Sowohl Post, als auch Musik sind ohne Kompromisse möglich, damit zeigt sich das Studio als prototypischer Dienstleister für die neuen Anforderungen an Medienschaffende: “Einmal alles, bitte!”

The Control Modules

The S5 Fusion surface is modular and comes with three different types of modules (see opposite page for 5ft S5 Fusion package surface ):

• CM401-T Master Control Module (1ft wide, 305mm)
• CM408-T 8-Fader Channel Strip Module (1ft wide, 305mm)
  • from 1 to 7 for 8-56 faders.
• CM411-J Joystick Module (1ft wide, 305mm) Optional modules…
• CM402-T Submaster Central Assign Module
• CM403- F/J Film Monitoring Panel with twin Joystick Module (1ft wide, 610mm) Replaces CM411-J module
• CM409-F Blank Module (1ft wide, 305mm)

S5 Fusion Frame 
The S5 Fusion frame is available in three sizes supporting 5, 7 or 9 modules.

The main console modules connect to the equipment rack via Ethernet cables for extremely simple hookup, allowing the surface to be placed long distances from the rack. The CM401-T Master Control Module also includes talkback wiring.

The illustration below shows the 5-module frame. Widths for the three frame sizes are

Typical Equipment Rack

The rack below shows an S5 Fusion system equipment rack. The MA703 is used for monitor feeds. The standard S5 Fusion has 4 MADI ins and 4 MADI outs – each MADI can handle up to 64 channels at 48Khz totalling 256×256 signal paths. These are the audio inputs and outputs to the Avid DSP channels and buses. One of the MADI outs is used for the MA703 monitor feed MADI to analog converter. Adding an extra DSP card adds 4 extra MADI ins and outs, up to a total of 8 MADI I/O (512 x 512 signal paths) with two DSP Cards. Connections to and from the MADI I/O can be made to any MADI converters including the full Avid range of modular and multi-channel converters shown on page 28. 3rd party MADI I/O can also be used. One of the cheapest and most effective ways to connect DAWs is to use MADI PCI cards such as the RME Hammerfall DSP MADI card.

S5 Fusion 5-module frame dimensions:

S5 Fusion Control Surface – 5 Module Frame

Channels

The number of cards in the DSP cards determine the number of channels and buses that are available in each S5 Fusion. For a given number of DSP cards, different combinations of channels and buses may be quickly configured using the eMix Mixer Model software. Usually a Mixer Model is chosen during installation and is used throughout the life of the system as it will best match the application requirements of the studio.

Each S5 Fusion channel has:

• 2 inputs, that may be fed from analog or digital sources (using appropriate converters), labelled A & B. Either A, B or A & B may be selected to feed the channel
• phase reverse
• gain trim
• delay up to 2 secs
• insert send & return
• 4 band fully parametric EQ
• 2 filters
• dynamics including compress/expand-gate with hysteresis, key input and side chain filter
• touch sensitive moving fader
• multi-format panning to group and mix buses
• up to 32 mix buses
• up to 24 group buses
• up to 16 aux send buses
• solo (APL, PFL, SIP)
• 2 direct outputs – pre-fader & post-fader

If mic preamps are connected to the channel these additional controls are available which relate to the ML 530 remote mic/ line interface unit :

• input impedance – hi/lo
• phantom power
• hi pass filter
• analog input gain

Strips

S5 Fusion is built up of modules of 8 strips. Controls closely resemble those of a traditional analog surface. In its simplest form a single strip controls a single source so a 24 strip surface could control 24 channels.

Swap (Replace) 
However there is a very useful function called “Swap” which allows single strips, or every strip, to switch between two channels. So 48 channels (sources) could easily be controlled from 24 strips by Swapping between the two layers at the push of a button (1-24 and 25-48).

S5 Fusion adds further flexibility by allowing any source to be controlled from any strip, it is even possible to have two strips controlling a single source. This is where Layouts come into play.

Layouts & Control Groups 
The position of sources on the surface can be saved and recalled as Layouts. For example one Layout could be sources 1-24 and another sources 25-48 for a console with 48 channels and 24 strips. More importantly the most critical sources can be placed next to the operator. For example, dialog to the left and music sources to the right of the center. Different Layouts can be saved so that the engineer always has the most important sources within easy reach. Layouts do not save and recall knob and fader settings, they simply recall the layout of sources on the control surface. SnapShots are used to save parameter settings. Control Groups allow a number of faders to be controlled from a single strip. Layouts can store/recall the entire desk or only certain strips defined by the operator.

Central Control of Strips 
The Master Control Module includes a complete strip for central control of any source. Pressing the Wave key next to a source fader brings that source to the central strip.

New Touch Sensitive Knobs

S5 Fusion uses unique rotary illuminated touch-sensitive knobs that instantly reset after a recall. The center of the knob also includes a switch which can be used for certain knobset select functions, and to punch in the knob automation, if the touchsensitive knob automation option is switched off. The displays reflect the type of control, for example a gain control is shown opposite. Below are the different displays for different functions:

Knobsets At the top of each strip are a set of 8 knobs with associated switches. These knobs can be selected to control the following parameters using the switches just below the knobs:

• Input Controls
• Dynamics
• EQ & Filters
• Aux Sends – level, pre/post and routing
• Pan
• Routing to Group/Clean Feeds and Mix Buses

The selected button in this photo shows that the knobset is controlling EQ. To the left of these keys are processor In/Out switches.

