As promised, here's a PDF file showing how we intend to lay out the patchbay. Alas, this is not a proper CAD drawing (yet), but rather a spreadsheet, and a somewhat compacted one at that.
First of all, if you haven't yet seen the
announcement, we're going to install a 64-channel API vision, and we've upgraded the number of Harrision digital IO points to complement the console as well. In January we visited MTSU to spend some time in front of
their 48-channel Vision console, and it really confirmed that the API Vision is the perfect match for the environment we are creating. It really is a thing of beauty.
Second of all, I must confess that I am not a real spreadsheet jockey. Some people know how to format rows and columns so that they are different sizes with respect to each other, but not me. Because API formats their patchbays to be 32-across, and because we also have some additional patchbays that will be 48-across, I chose to format the spreadsheets according to the common denominator of 16 elements per patchbay. Therefore there are two API signals per cell in the console part of the patchbay and there are three user signals per cell in the part of the patchbay representing the credenzas. This has confused everybody the first time they look at the file, but as soon as I explain it (as I just have), it all becomes clear.
Here is the
PDF (which prints on two 19"x13" Super-B pages--you can ignore the blank 3rd page until I figure out how to delete it).
About the normalling. The top two rows (lime green) are the mic tie lines. The top row is not normalled and the 2nd row is normalled to Mic Pre inputs. From the Mic Pre inputs to the bright red OSC outputs (and mults, etc) are wired according to API standards, more or less.
The bottom six rows are defined and normalled as follows. The first of the six are mults of the Direct Outs, and they are normalled to A/D inputs (the second row). The third and fourth rows (1-48) are the left credenza and not normalled, while the fifth and sixth rows (1-48) are the right credenza and also not normalled.
Things get a little more interesting for rows 3-6 in positions 49-84. The orange stripes are AUX tie lines to the wall panels and the red stripes are MULTs. The idea is that we can patch any console output to a mult that's copied up to 5 times. We can then patch these mults to the wall panels, using mult-ing Y cables if need be, so that our AUX tie lines at each wall panel have the appropriate console output signals. Thus we can build custom cue mixes on the console and deliver them in analog to the wall panels for amplification into headphone distribution systems AS AN ALTERNATIVE/COMPLEMENT TO AN AVIOM SYSTEM.
Finally, rows 3-6 in positions 85-96 provides non-normalled "guest" IO so that a visting producer can connect up to 24 I/O channels to our credenzas, 12 for each, without requiring us to unplug the credenza. But if somebody wants to roll out our credenzas in favor of their own, then can do that by disconnecting the ELCOs at the wall panels and plugging in their own gear.
Another note about the API area is that we've configured the console to have 212L preamps over 215L filters, which leaves space for 30 compressors and gates in the options area. In addition, we'll have two penthouses above the PB hold 12 500 series modules each for a total of 24. Thus we can mix and match the best of the "Legacy" series with the best of the new 500 series while still having 42U of gear in the credenzas.
That's 31 * 64 points + 4 * 96 points = 2368 patch points.