Ethernet Control Surfaces, or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Subnet

A practical guide to setting up a stable EUCON network for Avid S1, Dock, S3 and other Ethernet control surfaces – without becoming an IT person in the process.

By Collyer Spreen, Senior Solutions Architect

Quick answer: What is the best way to set up a reliable EUCON network?

For a stable EUCON setup, keep the EUCON network separate from other networks, use an unmanaged gigabit Ethernet switch without EEE features when connecting multiple surfaces, and avoid overlapping IP address ranges on the same computer. A dedicated router can provide DHCP addresses and a separate Wi-Fi network for Avid Control tablets.

HUI vs. SSL 360° vs. EUCON: Why Resolution Matters

If you’re an audio professional using a control surface to mix or track, you’re probably using HUI, EUCON, or SSL’s 360° system. HUI is dead easy to set up, but the fader resolution is 7-bit: only 128 steps of volume. Meh – not really what you want for smooth, musical fader automation, basically greater than 1 dB steps.

The SSL 360° system is nice. The UF8/UC1/UF1 have 10-bit native fader/encoder resolution, which means 1,024 steps and roughly 0.1 dB increments from a 100 mm fader. The devices are USB, so they’re dead easy to set up and control. But if you use Pro Tools, the handshake to PT is still HUI (128 steps) regardless of the native capabilities of the 360° system. Oof.

Avid’s EUCON (Extended User Control) is 12-bit, with 4,096-step resolution, whether you’re using Avid’s S1, Dock, S3 (discontinued), S4 or S6. Softube’s Console 1 mixing system works well inside its native ecosystem, but with Pro Tools and some other DAWs, it still communicates via HUI, so you’re back to 128-step resolution. PreSonus’ (Fender?) FaderPort is HUI with most DAWs, but works really well with Fender Studio Pro software. Like Softube, PreSonus/Fender doesn’t publish actual fader resolution (that I could find), so let your fingers do the walking (listening?).

Personally, I prefer the feel of the SSL UF8 faders over the S1, but since 360° can only send 128 steps of resolution to Pro Tools, S1s sit at my mix position. For the tightest integration between Pro Tools and a control surface, the top of the food chain is still EUCON. The price of that is Ethernet, which isn’t difficult, but there are a few best practices – and some caveats – that come with the privilege.

I’m not going into the S4/S6 here. If you’re running either one, you either already know what’s up, or your assistant/tech does!

A Simple EUCON Setup

With the EuControl stuff, S1/S3 and Dock, you can be as simple as one Ethernet cable from your Dock or S1 to the computer. No network complication necessary. Add the (free) Avid Control app on an iPadOS or Android tablet over Wi-Fi and you have a powerful system; just connect it to the same Wi-Fi as your DAW machine.

Once you add another EUCON hardware surface, you have a few things to do. Whether you’ve got one, two, three, four or even five EUCON surfaces, you’re going to need an Ethernet switch. Yes, you can gang up to four S1s, a Dock, and up to five(!) tablets for a gigantic work surface, but I think 16/24 faders are ergonomically perfect for a single, two-armed humanoid. But more faders always looks cooler. 

Euphonix System 5

How to Build a Reliable EUCON Network

An inexpensive, unmanaged gigabit switch with enough ports for all your surfaces plus the CPU is all you need. Avoid switches with EEE “features”, as this will not make you or EuControl happy. A simple switch is a just an ethernet hub – it allows everything connected to communicate bidirectionally.

By default, the control surfaces can connect to EuControl using self-assigned IP addresses automatically. But the best way is to use a cheap gaming/Wi-Fi router to hand out IP addresses via the switch and create a separate Wi-Fi network for the tablets. If you want consistent performance, this is the way.

Router/switch EUCON DAW network for three surfaces and three tablets

I started out as a musician, then audio engineer – fixing stuff, soldering TT patch cables, mic’ing very loud things, building kick drum tunnels, aligning tape machines, taking Polaroid snapshot “recall” of hot analog consoles, changing 10” floppy disks, assisting on 35+ hour mixes, working 85-90 hour weeks. You know, glamorous stuff. I never wanted to be an IT person or know anything about networking, other than the kind of networking done at LA acting class parties. But it’s a digital world now, so adapt or die, quickly. When you stop learning, you start decaying. Don’t waste your whole half-life wondering about it.

Collyer’s Three Axioms of EUCON Networking

Axiom #1: Keep the EUCON network separate from any other network, especially the internet. If you think you’re being clever by using the same router the internet is using in your studio, don’t. It might work sometimes, but when strange stuff happens and things don’t connect every day/every time, this is why. Not worth it.

