A further detailed PDF copy of the Sound Room information displayed on this page can be found be at AudioRoom.pdf (PDF file, choose "save as" to download file).

Sound Room Specs

The room has a Pro Tools HD 1 system with a 96 i/o interface (8 inputs and 8 outputs).
A Control 24, a fully automated, 24 moving faders, digital console with 8 micpreamps and an 8 channel analog mixer. The computer isolated in a fan cooled rack for noise purposes. Two sets of monitors/speakers (JBL 4328's wired with a 450 watt, 12" subwoofer and for the other pair, Mackie HR 626's). A Samson Real Time Analyzer for audio frequency analyzation.

An island for outboard rack gear allows for a producer's station if necessary, and a place for students to sit around for class demos. In the Island there are two microphone preamp/compressor units (Focusrite ISA-220, Universal Audio LA-610). One unit is solid state and the other is tube for different sonic tastes. There are also two Alesis 3630 compressors and one stereo Rane Graphic Equalizer.

On the midi side, there is a Triton Extreme 88 weighted key synthesizer and an Akai MPC-4000 for hardware sampling and sequencing.

Both units can be connected to Pro Tools via the Midi I/O interface.

The room is now fully custom wired to two Switchcraft 96 point TT patchbays. All monitoring and headphone connections are normalled for patchless operation.

Nothing needs to be patched in order to mix in the room. The recording room, large enough to give it that name promotion over vocal booth because of it's size, has a microphone box attached to the wall with 8 XLR mic inputs and two headphone outputs. This microphone box shows up in the patchbay with the headphone connections normaled for operation. The only patch needed to record vocals is from the mic box to the desired mic pre and then to Pro Tools (only two cables needed.)

For vocals, there is a new Blue Bluebird cardioad condenser mic attached to a weighted boom stand with wheels.

The room can be used to record vocals/foley/music and general fun. (Only limitation -- No recording of water permitted at all.)

Both the mix room and recording room are acoustically treated for a dramatically improved, more linear frequency response. The mix room has full absorption treatment and bass trapping on all walls and the ceiling at the mix and producer's position using Real Traps absorbers. The back wall is treated with both absorption and diffusion by Real Traps and Auralex. The recording room has bass trapping in all corners with checkered absorption on all walls to keep away from a boxy/too dead sound. There are two moveable absorbers on stands to modify the reflections of the recording room to taste.

On the software side, the room is installed with the following:

Logic 8
Abelton 6
Pro Tools 7.3
Peak 5
Recycle
Structure
Velvet
Reason 4
Waves Platinum Plugins (over 30 top notch FX)
Waves SSL 4000 Plugins (Most movies and hits mixed on the analog version)

SOUND ROOM SUPPORT

RECORD USING MIC BOOTH

Open Pro Tools. Click File/ New Session and name your session.

If you are working to video click File/ Import / Video and select your video.
When the video pops up as a track a small video screen window should also pop up in the other monitor. Right click on this video window and set Out To Firewire.

Then click on Track / New Track / Mono and the new audio track that you will record to will pop up. Press the “R” button to arm the track, when pressed it will flash red.

Go to the mic booth.
Make sure mic is plugged in jack 1 in mic booth room.

On Preamps-

Set mic/line/inst switch to MIC, press +48 button, slowly turn up level knobs.  Your loudest sounds should be just under 0db. Going any higher will cause distortion in your recording.

If all is connected properly you should see the level meters move/light up.

Connect wires on patchbay-

To use the UA-610 tube preamp (the silver and black one)
Connect one cable from XLR Booth 1 OUT to UA-610 MIC IN
Connect another from UA-610 line OUT to LINE 96 i/o 1 IN
or the C24 1 IN

To use the ISA220 solid state preamp (the blue one)
Connect one cable from XLR Booth 1 OUT to ISA220 MIC IN
Connect another from ISA220 line OUT to LINE 96 i/o 1 IN

The 96i/o IN connects directly to Pro Tools. The C24 IN goes into
the preamp section of the mixer before going into Pro Tools so if you
use these inputs you may have to adjust the level in the Preamp Section
on the mixer. (it’s near the top under the meter lights)

If all is connected properly you will see levels in your meters on the top of the mixer and on the face of the 96i/o box. Make sure they are not in the red.

