Live Production: Surface app Audio Mixing

Operating the Surface App

There are a few tips to help you work with the Surface app, as some operations are based on a sequence of taps to get the result you want.

Audio Mixing

On the Surface app home screen, you have some audio controls at the bottom left, where you can control the audio tracks as associated with Inputs 1 – 4. When the button is green, the audio is active, and tapping on the button lets you turn the feed on or off.

You can set the audio to follow the video input selection by tapping on the Auto button, this will glow when enabled!

To the right of the Audio box are three buttons:

Intercom button

You can use the intercom/talkback to communicate with other members of the crew and talent that have connected talkback devices.

Program Audio Monitor

You can mute/unmute the local talkback audio by tapping on this button.

Master Audio

Slide this button to the left if you need to mute the stream audio, to the right to unmute the stream.

Audio Mixer

You can find the audio mixer in the Surface app by tapping on the Sound button on the left, this will slide the mixer up from the bottom of the Surface window and gives you control over:

• 8 input tracks.
• 5 DCA (Digitally Controlled Amplifier) tracks.
• They are all controlled by the master output fader on the right.

Each fader indicates the current level with a white line and light grey below.

Double-tap on the fader and it will jump to the default level.

At the top is an ON button that allows you to mute or unmute the audio output from that track or the output.

If you tap on the Open button in the bottom left corner, additional audio controls will be displayed, described below.

Digitally Controlled Amplifier (DCA Group)

The DCA Group allows you to group together a selection of tracks into one output fader that is then mixed into the master output. The level of each fader is still controlled individually, it is not controlled by being included in a group.

You add the track into the DCA group by tapping once on the track to select it and then on the DCA number, and the track is included in the group.

Creating a Stereo pair

If you need to configure two input tracks as a stereo pair, you will need to configure a DCA to achieve the stereo output, follow the steps below.

1. Tap on the left input
2. Tap on the chosen DCA number
3. Touch and slide down on the PAN tile
4. Tap on the right input
5. Tap on the same DCA number
6. Touch and slide up on the PAN tile

Now when you use the DCA fader you are controlling the selected input tracks as a stereo pair, however, be sure to keep them at the same level.

Digital Gain

If you need to amplify or limit the audio from an input, tap the Digital Gain tile to select and slide up and down to rotate the control, you can then apply a ± 20dB gain to the source.

Audio Phase Adjust

If your audio is out of phase, you can change it by tapping on the Φ phase button.

PFL (Pre Fade Levels)

Tap this button, and you will hear all the feeds as their input levels are before the mixer levels are applied.