The XL8 live performance system is truly revolutionary and heralds Midas' entry into the digital mixing realm. However, this is not merely another digital mixing console. XL8 offers an incomparable design combining exemplary sound quality, flexibility and reliability with an ease and familiarity of use unrivaled by other digital control surfaces. XL8 is the first of a new generation of open-architecture, cross-platform, integrated audio control and distribution systems, which brings control of not only audio, but other aspects of a live performance to a single, intuitive control centre.
As well as offering classic Midas audio quality and superb reliability, XL8 actually improves upon the performance of the analogue consoles, which have established Midas as the number one choice of sound engineers the world over. XL8 represents a new generation of networked systems, requiring only mics, amps and speakers to provide a complete audio system.
The XL8's open architecture ensures that both third-party hardware and software, including 'plug-ins' can be easily integrated into the system. The very latest in high-speed networking technology ensures that XL8 will conform to all the classic Midas brand values of sound quality, reliability and longevity; it will not be obsolete in a few years.
The Midas XL8 Live Performance System Overview :
- Failure-tolerant of any single failure of hardware or software
- Proven, stable, Linux operating system
- Dual redundant master control processors
- Five individual bay control processors
- 24/7 global telephone support
- Midas customer service and support centers: in Minneapolis (USA), Kidderminster (UK), Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore
- Three year factory warranty
- Rugged design, tolerant of physical abuse
Midas XL8 Control Centre : Don’t change the way you think.
As can be expected from the design team at Midas, the XL8 has been painstakingly designed to address the way in which sound engineers approach the task of mixing. The control centre can be operated from scratch quickly and easily – even by engineers new to digital control surfaces.
XL8 has been designed so the engineer does not have to think in terms of numbers, pages or layers. Users navigate the system and identify channels by colors and groupings, which they themselves create. This method allows an individualized approach to mixing, rather than working within hardware-dictated numerical limitations. This reassuringly familiar way of working is central to the XL8 and ensures that engineers do not have to change their way of thinking to feel comfortable with the new system.
Each of the five bays of the console is a discrete hardware module, which is independent of its neighbor and incorporates its own power supply, surface processor, GUI processor and screen. The only common connection is via a single Ethernet link to the network.
In addition to placing engineers in a familiar comfort zone, which allows them to get on with the job of making great audio without worrying about the rigors of new technology, the XL8 also comes complete with a range of features unique in the world of live mixing.
The standard 5-bay control surface comprises a total of five of the following three modules :
• 3 x Input module
• 1 x Mix module
• 1 x Output module.
Midas XL8 Control Centre Configuration :
- Dedicated motor faders on outputs
- Paged controls do not change function (e.g. a gain knob is always a gain knob - never a frequency knob!)
- Silky smooth, high accuracy rotary controls
- Dedicated discrete hardware remote control for onboard Graphic EQs with the Klark Teknik Rapide
- Modular control surface with multiple input areas - easily accommodates multiple operators
- Two routers in the control centre in addition to the two DL461 Audio System Signal Routers
- Daylight visible DVI TFT display screens
- Three way KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) remote control of any 'Mac' or 'PC' from the control centre
- White LED lighting of the control centre surface
- 63 discrete 20-segment LED meters
- Discrete LED meters for dynamics and direct outs
- All the meters all the time / master status screen
- Simple, visible hardware routing to master outputs
Midas XL8 Input Module :
The input module consists of an 8-channel “fast zone”, where an operator will find the “must have now” controls, a detailed channel strip which is the interface with all of the selected channel’s control parameters and a display screen. A standard 5-bay frame has three input modules, which allow easy access for multiple operators.
Midas XL8 Input Module Configuration Overview :
* Three discrete Midas mic pre amps per mic input (e.g. FOH, Monitor, Broadcast) - no gain sharing
* Midas EQ sound quality and "control feel"
* Analogue and digital gain controls for optimization of preamp performance and channel gain structure
* Midas dynamics with choice of four styles (including Vintage)
* Midas quality input and output CMRR and drive capability
* Unique Muscle Memory friendly E-Zone layout for EQ
* Unique Muscle Memory friendly D-Zone layout for dynamics
* Fast Zone for instant access to key channel parameters
* Eight channels of key data and single channel full detail on each input screen
* Area A and area B free assignment
* External video in and out - enables an operator to view external computers / video on each input screen
Midas XL8 Mix Module :
The mix module features the aux masters, mix masters, VCA faders, POP group select buttons, mix group select buttons, mix buss detail panel and a display screen. A standard 5-bay frame has one mix module.
Midas XL8 Mix Module Configuration Overview :
* 12 VCA (Variable Control Association) groups
* 8 POP (population) groups
* External video in and out
Midas XL8 Output Module :
The output module features the main (matrix) mix masters, automation control, dual trackball control panel, slide-out keyboard, communications panel, monitoring control and a display screen. A KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) switch is incorporated into this bay, to enable an operator to view and control up to three external computers from the control surface. A standard 5-bay frame has one output module.
