Studer Pioneers Multichannel Audio Systems On Digital Consoles

The advent of HD video in OB trucks and TV production studios has defined surround sound as the standard to accompany the brilliant high-definition picture. However, handling the 6 audio channels per source on 6 separate faders uses valuable console real-estate.
Studer has pioneered multichannel audio systems on digital consoles with its surround management, and the Vista series has now been provided with a new and unique way of handling 5.1 inputs sources on a single fader.
This unique approach to managing surround input channels, developed by listening to experienced broadcasters, results in a new type of input channel which does not simply consist of mono and/or stereo channels, but which is a totally new type of channel on its own.
With the Studer 5.1 input channel, the engineer is now able to have Input, EQ, Dynamics and Panning sections totally designed for premixed 5.1 input sources. The main goal is that you can adjust the most important parameters directly via touch on the VistonicsTM screen without the need to 'spill' single mono or stereo channels to additional faders, where other important sources would be hidden and become unavailable. This is realised by introducing complete new parameters to 'balance' the 5.1 signal using the Vistonics encoders.
This way, engineers can maintain the perfect arrangement of ‘one fader for one source’ on their mixing console, and keep a good overview while fast access to every single source parameter is provided.
Furthermore, the new software provides unequalled width control over the whole surround image, which is considered impossible with the standard approaches offered by other manufacturers. This allows the ‘depth’ between the front and rear signals to be varied from 0 up to 200%.
In addition to the 5.1 input channels, Studer has also introduced 5.1 Group and Master channels. Now even more faders can be saved, since a complete surround group or a surround master only uses up one single fader. This gives more space for more input sources in channel hungry productions, for example.
To complete the new functionality, a new surround panning module is also available for stereo channels.
Since there are still a significant number of stereo sources used in a typical surround production, engineers also need to bring these into the 5.1 format. Studer has implemented a way to also pan such signals into a surround mix, providing the possibility to ‘wrap’ any and every stereo channel to a surround sound image. This is accomplished using technology that is proprietary to the Harman Pro Group.
Further surround sound management is catered for by the optional Dolby E decoder card, and integral multicast downmixing.
To provide processing power for these channel-intense surround productions, Studer’s new SCore Live processing platform is ideally suited, and with an integrated and external controllable routing matrix of 1700x1700 inputs and outputs is a futureproof solution.
The 5.1 Input channels will be available for all SCore Live based Vista consoles.
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