Building a 5.1 room with big console AND procontrol

[Inaam]

How should this sort of thing be set up? Should the PC output to the console, and then console to adgil/audient/martinsound box, or should console and PC each output separate to the box? Do these boxes have talkback/cue functions?

We're using HD3 and considering an SSL 4000G+ for the music clients, but it won't have surround bussing so 5.1 stuff will be done in PT.

Anyone use their PC on a roll around rack?

Thanks for your help!

[georgia]

We have 3 dual head protool rigs in an Argosy frame in the front of the room. We have a Neve Capricorn large format digital console at the 2/3 mix position behind them, with a couch in between and a couch behind the console. We feed our stems or direct tracks from the protools systems digitally to the Neve and mix using booth protools and Neve automation/plugins/digital processing/etc as the case requires. We also have a video flatscreen display that switches between the Neve computer/video ( PAL and NTSC ) and Protools screens as required, so that the Mix engineer and client sitting at the console can look at a protools screen without getting up. ( we also have a 6' HD rear projection screen in the front of the room, as well as, new HD CRT front projection 9x16 foot system going in this spring. Hope this helps. There's a not so great picture of this on our web site. www.globalaudio.net www.wwaudioinc.com
( we're getting a better picture taken when the new HD BIG rig is in place.

cheers

georgia

[Inaam]

Thanks, Georgia. What format does your final mix go down on? Back to PT?

[georgia]

Printmasters are usually layed back on DA98 or timecode dat depending.
(occasionally we use optical or even fullcoat).

We are getting more calls to go straight to DVD or digital audio files for avids & finalcut systems. In these cases we record back to protools and then encode them for DTS / Dolby Digital / Dolby Surround / AC3 files / etc......

Once all elements are digital we try to keep everything digital. Digital transfers from Production elements into the pipelines, then it stays digital thru to printmastering. The only area where I cringe a little is sample rate and bit depth conversions.. We're very careful about dithering options. Additionally, we do our best to run screeming in terror when it comes to A/D D/A conversions...
We only use the best converters we can. Never Never ever, DAT or CD player internal converters. We use the Neve Capricorn converters for almost everything A/D D/A, even if we're not using the board for the mix.

Ahh... a half million dollar A/D D/A for protools, ya gotta love it. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

We are also looking at the Euphonix TDM to MADI converters for a couple of new systems, but we havein't made any decisions as yet.

cheers
georgia