Avid Technology VENUE S6L User manual

VENUE | S6L Handbook
VENUE | S6L
Systems
Additional
Requirements
VENUE Software
VENUE Plug-Ins
VENUE Standalone
Software
Pro Tools for S6L
Pro Tools AVB
Record/Playback
MADI
Record/Playback
VENUE Hardware
Overview
Configuration 1
Configuration 2
Configuration 3
Dual Systems with
I/O Sharing
Hardware and
Expansion
E6L Engine
E6L Engine Options
Stage 64 I/O Rack
Stage 64
Expansion Options
Stage 16 I/O
S6L Control Surface
Personal Monitoring
Resources:
Support
Cable Requirements
Specifications:
Weight
Other VENUE
Systems
iLoks and Licenses
Resources:
Social Specifications: Dimensions
Configurations with
Stage 16 I/O
Specifications:
Power
9329-65935-00
Resources:
Training & Documentation

VENUE | S6L Systems
Avid VENUE | S6L is a modular live mixing system that delivers unrelenting performance and reliability through its
advanced engine design, highly efficient touchscreen workflows and easy scalability. Like all VENUE systems, S6L
provides onboard industry-standard plug-ins and Pro Tools integration, with more processing power and track
counts than ever before. Plus, with a comprehensive array of network and I/O offerings, including personal
monitoring control via VENUE | On-Stage, you can easily configure the system for any application.
Along with the familiar VENUE software, VENUE S6L systems consist of the following hardware components:
1x S6L Control Surface (S6L-32D, S6L-24D, or S6L-24)
1x E6L Engine (E6L-192 or E6L-144), with 1x AVB-192 Network Card
1x Stage 64 I/O Rack, with 6x SRI (48 analog in) and 1x SRO (8 analog out)
For information on Stage 16 and other expansion options, see VENUE Hardware Overview.
S6L-32D S6L-24D S6L-24

The following items are required and must be purchased separately.
For the most up-to-date list of required items, see the S6L Support FAQ on our Knowledge Base:
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/faq/Avid-S6L-Support
DVI-D Monitor, Trackball/Mouse, Keyboard, and Other
For Day-to-Day Operation:
•Free-standing HDMI or DVI-D compatible Full HD display with 1920 x 1080
minimum resolution (21.5-inch or greater touch display recommended), a DVI-
D cable, and a USB cable (for enabling the touch screen function on the
monitor).
Note: Use a qualified monitor with your S6L system. Visit
www.avid.com/S6Lsupport for a list of supported monitors.
Do not use a USB-powered monitor with your S6L system.
•Highly recommended: A Windows-compatible USB keyboard and
mouse/trackball
For Software Installation:
The following items are required for software installation.
•A VGA-compatible monitor is required for installing VENUE software on the
E6L engine
•Windows-compatible USB keyboard and mouse (required for software
installation, recommended for operation)
•USB flash drive(s) for transferring the S6L plug-ins installer
•An active hard-wired Internet connection
•A separate computer running Windows XP or higher
Cables
For details on cable requirements and support, see Cabling Requirements..
Additional Required Items

Activation
You must activate each S6L system component using the Activation Card included in each component’s shipping
package. You must also activate Pro Tools using its Activation Card included in the E6L Engine package.
Follow this link to the S6L Learn & Support home page and scroll down to TUTORIALS for a video showing how to install
and activate VENUE software:
Installing & Activating VENUE Software
Once you have completed the activation process for all S6L system components, download links for all S6L system
software and documentation are available from the <My Products and Subscriptions> section of your Avid account.
These items remain in your account after you have downloaded them, in case you need to access them again.
https://www.avid.com/account
VENUE software downloads include the following primary elements:
•System Restore for E6L Engine
•System Restore for S6L Control Surface
•Software Update (updates both the E6L Engine and S6L Control Surface)
Notes:
•When performing a System Restore you MUST download and perform both System Restores (E6L Engine and S6L
Control Surface).
•Software Update downloads are available whenever possible, but may not be available for every release. If no
Software Update is available, download and perform both System Restores.
•For complete instructions on software installation, including how to backup Show files and settings, see the VENUE
S6L Installation Guide.pdf (available for download in your account after you Activate).
VENUE Software

