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Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller
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.
- Jog/Shuttle Control
- Use the jog/shuttle knob for frame by frame control of your footage while editing.
- 5 Programmable Buttons
- Customize the Shuttle-Xpress with presets for your 5 most commonly used editing commands.
- Pre-configured for most NLE Software
- The ShuttleXpress comes pre-configured for many of the leading Audio and Video applications.
- Cross-platform Compatibility
- Use the Shuttle-Xpress on either Mac or PC computers.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 25 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
86%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to program (9)
- Easy to set up (9)
- Easy to use (9)
- Ergonomic (9)
- Nice button configuration (8)
Cons
Best Uses
- In the studio (7)
- Independent films (4)
- Complex projects (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Professional (9), Tech savvy (4), Business owner (3)
- Primary use:
- Business (10), Personal (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (13)
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 25 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
Cons
Best Uses
- In The Studio
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.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Works perfectly, user friendly and customizable.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- In The Studio
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.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
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 !
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
Cons
- You still need a mouse
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.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- In The Studio
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!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Misleading
- Not a true controller
Best Uses
- Audio
- Video
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.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
Cons
- Poor Design
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
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.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Program
- Easy To Setup
- Ergonomic Design
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.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Primary use:
- Personal
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.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Program
- Easy To Set Up
- Ergonomic Design
- Nice Button Configuration
- Nice Features
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.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Program
- Easy To Set Up
- Ergonomic Design
- Nice Button Configuration
- Nice Features
Cons
- Doesn't make coffee
Best Uses
- Multi-Camera Edit
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.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Program
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Works great with FCP.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Program
- Easy To Set Up
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.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Set Up
- Ergonomic Design
- Nice Button Configuration
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.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Program
- Easy To Set Up
- Nice Button Configuration
Cons
- Won't work while online
Best Uses
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
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.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Program
- Easy To Set Up
- Ergonomic Design
- Nice Button Configuration
Cons
Best Uses
- Upgrade
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
I use this as a partial replacement for a mouse. I scroll with the outer ring, and have programmed the left and right buttons for Paste and Copy. The effect is to speed up operations, and to save my scrolling finger. On the right side, I have a Wacom pad for pointing, clicking and double-clicking. No more wrist pain!
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Nice Features
Cons
- Difficult To Program
Best Uses
- High-End Equipment
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
So far I have just used it to edit video. It is a great tool. The only complaint I have is trying to figure out how to program it to applications that are not pre-programmed. I would like to see updated setting for new and existing applications.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Program
- Easy To Set Up
- Ergonomic Design
- Nice Button Configuration
- Nice Features
Cons
Best Uses
- High-End Equipment
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
Editing video, compositing and sound design.
scrubbing through sequences effortlessly. programmable buttons.
compatible with many programs.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Ergonomic Design
- Nice Button Configuration
Cons
- Difficult To Program
Best Uses
- Editing
- Motion Graphics
Comments about Contour Design Shuttle-Xpress NLE Multimedia Controller:
This desktop jog/shuttle is a big time saver for me in Final Cut Pro and After Effects.
It took a good bit of messing with the settings (trial and error) to get it all to work perfectly with FCP, but now it does and I love it. Worked with AE right away.
Works great for frame by frame work in AE and for quickly getting to the right place in FCP. Some projects I don't touch it, some my hand never leaves it, depends on the material.
- Primary use:
- Business
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- User Manual (PDF 1.7mb)
- User Manual (PDF 1.3mb)
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What's in the Box
- Software CD
- One (1) Year Warranty - Extended to Two (2) Years if Registered Within Thirty (30) Days
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