Goldcrest Post Production has chosen an NTP Technology DAD AX32 analogue/digital/analogue converter and two DX32 audio interfaces for the new Sound Theatre 2 facility at its Dean Street premises in London’s Soho.
All three units are equipped with Dante Audinate which allows low-latency uncompressed multichannel digital audio networking throughout the premises via a standard Ethernet network. They are closely integrated with a 48-fader dual-operator Avid S6 M40 audio production control surface.
The DAD AX32 and DX32 as well as the Avid S6 M40 were supplied by Scrub, a division of London-based HHB Communications.
Sound Theatre 2 is also equipped with 9.1 surround sound monitoring, DCI-compliant projection and a 5.5-metre viewing screen. Sound Theatre 2 also has a dedicated offline cutting room as well as its own secure green room area.
“The combination of DAD interfaces and Avid Pro Tools | HDX provides seemingly limitless I/O connectivity options,” says Goldcrest’s London Studio Manager Robert Weatherall. “The DX32 units give us the Pro Tools interface plus MADI and AES. The AX32s they give us AES, analogue, extra MADI ports and Dante. We can route signals anywhere with great ease. The flexibility of the system has allowed us to move away from bulky drives and huge interface rigs.”
“The fact that we can reconfigure the S6 modules in different arrangements is amazing because we are able to arrange the room in so many different ways. It can be a single-operator mix room or an extension of a cutting room, or it can be set up as a two-man theatrical mix theatre. These configuration changes would previously have meant a lot of planning and additional equipment hire.”
“Scrub were extremely accommodating in their ideas and helped to make this huge project run smoothly. Their engineers helped configure the desk and their knowledge of Pro Tools | S6 is so extensive that we can call with a question any time and get an answer immediately. They were genuinely interested in the project from the outset and worked hard to help us realise our vision.”
“The DAD boxes are working well and integrating very closely with the S6,” adds Goldcrest Technical Engineer and Mix Technician Alex Green. “We are still finding new ways to use it as there are so many possible permutations to match the workflow that suits each project.”
Image: Rob Weatherall (right); Alex Green (centre); and Jan Lykke, Business Development Manager, NTP Technology