PCM2
Other Workstation
Shuttle
Monitor
HX3 Headphone Amp
I've been a Sadie user since version 2.06 though I had a bit of a holiday round about version 4. Sadie has carved a large chunk out of the UK broadcast market through it's dominance within the BBC. In fact in parts of the Beeb Sadie like Hoover has gone from being a trade name to part of every day speech. The strengths of Sadie have been in brilliant service (their telephone support is outstanding if not unique), great editing features - the Sadie trim window is a master piece and great mixing - the Sadie's automation is brilliant. Add to that some of the most comprehensive PQ editing in the business - close integration of Cedar denoising tools and it adds up to a powerful set of solutions.
Escape from SCSI
Version 5 freed Sadie from custom SCSI controllers and the whole oyster of storage devices attached to your PC or network was on the menu. The logical next step was to think outside the box and offer a solution that didn't need a PCI card installation. Enter the Sadie BB series. The idea is to put the Sadie DSP power in a USB2 solution. There are four options starting from the simple BB2 which includes a cut down version of the Sadie 5 software (no trim window or automation) which presents a simplified single window interface.
The
hardware is a USB2 puck with analogue (unbalanced and stereo mic amp)
and digital (spdif - coaxial) connectivity and a headphone amp for
monitoring. Next up is the BB2J, same software as the BB2 but the puck
now includes a hardware controller in the form of a jog dial,
mini space bar (not a space minibar) and eight custom function buttons.
The PCM2 retains the hardware of the BB2J but includes a full
version of the Sadie 5 software albeit limited to only eight tracks.
Finally the PCM2/24V which adds 24 track replay to the PCM2
package and an integrated video track. I have a PCM2 so that's
what I'll cover in this review.Let's Move
With Sadie available in many BBC radio studios the option of taking a project home on a portable system was the driver for me to get into the PCM2. The lighter BB systems weren't appropriate as the cut down software doesn't include mixer automation. The PCM2 costs round about two thousand pounds which is either a cheap way into Sadie or a very expensive 2in 2out 8 track system depending on how you look at it. Having had a longish break from Sadie I was worried that it would be a struggle to get back into things but apart from the odd forgetfull moment I was soon hacking away at a radio comedy - The Ultimate Game Show.
Why Sadie?
If you aren't a Sadie user and you are wondering about value for money it's probably worth rehearsing the systems strengths. As an editor Sadie has few peers, the trim window (crossfade editor in some other systems) is simply brilliant. You can edit clips sourced from different tracks, you can scrub the audio with great precision and you can quickly copy or link fades, load the edited clip into a paste buffer and generally manipulate the clips to your hearts content.
As
I mentioned in the introduction mixer automation is also a strong point
with multiple mix modes including snapshot and disconnect
options which are jolly handy. Of course to make the most of the
mixer you need the hardware controller(s) which give complete
control over the edit functions and a handy set of faders.
I suppose it's typical of Sadie that their HWC option (not
available with the PCM2 sadly) is both very good, on the pricey
side and the only option if you want a surface. No midi control
here - well not since version 2 (and maybe very early version 3).
Other Sadie highlights include comprehensive post production
support and file interchange, extensive DSD support, location
recording interface and closer to my simple radio heart PQ
facilities that are the best I've seen.Which Hole?
But can all these good things really shine in a USB2 implementation, and I'll digress a little on USB2 V Firewire - I read that Firewire is better for audio as it doesn't load the host CPU, and I'm prepared to believe it. I have mightily enjoyed the Firewire Terratec Phase 24 plugged into my Shuttle but in PC world (not the shop I hasten to add) USB is ubiquitous while Firewire remains a pleasant surprise and that means USB2 is going to get you more places out of the box. On the down side Sadie software doesn't work with other hardware and their hardware doesn't want to party either. Ho hum.
Back to the Show
Coming back to Sadie was a pleasure - yes one button to snap out the gap to right of the selected clip - so simple yet strangely missing from many systems. The great playlist editing where you scrub the selected clip in context in the edl, and Sadies scrubbing has always been the best. Flipping between automation modes to get the mix just right and the ability to back up the whole project with one click - oh yes and the invaluable recovery mode for use when the PC crashes because you're playing Age of Empires over a network at the same time - which would obviously be a very stupid and irresponsible thing to do.
Putting the DSP in the USB chain means a little latency has crept into the interface but it still feels wonderful. I found the best layout to be from my left to right - Sadie USB2 device, keyboard, mouse. So with just a little left hand training I still get to point at stuff with my mouse while I can play/stop, edit and zoom (amongst other things) with the hardware functions on the PCM 2 hardware. For radio production eight tracks is probably not a problem especially as Sadie is cool about two clips on one stream - it just plays them both. I can't help feeling that the eight tracks is a limitation designed to protect the PCI solutions price point as the PCM2/24V can manage 24 tracks.
Conclusion
With full compatability with other Sadie workstations including mix automation data - the PCM2 is a fantastic addition to a set up already using Sadie products. The ability to carry your Sadie from machine to machine brings real freedom to the Sadie environment and in the BBC that is going to be very very attractive. But what about the price I hear you say - well here's a very simple experiment you can try - ring up your DAW manufacturer and try and get tech support - then try Sadie. I don't know of any other company where the phone is answered by the tech support team as a default. This obviously is more valuable if you live in Europe but Sadie's outstanding tech support has to be paid for and there's your choice - you just have to decide whether you want to spend the money on it.