Stu

der

D95

0 M

2

DigitalMixing

Console

2 3

Audio excellence, Swiss engineering – simply Studer.Digital audio consoles can provide superlative audio,

controlled with surgical precision. To be adopted by a wide variety of users, they must offer operators an

intuitive, adaptable control surface with clear indication of functions combined with fast, reliable processing. The

Studer D950 M2 is precisely such a console.

With over 120 systems in use throughout the world, the D950 has a proven record of reliability in a wide variety of applications including live on-air broadcasting, music mixing, post-production and mix-to-picture. The console’s highly developed control technology provides unmatched ergonomic advantages, allowing the operator to concentrate on achieving audio perfection without distraction.

The size and layout of the control surface can be tailored to suit analog traditionalists or digital enthusiasts with equal ease.

For those investing in a digital audio console, the Studer D950 M2 is a proven, fl exible and versatile product with a clear upgrade path, made by a company which has been in the forefront of profes-sional audio for over 50 years.

MBS TV in Osaka, Japan

Manta Digital Sound and Picture in Toronto, Canada

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The Leading Edge of TechnologyBoasting the most innovative digital engine, controlled by a compact and ergonomically advanced operating surface, the Studer D950 M2 is an exciting prospect for the most experienced audio operator. The unmatched fl exibility of the system enables customization to meet almost any imaginable requirement, either technical or ergonomic, while the design and construction guarantees a robust quality which endures the rigours of daily use.

Peace of Mind

The design and implementation of the D950 M2 pro-vides a high level of reliability and remarkable resil-ience in operation. Redundancy for all audio functions can always be assured because the DSP is confi gurable. Further, all DSP cards within the system are “univer-sal”, and any card can execute audio processing for mixing, EQ, dynamics or any other audio function. These universal DSP cards are “self healing” in that they will automatically move their audio processing to an idle card within 100ms should a card fail (an unlikely occurrence). And the failed card may be re-placed (hot plugged), all with no interruption to the console‘s audio fl ow or functionality. All sub-systems are optionally available with redundant power supplies except for the control computer which comes standard with redundant power supplies as well as a mirrored hard disk (RAID system) and a backup drive. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides over 10 minutes of power to the control computer should the mains supply fail. In the unlikely event of a of power loss to the DSP core, all audio paths are fully restored within 5 seconds after the power returns.

Familiar Feel

The layout of the channel strips follows familiar analog practice with a standard 104 mm fader and the full complement of function switches and indicators. However, in order to keep all the controls within the reach of a seated operator, four rotary controls are provided. This is a logical number as the D950 M2 offers four-band EQ and four dynamics sections, and the auxes are in groups of four mono or two stereo. These four touch-sensitive knobs on the high-resolution rotary encoders can be assigned to control any parameters desired by the operator. Each knob has an associated 4-character matrix display which shows the function in use and an LED ring that displays the function value. The matrix displays also show the parameter value when any knob is touched, or can be set to always display these values.

Traditional or Layered?

While ‘traditional’ analog consoles have a full strip of controls for every channel, digital technology allows one strip to control several sets of channel functions. The Studer D950 M2 offers the operator a choice between a large console with one strip per audio channel and a smaller console with the channels stacked in layers. Up to 10 DSP channels can be allocated to every strip which makes it possible to construct a console with 160 channels controlled by 16 fader strips. The layers are organized in fi ve banks, each with two layers, and the operator can swap between layers either centrally or on each channel.

Surround Sound

The Studer D950 M2 offers full surround panning for all prominent formats including LCRS, 5.1, Dolby EX (6.1) and SDDS (7.1). Panning may be controlled centrally from the CAS or the Penny & Giles Motorised Joystick controls, or from each channel strip, or any combination of controls. And the D950 M2 features Studer’s proprietary Virtual Sur round Panning (VSP), which allows dedicated channel based room simulation from within the console without the need for external reverb or processors. VSP overcomes the limitations of conventional amplitude panning techniques and can be automated using either snapshot or dynamic automation.