Axiom #2: When using a router, don’t use the factory address settings for DHCP – the handing out of unique IP addresses. The addresses are a big, silly number like 192.168.1.x, but the problem is most EVERYTHING defaults to 192.168.1.x, especially the internet. Don’t look into that abyss unless you want to know the darkness…

Axiom #3: One cannot have multiple networks on the same CPU running the same subnet, or simply the same address range. For example, two networks on the same computer using 192.168.1.x – neither network will get very far.

How to Configure DHCP for EUCON

But I just want all my surfaces to connect every time I boot my machine!

Nudge-nudge, wink-wink: log into the router’s Admin settings and change the DHCP server for your EUCON network. 192.168.2.x is different enough from 192.168.1.x, and don’t worry about the “subnet mask” – leave it be. Or learn about it, but that knowledge still won’t help you make those horns sit better in the mix.

I set my DHCP server (in the router) to start the range of addresses from 10.10.10.1, so I know immediately that if the IP address starts with anything other than 10, I have a problem. Leave all your surfaces in DHCP (automatic) mode, because simpler is better.

If you want to learn basic networking – and even better, Dante – I highly recommend the Audinate Dante Certification Program. Even if you only do Level 1, you’ll know more than enough to be beyond dangerous, and it’s free. It’s all videos and multiple-choice questions. Then you can set up your parents’ home Wi-Fi/Ethernet network with confidence – or, even better, get hired over the person who doesn’t know networking (or Dante).

Getting EuControl to Connect Every Time

EuControl is the app that connects the networked/Wi-Fi gear to PT. With a solid network setup, EuControl can boot automatically with the computer and connect to your surfaces every time, like clockwork. Just turn them on before you boot the CPU. If you’ve done all this, you’ve created a stable network that will run all day, every day.

EUCON Isn’t Just for Pro Tools

EUCON is pre-baked into the below DAWs (to varying depths) and certain hardware units – not just Pro Tools software – so super tight integration of DAW software & control surfaces isn’t limited to only Pro Tools software. 

• Steinberg Nuendo 12 and Cubase 12 and later
• Apple Logic Pro 10.7.5 and later
• Magix Sequoia 16 and later
• Merging Technologies Pyramix 8.x (Native only), Pyramix 9.x and later
• DADman (software for all MTRX and NTP/DAD products)
• SoundFlow 5.4 and later
• Ginger Audio Ground Control Sphere
• Audient ORIA V1.2 and later

Euphonix CS3000: 40 faders, including 20 motorized faders.

A Little EUCON History

Unfortunately, you won’t find non-Avid control surfaces with EUCON, because that software is precisely why Avid bought Euphonix all those years ago. For 5+ years, shortly after the Cretaceous period, I sat in front of a Euphonix CS3000 that was the best marriage of digital control and analog signal path – ever. Too bad it ran on MS-DOS! I didn’t know how good I had it.

It had a 100% analog signal path, and I could recall – and automate – every single parameter of the console – even EQ. It could chase (or generate) MIDI or SMPTE TC down to the subframe. A central 16-knob “matrix” that controlled EQs, dynamics and auxes, along with a TFT screen so you could actually see what you were doing! 2 stellar mic pres and up to 6 inputs per channel (or fader), so stereo tracks on single faders.

The closest thing to this today is the very new SSL Odyssey console: a digitally controlled, 100% analog signal path console that looks awesome, budget willing. And it uses SSL’s 360° software for multiple DAW control… 100% recall of everything, and can read/write PT/Logic Pro automation. Now how much would you pay?

SSL Odyssey (104 motorized faders).

So…Why Isn’t EUCON Available on More Consoles?

Personally, I think it’s about time to start leasing this EUCON technology to other console manufacturers. Avid could make a healthy income off software that is mature, stable and already has tens of thousands of EUCON DAW users – and they could make it a subscription! It’s a win-win situation.

How about an SSL System T, Oracle or Odyssey with EUCON? Or maybe a Yamaha DM series or API 1608/2448/Vision+; a Neve 88RS3 or Rupert Neve Designs 5088? Imagine automation written from one surface that translates seamlessly to or from an S4/S6…? Naaaah, HUI is just fine.

Further Reading

Migrating Pro Tools to a New Mac?
Setting up a new Mac for Pro Tools involves more than installing the DAW. Learn how to perform a clean migration, verify compatibility, reinstall control-surface software, and avoid the plug-in issues that can destabilize a new system.

⁠So, You Bought a Super-Fast New Mac for Your Pro Tools Rig. Now What?

Learn more about ASG’s Audio solutions: 

https://www.asgllc.com/audio/

About the Author

Collyer Spreen is a Senior Solutions Architect with Advanced Systems Group (ASG), specializing in professional audio, Avid Pro Tools workflows, and studio integration. He has helped countless music, broadcast, and post-production professionals design, deploy, and support high-performance Pro Tools systems, with a focus on stability, efficiency, and long-term reliability. Can also ride a bike.