Add frame by frame control to your existing NLE system with the Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller. Cross-platform and pre-configured for most NLE editing software applications, the Shuttle-Xpress features 5 fully programmable buttons to customize for your most frequently used editing commands. You can also monitor which program you are in to adjust your programmed commands accordingly.
The jog, located in the center, is alloy and can be turned forward and backward 360 degrees for frame by frame control. The Shuttle ring is rubberized and spring-loaded, which will perform fast forward and rewind in varying speeds depending on how far it is turned.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Most Liked Positive Review
Good and bad surprises
When I ordered the Shuttle Xpress, I was expecting it to feel cheap and plastic, and to slide across the table whenever I pushed it too hard. So I was pleasantly surprised to find...Read complete review
When I ordered the Shuttle Xpress, I was expecting it to feel cheap and plastic, and to slide across the table whenever I pushed it too hard. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that it managed to stay put, and that it had a nice rubber grip, textured plastic buttons and a strong, smooth spring.However, not all is well with the Shuttle Xpress. It has two serious problems, both of which would be trivial to fix.The shuttle can report 15 different positions to the driver (-7 to 0 to +7). The driver, in turn, lets you assign a key combination to each of those positions, and also to each position change (that is, you can tell the driver to simulate pressing 1 when the shuttle gores from 0 to +1, simulate pressing 2 when the shuttle goes from +1 to 0, and so on).However, if you move the shuttle too quickly, it can jump from one position to another without reporting the intermediate positions (ex., jump straight from +7 to +4). This, in itself, is a hardware issue, and probably not easy to fix. But the driver should be clever enough to figure out that, if the shuttle went from position +7 to position +4, it also passed through all the intermediate positions, and should therefore issue all the relevant commands (i.e., the command for +7 to +6, then the command for +6, then the command for +6 to +5, and so on). But it doesn't. The result is that, if you assign progressive actions (ex., speed increases and decreases) to the transitions, moving the shuttle too quickly can make you lose sync.The 2nd problem is even more ridiculous, and is a good example of crippleware; how some hardware manufacturers deliberately disable features to force consumers to buy more expensive products.The actual driver for the Shuttle Xpress and its bigger brother (called Shuttle Pro) is the same. However, if the driver detects that you're using the Xpress, it disables macros (key sequences). In other words, although the driver has built-in support for macros, it cripples itself unless it detects that you are using the (more expensive) Shuttle Pro. This means that, using the Xpress, you cannot assign a button or shuttle position to Alt+F, V, for example (print preview, in some applications). You can only assign one keystroke to each button. I contacted Contour about this as soon as I noticed it, and their reply was to buy the Shuttle Pro or use 3rd party keyboard macro software.Since the Shuttle Pro is much bigger (and, in my opinion, hideously ugly), the latter is the only solution. So I've had to configure the Shuttle Xpress to send out weird key combinations (that must be carefully selected not to interfere with the software that's running), like Ctrl+Shift+9, and then use the 3rd party keyboard macro software to decode those strange keystrokes into the actual key sequences that I want to use (ex., Alt+F, U, [return]).All this despite the fact that the code to execute key sequences is already included in the Contour driver, and is probably even loaded into my system's RAM...!Ignoring those issues for now (although they're hard to ignore when you're actually trying to configure the device), I find the Shuttle Xpress almost useless for video editing. Maybe I'd have a use for it if I had three hands, but since I only have two, I find the keyboard + mouse combination a lot more practical. Shuttles make sense with tapes, not with NLEs.I do, however, find the Shuttle Xpress very useful when creating animations. I can use it with my left hand to jump between keyframes or flip through short sequences, while using my right hand to draw or manipulate 3D objects with a mouse or stylus.Conclusion: the Xpress is a well-designed device, crippled by its own driver, and not very useful for experienced NL video editors. For animators it can be a good investment, if you don't need key sequences.
Problems Encountered: The driver unnecessarily cripples a well-designed device by disabling access to key sequences. See review for more details.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Not all I had hoped.
