Fender is expanding its footprint in pro audio with the release of Fender Motion, its first-ever performance pad controllers. Available in 16- and 32-pad configurations, Motion is built for improvisation and sound exploration across genres, offering tools for songwriting, beatmaking, finger drumming, melodic sequencing, mixing, live performance and studio production.
The controllers pair natively with Fender Studio Pro, the DAW formerly known as PreSonus Studio One before Fender rebranded it in January 2026, allowing users to write, edit and perform without switching applications. Motion uses Context-Aware pads developed by Italian keybed specialist FATAR, marking the company's first foray into pad design. Other features include a built-in chord mode for playable custom-voiced progressions and assignable scales, plus RGB touch encoders and touch strips for controlling virtual instruments, effects and mixer functions within Studio Pro. While optimised for Fender's own software, Motion is also compatible with other major DAWs and can connect to external synths and drum machines for computer-free or hybrid setups.
Artist Yaahn Hunter Jr., who demoed the controllers, said the Motion units feel like "a direct line between what I'm thinking and Fender Studio Pro," praising Chord Mode for speeding up on-the-fly writing and the knobs for live plugin tweaking without needing to draw in automation. Max Gutnik, Chief Product Officer at Fender Electronics, said anticipation had been "off the charts" since Motion debuted at NAMM, adding that the goal was to build a controller covering a musician's full workflow rather than just one part of it.
Fender Motion 16 is priced at £239, with the Motion 32 available for £299. More details can be found via Fender Studio's official channels.
