Fairlight's Pyxis-MT Makes Debut On Ellen DeGeneres Show

Award-winning Sound Mixer Terry Fountain is using Fairlight's new Pyxis-MT to record audio and video for 'The Ellen DeGeneres' Show', a daily talk/variety show that is produced in Los Angeles and syndicated nationally across the USA by Warner Bros. Television.
Standing for Pyxis Multitrack, Pyxis-MT is a versatile audio and video capture, playback and file transfer system that combines the functionality of a fully featured HD non linear recorder/player with a professional 192 track audio recorder built in one.
The system provides true HD VTR performance and includes Fairlight's extensive drag and drop file handling capabilities.
Powered by Fairlight's Crystal Core engine, Pyxis-MT can record up to 96 tracks of sample locked, floating point audio along with High Definition video. An additional 96 tracks are available in the track laying process for track hungry applications.
Fairlight's Pyxis-MT system, the first of its kind to be installed anywhere in the world, has taken pride of place in a new facility built on Warner Brothers' stage 1-2-3 for Telepictures, the production company responsible for producing 'The Ellen DeGeneres' Show'. It was specified by systems sound consultant David Crivelli. The tapeless high definition facility was built and engineered by systems integrator National Teleconsultants.
To ensure that the show captures the excitement of the on-stage performances, everything is shot in sequence in real time as though it were live taped as live. The Fairlight captures 48 tracks of audio along with video during the rehearsal earlier in the day. The mixer, along with the music guest engineer, are able to replay the rehearsal and modify equalisations, balances and dynamics of every instrument discretely until all parties are happy.
During the recording of the show, the dialled in parameters are applied to the actual music performance. If all goes well, no remixing is required. If the musical guest is not happy with something, the Fairlight is used to remix and perfect the area of concern.
The Pyxis-MT installed at the new facility has a Black Magic HD Link video card that makes it very easy to archive performances and retrieve audio and video from previous shows if the material needs to be re-puposed.
Since the Fairlight has video capabilities built in, there is no need to repurpose expensive video servers to work with the workstation for video accompaniment.
Now in its sixth season, 'The Ellen DeGeneres' Show' began shooting in High Definition in September 2008. This coincided with a move to Stage 1 at Warner Brothers Studio in Burbank, California, after NBC sold the property where the show was previously taped.
Produced by A Very Good Production and WAD Productions, in association with Telepictures Productions, the show airs in national syndication, including on the NBC-owned and operated Television Stations Group.
Further information is available at: www.fairlightus.com.
(KMcA)