I ordered this product to use with Pro Tools 8. Setup was quick and easy. I loved that you can simply program the buttons to any key command. While editing offline I found the...Read complete review
I ordered this product to use with Pro Tools 8. Setup was quick and easy. I loved that you can simply program the buttons to any key command. While editing offline I found the shuttle express to be very useful and do everything it promised. However, I bought this device to use for online video deck control (machine control) and it will not work at all. It's a shame because Pro Tools controllers that will roll a deck are extremely expensive.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 30 customers
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Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
great affordable tool for video editors, filmmakers and animators to scrub through videos and animations frame-by-frame, customizing shortcuts for Premiere, Final Cut, Maya, fcheck, media player etc.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
I've set it up to use with Lightworks (search the Lightworks forum for guidelines) and it works good. It makes it much easier than trying to remember what keyboard keys do what and the wheel helps make it easier to move around in your video clips. For the price this thing is great. It is thin and light but feels solidly built.
The configuration program is easy to use. It took some time to set up since you need to assign keys in Lightworks to some actions and find the keys for other so I could assign everything to do what I wanted. It was all easy to do, it just took some time.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Buying the ShuttleXpress was one of the best things I have ever done for my workflow. I am an assistant editor for a very busy production company, and this fantastic piece of machinery has increased my workflow by A LOT! With such a low sticker price, I assumed it would feel a bit cheap, but was amazed by how 'pro' it felt. The rubber feet keep it firmly planted (even on my glass desk), the buttons feel firm, and the shuttle and job wheels are very responsive.
Another thing I love about this guy is that it is programable to almost any application! I program the buttons for Avid, and then go and set a different set of commands for another application, and when I switch between apps, the shuttlexpress changes its program to the new app (example: In avid, button 2 is MARK IN, and when i move from avid to safari, button 2 becomes GO BACK, no need to tell the device what program you are in!)
The ONLY negative I can mention, is I wish the device had a microUSB port, instead of a built in cable, as the cable is quite long, and I only need it to go 6", but that is just me nitpicking.
If you are constantly scrolling through footage, this is the device for you! BUY IT!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
I bought this in combination with a logic keyboard for Adobe Premier Pro. The keyboard is build from an Apple thin line aluminum keyboard so I was expecting the same from the shuttle. However, the shuttle is actually plastic painted to look like aluminum. The only negative comment I have is that it is neither better nor worse than any other shuttle out there. The construction seems to be solid. The controls are fluid yet firm. Only time will tell how well it holds up to wear but for now it fits in with the rest of my editing suite.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
5 slightly bigger buttons(than Shuttle Pro V2) to work as the most important hotkeys, especially "Ctrl-W" to close hundreds web pages I have to open automatically every morning.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
I bought the shuttle to use with Adobe Premiere Pro, intending on just getting it out when editing, but I've found it able to work in many other programs. It is incredibly easy to install. I've had no problems. And every program I've tried to set it up to run (including iTunes) works great. Wonderful product.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Works perfectly, user friendly and customizable.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
We use this shuttle as a prompter scroller and so far it's working great. It a good size and doesn't skid across surfaces, it stays put. Sometimes you can push the buttons and skip by mistake. All in in for the price it's good.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Great for my work on my timeline, it makes life easier, instead of jumping between my mouse and keyboard all the time. Fewer movements, More Efficiency. Try it you'll see what I mean !
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
It's a nice product. Not indispensable but nice and comfortable especially if you are used to editing in linear systems.
You still need the mouse.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Great little device that after reprogramming works great with FInal cut and Protools. Super time saver!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
It works (mostly) with Logic Pro, but it took several tries for the drivers to successfully install. Once it's working, it works well. Beware that Logic doesn't recognize the unit as a proper controller, but instead it works as a USB device that passes keystrokes to the OS.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
This does exactly what it is supposed to. Very useful with a wide range of applications, and easy to program for alternative function configurations for new applications or different tasks in the preset applications.
