Live Recording Guide for VENUE Systems and Pro Tools ®
Legal Notices This guide is copyrighted ©2010 by Avid Technology, Inc., (hereafter “Avid”), with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid.
contents Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 VENUE Recording Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 System Requirements and Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Additional VENUE and Pro Tools Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 5. Using VENUE Link. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Making Audio Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Making Data Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Enabling VENUE Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
chapter 1 Introduction Welcome to the Live Recording Guide for VENUE Systems and Pro Tools. This guide is for VENUE users that are recording and playing back audio in live performances using Pro Tools. Refer to this guide to help you: Make hardware connections between your VENUE and Pro Tools systems. Configure your VENUE and Pro Tools systems for recording and playback. Record live audio to your Pro Tools system. Playback Pro Tools audio through your VENUE system.
HDx and VENUE MADI HDx and VENUE MADI offer, in addition to assignable inputs and outputs, the following advanced recording and playback features: Direct Digital Splits When Stage inputs are the main source of audio signals for VENUE, a onefor-one direct digital split of all VENUE Stage input channels are sent to your connected Pro Tools system. See “Enabling Digital Splits” on page 11 and “Recording Digital Splits” on page 32.
System Requirements and Compatibility Additional VENUE and Pro Tools Documentation To integrate your VENUE system with Pro Tools, you need the following: For information on installing cards in your VENUE system, see the guide that came with your card. An Avid-qualified VENUE system with an installed VENUE record/playback card (HDx card, VENUE MADI card, or the FWx card). – and – An external hard drive (or drives). Visit www.avid.com for information on external hard drive requirements.
Conventions Used in This Guide Convention Action The Avid website (www.avid.com) is your best online source for information to help you get the most out of your Pro Tools system. The following are just a few of the services and features available. File > Save Choose Save from the File menu Product Registration Register your purchase online.
chapter 2 Hardware Connections This chapter explains the hardware connections required for live recording and playback using FWx, HDx, and VENUE MADI with Pro Tools. Redundant output connections and the required connections for integrating a Pro Tools|HD interface are also explained. FWx Connections FWx requires a single Firewire connection between VENUE and an available Firewire port on your computer.
HDx Connections HDx is connected to a Pro Tools|HD system using the same DigiLink cables used to connect other Pro Tool|HD equipment. In HDx installations, all DigiLink cables must be the same length. DigiLink cables are bidirectional. When VENUE’s Stage inputs are active, the DigiLink cables carry VENUE channels to Pro Tools. When VENUE is in Virtual Soundcheck or Input mode, the DigiLink cables carry Pro Tools channels to VENUE .
VENUE MADI Connections VENUE MADI is connected to a Pro Tools|HD MADI interface using optical or coaxial cables. Separate input and output connections for sending and receiving audio are required between the VENUE MADI card and the HD MADI interface. HD MADI interfaces are connected to Pro Tools using DigiLink cables. See the HD MADI User Guide for making connections from HD MADI to Pro Tools. When connected, Pro Tools detects connected HD MADI interfaces (not connected VENUE MADI cards).
Redundant Output Connections (HDx and VENUE MADI only) This section shows the hardware connections for two possible redundant output configurations. To enable redundant outputs, see “Enabling Redundant Outputs” on page 15. When using VENUE MADI with third-party MADI devices, an additional word-clock connection may be required. See “Synchronizing Redundant Output Configurations” on page 53 for more information.
HD Interfaces and HDx Connections You may want to use a Pro Tools HD interface (HD IO, 192 I/OTM, 192 Digital I/OTM, 96 I/OTM, or 96i I/OTM) with your live recording system to allow for remote monitoring or remote audio input (such as audience mics located at the FOH position). Connect the HD-series audio interface to the last Pro Tools|HD card in the sequence (the HD card farthest away from the Core card). A word clock connection between the VENUE system and the audio interface is also required.
