VDB Finger Control Surface 8

Small enough for a sound bag, the VDB Finger 8 control surface puts eight channels of trims, faders, and PFL buttons for a Sound Devices 8-Series recorder under your fingers.

It runs on power from the recorder over USB, so it needs no battery of its own. The housing is aluminum and PA-12 nylon, and the faders are protected against dust for work outdoors. Dedicated buttons record, stop, and switch on the slate mic, and a shortcut arms and disarms tracks. LEDs on the front show PFL, armed tracks, recording, and the slate mic. A master knob can be mapped to any bus or output, and assignable buttons give shortcuts to recorder functions such as com, monitoring, and routing faders to buses or outputs.

With eight channels, the Finger 8 pairs well with the 833 on light shoots, and it fits easily in a backpack. Two 1/4″-20 threads near its center of gravity mount it on an articulated arm or a bag frame. Assigning two buttons to the fader bank lets it reach channels 9 to 16 as well. The faders and trims are not motorized, so a bank change during a take can cause a jump in level. Among recorders, it works only with Sound Devices 8-Series models. The MixPre series and other brands’ recorders use protocols it does not support.

The Finger speaks the MIDI MCU protocol, so it can also run a DAW, and two Finger surfaces can work together on one recorder for more hands-on controls. Soft faders favor quick, fluid moves, and firm faders give precise, gradual control. The faders and knobs can be replaced. Each fader type is sold ready to fit, and the slim black knobs that come with the Finger can be swapped for wide or colored knobs, sold separately. VDB designs and builds the Finger by hand in France.

Features

• 8 channels, each with trim, fader, and PFL
• Record, stop, slate mic, and arm controls
• Assignable master knob and shortcut buttons
• Status LEDs for PFL, arm, record, and slate
• Powered by the recorder over USB-B
• Aluminum and PA-12 nylon housing, dust-protected faders
• Two 1/4″-20 mounting threads
• Soft or firm faders
• Replaceable faders and knobs