Steven Slate debuts The RAVEN X1 Production Console

[Steven Slate]

January 19th, 2012
Anaheim, CA
NAMM 2012 Hall A #6921

In 2011, Slate Digital released the Virtual Console Collection, a DSP plugin that authentically recreates the sound of five legendary vintage analog consoles. Using this plugin, audio engineers can finally have the warm, fat, and rich sound of a classic mixing desk in their DAW. However, as much as the Virtual Console Collection can recreate the sound of a vintage desk, it cannot recreate the workflow or tactile control that a physical desk provides.

Enter the Slate Pro Audio RAVEN X1 Production Console

The RAVEN X1 Production Console is made for the new age of audio production, with innovative features that meet the needs of the modern audio engineer in the modern DAW-based recording studio. Whether it’s tracking, overdubbing, composing, mixing, or mastering a 5.1 DVD, the Raven X1 is equally capable in all aspects of production.

Features

At the heart of the Raven X1, we put the three most important elements of the modern DAW studio: The Display, the Mouse, and the Keyboard. But this is just the beginning. The center console of the RAVEN X1 provides every necessity for the modern studio, such as a full-featured analog monitoring controller, three 6-channel dedicated artist cue sends, 8 stereo sources including an iPod dock right on the desk, 5 speaker outputs, talkback with multiple sources, engineer's headphone section with multiple sources, 4 VU meters, 2 LED meter pairs, USB ports for portable drives and memory sticks, 5.1 surround monitoring, built in “Betty” laptop-style monitors, and more.

All the circuitry in the Raven X1 console was designed by master design engineer Tim Caswell, and therefore the signal path is made to pristine specs for the most critical audio work.

FULL FEATURE LIST:

Integration
Seamlessly integrates the most essential components and functions of the modern studio
Increases efficiency and workflow by placing the DAW front and center

Clear Path™ pristine analog circuitry
All analog components selected for transparency and fast response circuitry

Full Monitor Control
the most feature-rich analog monitor controller
8 stereo source selections, including digital inputs and iPod
5 stereo speaker outputs, including studio and on-board laptop-style speakers
5.1 surround monitoring
Comprehensive source to output routing

iPod / iPhone Dock with AES digital output
Hear and play along with demos on your iPhone or iPod
Digitally stream iPhone / iPod content to your DAW
Eliminate cheap headphone jack converter loss
Capture ideas from your smartphone's music creation apps in full digital quality for use in your productions
Hear your portable music library at full resolution

High-speed USB ports on console surface
Easy access to iLoks, flash drives, smart keys, and hard drives
Console-top location and under keyboard tray
iPad access/power

Three - My Mix™ 6-channel, stereo artist headphone cue mixers
Easily and instantly create three separate, multi-source, 6-channel headphone mixes for musicians in the studio
Route any monitor source to headphones within custom 6-channel mix
Replaces or works in concert with stand-alone cue mix systems
Artists can play along with multiple sources such as main mix, 2 track, and iPod / iPhone

iPad integration for Neyrinck V-Control Pro, tactile plugin control
iPad USB powerpoint on console front
Dedicated space on console for the smartest, most advanced plugin controller

Mix Focus™ Metering
Comprehensive VU and LED metering
LEDs scaleable to display 60dB range or only the critical last 10dB during mixdown mode

Auto Talk™ talkback mode
Talkback mic automatically turns on when playback stops for effortless, hands-free studio communication
Traditional talkback mode selectable
Talkback to cue, to studio, and to slate

Remote Talkback option
Activate the talkback mic from anywhere in the room with a small remote
Direct line of site not required

Engineer's Headphone center
Powerful, on-board headphone amp with standard 1/4” jack and 1/8th” earbud jack

Betty™
Built-in laptop style speakers for consumer playback reference

32 Channel, automated, touch-sensitive fader control surface
EuCon Protocol – the fastest, best integrated virtual DAW control system
100mm long-throw faders and 32 high resolution rotary encoders
Automation mode select, mute, and solo
Industry-standard Avid fader packs for performance, reliability and support

Outboard bays
Integrated rack bays for outboard gear, converters, interfaces, preamps...

