Avid Technology S3 Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Avid Technology Manuals
  4. Music Mixer
  5. S3
  6. Manual

Avid Technology S3 Manual

Hide thumbs Also See for S3:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
Avid S3 Guide
Installation and Overview

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the S3 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for Avid Technology S3

Summary of Contents for Avid Technology S3

  • Page 1 Avid S3 Guide Installation and Overview...
  • Page 2 Legal Notices © 2022 Avid Technology, Inc., (“Avid”), all rights reserved. This guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid. For a current and complete list of Avid trademarks visit: http://www.avid.com/legal/trademarks-and-other-notices Bonjour, the Bonjour logo, and the Bonjour symbol are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
  • Page 3 CAUTION! Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type. 17) For products with a power switch: The main power switch is located on the back panel of S3. It should remain accessible after installation. 18) The equipment shall be used at a maximum ambient temperature of 40° C.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Hardware Switches on S3 Control Surface ........
  • Page 5 Enabling S3 Audio on the Workstation Computer ........

  • Page 6: Introduction

    Setup.pdf to learn how to set up EuControl communication with these applications). The S3, when connected to an E3 engine and up to four Stage 16 remote stage boxes, is also the central controller for the VENUE | S3L-X live digital mixing system.

  • Page 7: What's Included

    One S3 control surface can be used with EuControl Software at a time. One S3 can be used in conjunction with the Pro Tools | Control app for iPad (not included) and one Pro Tools | Dock. When no Pro Tools | Dock is present, S3 can be used with one Artist Transport at a time.

  • Page 8: About This Guide

    About This Guide This guide covers using the S3 control surface with Pro Tools and other EUCON-compatible applications. For applications that only support MackieControl, see the EUCON Application Setup Guide.pdf.. Conventions Used in This Guide All of our guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands:...

  • Page 9: Hardware Switches On S3 Control Surface

    Hardware Switches on S3 Control Surface The names of switches on the S3 control surface are in bold, such as Sel. The two Surface SHIFT switches on the S3 are indicated by bold text, in all-caps to distinguish it from references to the Multi Select/SHIFT Global Modifier switch and the Shift key on your computer keyboard.

  • Page 10: Resources

    Get Started Fast Video Tutorials Watch the latest video tutorials for the Control app, Dock, S3, and other EuControl products on YouTube: S3 + Dock Integrated Workflows For earlier EuControl hardware and software videos, watch the Get Started Fast videos: Get Started Fast with Pro Tools | S3 and Dock You can find more videos, including the latest workflow tutorials, on the Avid website.

  • Page 11: Installation And Setup

    S3. Standard routers and switches can be used if you are using the S3 only as a control surface. However, to use the built-in AVB audio I/O on the S3, the S3 must be connected directly to the computer or to an AVB-compatible Ethernet switch. Visit www.avid.com/compatibility for information on compatible peripherals.
  • Page 12 Network port A on the back panel of the S3 If your system includes a Dock and an S3 you can connect the Dock to Network port B on the S3, and connect S3 network port A to your workstation. (S3 and S1 cannot be used simultaneously.) Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to an available Ethernet port on your computer, or to the computer’s Thunderbolt...
  • Page 13 Live Mode Lets you use the S3 with an E3 engine as part of an S3L live mixing system. If the S3 is in Live Mode and is connected to a workstation computer with EuControl software installed, the S3 will not be recognized by EuControl on the workstation com- puter.

  • Page 14: Installing Eucontrol Software

    3 – Add • Click the unlit EuControl icon and choose Restart EUCON Applications . • Shut down S3 and your computer, then turn them on (S3 first, then the workstation computer). • See for the most current troubleshooting information.

