SEC – home of the 🇨🇠Swiss Wall Of Sound. Contact us to hear it in action.
NEWS
Pro Tools Get Current -20%
Do you still have a perpetual (endless) Pro Tools or Pro Tools HD/Ultimate license and want to get the latest features like Aux I/O, Apple Silicon compatibility, Melodyne integration etc.? You’re in luck!
Until the end of September 2023 you can reinstate your perpetual license and upgrade your Pro Tools Studio and Ultimate 20% off the list price. Included is 1 year of updates and tech support from Avid.
If you’re currently on subscription but still have an old perpetual on your account, we highly recommend to reactivate the perpetual with the Get Current special -20% because renewing perpetual plan is always cheaper in the long run than a subscription. You can activate the code we send you anytime so you can wait until your subscription has ended. Contact us to order.
SEC at IBC
Amsterdam is calling again to the biggest broadcast exhibition on the planet and we’ll be there as usual.
If you’re coming as well to discover the latest and greatest in technology, give us a ring or drop us a mail to set up a meeting.
Heineken and coffee are on us!Â
New DAD Software and Firmware
Version 5.6.9.1 of DADman control software is now available, as well as updated Thunderbolt3 drivers for MacOS Core Audio and ASIO for Windows and a firmware update for DAD’s Thunder|Core series. The update will benefit all users of AX32, DX32, AX64, Core 256, AX Center, MTRX, MTRX Studio and now also MTRX II. The new versions bring very cool new features like cloning settings between units.
New firmware 1.0.3.4 for AX64, AX Center, Core 256 and MTRX II also now supports DADLink which is a new proprietary technology by DAD with “zero” latency (approx. 1 micro second!) between the connected units meaning that all inputs and outputs are phase aligned.
Finally, the new Thunder|Core Thunderbolt 3 drivers for MacOS, and ASIO driver for Windows introduce a stand-alone configuration application.
More details here.
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Microchip Crisis
Fires, earthquakes, trade wars, Covid, more fires…
Many of our brands have had massive problems to get parts for their products and although the situation is getting better, the problem is not solved yet.
Check out the video which goes through the myriad of issues that have been facing not only pro audio but many other industries as well.
SEC Avid ACSR Certification Update
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In order to offer the best possible Avid support, we get trained every year by Avid.Â
We’re happy to announce that Marc just refreshed Avid Pro Tools ACSR (Avid Certified Service Representative) after concluding the PT400 ACSR training and exam. Our Pro Tools instructor Alex is certified as Pro Tools 300-level Expert, S6 Expert, Pro Tools ACSR and now refreshed S6 ACSR as well.
So if you have questions, we have Avid-certified answers.
New Pro Tools 2023.6 With Many New Features
The new Pro Tools 2023.6 delivers Track Markers, additional Track Widths (up to 9.1.6 and 7th order Ambisonics), guided Device Setup, surround monitoring support for Pro Tools | Carbon, and more.
With new Track Markers, you can add detailed, color-coded comments to any track, making collaborative workflows easier. Track Markers created in Media Composer will also now translate to Pro Tools.
Pro Tools 2023.6 introduces new track widths to support more Dolby Atmos and other immersive audio production formats, such as MPEG-H. Pro Tools Studio will support track widths from 5.0.2–7.1.6, while Pro Tools Ultimate will support from 5.0.2–9.1.6 for better spatial accuracy and precision when mixing immersive content. The 2023.6 update also adds higher-order Ambisonics support to Pro Tools Ultimate (fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-order)—ideal for modern gaming engines and VR workflows.
The newly redesigned and improved Event Operations window makes working with MIDI easier. The UI layout and text labels have been tweaked to be more logical, intuitive, and consistent within and across all the processes. From quantizing and transposing notes to changing velocities, duration, and more, the intuitive new window layout provides fast access to fine-tune MIDI performances. Multiple processes can also be applied to MIDI notes much faster through multiple Apply buttons.
The new guided Device Setup improves the first launch experience so that users can start using Pro Tools quickly and without frustrations. Pro Tools will ask users to select an audio device at launch if it’s their first time launching the software or the previously used device is no longer available.
With Pro Tools 2023.6 you can generate higher quality audio masters with support for 96 kHz Dolby Atmos ADM import and export (Pro Tools Studio and Ultimate only) and Carbon users will be able to monitor audio in surround, opening up a whole new world of immersive mixing.
If you don’t have a current ProTools upgrade and Support plan, contact us for a “Get Current” reinstatement to be able to use all the cool new features.
Dolby Atmos Mixing Template
Check out this comprehensive video with loads of super clever tricks of how to set up a professional Mixing Template for Dolby Atmos mixing for music.
