HOLLYWOOD – The eagerly awaited sequel “Batman: The Dark Knight” hits theaters in July and promises to be a summer blockbuster. Peter Snell, technical scoring engineer on the film, employed the Solid State Logic XLogic Delta-Link as the right device to streamline the massive Pro Tools HD® scoring setup for composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. The MADI-based Delta-Link provides up to 64 channels of audio over a single optical cable, greatly reducing the amount of traditional I/O units and requisite cabling to accomplish the same task.
“I prefer to use the Delta-Links in a Pro Tools rig for Hans Zimmer because he doesn’t do anything small,” says Snell. “The maximum size rig that you can build for Pro Tools regarding digital I/O is with 10 16-channel Digidesign-192 units or 160 channels. Because the Delta-Link modules can handle 64 channels each, I can significantly reduce the amount of rack space I take up. This is very good because these systems tend to move around from studio to studio. The first movie we used them on was “Pirates of the Caribbean 3” when we built remote rigs for Hans and Lorne Balfe to compose at Disney. Then we used them on the “Simpsons” movie and had to move the rigs from Disney to Fox. On “Batman: The Dark Knight,” I used two Delta-Link systems for each of two Pro Tools rigs and thereby replaced 16 of the Digidesign-192 I/O units.”
The XLogic Delta Link MADI HD is a professional Multichannel Audio Digital Interface (MADI) to Pro Tools HD converter for studio, live and broadcast applications. MADI enabled audio equipment such as routers, digital mixing consoles and converters can now be directly interfaced with Pro Tools HD, providing simplified interconnectivity and significant cost reductions, eliminating the need for complicated format conversion workarounds.
“Another item that comes along with running multiple units into Pro Tools is connecting up the word clock,” Snell explains. “The problem with the original all Digi-based system was that I had 10 hardware boxes to sync. Now I use two Delta-Link boxes and two 192’s to get my 160 channels, so I am only clocking four units. I am now not only saving on rack space, I am saving in clock distribution.”
When working on any major release feature film, the costs incurred for any downtime can be staggering. The last thing the engineering staff needs is equipment that won’t work and this is another reason for Snell moving over to the Delta-Link units.
“There is a great efficiency in dealing with MADI,” Snell states. “I can now run 64 channels on one cable as opposed to eight DigiLink cables with the other system. With the two rigs for “Batman,” I was able to reduce 16 DigiLink cables down to two. That is an amazing difference. Another advantage is that if something isn’t working correctly, I have reduced the sheer number of items I must look at to trouble shoot the system – time is big money in this business. I would say that anyone running anymore than a 64 IO on a Pro Tools rig really should be looking at the SSL boxes; it will save them money and save time configuring and trouble shooting. What can be better than that?”
Solid State Logic is the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast and post production professionals. For more information about our award-winning products, please visit: www.solid-state-logic.com.
BETHLEHEM, PA – The StarCity Recording Company production team is giving fans a front-row seat to some of the most memorable live performances to be recorded of 70’s rock band KANSAS. The deluxe, expanded version of Two for the Show, the iconic 2 LP set from the legendary group was re-mastered at StarCity Studios. In addition to the re-mastering of the original release, this deluxe version contains 11 previously un-released performances. Jeff Glixman, president of StarCity Records and long-time producer for Kansas, teamed up with StarCity’s Chief of Production Zak Rizvi and Staff Engineer John Andreas to mix the new tracks and handle the mastering. The process began with Phil Ehart, Glixman’s KANSAS productions partner and the band’s founder/drummer, narrowing the large collection of available tracks down to the 11 selections. more
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Universal Audio, a leading manufacturer of audio production hardware and software products, recently completed work on a recording studio designed and built for its new Scotts Valley, California facility. In order to reduce room reflections and frequency anomalies, Auralex Acoustics, Inc., the industry leader in innovative sound control solutions, outfitted the studio with its state-of-the art acoustical treatments.
“The control room, which is used to test new hardware and software products, as well as operate as a private recording facility in the evenings, was experiencing lingering issues with flutter echoes and low-end buildup.” explained Will Shanks, Universal Audio’s Product Manager. “Auralex provided the solution with a number of products, including its SonoSuede Pro System, its best-selling LENRD bass traps as well as its pArtScience SpaceArrays and Screen6 System, which I was first introduced to by Russ Berger himself. The Space Arrays are fantastic, and delivered exactly what we wanted.” more
TORONTO, CANADA—Humber College, which has trained professional musicians since the 1972 launch of its Jazz Music Diploma, has installed a 48-channel Duality console from Solid State Logic, the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast and post production professionals. more
EASTWEST, the industry leader in soundware development and distribution, is pleased to announce that all of its EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA “PLAY” EDITIONS will start shipping July 15, 2008. more
HOLLYWOOD, JUNE 5, 2008 — Harmonization of both vocals and brass has been made easier with Best Service’s Vielklang harmonization instrument, created by Z.Plane Development. EASTWEST, exclusive U.S. distributor of Best Service products, is helping to bring this cutting-edge harmonization technology to musicians, songwriters and producers. more
OXFORD, UK—Solid State Logic, the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast and post production professionals, has been honored with five nominations for the 24th annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards. more
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, JUNE 18, 2008—Legends In Concert, celebrating its 25th year, is the longest running independently owned production show on the Las Vegas Strip. This international award-winning stage spectacular is a live musical celebration featuring the world’s greatest celebrity tribute artists. Behind the scenes, the musicians and sound engineers at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino know that there is no substitute for a crystal clear monitor mix. That’s why the team at Legends turns to Aviom (InfoComm Booth C4175) gear for real results.