VENUE Plug-Ins
Each VENUE | S6L System comes with an extensive collection of software plug-ins. Many more are available from
Avid and our Development Partners.
VENUE plug-ins let you mix with the same sound processors used in top studios to get the sounds you want. Or re-
create an artist’s signature studio sound live. Because S6L directly supports Avid and third-party 64-bit AAX DSP
plug-ins, you have far more creative choices at your fingertips than any other live mixing system. Plus, you can use
many more plug-ins in your mix, thanks to the system’s dedicated, scalable HDX-powered DSP processing.
http://www.avid.com/products/venue-s6l-system/included-plugins
For a list of some of the plug-ins compatible with S6L, see:
S6L Plug-In Compatibility
By installing a WSG-HD Waves SoundGrid Option Card into the E6L engine you can integrate
Waves SoundGrid and Waves plug-ins directly into your S6L system.
Waves SoundGrid

iLoks
Activating your VENUE system deposits iLok licenses in your iLok account.
Activating Pro Tools deposits additional licenses into your iLok account.
Visit iLok.com to sign-in to your iLok account, or create one if necessary (it’s free). Download and install the
iLok License Manager on a Mac or PC to be able to install and manage your licenses.
Use iLok License Manager to transfer
the following licenses to the correct
iLok:
VENUE Plug-in Licenses (such as S6L Plug-
In Bundle) VENUE plug-in licenses must
be transferred to your VENUE iLok (the
licenses must be present on an iLok
connected to your VENUE system).
LiveSound Production Toolkit This
license must be transferred to your Pro
Tools iLok (the license must be present
on the iLok connected to your Pro Tools
system to enable 64-and/or 128-
channel AVB recording).
Pro Tools Your Pro Tools license must be
transferred to your
Pro Tools iLok alongside the LiveSound
Production Toolkit license, and licenses
for any Pro Tools plug-ins.
Example iLok account shown in iLok License Manager
iLok (2nd generation) iLok (3rd generation)

VENUE Standalone Software
VENUE | S6L Standalone software is free and available for download from our Knowledge Base:
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/download/VENUE-Standalone-Software-Updates
S6L Standalone software lets you do all of the following:
• Learn the basics of the VENUE | S6L software interface to prepare for working at a full VENUE | S6L system.
• Assign hardware I/O and routing, and name channels.
• Set channel input, EQ, dynamics, pan, and other settings.
• Create and maintain a library of setups, with access to nearly all parameters available on the control surface.
• Store and recall Snapshots, and configure Events.
• Use the Filing features to transfer Shows and Shows Folders, as well as channel, processing and plug-in presets
to/from a compatible USB storage device to transfer data between the standalone software and VENUE | S6L
systems. You can also import snapshots and events from one Show into the current Show file (requires VENUE
software version 5.7 or higher).
For system requirements and installation instructions download the S6L Standalone Software.pdf:
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/user_guide/S6L-Documentation

Pro Tools for S6L
Each VENUE | S6L System includes Pro Tools and a Pro Tools iLok. Pro Tools Activation and download links are provided in the
E6L Engine package. Use these to activate and download Pro Tools Software from your Avid Account to your compatible
workstation.
Important!
For the latest compatibility and requirements to use Pro Tools with S6L, refer to (and bookmark!) this article on our
Knowledge Base: What are the system requirements for Pro Tools with S6L?
When you Activate Pro Tools, its required iLok asset (license) is transferred to your iLok.com account, along with licenses for
any included plug-ins. You must then transfer your Pro Tools license, any Pro Tools Plug-in licenses, and the LiveSound
Production Toolkit license (which is activated when you activate your VENUE system) to your Pro Tools iLok.
About Virtual SoundCheck
When using Pro Tools with S6L via Pro Tools AVB or MADI Record/Playback (requires one or more MADI-192 MADI Option
Cards) connections you get complete Virtual SoundCheck functionality. With Virtual Soundcheck you can get a head start
on your mix using Pro Tools recordings from a previous night’s performance in place of the live mics. Play back the tracks
from a previous performance, adjust the mix, program snapshots and experiment with different plug-ins, and have your
changes remain when you switch back to your live mix.
About VENUELink
VENUELink is a communication protocol that lets you take advantage of the following capabilities:
•Control the Pro Tools transport directly from the S6L control surface.
•Create Pro Tools sessions that automatically populate and name tracks based on VENUE channels.
•Create and link Pro Tools Makers (memory locations) with VENUE Snapshots.
•VENUELink uses the same Ethernet connection to the Pro Tools computer as Pro Tools AVB.

