Virtual Mixing Console (Vmc) Concept - Studer Vista 9 Operating Instructions Manual

6.2.2

Virtual Mixing Console (VMC) Concept

Make and Edit a Configuration The Session Configuration Tool can be used to make a new configuration,
Use a Configuration When we operate the Studer Vista console, we speak of 'loading a configura-
Date printed: 28.0.0
The Session Configuration Tool will tell you exactly how many DSP and
I/O cards you will need in order to run a certain configuration defined by the
number and type of channels, the number of summing buses, and the number
of physical I/O interfaces. As a consequence, there is no finite maximum
number of channels on the Studer Vista – the maximum can be anywhere
between 100 and 300 channels.
The Studer Vista Digital Mixing System bases its operation on the concept
of a Virtual Mixing Console (VMC). The VMC is a software structure that
runs on the Studer Vista control PC and consists of two parts:
• Console configuration (structure)
• Current audio settings of the console (data)
Structure The VMC describes all the parameters of a certain console configuration, such
as the number of input channels, the number of multitrack buses, whether
there is EQ on each channel, etc.
Data Moreover, the VMC is a real-time data container that keeps the current set-
tings of a console, such as 'input channel 13 EQ gain = +12 dB', 'master
4 fader = –10 dB', etc. The VMC will only keep data for the channels and
console parts that are defined in the structure part of the VMC. Active controls
on the console, such as the faders, rotary encoders, pushbuttons and the GC
keyboard/trackball control, but also the Snapshot system and the AutoTouch+
Automation system can write data to the VMC. Other console parts, such as
lamps, displays, and the GC screen can read data from the VMC and display
them. It can generally be said that almost all settings and conditions of the
Studer Vista console are a part of the VMC.
or to edit an existing one. This is the first part of the process of preparing
a VMC for the Studer Vista console. That part is done off-line, even if the
Configuration Tool is running on the Studer Vista Control PC. The results of
this part are:
• A 'meta' VMC file (
• A DSP core file (
• Configuration knowledge file (
esses among the cards of the core, and stores other configuration relevant
information.
tion'. This means loading the 'meta' VMC file to the memory of the Studer
Vista Control PC. This process will remove the current file from the Studer
Vista memory and load a different one. The Studer Vista Control software
will then, based on information contained in the new files, run a VMC that
corresponds to the information from the 'meta' VMC file. It will also remove
the current DSP core file, replacing it with a new one, thus activating a new
VMC. Now the Studer Vista is ready to work with the new Session Configu-
ration.
There can only be one VMC that is active on the Studer Vista console at any
one time, but there can be multiple VMCs configured and saved for later
use.
SW V4.5
Vista 9 Digital Mixing System
) – the definition of the console structure
*.vmc
) – software that tells the DSP core what to do
*.cor
) – defines the distribution of the proc-
*.ckf
Session Configuration 6-