ORIGINAL: plainfaced
Maybe it is a coffe maker.. Maybe you let the cat out of the bag too early!!

It's only a few days till the AES, so it'll be known by then.. What you mean your not flying across the world JUST to find out , the fly back straight after.. shocking..

Well I hopes it's true and I hope it doesn't suck. For those of us NOT using PT the control surface world is preetty limited...more so in ones that are decent quality.

However, being a life long Roland user...VS-2480, MC-909, among many others....they will drop support before it's ever truly "developed".

My two senses...

I have to assume then that you can't smell or taste.

so I suspect we're looking at a mid-range product rather than a budget one

Well, I have the FW-1884 and I've ordered SONAR 8. In another post it was questioned if the FW-1884 will work in 8 since it was not on the list (anymore). If I have to relagte the FW-1884 to a doorstop I'll have to hope that this unit is as good (if not hopefully better) than the <Machiniator> moded FW-1884 (which BTW I am happy with so far).

Here is a new SSL that might provide some Sonar 8 assistance.

http://www.gearjunkies.com/news_info.php?news_id=3159

Check out this comment in the article:

With the 400th console recently shipped, SSL are using AES 2008 to announce an upgrade to the hugely successful AWS 900+. The AWS 900+ becomes the AWS 900+ SE and will be demonstrated at AES with an upgraded feature set that includes the MIDI over Ethernet system introduced this year with the SSL Matrix console. MIDI over Ethernet replaces existing MIDI connectivity with a single Ethernet connection that enables the console to communicate directly with your DAW host computer, thus simplifying installation and removing the need for a separate MIDI interface. AWS 900+ SE will also include SSL’s Logictivity browser software, a DAW host computer based project management browser application

- Wouldn't it be nice if Cakewalk joined with SSL on this platform for it's PE version of Sonar?

Why doesn't CW just create a window that shows us which program and window view a particular piece of control hardware is operating it could be as simple as having color coded lights that change to show a controller is working with program 1 view 2 etc and in this window we could also pull up the properties of the act settings and see if it is locked in to a particular program like the mixer in sonar or capable of switching to control another program. A picture icon could replace the light idea to indicate processer synth or mixer in the corner of something similar to the synth rack would be all the screen real estate we would need click on an expand and the control template opens out to the side.

This being said I vote to get at least 12 channels but allowing daisy chaining and optional cards that can either be edirol I/O or UAD / VSF type cards so that those who already need an interface can add the cards or if you want a soft synth or fx processor card then these cards can be something that supports that, heck a card could make it compatible with ethernet and multiple video monitors as well as a mouse and keyboard. Roland has a history of developing these types of products and even getting third party software companies to develop products for their hardware. I would be ecstatic if they added a gt processor and then came out with a vg card that could accept input from a vg pickup equiped guitar. Third party libraries could exist on hard drives that could connect via fire wire and the whole set up should be able to control a computer from afar via ethernet. One mode we could use in the 12 fader situation would be to make 8 work as a bank of faders on one area while the 4 remaining act as global bus controls 1 for a master vocals bus 1 for keys 1 for guitars and 1 for drums sorry bass players. Or you could do 7 and 5 that way so we don't leave out our bass player buddies. When you work with keyboard settings you can zero in on the 7 or 8 top tracks you are seriously working on while being able to control the overall sound of your master busses for each major category.

ORIGINAL: subtlearts

ORIGINAL: AndyW

ORIGINAL: subtlearts
the new fader and knobs upgrade, they're a huge improvement)

Do tell! I have an alphatrack..pretty happy...but always looking to be happier!

The fader is a more standard shape, deeper, slightly wider, feels like much better contact to me, not so slippery. Knobs are an even bigger improvement, as the original knobs feel very slippery to me. The new ones are a more matte finish and have smaller but deeper grooves, to me it's a big difference.

here's a link to a UK distributor, don't know where you can find them elsewhere, check Frontier's website?

have fun!

ThanX, Tobias...those do look cool.