10 Live Recording Guide
chapter 3 Configuring VENUE and Pro Tools After connecting VENUE and Pro Tools, you need to configure both systems for recording and playback. Configuring VENUE Systems Configuring your VENUE system for use with Pro Tools includes the following (depending on your VENUE hardware): • Enabling VENUE to send direct digital splits to Pro Tools Enabling Digital Splits (HDx and VENUE MADI Only) To send digital splits of your VENUE system Stage input channels, your Stage inputs must be enabled and active.
5 For systems with a second Stage Rack, do the following: • Select Enable Stage 2. • Select Enable HDX 2 (or MADI 2). channel is preserved and applied to the incoming signal from Pro Tools. This results in the same apparent levels for Pro Tools inputs and Stage inputs. In VENUE software 2.8.1 and lower, the mode called HDx Input was the only mode available for replacing Stage inputs with Pro Tools audio inputs. It provided all Virtual Soundcheck features. Beginning in VENUE software 2.
6 For each MADI card present, click the Input 4 For systems with a second Stage Rack, In the Format pop-up menu and choose one of the following input options: Inputs section of the System Configuration page, beneath Inputs 49–96 select Stage 2. Optical Priority (default) The optical input is automatically selected and made active when a valid input signal is detected on the optical input.
Enabling Input Mode (HDx and VENUE MADI with VENUE software 2.8.5 and Higher Only) • In the Inputs section of the System Configuration page, beneath Inputs 49–96, select MADI 2, then select Input Mode from the pop-up menu. In Input mode, Pro Tools is the main source of audio signals for your VENUE system. Audio channels from Pro Tools appear one-for-one in place of Stage inputs in the VENUE Patchbay.
7 Click Apply. In the dialog box that appears, click OK. The system restarts with HDx or MADI inputs active. A history Show file of the previous configuration is also created and stored in Filing > History. If you want to revert to the previous configuration, in the Show Folder column select the most recent Show file from the Most Recent Changes folder, and click Load. Adjusting Input Gain in MADI Input Mode In MADI Input mode, input channel gain is adjusted using the input gain encoders.
Configuring Pro Tools Configuring your Pro Tools system for use with a VENUE system includes the following: 4 In the I/O Setup dialog, do the following: • Click the Inputs tab, and click the Default button. • Click the Outputs tab, and click the Default button.
Configuring Pro Tools System Settings After confirming connections, you can configure your Pro Tools system settings. The default settings usually provide optimum performance. However, you may need to make changes depending on the scope of your session and your hardware configuration. 3 From the DAE Playback Buffer pop-up menu select the highest available buffer size. Memory requirements for each setting are shown at the bottom of the Playback Engine dialog.
• Repeat this for all HD MADI ports items that appear in the Peripherals list. Hardware settings for VENUE MADI and HD MADI interface in Hardware Setup dialog 6 Click OK. 7 Next, choose Setup > Preferences and click the Operation tab. 8 In the Record section, under Open Ended Re- cord Allocation select Use All Available Space. Setting the record allocation on the Operation tab of the Preferences dialog 9 Click OK.
chapter 4 Live Recording and Playback This chapter provides workflows for the following common VENUE and Pro Tools recording and playback scenarios: • Creating a Pro Tools session. • Creating custom session templates. • Recording the Main L/R mix using Direct Outs. • Recording submixes (or stems) using bus outputs. Creating a Session You can create sessions in the following ways: • Creating a session from VENUE automatically using VENUE Link (requires Pro Tools HD 8.1.x and higher, and VENUE software 2.
To create a Pro Tools session from VENUE using VENUE Link: 1 On your VENUE system, make sure you have loaded the Show file you want to use as the basis for your Pro Tools session. 2 Launch Pro Tools and do one of the following: • If the Quick Start dialog appears, choose, Create Session from VENUE. The supported track count for a drive depends on the session’s parameters and the type of drive. For more information, see “Allocating Audio Drives” on page 60.
