Avid Technology S3 User Manual
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Avid Technology S3 User Manual

Studio controller and ethernet avb 4 in/6 out audio interface
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Summary of Contents for Avid Technology S3

  • Page 1 S3 User Guide and EuControl 3.2...
  • Page 2 Legal Notices © 2014 Avid Technology, Inc., (“Avid”), all rights reserved. This guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid. 003, 192 Digital I/O, 192 I/O, 96 I/O, 96i I/O, Adrenaline, AirSpeed, ALEX, Alienbrain, AME, AniMatte, Archive, Archive II, Assistant Station, AudioPages,...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Chapter 3. S3 Surface Controls Overview ........
  • Page 4 Chapter 5. S3 Audio I/O Connections ........

  • Page 5: Chapter 1. Introduction

    Ethernet AVB audio connections between the on-board audio I/O on the S3 and the workstation computer. 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 6: System Requirements And Compatibility

    System Requirements and Compatibility One S3 control surface can be used with EuControl Software at a time. One S3 can be used in conjunction with one Artist Transport at a time. Avid can only assure compatibility and provide support for hardware and software it has tested and approved. For compatibility in- formation and other resources, visit: www.avid.com/S3-Surface-Support...

  • Page 7: About Www.avid.com

    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 8: Chapter 2. Installation And Setup

    Chapter 2: Installation and Setup This chapter shows how to get your S3 set up as a studio controller, and consists of the following steps: Installing EuControl Software • Connecting S3 • Enabling EUCON in Pro Tools • Confirming EUCON •...

  • Page 9: Connecting S3

    DAW), or connect to a router that is then connected to your workstation computer. Standard routers and switches can be used if you are using the S3 only as a control surface. However, to use the built-in audio I/O on the S3, the S3 must be connected directly to the computer or to an AVB-compatible network switch.

  • Page 10: Powering On S3 And Enabling Studio Mode

    Internet. If you want to connect the S3 to a local area network, or to connect an Artist Transport, connect the Ethernet cable to an Ethernet router or switch, and make sure the router or switch is powered on before powering on the S3.
  • Page 11 For more information on Studio and Live Modes, see Installing Eu- Press the encoder under the display showing OK . The S3 restarts automatically in the selected mode. Proceed to Control Software Power on your workstation computer. EuControl software on your computer launches automatically and is running when its icon appears: Mac Wait up to 60 seconds.

  • Page 12: 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 providing by the manufacturer.

  • Page 13: Confirming Eucon

    Voc SR Voc C Voc SL Spare In the Pro Tools Mix window, verify that the track names that are currently banked to channel strips on S3 are highlighted with blue-green border. Proceed to any of the following: Managing Your System •...

  • Page 14: Managing Your System

    E3 engines in the network. Live Mode 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 work- station computer.

  • Page 15: Connecting A Second Workstation

    Follow the instructions to install the EuControl Workstation software. 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. See Footswitch for more information on configuring the footswitch.

  • Page 16: Chapter 3. S3 Surface Controls Overview

    Chapter 3: 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- Using S3 with Pro Tools cific S3 workflows, see S3 top panel 1 –...

  • Page 17: 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 18: 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- Channel Encoder Modes coders are in Normal Mode (see ), and each display shows track information as follows:...

  • Page 19: 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 20: 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 21 < 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. Chapter 3: S3 Surface Controls Overview...

  • Page 22: Fader Banking Controls

    Close (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. Chapter 3: S3 Surface Controls Overview...

  • Page 23: Fader Layout Controls

    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. Chapter 3: S3 Surface Controls Overview...

  • Page 24: 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...
  • Page 25 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 26: Window Navigation Controls

    Hold down the Application key and press < Bank to cycle through applications in the opposite di- rection. 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 use EuControl to create Workstations a list of workstations that this key switches between.

  • Page 27: Automation Controls

    Function Switches F1–F16 Function switches F1–F8 (F9–F16) provide control over the automation mode for one or more selected tracks in two banks of Working with Automation switches. For more information on working with automation on the S3, see 9-16 Automation Controls The following table shows the function of each switch in this section.

