THE MIX ROOM
World-Class Audiophile Studio 9.2.6 Analog Monitoring System
HIGH RESOLUTION IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY
The Mix Room is the heart of Master Recordings. Located at the Master Recordings facility at RippFarm in Richmond, Indiana, the Mix Room is a fully customized world-class audiophile studio monitoring system. It has been designed and created by David Ripp. The end result is a fully analog 9.2.6 monitoring system connected to the AMS Neve Genesys 64 channel, 128 input recording console. The result is High Resolution Immersive Technology.
WHAT IS HRI TECHNOLOGY?
HRI Technology captures the true experience of being in the location where the music is being created and recorded. While the channels can be isolated per instrument in the traditional fashion, the entire scene is captured to reflect the way each instrument interacts with the unique environment of the space that the instrument is being played in. HRI Technology allows us to reconstruct the experience of listening to the music live in its natural environment on the listener’s stereo or immersive system.
The Mix Room Features
NEVE Genesys 128 G3D
Analog Master Recording and Mixing Console with TOTAL Digital Control
Integrated Analog Mixing in Three Dimensions
Echo Chamber
The Master Recordings Echo Chamber is located below the mix room with dedicated lines connecting the two spaces. This 3000 cu ft variable analog space is one of the few genuine echo chambers in the country and lends a power to voice and music that is seldom achieved.
The Mix Room Capabilities
● Reel to Reel Analog Tapes
● CDs
● Cassettes
● Vinyl Records
● DATs
● DA-88 (multi-channel Hi-8 format)
● Digital Files
● Video and Multimedia Materials
Fully Analog 9.2.6 Monitoring System
Features four major inputs to the monitoring system through a trio of EMM Labs Switchman 3 analog preamps with 1db digital control of 18 analog outputs from any of four 18 analog channel inputs.
Input 1: Theta Casablanca V
– Includes multi digital and analog inputs.
– 14 balanced analog outputs.
– Balanced digital to analog converters with two DACs per output channel that are overclocked dual balanced at 24bit at 384kHz.
– Analog resistive output volume controls with stepladder attenuators with 1db digital control.
– HDMI 4K inputs and switching, AES, TOS, and Coax Inputs.
– Incredible surround sound processing
Input 2: Universal Audio Apollo x16 analog 9.2.6 channel outputs from a max of 24bit at 192kHz
Input 3: AMS Neve Genesys 64 channel / 128 input inline master recording console.
– Digitally controlled analog audio paths with total recall and preset memories.
– 64 channels of Neve 1073 analog preamps with Marinair transformer inputs.
– 64 channels of Neve 88R four band analog EQ with digital control.
– 64 channels of Neve Dynamics with digital control.
– 16 monitor output channels: left, right, center, left sub, right sub, left surround side, right surround side, left surround back, right surround back, left wide, right wide, left height front, right height front, left height center, right height center, left height rear, and right height rear.
Input 4: AMS Neve Genesys 64 channel / 128 input inline master recording console in 2.2 format (left, right, left sub, right sub)
Main Digital Recording System
Pro Tools HDX MTRX 2: Rig 80A/D X 80D/A plus DANTE 128 X 128
Universal Audio: Apollo x16
Universal Audio: Luna recording system
Mac Pro #1 in the Studio-Mix Room:
– Rack Mounted (cheese grater Mac Pro)
– 16 core high speed processors with 768GB of RAM
– 2 Radeon RX-580 Sapphire Pulse graphics card with 32GB GDDR5
– Gigabyte GC Titan Ridge 2.0 Thunderbolt 3 card
– 4TB SSD drives for OS, downloads, and storage
– 16TB SSD drive pack for recording storage
– 120TB QNAP NAS over the network
Mac Pro #2 in the Studio-Mix Room:
– 12 core high speed processors with 96GB of RAM
– Radeon RX-580 Sapphire Pulse graphics card with 8GB GDDR5
– Gigabyte GC-Titan Ridge 2.0 Thunderbolt 3 card
– Multi TB SSD drives for OS, downloads, and storage
Computer Audio PC running Windows XP
M-Audio: Delta 1010 interface/processor
– 8 channel analog and SPDIF Inputs
– 8 channel analog and SPDIF Outputs
– 24 bit 96 kHz digital recording system
– Analog and digital ins and outs
Speakers and Amplifiers
Main left and right channels: ATC SCM50ASL Pros
– Isolation suspended and soffit mounted.
