Comments on: The Year of the Surface http://barking.roaddog.com/2005/10/05/the-year-of-the-surface.html Damage done from nearly three decades in the roadie biz Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:00:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Mikey P http://barking.roaddog.com/2005/10/05/the-year-of-the-surface.html#comment-154 Mikey P Sun, 09 Oct 2005 14:52:47 +0000 http://barking.roaddog.com/?p=180#comment-154 Dave, I'm still inclinced to think that while these may be the best and most powerful digital consoles ever, that as a recent thread on the LAB polled, we really haven't seen anything yet. These consoles are still following the format of an analog mixing console, admittly one with every bell and whistle you could imagine. Even the new EAW with all it's built in extras (system DSP and SMAART) isn't more than the sum of its parts. I'm sure many people that say they won't use either will, once they see the conveince of them, but none the less, it offers no functionality that separate systems would offer anyway. Some of the things I'm looking for may be available in plugin form on some consoles out there. For one, I'd like to see freeform EQ for each channel, where you can keep adding bands of EQ at any frequency and Q until you have what you are looking for. Does that 58 on vocal take 2 bands of active EQ, while that lav for the speaker that wants to walk the house at the corporate event take 6 or 7 tight notches of EQ? No problem you could still do it right in the channel. The trick to this would have to be the interface. In my limited experience the interface is also one of the areas that needs the most work on consoles, although this is one of the areas that seems to be showing constant improvement with each new release. -Mikey P Dave,

I’m still inclinced to think that while these may be the best and most powerful digital consoles ever, that as a recent thread on the LAB polled, we really haven’t seen anything yet. These consoles are still following the format of an analog mixing console, admittly one with every bell and whistle you could imagine. Even the new EAW with all it’s built in extras (system DSP and SMAART) isn’t more than the sum of its parts. I’m sure many people that say they won’t use either will, once they see the conveince of them, but none the less, it offers no functionality that separate systems would offer anyway.

Some of the things I’m looking for may be available in plugin form on some consoles out there. For one, I’d like to see freeform EQ for each channel, where you can keep adding bands of EQ at any frequency and Q until you have what you are looking for. Does that 58 on vocal take 2 bands of active EQ, while that lav for the speaker that wants to walk the house at the corporate event take 6 or 7 tight notches of EQ? No problem you could still do it right in the channel. The trick to this would have to be the interface.

In my limited experience the interface is also one of the areas that needs the most work on consoles, although this is one of the areas that seems to be showing constant improvement with each new release.

-Mikey P

]]> By: Mac Kerr http://barking.roaddog.com/2005/10/05/the-year-of-the-surface.html#comment-153 Mac Kerr Sat, 08 Oct 2005 04:45:11 +0000 http://barking.roaddog.com/?p=180#comment-153 If the digital console you were alluding to is the EAW umx.96, you may be right. If they can produce the console they are trying to, at the price point they are hoping for, it could be a formidable entry into the mid price console market. If you were NOT talking about the EAW console, what the hell WERE you talking about? :) Most interesting small bit goes to Rode, for a 20dB mic pre in an XLR barrel that runs off phantom. Good for dynamic mics only as it doesn't pass phantom it is way cool none the less. So far the live sound seminars have been well attended, we'll see tomorrow if anyone cares about my intercom seminar. Mac If the digital console you were alluding to is the EAW umx.96, you may be right. If they can produce the console they are trying to, at the price point they are hoping for, it could be a formidable entry into the mid price console market. If you were NOT talking about the EAW console, what the hell WERE you talking about? :) Most interesting small bit goes to Rode, for a 20dB mic pre in an XLR barrel that runs off phantom. Good for dynamic mics only as it doesn’t pass phantom it is way cool none the less. So far the live sound seminars have been well attended, we’ll see tomorrow if anyone cares about my intercom seminar.

Mac

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