Amek Big: VD Key input?

[noiseprofessor]

Hello, can anybody tell me, which input on the Amek Big Console does act as the Key Input for the Virtual Dynamics System? Didn´t find anything in the manuals. Thanks in advance!

[duckoff]

I used to have one - don't think i even knew you could sidechain the VD !

[noiseprofessor]

Well the option is there on the softwarescreen, i was wondering if the inputs for keying are optional? on the bigger Amek´s like the Rembrandt it´s no problem to patch a key signal for the dynamics.

[The Byre]

If you do not have the SC button on the strip, then SC is not possible. It places the Low and High-Pass filters in the VD path.

If you are uncertain, ask HERE

[Jules]

Is it organized in the software?.. Damn.. I forget.. (and I worked with Virtual Dynamics for 3 years..)

[noiseprofessor]

Maybe this is of interest: I´ve talked to a tech-guy from a former Amek distributor, who has serviced many Amek Desks and he told me that sidechain was available as an hardware option with extra patchpoints.

@ The Byre: desks like Rembrandt and others had patchpoints which could be used for keying, no SC Button in Hardware. I guess this came later on Media 51s or so.

Anyway - thanks everyone for the answers!

[radu.ionescu]

i use a Big44 regularly and the SC in the VD is not operational, no patchpoints; though i give a **** about it since i dont use the VCAs...sounds too crappy...at least in the Big, i understood that other higher range Ameks have an usable VD but not the Big.

the automation is very cool indeed and easy to use!

[noiseprofessor]

From my understanding the VCAs are always in the signal path, no matter if VD is activated.

I like the VD in the Big, soundwise they don´t differ much to the Rembrandt, which i´ve owned before (have not enough space anymore, so it had to go...). Like in the Rembrandt, you have to be very careful with the threshold and don´t believe the software-meters. Nothing special, no big character, but hey - it just works.

[Slipperman]

Hey.

Small fader(black knob on the "Channel Path" section up top) DOES NOT USE VCA(Depress Input flip, Mids to Channel).

This will allow you to monitor at the 2 buss with control of (black)volume knob, panning and 2 "mid bands" of Eq... WITHOUT USING THE VCA... if that's going to do it for you.

Remember: If you're using the LARGE fader in ANY WAY on a "Big", you're automatically using a THAT 2151 VCA. Even with "Faders Isolate" engaged in the Center Section.

The very SAME SINGLE VCA which is used for the VD.



So.

If the sound of the 2151 VCA's are bumming you out.

Swap VCA's to THAT 2181(you gotta put in one little trimming resistor if memory serves me - it's been more than 10 years... sorry).

Like taking a big blanket off the desk.

No kidding. MONSTER difference on a full mix. Waayyyy tighter low end, way more top, lots more detail in the mids. Eq. are night and day... whole nine yards.

Which is great but: Biggest bottleneck is still the 2-Buss. Even with the 2181 mod.

Then again.

You can always rip the ENTIRE 2-buss system out and replace it with something muscular. Then you lose SuperTrue on the 2-buss fader, which in my opinion is not a big deal AT ALL compared to the sonics issue.

One of my former business partners built a HAMMERING 2-buss summing mod for the first of my 2 "Bigs" which was basically the same 2 buss as the 9098i.

The hilarious thing was: You could pile gain up the wazoo into this thing before it collapsed. Which is great... BUT... You couldn't get the "SSL 4000 like" SLOW ONSET of gritty/smashy/exciting distortion that is actually hysterically great if yer doing certain types of rock stylee musics on the desk. Almost like a brickwall limiter from hell. A phenomenon which DOES OCCUR with either the original 2151 OR the 2181 VCA's across the 2.

The 9098i 2-buss mod just went... CLEAN... GIMMIE MORE, CLEAN... GIMMIE MORE, CLEAN... CLIP.

And the CLIP is a LOUD "CLICK".

Just nasty.

SM.

PS. As for Sidechain to VD. I don't think they ever got it going on the "Big". They talked about it in the various manuals and whatnot but I've never seen or heard of a "Big" with it operational.

PPS. VD works and sounds a whole lot better with the 2181's as well. As one poster mentioned... IGNORE the "metering" in the displays, it is always "late and undershot". Use yer ears instead and you might be surprised at how many "utilitarian" tasks you can perform with the system. ESPECIALLY if you don't PILE ON THE GAIN from signal source. Which these days with easy control of level on workstations, and the attendant low noise floors of digital audio is not as much of the big deal it used to be.