Alex Solano – aka Alex Pro Mix – is a certified Dolby Atmos mixer for Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group and in this video, he shares in detail how he sets up his template.
Alex is using an MTRX Studio and Avid Pro Tools, but as he points out, it works just the same way if you use Apple’s Logic Pro, Steinberg’s Nuendo or Cubase, etc.
And of course if you use DAD AX32, AX64, Core 256 or AX Center, the DADman setup is exactly the same as Alex demonstrates. When you’re done, check out the part 2.
And when you need gear to get your studio up to Atmos-land, contact us, we’re happy to help!
Rupert Neve Designs at SEC
We are thrilled to announce that Rupert Neve Designs has chosen SEC as their dealer. Based in Wimberley, Texas where Rupert moved back in 1994, RND continues Rupert’s legacy at the highest possible level, by a team of engineers educated by Rupert himself. This is a big day for us since Rupert Neve is arguably the most legendary single person in Pro Audio manufacturing.
RND’s products are not cheap copies or reverse-engineered wannabes of Rupert’s old designs, they are the real deal, built to last, often with enhancements provided by today’s advanced technologies.
In our showroom you can already have a listen to RND’s flagship channel strip/mic preamp Shelford Channel, flagship dynamics processor Portico II Master Buss Processor, simple and elegant 5211 2ch Mic Pre, and 5057 Orbit 16 to 2ch Summing Mixer. You can also check out our 500-series rack with 511 Mic Preamp, 535 Diode Bridge Compressor, 551 Inductor EQ, and 517 Mic Pre/DI/Compressor. All those and the superb RNDI DI box the can be listened through RNHP Precision Headphone Amplifier paired with Audeze LCD-X or LCD MX-4.
At SEC we’re always looking for the best of the best solutions for our customers so we provide the whole Rupert Neve line including their large format console 5088.
Book a demo and hear the silky sound of Rupert Neve in our showroom. Let us get your sound to the next level with his legendary technology.
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Genelec 45 – The Ones World Tour at SEC
We’re excited to host Genelec’s 45y world tour featuring the complete The Ones series in our Uznach showroom, Thursday 4. May.
Eric Horstmann, Europe’s Immersive Audio Guru (NZZ interview) will show you The Ones series 3-way coax design’s advantages and also lead an immersive Audio workshop. For this event we’ll upgrade our Genelec Atmos system with GLM-optimised 8351, 8331, 8330 and 7380 models.
On top of the Genelec-related infos, you have also a chance to pick the brains of Roman Weber (Avid), Richard Addis (Dolby) and Jan Lykke (DAD). They are looking forward to answer your questions about their new products introduced in NAMM, and feedback from Swiss audio professionals.
Beyond the Genelec The Ones Tour we also offer an Atmos Workshop with Eric, exclusively for our customers. If you want to participate already in the afternoon, please send us a message. In any case register through the main link below as well, so that we have enough drinks and food!
Timetable:
14:00 – Doors
14:30 – Dolby Atmos Workshop Group A
16:00 – Dolby Atmos Workshop Group B
17:30 – Doors for The Ones Tour
21:00 – End
The event is free of charge, register now! May the Fourth be with you!
[Update: Due to unforeseen circumstances Jan Lykke can’t join us at the event.]
New MTRX Thunderbolt 3
Avid unveiled the new Thunderbolt 3 module for MTRX II and MTRX Studio. And before you ask, yes, your existing MTRX Studio can be upgraded to TB3 connectivity with a simple 15-min upgrade.
The new MTRX Thunderbolt 3 Module brings efficient Native connectivity to both Mac and PC. For systems that already have a DigiLink connection, Thunderbolt 3 opens up new workflows. You can route from Pro Tools HDX to another DAW over the Thunderbolt connection, compose in one DAW and record to Pro Tools. Or route audio directly to the Dolby Atmos Renderer through your Thunderbolt connection while maintaining full use of your HDX DSP cores. Channel count over TB3 is 256ch with MTRX II and 64ch with MTRX Studio.
While DSP-based HDX continues to provide the lowest latency possible, TB3 provides the fastest native connection for audio workstations or mobile workflows. Here at SEC we’re really looking forward to test the TB3 module to find out if the latency is low enough to go through Pro Tools to headphones without issues. Little birds told us that this should be possible. This would revolutionise multichannel music workflows because you could do everything incl. headphone mixes with FX inserts directly in Pro Tools without DigiLink on a fast Apple Silicon machine. For post production DigiLink is still the king due to frame-edge sync capability with SYNC X.
The TB3 module is sold separately so be sure to mention it when you order a new MTRX II or MTRX Studio.
Contact us for pricing and availability.