How to set up a large console?

[JuliánFernández]

I´m not asking because i want to buy one, but I´d been in several studios with large SSL consoles (+48 channels) and a DAW and I don´t know how they use them togheter... They all mix OTB, so I´m guessing they send every channel from the console to the DAW and them send them back to the desk to mix?

I´m pretty clueless about it, and I would like to know!
Thanks!

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

They all mix OTB, so I´m guessing they send every channel from the console to the DAW and them send them back to the desk to mix?

I´m pretty clueless about it, and I would like to know!
Thanks!

You pretty much got it. The tape outs from the board go to the inputs of the DAW- through a patchbay and/or the busses on the board in some cases. This way the board's pres are the front end for the DAW- no different from any other outboard pres, really.

For the mix the outs of the DAW are routed to the tape ins on the board. Sometimes it's submixed in the box and sent out in groups to the board- depending on how many outs the DAW has compared to the number of tracks in the mix- as well as the number of channels on the board.

In this arrangement, the DAW is essentially taking the place of an analog recorder. Of course, you can still do tons of editing and automation ITB and still mix on the board. Its tons of fun.

-C

 

[JuliánFernández]

Thanks Chris! but I have another question... Ok, let´s suppose they have the whole mix already done an eq´ed on the table... That´s when they send a stereo track to the DAW to do the mastering?

 

[LemonTree]

Thanks Chris! but I have another question... Ok, let´s suppose they have the whole mix already done an eq´ed on the table... That´s when they send a stereo track to the DAW to do the mastering?

If you're gonna master it yes, but in any case you will always want to send the 2 track stereo mixdown back to the DAW or to a DAT recorder or whatever 2 track master device you want.

I work in cubase SX3 with a 24/8/2 mixer. I used to send my main stereo outs from the mixer to a DAT machine basicaly because the amount of effects I was using within cubase was using up all my CPU power. Cubase was under too much strain to route back the 2 track mix and record it in there while playing back my effect/VSTi laden mix. Now I use a UAD-1 DSP card for my effects along with a lot of outboard gear too so I barely use more than 30-40% of the CPU on a 24 track project. This leaves me a heap of CPU power to handle recording the 2 track mixdown straight back into Cubase. From there I'll import that recorded 2 track mixdown into wavelab for after mix processing.

Hope that didn't fly over your head

 

[JuliánFernández]

Thanks, LemonTree...

Ok, suppose that you have a large proyect, with many channels, and let´s say you swap between different proyects/clients... Every time you want to remix a song are you supposed to set every channels eq/gain etc. the same way it was when you leave the mix? It seems to be really boring taking notes of every channel and then doing all again...

 

[JuliánFernández]

anyone?

 

[boingoman]

Yep, that's what you do. And that's why people hate to stop in the middle of a project and switch. The ability to save and recall mix scenes is one very convenient feature of working with digital gear. If you've ever heard the term "snapshot" in reference to a digital recall scene saved to memory, it's from the days when someone would literally take pictures of the console and outboard gear to be able to recreate mixes. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, as there are subtleties and mix moves you can't recreate, anymore than an improvised solo can be played exactly the same way again. Studio folklore is full of stories about people getting the perfect mix, losing it, and not being able to recreate it.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

Thanks, LemonTree...

Ok, suppose that you have a large proyect, with many channels, and let´s say you swap between different proyects/clients... Every time you want to remix a song are you supposed to set every channels eq/gain etc. the same way it was when you leave the mix? It seems to be really boring taking notes of every channel and then doing all again...

That's why you get an SSL; all that stuff (eq, gain, etc) can be saved to a floppy disc for later recall.