Slate Digital Virtual Console Collection plugin included
Brings the sound of 5 legendary analog consoles to your DAW
Models all characteristics of both the channels and the analog summing
Eliminates the need for analog summing

PRESS CONFERENCE at 1PM #6921

[Grahamdwc]

Craaazzy!

[ludvista29]

wow!!! awesome!

[musicjohnny]

Holy crap. Did not see that coming...

[intolerance]

With love.

[Casey]

Let me be the first to complain about the lack of a "Dragon Ink" surface texture. Steve, no guts no glory!

Seriously, I love it. Nice job!



-Casey

[Retinal]

It looks kinda cool
but there's a lot of wasted space..

[2Low]

Superb features

[bwrecordings]

Price?

[Graal]

WOW! Price?

[Lindell]

Does it come with the Euphonix faders, or is that optional?
Yeah- price?

[musicjohnny]

Originally Posted by Graal

WOW! Price?

Alright...let's take bets. I'm going with 10k or even under. I know that seems low but here's why: when it comes down to it, you've got a keyboard, mouse, monitor, audio monitoring section, headphone amp, the chassis, rack spaces, meters, and 24 fader controllers. That puts it in the same functionality range as the C24 and other products like that which all come in right around the 10k mark. Now here's 3 reasons I think it will be significantly less: first, there don't appear to be any pres. The C24 has 16 pres and 2 DI's (granted not the most awesome, but they're there) at the 10k price, as do other similar control surfaces. Second, being a small company and having to compete with the big boys (even though his product may be/is better) they've got to have a lower price point to get somebody to consider coming away from an established brand and over to a new, young company. And third, I think they've heard enough of the complaints about other people's control surfaces just being giant expensive mice. And while what they have here is certainly more innovative, it will still get lumped in with their competitors products. That, coupled with the two previous reasons is going to force a lower price point.

Ok, my guess....7k.

Anybody else want to wager?

[Grin-go-go]

I really like the concept bbut price will be crucial.

[littlenemo]

Originally Posted by musicjohnny

Alright...let's take bets. I'm going with 10k or even under. I know that seems low but here's why: when it comes down to it, you've got a keyboard, mouse, monitor, audio monitoring section, headphone amp, the chassis, rack spaces, meters, and 24 fader controllers. That puts it in the same functionality range as the C24 and other products like that which all come in right around the 10k mark. Now here's 3 reasons I think it will be significantly less: first, there don't appear to be any pres. The C24 has 16 pres and 2 DI's (granted not the most awesome, but they're there) at the 10k price, as do other similar control surfaces. Second, being a small company and having to compete with the big boys (even though his product may be/is better) they've got to have a lower price point to get somebody to consider coming away from an established brand and over to a new, young company. And third, I think they've heard enough of the complaints about other people's control surfaces just being giant expensive mice. And while what they have here is certainly more innovative, it will still get lumped in with their competitors products. That, coupled with the two previous reasons is going to force a lower price point.

Ok, my guess....7k.

Anybody else want to wager?

I have this strange feeling that it's going to be significantly more than 10k...

[musicjohnny]

Originally Posted by littlenemo

I have this strange feeling that it's going to be significantly more than 10k...

Ok, what makes you think so? I know it's big...but a similar sized console from Argosy that holds 4 of the Euphonix Mix controllers and has two 9 space racks (which basically look like what's on Slate's desk) is only 2k plus 4 of the Euphonix artist mix controllers at 1k each bring us to 6k, plus a grand to do the monitor section gets us right to 7k.

Like I said, I could be totally off, but that's what I see in it. What features are you thinking are going to drive the price up?

[littlenemo]

Originally Posted by musicjohnny

Ok, what makes you think so? I know it's big...but a similar sized console from Argosy that holds 4 of the Euphonix Mix controllers and has two 9 space racks (which basically look like what's on Slate's desk) is only 2k plus 4 of the Euphonix artist mix controllers at 1k each bring us to 6k, plus a grand to do the monitor section gets us right to 7k.

Like I said, I could be totally off, but that's what I see in it. What features are you thinking are going to drive the price up?

