Mixing - Solid State Logic AWS 900+ Owner's Manual

Example Methods of Operation

Mixing

There are three main methods of mix down available when using an AWS 900+ and DAW combination – mix
down within the DAW, mix down via the AWS 900+ channel modules and a hybrid of the two previous methods.
The decision on which method to use will probably vary from session to session, with factors including time,
sonic quality, session size and many others. The AWS 900+ is by no means fixed to a specific way of working
either.
Mix down within the DAW
The first method effectively uses the DAW internal mix bus to sum the DAW channels together, producing an
output mix which can be returned to the AWS 900+, via either an External Input, or fed to individual channels on
the desk for processing. Using channels to return the stereo master output to the desk is desirable if you have
many other MIDI keyboard parts, samplers etc. which need to be monitored alongside the DAW return signal.
The channel modules can feed either the Mix or Record bus, both of which can, for complete monitoring
flexibility, be summed together, along with other External Source signals.
The power of the AWS 900+'s comprehensive DAW control functions can also be used to handle various aspects
of mixing and editing for the DAW system. All 24 faders can act as DAW control faders, whilst the 24 channel
rotary encoders act as assignable controls for other DAW functions. Details of all the DAW control functions can
be found in Section 5 of this manual.
Mixing via AWS 900+ SuperAnalogue Channel Modules
The second approach is to feed individual DAW outputs directly to the AWS 900+ channel modules' line level
inputs, on a one-to-one basis. This means that the AWS 900+ can be used as a traditional analogue mixer,
allowing analogue EQ and compression to be applied to individual DAW channels. Up to 24 fully-featured inputs
can be accommodated in this fashion. The channel outputs can then be summed entirely within the analogue
domain, and either recorded back into the DAW or mastered to a high-quality external recorder.
The Hybrid Mixing Approach
Using a combination of the two methods described above, a mix can be generated where some DAW outputs
are pre-mixed to stereo, or 5.1 stems, and returned to the AWS 900+ via channel modules or External A monitor
inputs. Other DAW channels can be routed individually to AWS 900+ channel modules. The External Source
inputs and console Track busses can be summed together via the Monitor Control Panel's External A source
selector, and output via the monitor insert send to an external recording device.
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AWS 900+ Owner's Manual