ideas for bypassing console

[madmuso]

Hello all,

been a while since i've visited here. Since my last visit life has been hectic, but good. Great to see everyone here still knee deep in audio madness! (when will it stop!?).

I was wondering if I could ask some advice and get some ideas on what I am trying to achieve with this particular studio setup.
I currently do audio work from my own home in the box setup but want to start working more frequently at a friends studio.
His studio contains a 6048e and various outboard etc, AD/DA converters and headphone distribution system which all come up on the consoles patchbay area. The preamps and headphone system are patched into "user" patchbays (not the consoles patchbays), however the converts AD/DA ARE patched into the consoles "multitrack" bays.

We have really only used the console for monitoring purposes during tracking dates because we are using outboard pres etc.
So, in order to reduce electricity costs we are trying to think of a way to have the console turned off but still use its patchbay during tracking sessions. So we are trying to come up with two studio mode scenarios, "non console" mode, and "console" mode. Non console mode will also come in handy when the studio owner himself is just doing some songwriting and putting down ideas as he wouldnt need to have the console on.

So for "non console" mode, here's what I was thinking. I suggested we purchase a monitor/talkback controller like the SPL MTC or central station which both have more than one ST input source. So, during "non console" tracking sessions, i was thinking to patch the DA converters main LR outs to ST input 1 on the monitor controller which would enable me to hear our DAW. I could then patch the front end as normal to the AD converters inputs.

So for "console" mode, could I patch the consoles main LR monitor/speaker outs to ST input 2 on the monitor controller, so then all we would have to do is select that input on the monitor controller and we are now hearing the console.

Im sure im not the only one trying to use a studio in these two types of modes so I would love to hear of anyone else's ideas, tips and experiences that may help us achieve our goal.

Thanks guys, chat soon

[sintech]

I'm doing exactly this, using a monitor controller (avocet) that has talkback and great headphone amp, I can access any of the outboard via the bays in the box, I only turn my 4032 on for mixing. :-)) happy life!

[madmuso]

woohoo!! you dont know how glad I am to hear that! This will enable me to work more at this facility but still utilize my work own flow.
So even though the AD converters are hardwired to the consoles multitrack bay we can still patch into them without the console being on right?
Im wondering if anyone has any cool routing tricks I havent thought of that can further enhance this type of setup.

Cant wait to get this happening!

[Clip6]

Just use the center section it only pulls like 400 watts.

I say get the manual and learn the console. It's not that hard.

[madmuso]

Hey Clip6,

The console is in need of a major service, this is also part of the reason why we are trying to keep the studio operational without it entirely.

As far as learning the console goes, id say I already have a beginners familiarity with it. When we moved the console into its space I took the manual home and went over and over it many many times. The hard thing is that the console resides a fair way from where I live so not being able to physically press buttons and turn knobs whilst going through the manual can make the learning phase longer. I did however manage to get a basic grasp of it.
On top of that, its not something that im sitting in front of everyday like some people so once I step away from it for a long period of time (which is usually the case) my memory can get rusty. Like an instrument I suppose.

I was more certain than not that my query would be possible to achieve but thought id seek some pro advice in case there was something I have overlooked that's out of my knowledge base.

cheers,

[marcmozart]

The Patchbay is pretty much independent from the console itself. You can access everything on there even when the console is completely switched off. The Patchbay on an SSL 4K/6K/8K is a pretty amazing tool even if you never use the console.

A monitor controller or small summing mixer with monitor section will do the job. I'm using an SSL X-Rack with Summing and Master Modules and it's patched in a way that I can switch the console on only when I need to use it.

Anyway, there's no way around learning how the patchbay works and knowing exactly what is patched in where. Once you got that, everything is possible.

[sintech]

Marc's totally spot on.

Similarly I use an SSL X-Desk (also on my 4k bays) and patch my converters directly to it, to make a three way headphone mixes when I'm tracking bands. I have also an independent mix for me, and I route the Avocet talkback into the X-Desk to give an omni T/B.

It's completely flexible to all situations ;-)

[xmax]

Buy a https://www.atomicinstrument.com/ power supply save 50% energy consumption!
In a perfect world! In the mean time...
Having the desk off and using the patch is fine, the SSL patch bays are "half normalled"
meaning if you patch into the bottom row, the patch cable "breaks" the connection to
the gear that is turned off. Some gear does not cause a problem being off. But some
does. I had a client with nasty distortion on the main outputs of his ssl but not the monitor
section, it turns out their was a apogee converter was turned off and shorting out the 2 buss!
They were trying to just come back into the Avid converters and they thought something
was broken.

[madmuso]

Thanks guys for the great info and help. I just purchased a second hand spl mtc2381 monitor controller ( to replace my central station) i got the spl because it has plenty of handy I/o options unlike my presonus central station that I'm using at home. However, I did an ab of both units. I recorded the main outs and cue outs of both units back into my daw through my isa428. Once level matched, zero difference. I couldnt believe it. I was expecting the spl to out perform the presonus in the audio side of things, especially after reading lots of reviews, but if didn't. So either the central station is damn good for the money, or the spl isn't for the money!
I toggled between tracks while the song was playing and you couldn't tell at all.
The only thing I haven't ab'd yet are the actual speaker outs because I currently don't have the correct cables for the spl. Once I do though I'm gonna do that test since those are the outputs I'm interested most in. Now I gotta wait for the owner of the ssl to get one! Keep ya posted on how we go! Thanks again guys,

[ULH]

Hi

We have that SPL as well from before owning our console and fell the same way about it - not great with too high a noise floor.

Cheers,
Uffe