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Online Elements – Source-Live
In July I shared my take on the various options for moving a Pro Tools session from one place to another, including a look at DigiDelivery. I have recently come to love yet another solution for collaboration, this time arriving in the form of a plug-in made by Source-Elements.
Source-Live enables you to create an instant real-time stream from any track (including the Master track) in your Pro Tools session. What this means, is that you can stream your session to any enduser with a web browser connected to the Internet. So for example, if you have a client who needs to sign-off on a mix, instead of bouncing the latest version and having them say, “can you make the vocal o1 dB louder,” you can have them login and make those changes interactively. This is a plug-in that saves time, and eliminates back-and-forth marathons between you and your clients.
Using Source-Live is easy–once your network has been configured to work with it, and again, this is always where yours truly gets a bit tripped up. If you read my article on DigiDelivery, you will recall that I am IT-challenged and this time proved no different, as Source-Live is essentially a server that needs special consideration by your router/firewall. In order for Source-Live to do its thing, you need to work with Port Forwarding/NAT (Network Address Translation) and some security settings.
Although the documentation explains the network settings that need to be configured fairly well, because there are so many routers/gateways out there, it can be tricky to figure it out on your particular model. However, technical support was awesome, and Source-Elements took the time necessary to get an IT know-nothing like me up and running. After you have jumped the IT hurdle, you simply instantiate Source-Live on the track you want to stream.
In this example, I have put Source-Live on the Master track, so that the entire session is being broadcast.
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To toggle broadcasting on and off, you click the Start/Stop Broadcasting Button. The web link below the level meters displays the URL that your listeners need to point their web browser to in order to hear the stream.
Once your listener has logged into the stream, they are able to begin listening to it using QuickTime. In addition, your “studio information” is displayed on the page. This is the point where you can get the listener on the phone or their favorite chat program, and work on the session interactively, as they will hear any changes you make in the session as you do it..
If this article seems brief, it is only because Source-Live just works. You do need to setup your network and make sure that both parties have a high-speed connection to the Internet, but once you have taken care of, the quality of the audio streamed is excellent. You can limit the bit-rate for slower connection, however I was able to get the maximum bit-rate using my home DSL, and still conservative bit-rates around 192 kbps sound great, and work perfectly for this kinds of collaboration..
Collaboration is becoming more and more important, and I am happy to see slick tools for making the most of our interconnected lives. Source-Elements hit a homerun with Source-Live, and it is definitely worth checking out. They have setup an ongoing stream on their website where you can get a taste of what your listener will experience..
We directly support Pro Tools HD/LE, Logic Pro/Express, Nuendo/Cubase SX, Digital Performer, Live and Reason, but you can use any DAW application and export each track as individual audio files for submission. This means that you can create your music and send us your project from your application of choice. You can use either DigiDelivery to send us your project via the Internet if you have a high-speed connection, or burn a DVD-R/CD-R and drop it in the mail.
Pro Tools Tidbits
- Ableton has released Live 6.0. (ReWire).
- Antares has announced Auto-Tune 5 , with some information on the new version on their website. (HD and LE)
- Arturia has announced upcoming updates to their plug-ins providing support for Intel-Based Macintosh computers. (HD and LE)
- Celemony has released Melodyne 3.1.2, available for download from their website. (ReWire).
- Cycling’74 has released updates for their entire plug-in product line to support Intel-Based Macintosh computers.
- Waves is offering 20% off all new and upgrade purchases of 360 Surround Tools. (HD)
If you have a Pro Tools related question that you would
like me to take a shot at answering or have any feedback,
please send it to scott@audioMIDI.com. I will do my best
to select the questions that seem to stump the most people.
As always, stay tuned to the audioMIDI.com eNews for the latest reviews and new product info.
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