Studio A

TAC Studio A is located in 50 Oak in room S04. It is that building's main mixing studio, equipped with a 32-channel analog Neve console and 5.1 monitoring.

Equipment
Equipment available in Studio A currently includes:


 * Audio
 * Rupert Neve Designs 5088 mixing console with 32 channels featuring 5-band Inductor EQ modules and 8 channels of SwiftMix automation
 * Mac Pro 3.7 GHz Quad-core Macintosh computer w/ 16 GB RAM
 * Pro Tools HDX System
 * Pro Tools HD I/O
 * MADI-6432 RME Converter
 * Meyer Sound 5.1 Surround featuring 5 HD-1 speakers and 1 MM-10 subwoofer
 * Meyer Sound Galileo 616 Loudspeaker Management System
 * Bowers & Wilkins 803 Diamond Series speakers
 * Grace m906 High Fidelity 5.1 monitor system
 * Aviom AN-16 A-Net input module


 * Video
 * 2 Sharp Aquos Liquid Crystal LED 60” displays
 * Dell 24” monitor
 * AW-RP50 PTZ camera controller


 * Outboard Gear
 * Portico II Master Buss Processor (6 channels)
 * Lexicon MPX-1 Multiple Processor FX

For detailed operating instructions of the equipment in Studio A consult the black binder or the manuals linked above.

Software
Software available on the MacPro in Studio A currently includes:
 * Ableton Live Suite
 * Apple Logic Pro X
 * Avid Pro Tools HD
 * Max/MSP/Jitter
 * Sibelius
 * Finale
 * Reaper
 * Izotope RX

For a list of plug-ins and sample libraries available on the Studio A computer, visit Software Info.

Making Sounds Come Out
The Grace m906 controls the monitoring in Studio A.

Mac Pro System Audio

 * 1) Make sure Mac System Output is set to “Line Out”
 * 2) Select AUX on the Grace m906 controller.

Neve Console Stereo Audio

 * 1) Make sure the red master fader is up on the Neve Console.
 * 2) Make sure that A is selected under Speaker Select (next to the red master fader).
 * 3) Select ANA on the Grace m906 controller.

Auxiliary Stereo Input

 * 1) Plug into the AUX cable connected to the ROLLS Stereo Converter on your left.
 * 2) Select AUX on the Grace m906 controller.

Digital Audio Workstation Output (Stereo)

 * 1) In the application preferences, make sure the audio output is set to “Avid HDX,” which is also listed as “HDX” depending on the program.
 * 2) Select DAC on the Grace m906 controller.

Digital Audio Workstation Output (5.1)

 * 1) In the application preferences, make sure the audio output is set to “Avid HDX,” which is also listed as “HDX” depending on the program.
 * 2) On the Meyer Sound Galileo recall the snapshot titled “EQ1 LCR BM.” It is important that you recall the “STEREO +10” snapshot once you are finished with your session, before you leave the studio.
 * 3) Set  tracks 1-5 on the Neve Console to “Tape” at the top of the channel strip.
 * 4) In the “Groups” section of the channel strip, assign each channel to its corresponding group. Ex. Channel 1 -> Group 1, Channel 2  -> Group 2 …… Channel 6 -> Group 6.
 * 5) Select ANA on the Grace m906 controller.

DVD Output (Stereo and 5.1 Surround)

 * 1) To play a DVD and accompanying audio, use the DVD player on the left of the console.
 * 2) Select DVD on the Grace m906 controller.

Switching between Meyer Sound and Bowers and Wilkens Monitors
Use the “spkr sel” buttons at the bottom right of the Grace m906 controller. Choose between (MS) Meyer Sound and (BW) Bowers & Wilkins.

Bass Management
The Meyer Sound speakers in Studio A have been professionally tuned to the room using the Galileo 616. There are two presets or “snapshots” on the 616 for two specific listening modes. Ensuring that the Galileo is on the right setting (or snapshot) is important because only on its stereo snapshot will audio be automatically routed to the subwoofer using bass management. When the Galileo is set to surround (the “LCR” snapshot, you have to manually, within your DAW, route audio to the subwoofer. If there is no sound coming from the subwoofer in S04, double check that the Galileo is set to “(boot) STEREO+10”

Word Clock
Is your audio file playing too fast or too slow? This is almost always due to the audio interface being set to a different sample rate than your audio file. Word clock settings for the AVID HDX interface can only be set within Pro Tools. If your audio playback sounds slowed down or sped up, you need to set the appropriate Word Clock in Pro Tools. Open Pro Tools > Setup (in menu bar) > Hardware > Set the Clock Source to Internal:

Connecting External USB Devices
To connect an external USB device such as a hard drive or CD player, use the USB dock available on the meter bridge on the left (PNL-1). Never open the back panel of the MacPro isobox. If you need additional assistance, ask for help from staff.