  • Page 28: 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. Chapter 3: S3 Surface Controls Overview...

  • Page 29: Chapter 4. Using S3 With Pro Tools

    You can select and attention tracks using channel Sel switches. You can use the Modifier switches to select multiple channels. When multiple channels are selected, the last selected track is the attentioned track. To select a track: Press any channel Sel switch. The track is selected in Pro Tools, and that track is attentioned on the S3.  Solo...
  • Page 30 The standard Pro Tools modifier for parameter reset by holding Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) can also be used to reset con- trols. For example, holding Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) and touching a fader resets the fader to 0/unity. Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...
  • Page 31 Flipping Encoder Parameters to Faders S3 lets you “flip” parameters mapped to the Channel Encoders to the faders and the track level control to the Channel Encoder. The following example shows how to flip pan to faders. Flip also works with sends and plug-ins.
  • Page 32 • To assign a mono output, press the Channel Encoder under the display showing the desired output pair to access the individual output channels, then press the corresponding Channel Encoder In switch to assign the mono output. To exit assign mode, press Surface SHIFT + Flip/Channel . Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...
  • Page 33 Channel Encoder In switch to assign the mono output. To exit input or output Assign mode, press Back until the top-level Channel Control Knob Set is shown . Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...

  • Page 34: Banking Tracks

    Storing and Recalling Custom Layouts Layouts let you assign specific tracks to specific channel strips on the S3, and have those channel strips ignore banking and nudging (ensuring that the specific tracks remain available for as long as the Layout is active). You can store Layouts using the Assign and Layouts tabs of the EuControl Settings application.
  • Page 35 Click the Assign tab and make sure Pro Tools (or your other targeted application) appears next to Application . The 16 S3 chan- nel strips appear in the Strip column, and tracks assigned to each channel strip appear in the Assigned To column.
  • Page 36 Control on S3. Using the Channel Encoders Groups must be created in Pro Tools before they can be accessed and modified on the S3. To add or remove tracks from a Group using the Channel Encoders: Press Surface SHIFT + Aux/Group .
  • Page 37 To enable a Group, press any unlit Channel Control Encoder Sel switch so that it is lit. • To suspend a Group, press any lit Channel Encoder Sel switch. To edit another track’s Group properties without returning to the top-level Channel Control Knob Set, just select the channel. Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...

  • Page 38: Working With Plug-Ins

    EQ and Dyn Knob Sets In the EQ and Dyn Knob Sets, parameter mappings are standardized across types of plug-ins. For example, the threshold controls for two compressor plug-ins from different manufacturers appear on the same encoder. Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...
  • Page 39 Press SHIFT + Inserts/Dyn . Channel mode is enabled on the Channel Encoders, and the parameters for the first dynamics plug-in on the attentioned track are spilled across the 16 Channel Encoders. Press Pan to exit the plug-in and Channel mode. Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...
  • Page 40 Press the In Channel Control Navigation switch so it is unlit to bypass all the plug-ins for the selected track. Kick Back EQ3-7Bnd Dyn3CmpL PrExpndr Expnd Page Page Channel Control Navigation In switch Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...

  • Page 41: Working With Sends

    • Press the Channel Control Encoder under the display showing the bus pair. Each individual bus is assigned to its own Channel Control Encoder. • Press the Channel Control Encoder In switch under the corresponding display to assign the bus. Press Config so it is unlit to exit Config mode. Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...
  • Page 42 (usually encoder eight). If the send is three or more channels (such as LCR, or a 5.1 send), additional send pan pa- rameters become available in the encoders (such as divergence, center percentage, and other multichannel pan parameters). Rotate the appropriate encoder. Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...

