The Jack Lyons Studio

Equipment List

Computer

• Apple iMac
  • Core i7 3.1 Ghz CPU
  • 8 GB Ram
  • 500GB Flash Storage
  • USB3 and Thunderbolt
  • Running OSX Sierra

Software

• Reaper
• Sibelius 8
• Matlab
• Vienna Symphonic Library
  • Special Edition Vol.1 Bundle
  • Special Edition Vol.2 Bundle
• SuperCollider 3.6
• Csound 6
• Max 7
• Puredata
• Puredata Extended
• Faust
• FaustLive
• Processing
• Final Cut Pro X
• Logic X
• Wavelab
• Ableton Live 9 Suite

Audio Interface

• MOTU 828 MkII Firewire

Pre-Amps

• Focusrite ISA 828

Lyons Studio Guide

The Lyons studio is designed primarily as a recording and editing space and 8 mics can be patched into the studio from the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall. The studio is equipped both with high quality stereo BW Monitors and a 5.1 Genelec surround system. The space also offers video editing with Final Cut Pro and is used also for recording and documenting concerts in the Lyons Concert hall. This studio has an installation of Vienna Sound library which can be used for producing high quality orchestral demos of scores in Sibelius or sound track work.

Before you start:

• No food or drink is allowed in the studio or control room.

• All university buildings, including studios, are no smoking.

• Do not prop open doors, especially the keycard door. These are all fire doors.

• The nearest fire exit is located at the end of the corridor. An alternative route would be down the stairs towards reception, or on the basement level

near the Richard Orton studio.

• Any issues, faults, or breakages MUST be reported to the technician (ben.eyes@york.ac.uk). Do not use any equipment you suspect to be faulty or unsafe.

• All outside equipment must be PAT tested before use any university studios. This should be arranged in advance with (ben.eyes@york.ac.uk).

QUICK START GUIDE

• Power up the iMac switch is to the rear bottom right (the Mac will automatically log in)

• Start your DAW/software (Logic and Reaper are all available)

• The MOTU 828 interface provides both inputs and outputs for the system

• On the M Patch monitor controller select:

INPUT SELECTION: STEREO

• The master controller knob then controls your main monitor levels (ensure the switch on the right of the controller is set to STEREO).

• The satellite genelecs may require switching on (and off at the end of the session) if you are using surround sound.

• When you are done read the “Finishing Your Session” section at the end of

this guide

DETAILED OVERVIEW

Powering Up

Power for the computer, soundcards, monitors etc. is left on constantly. You simply need to turn on the power on each required piece of equipment (MOTU, FOCUSRITE, MAC). The wall sockets should remain powered at all times.

Mac Pro Configuration

The Mac power is located on the rear near the right hand bottom of the screen. The

machine has no login.

• The machine is not networked in a traditional sense, but there is access to

the various music department network drives (if required).

• There is a dedicated audio work drive specifically for storing your sessions. Please create a folder with your name. Only work within your folder.

• Data is not guaranteed on this drive, and may be deleted without notice or accidentally. You must ensure you keep your own back up.

• Do not work on the desktop or Mac HD directory. These are locked by Deep Freeze and will be wiped on restart.

Software Configuration

The iMac offers various DAW options: Reaper, Logic and Live 9

in addition to MaxMSP and PureData.

The various DAWs have templates for inputs and outputs on the MOTU interface.

These can be accessed in each program individuals.

The MOTU inputs simply appear mapped in a 1-1 relationship. If you have

performed physical crosspatches using the patchbay you will need to bear these

in mind when setting up your recording.

Recording from the SJL Concert Hall

To record from the Concert Hall several steps are required:

• Rig microphones in the space as required.

• Using a snake/multicore reel connect the microphones to the tie line stagebox in the space. The tie lines are located to the left of the organ against the back wall (stage right). You may need to move the piano (makesure wheels are not locked), this takes 2 people.vBE AWARE: the piano has damaged cables and the stagebox is the past soensure the two do not come into contact.

• In the studio, connect the concert hall XLR tie lines (labelled JL OUT1) you have used to the FOCUSRITE preamp inputs (labelled PRE IN1).

• Set the levels using the FOCUSRITE ISA 828.

• The outputs from the ISA appear on the MOTU mapped as a 1-1.

• Set your inputs on your DAW to the appropriate MOTU channels. Communicating with the SJL Concert Hall A talkback microphone with a momentary flip switch is provided to allow communication with the concert hall. This must be patched to a speaker within the concert hall. Use one of the satellite genelecs within the studio and patch it into

the first return socket in the concert hall stagebox. The talkback mic has battery power - please switch the top switch to on and off once complete in order to save battery.

A video feed is also available. To watch the feed from the studio switch on the TV and press the DOWN CHANNEL button to access the AV1 feed.

Finishing Your Session

When you have completed your session you must ensure you do the following to

leave the studio ready for the next user:

• Save your work in the appropriate folder and take a back up.

• Turn down the master knob on the monitor controller

• Shut down the Mac Pro entirely (just shut down, do not log off).

• Turn off the MOTU and FOCUSRITE.

• Remove and tidy away any patch cables you have used.

• Check the talkback mic is set to OFF (not ALWAYS ON).

• Turn off the TV if you have used it.

• Remove the talkback speaker from the concert hall (if you used one)

• Remove all microphones, cables, and snakes from the concert hall and

return them to the technician.

• Tidy away any additional cables you are using.

• Report any issues, faults, problems to ben.eyes@york.ac.uk.

Please leave the studio as you wish to find it with all stands, furniture and all equipment tidied away.