Recording Outboard Gear
Gain meters in Pro Tools		      Gain Meters on the Portico	  VU Meters on the 5088 IMAGE IMAGE IMAGE
 * 1) To use outboard gear in Studio A such as the Portico Master Buss Processor and Lexicon unit, first start by opening up a new session in your daw. We will route audio out of Pro Tools channels 5-6, and return the audio on channels 3-4, leaving channels 1-2 open for our main stereo output.
 * 2) Create a stereo Audio Track. This track will be sending audio from Pro Tools to the outboard gear, so we’ll call it PT OUT. Set the output I/O of the audio track to the desired channel(s) on the patch bay, for example, A 5-6 for Pro Tools Analog Out 5-6 Studioa outboardgear step2.png
 * 3) At the patchbay, patch Pro Tools Analog Out from the Pro Tools channels into the desired outboard gear’s input. I am patching Output 5-6 into Portico 1 Channels A and B, respectively.  IMAGE
 * 4) Turn the power on for the piece of equipment you want to use. For the Portico, the Power button is on the right side, between and slightly above the gain meters. IMAGE When processing a stereo mix, sometimes it is desirable to have the compressor act on both channels simultaneously as opposed to affecting each channel separately. To accomplish this, press the LINK button between the channels, this will mean that the settings from Channel A apply to both channels.
 * 5) At the patchbay, patch from Portico OUT into Pro Tools Analog Inputs IMAGE
 * 6) Create a second stereo audio track. This track will be receiving audio from the outboard gear into Pro Tools, so we’ll call it COMP IN. Set the input I/O of the audio track to the channel(s) you have patched into on the patch bay, for example - A 3-4 for 5088 Channels 3-4 IMAGE Input monitor this track, and set the output to A 1-2.
 * 7) Set the Grace m906 controller to DAC. You can adjust the level with the knob on the bottom right. At this point, you should be able to pass audio from your Pro Tools session through the compressors, see signal coming back into your session, and hear your processed audio coming out. You can check various gain meters to ensure your signal flow is correct. If everything works, you’re ready to mix!

Recording with the Neve
How to record using the live room (S20) and the console room (S04)

STEP 1. Plug in mics you’re going to use in S20 using the snake shown below (Figure 1), located in the back right corner of S20.

Figure 1. Default Patching on the Snake in S20

In Figure 1, we are using inputs “MIC 3” and “MIC 4” which are routed to channel inputs 3 and 4 on the Neve console in S04.

The first mic is a Shure SM57 (Figure 2) going into “MIC 3”. The second is a Rupert Neve RN17 (Figure 3) going into “MIC 4”.

Figure 2. Shure SM57                                  Figure 3. Rupert Neve RN17

Tips: Channel inputs 1 and 2 on the Neve console are generally reserved for “tape” playback to monitor the sound coming from the computer. Therefore, we do not use “MIC 1” and “MIC 2” as microphone inputs since they are routed to channel inputs 1 and 2. They should always be left empty. We are using “MIC 28” for talkback. Plug an XLR from “MIC 28” that has an XLR gender changer into the back of the speaker on the shelf above the snake, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Default Patching on the Speaker

STEP 2. In S04, make sure all the white buttons are in their up positions on the Rupert Neve 5088 console channel inputs you’re using, in this example, channel 3 and 4 (Figure 5). The same is true for channel 5 to “MIC 5”, etcetera.

Figure 5. Rupert Neve 5088 Console

STEP 3. Open logic. Make sure the Input and Output Devices are set to Avid HDX, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Logic Audio Preference Setting

Create two audio tracks. Set the first channel’s input to “Input 3” and the second to “Input 4”, as shown in Figure 7. Turn on input monitoring and record enable on both tracks.

Figure 7. Channel Inputs Setting

STEP 4. Finish talk back set up by pressing in the white button marked “AUX ¾” in the center of the Neve console, as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. AUX ¾ and Talkback Buttons

Next, use a patch cord in S04 to patch “Live Room Microphone Ties” input 28 to “MIX-01 AUX SENDS” input 3, as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9. Default Talkback Patching in S04

Press “TALK” whenever you want to talk to whoever is in S20. The red knob to the right of the microphone controls your talkback level. Make sure the speaker in S20 is on.

STEP 5. Adjust gain and Phantom Power on the upper half of the Neve, as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10. “MIC GAIN”, “TRIM”, and Phantom Power/48V

In this example we are using a condenser microphone on channel 4 that needs phantom power/48V. Turn on by pressing the button, it will turn red when active (Figure 10). Make sure the microphone you’re using needs 48V before you turn it on. (Dynamic and ribbon microphones do NOT need phantom power).

Adjust each microphone’s gain using “MIC GAIN” and “TRIM” knobs (Figure 10). It’s best to leave the console faders at 0 in this step.

Make sure the faders for each channel are up, as well (Figure 11).

Figure 11. Faders are up at 0 Level

No Phantom Power

Need Phantom Power

STEP 6. Make sure you are monitoring the DAC setting on the Grace controller, as shown in Figure 12, and you are ready to record!

Figure 12. DAC on the Grace Controller

NOTE FOR MULTITRACK RECORDING: When running a recording session with a high track count, the computer can overheat. It is advised to open the front of the cabinet that the computer sits in to increase ventilation when recording more than 16 inputs. This is located at the left side of the 5088.

Increasing airflow to the computer makes it less likely to overheat and crash in the middle of a recording.

The back of the cabinet has built-in ventilation and should remain closed

Studio A Etiquette At the end of your session, normal the mixing board, and set the main level of the Grace m906 to 0.0. Remove any labelling tape, and try to leave the studio in better shape than you found it. Each channel on the board should look something like this when you are finished: