Which console for my remote truck?

[Axiomhead]

Hey all! I'm looking for a console to outfit a permenant install in my recording truck. I'm leaning toward digital... What consoles lend themselves to the rigors of the remote buisness? I really like the DMX-R100's layout, but theres not enough channels there, I'd like at least 48 mic inputs. I've used the SSL Axiom (which is an option), but I just wanted to see what else you guys might suggest. This console will be feeding a PT HD rig along with an ADAT or Radar backup recorder. Thanks!

[Jim vanBergen]

Budget a non-issue? Are you planning on using external pres, and if so, what format of digital, and how willl you convert anything analog?

SSL...Neve...Euphonix...Studer (actuall, I like this one a LOT!) DiGiCo....Yamaha.

Methods: Glass (fiber) snakes, MADI (over RG58) vs AES vs??

How much truck space you have?

There are a lot of things to find out before anyone can say definitively, THAT desk.

[Remoteness]

What JvB said...

Give us more information and we'll be able to respond properly.

[Axiomhead]

Budget is somewhat of an issue... but if it gets gigs I'm not opposed to dropping some major cash on the console... I'd just kinda prefer one that will hold it's value (kinda rare with digital gear). I'm not tied down to any digital format yet. I'd like the Pre's to be onboard. The truck already has a "traditional" wired splitter and snake, so I'll probably keep it that way. The truck (trailer actually) is 40' long by 8' 6" wide (oustide demensions). It's a former broadcast trailer. I know there are a ton of other variables, I just thought I'd ask your opinions before I've commited to any purchases/formats.

I'm liking the digico's... Some engineers I work with are pointing me toward the newish Yamaha (dosen't impress me).

[Remoteness]

i'm installing a two Digico D5s for a CBS shoot in August. I'll give you my opinion real soon.

Digico's DS00 looks very cool to me.
The new Digidesign D-Control Venue also looks like a serious contender.
I may need (want) to buy both --- Ouch!

[Axiomhead]

I think I'm in love with the d5.....

The d1 looks like it a winner too.

[ClickTrackAudio]

Are you going to be the sole engineer in the truck or are you building it so that other engineers will be using it? If so, then you have to have something that the vast majority of competent engineers will be able to be at home with.

As well, you also need to consider not only what console, but how you route signals in and out.

This is all to say that don't build your system piecemeal...think of the system as a whole and how that console is going to complement your system. At the end of the day, you need to get something going that is reliable, flexible and maintainable.

Of course, I personally think digital is the way to go, simply because of the recall-ability of everything (excluding your outboard). You WILL find yourself in situations where you'll be soundchecking 3 or 4 bands and then have them go on in a different order than when they soundchecked. Having that recall saves a lot of re-thinking. This, however, DOES NOT replace good note-taking. There's only so far the "enter" button will take you.

As well, at the end of the day, its all about the sound. Steve was right about the options (external pres, external A/D's, onboard pres, outboard) All of these factors will mitigate which console is right for your application, but your final call should be "How does this board sound?". When you're spending the amount of coin that you will be spending, the various manufacturers should bow down to give you a chance to demo things and very quantatively judge how this console sounds compared to another in a real-life scenario. Use every opportunity to do this. It'll be worth its weight in gold.

Some more thoughts to add to your myriad of questions.

Cheers
Click.

[Axiomhead]

Hey click! I was actually checking out your truck this morning over on John Sayers Forum. Nice setup! I'm curious about how you've configured your system to be so flexable...?

[cajonezzz]

man..... if your tracking to tools, you GOT to check out the VENUe.
I checked it out at NAB last year, and couldn't get away from it.
Wonderfully layed out, and from all accounts, sounds way good.

seemed way more intuitive than the Digico to me. Robert Scovill was very , very fired up about this console, and did a great job selling me.

I think the killer deal would be the Venue and a D command for mixes. It would be awesome if the Venue did controller duties like the D command, like if it had a "mix mode" .

Of course you can just mix back off of Tools through the venue- but to use it as a controller would be sick.


cz

[rmx16]

Just a few thoughts on the D5 from a live sound viewpoint.I did a show in Atlantic City,NJ with Bocelli and the sound company had some issues with the D5 the night before (MADI card problems).As always YMMV.

Rob

[Remoteness]

Rob,

So what ended up happening?

[rmx16]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Rob,

So what ended up happening?

They changed out the madi cards and everything was cool. The system tech was alittle nervous during the show.but the show went on without a hitch (and sounded great...)


Rob

[ClickTrackAudio]

Originally Posted by Axiomhead

Hey click! I was actually checking out your truck this morning over on John Sayers Forum. Nice setup! I'm curious about how you've configured your system to be so flexable...?

Hey...glad to see we've garnered an audience!!! (Now if we could only garner that much more biznazz!!! )

When we were building the truck, one of things in the back of my mind was having the system infrastructure gear-independant. By gear independant, I mean not having the infrastructure dependant on specifics of the gear we're choosing right now.

Don't get me wrong...there is always gear dependance in some form, but I wanted the generic stuff infrastructure-wise to NOT be tied specifically to the equipment that is high-fashion now, but obsolete in 5 years.

For example, we didn't want to depend on the console specifically to feed the recorders. For one, I wanted to be able to use either the RADAR A/D or (any other external A/D if the situation fit) and didn't want to depend on using the console fo r all the truck I/O. In fact, if we were in a pinch, I could totally drop any console in the spot if my DM2000 went down. All of the connections and I/O are wired for "standards" and the system chain allows drop ins whereever.

Having said that, it would be a tremendous PITA, but we could do it. As well, everything that comes in the truck is accessible via patchbays.

There's plenty more I want to do, just to be able to say "yes, we can" in the middle of any situation. In fact, I wouldn't have to think too hard to figure out a way to add 4-8 patch bays in our truck, just to have those signals accessible and flexible. (And they will be there in time... ). We've had scenarios where our system hasn't done everything we wanted to and had to work around...its too be expected. But the majority of the time whenever we want a signal routed somewhere, I have access to it. In fact once, my limitation wasn't whether I could route the signal...it was "damn...will I have enough patch cables to get it there!!!"


Remember that you will be in situations that you never planned on. Or in the middle of something where the requirement will change at the drop of a hat. You 've gotta be flexible enough to say "yep..lets git'er done" as opposed to "damn...umm...I can't do that". Let me tell you....it sucks saying the latter, but you're an unsung hero when you say the former.

Just some more random ramblings...hope it answered your questions.


Click

[Jim vanBergen]

After a great deal of thought, and against my personal bias, I think you should look seriously at the Venue (I know, I know... I was really going to say Studer and DiGiCo!). Most of what we record these days is ProTools. It's still the de facto standard in the recording industry. I personally don't like the control surface much and I really dislike the plug in concept, but it has a place....and its not a horrible place! Plus, it's easier to do a MADI split to record PT and go to the Venue simultaneously, and you can mix immediately while recalling what you setup during record. Unlimited levels of UNDO gives me a strange comfort level.

Next, and maybe this matters and maybe not- it's well under 100k. The D1 is under 100k, but the D5 and the Studer...not even CLOSE. So if API, Neve, SSL, Trident aren't the right way to go...and I don't think the PM5D is the best sounding desk out there. (Passable for live, not so great for recording, though my clients don't complain, it's just me knowing what I'm NOT hearing!)

I think Venue is going to have the bang for the buck. Sheesh...I've said it. OK. If but, IF you have money to burn, by ALL means, please buy something much more expensive. The part of me that just cringes at the Venue begs you.

Stuck in a Digi world...
JvB

[Axiomhead]

Thanks for the input! Some guys from SSL contacted me yesterday, so I'll go have a look at their current offerings... I like the digico stuff and the Venue is a contender as well. There seems to be a flood of used consoles on the market, so I'll out the 2nd hand houses too.

[Remoteness]

A year and change later...

So which desk did you go with?