► Avid S6 Microsite
Avid S6 Control Surface
Avid S6 Control Surface Microsite from RSPE Audio – Find all of the latest information on Avid’s groundbreaking S6 M10 and S6 M40 modular control surfaces, the world’s first control surface that lets you customize the surface to match your current and growing needs. The S6 Microsite is your source for information on:
► Avid S6 Overview
Avid S6 Unique Features:
Avid S6 M10 and S6 M40Like its predecessors, the Avid D-Command and D-Control, The S6 comes in two flavors. Analogous to the D-Command, you have the smaller, more affordable M10, and the Avid S6 M40, which takes the place of D-Control and Euphonix System 5 MC.With Avid’s S6 modular control surfaces, you can select from various pre-configured S6 M10 systems, while the S6 M40 can be custom-configured to your specific requirements in not only fader count, but also number of knobs per channel, plus the addition of visual displays. And upgrading your S6 M40 doesn’t mean buying a new console; you can add various control modules any time you desire without the need for on-site technicians. It’s as close to plug-and-play, or shall we say, plug-and-mix as you can get. In fact, just like the portability of Avid’s Pro Tools software from studio to studio, you can actually bring S6 modules to another S6-equipped facility, plug them in, and mix or track the way you’re accustomed to. Only the Avid S6 M40 allows this kind of scalability and flexibility. Avid S6 M10 and S6 M40 key features:
Avid S6 features in depthA collaborative effort of Avid and Euphonix engineers, driven by input from audio professionals, S6 offers total scalability from being able to configure number of faders and rotary encoders per channel to the addition of meter/waveform displays. Plus, there are user-requested features you won’t find in any other control surfaces, such as sliding computer keypad tray and script tray that move along the entire length of the desk.Revolutionary modular design The words “future proof” have been used in pro audio since N.E.D.’s Synclavier was introduced in 1981. So far, instead of the promised 10 years, future proofing has lasted six months to a year at the outside—that is, until the arrival of Avid’s S6 modular consoles. How does Avid do it? By creating an Ethernet-based power frame that allows you to add modules at any time as your needs or workflow changes. And here’s where it gets interesting; these scalable modules are not just fader packs. There are six modules that comprise the S6 including: Fader Module, Process Module, Knob Module, Display Module (M40 only), Master Touch Module, and Master Automation Module. On the S6 M40, you can add stunning visual display modules, as well as more control knobs per channel bank (or less should you desire). For example, you can have 8-channel banks with five knobs to control panning and 4-band EQ right alongside fader banks with nine knobs to add dynamics control to EQ and panning. Or, you could have channel banks with one encoder knob if, for example, you wanted to create dedicated aux or submaster channels. And of course, down the road, you could convert those single-knob and five-knob channels into full 9-knob channels depending on the depth of the S6 frame you’ve selected. (More on frames later.) The horizontal and vertical scalability of the S6 offers you the greatest cost efficiency by letting you start out with only what you need and no more. You don’t invest in unnecessary bells and whistles or take designer’s potluck; hoping they thought of everything you need, or accept trade-offs if they didn’t. Avid didn’t design the S6 to try to be all things to all people—just all things to one person: you. Mix intuitively with superior ergonomics To create the perfect blend of knobs, faders, switches, and touchscreen, Avid engaged in extensive ergonomic research and tapped the expertise of Euphonix engineers who’ve excelled in this area with their System 5 designs. That said, in long mixing sessions, you need to quickly access controls and see and reach what you need to without “wheel chair races” across the length of your console. S6 addresses these issues by bringing faders and encoders closer to the center section of the console. And for D-Command users who couldn’t reach the top row of controls without climbing over the console, S6’s narrower depth will come as a welcome relief. Quite simply, with an S6 you reach more and move less. Carrying the idea of ergonomically intuitive access forward, the S6 acts and feels like a physical extension of your software, providing a truly intuitive and immersive experience. Turn around projects faster with high-precision editing and mixing control within easy reach. Quickly access and edit plug-ins, surround panning, and more with the multipoint touchscreen, and see every detail of your mix with unprecedented visual feedback. And along with the ability to stay in the sweet spot longer, the S6 frame comes with a comfortable elbow-supporting bolster and physical topology that doesn’t obstruct the sound field. Networked connectivity with EUCON To create the perfect blend of knobs, faders, switches, and touchscreen, Avid engaged in extensive ergonomic research and tapped the expertise of Euphonix engineers who’ve excelled in this area with their System 5 designs. That said, in long mixing sessions, you need to quickly access controls and see and reach what you need to without “wheel chair races” across the length of your console. S6 addresses these issues by bringing faders and encoders closer to the center section of the console. And for D-Command users who couldn’t reach the top row of controls without climbing over the console, S6’s narrower depth will come as a welcome relief. Quite simply, with an S6 you reach more and move less. Carrying the idea of ergonomically intuitive access forward, the S6 acts and feels like a physical extension of your software, providing a truly intuitive and immersive experience. Turn around