Graphic Controller (GC)

The Graphic Controller provides the operator with quick and easy access to a vast array of console functions and facilities, in addition to those controlled by the traditional channel strips assisted by the CAS. These include project, system and cue management, automation, snapshots, router control and the assign-ment of DSP channels to fader strips. Although the GC’s large 15-inch fl at panel TFT color display is a prominent feature of the console, it is used mainly during set-up and is not required during normal audio operation.

Premium Audio Quality

The Studer name is synonymous with superlative audio quality, and the company’s outstanding reputation continues with the highly successful D950 series of digital consoles. The enormous dynamic range provided by the internal 40-bit fl oating point arithmetic is complemented by high resolution 24-bit input and output interfaces, and reinforced by the sonically superior processing provided by dedicated algorithms, irrespective of system size.

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Pure Processing Power

The DSP core of the D950 M2 uses a SHARC-based parallel processing architecture with integrated fl oating point circuitry and an internal word length of 40 bits. This provides a dynamic range able to cope with any combination of audio processing and mixing with no possibility of overload within the bus structure. This huge internal dynamic range permits the internal limiter/compressors to work fl awlessly without the headroom restrictions of 24 bit interfaces to outboard equipment. Up to 20 DSP boards may be fi tted within the core, providing enough processing power for more than 100 full-facility audio channels, along with the required master, aux, group and record buses, all controlled by the integrated routing matrix. The unique design allows for several levels of redundancy within the core and is the basis for the Studer D950’s excellent reliability record and the high degree of confi dence enjoyed by the many users running their systems in mission-critical applications.

Audio Interfaces

The D950 M2 supports the industry standard AES/EBU and MADI digital audio interconnection protocols. Connections may be made directly to the DSP frame or via Studer’s D19m range of interface modules. These may be located at a distance of up to 1000 meters from the DSP frame, and can provide high-quality remote-controlled microphone amplifi ers in addition to A/D and D/A converters, all 24-bit. A variety of stage-box designs can be achieved by linking and stacking D19 modules. Also available is a range of sturdy transportable units, with microphone amplifi ers, fold-back, communications and PA feeds linked to the console via a single, robust, 4-core fi ber optics cable.

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7

AUXSENDS

MASTEROUTPUT

S

AUXOUTPUT

S

PANNERB

PANNERA

User1

LAST/HISTORY

FOLLOWTOUCH

JOYSTICK

FOLLOW

.

LOCKPANEL

DISPLAYVALUES

. GROUP MASTER

AUXMTMON INPUT ENTER

CGM

PAN

.

.

PFL/SOLO

ON

EQ

FILT

LIM/COMP

GATE/EXP

DELAY

INSERT

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This fully expanded channel strip has 46 rotary controls which allow all the functionality within a DSP channel to be viewed and controlled instantly, without having to move from the monitoring sweet spot. Each knob is surrounded by a 21-segment LED ring which graphically displays the value of each knob. The large centrally located Function/Value display reads out the name and exact numeri-cal value of the control currently in use or last touched. Normally fi tted in the central section of the console, the CAS can control any channel in the system and is laid out in a clear and logical manner with unique navigational controls which make it much faster and easier to use than other existing designs. A channel may be assigned to the CAS by the SEL key below each channel fader or via the CAS panel itself - by using the Home, End and arrow keys, by scrolling with the jog wheel, or by using the History Browser, a unique D950 feature which stores the last 20 channels accessed. A 3-line 4-character display shows the channel number, the scribble name and the audio source. The CAS also incorporates a complete fader module identical to those in the channel strips. A second CAS may be also fi tted for dual operator use.

Central Assign Section (CAS)The unmatched ergonomic advantages of

the Studer D950 M2 are further enhanced by the CAS.

