I'm really liking the Matrix section of the Profile. I use matrixes all the time for my speaker zones and in this capacity, it excels. Each of the eight matrixes can have a completely different set of 12 sources mixed in. For instance, you could have one matrix fed from six stereo subgroups (12 sources) and at the same time have another matrix blended from 12 Auxes. You can pull from any of your Auxes, Subgroups, Left, Right and Mono plus one more input of your choosing. In among your twelve choices of source, you can select any of eight special User Assign sources which can be pulled from any input, any unassigned Stage Rack jack, any unassigned FOH Rack jack, any EFX Return or any Pro Tools input. Mind bending!
Any source feeding a matrix can be toggled on or off for only that matrix output. For instance, I can have stereo playback sources live and hot to my main PA but toggled off for my Foyer speakers such that I can toggle them back on if the client wants tunes or prerecorded announcements outside the room at breaks. My preset level stays the same--this is the advantage to the on/off toggle. Toggling is accomplished by pushing down on the top of the level setting knob. Sweet.
If you're an Aux fiend and you tend to run out of Auxes too quickly, you can create a matrix feed from any 8 inputs that will give you a sort of 17th aux send. Like maybe you want to send a blend of two or three kick drum mics plus some kick drum EFX returns to a throne shaker but you don't want to use up an Aux or a subgroup for this. The Profile gets it done.
The alphanumeric display displays my assigned names for sources and sends. I typed 'Foyer' into Matrix 8 and 'VOG' into subgroup six so it's immediately clear which knob to turn if they want more "Voice Of God" in the Foyer.
Just like any other input or mix bus, the matrix buses each support four plug-ins inserted on them. All I inserted on each of my matrix zones is a parametric EQ--I have limiting and processing inside each speaker so I don't need that coming from the mix engine.
Available delay for each matrix is 500ms. Increments of 0.1ms.
Matrixes have a polarity switch which might be handy for subwoofers. You could use polarity and delay on a couple of matrixes to create a cardioid subwoofer setup.
Each matrix also has a Direct Out in case you needed to have the mix sent somewhere else. Pressing the Direct Out button flips the VGA monitor over to the Patchbay page where you are able to select which output jack your Direct Out goes to. A similar way to accomplish this would be to double-assign your matrix output bus to two or more Rack jacks. A virtual 'Y' cable.
Another day and a half left on my Road Test! I'm sure gonna miss this mixer when it goes back to Digidesign.
More than one guy on this crew has suggested that possession is nine-tenths of the law... but thoughts like that never entered my mind.
-Bink