Despite being the smallest and least expensive Midas digital consoles, the company says the PRO2 and PRO2C represent 'a quantum leap forward' for digital mixing, both in technology and concept. Essentially the same console, the PRO2C has eight fewer input faders and the smaller frame, at just 750mm by 850mm. Both consoles share the same components and finish as the rest of the PRO Series, including the Alex Cooper-designed mic preamps, A-D converters, and daylight-viewable screens. The idea is to offer a reassuring continuity and provide extreme functionality and sound quality in a vastly reduced footprint.
The PRO2 features three modes of channel navigation: FOH Normal, MON Normal, and Advanced, allowing engineers to efficiently mix a large number of inputs on a compact control surface.
Putting a PRO2/ PRO2C into Advanced navigation mode enables one of its greatest innovations: MCA (Master Control Association) groups. These operate in a similar way to the established VCA groups, but are specific to the selected bus. When the PRO2/PRO2C is in Advanced navigation mode with MCA navigation engaged, the MCA faders control the contributions of their members only to the currently selected bus. When combined with the "hide unassigned channels" feature, this is a unique and powerful mixing tool, the company says.
As the PRO2s/PRO2Cs can be operated in a number of different ways, they come loaded with console templates to allow progressive exploration of the new navigation concepts. In Normal mode, operation of the PRO2/PRO2C is similar to many other digital consoles, allowing operators to work as they are accustomed to. The Advanced navigation features can be implemented as the operator becomes familiar with the console. All Midas digital console show files are compatible with all Midas digital consoles, allowing a show written on a PR02/PRO2C to run on a PR03, PRO6, PRO9, XL8 and vice versa.
The features of the PRO2/PRO2C include 56 mic/line inputs with Midas mic preamps; 64 input channels; 32 analog outputs (including two stereo local monitor outputs); two AES3 outputs; two AES3 inputs 27 sample-synchronous, phase-coherent buses; six stereo FX engines; up to 28 Klark Teknik DN370 31-band graphic EQs; eight VCA groups; six POPulation groups; 192 MCA (Master Control Association) groups; with a 48 x 16 x 100m digital snake included.
The Midas PRO2/PRO2C standard system consists of a control surface and one 5U DL251 19" rack I/O unit, connected by a networked audio and data system. The network carries both proprietary control data and open architecture AES50 digital audio, and uses standard CAT-5E or CAT-6 cabling and connectors. PR02/PR02C is network-compatible with all other Midas digital systems and I/O devices.
(Claire Beeson)
