Central computer room with MADI connectivity

To meet the requirements of modern production processes, we have designed here at Principal Studios our entire computer up again. In the early days of computer-based HD Studio Recordings all our rooms were equipped with the same systems. Since most projects were undertaken in more than a studio room, this gave us the opportunity gaps between the individual rooms to change. So at least in theory.

When the systems were complex and then the configuration possibilities were endless, came increasingly to the problem that projects could be opened from a studio is not without error message in the next studio. This was due, for example, updates that were not installed on individual computers.

We decided, therefore, the computers are not in the rooms, but to couple it to the people who work for us. Now, each had its own computer and then took these with each in the studio. First we had ADAT-based solutions, but which were unfortunately not suitable for a permanent cables on and off. First, the ADAT cables not particularly robust and the other one had a 48 channel system can also be wired to always 12 ADAT cables. It sneaks up quickly failed. Proper improvement did not come until when we complete the studio HDSP MADI card, and the corresponding transducer (Micstacy / ADI-8 QSM) beans.

Now we only had 2 optical cables for audio connections join. The system has proven to be very robust and it was carried around in spite of regular repositioning and complain of the devices to not have any failure.

The increasingly higher production volumes and the associated time requirement was to rebuild the solution, the computers in the individual studio spaces shall soon no longer feasible. As part of the studio spaces were changed every day, it was just too annoying every time the computer with to tow. The only reasonable solution, it seemed to us therefore a central computer room to build, could be linked from all of the computer with all the studios.

The audio connection was easy thanks to the MADI art, had there only as long optical cables. In our case it were up to 60m, constitute for the MADI interface is no problem. Screens and USB over CAT were extended by means of special cable extender. Furthermore, it was even moved a control line, which can be used hard drives and power LEDs, and power and reset buttons remotely control the computer.

The computer room is vented through a dust filter. The air is warm in winter muffler routed back into the building to use the heat to heat up. In general, we run 6-8 computers, representing around one heater. The conversion is now a few weeks ago been completed and the system runs flawlessly until now. Switching between the individual studios can now be accomplished in a few seconds and allows us as a more compact design of studio time.

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