FRONT OF HOUSE
FIFTY FIRST DATES WITH A CONSOLE | Kent Morris
After working with a console for some time , its flow and engineering mindset become clear . The evidence unfolds as to how the designers were thinking when they built out the patching system or laid out the EQ section . Likewise , brands tend to function in a similar way across their range of products . Allen & Heath boards , from the SQ5 to the S5000 generally work in the same way . And , as digital live consoles have matured , good design features from one brand often appear in the next generation of other brands , making all mixers better as they evolve . Sometimes , however , a good console throws a fit and locks up or refuses to function properly . Here are some ideas on how to deal with panic at the console .
Before the console ever gives a moment of trouble , follow the three rules : backup , backup , backup . Consider the console ’ s memory to be that of a two-year-old child . There ’ s an old saying , “ If it ’ s not written down , it didn ’ t happen ” and the same holds true of digital desks : if it ’ s not backed up , it ’ s gone . The scene should be saved in three widely different slots on the console in case someone accidentally overwrites the primary slot . It should also be saved on a thumb drive and in the cloud .
It is good practice to place the console on a UPS ( Uninterruptible Power Supply ) and specifically , one that uses the battery as primary and the AC to recharge only versus a UPS that uses AC as primary and then falls to the battery when the power goes down . The reason to be on battery is there is no switchover glitch if power
is lost , the battery simply loses its recharging source . A true sine wave UPS is the right product to use . Though it is more expensive , it delivers what a sensitive console wants to see at its power input .
Once backups and a UPS are in place , good digital hygiene is the next step to preventing a console disaster . Every engineer should use and backup the console the same way . Creating a template for use is key to knowing when something happens , the fall back will work . It ’ s a good idea to name scenes in one agreed upon format and to eliminate the twenty-three previous versions of each scene to avoid confusion when trouble strikes .
If , after all the right preparation steps are taken , the console has an issue , the key is to do nothing . Take a moment before acting to think through what happened and why because a rash action will make the situation far worse . Usually , it ’ s something as simple as hovering a hand over a function and accidentally engaging a snapshot advance or scene change . It can be the IEC power cable came loose or someone kicked the UPS under the counter last service and now the battery is dying because it isn ’ t being recharged from AC . It is better to have ten seconds of issue and find it than to guess and start turning knobs .
If the screen goes out , be ready to mix from the iPad until the problem can be resolved . Someone may have unintentionally turned down the brightness display control thinking it was the HPF . Mix on the iPad and let someone else walk through the problem .
Dante will occasionally unassign or reassign a channel . It ’ s rare , but it happens . If a signal disappears , confirm the input is still active via metering , thus eliminating on-stage issues and then check output assignments for any change . Dante may have decided the lead guitar doesn ’ t need to go to Mains , but to Matrix 3 instead . Open up Dante Domain Manager and look through the settings for something amiss .
Never update a console before an event . The key word here is never . All changes and updates should be done on Monday when there are several days to resolve unseen conflicts rather than on Sunday morning when the service is in two hours . And make updates in sequence . If updates have been ignored since V1.4 and now the manufacturer sends out V2.5 , go through the interim updates because details are often lost in big jumps , resulting in severe issues . Test updates on one console before committing the entire campus in case it locks up and you will need the second console to retro the first or fill in for an event .
Digital consoles offer unparalleled power and versatility , but , like all computers , will fail . These best practices will prevent most problems and allow for quick resolution when something does go amiss .
Kent Morris Kent Morris is a 44-year veteran of the AVL arena driven by passion for excellence tempered by the knowledge all technology is in a temporal state .
110 July 2023 Subscribe for Free ...