  • Page 43: Working With Automation

    Hold the Command + Control Modifier switches and press the encoder Sel switch for the desired send. Working with Automation This section shows many of the ways you can control automation settings using the S3. Selecting Track Automation Modes You can select track Automation Modes using the channel strip REC/AUTO switches and the Function switches. The current Au- tomation Mode is shown in the corresponding channel display on the S3, and on-screen.
  • Page 44 To show track pan automation in the Edit window: Press PAN to assign pan to the Channel Encoders. Hold Control + Command (Mac) or Ctrl + Start (Windows) and touch the Pan encoder on a track. Chapter 4: Using S3 with Pro Tools...
  • Page 45 Hold Control + Command (Mac) or Ctrl + Start (Windows) and touch the Send pan encoder on a track. Plug-In Automation Plug-In Parameters can be enabled for automation from the S3. Pro Tools provides a preference setting for newly inserted plug-ins to default to all parameters enabled for automation. Go to Pro Tools >...

  • Page 46: Chapter 5. S3 Audio I/O Connections

    Power on S3, and make sure the S3 is in Studio mode. Display number 15 on the top row of encoders on the S3 shows the current mode (“Studio” or “Live”) when the S3 is initializing Toggling Studio and Live Modes after being powered on.

  • Page 47: 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- Connecting and Adjusting Headphones pendently, and correspond to Out 5–6 in Pro Tools.

  • Page 48: 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 49: 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 50: Connecting Hardware Inserts

    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 51: 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 52: Chapter 6. Eucontrol

    Only one instance of EuControl can run on a workstation. However, multiple workstations on a single network can each run Eu- Control. Each EuControl-equipped workstation can connect one S3 on the network. In this chapter, the tabs in the EuControl software are discussed in the order (left to right) as they appear at the top of the EuControl Settings dialog.

  • Page 53: Update Firmware

    Each media controller can be renamed by double-clicking the existing name and typing a new name. If you changed the name of the S3 in VENUE software, that name will appear in the My Surfaces list. Likewise, if you changed the name in the My Surfaces list, it will appear as such in VENUE software.

  • Page 54: Workstations

    A media controller can control applications running on a second computer, referred to in this guide as a workstation. The Work- stations tab establishes the list of workstations that the Workstation switch cycles through. Any workstation running EuControl software can be in this list, including those controlled by the System 5-MC, MC Pro, Artist Control, and S3. Workstations tab All Workstations All Workstations lists all EUCON-enabled workstations on the network.

  • Page 55: General

    This command lets supported workstations open plug-in windows on-screen when a plug-in is selected for editing on S3. Close Plug-ins on Workstation When Exiting This command lets supported workstations close plug-in windows on-screen when you press BACK or exit Inserts mode on an S3. Chapter 6: EuControl...

  • Page 56: Solo Mode

    Auto-bank to Selected Track When this is selected, S3 banks to tracks when the tracks are selected on-screen. The surface will auto-bank such that the selected track appears on the leftmost fader of the surface as long as the selected track is not currently visible on the surface.

  • Page 57: Preferences

    Preferences Preferences tab Footswitch You can connect a footswitch to S3 for hands-free punch in/out. Connect a footswtich to the 1/4-inch footswitch input on the back panel. To configure the Footswitch in EuControl: In the Footswitch section of the Preferences tab, click to select the desired Punch In and Punch Out assignments: ...

  • Page 58: Assign

    Assign The Assign tab manages how tracks are assigned to S3 channel strips. By default, tracks are automatically assigned in banks of 16. Assign tab Display Application’s Track Numbers Enabling this option lets EuControl display track numbers as assigned by the currently selected (in focus) application (if that ap- plication supports track numbers).

  • Page 59: Layouts

    Use the Layouts tab to store and recall custom fader layouts. For example, you can use the Assign tab to assign tracks to specific S3 channel strips. You can then save those assignments as part of a fader layout on the Layouts tab, which you can then recall using the Bank A–F switches.

  • Page 60: Appendix A. Compliance Information

    Appendix A: Compliance Information Environmental Compliance Disposal of Waste Equipment by Users in the European Union This symbol on the product or its packaging indicates that this product must not be disposed of with other waste. Instead, it is your responsibility to dispose of your waste equipment by handing it over to a designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

  • Page 61: Safety Compliance

    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 62: Important Safety Instructions

    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 63 Avid Technical Support (USA) Product Information 280 N Bernardo Avenue Visit the Online Support Center at For company and product information, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA www.avid.com/support visit us on the web at www.avid.com...

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