If you’re in the market for a compact yet powerful control surface, the PreSonus FaderPort 16 is a serious contender. Designed to give hands-on control over your DAW, this motorized fader controller provides an impressive balance of functionality and footprint, making it an excellent choice for home studios and professional setups alike. It supports multiple protocols, delivers smooth and quiet fader action, and features a solid, well-built button layout that enhances workflow efficiency. Whether you’re using Pro Tools in HUI mode or Cakewalk/SONAR in Mackie mode, the FaderPort 16 integrates seamlessly, providing an intuitive and responsive experience.
Design & Build Quality
At first glance, the FaderPort 16 looks sleek and professional, with a clean layout that maximizes its compact footprint. Despite offering 16 touch-sensitive, motorized faders, it remains relatively small compared to larger control surfaces, making it ideal for those who need a lot of tactile control without dedicating too much desk space.
The build quality is impressive. The buttons feel solid and responsive, with a satisfying tactile click that assures you of every press. This is particularly important in fast-paced mixing environments where accidental double presses or mushy buttons can be frustrating. The faders move quietly and smoothly, which is a huge plus compared to some competing surfaces that tend to generate distracting motor noise.
Multi-Protocol Support: A Big Win for Compatibility
One of the standout features of the FaderPort 16 is its multi-protocol support, allowing it to work seamlessly with various DAWs. It operates in:
- Native PreSonus Mode (ideal for Studio One users, offering the deepest integration)
- Mackie Control Mode (compatible with DAWs like Cakewalk/SONAR, Cubase, and Logic Pro)
- HUI Mode (for Pro Tools and other HUI-compatible DAWs)
This level of flexibility makes it an attractive option for producers and engineers working across multiple DAWs.
Performance & Functionality
Smooth & Quiet Motorized Faders
The 16 motorized faders are touch-sensitive, ensuring precise control over your mix. Unlike some other control surfaces that can be noisy when adjusting automation or switching banks, the FaderPort 16’s faders operate very quietly. This is a major advantage, especially in studio environments where minimal noise is crucial.
Each fader also provides 100mm of travel, allowing for fine-tuned adjustments that feel much more natural than using a mouse. The faders respond quickly to automation playback, keeping up with even the most intricate mix moves.
Positive, Solid Button Action
Every button on the FaderPort 16 feels tactile and solid, offering positive feedback with every press. This is especially noticeable when using frequently accessed controls like solo, mute, and automation functions. Unlike some control surfaces where buttons can feel soft or unresponsive, the FaderPort 16 ensures that each press is deliberate and reliable.
Seamless Integration with Pro Tools (HUI Mode)
For Pro Tools users, the FaderPort 16 works efficiently in HUI mode. You get full control over track levels, panning, transport, and automation. While HUI doesn’t provide as deep an integration as PreSonus’ native mode with Studio One, it still makes a huge difference in workflow, especially when dealing with multiple tracks. Bank switching is smooth, and the faders follow automation data accurately.
Excellent Performance in Cakewalk/SONAR (Mackie Mode)
If you use Cakewalk or SONAR, the FaderPort 16 operates in Mackie Control mode, providing excellent hands-on control over mixing. The transport, navigation, and automation controls work flawlessly, making mixing much faster and more intuitive than relying solely on a mouse.
Customization & Workflow Enhancements
Beyond basic fader control, the FaderPort 16 provides a host of features that enhance workflow:
- Dedicated Transport Controls: Play, stop, record, fast forward, and rewind at your fingertips.
- Session Navigation: Quickly scroll through tracks and banks with intuitive navigation controls.
- Automation Control: Easily toggle between read, write, latch, and touch automation modes.
- User Assignable Buttons: Customize functions to suit your workflow.
- Pan & Plugin Control: The pan knob allows quick adjustments, and in some DAWs, you can use it to tweak plugin parameters.
These features make the FaderPort 16 more than just a fader controller—it’s a full-fledged mixing assistant.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
✔ Compact and well-designed—offers 16 motorized faders without taking up too much desk space.
✔ Smooth, quiet fader operation—virtually noiseless movement.
✔ Solid, tactile buttons—positive feedback and responsive action.
✔ Multi-DAW compatibility—works in PreSonus Native, Mackie Control, and HUI modes.
✔ Seamless integration with Pro Tools (HUI) and Cakewalk/SONAR (Mackie).
✔ Excellent automation control—touch-sensitive faders accurately follow automation.
✔ User-friendly interface—intuitive and easy to navigate.
Cons:
❌ Small LCD scribble strips— this is the tradeoff of having 16 channels of control is such a small footprint.
❌ Some advanced functions are DAW-dependent (best integration is with Studio One).
❌ No motorized pan knobs—panning is controlled via a single encoder.