The
Xdubber is the direct result of Harrison setting out to
solve an intractable problem of large projects. After
many years of studying the workflow in the post-production
environment, it became clear that there is not a cohesive
set of tools to handle hundreds of playback and recording
tracks in a consistent, project-friendly format. The
Xdubber solves this problem elegantly.
Like the rest of the Xrange, the
Xdubber is connected to the Xrouter by a CAT5 ethernet
connection. Sidestepping the limitations of standard digital
audio interfaces, Harrison has developed an ulta-low latency,
32-bit audio pipeline from the router to the recorders and/or
DSP engines over this single cable. An Xrouter can support
up to 4 recorders simultaneously (256 tracks). This allows
you to run multiple redundant or "safety" tracks
at the same time. Multiple Xrouters, Xengines, and
Xdubbers make up an entire
playback->mix->monitor->record package that is
fully floating-point and totally integrated.
The Xdubber's audio file format
is the ubiquitous "broadcast wave" file. Files can
be either 24 or 32 bit. This allows seamless
"drag and drop" audio transfer into any major
workstation. Third party developers have provided
various session conversion utilities. Files and all metadata
are stored in a single folder, which can be accessed via the
built-in FTP server, WHILE THE UNIT IS IN USE. These
time-saving steps are designed to match your existing
workflow. The session format is a
non-proprietary XML format. This means your
projects may be safely archived indefinitely, with no chance
of them being unrecoverable due to changing technology.
Hardware
The
heart of the Xdubber system is a dual Opteron PC running a
highly optimized version of Linux. Linux is the 'X' factor,
allowing the PC to utilize a Gigabit Ethernet port as a
low-latency, high-throughput audio pipeline. Because
the Xdubber is based on a standard computer platform running
Linux, you get all the benefits of a desktop system -
removable drive arrays, network connections, DVD backup, VGA
display(s), and continuous support. But you don't have
all the headaches of a traditional DAW system. The
Xdubber is built out of proven, reliable components of the
highest quality.
A
standalone Xdubber consists of the Xdubber and the Xrouter
. If you are installing the Xdubber with an
existing Harrison Xrange console then you only need an
Xdubber computer. (shown on the bottom of the
image at left). The Xdubber has 2
removeable SATA drives, a DVD drive for backups, and
an internal system hard drive. In addition you
can attach eSATA, firewire or USB external drives.
The
Xdubber has a gigabit ethernet port which can be used
for FTP file transfers, as well as directly recording
to networked drives such as NFS or iSCSI SAN storage.
A 9pin (RS422) connection is used for serial timecode
and track arming. Audio is sent to and from the
Xrouter via CAT5e cable. Audio I/O, wordclock,
and video sync connections are located on the Xrouter.
An
Xrouter can connect 4 Xdubbers, and allow them to
share 8 MADI input and output ports. In a small
post facility this can represent a large space and
financial savings. Alternatively, one of the
Gigabit ports can be connected to another Xrouter,
providing near-infinite scalability. All gigabit
connections are floating-point format, and channels
may be summed in the Xrouter if needed.
Software
For
the recorder itself, Harrison uses a real-time Linux
operating system and off-the-shelf computer components to
guarantee long-term viability. The recording software behind
the Xdubber is an open-source,highly scalable program called
Ardour. By focusing on the specific needs of the
post-production community, Harrison has packaged the Ardour
workstation into a robust, streamlined re-recording product
that meets the needs of our world-class customers. Sustainable
open source software, open file formats, readily available
"off the shelf" parts, and Harrison's world-famous
customer support make this the LAST FILM DUBBER YOU'LL EVER
NEED!
Standalone
destructive recorder
Arbitrary
track counts limited only by disk throughput ( 64
tracks at 48kHz onto redundant drives is
standard )
Native
time stamped "broadcast wave" file format
Floating
point playback, mixing and recording when used in
conjunction with Harrison "Wide Pipe"
DSP
Sony
9-Pin transport and track arming
Lightning-fast
"punch-ins" and "locates"
Ultra-stable
Linux Operating System
Drag'n'Drop
files into Pro Tools
Plays
in any direction, up to 8x speed ( depending on track
count )
Gigabit
LAN and FTP server
Waveforms
and punch in/out points are drawn on-screen while you
record
Non-destructive
recording modes also available
The
main screen of the Xdubber has been refined
by post production beta testers to provide
all critical information at a glance.
Furthermore, the creation of a session has
been streamlined to require only a few
clicks. The ability to set up a
64-track recording session in only seconds
makes for faster workflow.
