Consoles A Brief History Early Gramophones c.1887 Edison Recorder - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Consoles

A Brief History

Early • Gramophones c.1887 • Edison Recorder • Acoustic Recordings • Direct-to-Disc Recording • Optical Recordings c. 1900

Evolution • 1906 - Vacuum tubes & Electrical amplification • 1921 - First Commercial Radio Broadcast • Disc cutting systems evolving • Phonograph records rule • 1940/50 - Oxide Tape emerges as future sounds medium

Audio Consoles • Direct-to-Disc • Invention of microphones (1920s - Ribbon/Condenser) + electrical amplification • Broadcast (Radio) Consoles • Custom built consoles • Late 1940‘s/1950’s - Beginning of multi-mic recordings • 1950’s - Mono/Binaural to tape RCA BC-2B c.1952 • 1950/60’s - Multi-channel recording on tape

A Westrex console built for Todd-AO

Langevin stereo console circa 1959

from Radio & Television News, 1951

Early Bill Putnam console

UA 610

The Audio Production Console • What are they? • The “center” of the studio • When are they used? • Recording (Tracking / Overdubbing) • Mixdown • How are they used? • Techniques • Variety

Consoles - Mechanics

SSL 9000

Analog Console API 1608

Analog Console Toft ATB32

Analog Console Neve 88R

Digital Console SSL C200

Digital Console Yamaha O2R

Small Mixer Alesis MultiMix

Large Console SSL Duality

Consoles • Two types for recording • Split • Separate modules for both Channel and Monitor • Large analog desks • Used in some modern Digital consoles...sort of • In-Line • Both Input and Monitor in same channel strip • Streamlined - Modern Analog Desks

Split Console API Legacy

InLine Console Neve 88

InLine Console API Legacy Plus

SOURCE MONITOR INPUT PICKUP MONITOR AMP +48V EQ/DYNAMICS PAD MONITOR FADER PRE-AMP LINE AMP MONITOR PAN MIC TRIM LINE TRIM OUTPUT MULTITRACK PHASE (Ø) DIRECT STEREO BUSS FILTER BUSS TRIM STEREO FADER EQ/DYNAMICS CHANNEL FADER MONITOR SELECT 2-TRACK, DAT, HD, ETC. VOLUME CONTROL CHANNEL PAN BUSS MATRIX POWER AMP/SPEAKERS

Input Channel - I/O Module - Channel Strip • Channel Input • Monitor / Routing Select • Mic/Line switch • Bus Matrix • Filters • Solo • Pads (attenuation) • Mute • Equalization (Eq) • Grouping • Dynamics • Fader • Auxiliary Send Section • Pan • Insert point(s)

Input Channel - Block Diagram - Toft ATB 32 MONITOR/REMIX SOLO SIGNAL AUXILIARIES +48V PHANTOM POWER SOLO D.C INSERT RETURN GROUPS BUFFER AUX 5-6 0dB TO MON PHASE MIC EQ TO MIC/LINE MIC REVERSE 0-60dB MON PRE PRE PRE PRE PRE EQ BYPASS 4 BAND EQ 80Hz LINE -15/+25dB LINE V V V V LINK FROM AUX 1 SUBMASTER AUX 2 AUX 3 AUX 4 AUX 5 AUX 6 (INPUTS 1-8 ONLY) INPUT REVERSE MONITOR TAPE RETURN FADER V 0dB V CHANNEL INSERT SEND/RETURN V V MONITOR +5dB MUTE MONITOR PAN DIRECT O/P V +5dB OPTIONAL CHANNEL METER CHANNEL +5dB MUTE FEED FADER +10 +10 CHANNEL PAN REMIX -20 -20 +5dB SIGNAL PRESENT INDICATOR 1-2 POST/DIR. O/P 3-4 BUFFER SOLO 0dB 5-6 SOLO PRE/POST (SWITCH INPUT LOCATED 7-8 SOLO ON PCB. D.C FACTORY SET TO POST) LINK TO CHANNEL LINE INPUTS

Input Channel - Block Diagram - API 1608

Channel Input TOFT ATB API 1608 • Preamp section • Mic/Line Switch • 48V - Phantom Power • Input Gain • Pad • Polarity/Phase (ø) • (HPF) High Pass Filter

