Student in need of ICON help! :confused:

[victim]

Hey there pros! My name is laurence and im a 20yr old music production sutdnet from england.
For my fne assignment i'm currently buildng my own "hypothetical" studio, basically choosing all equipmnet, designing studio and acoustics, costing it all and completing a connection chain of all equipment. I have decided to use the ICON as my main console, but need a bit of help.
Being an MBOX pro tools LE user and mainly using TDM systems at my university, i would greatly appreciate some help oif the exact equipment i need to use an ICON.
I unsderstand it uses HD Accel as its core processor, but where it becomes clody is what comes withn the icon and what dosent. Do i need to purchase additional cards? what about a/d converters? Do i basically buy pro tools system and connect the icon to it? Im also an avid midi user so the midi i/o is essential know?
Any help would be fantastic guys, im really stuck!
Thanks again
Laurence.

(p.s. anyone know where i can purchase additional fader strips?)

[Drew Mazurek]

Do i basically buy pro tools system and connect the icon to it?

yes.

I'd say at least HD2 and a few interfaces

[Chris Lambrechts]

Any Icon system would contain :

- D control : minimum 1 Main Unit and 1 Faderpack and an X-mon unit

- A Protools TDM system : minimum HD and 1 audio interface.

TDM systems are built to fit the desired size, depending on how much DSP power you need (HD / HD2accel / HD3 accel / HD4 / 5 / ...). Also depending on the numbers of I/O (digital or analog). And depending on extra peripherals like Mic PRE / Sync I/O / midi I/O ...if needed.


hope that helps.

[victim]

thanx guys, cleared loads up, but still bit confused as to what comes included with the £80,000 tag. so i get the d-control, i fader pack and the x-mon..but no tdm system?have to buy that from scrath or does it come with a hd1/2?? Im lookin for as much dsp as i can get, have £500,000 budget and would like all the peripherals (even though i have apogeee a/d converters)
thanx again guys for putting up with mr uneducated here!
cheers

[Icon1357]

Digidesign Icon D Control with 32 faders. X-Mon 7.1 CR Monitoring
Apple Mac G5 Dual Processor Pro Tools HD7 Accel 64-Bit Expansion Chassis 192 I/O Audio Interface (3) 96 I/O Audio Interface (6) Digidesign MIDI I/O Digidesign SYNC I/O Digidesign DigiDelivery LT Pro Tools HD Plug-ins

[victim]

Is the HD 7 One core card and two accels? what makes up a hd 7?

Also, why only 3 192i/0's and 6 96I/0s?

whats the expansion chassis?

Anyone know anywhere where i can get this system priced up?

you have been so helpful, sorry to bang on with all these questions, just need more info. thanks so much guys.
cheers again

[RobMacki]

Is the HD 7 One core card and two accels? what makes up a hd 7?

This can get a little nebulous. All HD systems must have an HD Core (HD1) Before Accel, an HD system would consist of an HD Core card alone (HD1) and "Process" card(s) could be added. HD2 would be Core+Process. HD3=Core+Process(2). Now with Accel one could have an HD core + Accel card and have an HD2 Accel. An HD3 Accel can be a Core + Accel(2) OR an Accel + a Process Card. An HD7 would be a Core card + 6 Process cards. Now an HD7 Accel would have a Core + any combination of Process and Accel cards however they have to live in specific order in the chassis.

SNIP

whats the expansion chassis?

PCI card expansion for more cards.

HTH

[Jonathan Wales]

Laurence,

Whilst I cannot comment on the situation there in the UK, I can say that in the US, the cost of the "ICON" usually refers to only the D-Control modules. It is assumed that you will either buy, or you already own the required Pro Tools systems.

Over here it is $60,000 for a D control center section and $30,000 for each additional 16 faders list price. (last time I checked).

Hope this helps.

[d prentice]

Dear Victim,

Contact Scrub, the division of HHB, at http://www.hhb.co.uk/hhb/uk/scrub/ They handle ICON sales in the UK. Ask for sales. Explain your situation and need for a budget for an ICON configured studio . You will probably get a copy of the salesperson's last large system with your name attached. It is guaranteed to be a working system with realistic prices and will contain all the periphals needed (LCD monitor, I/O cables, extenders, CPU with memory, digi translator and machine control software, etc.) that are necessary but overlooked. Be prepared with your configuration (how many channels of mic pre's, how many analog ins/outs, how many channels of digital I/O for starters) and whether you need to capture and play video. With the supplied quote, then look up the equipment and figure out what it is, how it connects, and why it was included.

Be sensitive to the fact that the salesperson's job is to talk with people who may actually buy a studio like this rather than answer questions for a student so don't be surprised if it's a short conversation. In the trade, this is a common request and handled politely but quickly.

Best regards,

[JC925602]

As for building, you can get quote from a designer without even learning what goes into the construction of a studio. So here is some info about building and calibration:

http://www.acoustics101.com/

Room Calibration for Film and TV Post

Recording studio design forum

You have to plan construction and maintaining the studio. Cost of software upgrade, backup, media, repair, insurance, etc. It's not like a house where you can take 20 years to finance. It's more like five years.

Do you rent the space or do you buy the building?

Is your hypothetical studio a new room for an existing studio with lots of clients, or a new one with a budget for advertising and seeking clients? You can add the cost of a famous experienced engineer to attract clients. Maybe a second smaller room (HD1 with a Command 8) to prepare the mix before going to the main mix room.

There is much more in a studio than the equipment. Your assignment may not cover all of the above, but it's a good thing to start thinking about it now rather than in five or ten years when you may want to really make it.

Don't make the mistake of planing cracked version of the plug-ins in the cost of your studio, as many student do. Would you believe a studio that say "We didn't pay for any software, plug-ins, sound F/X libraries, sample libraries, but we will not make any copy of your new unreleased CD for our friends."?

JC