Well I think the monitor section would be worth a lot more than 1k. It seems to have more features than a crane song avocet which is already in the 3-4k range.
My guess is it's gonna be in the 15-20k range but I sure hope I'm wrong

[Mikey MTC]

Comparisons with the C24 aren't fair. That's a dedicated Pro Tools only controller which will kill this as a Pro Tools controller but the Raven being Eucon will then act as a controller for Logic and others as well which makes it more versatile.

Certainly sounds INTERESTING.

Is that 6 Dragons in the photo? They're not included obviously or you're at $7K+ before you add anything else!

[musicjohnny]

Originally Posted by littlenemo

Well I think the monitor section would be worth a lot more than 1k. It seems to have more features than a crane song avocet which is already in the 3-4k range.
My guess is it's gonna be in the 15-20k range but I sure hope I'm wrong

Yeah, I agree on the monitor section, but all the other prices I quoted (like for the argosy desk and Euphonix controllers) were street price, so I doubt the individual components are going to cost street price when you're buying "in bulk" so to speak. I think that would give enough wiggle room in the price to get a monitor section in there. Like I said, I think it could hit 10k, but I'd be a little surprised if it goes over.

[musicjohnny]

Originally Posted by Mikey MTC

Comparisons with the C24 aren't fair. That's a dedicated Pro Tools only controller which will kill this as a Pro Tools controller but the Raven being Eucon will then act as a controller for Logic and others as well which makes it more versatile.

Certainly sounds INTERESTING.

Is that 6 Dragons in the photo? They're not included obviously or you're at $7K+ before you add anything else!

That's true, but feature wise, they're accomplishing the same thing (hands on fader/knob control, monitoring, talkback, etc) so my comparison was in what's in the box hardware-wise rather than it's functionality.

And I think that's actually Dragons and FOX pre's! (in the render at least, not in the photo) So yeah....that'll cost a little bit haha

[Mikey MTC]

Originally Posted by musicjohnny

And I think that's actually Dragons and FOX pre's! (in the render at least, not in the photo) So yeah....that'll cost a little bit haha

Oh you're right. I missed the two Fox Pres at the bottom. Presumably options - add your own stuff in the gaps.

[musicjohnny]

Originally Posted by Mikey MTC

Oh you're right. I missed the two Fox Pres at the bottom. Presumably options - add your own stuff in the gaps.

Yeah, I'm assuming nothing comes with it...like those are just empty racks on each side, so you can add whatever you want.

[The Beatsmith]

What's with all the dead space?

[DirkB]

Extremely cool.

Exactly all the funtionality that made me want an analoge console is covered here. Finally looks like ITB mixing and analog console workflow are married in the right way.
Now, let's hope the price is right and this could be a winner.

Regards,
Dirk

PS I would assume the Artist mix controls are optional - I would not need 4, 2 is enough.

[Matt@Oracle.]

Oh wow, this is amazing! I would love one of these.

[Abstract520]

That looks sexy.

[uncle muscles]

Slate,

The iPod dock is a home run. Slam ****ing dunk, sir

[matt82aust]

.... i don't get it? If you are going to make a bespoke package with a bunch of (almost all) ready made components, wouldn't you just do it yourself to make the perfect custom console? And off the back of that, if you are going to make a monitoring system (which does look impressive on paper) why bundle it down with a whole bunch of things people may or may not need?

[work2do]

Originally Posted by matt82aust

.... i don't get it? If you are going to make a bespoke package with a bunch of (almost all) ready made components, wouldn't you just do it yourself to make the perfect custom console? And off the back of that, if you are going to make a monitoring system (which does look impressive on paper) why bundle it down with a whole bunch of things people may or may not need?

every product is not for every body. some don't get it, some some wow. it's ok not to like something.

[muziekschuur]

I made something like this myself allready. But I can see this being a great item.

Steinberg came out with these tiny controller items. So if Argosy and Steinberg would team up they could beat this being more configureable.
Wich I assume is a keyword here.

If you're a lawyer you spend top dollar on an impressive room. And the furniture in that room could easily be over 40.000. Now an audio engineer (topclass) should settle for 11.000.... Wich is easily a smaller market...

[doubledecker]

Only thing missing are salt and pepper shakers