– Remote amplifier: stereo tri-amped with bass 200W each, mids 100W each, and highs 50W each for a total of 700 watts.
Main left and right sub channels: Two EAW SB-150s per amplifier (one per channel).
– Top pair of SB-150s powered by a Crown K-2.
– Bottom pair of SB-150s powered by a Crown K-2.
Center channel: center top ATC SCM45A three-way studio control monitor.
– Bass 150W each, mids 60W each, highs 25W each for a total of 235 watts and center bottom EAW JF-80 powered by a 100 watt Bryston. By balancing the power to the top and bottom center channels, the sound can be focused to the center of the screen, vertically.
Left wide and right wide channels: ATC SCM25A PRO MK 2.
– Bass 150W each, mids 60W each, highs 32W each for a total of 484 watts.
Surround side left and right channels: EAW JF-80s powered by a Crown K-2.
Surround back left and right channels: EAW JF-80s powered by a Crown K-2.
Height front left and right channels: EAW JF-80s powered by a Crown K-2.
Height center left and right channels: EAW JF-80s powered by a Crown K-2.
Height rear left and right channels: EAW JF-80s powered by a Crown K-2.
Total system power of 15,519 Watts. The power serves more for cleanliness than volume. The monitoring system is focused on the main center mixing position. Left, right, and center channels are all equally 10’ from the prime listening position, forming an equilateral triangle
Analog Master Recording and Mixing Console With Total Digital Control
AMS Neve Genesys 64 channel / 128 input inline master recording console.
– Digitally controlled analog audio paths with total recall and preset memories.
– 64 channels of Neve 1073 analog preamps with Marinair transformer inputs and digital control.
– 64 channels of Neve 88R four band analog EQ with digital control.
– 64 channels of Neve VCA compressor/gate/expander analog dynamics with digital control.
– 16 Monitor output channels.
Audio Distro System for Analog Recording
ROH Systems: 18 analog channels (20 cards) from the console outputs.
– For each card/channel of the one input and six outputs modules for distribution to analog audio devices.
– 48-point 1/4″ TRS Neutrik patch bay with 1-18 tied to distro outputs.
Accessory Input and Processing Equipment
Aphex 230 Master Voice Channel
– RPA tube preamp and Easyrider compressor and EQ
ADA MP-1 studio input, tube instrument preamp
– MIDI programmable tube instrument preamp
Lexicon MX200 dual reverb and effects processor
TC Electronic FireworX digital effects processor
Alesis QuadraVerb 20K bandwidth simultaneous digital effects processor
– Stereo digital reverb unit
dbx 1046 Quad Compressor/Limiter
dbx 266XL two-channel compressor/limiter/gate
PreSonus ACP88 eight-channel compressor/gate
Master Recordings Stereo Live Echo Chamber
– 400 sq ft, 3,000 cu ft space with six mic pick-ups. This allows complete customization of the reverb / echo sounds of the Echo Chamber.
dbx 900 Series rack
– Slots 1 & 2: 903 compressor/limiter – 907 stereo gated comp slave
– Slots 3 & 4: 903 compressor/limiter – 907 stereo gated comp slave
– Slots 5: 903 compressor/limiter
– Slots 6: 903 compressor/limiter
– Slots 7: 904 noise gate
– Slots 8: 904 noise gate
– Slots 9: 902 de-esser
dbx 500 professional subharmonic synthesizer – stereo boom box
Data System
Dedicated Comcast Fiber connection with a fixed IP address
Sonic Wall commercial router with state of the art firewall systems
Two 52-port POE 1GB managed switches
HP Server running Master Recordings business software
QNAP 120TB NAS
– The high speed solid state drives provide a complete back-up system. All data is also backed up to an off site location every night.