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PunchOut EndNext

ChangeLevelMatch

GlideBegin PunchIn

PunchIn

PunchOut

Record Hold PlaysMix

READ WriteEnable

TrimEnable Isolate

ALL/CLR

FDR MUTE ENC SW HELD

RECALL

SCENE

CAPTURE

FDR MUTE ENC SW HELD LOCAL

ALL/CLR

CLRMIX

OPENRDYREC

EDIT

CLEAR

MixOn

ReadLock

ViewDyn

ViewAlt

Undo<---

Redo--->

PreA

WRITETO:

WITH:

RECORD PLAY

EXTENDBACK

TO:

PreB PreC PreD Store KillPass

F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6

Automation Master Panel

Misc

MIX PASS

TOUCH HELD

GLOBAL RECORD

CONTROL MODES

Automation – Power, Flexibility, Ease of UseConfi guration and AssignabilityStuder’s advanced digital technology incorporates a powerful GUI-based confi guration tool which allows the appropriate mixing console to be defi ned for every application, show or event.

With the D950 M2’s advanced digital technology, confi guration can do far more than merely change the order of elements within the console; it is a powerful tool which enables the operator to defi ne how the DSP power is to be used, so that for every application or session the appropriate number of channels, mixing groups, auxiliaries and outputs can be set up, each with the required amount of processing. Confi guring identical DSP cards to per-form many different functions is not only more economical in manufacturing and testing, but it makes for a highly fl exible console that requires fewer spare cards than would otherwise be needed to provide redundancy in operation.

The same amount of DSP can be used to create a large number of channels with minimal processing or a highly complex mixing system with full EQ, dynamics, fi lters, delays, etc., but with fewer chan-nels. There is thus no absolute maximum number of channels for a Studer D950 M2 as this number depends on how much DSP is installed in the processing rack and how the channels are confi g-ured. The same console can be confi gured for stereo live-to-air operation, multi-track music record-ing or surround sound post-production, as it’s required e.g. in remote trucks and multi-purpose rooms. They can be confi gured with the appropriate clean feed (mix minus) outputs, mono and stereo subgroups, multi-track bus sends and monitor returns and multiple surround sound monitoring facilities.

Confi gurations can be stored for later use, and the D950 M2 operating system applica-tion may be used off-line, running on a Windows-NT laptop computer if desired.

Thus an operator can confi gure a system at leisure for an upcoming session, with routing, channel facilities and naming all pre-sets for downloading to the console immediately prior to the session. Assignability enables the operator to direct the audio paths to the most convenient faders. It also allows many facilities to be manipulated from just a few controls; a single knob can act as input gain, compressor threshold, HF boost/cut or aux send as required. This technique enables a large system to be controlled by a small control surface. It is invaluable for the requirements in post-production, for example, where control room size is often restricted but a large number of full-facility chan-nels may be required, or in outside broadcast vehicles where size and weight are critical. Should larger consoles be preferred for ease of use, assign-ability enables the operator to stay in the central ‘sweet spot’ for accurate stereo or surround mixing by providing control of channels which are other-wise out of reach through the use of the CAS as well as bank and layer switching.

In Post Production, Music Mixing and the Broadcast environment, the role of dynamic automation has

never been more important to the fl exibility needed by today’s dedicated and multi-purpose audio rooms. Studer’s AutoTouch Plus Dynamic Automation system has recently been enhanced to meet and exceed even

the most stringent requirements.

AutoTouch Plus

With the release of the Studer D950 M2 V3.0 software, Studer has ushered in a new level of sophistication within its AutoTouch Plus automation system. A new automation “engine” has been developed that offers features and functionality that permit the most complex automation tasks to be carried out within a clear and logical workfl ow. And for those requiring only the basic dynamic automation functions, the straightforward and simple operation that has been an AutoTouch hallmark remain. Whatever your auto-mation needs, AutoTouch can achieve it quickly and safely with a maximum of effi ciency.

Every fader and knob within the D950 M2 is touch sensitive and can be dynamically automated by simply touching the control, making the move and releasing the control. However, sophisticated audition modes are also available which allow a control value to be fi rst auditioned, and then explicitly punched into automation record, either locally or globally. Each control can be enabled independently into ABSOLUTE or TRIM modes so that some controls may be dynami-cally automated, while others not. And for those

controls which will ultimately remain static within the mix, but need to be continuously tweaked while creating the mix, the transparent STATIC mode is available on all controls.

