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Originally Posted by AntfoodW  Anyway, I wanted to ask how Ozzy and everyone else is using their Zen's.
I plan to use both logic and now PT9 with a 24 i/o ssl alphalink . i'll probably keep 1/2 in for printing back the mix (until i can afford a crane song hedd...) and 1/2 out available for DAW Mix. then the remainder of I/O I'm not sure how best to utilize. Does anyone have any tips or experience in terms of routing and automation decisions in the box that make working out of the box as efficient and flexible as possible? (I'm new to this!)
Currently I'm thinking about setting up tracking and mixing templates with dummy automation tracks, and i/o corresponding to 3-16 on the channel strips. and then 17-24 the first 8 of the "DAW I/P" for additional summing of ITB Buses and figuring out how to still have some patch points for the groups and bus compressor i/o. Anyway, hopefully it arrives early next week. |
Im not sure why you'd not have channels 1&2 patched in? Your idea of using 1-16 lines, the another 8 Daw ins coming from the Alphalink would work fine. To be honest, I just always sum to 16 channels so I don't have to recall the cue section! I'm more than happy stemming to just 16 channels, but I know lots that what to sum in analogue on a channel for channel basis.
I had someone emailing me asking a similar question, so here is (part of) the reply i sent;
Ill try my best to explain how I use mine;
Sound Card Inputs;
Ch 1. Mic - outboard pre - line in - direct out - MOTU 1 - Nuendo
Ch 2. Mic - outboard pre - line in - direct out - MOTU 2 - Nuendo
Ch 3. Mic - outboard pre - line in - direct out - MOTU 3 - Nuendo
Ch 4. Mic - outboard pre - line in - direct out - MOTU 4 - Nuendo
Ch 5. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU 5 - Nuendo
Ch 6. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU 6 - Nuendo
Ch 7. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU 7 - Nuendo
Ch 8. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU 8 - Nuendo
Ch 9. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU 9 - Nuendo
Ch 10. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU 10 - Nuendo
Ch 11. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU 11 - Nuendo
Ch 12. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU 12 - Nuendo
Ch 13. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU (2) 1 - Nuendo
Ch 14. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU (2) 2 - Nuendo
Ch 15. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU (2) 3 - Nuendo
Ch 16. Mic - mic in - direct out - MOTU (2) 4 - Nuendo
Group 1 out - MOTU (2) 5 - Nuendo
Group 2 out - MOTU (2) 6 - Nuendo
Group 3 L out - MOTU (2) 7 - Nuendo
Group 3 R out - MOTU (2) 8 - Nuendo
Group 4 L out - MOTU (2) 9 - Nuendo
Group 4 R out - MOTU (2) 10 - Nuendo
Master L out - MOTU (2) 11 - Nuendo
Master R out - MOTU (2) 12 - Nuendo
Sound Card Outputs;
Channels 1 -16 into DAW inputs
Channel 17/18 into DAW MIX inputs
With this setup, I record a microphone through the desk into Nuendo, and whilst tracking just monitor by a stereo mix coming in on channels 13/14 (for me). If I wanted to add more mics, Id connect the preamp to the line input, put the channel into "channel" mode via the direct out, then route the line i/P to a group. Alternatively you could route your preamp straight into your converter.
When I come to mix I have up to 16 channels of analog summing which (for me) is plenty. For and extreme example;
Ch1 - kick
Ch 2 - snare
Ch 3 - toms L
Ch 4- toms R
Ch 5 - OH L
Ch 6 - OH R
Ch 7 - Room mic L
Ch 8 -Room mic R
Ch 9 - Bass
Ch 10 - clean gtrs (or) keys L
Ch 11 - clean gtrs (or) keys R
Ch 12 - dist gtrs L
Ch 13 - dist gtrs R
Ch 14 - Lead vox
Ch 15 - BVs and FX
Ch16 - BVs and FX
However, you can submix however you want in Logic, then bring out the stems onto as many or as few channels as possible. If you wanted more than 16, you can route extra signals from your sound card into the channel like inputs and use the Cue Mix controls as a second input (pseudo in line).
I print the mix back into Nuendo (as my master L and R is connected to my soundcard).
I hope this helps, I recomend downloading the manual and reading up on how the Zen would integrate into your setup. Although it only has 16 channels, its extremely flexible, and I dont find it limiting at all.
Good luck!
Kind regards,
Oz