Los Angeles based film-post facility Sonic Magic Studios has recently upgraded with a dual operator 48-fader Avid System 5 console, Pro Tools 10 HD software and ISIS Shared Storage system for use in their picture editing and sound post facility and for their current feature film project: “The Man With The Iron Fists” starring Russell Crowe.
Sonic Magic Studios, owned by re-recording mixer Jonathan Wales, offers both film editing and full feature-film audio with a dozen Avid Media Composer systems and multiple Pro Tools HD equipped mixing rooms.
“The console purchase was driven by three considerations,” says Wales. “First, the desire to have a larger-scale console in our biggest room, with a high channel count, increased scalability across multiple Pro Tools systems for very large mixes and the benefit of additional DSP with full mixing capabilities.
“Secondly, the full center section/monitor and PEC direct capabilities that are built in and fully integrated into the product. Thirdly, we really loved the ergonomic design and the way the Pro Tools workstations are integrated within the console producers-desks. We were thrilled that we could custom-build the exact System 5 console that we wanted and needed.”
The Avid ISIS 5000 Shared Storage system allows the facility to run on one central storage system for both picture and sound. “The fact that the system is based on simple robust Ethernet technology saves us all the overhead and complexity of a secondary fiber channel solution,” continues Wales. “ISIS really solves the problems created by having duplicated media on different storage networks; it is incredibly secure, easy to manage and is certified for both Media Composer and Pro Tools.
“For us, this kind of simplicity adds up to infrastructure savings, reliability – and results.” And true to the nature of the integrated solution, it was Avid’s recent release of Pro Tools 10 that made it all a reality. “Without Pro Tools 10, none of this would be possible,” he concludes. “With the new Disk Cache, the ISIS storage plays perfectly, and with the EUCON Phase II implementation the System 5 console allows us to bring the best of the “In the Box” and “Big Iron” workflows together.”
Sonic Magic has become a showcase facility adopting Avid’s integrated workflow vision,” says Rich Nevens, Avid director of worldwide sales strategy. “With multiple Pro Tools HD 10 systems sync’d with Media Composer via Satellite Link for HD picture, fed by ISIS shared storage streaming all media into the rooms, and then mixed on System 5 and ICON consoles, Sonic Magic is handling more data, at faster speeds and delivering the best workflows in the business to their clients.”