To create a Pro Tools session using a VENUE Session template: 1 Launch Pro Tools and do either of the follow- ing: • Set sample rate to 48 kHz. In most cases, you will not be able to change this value when connected to a VENUE system. 4 Click OK. • If the Quick Start dialog appears, choose, Create Session from Template. – or – • If the Quick Start dialog does not appear, choose File > New Session, and choose Create Session from Template.
Creating a Session Manually 5 Name your session and click Save. The new On all systems, sessions can be created manually. session is created. Pro Tools provides two main windows in sessions, the Edit window (Window > Edit) and the Mix window (Window > Mix). Choose Window > Edit to view the Edit window. You can then create your own custom template from the session you have created, which you can use as a basis for subsequent sessions. See “Creating Custom Templates” on page 26.
Creating Tracks Naming Tracks To create new tracks: To name tracks: 1 Choose Track > New. 1 Double-click the Track Name button for the first track. Number of new tracks Track Timebase Track Type Track Format Track Name Add Row The Track Name button in the Edit window New Tracks dialog 2 Select Mono or Stereo from the Track Format pop-up menu. 3 Select Audio Track from the Track Type pop-up menu. 4 Select Samples from the Track Timebase pop- up menu.
Assigning Inputs to Tracks for Recording 3 To record a digital split of a VENUE Stage in- put channel, select the following from the Interface sub-menu, as available on your system: To assign an audio input to a track: • For HDx, choose a Stage1 or Stage2 input. 1 In the Mix or Edit window, click a track’s Input – or – Path selector. • For VENUE MADI, choose an A HD MADI or B HD MADI input channel between 1–48.
Assigning Outputs to Tracks for Monitoring, Playback, and Virtual Soundchecks • For VENUE MADI, choose an A HD MADI or B HD MADI input channel between 49 and 64. To assign an audio output to a track: 1 Click the track’s Output Path selector.
Creating Custom Templates You can create custom session templates that are pre-configured to the track setups, mixer configurations and window arrangements that you use most frequently. Doing this will save you the trouble of having to create your setup from scratch every time you start a new session. The process for creating and saving custom templates depends on the version of Pro Tools you are using. Creating Templates with Pro Tools 8.0 and Higher (Mac and Windows) With Pro Tools 8.
Creating Templates with Pro Tools 7.4.x and Lower With Pro Tools 7.4.x and lower, the process for creating and using custom templates differs for Mac and Windows. Creating and Using Mac Templates On Mac, create a session template by saving a session file as a Stationery Pad document. Once a session is saved as a Stationery Pad, it acts as a template that can be opened and saved as a new session, or opened as the original stationery pad for editing.
To use a session template in Windows: 1 Do one of the following: • Double-click the session template in Windows Explorer. – or – • In Pro Tools, open the session template using the File > Open Session command. 2 Choose File > Save As. Recording the Main L/R Mix (For FWx, HDx and VENUE MADI) You can record the Main L/R mix using the VENUE system Direct Outs. Direct Outs give you discrete output level controls for the Pro Tools recording.
6 Click the Pickoff column in the Patchbay to On the Pro Tools System specify one of the following pickoff sources for each Direct Output: To record the Main L/R Mix using Direct Outs: • Top of Mains (indicated by a “T”) • Pre-Fader (indicated by a lowercase “p”) • Post-Fader (indicated by an uppercase “P”) To send the Main L/R mix pre-EQ, use the Top of Mains pickoff point. This lets you capture the mix without hearing the effect of any inserted plug-ins or graphic EQs.
5 When Pro Tools starts receiving audio, con- firm the record level. A conservative recording level is best for live recordings. Try to keep record level peaks in Pro Tools to between -3 and -6 dB. Adjusting the fader in Pro Tools will not affect the record level, only the monitor level. Confirming the record level Use RMS metering on your VENUE system to get a better idea of how VENUE input levels translate to Pro Tools recording levels. On your VENUE system, go to Option > Interaction page.