AutoTouch Plus extends the same touch sensitive operation to its sophisticated dynamic switch automa-tion. All switches are dynamically automated and can operate in a simulated touch sense mode. Switch states can also be edited in the TRIM mode, or by using the fast and easy Press and Hold functionality, which permits the editing of switch events in real time, without having to go off-line. Of course when off-line editing is required, AutoTouch Plus provides a comprehensive off-line mix edit facility that permits the editing and copying of automation data for faders, knobs and switches within a mix, or merged across 2 mixes.

Mix fi les are automatically managed with the new Mix Tree System (MTS). The last 8 mix passes are held in memory with every mix pass automatically saved to the hard disk. Any previous pass may be instantly

recalled, updated or compared to any other pass, whether during the session of today, or when a remix becomes necessary next week or next month.

With a host of additional features including WRITE TO (Punch Out, Next Change, Level Match, End), EXTEND BACK TO (Punch In, Beginning), WRITE ZONE, and AUTO-PUNCH-IN, Studer’s AutoTouch Plus dynamic automation ensures that every mix session will go smoothly, safely, and effi ciently.

The Studer D950 M2 uses assignability in several ways - the CAS can take control of any channel on the console, any of the four channel strip knobs can duplicate one of the 46 rotary controls on the full channel set out in the CAS, and one channel strip can control up to 10 sets of processing.

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Central Assign Unit (CAU)

The operational fl exibility of the D950 M2 which the powerful internal routing system provides is

reinforced by the fast access to route selec-tion provided by the Central Assign Unit. Mounted in the center section adjacent to the CAS, the CAU controls the selection of channels to the output busses, including group (up to 48), multi-track (up to 48) and auxiliary busses (up to 24 mono and

12 stereo) and up to 8 mono and 8 stereo master busses. Any of these output busses

may be confi gured with EQ, dynamics, delay, etc., if required.

Monitoring

The ability to monitor all relevant sources in the appropriate format is not merely desirable - it is mandatory. The D950 M2 has fully comprehensive monitoring facilities for stereo and multi-format surround working, with three sets of loud-speaker outputs and a wide range of select-able inputs including internal and exter-nal sources, both analog and digital. For stereo operation, the usual phase reverse, mono, level, dim and cut facilities are provided. In multi-format mode a sepa-rate panel controls up to 8 channels, with provision for decoder inserts. An assign-able source selector provides a choice of up to ten multi -format sources, each with an 8-character electronic scribble strip. A studio monitor module provides signalling and talkback controls in addition to the usual level and source selection systems. The monitoring panel arrangement can also be customized to meet a wide range of specifi c requirements.

Talkback

Communication is a vital requirement, particularly for broadcasting, and has not been overlooked in the D950 M2. In addition to the talkback switches on the studio monitor panel and the direct output switches on each channel, an additional panel provides comprehensive talkback facilities, together with headphones controls for both studio and control room.

Equalizers, fi lters and dynamics

Shaping audio from new, curing problems on live feeds from unknown sources, and tailoring pre-recorded tracks in post-production all require ac-curate and musically sensitive equalizers. The highly developed algorithms of the D950 M2 EQ-section have a psycho acoustically corrected response for high frequencies, and provide four fully-parametric bands, each ± 18 dB, ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The high and low bands can be switched to shelv-ing modes, and the two middle bands are selecta-ble between constant-Q and constant range. Two full-range high- and low-pass fi lters are provided, with slopes selectable at 12/18/24 dB/octave, and a separate high-Q notch fi lter may also be confi g-ured. The dynamics section is sometimes of even greater importance than that of the EQ. The DSP algorithms within the dynamics section use propri-etary oversampling techniques which yield a superior

sounding dynamics processor. Each dynam-ics section includes Limiter/Compressor

and Expander/Gate functions, with independent In/Out keys for each section, and a very comprehen-sive set of side chain functions including HP/LP fi lters, keying

and linking, look-forward and gain makeup.

