Our friends at RSPE Audio Solutions recently supplied Sony Pictures Post Production Services with the largest Avid S6 control surface installed anywhere to date. Installed in the 158-seat Anthony Quinn Theatre, the dual-operator, 22-foot long control surface features 48 faders in each section, along with 12 meter displays, two sets of dual joysticks and two bias panels. The control surface is supported by four Pro Tools HDX2 players and two Pro Tools HDX recorders and is connected via high-speed Ethernet to editorial rooms and other facilities on the Sony Pictures lot.

We asked Tom McCarthy who is Executive Vice President at Sony Pictures Post Production Services what he thought about the Avid S6.  "The S6 is a very powerful and intuitive system. It allows mixers to work more efficiently and fluidly. Most importantly, it enhances their ability to work creatively with sound and build groundbreaking soundtracks. Our artists are very excited to have access to this new tool".

Re-Recording Mixer Steve Pederson and Supervising Sound Editor Steven Ticknor were the first to mix on the new console, mixing sound for the Screen Gems thriller, When the Bough Breaks.  “What I enjoyed most were the layout functions of the S6, which are like a hybrid of memory locations and window configurations that you find in Pro Tools but much more powerful, Avid has listened to mixers and produced an integrated mixing and editing tool.”

What Steve Pederson likes best is the immediate visual feedback provided by the console’s metering displays. “Avid has created a board that conforms to the emerging workflow of automated mixing in the Pro Tools session—yet it has done so in a powerful, ‘retro’ style console. It’s going to be great!”

RSPE Sales Executive, Dave Szpak is just a little pleased with the whole project. "It was exciting to be a part of this project and to help provide Sony Pictures with this impressive S6. As usual, it was a pleasure working with everyone at Sony Pictures, and it's great to see the S6 in the Anthony Quinn Theatre."

To learn more about the Avid S6, check out the RSPE Audio's S6 Microsite.

Avid S6 Coming Of Age In Film Post Production?

Although this isn't the first dual operator Avid S6 to be installed, it is currently the largest.  It marks the coming of age of control surfaces in the block buster movie workflow. If you would like to know more about how the workflow and production times can be improved, then take a listen to our Pro Tools Expert Podcast Extra interview with James Mather who was Supervising Sound Editor On Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation.

James and I talked about the ground breaking work that took place when it was decided to take 6 months out of the post production schedule to bring forward the release date, and how mixing in box, and a flexible team made this possible.