TourBox Lite review: the most affordable control console

The TourBox Lite, as the name suggests, is the most basic TourBox model available and, as such, comes in at an attractive price. It’s certainly not as fully featured as the more expensive models, but for many photographers, videographers and digital artists, it may be all that you need in terms of a tactile and precise physical controller for your favourite creative software.

The Lite sits at the beginner end of the TourBox stable, below the Neo, the Elite and the Elite Plus. The latter three are identical in layout, but the Elite and Elite Plus include additional features and functionality. To keep things simple and on track with the Lite, these other models have an additional control wheel and several extra buttons for assigning functions.

I’ve recently used and reviewed the TourBox Elite, so I know what to expect from the higher-end model, but I was also impressed with the performance of the Lite despite having fewer controls. It is undoubtedly a TourBox based purely on the design, excluding the TourBox logo on the top of the device, and one that potentially appears less daunting thanks to fewer controls.

Despite the significantly lower cost of the Lite, it’s still extremely well made and has a good weight that helps to keep it firmly in position without sliding around the desk. It can also be used with the same impressive software list as the more expensive models, making it an enticing control console for those on a budget.

TourBox Lite: Specifications

TourBox Lite: Price

The TourBox Lite is the most affordable TourBox model available and can be purchased from the TourBox website, Amazon and other retailers for $95 / £95 / AU$149 for the standalone device. If you intend to travel with the Lite and use it in different locations, you can add the handy carry case, which increases the cost slightly to $113 / £113 / AU$179.

The Lite is the entry-level model and comes in at an extremely attractive price, especially compared to the more advanced models. It offers fewer controls than these, and is only available in black, but the controls available will be enough for many people. Of course, more advanced photographers, videographers and digital artists could undoubtedly benefit from investing in the more expensive Neo, Elite or Elite Plus models, but the Lite can still do a great job.

TourBox Lite: Design & Handling

The TourBox Lite is slightly smaller and lighter than the more expensive models at 4.37x4.17x1.54in / 111x106x39mm with a weight of 11.61oz / 329g. It’s only slightly smaller and lighter, so it still sits firmly on your desk and doesn’t move too easily.

Build quality is also excellent, although the plastic body doesn’t feature the same UV antibacterial and fingerprint-resistant coating as the Elite and Elite Plus. Still, the matt finish doesn’t seem to pick up fingerprints, which is great.

The Lite comes packaged with a high-quality braided USB-C cable with a USB-A adaptor attached. This offers backwards compatibility to USB 2.0, so the device can be used with older computers and those that don’t have USB-C or no spare USB-C ports. Once connected, the TourBox Console software immediately recognises the device.

Although the more advanced models are no more difficult to use than the Lite, I do like the apparent simplicity of the device. And despite having fewer buttons, you can assign functions to button combinations, providing greater flexibility than you might expect simply looking at what’s on offer. Of course, the more advanced models also offer this functionality.

The controls available include one knob, one dial and eight buttons. There are only six standalone buttons, although the knob and dial both feature a button press so you can assign functions to these actions if you wish, hence saying there are two extra buttons. Also, there’s no D-pad on the Lite, which consists of four buttons on the other models.

For me, the lack of the wheel compared to the more expensive models did naturally reduce the amount of control available, but the knob and dial were more than adequate when editing video in Davinci Resolve, for example.

In true TourBox style, all of the controls on the Lite are blank since the device can be used with any software. The Presets available by default only cover a healthy list of programs, while the user-created presets cover an even greater number. With the blank controls, you can have the General HUD overlay active, which is a list of the control/function assignments, so you can see what everything does at a glance.

TourBox Lite: Performance

The Lite can’t be faulted in terms of performance, and it undoubtedly achieves its aim of speeding up creative workflows with tactile control. Like all TourBox models, there is a small learning curve to using the device because you’re trading some keyboard shortcuts and interface controls for physical controls. However, like anything, the more you use it, the more intuitive and natural it becomes.

Having used the TourBox Elite immediately before the Lite, I became accustomed to and enjoyed the haptic feedback available with the wheel, dial, and knob. Since the Lite is the most basic and least expensive model available, this feature is unsurprisingly not included, and I did miss it. It certainly doesn’t reduce the effectiveness of the device, it’s just a nice feature to have if available. However, at the competitive price of the Lite, this certainly isn’t an issue.

The Lite is controlled by the TourBox Console software, where there are built-in presets for use with various software programs. These can be customised, you can create your own and download user-created presets from the TourBox website. Presets are the assignment of shortcuts, macros and mouse actions to the TourBox’s physical controls.

Further to the physical controls is the TourMenu, which consists of several menu options within the TourBox software, specifically for programs that open on-screen software control options. These can provide fast access to useful controls and help to keep your attention focused on the screen rather than having to look down at your keyboard or the TourBox.

This next feature can be switched off, but it’s incredibly useful, so taking advantage of it makes a huge amount of sense. This is that the TourBox Console auto-switches between software, so you can immediately begin using the device across software without manual intervention. I tested this with several programs open at the same time and seamlessly switched between them while using the TourBox.

TourBox Lite: Verdict

The TourBox Lite may be an entry-level model, but it provides solid performance for a highly affordable and attractive price. It’s a wired device, but the USB-C cable comes with a USB-A adaptor so you don’t have to worry about buying one if you have no spare USB-C ports. Having fewer physical controls when compared to the more advanced models is noticeable, but the Lite still provides precise tactile control of creative software.

The TourBox Console software is easy to use, and creating custom presets couldn’t be simpler. I also enjoy the auto-switching between software programs because I didn’t have to break out of my workflow to switch manually. I did miss the haptic feedback of the Elite and Elite Plus models, but for the price of the Lite, you can’t go wrong.

Alternatives

TourBox Elite
The Tourbox Elite is a higher-end TourBox model offering additional features including more controls, haptic feedback and Bluetooth connectivity. It’s also more expensive.

Logitech MX Creative Console
The Logitech MX Creative Console is a controller that consists of two parts: one has nine ‘mini-screen’ buttons and the other has a scroll wheel, dials and buttons.