Using the Avid VENUE SC48 as a FireWire interface for SpectraFoo or SMAART
It is common practice for engineers who use SMAART or SpectraFoo to use an audio interface to get our reference and measurement signals into our analysis programs. I have personally been using Sound Devices USBPre for about 6 years now.
As audio engineers we are always looking for ways to streamline the process of setting up, tuning, sound checking, and doing the show. When the digital console came along our world as sound engineers changed! Now our digital consoles are also FireWire interfaces for recording programs. Since Avid is the manufacturer for both ProTools recording software and Venue Live consoles, the symbiotic relationship of console/recording interface has made the process of recording the show extremely convenient.
With the Avid VENUE 3.0 update and the FWx32 capabilities, I decided to see if we could use our Avid VENUE SC48 as an interface for SpectraFoo and SMAART. After playing around for a few minutes, I found that it's quite easy.
On the SC48
1. The first thing you will want to do is make sure that you have the FWx32 drivers installed on both the console and your computer.
2. Set aside two free channels on your SC48 as a Reference channel and a Measurement channel. Sometimes I use the IPod input as a reference channel.
3. Head over to the PATCHBAY PAGE on your SC48 and select DIRECTS.
4. Select a FWx direct output for both the Measurement and Reference channels (e.g. FWx channel 1as the Reference or IPOD channel, and 2 for the Measurement microphone)
5. Make sure to go to the inputs page of both your Reference and Measurement channels and enable the Direct Outs.
6. When I use the Reference channel I insert the signal generator plug-in on the channel.
On your analysis computer
For SpectraFoo:
1. Open SpectraFoo
2. Go to the Audio I/O menu and open Configure Hardware. Set the CA Driver as "Avid VENUE FWx32".
3. When opening any of the SpectrFoo analysis tools, select the FWx channels you had setup on the console as the inputs for the analysis tools.
For SMAART:
1. Go to Applications / Utilities / Audio Midi Setup and select "Pro Tools Aggregate I/O" as your Play Back and Input Device.
2. Set-up a SMAART measurement and select "CoreAudio: Avid VENUE FWx32" as your device.
By using the SC48 as an interface for SpectraFoo and SMAART, I have saved a bit of time used during setup and also have one less piece of equipment to carry around, not to mention that sometimes hard to find USB cable that we keep on forgetting at home……