6 Click in the channel grid to assign the bus outputs (listed on the left) to available assignable Pro Tools channels (listed across the top). Routing Group bus outputs to Pro Tools (HDx shown) 7 If you want to insert a plug-in such as a limiter on a bus, do the following: • Go to the Plug-Ins screen. • Make sure the plug-in is installed and assigned to a rack slot. • Click the Plug-In Input selector at the top of the corresponding rack slot, and choose Inserts from the Input sub-menu.
4 Click the track’s Record Enable button. The 6 In the Edit window toolbar, or in the Trans- Record Enable button flashes when enabled, and is lit solid when engaged. port window (Window > Transport) click the Record button to arm the Transport. Record Enable button Arming the Transport 7 When you are ready to start recording, click Play or press the Spacebar. To stop, click Stop or press the Spacebar.
On the VENUE System 3 Click the track’s Record Enable button. The To record a split of the Stage inputs: Record Enable button flashes when enabled, and is lit solid when engaged. 1 Make sure the VENUE system and the Pro Tools system are connected and configured. See Chapter 2, “Hardware Connections” and Chapter 3, “Configuring VENUE and Pro Tools” for more information.
5 Choose Window > Mix, and in the toolbar or the Transport (Window > Transport) click the Record button to arm the Transport. 2 Load a Show file that has a corresponding Pro Tools session recorded using a direct digital split. 3 Do one of the following to put your system into Config Mode: • Press the Console Config switch on the console. Arming the Transport – or – 6 When you are ready to start recording, click • Double-click the Mode box in the bottomright corner of the screen.
On the Pro Tools System To perform a Virtual Soundcheck: 1 Launch Pro Tools. 2 In the New Session dialog or the Quick Start dialog, choose Open Session or Open Recent Session to open the session that corresponds to the currently loaded Show file on your VENUE system. 3 Make sure that each input track’s output as- signment matches its input assignment one-forone. To change the track’s output assignment, click the Input Path selector and choose the input.
3 If you do not have any Snapshots, do the fol- lowing to create a Snapshot: • Click New. The new Snapshot appears in the Snapshots list. • Click the channels you want affected when the Snapshot is later recalled so that they are scoped. Scoped channels are displayed in red. • Double-click the Snapshot name, enter a name for the new Snapshot, and press Enter on the keyboard. Naming a Snapshot 4 Do the following to create the Snapshot with live Stage inputs active: • Create a new Snapshot and name it.
5 Do the following to create the Snapshot with the Pro Tools inputs active: • Create a new Snapshot and name it. 7 Patch the Pro Tools channels you want to use for Virtual Soundcheck to your console’s input channels and click Assign. Naming the Virtual Soundcheck Snapshot – and – • Recall the new Snapshot by clicking the Recall button. Double-check to make sure you are editing the correct Snapshot. The most recently recalled Snapshot is either green or yellow in the Snapshots list.
On the Pro Tools System On the VENUE System To perform a Virtual Soundcheck with FWx: To record audience mics using Direct Outs: 1 Launch Pro Tools and open the corresponding 1 Make sure the VENUE system and the Pro Tools session. Pro Tools system are connected and configured. 2 Make sure that the outputs of the tracks you want to use for Virtual Souncheck are patched to the corresponding VENUE input channels as patched in the VENUE system Patchbay.
7 Click the Pickoff column in the Patchbay to 4 Do one of the following to assign track input specify one of the following pickoff sources for each Direct Output: sources: • Top of Channel (indicated by a “T”) • Pre-Fader (indicated by a lowercase “p”) • Post-Fader (indicated by an uppercase “P”) • If you patched the mics into a Stage input, click the Input Path selector and choose the corresponding VENUE assignable channels as patched in the VENUE system Patchbay.
