EuCon Hybrid
The new EuCon Hybrid Option, for System 5, System 5-B or System 5-BP digital audio mixing systems, extends the control capabilities of the console beyond the dedicated DSP Cores to the outside world, bringing Mac and PC Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) tracks onto the console surface for mixing.

The DAWs communicate with the console via the innovative EuCon high-speed Ethernet control protocol. No other control system or console comes close to the power and total integration of Euphonix control surfaces with EuCon. The MC Pro, System 5-MC, also use EuCon to communicate with applications running on Macs or PCs. The new Euphonix Artist Series of controllers use EuCon to control applications on Mac OS X computers.

Any DAW that supports EuCon, HUI or Mackie control and is running the EuCon Client Application on the network can have its tracks selected for placement and control on the System 5 surface. The position of DAW tracks on the System 5 surface is completely flexible. Multiple tracks from separate DAWs and System 5 DSP Channels may be placed in any order on the surface simultaneously. These channel Layouts may be saved, making them easy to access and organize.

This greatly extends the capability of any System 5 console and allows operators access to DAW tracks that would otherwise be available only as traditional playback sources. It is now possible to have direct, high-speed access to any of these tracks, their plug-ins and metering from the System 5 channel strips.

The EuCon control protocol makes all this connectivity possible and is transparent to the user. The EuCon Hybrid Pilot Computer scans the Ethernet network for available workstations and/or computers. Any PC or Mac application that supports EuCon, HUI or Mackie control, including DAW’s and video edit applications, can be controlled from the System 5 surface.

Native EuCon applications, such as Nuendo, Logic Pro and Pyramix, that directly support the EuCon protocol, have an extremely high level of integration, with high-resolution, high-speed connectivity to almost all the DAWs functions, including multi-channel metering and EQ and pan curves. Control is fast and highly responsive. In addition to fader, pan, aux sends, metering and routing, EuCon Hybrid allows access to the track’s plug-ins from the 8 knobs on the System 5.

Pro Tools integrates with EuCon Hybrid as does any application that supports HUI or Mackie Control including fader, motorized joystick, and plug-in control as well as metering.

What sets the EuCon protocol apart from other control systems is its use of high-speed Ethernet to communicate with the DAWs. This simple fact reduces parameter change delays and increases resolution.

Operation
With the EuCon Hybrid Option installed, an additional EuCon button appears in the Main Panel of the CM401 module (see opposite in the main top panel). Selecting this option brings up a list of computers on the network (see opposite in the lower sub-panel). Those running the EuCon Client Application are highlighted and can be selected for access by the System 5. Selected DAWs are then displayed on the CM401 Sub-Panel.

The Main Panel provides access to Tracks and Soft Keys for each connected workstation. The operator can toggle this panel between Track display (top right) and Soft Key display (bottom right) by pressing a button at the bottom of the Main Panel.

Assigning Tracks to the Surface
With Tracks displayed, the list of tracks currently available from the application in focus on the connected workstation is shown upper right. Selecting another DAW from the Sub-Panel brings that DAW’s tracks up on the Main Panel making it easy to assign tracks from multiple DAWs.

DAW Tracks can be assigned to any strip in any order and saved using Layouts (up to 48 Layouts). Auto-Assign works just the same as with normal System 5 channel strip assignments. DAW tracks also appear in the list of available sources when assigning directly from the strip. DAW tracks can be independently placed on the control surface and are not restricted to fixed arrangements like many other controllers. For example, Pro Tools track 1 could be placed next to its track 24 which could be followed by track 14 from a Nuendo system.

Soft Keys
In Soft Keys mode (lower right), the panel displays Soft Keys, if any, as defined in the Application Set for the application currently in focus on the connected workstation. Application Set files are derived from the MC, and System 5-MC Application Sets and are available from Euphonix for all the main applications.

Jog/Shuttle
The System 5 includes a jog/shuttle wheel at the bottom of the CM401 center section. One of the most useful features of EuCon control is the ability to assign different functions to this wheel. As well as Jog and Shuttle the wheel may also be used for adjusting clip based functions in some EuCon DAWs such as trim head/tail, fade in/out, slip, move and clip gain.

Automation
Automation functionality of DAW tracks is dependent on the features within each DAW. Any fader, knob or switch automation for DAW tracks is written directly to the DAW software and is not associated with the Euphonix System 5 automation of DSP Core channels. Faders are touch-sensitive and knobs include auto-pickup functionality. Any automation playing back from the DAW will move the appropriate faders, and display changes on the knob LED rings and switches.

EuCon Hybrid Package
The EuCon Hybrid package can be purchased for any new or installed System 5-F, System 5-P, System 5-BP or System 5-M (all these models have the transport control panel at the bottom of the CM401) and includes:

• EuCon Hybrid Pilot Computer     
    (PC 254h) fitted with:
  - Two Ethernet ports for connecting
    to the System 5 and external DAW networks
  - EuCon Hybrid Software Package
  - Latest software Application Sets

The System 5 requires no hardware or firmware updates but must be running version 2.9 software or later.