Guy. Is that right?

I'm afraid I know nothing about the Faderport 8 Linos. I do see it's not EuCon, and instead uses Mackie and Hui. Historically these protocols don't auto-bank which is everything to me. The console has to follow what I'm doing in the DAW, which has always said it is EuCon only. Now that said, I dimly remember reading that this may have changed, so do some digging.... good luck!

PS I was pleasantly surprised to see the Avid Artist is still supported with this latest version of EuCon.

[Linos]

Thank you Guy. Somebody posted a script on the Steinberg forums that brinks auto bank to Faderport. It's all dreadfully complicated though. With this Eucon update it seems to be much simpler now with Avid devices. That and the smaller profile might make an Artist Mix the better choice for me. I'll do some more digging.

[Linos]

Ah, I may be reading a lot of your posts about Eucon soon, Guy. There is an old Euphonix MC Mix on sale cheaply in my area. As far as I understand it works the same as the later Avid Artist Mix. If that's the case and it's in good condition, I'll buy it.

[Guy Rowland]

Ah, I may be reading a lot of your posts about Eucon soon, Guy. There is an old Euphonix MC Mix on sale cheaply in my area. As far as I understand it works the same as the later Avid Artist Mix. If that's the case and it's in good condition, I'll buy it.

Yup, it's identical except the badges. But do be sure to give it a proper workout - I have one here on the shelf you could have but 4 faders are sticky / nf on it. If it's in good nick though, pounce cos it's a great unit.

[Linos]

Thank you, that's good info. The seller has two units, and according to his description both work just fine. Looks good so far, but I will test them before deciding.