Pro Tools AVB Record/Playback
Pro Tools AVB
The S6L system provides direct connection to a computer running
Pro Tools software. No additional audio hardware is required to
connect your S6L system to Pro Tools.
A single Ethernet connection lets you record multi-track
Pro Tools sessions of performances using a variety of S6L system
audio sources, including digital splits of your Stage inputs, channel
Direct Outputs, and bus outputs. You can also play back multi-track
audio from Pro Tools through your S6L system to integrate pre-
recorded tracks with your live mix, or to monitor your Pro Tools
recording on your S6L system. By combining recording and playback
features, you can perform a true Virtual Soundcheck.
Summary:
•Works out-of-the-box.
•Single Ethernet connection to Pro Tools (Network port Con S6L Control Surface to the Pro Tools computer).
•Supports 32 channels of bi-directional audio by default. 64-and 128-channels supported with the LiveSound
Production Toolkit license on your Pro Tools iLok, and a compatible Pro Tools workstation. 128-channel AVB also
requires 2x AVB-192 Network Cards in the E6L Engine.
•Can do splits and/or sub-mixing/stems, supports VENUELink and true Virtual SoundCheck.
Requirements:
•Both the Pro Tools license and LiveSound Production Toolkit licenses must be present on the Pro Tools iLok. Both of
these licenses are included with the shipping system (if you are renting a system, be sure the
Pro Tools iLok with these licenses is included).
•128-channel AVB requires 2x AVB-192 Network Cards in the E6L Engine.
•Special system requirements for the Pro Tools computer may apply depending on the number of channels. For the
latest compatibility information and system requirements, visit this article on our Knowledge Base: What
are the system requirements for Pro Tools with S6L?

MADI Record/Playback
In addition to Pro Tools AVB, you can also use either (or both) of the following MADI solutions to record and play back
tracks.
MADI-192 MADI Option Card
•Requires one or more MADI-192 MADI Option Cards (sold separately) installed in the E6L Engine.
•Great for redundant recording, can do splits and/or stems.
•Supports 48k recording (via SRC on the receiving MADI device).
•Requires one or more Pro Tools | HD MADI IO interfaces, or similar MADI-compatible devices.
•Because the MADI-192 MADI Option Card provides MADI inputs and outputs, Virtual SoundCheck is supported.
Stage 64 MADI Splits
•Works out-of-the-box (each Stage 64 includes MADI Out connectors for up to 64 MADI channels).
•Supports direct digital splits of inputs (1-to-1 split of all Stage inputs; no sub-mixing or stems)
•Great for redundant multi-tracking to Pro Tools or other MADI devices (1-to-1 split of Stage inputs only).
•Supports 48k recording (via SRC on receiving MADI device).
•Does not support Virtual SoundCheck (no MADI inputs on Stage 64).
•Requires one or more Pro Tools | HD MADI IO interfaces, or similar MADI-compatible devices.

