Routing And Signal Flow; Daw System Configurations - Solid State Logic AWS 900+ Owner's Manual

Routing and Signal Flow

In order to understand signal flow through the AWS 900+'s various operational modes, first we need to discuss
how your DAW I/O unit is connected to the AWS 900+ console. Unlike a conventional in-line console the AWS
900+ does not have a separate monitor path. Instead the DAW mixer is used to create a monitor mix (or mixes),
with levels controlled from the AWS 900+ faders or rotary encoders. It is even possible to use the fader to control
the analogue input level and the rotary encoder to control the DAW monitor mix levels, mimicking the operation
of an in-line design. Following are a few possible connection schemes - many others are possible.

DAW System Configurations

The largest variable when dealing with DAW studio configurations is the amount of analogue I/O (Inputs/Outputs)
or AD/DA converters that will be used to interface the AWS 900+ to your DAW. Standard studio configurations will
vary between 2 and 32 (or even more) I/O systems. How many channels you require will depend on how you
intend to use the system.
The following guidelines are intended to help when designing your system. Feel free to ignore them if they don't
work for your application.
• The DAW mix bus should be connected to an external input to the monitor system. This will allow you to
monitor the DAW mix and easily feed it to the foldback outputs. External A is 5.1, External B is stereo.
• If your main mix is 5.1 also connect a stereo output to the External B monitor selector so you can feed a
stereo mix from your DAW to the console for headphone mixes.
• If you do not have many DAW outputs then also connect these outputs to line inputs on the console so you
can easily mix the DAW outputs with other inputs.
• If you would like to mix in the analogue domain then you should connect as many DAW outputs as practical
to the AWS 900+ line inputs. By using these as track outputs you can mix smaller projects entirely in the AWS
900+. Larger projects can use the AWS 900+ as an analogue submixer or to combine DAW sub mixes.
• Connecting the Record bus outputs to two DAW inputs will allow you to quickly route any analogue channel to
any track on the DAW.
• If you only have a limited number of DAW inputs then connecting the Track bus outputs to DAW inputs will
allow several analogue inputs to be routed simultaneously to different tracks without patching.
• If you have a large number of DAW inputs then connecting them to the channel direct outputs will give a very
short record path.
2 Channel DAW System
Even with only two DAW analogue inputs and outputs the AWS 900+'s routing flexibility can greatly simplify your
work flow. Connect the Record Bus outputs to the DAW analogue inputs, allowing any channel on the console to
be routed directly to the DAW. Connect the DAW outputs to stereo External B input three (which is labelled DAW)
on the AWS 900+ to allow the DAW output to be monitored and to used as a part of the foldback mix. You may
also want to connect the DAW outputs to two of the channel line inputs to give even more control of level and
routing.
8 Channel DAW System
If you have an 8 channel I/O DAW system, then you could connect the AWS 900+ Record Bus Output and Track
Busses Outputs 1-6 to the eight inputs of the DAW I/O unit. The 8 DAW outputs can then be fed to any of the
console's channel inputs, and to 5.1 External A monitor input three (which is labelled DAW), to allow the DAW
output to be monitored through the AWS 900+ monitoring section.
Routing and Signal Flow
AWS 900+ Owner's Manual
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