CAT 6A, 10GB cables for all data lines
– More than 10,000 feet of CAT 6A cable is installed in the facility
– Most data lines run directly from each device one of the two main switches
System has a patch bay to allow extra interfacing
System has a complete uninterruptable power supply (UPS)
Rack location is remote from the studio to isolate the heat and noise
Legacy Source and Recording Formats Available
- Digital Hard Drive Recorder
Alesis – adat HD 24 XR
– 24-track digital hard drive player/recorder
– Standard 24 tracks 16-bit 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
– Hi-Res 12 tracks 24-bit 96 kHz
– Analog and digital ins and outs
- Hi 8 Digital Audio
Tascam DA-88 8-channel digital recorder
Tascam IF-88AE digital audio interface unit
– Analog and digital ins and outs
- Analog Reel to Reel Tape
Tascam 34B four track 1/4″ format, four-channel studio recorder
– 7-1/2 and 15 ips
Studer A-820 two track 1/4″ format stereo studio master recorder
– Complete remote control system
– 3-3/4″, 7-1/2″, 15, and 30 ips
– Recently rebuilt and recapped
Studer A-80 four track 1/2″ format studio master recorder
– 15 and 30 ips
– Recently rebuilt and recapped
Studer A-80 twenty four track 2″ format studio master recorder
– 15 and 30 ips
– Complete remote control system
- Turntable
Technics SP-15 with rosewood and obsidian base
– Rega Research Ltd. cartridge and preamp
– 33, 45, & 78 with quartz variable speed
– Separate 78rpm cartridge stylus
- Cassette
Tascam 122 MK III player/recorder
– With variable pitch
- CD
Studer A-727 master CD player
– Analog and digital ins and outs
Tascam CD-RW900 MK II professional CD rewritable recorder video that plays CDs
Theta David DVD with up to 24/96 CDs, DTS multichannel audio
– Digital audio out only
- Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
Sony PCM7010 professional DAT player/recorder
– Analog and digital ins and outs
Sony Radio Systems 670 DAT player/recorder
– Analog and digital ins and outs
- Windows XP Computer Audio PC
M-Audio Delta 1010 interface/processor
– 8-Channel analog and SPDIF inputs
– 8-Channel analog and SPDIF outputs
– 24-bit 96 kHz digital recording system
– Analog and digital ins and outs
- Video
Theta David DVD with SDI output
– Converted to HDMI
Sanyo VHS and DVD transfer recording unit
– DVD and VHS recorder
– HDMI direct output
JVC SR-W5U Hi-Vision – W-VHS Hi-Def player/recorder
– Special W-VHS format with HDTV 1080i output
– Converted to HDMI
Pioneer CLD-3090 LaserDisc player
– Converted to HDMI
Sony EVO-9800 Hi-8 professional player/recorder
– Converted to HDMI
Sony VO-5600 3/4″ U-Matic player/recorder
– Converted to HDMI
Sony 4K Blu-Ray player
– With HDMI direct output
Apple TV 4K 64GB Apple TV
– With HDMI direct output
Elmo Transvideo 16mm film to video projector
– Originally with SD camera
– Upgraded to a 4K Camera with HDMI output
- Video Display, Control, and Switching Equipment
Samsung 82” 4K TV/monitor
LG 32” 4K computer monitor
Visio 32” 2K TV/monitor
Benq 32” 4K computer monitor
– Dedicated to the Mac Pro recording computer
16 x 16 WolfPack Series HDTV VFIX1600E HDMI video and audio switcher
Sony SB-V3000 6 x 6 composite video and S-Video switcher
– For legacy video formats
– Outputs are converted to HDMI
Theta Casablanca V music and cinema controller
– Preamp processor
– Four HDMI inputs from the 16 x 16 HDMI switcher
– One HDMI output to the 16 x 16 HDMI switcher
Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro Extreme ISO
– Eight HDMI inputs from the 16 x 16 HDMI switcher
– Two HDMI output to the 16 x 16 HDMI switcher
– Stereo audio input from system to the patch bay
– Ability to stream programs directly from the studio
- Main Computer
Rack mounted Mac Pro recording from the analog, 80 input/output channels of A/D and D/A of the Avid ProTools MTRX 2 system and DANTE 128 X 128 system utilizing ProTools HDX.
– The 2022 Mac Pro has 3.2GHz, 16-core Intel Xeon W processors, 768GB of RAM, two Radeon Pro W5700X with 16GB of GDDR6 memory each, and a 4TB SSD for system files.
– The two 16TB OWC Thunderbay 4 Mini are utilized for recording storage with four 4TB SSD drives providing 8TB of recording space with 8TB mirror in each unit for a total of 16TB recording storage and 16TB of mirror.
- Aux Studio Mix Room Computer
MacBook Pro 16 with Thunderbolt 3
The Mix Room Keyboard System
Kawai MP11 SE Stage Piano
88 Key Keyboard Synthesizer
Native Instruments Komplete Production Suite
Synthogy Ivory II Grand Pianos
Apollo Twin
UAD 2 Processor for Keyboard
Connected ThunderBolt 2 to Carolyn’s MacBook Pro 15
Connected Analog to the Main Console for Monitoring and Recording
