MPSE Wavelength

Summer 2021

Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1383665

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In Use Once you have everything set up, your room calibrated and routing configured, it just works. All routing and level control can be done from your EuCon surface. One tip I picked up from Jeff Komar of Avid is to set up multiple parallel outputs in DADman to be able to audition different tunings or quickly toggle between calibration levels for film, Netflix or broadcast with the press of a button. While many users may opt for outboard mic pres, the MTRX Studio does come with two quality pres built in. I don't do much recording in my studio, but have them wired as talkback mics for remote ADR and mix sessions. I also did a test recording some voiceover and Foley using a Sennheiser MKH60 and was happy with the result. As an added bonus, the mic pres can be controlled from either inside Pro Tools or from your console. Using the same protocol as the Avid PRE, being able to toggle +48V or adjust the gain on the mic pres from a EuCon console is pretty handy. NOTE: The gain on the two mic pres is relay switched, so when adjusting the gain range between 0 to +27, there is an audible click emitted from the MTRX Studio. From +30 to +69, there is no clicking. If your MTRX Studio lives in an equipment cabinet or machine room, it won't matter. If you find yourself with an open mic near the unit, you need to be mindful to only adjust the gain between takes. In my tests with the MKH60 recording voiceover, the gain fell in the +18 to +27 range. Final Thoughts After spending some time with a MTRX Studio, I couldn't be happier. I love being able to control everything related to it from my Avid Dock and Control app. Most working professionals already have either an HD Native or HDX Card (or two) in their systems, so the MTRX Studio provides a plug and play upgrade to their current Digilink interface. While only taking up one rack space, the MTRX Studio takes care of a number of critical tasks. Avid really managed to pack a lot of functionality into a small package with the MTRX Studio. While some users may need the additional expandability available with the MTRX, the MTRX Studio only costs $4,999, while a comparably equipped MTRX would cost more than $15,000. The MTRX Studio does require either an HD Native or HDX to get audio in and out of Pro Tools, so you will have to factor that expense into your budget when building out a new room. If you find yourself needing more than 64 channels of I/O, you can add an extra HDX Card and a second MTRX Studio to expand that to 128 channels, making a pair of MTRX Studios a perfect solution for connecting to a dedicated Dolby Home Theater Atmos Renderer via Dante. Whether you are setting up your first studio, upgrading a current system or building out a multi-room facility, the MTRX Studio is an ideal solution for any post professional.

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