Audiohive

Audiohive is a unique node-based, integrated recording, compositing, editing and mixing solution for collaborative audio post-production.

Designed for multi-format post-production with multi-user interaction in mind, Audiohive combines unified project management with advanced recording, compositing and editing tools. Audiohive offers new collaboration principles to deliver facility efficiency and productivity, removing the technical barriers that slow down production schedules. From simple commercials version tracking to the most complex feature film production, Audiohive tracks the whole process and maintains a logical organization. The final goal is to speed-up processes and to empower the creative skills of your team.

Effects and Project Compositing
The tree structure means that the project is a multi-level composition, instead of a linear multitrack arrangement. Therefore partitioning and re-joining parts of a production, key to parallel workflows, are natural to Audiohive.

• New compositions are created simply grouping smaller compositions and/or single elements.
• The effects library handles complex effects as compositions instead of simple audio files, meaning that they are open to editing/processing modifications.
• AAF import and multi-track recording from other systems allow for original tracks to be divided into separate elements for further independent editing/processing.

Real Multi-Format
A bus in Audiohive is an audio stem carrying a number of channels configured as any surround format. All of the modules in Audiohive (all editing features, processors and processing plug-ins) handle a number of busses as such abstractions, hiding the complexity of their internal structure.

• Direct connection of two different surround format busses. Audiohive correctly distributes audio from/to channels. As an example, if a 'stereo back' format is connected to a 5.0, left channel will be directed to surround left and right channel to surround right.
• Standard surround formats are present in the database by default, but new ones can be freely created by the system administrator, with no limit in the number of channels for new bus formats.

Mixing:

• Unlimited multi-format busses, both at single elements and at composition nodes, serve as mix, monitor, group and effects send streams.
• Each single audio element has its own processing. No automation is needed for parameters change between effects in the same track, as in traditional tracks/channels systems.
• Each composition node mixes incoming busses and independently processes and sends them up to the next composition level. An output routing matrix enables merging and/or redirecting busses.
• Plug-ins adapt to bus formats in an intelligent manner (for example, if the plug-in has stereo capability, Audiohive finds the stereo pairs in the bus format to set the plug-in instances).
• Processing and mix busses operate at full 64-bit floating point arithmetic.
• Dynamic automation on all parameters, with write/read at any transport direction and speed.
• Multiple operator capability.
• Internal sample rate unlimited (above 384kHz), independent from I/O sample rate.

Enterprise Production Management:

• Every new project has to be created and roughly described in the system before production starts. Rather than a file, a project is a framework in which qualified users carry out their assigned tasks, even simultaneously at different rooms.
• The project always grows in an organized way, requiring operators to build logical structures resulting in overall time saving.

Smooth Mobility Across Rooms:

• The Studio database has a comprehensive description of all the equipment available at every room. Audiohive systems and external devices (including mics, monitors, processing units, playback/recorders, etc.) in a room comprises a Workcell. Automatic reconnection of busses to those devices is performed when opening a project/composition in a room. Audiohive automatically performs all the format conversions needed.
• Any Workcell/room has the same software tools regardless of hardware setup, so any job can be done or continued at any room.

Collaboration:

• Break down complex tasks into parts that can be created in parallel by several workgroups.
• Any composition can be published with unlimited versions tracked by the database, giving other participants immediate access to it.
• Any composition or the full project can be recorded in a standard audio file for delivery or remote supervision.
• Supervision of multiple versions of each composition can be carried out in parallel in another room. If any change is needed, new versions can be created by the second operator, branching the versions tree for the given composition.
• All audio content is stored in common disk volumes and shared among rooms.
• AAF import/export to different systems.

Editing at 4 Hierarchical Levels:

• Clip. Every single element and composition can be clipped at multiple time points. Every Clip is limited by editable fade-in and fade-out curves.
• Track. Every multi-format bus can be independently recorded in a Track. Every time a Track records a piece of audio it generates an Entry, which covers the preceding one during its edited length. Tracks have a 'Slice Loop' mode where an audio slice is solo looped to find start or end points by hearing. Entry and segment cuts can be performed at loop start or end.
• Entry. Entries can be rejected and recovered later on, which is the basis of the flexible ADR functionality in Audiohive. Entries can be fade-in/out edited, muted and leveled.
• Segment. Every Entry can be divided into multiple Segments. Division points can be freely moved creating time compression/expansion in their side segments, in an "accordion" fashion. This is an easy way to sync audio spots to picture. Segments can also be pitch-shifted, muted and leveled.
• For every editable class, multiple selection can be performed on one or more items, allowing for simultaneous editing.
• Every editable point has 'touch and drag' functionality in full real-time (playback, any speed or slice loop transport).

APS - Audio Processing Server:

• The APS is a high performance multiprocessor Mac OS X platform that carries out real-time low latency audio I/O and processing.
• A single APS can open several independent sessions, meaning that a number of Workcells (rooms) can work with a single server. Also a single user can run several tasks in parallel, as for example a multi-track recording from a DAW while editing or mixing a different project.
• A number of APS can integrate into an Audiohive environment, sharing metadata and media from the central storage and databases.

Control Surface:

• Audiohive comes with Euphonix EuCon protocol for Euphonix MC-Mix and MC-Control surfaces compatibility. Further development on this protocol will allow control from other Euphonix consoles.

Integral Video:

• A number of SD/HD video streams can be assigned to working sessions.
• In unlocked mode, independent movie and project transport makes easy to find the desired TC offset.
• Movie files can be located in a centralized repository to avoid unnecessary copying.
• Compatible with any QuickTime movie file.