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I.T. · 8th January 2007

Most of my recording experience has involved a Digidesign 002 with external preamps feeding the line ins. Of course, the 002 is greatly condensed in comparison to the console-based environment of a major studio. As I begin to explore outboard comps and EQ units, I would like to gain an understanding of how signals are routed around the average big studio. Let’s say we have a 24 track Studer and an API console. As I currently understand it, this would be the primary audio path through the console:

24 Input Channels. Each channel has:
Mic > Mic Pre (312) > FX insert (1176 would go here) > EQ (550) > Channel Fader > Line out to recorder.

24 track Recorder (Studer 827)

24 Playback Channels. Each channel has:
Line in from recorder > FX insert > Pan > EQ (550) > Channel Fader > Summing > Master Faders > Speakers.

So our console would need to have at least 48 channels? Are the input and output channels typically equipped with identical controls/features?

Do you see any flaws with this idea? Am I missing any other basic elements? Is the ordering correct? Any confirmation, comments, and/or additional ideas would be very helpful.

8th January 2007	#1
I.T. Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2006 Thread Starter	Questions About Signal Flow In Major Studios Most of my recording experience has involved a Digidesign 002 with external preamps feeding the line ins. Of course, the 002 is greatly condensed in comparison to the console-based environment of a major studio. As I begin to explore outboard comps and EQ units, I would like to gain an understanding of how signals are routed around the average big studio. Let’s say we have a 24 track Studer and an API console. As I currently understand it, this would be the primary audio path through the console: 24 Input Channels. Each channel has: Mic > Mic Pre (312) > FX insert (1176 would go here) > EQ (550) > Channel Fader > Line out to recorder. 24 track Recorder (Studer 827) 24 Playback Channels. Each channel has: Line in from recorder > FX insert > Pan > EQ (550) > Channel Fader > Summing > Master Faders > Speakers. So our console would need to have at least 48 channels? Are the input and output channels typically equipped with identical controls/features? Do you see any flaws with this idea? Am I missing any other basic elements? Is the ordering correct? Any confirmation, comments, and/or additional ideas would be very helpful.