Midas XL8 Output Module Configuration Overview :
* Full capability theatre style scene automation
* Snapshot scene automation has cross-scene global edit capability
* System can operate with show files written on earlier and later versions of firmware
* Separate automation scope screens for scene store and recall
* KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) switching on control surface allows the operation of any 'Mac' or 'PC' based third party software from the XL8
* Discrete dual solo systems
* 8 user assignable controls
Midas XL8 Audio System Input Splitter (DL431) :
The DL431 is a 6U 19 inch rack unit which provides 24 mic/line inputs. Each input feeds three separate preamps, two with separate remote and local gain controls, the third being fixed gain. The two preamps with gain controls feed separate ADCs which pass digital audio to the network. Four discrete AES50 outputs supply dual redundant digital audio to FOH and monitor XL8 systems and allow for easy routing to any third party AES50 device (eg HD recorder), via the DL461 routers.
Two balanced analogue splits (sourced post each mic amp) are provided on the rear panel. The third, fixed gain, preamp feeds a transformer isolated split on the front panel for recording or broadcast applications.
Audio System Input Splitter (DL431) Configuration Overview :
* 4 DL431s included in a XL8 live performance system
* Front-panel control and local monitoring (can be used as a stand alone unit)
* Integral headphone amplifier
* Dual Ethernet ports ( e.g. for stand alone remote control)
* USB connections for USB tunneling of third party serial data
* Dual integral power supplies
* Integrated three way analogue mic splits
XL8 Audio System Modular I/O (DL451) :
The DL451 is a 3U 19 inch rack unit, which provides a maximum of 24 audio inputs and 24 audio outputs. It has a user-configurable 3x8 XLR format, which can be configured as analogue mic/line in, analogue out, or digital in/out (AES/EBU). Midi in, out and through, and GPIO connections are supplied as standard. Digital audio interface is via dual-redundant AES50 connections.
Audio System Modular I/O (DL451) Configuration Overview :
* 5 DL451s included in a XL8 live performance system
* USB connections for USB tunneling of third party data
XL8 Audio System Signal Router (DL461) :
The DL461 is a 3U 19 inch rack unit, which performs the stage-to-console link using a single Cat6 cable (under 100 metres) or fibre-optic link (up to 500 metres). In addition to audio and control connections to the ten DSP modules. It features ten fully dual redundant AES50 connections for local I/O, as well as BNC and AES3 word clock interfaces and Ethernet tunnel. Dual redundant DL461’s are supplied with each XL8 system.
Audio System Signal Router (DL461) Configuration Overview :
* DL2 DL461s included in an XL8 live performance system
* Integrated open-architecture AES50 digital audio distribution
* Fully duplicated network for redundancy
* Up to 100 metres of dual redundant connectivity between hardware elements (copper); up to 500m using optical fibre
* Automatic integral delay management system - audio outputs time and phase coherent
* Flexible, expandable hardware system
* Ethernet TCP-IP & USB tunneling for third parties
* 1,000 million bits per second data transfer
XL8 Audio System Signal Processor (DL471) :
The DL471 is a 1U 19 inch rack unit, which forms part of the modular DSP engine. It features its own discrete power supply, AES50 and Ethernet interfaces, as well as a dual, ultra high-speed, contra-rotating data loop for direct processor to processor communications. Each XL8 system includes ten DL471 units of which one is a redundant spare (n+1 resilience model).
Audio System Signal Processor (DL471) Configuration Overview :
* 10 DL471s included in a XL8 live performance system
* Automatic deployment of spare in event of DSP engine failure
* Advanced FPGA architecture
* Exclusive Midas processing algorithms
* Composite engine capable of 48,000 million calculations per second
Klark Teknik DN9331 Helix Rapide :
The DN9331 is a 6U 19 inch rack unit and is a motorized fader remote control for the XL8’s onboard Graphic EQs. It connects using a single Ethernet cable and provides instant real-time control of all onboard assignable graphic equalizers, via the Solo Tracking System (STS) .
Klark Teknik DN9331 Helix Rapide Configuration Overview :
* 1 DN9331 is included in a XL8 live performance system
* 31 100mm console-grade motorized faders
* 4 banks of 32 channels each
* 4 user-configurable GEQ groups
* Global mode
* Rack mounting or free standing
* Simultaneous control of XL8 onboard and Klark Teknik Helix digital EQ units
Specifications :
Dimensions (inches) : Width 73.82 x Height 16.57 x Depth 41.51
Weight : 350.53 lbs
Price reflects the Midas XL8 Live Performance System;
Includes (1) XL8 Control Centre, (10) DL471 DSP Engines, (2) DL461 Audio System Signal Routers, (5) DL451 Audio System Modular I/O, (4) DL431 Audio System Input Splitters, (1) DN9331 Klark Teknik Helix Rapide, and redundant power supplies...
Please contact our Sonic Circus audio gurus to discuss your Midas XL8 Live Audio System needs today!