  • Page 15: Create Your Surface In Eucontrol Settings

    EuControl Auto-launch Apps selector (macOS shown) From the Auto-launch Apps sub-menu, choose any of the following (you can enable more than one): • EuControl (for S3, S1, Dock, Avid| Control, and Artist Series) • WSControl (for S4/S6) • MTRX (DADMan for Pro Tools | MTRX and MTRX Studio) •...
  • Page 16 Beginning with EuControl 2020.11, Avid Control Desktop can be used according to the following guidelines: • One or more S1s, or one S3, must already be present in the My Surfaces list. Unlike Avid Control for iOS and Android, Avid Control Desktop cannot be used standalone, and cannot be used without a supported hardware control surface (see below).
  • Page 17 Master The Control app is not linked to any control surface and provides all views. Meters view is independent of, and does not follow, control surface banking. When using the Control app by itself, or with only a Dock and/or S3, the app functions in Master mode.
  • Page 18 Hybrid Tablet Designation To designate a Control app as a Hybrid tablet: Make sure an S1, but no other Control app/tablets, are already in the Surfaces and Master Tablet column of My Surfaces . Drag a Control app from All Surfaces and drop it on top of the same row as an S1 in My Surfaces . Hybrid Surfaces tab showing a Control app linked to an S1 (Hybrid mode) That Control app becomes a Hybrid, provides all views, and Meters view displays 8 strips that follow S1 banking.
  • Page 19 To unlink a Control app/tablet from an S1: Select the linked Control app in My Surfaces and drag it back to All Surfaces .  To reassign tablets and S1s in the My Surfaces list: To link a Control app to a different S1, drag the app onto the new S1. ...

  • Page 20: Updating S3 Firmware

    Control apps. Updating S3 Firmware After installing EuControl, make sure your S3 is running the latest firmware. The firmware is provided within EuControl, so an In- ternet connection is not required. To update S3 firmware: Click (Mac) or double-click (Windows) the EuControl icon and select EuControl Settings .

  • Page 21: Enabling Eucon In Pro Tools

    Enabling EUCON in Pro Tools When you first connect your S3, you must enable EUCON in Pro Tools, EUCON subsequently remains enabled in Pro Tools unless you disable it. To enable EUCON in other DAWs, see the documentation provided by the manufacturer, as well as the EUCON Application Setup Guide.pdf.

  • Page 22: Confirming Eucon

    Open a session if one is not already open. Verify that the channel strip displays above the bottom row of 16 encoders (the Channel Encoders) on the S3 show the track names for the first 16 tracks in the Pro Tools session.

  • Page 23: Connecting A Second Workstation

    Connecting a Second Workstation The S3 can control applications running on a second computer that is connected to the same network as the primary computer, re- ferred to in this guide as a workstation. If EuControl is running on the same workstation as all your audio/video applications you can skip these instructions.

  • Page 24: Connecting A Footswitch

    Connecting a Footswitch The S3 has a 1/4-inch footswitch input on the back panel, which can be used to punch in and out of recording in your DAW, or for engaging talkback. For more information on configuring the footswitch in EuControl for punch in/out or talkback, see the Using EuControl Surfaces.pdf.

  • Page 25: Avid Control Desktop

    Avid Control Desktop Avid Control Desktop can be used for Meters display with an Avid S3. Avid Control Desktop can be installed on either your pri- mary EuControl workstation or on a separate, external workstation on the same network (does not require EuControl or EuControl External Workstation software).

  • Page 26: Troubleshooting Eucontrol Connections

    Wi-Fi When using the Control app standalone (not in conjunction with another Avid media controller). Ethernet When using the Control app in the following configurations: • Your workstation computer is connected directly to an Avid media controller such as S3. • Your workstation computer is connected to a router or switch.

  • Page 27: S3 Surface Controls Overview

    S3 Surface Controls Overview This section provides an overview of the surface controls on the S3 when using S3 with EUCON-compatible applications. For spe- cific S3 workflows, see the Using EuControl Surfaces.pdf. S3 top panel 1 – Channel Strips 8 –...

  • Page 28: Channel Strips

    Channel Strips S3 provides 16 channel strips, each with a display, an Assignable Channel Encoder (each with its own encoder Sel and In switches), a Solo switch, a Mute switch, a 100mm motorized touch-sensitive fader, a channel select ( Sel ) switch, a record engage ( Rec )/Automation Mode ( A ) switch, and a level meter.

