5
design philosophy
OXF-R3 Control Surface –
simple and intuitive to operate
The OXF-R3 is the realisation of a commitment by Sony to provide a
digital console that truly addresses the challenging needs of the
contemporary audio production process. Its architecture, which is
software defined, provides ample resources for large-scale tracking
and mixing sessions and can readily support virtually any digital
multitrack recorder, including the Sony PCM-3348HR 48-track. The
OX F - R 3 o p e r a t e s w i t h a n a l o g u e 2 4 - t r a c k r e c o r d e r s a n d
interfaces to a wide range of digital and analogue
o u t b o a r d s i g n a l p r o c e s s o r s a n d o t h e r
peripheral equipment found in today’s
recording studios.
The OXF-R3 has been created around a philosophy known as ‘positive
assignability’. This results in a console with a highly compact control
surface that places all the controls for a very large number of
channels within easy reach of the recording engineer. In addition to
making operation intuitive and easy to master, this approach provides
the added benefit that the engineer can operate all console functions
without having to move outside the critical listening area. Fader
paging is made an operational priority – all faders
use linear motors, providing extremely
smooth and long-lasting operation.
Simple navigation
of the console’s
c o n t r o l s u r f a c e
i s o f p a r a m o u n t
importance, and the
e r g o n o m i c d e s i g n o f
the OXF-R3 emplo ys a
distinctive visual language
to differentiate between control
functions. With assignability reducing
the console’s control count, pressure on
space is reduced so controls can be larger and
tailored for optimal feel and resolution. This overcomes one of
the major problems of traditional analogue consoles, where the need
for increasing functionality results in an ever more crowded control
layout. In the OXF-R3, consistency between types of control sets has
been carefully matched to enhance the ease of use.
Full-colour GUIs have been introduced for a number of important
reasons. Primarily, they enable large amounts of visual information to
be presented unambiguously and controlled by the user without
recourse to complex computer-like commands or repetitive mouse
moves. Making efficient use of panel space, they enable EQ and
dynamics curves to be displayed and adjusted with the aid of
associated ‘soft keys’. Output routing and the internal patch bay can
also be set up quickly and intuitively, with a separate central GUI
handling control of overall Session Management functions.
While the overwhelming majority of functions are controlled directly
via the console’s control surface, a QWERTY keyboard and
conveniently placed tracker balls are also provided for text entry and
other functions requiring alphanumeric input, such as track and
session names.
