Syntrillium Backup Forums :: View topic

BillyJo · Location: Canada

When I mix down, the signals travel from CEP1.2 > Dakota card > ADAT XT20 D/A > Presonus ACP8 gates/compressors > channel inputs on Yamaha RM800 (+ fx added from a ART quad fx box) > group 5/6 out > Frontier Tango A/D > stereo track recorded back into CEP. It works.

Every time I repeat a mix, I have to manually repeat all the fader moves and aux sends/returns. This can be a real piss off when you get picky, and I end up editing CEP vol/pan curves and editing cloned tracks for use as fx sends.

What I want to do is CEP > lightpipe to a digital mixer > lightpipe back to CEP, and have the mixer record all my movements synced to CEP time. So when I remix the song, the movements are recalled and can be physically tweeked as the song plays.

Questions:
1.) Can CEP2 record the midi output of a digital mixer for playback next mix?
2.) What hardware can do this?

jonrose · Location: USA

Hi BillyJo,

(1) No.

(2) I'm not exactly sure where you're going with this question, but...

A digital mixer that includes automation capabilities, may be able to adequately store the fader moves in a reasonably repeatable manner, and, slaved to CEP (or perhaps with CEP as the master), this might hold a possible solution. Others here that have had more "hands-on" with the wide variety of digital mixers out there may be of more help. This is kind of a broad area, with a multitude of equipment on the market, manufactured by a multitude of audio firms... So some research along those lines might be in order. Check out what each unit is really capable of before you jump into the digital mixer scene - these can get expensive in a hurry.
;)

Best of luck..... -Jon

BillyJo · Location: Canada

Thankyou Jon.

With regards to using midi, are there any forum participants who have sucessfully implemented a midi record/recall solution, either integral or stand alone?

As to the digital mixer, like most gearheads, I'm up on everything but current in what interests me at the time. I've investigated many of the available small-format options; just when you think you've found the best path forward, you learn that the option doesn't support CEP, or CEP doesn't support the option. MotorMix being a case in point.

The immediate answer seems to be to buy into another recording system that incorporates mix automation. Roland's V-Mix uses proprietary software, JL Cooper prefers Logic, Mackie and most others buy into Pro Tools. Is there a 'plug n play' hardware solution compatible with CEP? Probably not, but is there an easier way than syncing a second computer to handle midi I/O?

I've read somewhere that CEP is big with the broadcast crowd. Are they using a hardware interface? If not, why not? They would seem to be a huge niche market that would be receptive to a simple solution.

Cheers,
BillyJo
Armpit Studio

VoodooRadio · Location: USA

Hey BillyJo,
Have you checked out www.loopology.com ? There are no doubt, folks around here that are MIDI saavy, but over there you have a bunch of loopers that most likely were looping long before Synt came into the loop (pun intended). They also have a forum that is coming along quite nicely! Wink

BillyJo · Location: Canada

Thanks VooDoo, but I think I may have misled you. Midi is my least preferred option; I invoked it's presence only as a possible answer to mix automation. I don't loop, and I use midi only for click tracks.

If the only cost-effective solutions involve syncing an external midi record/playback unit, then I may forego the CEP2 upgrade and look at other options. The 02R works, and there's pressure to buy into Pro Tools, but we're talking a major shift in the way things work around here.

Cheers,
BillyJo
Armpit Studio