Openmixer

openmixer

A fully-extensible software-based dedicated mixing console emulation.

Requirements

What do we want to do when we get to the Studio that houses the OpenMixer system:

• login to the studio workstation, press a button in the UI that says "Workstation" and have all 24 channels of the soundcard connected to all 24 speakers, control overall volume with a fader labeled "Master"
• walk to the dvd player, insert a DVD disk, press a button in the UI that says "DVD" and have the DVD play in 5.1, control overall volume with a fader labeled "Master"
• connect a laptop for stereo playback by connecting to a 1/8" plug, press a button in the UI that says "Laptop" and have stereo playback properly routed, control overall volume with a fader labeled "Master"
• connect a laptop for 8 channel playback by connecting multiple outputs to 1/4" plugs, press a button in the UI that says "Laptop8" and have 8 channels routed to the mid 8 channel speaker ring, control overall volume with a fader labeled "Master"

Hardware

The OpenMixer software runs in a dedicated fanless computer. Zalman has discontinued their TNN300 and TNN500AF products so we have to look for other options.

The audio input and output is controlled by an RME <a href="http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_hdsp_madi.php">HDSP Madi</a> PCI card which provides 64 inputs, 64 outputs, MIDI i/o, work clock i/o, etc. It uses up 2 back panel slots but is inserted into one PCI slot. Another option is the RME <a href="http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_hdspe_madi.php">PCIe Madi</a> PCI Express card (same capabilities, different bus).

The MADI output is split into ADAT outputs using the RME <a href="http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_adi_648.php">ADI-648</a> ADAT/MADI format converter (we get 8 ADAT pipes from it). The ADAT pipes can be connected directly to other computers or equipment, or go through ADAT D/A and/or A/D converters to connect to analog equipment.