Only down sides are that the button "click" is not as nice as my macbook pro keyboard and the rubber feet are not exactly level, resulting in a tiny bit of rock on my desk.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
This item came in Silver/White instead of Black. Would have preferred black.
The jog wheel itself is quite nice. For some reason I thought the outer wheel would continuously rotate but it can only be spun about 90 degrees left or right. This works out well.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
The Shuttle-Xpress DOES appear to have issues with Sony Vegas 9 and 10 on Windows 7, 64 bit, at least for some users (like me). I ordered after reading the reviews here, and, alas, it does not work (even after downloading updated driver and installing the shuttle xpress .pref file that is preinstalled on Vegas, as suggested here in another review by AVP). The Contourdesign forum has a thread (which unfortunately I discovered only after my purchase) that recognizes this as an issue and states that they are working on a fix, but as of Jan 2011, there is none. So if you plan to use it with Vegas on Windows 7, 64 bit, beware - you might get lucky and it will work, or, like for me and many others, it won't do squat.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Bought one, loved it so much that I got two more. It's VERY versatile, you can customize things even more than the literature says and it is very user friendly.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
ATTENTION! before you say it doesn't work, or the JOG doesn't work, FIRST open the unit's control panel, go to options / import settings. The go to your DRIVE C, locate Sony Vegas at the "programs"and you will see that the unit has installed options into Vegas already. Click Sony-Vegas template that matches your product like "shuttleXpress.pref and you are all set. Then to customize your buttons is a breeze and that is very easy on the manual. You can even scroll up and down internet with the JOG button.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Works great with FCP.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Purchased to use as a controller for a multimedia PC. Easily programable to execute various commands with a push of a button. I use the center dial for volume, the jog dial for FF/RW and the pushbuttons for switching sources.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
I am very pleased with this product, and my only regret is not buying this months ago. It has been a real time saver in my video editing, but I was really surprised buy how well it works with all the programs in Adobe Production Collection, not just Premiere and After Effects.
I am running windows 7 64-bit, and have had no issues. Just download the most up to date drivers from the website and didn't bother using the driver disk that is included. I don't know if the program interface has changed because I found it very easy to program the buttons for additional programs, where other review said they were having problems.
The Construction is solid, doesn't feel cheep, and fits my hand wonderfully.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Most Liked Positive Review
Good and bad surprises
When I ordered the Shuttle Xpress, I was expecting it to feel cheap and plastic, and to slide across the table whenever I pushed it too hard. So I was pleasantly surprised to find...Read complete review
When I ordered the Shuttle Xpress, I was expecting it to feel cheap and plastic, and to slide across the table whenever I pushed it too hard. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that it managed to stay put, and that it had a nice rubber grip, textured plastic buttons and a strong, smooth spring.However, not all is well with the Shuttle Xpress. It has two serious problems, both of which would be trivial to fix.The shuttle can report 15 different positions to the driver (-7 to 0 to +7). The driver, in turn, lets you assign a key combination to each of those positions, and also to each position change (that is, you can tell the driver to simulate pressing 1 when the shuttle gores from 0 to +1, simulate pressing 2 when the shuttle goes from +1 to 0, and so on).However, if you move the shuttle too quickly, it can jump from one position to another without reporting the intermediate positions (ex., jump straight from +7 to +4). This, in itself, is a hardware issue, and probably not easy to fix. But the driver should be clever enough to figure out that, if the shuttle went from position +7 to position +4, it also passed through all the intermediate positions, and should therefore issue all the relevant commands (i.e., the command for +7 to +6, then the command for +6, then the command for +6 to +5, and so on). But it doesn't. The result is that, if you assign progressive actions (ex., speed increases and decreases) to the transitions, moving the shuttle too quickly can make you lose sync.The 2nd problem is even more ridiculous, and is a good example of crippleware; how some hardware manufacturers deliberately disable features to force consumers to buy more expensive