7 Confirm the record level. A conservative re- cording level is best for live recordings. Try to keep record level peaks in Pro Tools to between –3 dB to –6 dB. Adjusting the fader in Pro Tools will not affect the record level, only the monitor level. Setting the record level 8 In the Edit window toolbar, or in the Trans- port window (Window > Transport) click the Record button to arm the Transport. Arming the Transport 9 When you are ready to start recording, click Play or press the Spacebar.
chapter 5 Using VENUE Link VENUE Link provides Pro Tools and VENUE system integration and interoperability. When connected and configured in software, VENUE Link provides the following features: • Import VENUE Settings into Pro Tools • VENUE Snapshot Recall Creates Pro Tools Marker • VENUE Snapshot Recall Locates to Pro Tools Marker All that is required to take advantage of VENUE Link is a standard Ethernet connection between compatible versions of VENUE software and Pro Tools.
Connecting Directly to the VENUE System When connecting directly to your VENUE system (or if you are using an Ethernet router without DHCP server functions) you must manually set the IP addresses of the VENUE system and the Pro Tools computer. To connect a VENUE system to a Pro Tools system: 1 Do either of the following: • Connect an appropriate Ethernet cable type (with RJ-45 connectors) from the ECx port on your VENUE system to the Ethernet port on your computer.
5 Click Apply. VENUE Link Network Settings and Control Settings are shared with ECx Ethernet Control for remote operation. If you are manually setting IP addresses, make sure to update the settings on the computer running ECx. 6 Go to “Manually Setting the Computer IP Ad- dress” on page 43. To manually set the IP address on a Mac: 1 Launch System Preferences > Network. 2 Choose Ethernet from the network connections services list. 3 Choose Manually from the Configure menu.
2 On your VENUE system, go to the Options page, click the Interaction tab, and click the Control Settings button in to the Ethernet Control section. Automatically Setting the Computer IP Address After setting the IP address for your VENUE system using DHCP, you need to do the same for your Pro Tools computer. To automatically set the IP address in Windows: 1 Go to Control Panel > Network Connections.
5 Wait until the computer is assigned an IP ad- 6 Choose your VENUE system from the VENUE dress. This may take time. System pop-up menu. When a connection is established, “(connected)” is displayed next to the name of the connected VENUE system. 6 Go to “Enabling VENUE Link” on page 45. Enabling VENUE Link After physically connecting the systems and establishing communications between systems, you can enable VENUE Link.
VENUE MADI When using a VENUE MADI card connected to an HD MADI interface, the HD MADI interface appears above the patching grid.
Using VENUE Link See the following sections for information on how to use VENUE Link features: • “Importing VENUE Settings into Pro Tools” on page 47. • “Creating Pro Tools Markers from VENUE Snapshots” on page 50.
5 Your most recently loaded VENUE Show file appears as the session name. Accept the name or edit it, and select the drive where you want to save the session. The session should be saved on a dedicated audio drive. Mono Stage input track Duplicate track Naming and saving the session Stereo Stage input track 6 Click Save.
Output Busses and Direct Outs In the new session, new mono and stereo tracks are created for any output busses and Direct Outs patched to assignable outputs in the VENUE system Patchbay. Tracks are named automatically based on their corresponding VENUE system channel names.
Importing VENUE Channel Names as Track Names Creating Pro Tools Markers from VENUE Snapshots You can import VENUE channel names into an existing Pro Tools session. Channel names are imported to tracks that have a VENUE input assignment (for example, “Stage1 7”). With VENUE Link enabled, you can set individual VENUE Snapshots to create new Markers in the Pro Tools Timeline. While Pro Tools is recording, whenever that Snapshot is recalled, a new Marker is created.
To create a Pro Tools marker from a VENUE Snapshot: 1 On the VENUE System, go to the Snapshots page. 2 In the Snapshots list, click the Marker icon to enable that Snapshot to create a Pro Tools Marker when recalled during recording. If the Marker icon is not displayed, rightclick one of the Snapshots in the list and choose Unhide Marker. 5 In the Edit window toolbar, or in the Trans- port window (Window > Transport) click the Record button to arm the Transport.