projects faster with high-precision editing and mixing control within easy reach. Quickly access and edit plug-ins, surround panning, and more with the multipoint touchscreen, and see every detail of your mix with unprecedented visual feedback. And along with the ability to stay in the sweet spot longer, the S6 frame comes with a comfortable elbow-supporting bolster and physical topology that doesn’t obstruct the sound field. Intelligent studio control of Pro ToolsPair the S6 with Pro Tools and you gain the Avid advantage of faster workflows, extended visual feedback, and unique features to accelerate your efficiency every step of the way. And with S6 you can extend your control to Logic Pro, Nuendo, and other EUCONTM-enabled DAWs, enabling you to mix projects on multiple workstations simultaneously and switch out sessions in seconds—all from a single control surface.Total Studio Control In addition to Pro Tools, S6 provides the flexibility to extend your mixing control to Logic Pro, Nuendo, Cubase, and Pyramix EUCON-enabled DAWs. This enables you to “mix and match” channels from any or all of your DAWs*—side by side—on the S6 surface. Plus, you can save and recall up to 96 different surface layouts instantly, at any time from the touchscreen. S6 is the only professional mixing solution that enables multiple music and/or audio post projects created on different audio workstations to be controlled simultaneously—all from a single control surface.* Control up to eight DAWs on an S6 M40-based system and up to two DAWs on an S6 M10-based system. Experience the deep DAW control that only Avid S6 can deliver. Call or chat with an RSPE representative for more in-depth information, or assistance configuring an Avid S6 control surface for your studio. ◀ Click the tabs in the left column to learn more about the S6!
►Avid S6 Tutorial Videos
►Avid S6 Virtual Experience
►Avid S6 Latest Updates
New in EUCON 2018.3The EUCON 2018.3 software update includes:
Unified Workstation Installer Continuing the merge of the different EUCON teams and Products that has already shown great improvements in efficiency, reliability and feature commonality during 2017. EUCON 2018.3 (also referenced as “v18.3”) introduces a single streamlined Unified Workstation Installer that prevents incompatible versions, stale preference files and several other issues. This release now follows the new Avid versioning of year and month (in the case of this release, “2018” for year and “.3” for the month of release). This new versioning scheme matches the versioning for Pro Tools and other Avid software. iPad Pro Tools | Control App on S6 S6 customers can now connect and use the iPad Control App with S6. Using the Pro Tools | Control app has many uses when used in conjunction with S6, from providing an extra set of Softkeys, to offering Transport Control and remote recording and monitor cue mixing. The new unified installer make setup a breeze. Multiple DAW Softkey Macros for S6 If you work with multiple DAW’s connected to your S6, then you will find the new Multi DAW Softkey Macros a major workflow enhancement. Any combinations of commands and feedback can be sent to all your connected DAW’s simultaneously. Matching out of Automation across multiple DAWs is now possible. For example, you could match out on DAW’s 1 to 3, punch out of record on DAW 4, and save on all four DAW’s with a single Softkey press. New in S6 Software v3.7S6 Software Version 3.7 brings even more features and enhancements to the already feature-rich S6 Control Surface. Some New Fetures and Enhancements include:
New in S6 Software v2.1S6 takes another large step forward in the evolution of the ultimate mixing solution with its 9th software release focusing on further enhancing customization, control and portability. Mixers have asked for further refinements in the ability to customize and build their ideal modular mixing desk with the settings, Soft Keys and Layouts that they need to construct and then to be able to easily take those settings with them to other S6 desks and rooms. It also adds support for professional KVM solutions to better integrate DAW switching. S6 Software v2.1 includes the following new and changed features:
New in S6 Software v2.0On July 13, 2015, Avid announced S6 version 2.0! This software update marks the biggest advancement yet in streamlining and simplifying pro mixing workflows by offering mixers flexible new ways to manage complex sessions. The new surface track management features genuinely offer the biggest improvements to date in quickly bringing the exact tracks you need onto the surface with advanced visual feedback, allowing you to get more done in each mix pass. These new features when combined make mixing large sessions nearly effortless. New features include:
New in S6 Software v1.4Avid announced the release of S6 Software v1.4 on February 9, 2015 for the S6 Master Module and associated workstations. This software release delivers a number of new updates, improvements and features for all S6 users. S6 Software v1.4 includes the following new and updated features:
For more detail on exactly what is in the v1.4 update see the following documents: S6 Software v1.4 Read Me What’s New in S6 v1.4 New in S6 Software v1.3On November 20th, 2014 Avid announced a new update to Avid S6 Software. The new Software version for S6 consoles, v1.3, includes a number of new and updated features, but also improves on system overall stability and network connectivity robustness. Take a look at what's new:Customize Momentary Control Value display times – You can customize the length of time these values are displayed before they revert back to track or parameter name. Layouts Improvements – Improved Tracks page with Layouts is an integrated single page. The Tracks screen now includes a consolidated view of the Tracks and Assign screens, as well as new commands and menus that simplify the creating, storing, and editing of Layouts in your projects.