Several years ago when the Legends crew decided to upgrade its aging analog console with a new Yamaha DM2000 mixing console, it added the Aviom 16/o-Y1 A-Net Card. The engineers connected five A-16II Personal Mixers, one for each band member, and kept a sixth unit on hand to accommodate an extra player who may join in for the night.
Since they have been installed, the Aviom mixers have been helping the team run a smooth operation night after night. According to front of house engineer Craig Palcisko, they have been working so well, the crew is looking to expand its use of Aviom gear to go beyond just the band members (featuring a musical director/sax player, bass player, drummer, keyboard player, and guitarist) to include background singers as well. Palcisko currently only handles monitor mixing for the singers. The flexibility of having the band members control their own mixes provides Palcisko with freedom he never experienced before as an audio engineer.
“It allows me to concentrate on the audio for guests that are coming to see the show, instead of worrying about what’s happening on stage with the musicians,” he says. “That’s one of the greatest assets of the Aviom gear; it allows the musicians to control their own sound instead of me having to do it for them. This is something new for me that I welcome.”
For Musical Director Joe Escriba, the ability to program preset mixes has made a world of difference in his performance as a musical director and as a saxophone player.
Eliminating the need to adjust monitor mixes to suit individual singers and musical styles is especially important in a show that features such a broad range of musical artists. “At any given moment, we could have a Garth Brooks impersonator on stage, then a Madonna, a Michael Jackson or Blues Brothers,” Escriba says. “Given all of those styles and different instrumentations, it’s nice to be able to have each style mixed differently. A modern pop mix would be something completely different than an Elvis upright bass, jazz snare and guitar trio. Each musician on stage has full control of the mix he’s hearing in his ears. It just makes the job so much easier.”
Guitarist Jim Buck has come to enjoy the freedom the A-16II provides as well. “I play in a number of shows in Las Vegas, as well as with my own band, and I always enjoy when I can use the personal mixer,” he says. “It really helps as you move from venue to venue to ensure that you always have a clean monitor mix. I play Legends several nights a week and I’ve gotten so used to the mixer. The time I appreciate it most is when I don’t have it and I miss the ability to mix my own sound. It’s a big time saver when you’re setting up and sound checking. The engineer doesn’t have to spend time worrying about your monitor mix, and it’s always right.”
Palcisko can’t imagine how the show got by some twenty-plus years without Aviom and expects that the show will continue using the equipment in the decades to come.
“Ever since we installed the Aviom mixers, I’ve gotten so many positive comments up front about the sound,” he says. “We can’t imagine running Legends without the A-16IIs now.”
Aviom is the world leader and pioneer of personal monitor mixing technology with the popular Pro16® Series, as well as the exclusive developer of the revolutionary Pro64® Series of audio networking products. All Aviom products are powered by A-Net®, the company’s groundbreaking high-speed digital audio transmission protocol. Aviom products solve problems in a variety of different environments, including live sound reinforcement, audio recording studios, houses of worship, theater, broadcasting and post-production facilities and a host of commercial installations. Aviom’s entire line of high-quality professional audio products are designed and manufactured in the USA.
LAS VEGAS, NV, JUNE 18, 2008 — Gepco International, an industry leader in the manufacturing of professional audio and video cables, is setting a new standard for multi-channel video connectors with the introduction of its V-CON Connector System. Designed to withstand the harsh environments posed by staging, remote and touring applications, the V-CON system provides the bandwidth and electrical performance for multi-channel HD interconnects in a durable, all-weather design. The company will be featuring the connector system at InfoComm 2008 (Booth C3419). more
Peachtree City, GA, June 18, 2008 – With an unprecedented music career spanning over 40 years, Clarence McDonald has produced and recorded such artists as Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin and James Taylor. Knowing that he would need a reliable and reputable storage drive for his highly anticipated album, Clarence McDonald & Evolution, McDonald naturally chose Avastor’s HDX-800 Triple Interface FireWire drives. more
