Live Recording Guide for VENUE Systems and Pro Tools ®
Legal Notices This guide is copyrighted ©2012 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 About this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. Play back Pro Tools audio through your VENUE system.
VENUE HDx and MADI VENUE HDx and 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 a Digital Split” on page 11 and “Recording Digital Splits” on page 32.
System Requirements and Compatibility About this Guide To integrate your VENUE system with Pro Tools, you need the following: This guide provides an overview of live recording and playback tasks using VENUE recording options and Pro Tools An Avid-qualified VENUE system with an installed VENUE record/playback card (HDx card, MADI card, or the FWx card). For hardware installation instructions for VENUE record/playback option cards, see the guide that came with your card.
Conventions Used in This Guide All our guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands: Convention Action Options > System In VENUE software, click Options to display the Options page, then click the System tab About www.avid.com The Avid website (www.avid.com) is your best online source for information to help you get the most out of your system. The following are just a few of the services and features available.
chapter 2 Chapter 2: Hardware Connections This chapter explains the hardware connections required for live recording and playback using FWx, HDx, and MADI with Pro Tools. Redundant output connections and the required connections for integrating a Pro Tools HD audio interface are also explained. To use VENUE Link, you must also connect an Ethernet cable between systems. See Chapter 5, “Using VENUE Link.
VENUE HDx Connections VENUE HDx is connected to Avid Pro Tools HDX, HD Native, or HD PCI or PCIe cards using the same DigiLink or DigiLink Mini cables used to connect other Pro Tool HD equipment. When using multiple connections between VENUE and Pro Tools HD, all DigiLink cables must be the same length. DigiLink cables are bidirectional. When VENUE’s Stage inputs are active, the DigiLink cables carry VENUE Stage Input channels to Pro Tools.
MADI Connections MADI cards are connected to an Avid HD MADI interfaces using optical or coaxial cables. Separate input and output connections for sending and receiving audio are required between the MADI card and the HD MADI interface. HD MADI interfaces are connected to Pro Tools using DigiLink cables. See the HD MADI Guide for making connections between HD MADI and Pro Tools. When connected, Pro Tools detects connected HD MADI interfaces (not connected MADI cards).
Redundant Output Connections (VENUE HDx and MADI only) This section shows the hardware connections for two example redundant output configurations, and the available I/O for each connection. To enable redundant outputs, see “Enabling Redundant Outputs” on page 15. HDx1 and HDx2 In this example, a VENUE system with two HDx cards installed is connected to two independent Pro Tools systems. Stage 1 inputs 1–48 are sent to HDx 1 outputs and copied to HDx 2 outputs.
HDx 1 and MADI 2 In this example, a VENUE system with one HDx card installed and one MADI card installed is connected to two independent Pro Tools systems. The HDx card (HDx 1) is connected directly to a Pro Tools|HD 2 system. The MADI card (MADI 2) is connected to an HD MADI interface via a MADI optical cable, and then connected to a second Pro Tools system using DigiLink cables. Stage 1 inputs 1–48 are sent to HDx 1 outputs and copied to MADI 2 optical and coaxial outputs.
HD Interfaces and VENUE HDx Connections You can integrate an Avid Pro Tools HD interface (HD IO, HD OMNI, 192 I/O ™ , 192 Digital I/O ™ , 96 I/O ™ , or 96i I/O ™ ) into your live recording system. You can use the interface 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 HD card port in the sequence. A word clock connection between the VENUE system and the audio interface is also required.
Chapter 3: Configuring VENUE and Pro Tools After connecting VENUE and Pro Tools, you need to configure both systems for recording and playback.
For systems with a second Stage Rack, do the following: 5 • 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 Format pop-up menu and choose one of the following input options: 4 Optical Priority (default) The optical input is automatically selected and made active when a valid input signal is detected on the optical input. If signal is being sent simultaneously to both the optical and the coaxial inputs, only the optical input will be active.
Enabling Input Mode • 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. (HDx and MADI with VENUE Software 2.8.5 and Higher Only) 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 the Stage inputs in the VENUE Patchbay.
Click Apply. In the dialog box that appears, click OK. 7 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 Input Mode Enabling Redundant Outputs (HDx and MADI with VENUE Software 2.8.
Configuring Pro Tools Configuring your Pro Tools system for use with a VENUE system includes the following: Confirm that your VENUE system hardware appears in the IO Setup dialog, as follows: 4 FWx If you are using a VENUE FWx card, it appears as FWx. • Confirming communications between systems If FWx doesn’t appear in the I/O Setup, go to Setup > Playback Engine and choose FWx from the Current Engine pop-up menu. If you choose a different playback engine, you will be prompted to restart Pro Tools.
Configuring Pro Tools System Settings After confirming connections, you can configure your Pro Tools system settings as follows, depending on the version of Pro Tools you are running and your hardware configuration: • In Pro Tools 10 and higher, the default settings provide optimum performance. Pro Tools 10 uses a completely new disk engine that greatly increases performance for audio recording and playback.
