Broadcast System Overview

GKM Broadcast Mixing Guide (Digico S21)

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of broadcast mixing at GKM using the Digico S21 console, based on training transcripts. It is designed as a resource for volunteers to quickly find instructions and help with unfamiliar features.

Table of Contents

1. System Overview

2. Console Navigation

3. Broadcast Mixing Approach

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1. System Overview

The broadcast audio system at GKM utilizes several key components:

• Digico S21 Console: This is the primary mixing console used for broadcast.
• Waves Super Rack: A piece of software running on a connected touchscreen PC that handles channel processing, including effects like Reverb, compression, and pitch correction for vocals. Each song has a snapshot within Waves Super Rack.
• Stream Deck: Used to cue or fire the Waves Super Rack snapshots for different songs. It has buttons for previous and next snapshots, and a clear button which is important if the worship team changes the song order or goes into an unplanned song. The clear button also allows you to quickly recall the loudness meter.
• Recording and Playback Computer: Controls playback of background music for the pre-show and post-show, and runs Tracks Live software for multi-track recording of services. Multi-track recordings can be used for playback as if the band were on stage.
• Mackie Big Knob Controller: A volume knob specifically for the control room monitors. Adjusting this does not affect the stream level. You can use it to turn monitors up or down, or mute them for communication, without impacting the broadcast mix. Crucially, never adjust the monitor level from the master fader on the console, as this will affect the stream.
• Shared Gains: Gains are set at the front of house console and are shared with broadcast. However, EQ, compression, gates, and effects are independent, giving the broadcast mixer control over these aspects.

Video #1: Power-On & Components

• Power Conditioner #1: (Mons, Screen & Switches)
• Power Conditioner #2: Always On
• Waves Server & PC:
  • Waves Soundgrid Network
  • Waves Server, Switch and PC
  • The SoundGrid Server is doing all the DSP processing at low latency
  • The computer is just an interface for control.
• Mac Mini:
  • For recording and playback in TracksLive.
  • Pre-service music.
• Console: DiGiCo S21
• Mackie BigKnob:
  • Controls the monitors in the room, not the level online.
  • Dim to drop the volume
  • Mono to sum the mix for phase check
  • Mute to mute

Things to Know: Digital Split

• All the inputs arrive at broadcast from FOH using Dante
• The only thing that’s shared is gain.
• EQ, compression, gates, and effects are all independent.