The Midas PRO6 standard system consists of a control centre and two 7U 19” rack units, which are inter-connected by a networked data system. The network carries both proprietary control data and open architecture AES50 digital audio, and uses readily-available standard Cat-5, Cat-6 and fibre optic cabling and connectors. The Midas PRO6 Live Audio System features automated patching of considerable power and capability. To better understand this, think of the PRO6 in terms of three interconnecting levels.

Network level: 264 inputs x 264 outputs (max capacity)
The PRO6 network level has 12 AES50 ports, (one of which provides N+1 redundancy). The remaining 11 ports provide 528 “terminations” or possible connections, which are configured as 264 inputs and 264 outputs. Any source can be patched to any one, or any number of destinations, within the network’s 57,600 nodes. The network also supports point-to-point routing, which can be totally independent of the PRO6’s mixing functions. The number of physical connections, and their type (analogue, AES/EBU), are dictated by the number of and configuration of the various I/O hardware devices. Both the utilised hardware configuration and the routing within this can be reconfigured on a scene-by-scene basis. AES50 implementation throughout means all network latency is deterministic, managed and consistent, resulting in absolute sample-synchronous, phase-coherent audio reproduction.

Engine level: 120 inputs x 120 outputs
The PRO6’s processing engine has 120 inputs and 120 outputs. The inputs are available as input channels, virtual tape returns, insert returns, buss direct inputs, dynamics processor side-chain/key inputs and FX unit inputs. The outputs are available as buss outputs, insert sends, direct outputs and FX unit outputs. The engine can source from any 120 of the 264 inputs and send to 264 of the network’s outputs (by routing 120 engine outputs to multiple destinations) on a scene-by-scene basis.

Mixing level: 80 input processing channels
The PRO6 mixing console has 56 primary input channels, plus 8 aux returns, which feature EQ and insert points, giving access to the internal processing in the PRO6’s virtual FX rack. These 64 inputs feed 35 mix busses. 16 of these busses are individually configurable as aux or group or mix minus, and can also be configured as additional inputs with EQ and dynamics processing. These 80 processing channels then feed 16 matrix busses (which can be configured as aux sends) and Left, Right and Mono masters.

All audio paths can be routed to multiple destinations and the console format can be reconfigured live on a scene-by-scene basis.