Getting full 128 channels in Atmos with MTRX Studio and HDX

[Goombot]

Is the only way to get 128 channels to the renderer while using a MTRX Studio with HDX or Hybrid to have 2 MTRX studios? Is that even possible?

[creativecontrol]

Yes, it is possible to deploy a dual MTRX Studio system connected to 2 HDX cards. Each HDX card would be fully connected to dual 32-channel DigiLink ports per box.

HDX A (1,2) to MTRX ST A (1,2)
HDX B (1,2) to MTRX ST B (1.2)

This gives you the ability to stream a full 128 channels from Pro Tools into the dual MTRX Studio units. From there, you would patch 64 channels of Dante on each MTRX Studio.

MTRX ST A: Source (Input) = DigiLink, Destination (Output) = Dante: 1-64
MTRX ST B: Source (Input) = DigiLink, Destination (Output) = Dante: 1-64

These would then be patched in Dante Controller 1-128 input a Focusrite PCIeR card attached to a dedicated RMU system running DAMS such as a 2018 Mac Mini. From there, you would patch out of the PCIeR into MTRX ST A which would be your primary monitor which could run up to a tuned 9.1.6 Atmos setup.

It's also possible (though not sure if Dolby signs off on it) to run the 2 HDX + PCIeR inside of a more capable computer like a 7,1 and repeat the exact same Dante and DADman patches.

Hope this helps.


Jeff

[Goombot]

Thank you for the detailed answer Jeff. I'm most interested in the last part of that. I have one MTRX Studio now running in Native with the Atmos Production Suite and getting full 128 channels. I do have one HDX card and was going to buy another to take advantage of the Hybrid Engine. I do have a current Mac Pro 16 core with 192 gigs of RAM. So if I get the 2nd MTRX Studio, the second HDX card and the Focusrite Dante card can I get 128 channels via the Production Suite while taking advantage of the Hybrid Engine?

[creativecontrol]

Yes. I'm presuming Dolby would prefer you run DAMS however I believe DAPS should also work.


Jeff

[Goombot]

Great! Thank you Jeff.

[LukeHoward]

Is it possible to use the same DAPS workflow with DVS instead of a dedicated Dante card (assuming you don't mind the limited channel count)?

I'm interested in dipping my feet into Atmos, but want to be able to use my HDX hardware inserts for reverbs etc (which has I understand I can't do with Dolby Audio Bridge).

Or would the Dolby send/return plugin workflow be better?

[Goombot]

Originally Posted by creativecontrol

Yes, it is possible to deploy a dual MTRX Studio system connected to 2 HDX cards. Each HDX card would be fully connected to dual 32-channel DigiLink ports per box.

HDX A (1,2) to MTRX ST A (1,2)
HDX B (1,2) to MTRX ST B (1.2)

This gives you the ability to stream a full 128 channels from Pro Tools into the dual MTRX Studio units. From there, you would patch 64 channels of Dante on each MTRX Studio.

MTRX ST A: Source (Input) = DigiLink, Destination (Output) = Dante: 1-64
MTRX ST B: Source (Input) = DigiLink, Destination (Output) = Dante: 1-64

These would then be patched in Dante Controller 1-128 input a Focusrite PCIeR card attached to a dedicated RMU system running DAMS such as a 2018 Mac Mini. From there, you would patch out of the PCIeR into MTRX ST A which would be your primary monitor which could run up to a tuned 9.1.6 Atmos setup.

It's also possible (though not sure if Dolby signs off on it) to run the 2 HDX + PCIeR inside of a more capable computer like a 7,1 and repeat the exact same Dante and DADman patches.

Hope this helps.


Jeff

Ok it's possible but is anyone running a system that way with no issues?

[beatlogik]

Is it safe to assume that it is also possible to achieve this by adding an HDIO or Omni to a MTRX or MTRX Studio HDX2 system?

Each card connected to both digilink ports on two Avid devices? The MTRX installation documentation shows this with a MTRX and a MADI IO but does not comment on total number of routable tracks.

By this logic one could also assume that HDX3 and three Avid interfaces would give you 192 channels that could be routed to Dante within DADman if using a MTRX equipped with the 64 Dante chip and the 128 channel expansion card.

[creativecontrol]

No, Adding an IO such as an HD IO or OMNI doesn't help you since there is no path to the Renderer which is usually MADI or Dante.

The MTRX or MTRX Studio systems allow you to patch in the FPGA from Pro Tools (DigiLink) to MADI or Dante -> to feed up to 128 channels into a Dolby Renderer running DAMS. The returns come back into the MTRX FPGA which can either be monitored or sent back into a Recorder (MTRX) via DigiLink to ingest Re-Renders.

Jeff

Originally Posted by beatlogik

Is it safe to assume that it is also possible to achieve this by adding an HDIO or Omni to a MTRX or MTRX Studio HDX2 system?

Each card connected to both digilink ports on two Avid devices? The MTRX installation documentation shows this with a MTRX and a MADI IO but does not comment on total number of routable tracks.

By this logic one could also assume that HDX3 and three Avid interfaces would give you 192 channels that could be routed to Dante within DADman if using a MTRX equipped with the 64 Dante chip and the 128 channel expansion card.

[creativecontrol]

Originally Posted by Goombot

Ok it's possible but is anyone running a system that way with no issues?

Yes, there are more and more folks that I know routing within the PCI bus of a 7,1 since the machine has plenty of horsepower to spare.



Jeff