my workplace got a S5000 to use as our main mixer, but i’d like to still use the C1500 for side stage monitors – I just wanted to make sure I understood the tech/equipment requirements before any purchasing happens:
the main mixer (S5000) would connect to the MixRack (DM64) via its native gigaace port, but do I need to purchase another gigaace card for the MixRack and install it as I/O Port 1 in order for the side stage mixer (C1500) to be able to connect or can I use a switch to have both the S5000 and C1500 talk to the native gigaace port or some other set up?
The Surfaces are just remote controls for the system.
That is required for full dual surface functionality.
https://support.allen-heath.com/hc/en-gb/articles/39826563650065-Multi-Surface
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It’s one device per GigaAce connection - even if the connection has two ports and you aren’t using redundancy. What I mean is that just because there is an unused GigaAce port, you cannot use it to connect to a second device.
Long story short, you will need to get a GigaAce card and install it in the Mixrack to connect to a second Surface. It doesn’t really matter which expansion card slot you use on the Mixrack however (so there is no requirement that it has to be the first slot.
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Ok, thank you! I thought that might be the case, but I was hoping to not have to convince my boss of an additional $1800 purchase
I will start by saying that I am not recommending this but…
You can connect a second surface to the network port of the DM rack and operate the second console that way.
The caveat is that you have two consoles controlling one show file and this can get very messy very quickly. For instance, either board can recall a scene and both boards become impacted. There are many other caveats, but I have done it at one show in a pinch.
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That isn’t recommended, but it will work for surface mirroring and control redundancy. You need to remember you have no audio signals on the second surface.
In the end, director software can act as an additional surface, too.
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