Analogue summing w/ Toft ATB 32

[Nerine]

Hi.

I might be in the wrong forum, and for that I apologise.

If not however, here is my question:

At the studio I work at, we have a Toft ATB 32 analogue console Hooked up to a Digi 192.

I was wondering what the easiest way to introduce some analogue summing to my mixes is? I'm struggling to get my head around the routing. I'm pretty sure it should be doable, but I'm unsure where my inputs and outputs go to/come from.

I understand that you have stems and output them to faders on the desk, so it can be mixed through the desk and recorded back into the DAW.

However, if I am outputting these stems, I don't understand what input they'll all be coming back in on. I don't know what stereo channel on the desk can be used to input back into PT with.

Sorry if this is a completely noob question, I'm just unsure if our console will allow me to do what I want with it.

Do I need the digital expansion card for the Toft?

Thanks fellow slutz!

L

[jeremyglover]

ok. think about what you want to do?
do you want your final stereo mix only to be recorded back into pro tools?
do you want groups recorded back into pro tools (stereo drum group, bass group, vocal group etc ?)
think about where the signal starts and how you want it to end.
think in simple terms.
cheers, jeremy

[deft_bonz]

That's what I do when summing:

I use all 16 outputs for single instruments and stems. E.g. kick and bass are on single channels, the rest of the drums stemmed on a stereo out, etc.

The mixed stereo out of the summing box goes into DAW input 1&2


If you want to records groups, patch the group outs from the mixer to your DAW inputs. Then you'll need to mix them ITB or again OTB, altough OTB seems obsolete then (going OTB twice)


Last possibility are the direct outs of each channel. But considering you want to mix OTB, I don't explain this.

[Nerine]

Thanks for the insights so far. Very helpful.

What I am aiming to do I guess, Is print my mix on a stereo channel that has been stem mixed through the Toft. Basically so I can impart a little more sonic character and analogue warmth on the mix.

I don't even know if what I want to do is the best way around it, I just can't really see the obvious way to set all this up. In theory, I understand that all you are creating is a loop from the DAW to the desk and back to the DAW, but the I/O of the Toft leave me feeling slightly confused.

I suppose really, It's the interface's Ins and Outs that I need to be more concerned with. For example, I could make a stereo bus on the interface and take a feed from the desk's 2 track return or whatever would usually go to the tape recorder...

Really I need to have a damn good look behind there to understand the routing I think.

Lastly, I am unsure how the desk deals with stereo channels. Do I just use two channels and have one panned left and the other right? (For a stereo stem, say)?

[deft_bonz]

You need to adress the 16 channels of your 192, e.g. like this:

Kick: Digi192 Out 1
Bass: Digi 192 Out 2
Drums (w/o kick) stemed in Protools on Bus 1: Digiout 3&4 (stereo)
etc.

On the Toft

Channel 1 input from Digi192 Out 1 > pan centered
Channel 2 input from Digi192 Out 2 > pan centered
Channel 3 input from Digi192 Out 3 > pan 100% left
Channel 4 input from Digi192 Out 4 > pan 100% right

Individual panning of each drum sound needs to be done within Protools.

[Nerine]

Thankfully, I have it sorted now.

I requested that the subgroups/masters on the ATB32 were disconnected to basically just go straight out of the direct outputs of each mic channel. This was actually not correct

I set up a few more stereo outputs in my PT session.

So now, I have 8 faders on the right hand side of the desk that have all got outputs from the 192 going into them.

Via the submasters I can actually route these outputs to a single 1-2 in on the interface.

The submasters basically take precedence when they are in use. So pressing in the 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 or 7-8 buttons on the stem's faders route the audio to whichever input is selected via pan. So if you create a new stereo track, set the inputs to 1-2 and you get whatever channel is set to 1-2 on the desk. It goes via the submasters. So I can route both the outputs from the DAW back in and the regular mic feeds when tracking.

Therefore in PT, I have 4 stereo output paths.
Each of my 8 faders (4 pairs in stereo) has a submaster assign button.
I push in the 1-2 buttons on each of the 8 channels.
This routes these outputs to the same inputs in PT as the regular 1-2 mic feeds.

So basically, 1 is L, 2 is R.

So I just create a stereo track, set the input to 1-2 stereo,

Assign all of my 8 faders on the desk that are dealing with the stems to route to 1-2 with the small push buttons.

Bingo. All stems recording back in on a stereo track, via desk routing, and I am taking advantage of the analogue EQ's and summing of the console on my stems.

Awesome!!

This probably sounds massively confusing and it isn't news to most, but I just felt I had a Eureka! moment today!

Really pleased that I have gotten my head round it.

Hopefully this will be of some use to anyone that was in the same boat if they can sift through my mung.

Cool. B)