AirFader is a touch-screen friendly remote control for digital mixing consoles! It now provides control of nearly all channel-based parameters including parametric EQ, dynamics, and mix sends. AirFader runs on the Microsoft Windows® operating system, and currently supports the Yamaha LS9® and Yamaha M7CL® consoles.

Complete list of controllable parameters

For two years, AirFader has provided real, intuitive tools for touch-screen console control... not just "eye candy" to bundle with a console. It focuses on providing the features and tools used most often in a layout that's intentionally easy to use in a live setting.

What Can AirFader Do for Me?

• Monitor Engineers
  • Set up wedge mixes while standing exactly where the artist does
  • Resolve problems using Parametric and Graphic EQs without running on/off stage
  • Allow an additional engineer to manage mixes without a second console
• Front of House Engineers
  • Adjust the mix in-place from anywhere in the room... especially if the mix position is not ideal
  • Locate AirFader next to console for a dedicated Stereo Return or Bus Master control surface
  • Add touch-screen functionality at the console for many LS9 functions
• "Weekend Warriors"
  • Troubleshoot issues from stage without running back to the console just to adjust gains or mute channels
  • Mix from the crowd while keeping the console safely on stage, perhaps under a tarp...
  • Sound check from stage when a private sound check is not possible
• Corporate Event management
  
  • Inconspicuously adjust levels while keeping ugly things like "consoles" behind the curtain

Features

First, AirFader is not a generic MIDI interface skinned to look like a mixer. Written from scratch and designed by people who've been using digital consoles in small and mid-size venues for several years, AirFader implements a number of unique features intended to make their lives easier. (And by extension yours, too.)

• High-Quality, Predictable Control
  The most important feature of any control surface is control. For that reason, we designed new fader objects from scratch that eliminate the most common problems with graphical controls such as jumpiness, poor response, and lack of fine control. The result is a virtual fader control that just works, whether using a touch-screen, tablet, or mouse.
  
  
• Large Fader Caps
  In order to be practical for touch-screen use, we made the faders big - they're almost "actual size" big. Forget the stylus, they're designed to work with your own fat fingers. (Besides, we lost our stylus months ago.)
  
  
• "Grab Anywhere" Faders
  Unlike software scroll bars that you've used before, you don't need to click in the exact center of the needle to get it to go where you want. Instead, our faders are based exclusively on the motion of your finger, which means you can grab them anywhere. Go ahead: nudge them from the top, or the bottom, and they'll do exactly what you'd expect them to.
  
  
• "Fine Mode" Option
  Once a mix is roughed-in, the ability to make very small adjustments becomes critical to getting the perfect mix. So, we added a "Fine Mode" button that actually divides your finger movements by four. This means the fader moves only 1/4 of the distance your finger does, giving you the ability to make the smallest adjustments the console supports in a surprisingly natural way, while still being able to make multiple-db adjustments in one motion.
  
  
• Fast Synchronization
  Because AirFader is meant for realtime control instead of editing scenes, it does not need to load the entire catalog of Scenes and Effects Libraries. This allows it to go from "offline" to "ready to mix" very quickly. To connect to the console and fully-synchronize all running parameters requires less than two seconds. Scene changes executed later are downloaded in real-time, keeping AirFader in sync.
  
  
• Dual-interface control of the mixing engine
  Another one of our goals was to design AirFader to operate independently of the mixer's own control surface. The surfaces remain synchronized in real-time, but simple navigation like switching channels on one does not drag the other one with it. While it's not a replacement for true separate Front of House and Monitor consoles, it is possible to have one person operate the console as a monitor desk in "Sends on Fader" mode, while another person controls the Main FOH Mix in AirFader.
  
  
• Intercom Flasher
  The best trivial feature ever, this is for situations where one person is located at the console, while a second person is operating AirFader elsewhere. How does it work? Clicking "Lamp" in AirFader will flash the console lamp to get the attention of the console operator in a very effective way. Likewise, the console operator can assign a spare User Defined Key to flash a visual alert inside AirFader. From there they can then use a radio/intercom/phone to communicate further... or just walk back to the console. See? Trivial - and way cool. (And for less money than a beltpack, too.)
  
  
• Fail-Safe Operation
  Finally, since AirFader is just a control surface, a loss of network connectivity, computer crash, or even just a dead battery will not interrupt the show. The mixing engine within your digital console will continue working where you left off. You can return to the console to take over... or plug in the laptop, re-sync, and keep mixing.