Re: Avid S3L
Looks like they just launched a new desk. Let the games begin.
Avid | Avid S3L System
Looks like they just launched a new desk. Let the games begin.
Avid | Avid S3L System
Hi guys.
I attended a AVID S3L seminar a few weeks back and thought I'd share some of my observations:
What I liked:
-Compact surface that doesn't feel "cheap".
-First mixer I have used where the designers "thought outside the box" in terms of not just simulatig analog mixing, but instead focusing on the end goal of some of the tasks associated with operating a sound mixer.
-Separate surface and "brain".
-The stage boxes are a lot more compact than what the advertizements online give the impression of.
-Cross-compatibility with show files from other AVID products (with some obvious limitations, like a few mixbuses or VCAs might dissappear when loading a "bigger show" into the S3L).
-All LED's and minature displays on the surface very visible in bright ambient light.
-Delay compensation.
-Channels can be fed directly into matrices, and due to the delay compensation, you can "put extra lead vocal" in a front fill already being fed with vocals through a main mix stem.
-Ability to run plug-ins.
-You have two options for sending channels to monitors: Either "normal" sends on faders, or you can choose one channel, and quickly send that one channel to many AUX buses. No "flipping" needed to acheive "just give us the keys in all wedges, please".
-You could conceivably fly with an entire mixing system within normal luggage requirements.
-You can trigger multiple playback cues from a USB stick onto separate faders and set up "fader starts" so that you can have a bunch of tracks or sound effects all associated with their own fader, and when you pull that fader up, the playback of the track assigned to that particular fader starts.
-Big plus for having as large a screen as you want (just connect any VGA-equipped monitor, including touch if you want).
What I didn't like:
-Not enough connections on the surface. I know there is more on the "brain" but I would rather have the brain on stage, than at FOH. Now you pretty much need to have the "brain" at FOH to have access to enough audio and USB connections for my liking.
-Writing/labelling on the buttons is very small, and I had issues reading them while sitting down in front of, and not standing over, the desk.
-A lot of menus, and most encoders and displays have many, many functions.
-The arrow keys are not arranged like the arrow keys on let's say a PC, they are in a "square layout" instead of the usual "upside down T", making me unsure
of what is up/down, and what is left/right.
-AVID is hinting that this system will be "future-compatible", but with what, and when?
-The "channel to matrix"-routing seems to only be pre-fader, not matching my needs when faced with the "put extra lead vocal in the front fill"-scenario above.
-There are programmable touch-sensitive "strips" at the bottom right corner of the desk. These can be programmed to have many useful functions and they only need a soft swipe to activate. Problem is, I kept brushing my hand against them inadvertantly.
-Only one "fader-started playback track" can be running at one time. Start a new one, and the last one mutes. So "layering" or "cross fading" sound effects is out.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I probably wasn't able to jot down all my opinions free-hand.
