The top five LEDs by the fader indicate automation status for that channel, the two below show whether the channel is grouped or in Custom Fader mode, and the Auto Match arrow LEDs indicate whether a fader is above or below the level of existing automation.The Main Unit's meter bridge has eight LED level strips for metering the master output in up to 7.1 surround configurations, and there are multiple LED segment displays to show the Project time and locator positions. The D-Command uses slightly cheaper faders compared to the D-Control, but still offers the same functionality in terms of touch-sensitivity and motorisation. The Main Unit contains all the global controls, such as master controls for the control strip, sections for controlling dynamics and EQ plug-ins, a remote control for XMON, buttons accessing general Pro Tools shortcuts, and a full QWERTY keyboard and trackball (which can be replaced with a mouse pad if you wish) for working with Pro Tools. Like many high-end digital consoles, the D-Control surface is modular, and a basic system consists of one Main Unit, a Fader Module, and the XMON monitoring system (see the 'XMON' box for more information about this component). If you want to read a closer examination of the audio interfaces and general architecture, check out Hugh Robjohns's original Pro Tools HD review in May 2002's issue. The D-Control has the appearance of a large-format mixing console, while the D-Command is intended for the project studio and is the most obvious replacement for the company's previous flagship control surface, the Pro Control.įor this review, we'll be focusing mostly on the D-Command and D-Control surfaces, as Pro Tools HD has been pretty well covered in previous issues of SOS. At the heart of Icon are Pro Tools HD, with its associated array of DSP cards, audio and MIDI interface options, and the Pre eight-channel preamp but the most significant part of an Icon system is either a D-Control or a D-Command control surface. Icon (which was actually derived from the term 'Integrated CONsole') is the general product name given to the combination of a number of Digidesign's products that can be used together as one integrated system for recording, editing and mixing. Icon is Digidesign's collective name for the D-Control (above) and D-Command surfaces. Without wishing to seem too pretentious, Icon is therefore a rather appropriate name for a system that can be used like a large-format mixing console, without actually being a large-format mixing console. Do these Icons symbolise the future of digital audio workstations, or are they merely expensive control surfaces for Pro Tools?įor those interested in etymology, the word 'icon' came via Latin from the Greek word 'eikon', meaning a likeness, or image, and originally from 'eikenai', an Indo-European word meaning 'to be like'. Digidesign's D-Command and D-Control represent perhaps the most ambitious attempt yet to integrate recording and mixing systems.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |