Mixing Bench Overview

From Help Wiki

Overview

The Audio Mixing Benches are our introductory audio edit suites. 

  • They have one computer station with a variety of accessories and software. 
  • They are designed to be used by 1-2 students. 
  • They are available for students to use for academic use. 
  • The labs require the proficiency badge and also the quarterly access badge. 
  • Students in approved programs or contracts will be added to the access badge each quarter.  

Location

  • They are in their own rooms on the first floor of Evans Hall in 1520 and 1522. 
  • From the lobby walk past the Multimedia Lab and turn left at the garbage and recycling station.

Access

General Policies

  • No food or drinks of any kind are allowed in the labs.
  • Alcohol, drugs, vaping and smoking are not allowed anywhere in the buildings.
  • Take care of yourself and remember to take a break once in a while.
  • Clean up after yourself.  
  • Do not delete other students' files.
  • Do not unplug or remove anything from the spaces.
  • Make sure the door is closed and locked when you leave the lab.
    • Do not leave doors propped open if the room will be temporarily unoccupied, even if you are only running to the restroom.
  • Only use your scheduled time.
  • Return keys and equipment promptly to Media Loan or to the Library Circulation Desk.
  • Reports any lab problems by following the Report a problem in a media lab procedure.
  • Be courteous and respectful to the other users of the labs and all student employees.
  • Follow the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Social Contract
  • Files on computers may be deleted at the end of each quarter or as-needed.
    • Always keep a backup of your work in another location.

Help

  • Always enter your name and time into the logbook, along with any problems you encounter during your time in the lab
  • If you need help, go to the Multimedia Lab 1404.
  • In the dock there is a folder with an orange M called Manuals that contain PDF’s of some of the manuals
  • The Evergreen Help Wiki – has helpful Mixing Bench articles as well as various audio editing software cheat sheets

Applications

  • Adobe Audition: Multi-track audio recording and mixing
  • Ableton Live: Music Production
  • Pro Tools: Multi-track audio recording and mixing.
  • Audacity: Open source audio editor.

Equipment

Computer

  • Mac Studio and 64 GB of Ram
  • 27" Dell monitor with built in webcam

Apollo x8 Audio Interface

  1. Sound card upon start up should be in 48k sample rate.
  2. There are 2 HI-Z inputs and 4 Mic inputs.

Lab Procedures

Powering On Procedure

  1. Turn down the volume on the Mackie Big Knob monitor controller. It’s the metal box with a silver knob.
  2. Turn on the power strip located on the right corner of the computer desk.
  3. Wait 10 seconds for the sound card to fully start up, sound card should read 48k.
  4. Power on the computer by pressing the button on the lower left corner of the computer.
  5. Log in to the computer and wait for the user template to fully start up..

Monitoring

  • The Mackie Big Knob monitor controller is used to set the monitoring volume.  
  • Audio Monitoring - Mixing Bench  
  • On the Mackie Big Knob set the Source Select button to A to listen to the the Apollo x8
    • The computer is set up to send signals through the Apollo x8
  • On the Mackie Big Knob Source B is not being used.

File Management

All file storage on the computers is local to that computer.  You need to back up your files in order to use them in another lab.

  • Make a folder on the desktop to store your files.  
  • When working save often
  • When you are done save and quit any applications you are using.
  • Back up your files to:
    • OneDrive
    • External hard drive
    • Thumb drive
  • If you have a fast USB three hard drive you can work directly of your drive.  
  • We erase all the student files off the computers on Thursday of every eval week.
  • Always back up your files