Faderfox EC4 gives you the encoders your hardware, software are missing

Boutique German maker Faderfox has long been a go-to for controllers. The latest compact box looks like the encoder box to end all encoder boxes.

Hands-on control is everything, of course. You’ve got some particular parameter in your Ableton Live set, or your VCV Rack or Reaktor patch, or your favorite plug-in. Or there’s some particular gear parameters that are hidden behind menus and don’t have dedicated controls. So normally begins the dance of juggling a bunch of cheap, plastic controllers that too often break, or are meant for a particular piece of software, or feel flimsy and unsatisfying when you touch them, or just don’t have the layout you need.

Video performance can be even worse – and even less forgiving of low-resolution standard MIDI mapping, as stuff jitters across giant projection and LED walls because your crap MIDI controller has only 127 values.

The generic layout of the Faderfoxes has been a salve for this wound. Developer Mathias has been slowly evolving his “box full of stuff you can turn” concept. There were knobs, then there were encoders. Then there were push-button encoders, then ones that let you map the push function.

The EC4 is the latest evolution, and it puts everything in one place – and adds a screen, solving the problem of having to remember your mappings. (Though, hey, uh, happy accidents make you creative? No?)

There are encoders that can work as high-resolution encoders, too (14-bit) for more detailed precision.

But it’s really the display that makes this interesting. It’s a 4×20 character OLED, so small but still clear enough that you can see what you’re doing.

And you can customize the labels directly. You can do that on the device – Mathias has cleverly mapped the grid of 4×4 encoders to the old T9 layout used on cell phones, so think rapid-fire SMS rather than scrolllllllling through letters like on old arcade machines. That means this works without a computer handy. If you do happen to have a computer nearby, there’s an EC4 editor you can run directly from your browser in Chrome/Chromium.

Oh yeah, that editor is even open source.

https://github.com/privatepublic-de/faderfox-editor

The EC4 is pricier than other Faderfox options, at 251EUR before VAT (about $278) or EUR 299 if you’re in Europe. (If you’re on a budget, check for models right before they’re retired, as they tend to get discounted.)

But with all these advanced features in a compact size, I think it’s really appealing. There are plenty of low-resolution boxes with knobs and pots, but when you need some nuance and flexibility, this looks hard to beat – and essential for those of us in love with software like VCV Rack.

Specs:

Universal controller for all kinds of midi controllable hard- and software
iPad compatible
Control surface script for Ableton Live is shipped with the controller
USB interface – class compliant / bus powered / no driver necessary (consumption < 500mW)
MIDI in and out ports by 3.5mm minijack sockets type B with routing and merge functionality
16 gridless push encoders – resolution = 36 pulses per revolution
Encoder push buttons can send separate commands
4 x 20 character OLED-display to show control values (numeric/bar), names and programming data
Names for encoders, groups and setups are editable (4 characters per name)
14 bit high resolution encoder mode for sensitive parameters
Programmable value ranges with min/max values
Data feedback avoid value jumps
All encoders fully programmable in the device by channel, type, number, mode, name etc.
Different command types like control change (CC), pitch bend, NRPN, program change and notes
Advanced programming functions like copy, paste and fill
16 independent groups per setup for 16 encoders (256 commands per setup)
Learn function for fast assignment to incoming MIDI commands
16 setups with backup/restore function contain all controller settings incl. names
Very compact design in a black casing (180x105x70 mm, 350 g)