Mixing Bench Overview

To gain access to this facility

The Mixing Benches require a proficiency test. This can be scheduled at the Media Loan, L2504. The Mixing Benches are in L1520 and L1525.
Schedule time at Media Loan or the Multimedia Lab.
Get keys from Media Loan for your scheduled time.

Once you enter the facility

Enter your name and time into the logbook, along with any problems you encounter during your time in the lab.
Turn on the computer (there is a specific pathway to do this correctly, as follows:)
1. Turn down the volume on the Volume Box. It’s the metal box with a red knob.
2. Turn on the main power switch. It is on the right corner of the desk.
3. Turn on the computer using the power button, which is the round button on the left front of the computer. The computer is underneath the desk.
4. The computer runs some scripts at start up. Wait for the “Opening Message” text file to open before doing anything.

Help

If you need help, go to the Multimedia Lab L1404 or Media Loan L2504.

Applications

Here are the main applications

Peak: Basic audio recording and editing of mono and stereo files.
Digital Performer: Multi-track audio recording and mixing. It also does MIDI editing.
Pro Tools: Multi-track audio recording and mixing.
Toast: CD and DVD burning. Use Toast to make audio CD’s, data CD’s or data DVD’s for back up.
Audacity: Open source audio editor.
iTunes: Apples CD player program. If you need to playback an audio CD use iTunes.

Computer Audio Cards

The computer uses the built-in audio card and is called the Mac in and Mac out on the patch bay.
When open projects that were last used in other labs the audio inputs and outputs might need to be re-assigned.

Patchbay, Mixer and Monitoring

All of the equipment is connected to the patchbay.
You can connect devices with patchcords but most of the basic connections are normalized. This means that no patching is required.
When you start it’s a good idea to remove all the patchcords from the patchbay.
The mixer and the volume control box are the devices used to set levels and monitoring volumes.
Use the mixer to set recording levels and the Volume Box to set monitoring levels.
The mixer’s Main Mix output is normalized to the Mac inputs.
The mixer’s Control Room output is normalized to the Volume Box Mixer input.
The output of the Mac is normalized to the Volume Box Mac input. On the Volume Box choose Mixer CR Out or Mac to either listen to the mixer or the program using the Mac.

File Storage

Make a folder on the User Drive to store your files in. It’s a good idea to back up your work to a data DVD, external hard drive or a server. All files are deleted at the end of every quarter.

If you have any other problems, please check the handouts located next to the door, or the website www.evergreen.edu/electronicmedia/audio. A variety of handouts can be downloaded from the “downloads“ section. Also in the dock (the row of icons on the left of the screen) there is a folder called “Manuals” that contain PDF’s of the manuals.