Editing Markers Created from VENUE Snapshots Markers created via VENUE Link can be edited like other Pro Tools Memory Locations. In Pro Tools, you can rename Markers, move Markers, disable Snapshot “chase,” and re-associate a marker with a different VENUE Snapshot. For complete information on Memory Locations, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide. To move a VENUE Snapshot-generated Marker: In the Markers ruler in Pro Tools, drag the Marker left or right.
appendix a Sychronization When connecting your VENUE system to multiple Pro Tools systems or other external digital devices, you may need to make additional connections to ensure proper synchronization. This section provides information on the following scenarios: • Synchronizing redundant output configurations. • Synchronizing multiple devices using an external master clock. • Synchronizing your HD interface and HDx. • Locking your live Pro Tools recording to external time code.
Using an External Master Clock Synchronizing an HD Interface and HDx You may want to use an external master clock to provide word clock to your VENUE system, your Pro Tools system, and any other connected devices. In this configuration, VENUE receives word clock, which is transmitted to Pro Tools via the audio connection. When using an HD interface along with HDx, word clock connections are required between the HD interface and your VENUE system.
Locking Pro Tools to Time Code You may be asked to lock your live Pro Tools recording to time code for a video shoot. This section explains the system requirements, and shows how to connect and configure your live recording system to accomplish this. Avid audio peripheral (optional) Loop Sync Out To Loop Sync In Video ref Video Production Time code Sync Peripheral Word clock out to Word Clock In Mix Rack or FOH Rack DigiSerial cable Pro Tools HD Core card Figure 1.
1 Connect the provided SD or HD (SYNC HD 5 Connect a DigiSerial cable from the SYNC peripheral serial connector to the DigiSerial port on the Pro Tools HD Core card. only) video ref signal to a SYNC peripheral Video Ref connector. To configure Pro Tools: To connect Pro Tools and VENUE for synchronization: If the SYNC peripheral is the last device in the video sync chain, a 75-ohm BNC terminator must be attached to the unused Video Ref connector.
• From the Time Code Rate pop-up menu, set the session time code rate to match the frame rate of the provided time code. 10 In the Time Code Settings section, enable Jam Sync, and set the Audio and Video Pull Up/Down to None.
3 When ready, click the Online button in the Transport. Recording will commence if incoming time code is present. Online button Record button Pro Tools transport If recording does not commence, the Online button will continue to flash, indicating that Pro Tools is not receiving time code. If you need to start recording anyway, deselect the Online button, click the Record button again, and click the Play button to initiate recording. The recording will not be locked to time code.
appendix b Troubleshooting Backing Up Your Work It is highly recommended that you back up your work on a regular basis, and especially before making changes to your system configuration. Backing Up Your Session Data Back up your session and audio data frequently. There are a variety of media that are suited to back up projects of various sizes, from automated tape backup systems to high-capacity optical drives, or to CD burners.
If you tried to launch Pro Tools by doubleclicking a Pro Tools session file, do the following: • Close any error message. • Double-click the Pro Tools application. • In Pro Tools, choose File > Open Session to open the session. Reinstall the Pro Tools application, using the Pro Tools Installer disc. Audio Interface Is Not Recognized Problem When you launch Pro Tools it does not recognize an audio interface or a connected audio interface is not available.
• Locate the drive in the Name column. • Click the corresponding box in the A column and select Record from the pop-up menu. You can allocate tracks to drives in the following ways: • To assign a track to a different hard drive, click the track and select a drive name. • To assign all tracks to the same hard drive, press Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) while selecting a drive name.
Computer Stops Playing Back Problem When recording or playing back a session, your computer stops and you encounter -9073 errors (“Disk too slow or fragmented”). Screen Savers Screen saver software should be completely disabled on your computer before running Pro Tools. Power Saver Features Some automatic power saver features, such as those that spin down the system hard drive, can affect Pro Tools performance. These features should be turned off.
System Information Other Hardware VENUE System • Type of console(s) and rack(s) Refer to the manufacturer’s documentation for operational details.
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