Satellite
Satellite
includes a fully featured disk
recorder and editor that can be scaled up to 192 tracks, multi format surround mixing system, optional PyxisTrack non linear
video, an in-built audio bridge to VST compliant plug-ins and full
ReWire implementation for audio streaming from other ReWire enabled
sound design tools.
In summary Satellite
is a digital audio workstation with
integrated recording, editing, mixing, video and plug-ins support
designed to streamline and simplify all aspects of the audio for
video post production process to a degree previously unavailable.
CC-1 Engine
As with other members of the Crystal-Core family of products, FPGA
Technology is at the heart of the system providing blinding speed,
enhanced performance and unbelievable audio quality.
Satellite Functionality
Satellite is a digital audio workstation with integrated video, a
choice of analog digital and/or MADI inputs and outputs, compatible
with CC-1 based, QDC-based and MFX3plus-based project formats and
with 96kHz/24-bit audio quality.
As with all members of the Crystal-Core range,
Satellite incorporates Binnacle Editing – Fairlight’s well-respected editing
model designed to enhance the speed and ease of editing.
Satellite's graphics display provides all the information
required to produce audio projects of any nature. More importantly,
it presents the information very quickly, and only as required,
ensuring the display remains uncluttered and easy to read.
Considered essential by professional editors, high resolution,
smoothly scrolling waveforms are displayed in all transport modes,
providing the most detailed view possible of all the audio in a
project. Finding edit points and matching audio from different
sources becomes trivial. Satellite's zoom function can instantly
expand and contract the time scale of displayed audio.
Satellite's transport controls are immediately familiar to the
audio engineer, resembling those of a conventional 24-track tape
recorder. Satellite however offers true random-access operation
with instant playback from any point in the project and features
non-destructive recording and editing, allowing recovery of previous
takes and edits for virtually mistake-proof operation. Audio may be
seamlessly punched in and out across any or all tracks at any time.
Powerful 4-band parametric equalization can be applied to each clip
in a project and set using an interactive screen. EQ settings can be
A/B auditioned and copied band-selectively between clips. Crossfades
and fades may be applied to any clips at any time, with a variety of
user-defined laws, and all clips have independent level adjustment.
A demo version of Serato’s Pitch ‘n Time FE is included with every
system, providing the industry’s best time compression/expansion,
varispeed and varipitch functions. Satellite can import or export OMF files, AIFF, Broadcast Wav, DAR Files and MP-3 audio using the
Virtual Studio Runner option or via AV Transfer. Satellite AV plugs
directly into any modern Windows compatible network environment,
providing seamless file interchange and workflow between with a wide
variety of popular software.
Satellite also includes as standard one of the fastest and most
intuitive SFX library database systems available today: AudioBase3
With AudioBase3, multiple Fairlight users can share sound libraries,
music libraries and other sound files. With the advanced AudioBase3
search engine, searching HUGE sound file databases is blazingly
fast, and advanced search tools allow users to find exactly what
they need quickly and easily. AudioBase3 also includes a friendly
web interface, so users can search for sound files from their
desktop – no workstation required!
Editing Overview
The Satellite editing software is organized in a unique
object-based architecture that makes it intuitive to use, fast to
operate, powerful and flexible. As can be seen in the following
sections, there are many edits designed to fit different situations,
and there is usually a single command to accomplish any desired
change in the editing environment.
Fairlight's unique multi-layered approach to editing speeds up many
processes and allows simpler management of audio when editing
becomes complex. For example, multiple-take recording and editing is
a simple task because the management of all takes is performed
automatically by the system.
The system allows the replacement of audio by pasting another piece
of audio on top. The original versions can be recovered just by
removing the top layer and, in the same way, to build up
alternatives and quickly cycle through them. The screen always
displays the current state of layering, and the names of all clips
at the current transport location are also displayed.
Satellite offers clip based signal processing edit options for
level, fades and EQ, whilst Station and Constellation also offer
additional automated processing.
The Binnacle™ (named after the housing of a ship's compass)
centralizes all editing and transport functions around the jogger
wheel and offers the operator a choice of one-handed or two-handed
editing.
Binnacle™ has dedicated keys for Transport & Range, Play/Jog, Jump,
From/To, Copy, Cut, Erase, Trim/Slip and Fade. There is also a BLUE
function that offers single key short-cuts to key operations. Undo
and Redo keys provide instantaneous access to unlimited layers of
edit decisions for ultimate flexibility.