VENUE Hardware Overview
All VENUE | S6L systems are shipped in the following base configuration.
1x S6L Control Surface (32D, 24D, or 24)
1x E6L Engine (192 or 144), with 1x AVB-192 Network Card
1x Stage 64 I/O Rack, with 6x SRI (48 analog in) and 1x SRO (8 analog out)
•Additional Stage 64s (up to 3x) can be connected simultaneously (3x requires two AVB-192 Network Cards).
•Avid Stage 16 I/O boxes can also be used with S6L systems (requires two AVB-192 Network Cards).
•Additional AVB-192 Network Cards, Stage 64 Input cards, and Stage 64 Outputs cards are sold separately.
•IO Option cards such as the MADI-192 MADI Option Card can be added to the E6L Engine.
•S6L 24 Control Surfaces can be expanded by installing Channel Display Modules.
Example System Configurations, Stage I/O Capacity, and Connection Diagrams
Here are a few example S6L system configurations and connection diagrams, including single systems, single system
expanded IO, Dual System/IO Sharing setups, and configurations with Stage 16s:
Stage Inputs (max) Stage Outputs (max) Stage 64 IO Racks
(required)
AVB-192 Network Cards in E6L Engine
(required)
Configuration 1 64 32 1 1
Configuration 2 96 64 2 1
Configuration 3
Single System Expanded
I/O 192 96 3 2
Configuration 4
Dual Systems for
I/O Sharing
192 96 3 2
Configurations with
Stage 16s 2

Configuration 1
Maximum IO Capacity:
Up to 64 Stage Inputs, and up to 32 Stage Outputs
Requirements for Maximum I/O:
•1x Stage 64 (8x 8-ch Input cards, 4x 8-ch Output cards)
•1x AVB-192 Network Card in E6L
Connections
All connections are made between an “A” port and a “B” port. Examples
(shown at left):
•S6L Network port A connects to port B on the E6L.
•E6L port A connects to Stage 64 port B.
•Stage 64 port B connects to S6L Network port B.

Configuration 2
Maximum IO Capacity:
Up to 96 Stage Inputs, up to 64 Stage Outputs
Requirements for Maximum IO:
•2x Stage 64s, each with:
Up to 6x 8-ch Input cards
Up to 4x 8-ch Output cards
(Maximum capacity for both Stage 64s. Higher I/O capacity requires an
additional AVB-192 Network Card in the E6L Engine.)
Connections
All connections are made between an “A” port and a “B” port.
Single System with 2 Stage 64s

Configuration 3
Maximum Expanded IO Capacity:
Up to 192 Stage Inputs, up to 96 Stage Outputs
Requirements:
•2x AVB-192 Network Cards in E6L Engine
•3x Stage 64s, each with:
Up to 8x 8-ch Input cards
Up to 4x 8-ch Output cards
Connections
All connections are made between an “A” port and a “B” port.
Single System Expanded I/O

Configuration 4
Maximum Expanded IO Capacity:
Up to 192 Stage Inputs, and up to 96 Stage Outputs
Requirements:
•2x S6L Control Surfaces
•2x E6L Engines, each with 2x AVB-192 Network Cards
•Up to 3x Stage 64s, each w/ up to 8x 8-ch Input cards, and up to 4x 8-ch Output cards
Stage 64 Inputs can be shared per-Stage 64; Outputs can be shared per-Output Card.
Connections All connections are made between an “A” port and a “B” port.
Dual Systems with I/O Sharing

Configurations with Stage 16
You can use VENUE Stage 16 IO boxes with S6L systems (requires VENUE software version 5.5 or later).
Here are example diagrams of supported configurations with Stage 16s.
Requirements: 2x AVB-192 Network Cards in E6L Engine(s)
Connections: All connections are made between an “A” port and a “B” port.
Maximum I/O Capacity:
•64 Stage Inputs
•48 Stage Outputs
Requirements:
•2x AVB-192 Network
Cards in E6L Engine
•4x Stage 16s
Maximum I/O Capacity:
•128 Stage Inputs
•80 Stage Outputs
Requirements:
•2x AVB-192 Network Cards
in E6L Engine
•1x Stage 64
•4x Stage 16s
Maximum I/O Capacity:
•192 Stage Inputs
•112 Stage Outputs
Requirements:
•2x AVB-192 Network
Cards in E6L Engine
•2x Stage 64
•4x Stage 16s
Dual Systems with I/O Sharing
Maximum I/O Capacity:
•192 Stage Inputs
•112 Stage Outputs
Requirements:
•2x AVB-192 Network Cards in both E6L
Engines
•2x Stage 64
•4x Stage 16s

