FaderFox: Another FaderFox fan here: I use a UC44 in performance and it is the main control work horse of my performing rig. They are more expensive, but very well engineered, very flexible, and built to last. The PC4 is only ~$200 and very compact for 24 knobs.
endless encoders: These are really only important if you are going to “bank” the controls, like shifting the same controls between tracks 1~8, then 9~16. I use a controller with encoders because I want ~50 controls in a small space, and so I bank a set of 8 encoders.
encoder resolution: Encoders work in one of two different modes:
In delta mode, they simply send +/- delta values over MIDI. Then it is up to the receiving end to scale that and add it to the current value. In this mode, standard 7 bits is plenty and what all the ones I’ve seen do.
In follow mode, the controller tracks the current value, and applies the delta from the encoder to it, sending the new current value over MIDI. Here, 7 or 14 bits are options depending on the device. This form is useful if (a) the encoders are banked, as the controller will track the current value in each bank separately, and/or (b) the host sometimes also adjusts the value (say a patch change, or an on screen version).