  • Page 29: Channel Strip Displays

    Channel Strip Displays At the top of each channel strip is an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display. When S3 is first powered on, the Channel En- coders are in Normal Mode (see Channel Encoder Modes ), and each display shows track information as follows:...

  • Page 30: Assignable Channel Encoders

    Channel Mode is useful for editing EQs and plug-ins that have many parameters. Basic Channel Encoder Use When S3 is first powered on, the Channel Encoders are in Normal Mode and Pan is assigned to the Channel Encoders by default. Each Channel Encoder controls pan for its corresponding track on the strip.

  • Page 31: Channel Encoder Assignment Switches

    Insert Primary function (Insert) and the secondary function (Dyn) The text on the switch itself indicates the parameter that can be assigned to the Channel Encoders when using S3 as part on an S3L live system. The following switches are provided: Input Assigns hardware input parameters such as input routing, mic gains, phantom power, and other application-specific param- eters to the Channel Encoders.
  • Page 32 < Page, Page > Assigns the previous or next set of parameters to the Channel Encoders. The switches light when there is a previ- ous or next set to go to. For example, if Send A is assigned to the Channel Encoders, pressing Page > assigns Send B to the Channel Encoders. S3 Surface Controls Overview...

  • Page 33: Fader Banking Controls

    Close (Surface SHIFT + Nudge >/Close) Closes any open window in the application. Home and End Home (Surface SHIFT + < Bank/Home) Banks tracks 1–16 to the channel strips. End (Surface SHIFT + Bank >/End) Banks the last set of tracks to the strips. S3 Surface Controls Overview...

  • Page 34: Left Control

    Cancel Closes dialogs without making any changes, and is the equivalent of pressing the Escape key on a computer keyboard. User Saves the current session. To save the current session: Press User . Press User again to confirm, or press Cancel to not save. S3 Surface Controls Overview...

  • Page 35: Channel Control

    Channel Control and the bottom-row Channel Encoders operate independently, so you can adjust two sets of parameters for a single channel. You can also access controls for the S3’s built-in I/O using Channel Control (see for more information).
  • Page 36 Basic Channel Control Use When S3 is first connected to a session in your DAW, the top-level Knob Set for the currently selected channel is shown in the Channel Control displays. The types of parameters that can be spilled to the Channel Control Encoders vary depending on the type of channel selected (audio track, instrument track, etc.).

  • Page 37: View And Arrow Switches

    Workstation (Surface SHIFT + Application/Workstation) Attaches the S3 to another workstation, where applicable. S3 can con- trol applications running on a second computer, referred to in this guide as a workstation. You must first have two or more work- stations listed in the My Workstations list in EuControl Settings >...

  • Page 38: Right Control

    Press and hold Multi-Select/SHIFT+ ALT , then press the switch for the desired Automation Mode. The Function Switch LED lights whenever its respective automation mode is selected. In certain automation modes such as Write, the LED flashes. S3 Surface Controls Overview...

  • Page 39: Surface Shift

    1 (Rewind) Rewinds until released. 2 (Fast Forward) Fast forwards until released. 3 (Play/Stop) Engages play when the transport is stopped; stops the transport when play is engaged. 4 (Record Arm) Arms the transport for recording. S3 Surface Controls Overview...

  • Page 40: S3 Audio I/O

    Browser. Click the checkbox next to Avid S3 . If more than one device appears and both are checked, deselect the other device. Once checked, the S3 appears in the list of available audio devices in the Audio Devices Window of the Audio MIDI Setup.

  • Page 41: Direct Out Mode

    Zero-Latency Monitoring While recording through S3, use Direct Out mode to route S3 input(s) to your main monitor outputs. In Pro Tools, mute the track you are recording to. Use the S3 encoder for Direct Out Level as a mix knob to balance input level with your main mix.

  • Page 42: S3 Audio Connections Overview

    5 – Headphone Output (1 x 1/4-inch Stereo TRS) Headphone volume is adjusted using the volume wheel along the front edge of the S3. When the Mon to HP monitor preference is enabled, the headphone output mirrors Outputs 1–4 on the S3. Track outputs can also be routed to the Headphone output inde- pendently, and correspond to Out 5–6 in Pro Tools.