Hardware Components and Expansion Options
Follow the links below for descriptions of each S6L hardware component and available expansion options.
S6L hardware components can be expanded for increased plug-in processing, local or stage I/O, and screen interaction.
E6L Engine
Stage 64 I/O Rack Stage 16
S6L Control Surface

E6L Engine
E6L Engines are available in two configurations, E6L-192 and E6L-144.
The following table describes the capabilities of each E6L Engine.
.
Engines Input Channels Mix Busses Ethernet AVB
(Network)
HDX-192 DSP Cards
(Processing) Option Cards
E6L-192 base
configuration 192 96 + LCR
1x AVB-192
Network Card
1Up to 8x Option Cards
E6L-144 base
configuration 144 64 + LCR 1Up to 4x Option Cards
Maximum per E6L 2x AVB-192
Network Cards**
E6L-192: 4
E6L-144: 2
Up to 4x MADI-192
Option Cards
(64 channels each, for
a maximum of up to
256 channels of MADI
at 96 kHz)
**2x AVB-192 Network Cards are required for each of the following:
•Single system Expanded I/O
•I/O Sharing
•Stage 16 I/O
•AVB 128 Virtual Soundcheck recording/playback

E6L Engine Expansion Options
E6L Expansion Options
AVB-192 Network Cards
Each E6L includes one AVB-192 Network Card for connecting the E6L to other components in the system. You can
add a second AVB-192 card to expand the IO capability of the system (by adding a third Stage 64, or up to four
Stage 16s), to connect multiple systems to utilize I/O sharing (shared stage inputs and gain tracking), and for 128-
channel AVB Virtual Soundcheck.
For installation instructions, see the AVB-192 Network Card.pdf.
MADI-192 MADI Option Cards
The MADI-192 MADI Option Card is a high-channel-count, 96 kHz (only) MADI audio interface card for E6L engines.
Each MADI-192 MADI Option Card provides four MADI BNC connectors (2x coaxial in, and 2x coaxial out). Each pair
of coaxial MADI inputs and outputs supports up to 32 channels of 96 kHz audio per I/O pair. Up to four MADI
Option cards can be installed in an E6L engine.
For installation and operational instructions, see the MADI-192 MADI Option Card.pdf.
WSG-HD Waves SoundGrid Option Cards
The WSG-HD Waves SoundGrid Option Card from Avid lets you integrate Waves SoundGrid processing directly into
your VENUE | S6L mixes.
Once the WSG-HD Card is installed in your E6L engine, plug-ins hosted on the Waves SoundGrid server appear on
the VENUE Plug-Ins screen inside of the Waves SoundGrid Rack plug-in (up to 8 plug-ins per instance of SoundGrid
Rack). Up to two compatible Waves SoundGrid servers can be connected simultaneously for redundancy with
automatic fail-over. The WSG-HD Card requires VENUE software version 5.7 or higher.
For hardware installation instructions see the WSG-HD Card Installation Guide.
HDX-192 DSP Expansion Cards
HDX-192 DSP Expansion Cards provide the DSP resources for plug-in processing. All E6L Engines include a single
HDX-192 DSP Expansion Card.
•Up to 4x HDX cards can be installed in E6L-192 Engines
•Up to 2x HDX cards can be installed in E6L-144 Engines
For installation instructions, see the HDX-192 Card Installation.pdf.

Stage 64 I/O Rack
Each Stage 64 I/O Rack ships from the factory with the following I/O:
•48 analog inputs (XLR balanced) via 6x SRI Analog Input cards
•8 analog outputs (XLR balanced) via 1x SRO Analog Output card
•64 MADI output channels Coax
Additional inputs and outputs can be added to Stage 64 I/O Racks by installing Stage 64 Expansion Options.
Pairs of Stage 64 analog and digital I/O can be used as hardware inserts (any matched pairs on any cards; Stage 64 MADI outs do
not support use as hardware inserts).
Up to 3x Stage 64s can be connected simultaneously (requires 2x AVB-192 Network Cards in the E6L Engine).