• From the Sample Rate pop-up menu select 48 kHz. Choose Setup > Preferences and click the Operation tab . In the Record section under Open Ended Record Allocation select Use All Available Space. 6 VENUE system audio is always 48 kHz. However, HD MADI supports sample rates greater than 48 kHz using sample rate conversion. See the HD MADI User Guide for more information.
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. • Recording digital splits. • Performing a Virtual Soundcheck. • Recording audience mics. Before proceeding, your VENUE system and the Pro Tools computer must be connected and configured.
To create a Pro Tools session from VENUE using VENUE Link: On your VENUE system, make sure you have loaded the Show file you want to use as the basis for your Pro Tools session. 1 2 5 Select the drive where you want to save the session. The session should be saved on a dedicated audio drive. 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.
Creating a Session Using VENUE Session Templates Pro Tools offers VENUE record and playback session templates that provide pre-defined tracks and track I/O assignments. To set session parameters, do the following (if session parameters are not visible click the Session Parameters reveal button): 3 • Set the audio file format for the session. For optimum compatibility between Windows and Mac, set the file type to BWF (.WAV).
9 In the IO Setup dialog, do the following : 3 • Click the Input tab , and click the Default button . 4 Select the drive where you want to save the session. The session should be saved on a dedicated audio drive. • Click the Output tab, and click the Default button . • Click OK to confirm and close the IO Setup dialog. 10 Click OK. 5 Name your session and click Save. The new session is created. Proceed to “Naming Tracks” on page 23.
Creating Tracks Naming Tracks To create new tracks: To name tracks: 1 Choose Track > New. Number of new tracks Double-click the Track Name button for the first track. 1 Track Timebase Track Type Track Format Track Name Add Row The Track Name button in the Edit window New Tracks dialog If you are using VENUE Link and you want to import VENUE channel names to your existing session’s tracks, see “Importing VENUE Channel Names as Track Names” on page 50.
Assigning Inputs to Tracks for Recording To assign an audio input to a track: In the Mix or Edit window, click a track’s Input Path selector.
Assigning Outputs to Tracks for Monitoring, Playback, and Virtual Soundchecks To assign an audio output to a track: 1 Click the track’s Output Path selector.
• If you select Install Template In System, the session template will be available in the Pro Tools Session Quick Start dialog on that Pro Tools system only. 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.
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. In the Save Session As dialog, create a new folder where you want to save your session. 3 4 Name the session and click Save. 5 Start working in the session.
Click the Pickoff column in the Patchbay to specify one of the following pickoff sources for each Direct Output: 6 • Top of Mains (indicated by a “T”) On the Pro Tools System To record the Main L/R Mix using Direct Outs: 1 • Pre-Fader (indicated by a lowercase “p”) See “Creating a Session” on page 19 for more information. • Post-Fader (indicated by an uppercase “P”) To send the Main L/R mix pre-EQ, use the Top of Mains pickoff point.
When Pro Tools starts receiving audio, confirm 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. 5 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.
Click in the channel grid to assign the bus outputs (listed on the left) to available assignable Pro Tools channels (listed across the top). 6 Set the levels for the recording by adjusting the faders for the channels you are sending to Pro Tools. 8 If you are using bus outputs for your live mix and also want to record them, you can use the Direct Outs of the bus outputs. You can capture any inserted plug-ins and have discrete level control by selecting the PreFader pickoff point for the Direct Out.
Click the track’s Record Enable button. The Record Enable button flashes when enabled, and is lit solid when engaged. 4 In the Edit window toolbar, or in the Transport window ( Window > Transport) click the Record button to arm the Transport. 6 Record Enable button Arming the Transport 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 To record a split of the Stage inputs: Click the track’s Record Enable button. The Record Enable button flashes when enabled, and is lit solid when engaged. 3 Make sure the VENUE system and the Pro Tools system are connected and configured. 1 See Chapter 2, “Hardware Connections” and Chapter 3, “Configuring VENUE and Pro Tools” for more information. Go to the Options page and click the System tab to access the System Configuration page to confirm that your Stage inputs are active.
5 Choose Window > Mix, and in the toolbar or the Transport ( Window > Transport) click the Record button to arm the Transport. Load a Show file that has a corresponding Pro Tools session recorded using a direct digital split. 2 Do one of the following to put your system into Config Mode: 3 • Press the Console Config switch on the console. Arming the Transport – or – When you are ready to start recording, click Play or press the Spacebar. To stop, press the Spacebar or click Stop.
On the Pro Tools System To perform a Virtual Soundcheck: 1 Launch Pro Tools. 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. 2 Make sure that each input track’s output assignment matches its input assignment one-forone. To change the track’s output assignment, click the Input Path selector and choose the input.
If you do not have any Snapshots, do the following to create a Snapshot: • Double-click the Snapshot name, enter a name for the new Snapshot, and press Enter on the keyboard. 3 • 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. Naming a Snapshot Do the following to create the Snapshot with live Stage inputs active: 4 • Create a new Snapshot and name it.
Do the following to create the Snapshot with the Pro Tools inputs active: 5 • Create a new Snapshot and name it. Patch the Pro Tools channels you want to use for Virtual Soundcheck to your console’s input channels and click Assign. 7 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: Launch Pro Tools and open the corresponding Pro Tools session. 1 1 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. To change a channel’s output assignment, click the Output Path selector and choose the output.
