A question on ProTools hardware.

[Jack]

Before we start, let me preface this by saying this is for my curiosity only. I don't own any of this gear and nor do I intend to (barring a lottery win anyways). So if you don't want to spend you valuable time with me and want to help out a TBer who actually needs your help then by all means do so.


I was looking at ProTools rigs, just cos I was curious. Now I get the whole source>interface>pc thing, but I don't get these controllers. I know it's possible to get mixing desks that just control the software tracks, they're called control surfaces I think. Say [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. It comes with a DSP core and a monitor and everything. What would that need? Would I still need interfaces? A pc? Does it have output for studio monitors or would that come from the pc? Basically, is it essentially just a very full-featured mouse and keyboard for the software or is it 'smart' in and of itself?


Just curious, I find this stuff interesting.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Well, Control Surfaces are exactly that... A control surface.

Rather than clicking on track one, enable eq, adjust level, pan, etc... you can do it as if that audio channel was on a mixer its self. It lets you work more efficiently while controlling your software.

there are also digital mixers that will let you do the same thing, but they also have analog inputs and outputs. a digital interface 8 or more channels depending on the $ so you don't need a converter. the digital mixer will act as the converter. Digital Mixers are generally more $ because they have all the Digital Audio Converters, rather than a plain control surface.

I am not 100% familiar with the above MC-5, but it looks like you can install what ever program onto its own computer and use the board to control it.

If you are familiar with Controller Keyboards, like an Oxygen 8, it has keys, no sounds, just controls software synths, they are similar... You can program the knobs on an Oxygen 8 to control the mixer in your software, but control surfaces are much more detailed as to what they can control.

 

[Jack]

Thanks Slap, I was just wondering what else would go with a big controller like that. You've been really helpful. How do the big studios do it? Digital interfaces?

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Well, "BIG" studios have different "rooms"

You will have your tracking room, where you have your console (and usually an analog console, SSL, NEVE, etc...). running into Apogee or other high end DAC's (Digital Audio Converters).

Mixes will be done in a different room, which is where a console like that will live. A Mix engineer would mainly use that. You wouldnt really use that for "tracking" (recording). Audio post production houses / Audio engineers mixing for Movies etc...


The recording industry has changed so much and is always changing. "Digital" studios will bring in sections of consoles to track through bypassing the digital mixing console to get different tones. You can buy single channel strips out of SSL's, NEVE's, and other boards. The cost of those single channel strips can sometimes be as much as a decent digital multi channel mixing console!

But believe it or not, you can do everything that board does by clicking a mouse a few times, it will take longer, and you cant do fades with the curve the human hand could write as easily. The advantage of a mixing desk like that is the ability to freely adjust as much as you can touch at one time.

Before console automation (analog consoles can be automated like digital boards as well by the way), mix engineers would have multiple people sitting at consoles moving faders, adjusting pans, doing mixes. Those days are over though.

Every studio has their own niche... You go to a studio to use an SSL, you go to a studio to use a NEVE. I don't know anyone who goes to a studio to record into ProTools. But you would go to a studio to do a "Mix" in a protools studio especially with a Mixing Controller like that.

 

[Jack]

But believe it or not, you can do everything that board does by clicking a mouse a few times,

Excellent, that's what I was after.

I'm up to date with the rest of the hardware and stuff, certainly I'm familiar with all of the outboard because a lot of similar stuff is used live too (although granted it's usually the more robust stuff). I'm also passably familiar with the studio process, just not on a 'pro' level. I've also messed about with some of the tracks we did in Ardour.

So the big studios tend to be analogue up to and including the console then from that into the DACs. Fine by me.