Turn off Mute All button. Slowly turn up the monitor knob and you should hear sound.

Press the Record Button in Protools, then the Play button. You are recording!

RECORD USING THE TRS/XLR ISLAND

Open Pro Tools. Click File/ New Session and name your session.

If you are working to video click File/ Import / Video and select your video.
When the video pops up as a track a small video screen window should also pop up in the other monitor. Right click on this video window and set Out To Firewire.

IF USING THE TRITON OR AKAI
Click on Track / New Track / Stereo and the new audio track that you will record to will pop up. Press the “R” button to arm the track, when pressed it will flash red.

Connect the cables from the instrument to the two top left island inputs. They will go directly into Pro Tools without connecting anything on the patchbay as right and left. To boost the signals go through the preamps on the C24 mixer. This is done on the patchbay by going OUT from TRS 1 and 2 to IN 1 and 2  C24. You can then turn up the levels on the mixer with the preamp knobs.

IF USING A MIC
Click on Track / New Track / Mono and the new audio track that you will record to will pop up. Press the “R” button to arm the track, when pressed it will flash red.

Connect the mic cable to the top left XLR input on the island.

Connect wires on patchbay-

To use the UA-610 tube preamp (the silver and black one)
Connect one cable from XLR ISLAND 1 OUT to UA-610 line IN
Connect another from UA-610 line OUT to LINE 96 i/o 1 IN
or the C24 1 IN

To use the ISA220 solid state preamp (the blue one)
Connect one cable from XLR ISLAND 1 OUT to ISA220 line IN
Connect another from ISA220 line OUT to LINE 96 i/o 1 IN or C24 line IN 1.

USING A GUITAR OR BASS

Plug the guitar into the front of the preamp. Switch to INST on the face of the ISA220 or HI-Z on the AU-610.

Connect wires on patchbay-

Line OUT from whichever preamp you are using and into 96i/o IN 1 or C24 IN 1.

TROUBLE SHOOTING

NO SOUND....

Start at the instrument or mic and work your way to pro tools. Check to see if you are getting meter levels, that way you will know where the problem starts.

If there are no levels on the preamp meters then the problem is with the instrument setup or the preamp setup.

If using the mic in the mic booth, make sure the preamp is set to MIC and the phantom power switch (+48) is on.

If connecting an instrument with the 1/4 “ cables (the cables in the sound room on the rack) make sure the proper ends are connected. The lowest number Left = 1, then Right =2, next number Left = 3, then right = 4, etc.
1=1L
2=1R
other cable
1=5L
2=5R

If you are getting levels in the preamps but not on the mixer it’s a problem with the patching.

If you are getting meter levels on the preamps and the mixer but no sound then it’s a setting on the mixer or in Pro Tools.

Check control room monitor section on mixer. Make sure Mute All button is OFF. Source set to Pro Tools PT 1+2 not Ext Sources.

Speakers are on and turned up.
The JBLs are the main speakers. The Mackies are the Alt speakers which are in use if the Alt Monitor Monitor Level button is lit. Make sure you are turning up the level of the right ones.

The track is armed (the R button is blinking red in pro tools)
Track section on mixer (above fader) Mute button OFF

Make sure all patch bay cables are connected to proper INs and OUTs.

Make sure you have the input assigned to the proper channel in Pro Tools.  If you are using c24 or 96i/o Ins 1 and 2 then Pro Tools must be set to
A 1-2 on the input path selector in the track window.

You will not hear your input if Pro Tools is playing. Playback must be stopped or you must be recording to hear input.

NO SOUND IN BOOTH HEADHONES....

Press Monitor to Aux button in Comm/Headphone section on mixer.  Check headphone connections in booth.

VIDEO DOESN’T PLAY....

Video must be 320 X 240 and 30fps or 29.97fps. Video options must be set to Quicktime DV Out To FireWire.

BOUNCED TO DISK OR QUICKTIME MOVIE BUT NO SOUND....

You will not hear anything if you play it in Quicktime on that computer. The system is only setup for Pro Tools Sound. You will have to open the audio file or movie in Pro Tools or on a different computer to hear it.