SAC is the acronym for Software Audio Console. This
program runs in Microsoft Windows and turns your
Windows PC into a powerful virtual Live Mixing
Console.
SAC opens new realms of live sound mixing
capabilities with virtual mixing technology built
around a core hand coded assembly language engine.
The look and feel of a fully controllable Front Of
House (FOH) console, coupled with 24 duplicate
monitor mixing consoles with digital split points
from 5 locations within the FOH Input Channels and 2
locations within the FOH Return Channels, creates a
whole new way of mixing live sound while eliminating
and replacing racks of physical equipment, snake
cabling and splitters.
The FOH Console
The virtual console is designed as a 72 input
channel, 72 output channel FOH console, with Input
Source, Attenuator, Phase Reverse, Swap L/R, and Mono
buttons, 5 Band Stereo EQ with additional Hi and Lo
Cut filters, Keying Gate and Compressor with bandpass
filter, Pre and Post FX patch points, 6 Stereo Aux
Sends with Pan, 24 Stereo Output Assigns, 8 point XY
Surround Pan with separate Sub and Center Chan, Solo,
Mute, Stereo Pan, long throw Fader with a Stereo Hi
Resolution (-60 dB) Meter on each channel.
Any input channel may be assigned to any or all
output channels at the same time. 8 Master Output
channels may be routed to any hardware output device
while the remaining 16 Output channels can be used as
subgroup, VCA type Faders, folding back to any of the
8 Master Faders. The Aux Sends may be internally
routed as virtual or patched out to any device
output, and returned from any device input, in sync,
direct into the FOH mix, through 6 independent Return
channels, each with complete FX patching capabilities
and their own Hi Resolution Meters.
XY Surround panning is built in and can be assigned
in any manner to up to 6 discreet outputs. The
surround setup can be saved in templates making 5.1,
7.1, quad surround or any configuration available at
the touch of the mouse.
The console can be displayed in different views,
independently or simultaneously, allowing quick
access to multiple perspectives of the current
information.
The console has extensive navigation capabilities and
is intimately linked to the different views. There
are popup navigation menus that display labeled
channels and track references, allowing instant one
click access to anywhere you need to go.
The Monitor Consoles
The FOH console inputs internally split to 24 monitor
consoles, giving essentially duplicate versions of
all FOH console views and allowing you to mix
monitors from master faders instead of Aux Sends or
Matrix knobs. This allows each monitor mix to be its
own 72 channel stereo mix with its own overlayed Eq
and Dynamics sections, as well as its own 6 stereo
Aux Sends and Returns. Each Monitor console has 8
Master Stereo Output Channels, leaving 16 channels to
be used as subgroups. The input splits can be taken
from the FOH Src, Pst EQ, Pst Dyn, Pre Fader or Post
Fader. Additionally, Monitor Mixer 1 can be
designated as a master monitor mixer and all
remaining monitor mixers can take their splits from
it. Each monitor console and individual input channel
can use any one of those split points independently
of every other channel, opening up a brand new
dimension in monitor mixing routing and control.
The Engine
The underlying architecture is an entirely new - from
the ground up - virtual mixing engine, based on many
years of experience with the development and maturity
of the SAW product line.
The focus of this new engine design is centered
around the live, low latency input driven technology
that forces the engine to sense and trigger precisely
from live input data stream timing. This engine
assembles the data, LIVE, on the fly, directly in
front of the actual data being played out by the
sound devices, delivering instant reaction time and
the feel of a physical console, without glitching the
audio data.
The engine makes extensive use of multi-processor and
priority multi-threaded code design, and with its
hand coded assembly language techniques, is capable
of reaching performance levels not thought possible
within the standard Windows environments.
The design uses advanced assembly language techniques
to emulate all functions of the console portion of
the program. Faders, Eq, Dynamics, Aux Sends and
Returns, Meters, Echo/Delay, Reverb, etc. are all
emulated DSP routines, that rival the performance of
hardware based units when used on high-end computers.
This design also eliminates the need for special DSP
based hardware sound devices, allowing standard audio
sound cards access to all of the design features.
The new engine design allows for most every program
operation to be performed live, while the engine is
running, without the need to stop the data stream to
change device assignments, input and output routing
or save sessions and manipulate Scene and Sequence
data.
Because of the low latency capabilities, this engine
is a perfect match for external fader packs and mixer
controllers. SAC uses a complete virtual lookup table
design to link incoming controller signals to virtual
console and transport controls, and other internal
functions of the engine. Different hardware
controller information can be stored in templates
(without the need to update or rewrite the program
code) that can be instantly loaded into the program
to change from one controller type to another,
without the need to restart the program! Templates
are available for a wide variety of the most popular
controllers, and future templates will be made
available for download, as new hardware is released.
FX Processing
A brand new powerful SAC API (Application Programming
Interface) has been developed for handling FX Plug
Ins. This interface offers one of the most direct
and streamlined protocols for passing information
between the application and processing plug-ins. This
design also offers enhanced power and control,
including automation capability, while actually
increasing overall efficiency. The API is compatibile
with most Native SAWStudio plugins.
The DirectX and VST protocols are seamlessly woven
into the engine design, with all plug-ins of all
types showing in one common effects choice window.
With the current availability of numerous DirectX and
VST plug-ins to choose from, you can begin FX
processing immediately without waiting for future
development.
Effects are hot-patchable, meaning they can be
plugged in and out in real-time during playback! The
engine will automatically initialize and insert the
plug-in directly into the audio loop in perfect sync,
without the need to stop the stream.
TCP/IP Remote Network Access
SAC also includes an extensive internal networking
engine that allows up to 28 remote users to access
the system via standard TCP/IP network connections.
You can use a simple ethernet cable and hub or
switcher, or a wireless system to allow complete
freedom to roam the venue and control everything from
a remote laptop. A set of user stats can control the
access rights of anyone connected to the host system.
You can connect as a FOH engineer, which gives you
access to FOH and all 24 Monitor consoles. You can
also connect as a MON engineer, which gives you
access to only the 24 Monitor consoles. A final tier
allows a PERsonal connection to just 1 Monitor
console, which opens the door for any performer
onstage to have complete control of his, and only
his, complete Monitor console.
It's time to let SAC change the way you work with
live audio forever. Welcome to the dawn of a new era
of Live Sound Mixing!
http://www.sawstudio.com
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