Hi Matt,
This is very good work! Congratulations! This definitely sheds some light into the entire system.
It's curious the see how SSL was able to hide all the moving fader details behind the standard VCA S14 interface.This doesn't happen with the 4/6/8k ultimation, since SSL decided to move much of the fader control into the digital CA BUS.
All the cards you listed (which only exist on the 5000) seem to translate the standard interface to all the necessary voltages and control of the moving fader, making it like a "black box" input/output approach, from the computer perspective.
From the information you shared, it seems like if you plug this into any VCA interface it should work, except CUT automation which is done on a separate ribbon (S544).
Being the CUT information in a separate ribbon, can reveal that the gain structure of the control voltage might be different, at least the ceiling. While on the 4/6/8k ultimation the CUT is 100% handled by the digital CA bus, the VCA version is handled with a control voltage >= 7.5v. With this, one can see that the VCA console voltages go from 0-7.5-10v, while the Ultimation only goes from 0-5v (no cut control voltage exists).
What I suspect is that 5000 is no different, although it uses a similar VCA console approach the control voltage didn't allowed for automatic CUT control, hence a separate ribbon. To make this clear what I would now check, is what are the following control voltages:
- Fader fully up, fader fully down, fader fully up+cut, fader fully down+cut. I would also check what is the CV voltage for the cut ribbon, is it a simple 5v (enable) - 0v (disable) ?
I am also curious to know if the 5000 Ultimation is purely a motorized fader which controls the VCA amp, or it's like the 4/6/8k ultimation which allows for non-VCA (motors on) and VCA (motors off). Can you clarify?
I am also curious, since my knowledge of the 5000 is null, what are the function for the other fader buttons? could you elaborate on their function?
Finally, just wanted to mention that although we are looking at the fader automation, I can imagine there are other aspects of the console one wants to control in the computer right? Total Recall? What's up with the pans?
PS: in the future it would rock to have the user+service manuals of the 5000 fully scanned!
Great work!
Cheers,
Artur