Input and Output Routing

Flexibility in signal processing is a key feature of the Studer D950 M2. Unlike traditional analog consoles there is no need to supply a large, costly and heavy connector patch bay with the console. Any signal, both inputs (microphone inputs, VTRs, workstations, etc.) and busses (direct channel out-puts, mix busses, talkback, etc.), may be routed in any combination to any console channel or physical output from the D950 system, with sample rate and format conversion as necessary. For example it is a simple matter to route a clean feed of an analog microphone to a spare track of a digital VTR. This set up may be saved as part of a snapshot, and the resulting set up may be saved, modifi ed and recalled as required. This provides reduced set-up time and a more fl exible system.

Snapshot / Clipboard

The D950 M2 has a comprehensive snapshot system to achieve this. The standard console can store and recall an unlimited number of snapshots per title; which include console parameters with reset typi-cally achieved in 50ms. Any channel or function may be protected to avoid accidental resets in live situations. A clipboard enables any or all channel settings to be copied to one or more other chan-nels, which greatly accelerates initial set up.

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Virtual Surround Panning Surround sound is a major consideration in the choice of

audio consoles for broadcasting and post-production. Studer’s VSP system, uniquely available with the D950

M2, provides the operator with creative possibilities unavailable with any other console. With VSP, instead of

employing time-consuming and often unsatisfactory external processing, mono and stereo sources can be manipulated to produce highly convincing surround.

With few sources of multichannel sound elements, available, operators must add mono signals to the mix, often attempting to create surround from purely mono sources using delays and reverb devices. This takes much time and effort, and the results are often disappointing, as adding mono signals can detract from the original surround mix by distort-ing the spatial information provided by the sur-round microphones.

Virtual Surround Panning simulates a defi ned acoustic space, and positions the sound source within this space, using the channel pan control. This results in the generation of early refl ections, with the appropriate di-rectionality and timing delays. These refl ections, which are absent with normal panning, are the key to local-izing the mono source within the

surround fi eld. VSP also gives better directional imaging by adding phase and frequency spectrum information to the existing amplitude difference between channels which results from stand-ard panning methods. In addition, it provides secondary refl ections - rever-beration - to the panned signal. The reverberation system can also be utilized alone, adding another unique feature to the D950 M2.

The results – which really have to be heard to be believed – are very impressive and offer an en-hanced experience of surround sound which is not achievable with any other console system. And it all takes place within the console and can be controlled through the use of snapshots and dynamic automation.

VIRTUAL SURROUND PANNING

Pinewood TV in Iver Heath, United Kingdom

NRK in Bergen, Norway

Advantage Audio in Los Angeles, USA

14 15

Technical Data

Frame size:16 Modules

Frame size:16 Modules

Frame size:12 Modules

335

508670 670100 100

Dimensionsin mm

155

1116

1038

782

1028

206

555

516

622

470

approx.180

Remote Controlled Microphone/Line Inputs on D19m MP4 RC Card

Inputs per card 4 analog, mic/line switchable, transformer balanced

Input impedance microphone min. 1 kΩInput impedance line min. 2 kΩInput level microphone -60 ... 0 dBu for +15 dB nom. output levelInput level line -10 ... +24 dBu

for +15 dB nom. output levelEquivalent input noise -124 dBu, mic @ max. gainRemote controller card D19m RCCA/D converter card D19m C4AD

Analog Inputs on D19m C4AD Card

Inputs per card 4 analog, line, transformer balancedConversion 24 bit Delta-SigmaInput impedance min. 10 kΩOutput level @ 1 kHz, -30 dBFS +15 dBu or +21 dBu fi xed, or 0 ... +26 dBu adjustableFrequency response, -0.2 dB 20 Hz ... 20 kHzTHD + N @ 1 kHz, -30 dBFS max. - 108 dBCrosstalk @ 1 kHz max. - 110 dBSampling frequency range 28 ... 55 kHz