Auto-Spill VCA on Attention – You can configure VCAs to automatically spill to the left or to the right of the Attention Track Fader (on the Automation Module) when a VCA is ‘attentioned’. Sends and Inserts Knobs Reversed – The Sends/Inserts Knobs Reversed preference lets you configure Knob Modules to display slots in either of two ways, “a–j” or“j–a.”
Support for GPI I/O Triggers – you can now add external triggers and switch control for Talkback, Stop, Play, Record, Dim & Cut. You need to wire a D-Sub snake to send these triggers from S6. Display Module Enhancements
Unified EUCONtrol version – you can now use one version of EUCONtrol software to run your Artist Series controllers, S3, 5MC-Pro and System 5 on the same workstation. This is particularly useful if you work in a facility that has multiple rooms and different surfaces you move your workstation between. Version 1.3 also improves on system overall stability and network connectivity robustness. New in S6 Software v1.2On July 1st, Avid released S6 Software Version 1.2. And with it, came a slew of new features, and updates to give the S6 even more power and functionality. Here are some of the major points: • VCA Spill Mode The ability for a mixer to spill VCA slaves to the left or right of the VCA Master onto the surface to access • Multi-Workstation Layouts The ability to map channels onto the surface from any of the EUCONTM-connected DAWs – side by side and include blank channels where desired. There can be 96 layouts programmed and recalled from the master touch screen  • Plug-In Expand Mode The ability to expand a plug-in and its parameters across a single or double knob module – providing either 32 or 64 knobs to access all of the controls at once • Soft Key Editor Allowing users to customize and program the 4 banks of soft keys • Audio editing from a Channelstrip A user can fade in or out a clip, trim the head or tail, slip or nudge it in time, adjust its clip gain and more • Vary the Speed of the Scrolling Waveform A new preference has been added to vary the speed from one second up to 60 seconds * 
• Gain Reduction EnhancementsHigh-resolution gain reduction meters are now on both the channel display modules and the master module home page. There are also GR meters on the fader module between the two level meters and new dynamics graph with bouncing ball level indication * • Integrated DVI Switcher Control Ability to switch multiple workstation screens (with Keyboard and Mouse following) to one TFT has been added via the serial control of either a Gefen or Guntermann & Drunck switcher • Automation LED indicators On knob modules to display automation status of encoder • Clear Mode Quickly reset parameters on a plug-in or channel • Display Module Enhancements To show Function Knob Values (like sends) and Dual Graph Displays (like pan and EQ) * • X-Mon monitoring improvements X-Mon app can be in background to access controls on surface, monitors fold to mono and more… * Some features currently require Pro Tools and or an S6 M40 system with Display Modules. Current S6 owners can download the S6 software 1.2 update today from their Avid Master Account. Or contact RSPE to see how an S6 control surface can unlock your professional mixing workflows.
►Avid S6 Master Modules
M40 vs. M10The engine you choose dictates the total number of modules you can include in your S6 and impacts its overall size and customizability. Choose the high-performance M40 for large-scale productions that require maximum channels, high-resolution metering screens, and customizability, or the more affordable M10 for productions that need to fit into smaller rooms and budgets.Both feature a tilting 12.1-inch multipoint touchscreen, eight adjacent rotary encoders, and dedicated knobs and keys for monitoring and global control, enabling you to view, access, and edit different aspects of your mix—such as tracks, processing, and metering—without mousing through menus. 
