VENUE as a Pro Tools mixing/control system

[Seventh Angel]

Hi all,

I am looking at setting up a small studio for recording and mixing, which I aim to make (semi) portable as I will look to do live recordings also within various environments.

What I am wanting to know is if anyone is using a VENUE setup for mixing and control of Pro Tools (can the D-Show be used like a D-Command or D-Control?). Is this a viable setup or am I better to look at long term sourcing a D-Command or D-Control for mixing?

Also, how do the VENUE pre's in the stage and FOH racks compare to say the 192 I/O in an HD system.

Basically I am trying to decide between a VENUE and HD-1 system or an HD-1 with 192 I/O and D-{Command/Control} and feeding from the direct outs of our current analogue mixer for live mixes (which will be less flexible).

Thanks for your feedback!

[Sheldon Radford]

Hi,

The VENUE system does not act as a controller for Pro Tools, in the same way as the D-Command/Control do. It was designed expressly for live sound, and even runs different software than Pro Tools. That said, some customers (mostly fixed installations) have created combination VENUE/ICON systems. The VENUE D-Show system mixes the live show for the house audience and acts as the audio interface (via HDx card) to a Pro Tools system, which is under direct control of an ICON D-Command/Control. It's a neat setup that works well when simultaneous house/broadcast mixes are needed.

RE: mic pres. The VENUE mic pres share some similarities with the existing Digi PRE, but are designed with some extra electrical safeguards in light of the often unpredictable phantom powering arrangements encountered in a live setting.

Sheldon

[Andi R]

well, you could build a Split Console with a Venue and a HD 4.

the Venue is GREAT for Recording, perfectly for Live Recording, and would also be useful in the studio.
but beware, all racks make some noise, so you don´t want to place the Stage Rack near microphones...

for a Venue you need a HD2 for Recording; and the you can rout the outputs 1-2 of Pro Tools back to the venue for checking back and "listening to Pro Tools". what you cannot do is control PT; so you need to route every single PT Channel back on new Channels to the Venue, for what another 2 HD Cards are needed.
So you need:
- A Venue Desk
- 2 HDx Cards (one for Input; and one for Output)
- a Pro Tools HD 4 System.

(I have to admit that this setup was not my idea, it is Bodo´s idea, but I spent a lot of time thinking about it...)

only for studio work I would not recommend it.

hope this helped,Cheers, Andi