Click the Pickoff column in the Patchbay to specify one of the following pickoff sources for each Direct Output: • 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 • Top of Channel (indicated by a “T”) • Pre-Fader (indicated by a lowercase “p”) Input Path selector • Post-Fader (indicated by an uppercase “P”) Activate the Direct Outs by clicking the channel’s In button.
Confirm the record level. A conservative recording 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. 7 Setting the record level In the Edit window toolbar, or in the Transport window ( Window > Transport) click the Record button to arm the Transport. 8 Arming the Transport 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, 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 a VENUE system running VENUE software 2.
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 Ethernet Control section with the Control Settings and the Network Settings buttons Enter a name for your VENUE system in the System name box, and click Apply.
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. 2 Choose Ethernet from the network connections services list. 3 Choose Manually from the Configure menu. 4 Enter the following: • IP address: 10.0.0.2 • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 • Router: (none required) Go to “Manually Setting the Computer IP Address” on page 43.
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. 2 6 Go to “Automatically Setting the Computer IP Address” on page 44. 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.
4 Click Apply. Wait until the computer is assigned an IP address. This may take time. 5 6 7 Choose your VENUE system from the VENUE System pop-up menu. When a connection is established, “(connected)” is displayed next to the name of the connected VENUE system. 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.
MADI When using a MADI card connected to an HD MADI interface, the HD MADI interface appears above the patching grid.
Importing VENUE Settings into Pro Tools 2 • If the Quick Start dialog appears, choose, Create Session from VENUE. When VENUE Link is enabled, you can import VENUE settings into Pro Tools in two ways. You can create a Pro Tools session from VENUE. Tracks are automatically created, named, and given I/O assignments based on the currently loaded VENUE Show file. You can import VENUE channel names as track names into an existing Pro Tools session.
Stage Input Channels (HDx and MADI only) In the new Pro Tools session, mono and stereo tracks are created for VENUE system mono and stereo Stage input channels. Tracks are named automatically based on their corresponding Stage input channel names. Duplicate track names are appended incrementally (“.1,” a “.2,” and so on). Outputs are automatically assigned, and follow input path assignments one-for-one to facilitate Virtual Soundchecks.
Output Busses and Direct Outs In the Pro Tools 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 (such as, 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: On the VENUE System, go to the Snapshots page. 1 In the Snapshots list, click the Marker icon to enable that Snapshot to create a Pro Tools Marker when recalled during recording. 2 If the Marker icon is not displayed, rightclick one of the Snapshots in the list and choose Unhide Marker. In the Edit window toolbar, or in the Transport 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: Synchronization 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 timecode.
Using an External Master Clock Synchronizing a Pro Tools HD Interface and VENUE 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 VENUE HDx, word clock connections are required between the HD interface and your VENUE system.
Locking Pro Tools to Timecode You may be asked to lock your live Pro Tools recording to timecode 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 timecode SYNC Peripheral Word clock out to Word Clock In Mix Rack or FOH Rack DigiSerial cable Pro Tools HD Core card Figure 7.
To connect Pro Tools and VENUE for synchronization: Connect the provided SD or HD (SYNC HD only) video ref signal to a SYNC peripheral Video Ref connector. 1 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. Connect a DigiSerial cable from the SYNC peripheral serial connector to the DigiSerial port on the Pro Tools HD Core card.
• From the Timecode Rate pop-up menu, set the session timecode rate to match the frame rate of the provided timecode. From the Video Ref Format pop-up menu, choose one of the following depending on which video ref format you selected from the Clock Reference pop-up menu: 9 • If you selected Video Reference (SD) as your Clock Reference, choose NTSC or PAL. – or – • If you selected Video Reference (HD) as your Clock Reference, choose the video reference rate that is being sent to you.
To initiate recording: 1 Record enable the tracks to be recorded. 2 Click Record in the Transport window. When ready, click the Online button in the Transport. Recording will commence if incoming timecode is present. 3 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 timecode.
Appendix B: Troubleshooting Backing Up Your Work Common Issues It is highly recommended that you back up your work on a regular basis, and especially before making changes to your system configuration. Pro Tools Won’t Launch Backing Up Your Session Data When you double-click the Pro Tools application or a Pro Tools session file, Pro Tools doesn’t launch, or displays an error message. Back up your session and audio data frequently.
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. Possible Solutions Turn off your computer and check to be sure your cables are properly and securely connected to your computer and to your audio interface. Verify that your Hardware Setup dialog settings are correct. Computer Stops Recording Problem When recording, your computer seems to be running slower than normal or stops while recording.
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 save Disk Allocation settings for use with future sessions, save the session as a template. See “Creating Custom Templates” on page 26. • 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”). Possible Solution If you are using Pro Tools 9.x or lower, try changing the DAE Playback Buffer settings. To change the DAE Playback Buffer size in Pro Tools 9.x or lower: 1 Go to Setup > Playback Engine. From the DAE Playback Buffer pop-up menu, select the highest available setting.
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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