Equalization (Eq) 1608 TOFT • Parametric • Variable Bandwidth (Q) • Boost/Cut • Shelving EQ • Bandpass Filter • Bypass

Dynamics • High-end Analog consoles and almost all Digital consoles • Compression • Gate • Expansion • DeEsser • Bypass • Channel/Monitor Path selection

Auxiliary Send Section TOFT 1608 • Aux Sends - Create Auxiliary Mixes • Also called Echo Sends or E ff ects Sends • Pre vs. Post • Reverb/Delay/Outboard unit • Cue Mix Sends • Headphones • Broadcast Feed • Conductor Mix

Channel Fader • Controls • Output level for channel • Direct Output • Send level to Multi-track Bus(s) • Post Fader send level • Level to Stereo Bus • Always set to Unity Gain (0dB) at the input

Mute / Solo • Mute • Cuts all output of channel • Exception: Insert Send • Mute Groups • Solo • Sends channel to Solo Bus • PFL • AFL • Solo in Place (SIP) - Destructive • Solo Safe

Pan - Bus Matrix • Channel Pan • L/R or Stereo or PGM Bus • Dictates Odd/Even Assignment • Bus Matrix Assignment • Summing Busses • Multi-track Bus • Sub-Grouping • Post Fader - Post Pan

Monitor Input • Similar to Channel Input • Di ff erences between consoles • Toft ATB32 • Line level input only • Monitor Inputs route to ST (LR) Bus only

Input Channel - I/O Module - Channel Strip • Channel Input • Monitor / Routing Select • Mic/Line switch • Bus Matrix • Filters • Solo • Pads (attenuation) • Mute • Equalization (Eq) • Grouping • Dynamics • Fader • Auxiliary Send Section • Pan • Insert point(s)

Output Section • Bus Output Masters Aux/Echo Send Masters (Trim) Bus Output Masters • Aux/Echo Send Masters • Master (ST/PGM/ LR)Output Bus • Group Masters

Aux / Echo / Effects Returns • Dedicated E ff ects returns • Line level inputs • Can route to Bus Matrix • Multi-track Busses • Sub mixing • Mute / Solo Functions

Control Room/ Monitor Section • Control Room Source Select • Meter Select • Level Control • Speaker Select • Mono - Dim • Solo Controls • Talkback Controls • Oscillator Controls

Control Room/ Monitor Section • Control Room Source Select • Meter Select • Level Control • Speaker Select • Mono - Dim • Solo Controls • Talkback Controls • Oscillator Controls API 1608

Other Options • Inserts • Channel - Bus - Monitor - ST (LR) • Line level Inputs to console • “Always On” outputs from module • Channel Flip • Swaps Small and Large Faders • Inline Consoles = Channel and Monitor Faders • EQ / Dynamics Swap • Inline Consoles = Channel to Monitor

Basic I / O Module Flow Chart Basic I O Module Flow Chart CHANNEL Mic LEVEL mic (A) patch in pre out in direct EQ (C) out line (D) in (B) LINE bus 1 bus pan (E) bus 2 bus 3 bus 4 bus 5 bus 6 VU etc. MONITOR LEVEL mix bus L 2-mix pan (F) (G) (J) TAPE mix bus (H) R MXDN above bus feeds are common to all modules (mix buses are summed at from bus # master module) sum- bus out (to multitrack) ming amp I/O Module Block Diagram

Input Channel - Block Diagram - Tascam M600

Input Channel - Block Diagram - API 1608

Gain Level Optimization • Every active stage adds gain • Pre-amp / Eq / Dynamics / Channel Fader / Bus Summing • Proper Gain staging is essential • Keep faders at Unity Gain (0dB) for recording • Optimize levels at every stage

MONITOR SIGNAL FLOW SOURCE MONITOR AMP PICKUP EQ/DYNAMICS +48V MONITOR FADER PAD MONITOR PAN PRE-AMP LINE AMP OUTPUT MIC TRIM LINE TRIM MULTITRACK PHASE (Ø) STEREO BUSS FILTER BUSS TRIM STEREO FADER DIRECT EQ/DYNAMICS 2-TRACK, DAT, HD, ETC. MONITOR SELECT AUX CHANNEL FADER VOLUME CONTROL AUX CHANNEL PAN POWER AMP/SPEAKERS BUSS MATRIX INPUT