  • Page 43: Accessing Audio Control On The S3

    Connect a microphone to Inputs 1–2; connect a line-level device to Inputs 1–4. In your audio/video application, assign S3 hardware inputs to the desired track(s). In Pro Tools, inputs on the S3 are called In 1–4 in the Input Path selector.
  • Page 44 Press the encoder Sel switch to cycle through and assign Input 1 (talkback) to an S3 audio output. If using a secondary audio interface such as an HD OMNI, you can connect the assigned S3 talkback output to an HD OMNI input.

  • Page 45: Connecting And Adjusting Outputs

    In your audio/video application, assign track outputs to the desired S3 hardware output(s). In the Pro Tools Output Path selector, Out 1–2 corresponds to S3 Outputs 1–2 ( MAIN ) , Out 3-4 corresponds to S3 Outputs 3–4 ( ALT ) , and Outs 5–6 correspond to the S3 Headphone output .

  • Page 46: Connecting Hardware Inserts

    4 on the S3 (and the Headphone output if MON to HP is selected). This is the default monitor source setting for the S3. In 1–2 When In 1–2 is selected and appears in the display, Inputs 1–2 on the S3 are routed to Outputs 1–4 on the S3 (and the Head- phone output if MON to HP is selected).

  • Page 47: Saving S3 Monitor Settings

    Saving S3 Monitor Settings You can save the current monitor settings on your S3, including monitor preference settings, and MAIN (Outputs 1–2) and ALT (Outputs 1–2) settings. To save the current monitor settings: Make any desired adjustments to the monitor settings on the S3.

  • Page 48: Specifications

    Specifications All specifications subject to change. S3 Control Surface Audio Specifications S3 Analog Mic Inputs, Pad Disabled Value Parameter Conditions Units Min. Typ. Max. Volts Phantom Power +7.979 Input Sensitivity @ 997 Hz, Gain = 10 dB (min.) -126.1 Gain = 60 dB, 150  source impedance Equivalent Input Noise (EIN) -0.021...
  • Page 49 S3 Analog Mic Inputs, Pad Enabled Value Parameter Conditions Units Min. Typ. Max. Volts Phantom Power +28.322 Input Sensitivity @ 997Hz, Gain = 10 dB (min.) -0.016 -0.235 Frequency Response =+8.225 dBu, 20 Hz – 20 kHz relative to INPUT 1 kHz, Gain = 10 dB (min.)

  • Page 50: S3 Control Surface Mechanical Specifications

    32 load @ 997 Hz, max output 1.940 Max RMS Power Output +20.157 dBu 32 ohm headphones 163.1 +19 dBu 600 ohm headphones S3 Control Surface Mechanical Specifications Parameter Specification Height (front) 1.3 inches (32.0 mm) Height (back) 2.8 inches (71.7 mm) Maximum Width 28 inches (711.11 mm)

  • Page 51: Dimensions

    Dimensions 2.2 in (57.3 mm) 28 in 1.8 in (711.1 mm) (45.2 mm) .6 in (14.4 mm) 14.3 in (363.1 mm) 1 in (25.4 mm) 1.3 in (32 mm) Specifications...

  • Page 52: Appendix A. Compliance Information

    This product may contain a lithium coin battery. The State of California requires the following disclosure statement: “Perchlorate Material – special handling may apply, See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.” Recycling Notice EMC (Electromagnetic Compliance) This model Pro Tools | S3 complies with the following standards regulating interference and EMC: • FCC Part 15 Class B •...
  • Page 53 FCC Compliance for United States Radio and Television Interference Communication Statement NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.

  • Page 54: Safety Compliance

    CAUTION! Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type. 17) For products with a power switch: The main power switch is located on the back panel of S3. It should remain accessible after installation. 18) The equipment shall be used at a maximum ambient temperature of 40° C.
  • Page 55 Technical Support (USA) Product Information Visit the Online Support Center For company and product information, www.avid.com/support www.avid.com visit us on the web at...

Table of Contents