PowerPoint Presentation - Audio Production Console
Download
Report
Transcript PowerPoint Presentation - Audio Production Console
Audio Production Console
Huber, Ch. 11
Three Stages of Multitrack Recording
Recording (Tracking)
Overdubbing
Mixdown
Analog Console
Signal path (signal chain)
Vertical signal flow through input strip
Strips are modular
Channel Input
Preamp (boost signals 30 to 60 dB)
Mic and line levels
Auxiliary Send Section
Equalization
Insert Point (direct send/return) (direct or
insert)
Dynamics
(compression/limiting/expansion)
Auxillary Send Section
“Horizontal” signal flow from input
Can be fed to a mono or stereo output bus
Used for any purpose
Effects send
Headphone cue
Broadcast feed
Alternate mixes
Alternate speaker outputs
Equalization (EQ)
Used to adjust frequencies (bring out or
cut, to compensate for recording
discrepancies, or to create a certain
timbre)
Usually, 3 to 4 continuously variable,
overlapping frequency bands
Adjustable Bandwidth (Q)
Boost or cut control (+/- 18 dB)
Inserts
Useful for inline, external signal
processing.
Unbalanced, stereo TRS jacks
Mono send to first click: signal to direct out,
without interrupting channel signal flow
Mono send all in: signal to direct out,
interrupting signal flow
Stereo TRS all in: send/return loop
Dynamics
Inline Dynamics processing is common on
higher-end analog consoles, and most
digital consoles.
Compression, limiting, expansion
discussed in Ch. 12.
Monitoring
A listening mix for the control room,
separate (indendent) from what’s going to
the record medium.
Inline, separate section, or direct insertion
monitoring
Inline Monitoring
Some higher-end consoles incorporate a
small fader section above the main input
strip fader.
SSL XL 9000
Separate Monitor Section
Typical of older British consoles. Also used by
Mackie and Tascam analogs to some degree.
Digital Mixers (via the fader flip)
Independent level, pan, effects, and headphone
control.
Often have direct inputs to the monitor section,
and can be used at mixdown to increase the
number of effects returns and electronic
instrument inputs.
Direct Insertion Monitoring
Most often used when separate or inline
monitoring is not available.
Use direct send/receives for sending
signal to record device, then output of
record device back to mixer for monitoring.
Record level set by preamp gain trim.
Output Fader
Channel strip fader, determining strip’s bus
output level.
Pan Pot
Solo and Mute buttons
Output Bus
Conceptually, a horizontal signal path.
Multiple entrance and exit points, and
ways to duplicate signals
Aux sends, monitor sends, channel sends,
and main outputs are all types of signals
that can be inserted to a bus.
Channel Assignment
Assignment of input channel to output bus.
Can be associated with fader (buttons), or
through menus.
Individual assignments (with pan), or
stereo pairs.
Master Output/Group Faders
Master Stereo
Master Bus faders (group)
Bus faders can be used to change overall
levels while maintaining relative levels.
Metering
LED, Peak, VU, Overload on input
Standard: RMS/root-mean-squared. (Not
peak and overload)
Analog: aim for near zero levels, but
slightly above may not be a problem.
Digital: anything over zero results in
unpleasant distortion.
Patch Bay
Contains accessible jacks that correspond
to the various inputs and outputs of every
access point within a mixer or console.
Often contain input and output points of
studio effects, monitoring devices, and
connections between different production
rooms.
Patch Bay Connection Types
TRS balanced 1/4”
RCA
TT or mini (telephone-type)
Rear connections can be any of above, or
hand-wired connections (punch
connectors or soldered)
Patch Bay Connections (Normalled,
etc.)
Open: without plugs inserted, each I/O
connection entering or leaving the bay is
independent of other connections.
Half-normalled: without plugs inserted, each I/0
connection entering the panel in the rear is
electrically connected to the point below it. When
a jack is inserted to the top jack, the I/O rear
connection is still intact, allowing you to tap into
the signal. Jacks into bottom connection break
I/O connection.
Normalled: same I/O as half. Rear I/O broken
when a jack is plugged into either top or bottom.
Digital Consoles
Analog signal converted to digital at mixer
inputs, or prior to inputs
All internal signal routing done in digital
domain.
Centralized channel strip/control panel
Fader, pan, mute, solo for each input
One EQ and Dynamics section for whole
console.