EUCON ProTools integration

[mixboy bob]

Hi All!

I'm wondering if anyone with a Sys5, Fusion, or Sys5-MC could share a bit about ProTools control. I'm about to move from a ProControl setup to either a D-Control, Sys5-MC, or Fusion. Obviously, the ICON is hand-in-glove with PT, but I like the option of controlling different DAW's all with one surface - it will just help overall workflow.

It seems that a lot of Fusion/S5 users are taking advantage of Nuendo's integration, which I am open-minded about. Yet 99% of my work is currently PT. Will I be able to have at least ProControl's level of control with EUCON, or is it really just HUI? I can't stand the lack of HUI functionality compared to even my ancient ProCo.

I just know that there may be a way to be more efficient with the folks that bring OMF's from Nuendo/Logic if I could just open their project files and tear into it, rather than OMF/AAF importing. I'm willing to sacrifice a BIT of PT control (control that the ICON would bring) if the sacrifice wasn't too extreme (NOT HUI!!).

Add to all this the thought of having a Fusion with DSP in ADDITION to PT/Nuendo/Logic - sweetness, but possibly more than what I really need in my setup.

Sorry for the rambling/thinking outloud. There's nowhere in Nashvegas to get my hands on an S5-MC or Fusion, so any insight is MUCH appreciated!

peace

Rob Burrell
aka mixboy

[dogandpony]

I only have the MC-Pro but from what I remember of my old HUI, the integration with PT's and the MC is more like HUI on steroids. I'm the opposite of you, 99% of my work is in Nuendo these days but I have done a couple of projects in PT's with my MC and the control was good. Check with the Euphonix folks, they are very forthcoming on the product and there is at least one good video regarding PT's and the MC/System 5 MC on their website. John.

[Lake]

We are just setting up a small S5MC room with 24 faders controlling PT HD. I'm used to a large format S5 and have been trying to find ways to work on the MC that relate somehow to our big rooms.

So far it seems that most of the control for th PT is via HUI protocol and then programming the soft-keys with PT shortcuts.

There are 4 HUI banks assignable in PT which control 3 x 8 channels plus 1 bank controlling the surround-panners.

Some of the functionality relating to automating plug-ins from the channel strips is only available via the first HUI bank, but there is a work around using what Euphonix call an ALLP track. You basically make a mono audio track in PTs and call it ALLP. Have it as the first track in the track list (top left) and attention it on the MC (wave key), then you can hide it if you want. As long as you do not attention another track, then any time you click on a PTs plug-in the soft keys will display the plug-in info/controls.

For PTs there is no layout functionality because of the HUI protocol so we have just been using markers with no time selection just track selection to bring up different 24 fader layouts on the MC.

We are hoping to use the room for preparing larger temp mixes etc... I think that it comes down to just finding a template that suits and working out what the limitations of the PT/MC are and working within them. We are a PT based facility and I think we might have had more functionality with an ICON, but we have large System 5s as well and hopefully having an understanding of how the MC works will help integrate EuCon into our big rooms at a later date.

Might know a bit more about this by the end of next week as we are still setting it up at the moment. Hope this is useful?!

G

[Adria_BCN]

I've used Eucon surfaces in the past.... so i've done with ICONS....

And if i'd had to make a decision for a PT room... i'd go ICON, without any doubt. D-Command brings much more integration than any other controller (well except D-control) to PT, fader resolution is just the "tip of the iceberg" you know, HUI vs. Digi.

By the way i have to say that i like Eucon surfaces.... but not for protools.

If i can help you anymore, just PM me.

[Steven1145]

I have a S5 Fusion, and I must admit that I have'nt Euconised our PTHD rig yet. The reason for this is that we are a mainly Nuendo facility, and the PT rig is for gigs coming in for which the sound editing has been done elsewhere on PT.

The Euphonix rep over here told me that though the Fusion's Hybrid (or 5MC Eucon) indeed uses HUI, they're tweaking it to the max to allow for EQ plugings to appear on the EQ knobsets and so forth. Again, I have'nt seen it myself so I cant vouch for it.

On the other hand I just finished a feature mix with around 140 tracks in Nuendo for foley and FX, all mixed via Eucon on the Fusion while Dialog, Ambience and Music were handled by the Euphonix DSP (we have 154 channels of DSP on our S5), and it worked very, very well. A few annoying things here and there, but that is because the development of the Eucon Hybrid on the System5 is lagging very slightly vs the Eucon on the S5MC due to all the effort poured into developping the MC Mix and Control.

I could'nt have mixed this movie without it. At least not without doing quite a lot of predubs before the final.

I might try out the PT control one of these days but the studio has been booked solid for the last 3 months.


Cheers,

Steven

[Peeks!]

I've been working with the MC on both N4 and PT for the last year, with a majority of the work residing on PT.

I would say that unless you're looking to phase into your PT studio a EuCon-ready DAW like Logic, Pyramix, or Nuendo, go with the ICON. The HUI protocol feels a little clunky in general to me. And once you experience full EuCon protocol (I run N4), you won't want to go back to PT/HUI. But if you go back and forth between DAWs, the MC is fantastic. Seriously.

[georgia]

I have a MC and a 72 Fader 2-seat System 5 Hybrid. I use the MC on Protools and FCP.. it works great. I use the Hybriid system with Protools and Logic in the dub stage. It works very well with logic. Protools is still a bit hit and miss. Most of the time its fine, but somwtimes it drops off line and I have to muck a bit to get it back. But I do like it.

cheers
geo

[kwilliams]

Originally Posted by georgia

I have a MC and a 72 Fader 2-seat System 5 Hybrid. I use the MC on Protools and FCP.. it works great. I use the Hybriid system with Protools and Logic in the dub stage. It works very well with logic. Protools is still a bit hit and miss. Most of the time its fine, but somwtimes it drops off line and I have to muck a bit to get it back. But I do like it.

cheers
geo

Hey Georgia,

I've seen you mention using Logic a few times....just curious what use you have for Logic in a client based environment. Many friends of mine use Logic for composing, sound design etc...but can't say I know anyone who uses it ifor editing, ADR, mixing etc..
Just curious..!

[georgia]

we use it for music composition only. I have a composer who works with us that loves Logic, so we purchased a copy for the studio just in case we needed it. It's come in handy for a couple of other music gigs as well.


cheers
geo