Quote:
Originally Posted by steve_flower  Hi Sound_music.
We certainly think pairing a Zen with Black series modules is a very good combination! We have looked into the idea of a modular console, it is a very nice idea.
Some of the reasons why we decided against this for Zen:
- It would significantly increase the footprint of the console, which is designed for project studios, often tight on space.
- It significantly increases power supply requirements, for example to do some of the interesting things the black series does we would need ±48V rails.
- The cost of a console like this would be higher, even with no modules fitted.
If you're looking for on-board EQ, we have the ASP8024, though we don't currently have an automation package available for the console. Alternatively, getting some furniture made up to take a Zen and a rack of EQ right next to it is a nice ergonomic solution.
Let me know if you want any information. Emailing me is the best plan as I don't get too much time to be on here.
Thanks, |
hi steve, thanks for the explanation, makes sense. i realize this console is targeted at the project/home studio and you want to keep costs down, but it has certain attractive features a ASP/ACS boards don't have! i've already shot a few emails back and forth with luke about your other consoles, i love them... but i'm still waiting for something that's reasonably priced with automation/flying faders and possibly a dynamics package. so you see my dilemma with the audient boards--zen has the modern features i want, the ASP boards have the nice eq section i want, and neither offers an onboard dynamics package... (lol..this is the problem for manufacturers in 2009--the pro audio consumer wants EVERYTHING in one product, because everything is now possible! i know it's tough to please everybody... not trying to criticize audient. they make great products! but i think they are also well positioned to bring their "affordable" philosophy to the full featured "everything" console of the future...)
regarding the power requirements of this hypothetical modular zen console, (or some other future yet to be created name you will come up with if you ever decide to do it), you'd only need +48v rails if you offered the black
pres as an option... correct? if so, don't offer black pres as an option. you already have nice preamps in your exsisting design--limit the additional options to EQ and dynamics--that's all anyone would ever be looking for in terms of extended packages anyway. make sense?
better, what about considering some sort of external power supply that would only be required for optional black module packages. you'd have some sort of seperate plug on the back of the console that related only to the empty slots; it would only carry power when connected to the external supply sold seperately with the black series module packages. i for one wouldn't mind an extra PSU in my rack or cached behind the console for the convenience of having optional analog eqs and compressors at my fingertips in channel strip format, integrated directly into the hub of my studio! would any others here second this notion?