Other Channel Functions 
Here are just some extra functions available to the engineer:

• Copy and Paste one strip to another
• Use a single strip to select function such as EQ, Dynamics, Aux for all strips
• Clear all controls
• Lock a strip to prevent changes when the Layout changes
• Select a strip to be controlled from the center section
• Expand a strip so that EQ, Dyn, etc. controls are spread across several strips

Inputs

Each channel has two digital inputs labelled A and B. Controls for each input include:

• Gain Trim
• Phase Reverse
• Delay
• Input Select (A, B, or A+B)

Patching Input Sources (PatchNet) 
The PatchNet routing system (see page 24) is used to patch sources to inputs. Any sources within the system, such as mixminus/ group outputs or externals may be sent to these inputs.

External MADI inputs can also be directly patched. For Analog, AES/EBU and other digital sources the Avid converters are used. See the Converter section for details

.

Mic/Line Preamp 
For variable gain analog mic inputs Avid can provide the optional ML 530 with 24 mic/line input preamps and the AM713 analog to digital converter. If this is connected to the system the controls for phantom power, input impedance, high pass filter and gain are available on the channel strip.

This can also act as a direct box, providing correct impedance matching with balanced outputs plus the benefit of gain control.

Channel Process Order

Each channel has an insert point which can be placed in any of the seven process positions. The Avid converters provide analog and digital I/O for insertion of any type of device, such as a delay line, into the signal path.

There are 7 processing sections:

• Delay
• Metering Source
• Insert Point
• EQ
• 2 Filters
• Dynamics
• Fader and Mute

These can be arranged in any order using the eMix application, even when passing audio, but must be re-ordered at least two adjacent channels at a time. For example, the EQ may be set to follow dynamics, the insert may be placed after the EQ or dynamics, and metering, can be placed after the fader, on channels 1 and 2, or on channels 1-8.

EQ & Filters 
The EQ controls are shown opposite. Avid has a wellearned reputation for the highest quality EQ algorithms with an uncompromised approach to design. S5 Fusion’s equalizer is much more than just a simple EQ. The four bands are each fully parametric, with additionally switchable peak/shelf selection on two of the bands. Frequencies are not limited to fixed ranges; each band covers the entire 20Hz – 20kHz spectrum, with a gain +/- 24dB and local variable Q control. The Page key at the bottom of the knobs brings up the Filters. There are two Filters that can each be set to: High Pass, Low Pass, Band Pass or Notch. Each filter has a frequency control. The notch filter includes Q control and a “boost/listen” function, monitoring the audio without the filter in the circuit, to help identify any problematic frequency prior to selection. A 50/60 Hz hum, or other unexpected noise problem can be taken care of without disturbing the program mix or compromising any equalizer settings as with shared designs.

EQ Display 
Whenever an equalizer is being adjusted a graphical display appears to illustrate what the processor is doing to the audio at the top of the channel.

Dynamics

The S5 Fusion has an extremely powerful dynamics section comprising of a Compressor/Limiter, an Expander/Gate and side chain key input with filter. S5 Fusion allows both Compress and Expand sections to be used together. The knobset shown opposite is the simple Compress/Expand knobset with the main controls for both sections available. The page keys at the bottom allow the knobset to be switched to a further 3 sets of knobs that give more advanced control. Here are the full set of parameters that can be adjusted:

Compressor

• Release
• Attack
• Threshold
• Ratio
• Depth
• Knee
• Gain Make Up
• Compressor In/Out

Expander/Gate

• Release
• Attack
• Threshold
• Ratio
• Depth
• Knee
• Hold
• Hysteresis
• Expander/Gate In/Out

Side Chain

• Filter Type – Hi Pass, Lo Pass, Band Pass, Notch
• Side Chain Listen
• Side Chain Source – Channel, Key Input, Link
• Detector Type – Peak, Average

Dynamics Display
Whenever dynamics are being adjusted a graphical display is shown on the display at the top of the strip to illustrate how the processor is affecting the audio.

Bus Routing and Aux Sends

Number of Buses – Mixer Models 
The number of Mix, Group and Aux buses available in a S5 Fusion console is dependent on the number of DSP cards and the selected Mixer Model. A second DSP card may be added at any time to increase the number of channels.

Bus Processing 
The new DSP cards support up to 8 dedicated bus processors comprising filters and dynamics that can be attached to any mix, group or aux bus and controlled from a Strip.

Mix Buses
Up to 32 mix buses are available, configured in Sections (Stems) to allow mixing to different formats. For example, a stereo mix section has two individual buses and a 5.1 mix section has six. Up to 16 mix sections may be simply configured from the eMix setup software and each may be given a name. S5 Fusion supports up to 32 individual mix buses. Formats are Mono, Stereo, LCRS, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 plus custom formats. Routing a source to a Mix Section is done from the switches on the Knobset after first pressing the Route – Mix key. Just as with the Aux sends, as shown right, each On/Off key switches the signal to that bus section. The channel signal may be routed to all buses in that section with or without the pan inserted. It is also possible to route to individual buses (direct assign) in each section, for example, just the center bus of a 5.1 mix section.

Group Buses 
Up to 24 audio group/DAW send buses are available. They can be set to formats from mono thru 7.1. Routing is similar to Mix buses by pressing the Route – Group key then using the knobset On/Off switches. For traditional sub-group control these buses may be brought back into channels that can act as audio sub-group masters – note that dedicated bus processing is also available. The Group knobsets also include an overall group send level control.

Aux Send 
Up to 16 Aux sends are available and can be configured in mono or stereo pairs. Press the Aux function key to bring up the Aux sends on the knobset. The example on the right shows typical Aux sends with 1 & 2 working as a stereo send with pan. Sends can be individually set to feed pre or post-fader and can be used as effects sends or foldback sends. Aux masters are controlled from the center section and include individual talkback and tone insert provisions. Each send may be named to reflect its destination. Aux sends can be flipped to be controlled from the faders – very useful for setting complex monitor mixes and sends