Analog Outputs on D19m C4DA Card

Outputs per card 4 analog, line, electronically balancedConversion 24 bit Delta-SigmaOutput impedance max. 40 ΩOutput level @ 1 kHz, -30 dBFS +15 dBu or +21 dBu fi xed, or 0 ... +26 dBu adjustableFrequency response, -0.2 dB 30 Hz ... 20 kHzTHD + N @ 1 kHz, -30 dBFS max. - 110 dBCrosstalk @ 1 kHz max. - 110 dBSampling frequency range 30 ... 54 kHz

Digital Inputs AES on DSP Card

8 AES/EBU balanced inputs per DSP card

Digital Inputs AES on D19m AESI Card

2 AES/EBU balanced inputs per card

Digital Outputs AES on DSP Card

8 AES/EBU balanced outputs per DSP card

Digital Outputs AES on D19m AESO Card

2 AES/EBU balanced outputs per card

Digital Inputs MADI on DSP Card

Fibre optics MADI input on SC connector

Digital Outputs MADI on DSP Card

Fibre optics MADI output on SC connector

Further available cards:

Digital Inputs MADI on D19m MADI Card

Digital Outputs MADI on D19m MADO Card

Digital Inputs ADAT on D19m ADATI Card

Digital Outputs ADAT on D19m ADATO Card

Digital Inputs TDIF on D19m TDIFI Card

Digital Outputs TDIF on D19m TDIFO Card

Modular fl oating-point DSP Core

Hot-plug in cards: MemNet Control Cards, PE/AES DSP Card, PE DSP Card, Dual MADI I/O Card.Available Channel Processing Blocks: Input Selector, Input Processing & Filters, Input Mode, 4-Band EQ with Notch, Insert, Delay, C/L/E/G Dynamics, Output Limiter. PAN, Stereo PAN, Multiformat PAN, Direct Out, IPL.

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Studer Original Equipment - made in SwitzerlandIn the world of professional audio, the Studer name has

always been associated with quality and reliability, together with advanced technology and innovation. The Studer name

is also synonymous with solutions – for Radio, Television and Post Production – either from a range of dedicated products

or with complete custom-made systems.

For over 50 years, Studer’s commitment to continu-ous investment in R&D has ensured that the com-pany has maintained its position as a world leader in both analog and digital audio technology. This investment, which amounts to a remarkably high proportion of the company’s turnover, demonstrates the importance with which Studer regards research, and has resulted in the award of more than 20 technol-ogy patents. More importantly, it gives Studer’s engineering and design skills an unmatched knowl-edge base from which to develop the innovative and often unique products which our customers value so highly.

Whether the requirements are for technical propos-als, ergonomic solutions, new operational para-digms, innovative installation ideas or future-proof planning, Studer can provide them. What‘s more, our worldwide experience of systems design and planning gives us a unique knowledge of the vital interfaces necessary to ensure that individual prod-ucts work smoothly together to produce a seamless result, in both analog and digital domains. Everything our customers require is here. Developed and manu-factured in Switzerland.

Service and Support

At Studer, we know that reliability is of paramount importance to our customers, and that the highest standards of engineering excellence, quality control and fi nal testing must be backed up by the best possible service and support for our products, and

Studer take pride in providing this support on a worldwide basis. We also provide

operational and service train-ing courses both at our

factory and on site.

TVN in Hannover, Germany

TBS Vision in Tokyo, Japan

ZDF in Mainz, Germany

Studer Professional Audio AGAlthardstrasse 30, CH-8105 Regensdorf-Zurich Switzerland, Phone +41 1 870 75 11, Fax +41 1 870 71 34

Direct Subsidiaries: Austria +43 1 865 16 76 0 / France +33 1 45 14 47 80 / Germany +49 (0) 30 72 39 34-0 / UK +44 1753 655229 / Japan +81 3 34 65 22 11North America, Main Offi ce: Toronto +1 416 510-1347, Toll Free 866 269-0000 / Sales Offi ce: Los Angeles +1 818 841-4600

www.studer.ch

Subject to change. Studer is a registered trademark of Studer Professional Audio AG. Printed in Switzerland. Copyright by Studer Professional Audio AG

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