Presonus FaderPort 16

Presonus FaderPort 16: A Hands-On DAW Controller for Bigger Mixes

The Presonus FaderPort 16 is a 16-channel production controller designed for engineers who mix larger sessions in the box. Sixteen touch-sensitive motorized faders add tactile control over levels, pans, sends, and plug-in parameters, replacing endless mouse clicks with real fader movements. A compact chassis fits any desk, and the bundled Fender Studio Pro license unlocks the deepest integration out of the box.

What Sets This 16-Channel Surface Apart

Most DAW controllers in this class stop at 8 faders, forcing constant banking through tracks. This unit doubles that count while staying under 50 cm wide, giving a full bank of long-throw faders without commandeering desk space. A dual-servo drive belt keeps every motion fast and silent, and the Session Navigator section groups eight critical DAW functions — timeline scroll, zoom, marker drop, and master fader access — under one hand.

Technical Specifications

Hardware is built around studio-grade reliability and broad DAW compatibility.

• Faders: 16 × 100 mm long-throw, motorized, touch-sensitive with 10-bit / 1,024-step resolution — recall positions automatically per session.
• Connectivity: USB 2.0 plug-and-play on macOS and Windows, plus a footswitch jack for hands-free transport control.
• Displays & Buttons: 16 high-resolution LCD scribble strips with time-code and channel metering, alongside 85 backlit buttons covering 104 assignable functions.
• You get a 498 × 302 × 54 mm chassis that spreads all sixteen faders and scribble strips across the desk without crowding other gear, and the total 3.63 kg weight makes it comfortable to move the unit between rooms whenever the layout changes.

Who the FaderPort 16 Is Built For

The FaderPort 16 is the right choice for music producers and mix engineers ready to step beyond mouse-centric workflows. Anyone running sessions with more than eight tracks will appreciate a full bank of faders visible at once, while motorized recall restores exact mix layouts whenever a project is reopened. Studio One and Fender Studio Pro users gain the deepest benefit — full-resolution fader feedback plus plug-in parameter follow — and Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, and Reaper users get solid HUI and Mackie Control support for level, pan, mute, solo, send, and transport.

About PreSonus

PreSonus was founded in 1995 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by Jim Odom and Brian Smith and first gained recognition with the DCP8, an eight-channel analog dynamics processor with MIDI fader automation. The brand later expanded into preamps, audio interfaces, and digital mixers, and today the FaderPort line ships in multiple formats alongside StudioLive digital consoles from the Baton Rouge engineering team.