The
Xdubber was designed to support tape-style
destructive recording. All 64 tracks may
be "punched in" simultaneously or in
any combination. There is no lengthy
"initialization" procedure to create
destructive tracks. You don't even have
to designate a length for the session.
Just create a session, set the start time, and
start recording. This attention to the
needs of post-production users is what sets
the Xdubber apart from other products.
The Xdubber uses Sony 9-pin transport and
track-arming controls. Video-sync input
allows sample-accurate transport lock among
multiple machines. This means that audio
quality is maintained even with multiple
punchins on the same point in the timeline.
32-bit recording from the Xrange allows an
unlimited dynamic range; audio values over
0dBFS are preserved for later processing, not
clipped.
Because
the Xdubber is based on the Ardour workstation,
a full complement of non-destructive editing,
processing, mixing and routing is supported.
While normally disabled on the Xdubber to
prevent user error during dubbing, editing can
be enabled to allow conforming or quick fixes to
the recorded tracks. Xdubber session files
can be opened and edited on any Ardour
workstation, including the Mac OSX version.
No file conversion is necessary.
An example of these editing facilities is shown
on the left. Region-based timeline editing
is supported just like other popular DAWs.
In addition, the Xdubber supports the editing
modes of high-end hardware editing stations.
The Xdubber allows users to work in the realm
they are most comfortable. New users will
require little or no training to become
proficient on the Xdubber.
FAQ
Q:
I've tried to use a workstation as a dubber before,
and had all kinds of problems. What's different about
the Xdubber? A: The post-production market is a
relatively small market segment compared to the "bedroom
guitarist" market. Most workstations cannot
afford to optimize their features for a small market.
Harrison has been a leader in the post production
market for decades. It's what we do best.
So we have scrutinized every aspect of the Xdubber to
make sure it is applicable in the post-production
workflow.
Q: What kind of remote control (machine
control) is supported? A: The Xdubber accepts the Sony 9-pin
(P2) standard. It has been tested with
Soundmaster and Colin Broad machine control systems,
among others. There is an LTC and MMC/MTC (MIDI)
option as well.
Q: What kind of file
compatibility can I expect? A: The native audio file format is
time stamped "broadcast wave" files.
This standard file type can be loaded into any modern
workstation for playback or editing. Each
project's metadata (such as track names, option
settings, etc)is stored in an open-source file format
which will be readable many years into the future.
Additionally, Third party
developers have provided various session conversion
utilities.
Q: What is the process for
starting a new multi track session (i.e. a reel change)? A: This is a simple 2-click procedure.
Choose File->New, type a name for the project,
choose a template, and click "OK". The
template defines the numberof tracks, and the start
time for the reel. Harrison has provided
templates for all the most common post-production film
setups, and users may make their own templates at any
time. Initializing the project takes about 5
seconds. There is no need to "format"
the files beforehand. Any unused space on a
track will contain silence. There is no need to
set an "end point" for the tracks, you can
always record beyond the end (until the disk runs out
of space, anyway)
Q: How do I get data into and out
of the Xdubber? A: The Xdubber uses a pair of SATA
drives. These drives may be configured for RAID,
or one drive can automatically back up to the second
drive. An internal FTP server is used to get
files out of the recorder. The file transfer may
be done at any time, even while recording. The
most common method is to do a file transfer directly
from the recorder onto a networked storage device.
And because the Xdubber is based on Linux, the server
OS, there is a rich set of management tools which may
be called upon to simplify the project management
process.
Q: Can I play and record directly
to a SAN? A: Yes, if the SAN fully supports
Linux (many do), and the underlying file system is
supported. Please contact Harrison if you have
questions about this.
Q: How was Harrison, a console
manufacturer with no recorder or workstation
experience, able to create this product? A: Rather than develop our own
proprietary product, or team up with a developer who
is not highly focused on the post-production market,
we decided to partner with the Ardour open-source
workstation project. This allowed us to have a
thoroughly tested, feature filled workstation, while
guaranteeing that our customers will be free of the
frustrations inherent with workstations that are
designed for the "2nd bedroom studio".
Like other open source vendors IBM, SGI, and Apple,
Harrison understands the kind of scalability and
reliability that is needed in an "enterprise
class" facility.
Q: My facility does not use MADI
for I/O. Is there a version that uses AES? A: Harrison has a complete line of
high-density, high-quality analog and AESdigital
converters. Please contact Harrison for details.