products.The actual driver for the Shuttle Xpress and its bigger brother (called Shuttle Pro) is the same. However, if the driver detects that you're using the Xpress, it disables macros (key sequences). In other words, although the driver has built-in support for macros, it cripples itself unless it detects that you are using the (more expensive) Shuttle Pro. This means that, using the Xpress, you cannot assign a button or shuttle position to Alt+F, V, for example (print preview, in some applications). You can only assign one keystroke to each button. I contacted Contour about this as soon as I noticed it, and their reply was to buy the Shuttle Pro or use 3rd party keyboard macro software.Since the Shuttle Pro is much bigger (and, in my opinion, hideously ugly), the latter is the only solution. So I've had to configure the Shuttle Xpress to send out weird key combinations (that must be carefully selected not to interfere with the software that's running), like Ctrl+Shift+9, and then use the 3rd party keyboard macro software to decode those strange keystrokes into the actual key sequences that I want to use (ex., Alt+F, U, [return]).All this despite the fact that the code to execute key sequences is already included in the Contour driver, and is probably even loaded into my system's RAM...!Ignoring those issues for now (although they're hard to ignore when you're actually trying to configure the device), I find the Shuttle Xpress almost useless for video editing. Maybe I'd have a use for it if I had three hands, but since I only have two, I find the keyboard + mouse combination a lot more practical. Shuttles make sense with tapes, not with NLEs.I do, however, find the Shuttle Xpress very useful when creating animations. I can use it with my left hand to jump between keyframes or flip through short sequences, while using my right hand to draw or manipulate 3D objects with a mouse or stylus.Conclusion: the Xpress is a well-designed device, crippled by its own driver, and not very useful for experienced NL video editors. For animators it can be a good investment, if you don't need key sequences.
Problems Encountered: The driver unnecessarily cripples a well-designed device by disabling access to key sequences. See review for more details.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Not all I had hoped.
I ordered this product to use with Pro Tools 8. Setup was quick and easy. I loved that you can simply program the buttons to any key command. While editing offline I found the...Read complete review
I ordered this product to use with Pro Tools 8. Setup was quick and easy. I loved that you can simply program the buttons to any key command. While editing offline I found the shuttle express to be very useful and do everything it promised. However, I bought this device to use for online video deck control (machine control) and it will not work at all. It's a shame because Pro Tools controllers that will roll a deck are extremely expensive.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 30 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-20
Previous | Next »
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
great affordable tool for video editors, filmmakers and animators to scrub through videos and animations frame-by-frame, customizing shortcuts for Premiere, Final Cut, Maya, fcheck, media player etc.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
I've set it up to use with Lightworks (search the Lightworks forum for guidelines) and it works good. It makes it much easier than trying to remember what keyboard keys do what and the wheel helps make it easier to move around in your video clips. For the price this thing is great. It is thin and light but feels solidly built.
The configuration program is easy to use. It took some time to set up since you need to assign keys in Lightworks to some actions and find the keys for other so I could assign everything to do what I wanted. It was all easy to do, it just took some time.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Buying the ShuttleXpress was one of the best things I have ever done for my workflow. I am an assistant editor for a very busy production company, and this fantastic piece of machinery has increased my workflow by A LOT! With such a low sticker price, I assumed it would feel a bit cheap, but was amazed by how 'pro' it felt. The rubber feet keep it firmly planted (even on my glass desk), the buttons feel firm, and the shuttle and job wheels are very responsive.
Another thing I love about this guy is that it is programable to almost any application! I program the buttons for Avid, and then go and set a different set of commands for another application, and when I switch between apps, the shuttlexpress changes its program to the new app (example: In avid, button 2 is MARK IN, and when i move from avid to safari, button 2 becomes GO BACK, no need to tell the device what program you are in!)
The ONLY negative I can mention, is I wish the device had a microUSB port, instead of a built in cable, as the cable is quite long, and I only need it to go 6", but that is just me nitpicking.