The control surface engines—master modules S6 Master Touch Module (MTM)This is the real brains of the outfit and is required for all S6 control surfaces. The S6 MTM is a tilting, multi-touch display with eight assignable encoders. It has dedicated navigation buttons, two full-color soft key sections, and monitor section. There are two versions of the MTM: the S6 M10, which can control 10 modules, and its smarter brother S6 M40, which can control 41 modules. (Well, it’s not really smarter, just more powerful.)The MTM features a 12.1", multi-touch screen that lets you view up to 72 tracks at once in the tracks matrix view, all with colors and meters. And with the swipe of a finger you can scroll vertically through the track matrix to access the rest of your session. You can record-arm, mute, or solo tracks easily via touch. There’s also an “attention” mode that takes you to an exploded view of a selected track. At the top of the exploded track view is a high-resolution meter bridge that you can horizontally scroll through via finger swipe, bringing any bank of eight channels right to you for processing directly via the screen. Touching a meter “attentions the track. Or you can similarly scroll an 8-channel-wide matrix at the bottom of the screen (similar to the track matrix view with just a single row). With the ability to view, access, and edit various aspects of your mix, including tracks, panning, processing, and metering, without “mouse Olympics” or “sub-menu races,” the S6 Master Touch Module gives you absolute power (yes, you can be the swordmaster of your audio universe). Speaking of universal domination, there’s a Universal Color Bar above the bottom-screen track matrix that allows you to navigate much larger sections to find the track you want and edit its parameters. 
S6 Master Automation ModuleWhile this module is optional (c’mon, you know you want one), the Master Automation Module provides two more soft key sections, bringing the number of soft key sections to four—another way S6 keeps you in the moment rather than searching through menus. It sports a jog/multi-function wheel, focus channel fader with OLED display, transport section, and numeric keypad. It also has a dedicated OLED time code display in the upper right hand corner.When combined with the Master Touch Module, you have a very powerful master section that is only one foot wide, providing lots of accessible control via touch screen and combined 60 function buttons of the Master Touch and Automation modules.
►Avid S6 Channel Modules
S6 Fader ModuleThe Fader Modules have a bank of eight 100mm motorized faders featuring HQ brushless motors for smooth operation during subtle fader moves. These are the same faders as those used on System 5. To keep you apprised of current status, the OLED displays show full track names and current automation mode.S6 Fader Module at a glance:
S6 Process ModuleThe Process Module hosts assignable switches for knob-module processing and bus assignments, plus eight freely assignable, multi-color LED top-lit knobs. There are 22 function-select switches per channel with color LEDs for easy identification. This module lets you select process modes (EQ, dynamics, etc.) for the knob modules, allowing control of up to nine simultaneous encoder values. The Process Module also contains eight OLED displays for labels and other visual feedback.S6 Process Module at a glance:
S6 Knob ModuleAs mentioned above, the Knob Module comprises 32 multi-color LED top-lit encoders (4 per channel) and works in conjunction with the Process Module. With control of 32 simultaneous encoder values, these knobs control EQ, dymanics, and other assignable parameters.S6 Knob Module at a glance:
S6 Display ModuleThe Display Module tightly integrates the control surface with DAW. Not just a display, it’s a fully networked EUCON module with integrated processor that does all graphics rendering without taxing your DAW’s CPU. Long awaited by large-format control surface owners, it gives you an unprecedented level of visual feedback, including high-resolution metering (supports all Pro Tools metering modes); scrolling waveforms displayed in the track colors from the DAW; and clip names. The scrolling waveforms enhance your ability to manage large track counts in dense sessions.S6 Display Module at a glance:
►Avid S6 System Options
Frames, Ethernet, and power supplyWhat holds it all together is the S6 power frame, which comprises a number of 1-foot wide chassis that attach together to hold the S6 control surface modules. Each chassis has its own power supply and wiring harness to provide Ethernet and power to each module fitted in the chassis. The chassis comes in two depths: a 4-module version including display module, and 5-module version included the display module (M40 only).The Ethernet switches (differently sized depending on number of modules) are also housed internally in the frame. Once you’ve selected the number of chassis you want (from 2 to 9), bolster, back-, and side-panels are added to the frame, which can then sit on a desktop. For frames that are five, six, seven, or nine chassis wide, a leg assembly option is available for a freestanding console.  System optionsThe Avid S6 frame also offers a number of system options—ergonomic extras to personalize your desk. These include:
►Avid S6 Compatibility
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