With Binnacle™, editing functions are always available on dedicated
keys regardless of where the user navigates in the system. The
Binnacle™ includes commands like Range, Zoom, Jump and Jog. Edits
are 'constructed' on the basis of three components:
• The edit mode – Cut, Copy, Erase, Trim, Slip or Fade
• The target of the edit – Clip/Range, Head or Tail
• The options associated with it – Range On/Off, All Layers or Razor
To perform a Binnacle™ edit, the user first selects the appropriate
mode. The Binnacle is always in one mode or another, so when
performing multiple edits of the same type the mode does not need to
be re-selected between edits. Next, the user selects any required
modifiers. “Range” mode causes all edits to affect an area bounded
by points defined using the FROM and TO keys.
“All Layers” automatically invokes Range Mode and causes edits to
affect all audio within the range – not just the top layer. ”Razor”
mode allows the user to cut and paste time as well as audio. Having
selected any appropriate modifier (usually none), the user presses
the appropriate target key and holds it whilst moving the transport
with the jog wheel or any other appropriate method and/or changing
tracks using the “Track Sel” key. When ready, simply releasing the
target key causes the edit to be completed, with, for example, audio
selected in “Cut” mode being pasted in sync at the new location. A
typical cut and paste edit requires a single keystroke – the target
key.
Other editing modes, such as Track to Track Razor Mode and
Multi-layer Cut and Paste with Sync Point. Insert Space, Split
Clip/Layer, Fill and Backward/Forward Fill are all available at all
times. Using Finger Memory, users can now literally “play”
keystrokes like a musical instrument, allowing full use of both
hands for phenomenal editing speed.
Mixing
Satellite provides a subset of Crystal-Cores powerful mixing
tools. The key to Satellite's flexibility is its configurable buss
structure. The main, 8 sub busses and 12 auxes all support formats
up to 7.1 wide allowing complex projects to be managed with ease.
Additionally there are 24 mono multitrack busses available for
additional mono bussing such as track laying.
Satellite's Main Mixer Screen provides an interactive environment
combining mouse based parameter selections with instant visual
feedback of what is active in the mixer such as all channels (with a
demarcation of track or live feed) all link groups, all busses and
auxes together with project information such as current mix name,
current time code position, selected sample rate and project frame
rate.
Comprehensive Monitoring
A comprehensive monitoring matrix is integral to the system. It is
user configurable so that the monitoring facilities are optimized
for the task at hand. This means that any buss, aux, fold back mix
or external source that is used in the session can to be monitored
instantly. Up to 4 different speaker sets are supported so that your
mix can be monitored for different playback environments.
Channel Parameters
Crystal-Core provides 3 stages of dynamics and 8 bands of EQ for each
one of its channels, together with a floating insert point. On the
input section the following direct access functions are provided:
remote control of gain and phase for a connected UP4 mic amp,
selection of Insert point pre/post EQ/Dynamics and adjustment of
level trim and track arming. All channel parameters are adjusted via
an intuitive Virtual Channel pop up
Extensive Panning
The panning section allows incredibly creative panning to be easily
performed around the selected mix format. There are dedicated
controls for Spread, Divergence, Rotate as well as the fundamental
Left/Right and Front/Back selections. In addition a fully
programmable joystick panner is emulated on the Mixer
Screen.
Mixing Control
Access to mixing and monitoring setup is provided through tactile
controls on the Satellite AV controller providing the fastest access
available for such a compact system. Once a function is selected
soft keys are used to navigate the user through available
parameters. A complete mixer configuration can be set up in minutes
and the template stored within the project file.
Control of mixing functions and channel parameters is performed in a
mouse based environment via an intuitive GUI known as the Virtual Channel. This
pop up is instantly accessed through a right click in any of the channels of the
main Mixer Screen.
Plug-Ins/Re-Wire
Satellite delivers the most open plug-in platform available today
and has a built-in 64 channel audio bridge to VST compliant plug-ins
and ReWire connected sound design tools.
Up to 64 simultaneous VST plug-ins can be used in one project. It
also means 64 channels of audio connection to any third party system
using the ReWire protocol.
Given that Nearly ALL current hip sequencing and sampling tools
offer some degree of ReWire connectivity, Crystal-Core opens up post
production to new levels of creative possibility.
ReWire provides access to Propellerhead Reason, Steinberg VST
instruments, Ableton Live, Tascam Gigastudio, Native Instruments
Kontakt, Synchro Arts VocAlign and many more
PyxisTrack
PyxisTrack is an Integrated SD or HD video option available for
all Crystal-Core systems.
PyxisTrack provides an integrated SD or HD video file player hosted
on the CC-1 platform. The PyxisTrack output appears in the editing
screen centralising all audio and video references in one logical
area.
PyxisTrack is a video file player which can play OMF, AVI,
QuickTime, Mpeg2 files from a local drive or stream over a network.
PyxisTrack supports the Decklink card options for Genlock. Note:
PyxisTrack does not support video recording therefore you will need
to specify either a full PyxisPro system for SD video capture or
Pyxis SD for HD video capture. Refer Fairlight Product Department
for host PC specifications.