If you are constantly scrolling through footage, this is the device for you! BUY IT!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
I bought this in combination with a logic keyboard for Adobe Premier Pro. The keyboard is build from an Apple thin line aluminum keyboard so I was expecting the same from the shuttle. However, the shuttle is actually plastic painted to look like aluminum. The only negative comment I have is that it is neither better nor worse than any other shuttle out there. The construction seems to be solid. The controls are fluid yet firm. Only time will tell how well it holds up to wear but for now it fits in with the rest of my editing suite.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
5 slightly bigger buttons(than Shuttle Pro V2) to work as the most important hotkeys, especially "Ctrl-W" to close hundreds web pages I have to open automatically every morning.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
I bought the shuttle to use with Adobe Premiere Pro, intending on just getting it out when editing, but I've found it able to work in many other programs. It is incredibly easy to install. I've had no problems. And every program I've tried to set it up to run (including iTunes) works great. Wonderful product.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Works perfectly, user friendly and customizable.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
We use this shuttle as a prompter scroller and so far it's working great. It a good size and doesn't skid across surfaces, it stays put. Sometimes you can push the buttons and skip by mistake. All in in for the price it's good.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Great for my work on my timeline, it makes life easier, instead of jumping between my mouse and keyboard all the time. Fewer movements, More Efficiency. Try it you'll see what I mean !
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
It's a nice product. Not indispensable but nice and comfortable especially if you are used to editing in linear systems.
You still need the mouse.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Great little device that after reprogramming works great with FInal cut and Protools. Super time saver!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
It works (mostly) with Logic Pro, but it took several tries for the drivers to successfully install. Once it's working, it works well. Beware that Logic doesn't recognize the unit as a proper controller, but instead it works as a USB device that passes keystrokes to the OS.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
This does exactly what it is supposed to. Very useful with a wide range of applications, and easy to program for alternative function configurations for new applications or different tasks in the preset applications.
Only down sides are that the button "click" is not as nice as my macbook pro keyboard and the rubber feet are not exactly level, resulting in a tiny bit of rock on my desk.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
This item came in Silver/White instead of Black. Would have preferred black.
The jog wheel itself is quite nice. For some reason I thought the outer wheel would continuously rotate but it can only be spun about 90 degrees left or right. This works out well.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
The Shuttle-Xpress DOES appear to have issues with Sony Vegas 9 and 10 on Windows 7, 64 bit, at least for some users (like me). I ordered after reading the reviews here, and, alas, it does not work (even after downloading updated driver and installing the shuttle xpress .pref file that is preinstalled on Vegas, as suggested here in another review by AVP). The Contourdesign forum has a thread (which unfortunately I discovered only after my purchase) that recognizes this as an issue and states that they are working on a fix, but as of Jan 2011, there is none. So if you plan to use it with Vegas on Windows 7, 64 bit, beware - you might get lucky and it will work, or, like for me and many others, it won't do squat.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Bought one, loved it so much that I got two more. It's VERY versatile, you can customize things even more than the literature says and it is very user friendly.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
ATTENTION! before you say it doesn't work, or the JOG doesn't work, FIRST open the unit's control panel, go to options / import settings. The go to your DRIVE C, locate Sony Vegas at the "programs"and you will see that the unit has installed options into Vegas already. Click Sony-Vegas template that matches your product like "shuttleXpress.pref and you are all set. Then to customize your buttons is a breeze and that is very easy on the manual. You can even scroll up and down internet with the JOG button.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Works great with FCP.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Purchased to use as a controller for a multimedia PC. Easily programable to execute various commands with a push of a button. I use the center dial for volume, the jog dial for FF/RW and the pushbuttons for switching sources.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
I am very pleased with this product, and my only regret is not buying this months ago. It has been a real time saver in my video editing, but I was really surprised buy how well it works with all the programs in Adobe Production Collection, not just Premiere and After Effects.
I am running windows 7 64-bit, and have had no issues. Just download the most up to date drivers from the website and didn't bother using the driver disk that is included. I don't know if the program interface has changed because I found it very easy to program the buttons for additional programs, where other review said they were having problems.
The Construction is solid, doesn't feel cheep, and fits my hand wonderfully.