Resources

Home
Tutorials
Software Projects
Project Studio
Contact The Staff
Admin

Music Technology Lab
"I love the MuseLab" -Euterpe, muse of music


Tutorial II: Signal Flow

Home | Tutorials

This Tutorial is designed to explain the signal flow of the project studio.
  • From Lab
  • Analog
  • Digital
  1. From Lab
    1. Recall from Lab Tutorial II: Lab Central Rack, the patchbay and its components.
    2. There were 8 patches labeled "PS" (for Project Studio): 4 on the top, 4 on the bottom labeled "Project Studio 1-8". These patches are bi-directional: signal may flow in and out of these patches.
    3. Patch from the particular station you are working with, to the Project Studio. Chances are you're working with audio, so you'll have both a left and a right channel and you'll need two patches. Patch to: Project Studio 1 & 2.
    4. Like the lab patchbay, the PS patchbay is labeled very nicely for your convenience.
    5. The first 8 channels are the Lab Tie Lines. These are also bi-directional and correspond with the patches from the lab.
      6. PS 1 & 2 from the lab correspond with Lab Tie Lines 1 & 2 in the Project Studio.
    6. Patch from Lab Tie Lines to O2R Master B Inputs (whichever channels you want, but let's say ch. 1 & 2 for simplicity's sake).
    7. Make sure channels 1 & 2 on the O2R are turned on and up. Make sure the Master Stereo fader is on and up as well. Make sure the A/B input switch is on B and the "20db" switches, located at the top of the board, are not down. On the far right of the Peak Meter Bridge, under input, select "Line."
    8. You should be receiving a signal. Check to see if you are: The signal light below the "Gain" knob should be blinking and the signal meters for channels 1 & 2 should be registering.
        9. If you are unsure where any of the items listed in bold are located, click here.
      Small note: Make sure you're actually playing/sending a signal from the Lab.
  2. Analog
    1. Any signal being sent through the patchbay is an analog signal. Analog is a more tangible form of signal transfer than digital. You physically have to patch from one place to another so you know exactly where the signal is going.
    2. Take a look behind the PS door. You'll notice two large diagrams that explain how the patchbays are hooked up. The top diagram is for the top patchbay and the bottom diagram, for the bottom bay.
    3. The Diagrams explain where the signal comes from and goes to. There is a Key/Legend beneath the bottom diagram.
    4. Analog recording with O2R.
      1. In the Digital Display Controls, select Digital I/O.
      2. Keep pressing the Digital I/O button until you reach the screen that looks like the one on the right. This is labeled as screen 2/5.
      3. Make sure that INT ANALOG is selected for MIC 1-8.
        4. (This means the signal that you are receiving is coming from the XLR cables hooked into MIC 1-8 on the back of the O2R).


  3. Digital
    1. Digital Pathways are entirely contained within the Project Studio. There are no Digital patches to the lab or to the concert hall.
    2. b. Located above the O2R boards, on the wall, is a diagram of the Digital Pathways in the PS. Instead of patching, you will route them using the O2R.
    3. If you are moving audio from one machine to another (ie: DAT to Computer) this is the safest way to do it. You are pretty much guaranteed no loss of quality.
    4. Listening back digitally from the Computer.
      1. Look on the Digital Pathways Diagram above the boards. You'll notice that the computer and Protools are connected to "AES Slot 3" on the Master O2R board.
      2. If you select "CARD SLOT 3" from screen 2 (the same screen as above) in the Digital I/O menu, you will receive signal from the computer.
      3. CARD SLOT 3 is assigned to come in on channels 1-8. When working in Protools, you will typically have a left and a right channel: these will be sent back to the O2R board and come in on channels 1 & 2.