The first of the main Fox Studios dubbing theatres in LA’s Century City (the Howard Hawks, John Ford and Robert Wise), the Hawks and Wise Stages have been upgraded with the installation of AMS Neve DFC3D Gemini audio mixing consoles, the latest version of the multi-format film dubbing and postproduction desk. The Ford Stage is set to follow in early 2017.
The flexibility of DFC3D for multi-format 2D and 3D deliveries matches the demanding and complex requirements of high-end dubbing theatres such as the Hawks, which is equipped for monitoring formats as diverse as 5.1, 7.1, Dolby Atmos, Imax and Auro3D. DFC3Ds features include new integrated DSP processes including Sub-harmonic Synthesizer, Multi-band Compressor and the return of the AMS RMX-16 Reverb.
The upgrade to the console provides increased its DSP capacity, which allows the new processes to be used in existing mix set-ups without compromising DSP availability. It also includes new high-resolution 3D-enabled metering, with unique spatial panner optimised for Dolby Atmos, providing the most efficient Atmos mixing experience and fastest transition from conventional mixing techniques.
‘The enhanced feature-set provides us with much needed visual feedback for our object-based mixing projects,’ says Fox Chief Engineer, Brain Bair. ‘The DFC3Ds Flexible Mix Engine natively supports 16-wide stems and pre-dubs, allowing true 3D panning. Enhanced online and offline automation editing speeds up re-conforming and streamlines mix workflows.
‘When a typical immersive mix here at Fox can include up to 118 objects, six or seven 9.1 bed stems and 52 or more individual speaker channels, it’s invaluable to be able to see what’s routed where at the push of a button – the new DFC3D meter bridge does it extremely well. AMS Neve has continually demonstrated its support us and is always willing to protect our investment in their technology by providing us with a viable upgrade path.’
‘I love the sound quality of the DFC. That’s the most important thing to me on any project,’ adds Re-Recording Mixer, Andy Nelson. ‘The DFC has wonderful sound and great equalisers and compressors, which are the parts of the board I call upon all the time. The latest upgrade confirms my belief that AMS Neve continues to make the best sounding film mixing console in the world.’
