Aviom review...

ExistanceMusic · 10th April 2006

Ok, so I got hold of an Aviom digital snake/splitter system for my gig this weekend past, and since it's cool, I though I'd do a little write up on it...

I was using a 32 channel system, comprising 2 16 channel AD converters on stage, and 2 16 channel DA converters at my end. I was running FOH, and I hired a friend to operate my equipment for the evening. The band was a 6 piece dance act, think trance music (doof doof doof) played by excellent jazz musicians. Very cool.

The club we recorded at has a side stage at 90 degrees in the room to the main, with 2 seperate consoles at FOH. We used the side stage console, a Midas Venice 320 as the tracking console, recording to a fostex D2424LV.
The signal chain went Mics -> FOH/Monitor split -> FOH/Aviom, so we were splitting from the FOH tails. We did it this way mainly for convenience, and it also leaves the monitor engineer's gain structure alone. It also allowed up to monitor the signal coming into the Aviom, making sure we weren't hitting the front end too hard, which was fine.

Setup with this thing is SO easy. It has transformer isolated outputs on each channel on the AD, so there was never any grounding issues between the consoles (Venice and a PM3000) and Cat5 is MUCH easier to run than 32 channel multicore.
Once we got it all plugged in, it operated much the same as a high quality active split. Pre-amps set at mic level, with 0 gain, sounded fine.
I guess that's all you want from a splitter, ideally...to not notice it's there. It passes audio unharmed to where you want it, can run 10 feet as easily as 500, and you can digitally split the signal as many times as you want without hassles.
Not much more to say really, if I haven't covered anything, let me know. I'm in the middle of doing the transfers now, and I'll post a rough mix once I get something together.

....questions?

**Remoteness** · 10th April 2006

How about the headroom and signal to noise issues -- everything okay in those departments?

I'm asking this question because someone on this board said there was an issue with signal to noise which sounded strange to me at the time...

What gives? Is there any truth to that scenario?

Jim vanBergen · 11th April 2006

Steve I'll second what that stranger told you. When using the Aviom (System 1 and System 2, with Aviom pre and with Yamaha/Aviom direct cards) I have found less quality signal than I liked or desired, the audio levels were always a little low or noisy compared to the direct source before the conversion-- making it fine for musician monitoring, but not quite there for recording. I'm hoping the 64-channel system has sonic improvements- would love to hear more!

JvB

**Remoteness** · 11th April 2006

Yeah,

Here's the thread I read about that signal to noise issue...

Aviom digital snakes. Anyone looked into this.

ExistanceMusic · 11th April 2006

That was me that brought that up, and it was second hand information...I have to say, I didn't notice anything at the time, and I've just imported the tracks into protools and had a good listen, and it seems fine to me.
I don't think I'd go using this for quiet classical recordings, and I had plenty of signal coming from stage, so never had to use the preamps in the AD.
Sounds clean, no hums or buzzes from anything. No clips, either, so headroom "issue" didn't become an issue for us, but I guess having a good sound check and communication with people sending you feeds from samplers and keyboards is important there, as they are the only things that have come close. Drummer pounding on kick and snare all night didn't even come close to clipping.

More soon folks...

Indrestudios · 12th April 2006

We use an older Aviom System 1 as the digital snake for our remote truck, and I love everything about it. Just finished up a string of concerts for HDnet television, accomidating the gambit of picky guest engineers, and everyone was impressed with the fidelity of the whole signal chain. We have a pre-rack that lives on stage (John Hardy, API, & Presonus) bringing things up to line-level. I'm espicially proud when all the big video truck guys point to the cat5 in awe, and say "that's your snake?"

If anyone out there has the HDnet cable channel, you can hear our truck, and the Aviom snake, in action. I'm pretty sure the shows have started to air: "Sessions from World Cafe, Philadelphia"

10th April 2006	#1
ExistanceMusic Gear addict Joined: Mar 2003 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 478 Thread Starter	Aviom review... Ok, so I got hold of an Aviom digital snake/splitter system for my gig this weekend past, and since it's cool, I though I'd do a little write up on it... I was using a 32 channel system, comprising 2 16 channel AD converters on stage, and 2 16 channel DA converters at my end. I was running FOH, and I hired a friend to operate my equipment for the evening. The band was a 6 piece dance act, think trance music (doof doof doof) played by excellent jazz musicians. Very cool. The club we recorded at has a side stage at 90 degrees in the room to the main, with 2 seperate consoles at FOH. We used the side stage console, a Midas Venice 320 as the tracking console, recording to a fostex D2424LV. The signal chain went Mics -> FOH/Monitor split -> FOH/Aviom, so we were splitting from the FOH tails. We did it this way mainly for convenience, and it also leaves the monitor engineer's gain structure alone. It also allowed up to monitor the signal coming into the Aviom, making sure we weren't hitting the front end too hard, which was fine. Setup with this thing is SO easy. It has transformer isolated outputs on each channel on the AD, so there was never any grounding issues between the consoles (Venice and a PM3000) and Cat5 is MUCH easier to run than 32 channel multicore. Once we got it all plugged in, it operated much the same as a high quality active split. Pre-amps set at mic level, with 0 gain, sounded fine. I guess that's all you want from a splitter, ideally...to not notice it's there. It passes audio unharmed to where you want it, can run 10 feet as easily as 500, and you can digitally split the signal as many times as you want without hassles. Not much more to say really, if I haven't covered anything, let me know. I'm in the middle of doing the transfers now, and I'll post a rough mix once I get something together. ....questions? __________________ Jesse Mahoney ExistanceMusic :at: hotmail dot com

10th April 2006	#2
Remoteness Super Moderator Joined: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 7,405	How about the headroom and signal to noise issues -- everything okay in those departments? I'm asking this question because someone on this board said there was an issue with signal to noise which sounded strange to me at the time... What gives? Is there any truth to that scenario? __________________ Steve Remote AuraSonicLtd.com the home of ASL Mobile & Location Production Remoteness on the Linkedin Network What about my Facebook Profile? Remoteness on Myspace

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11th April 2006	#3
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,562	Steve I'll second what that stranger told you. When using the Aviom (System 1 and System 2, with Aviom pre and with Yamaha/Aviom direct cards) I have found less quality signal than I liked or desired, the audio levels were always a little low or noisy compared to the direct source before the conversion-- making it fine for musician monitoring, but not quite there for recording. I'm hoping the 64-channel system has sonic improvements- would love to hear more! JvB

12th April 2006	#6
Indrestudios Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 252	We use an older Aviom System 1 as the digital snake for our remote truck, and I love everything about it. Just finished up a string of concerts for HDnet television, accomidating the gambit of picky guest engineers, and everyone was impressed with the fidelity of the whole signal chain. We have a pre-rack that lives on stage (John Hardy, API, & Presonus) bringing things up to line-level. I'm espicially proud when all the big video truck guys point to the cat5 in awe, and say "that's your snake?" If anyone out there has the HDnet cable channel, you can hear our truck, and the Aviom snake, in action. I'm pretty sure the shows have started to air: "Sessions from World Cafe, Philadelphia"