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.