Fairlight DREAM Constellation
Digital post-production console-station with QDC engine and integrated 96-track recorder
Description
Technical
Specifications
Inputs / Outputs
| Total inputs | 192 |
|---|---|
| Inputs / outputs | Analogue, AES/EBU and MADI; 32 / 44.056 / 44.1 / 48 and 96 kHz |
Processing
| Mix buses | 72 |
|---|---|
| Aux sends | 12 |
| DSP engine | QDC engine (channel cards) |
| DSP engine — details | QDC engine, variable complement of channel cards |
| Channels | Up to 192 channels |
| Buses | 72 bus elements: main bus + 8 sub buses + 12 auxes (mono to 7.1), plus 16 multitrack buses |
| EQ | 6 full-range bands (1 and 6 switchable shelving / low-high-pass) + 4 clip-based bands |
| Dynamics | Two stages: gate + expander or limiter |
| Channel processing | EQ and dynamics simultaneously on up to 144 channels |
| Architecture | Import from Pro Tools / other DAWs: OMF, WAV, AIFF, any sample rate |
Surface
| Physical faders | 60 |
|---|---|
| Motorized faders | Yes |
| Touchscreen | No |
| Control surface | Five Bay or Three Bay chassis, up to 60 touch-sensitive motorised faders, CAP / Editor / Channel Select panels + bargraph meter bridge |
| Automation | Dynamic automation of every parameter, Touch / Latch / Trim tactile modes, follows audio edits (clip, track, range) |
Recording
| Onboard recording | Yes |
|---|---|
| Recording type | Built-in 96-track disk recorder |
| Recording | Integrated 96-track disk recorder, Binnacle editing |
Networking
| Networking & protocols | MADI / AES/EBU |
|---|---|
| Redundant PSU | No |
| Redundant networking | No |
Other
| Year / dates | Introduction dated ~2008 (2008 AES press profiles); backlog listed 2000 (corrected) |
|---|---|
| Variants and configurations | Pyxis non-linear video, Virtual Studio Runner, MediaLink network licence, library of 80+ DSP plug-ins, OMF1+2 / AIFF / WAV / MP3 / BWF conversion |
| Lineage | Replaced in 2008 by the Crystal Core CC-1 Constellation (230 channels, three-stage dynamics, 192-track recorder) |
Strip & details
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Software
Logiciel DREAM Console (moteur QDC)
Other screenshots
Documents
Editorial & artists
Our take
History & design
The Fairlight DREAM Constellation is the large post-production digital console from Australian maker Fairlight, introduced in 2003 at the top of the DREAM family (alongside the DREAM Station, Satellite and Binnacle). It is built around the QDC engine, fitted with a variable complement of channel cards, and delivers up to 192 channels routed to 72 bus elements split between a main bus, 8 sub buses and 12 auxes — each configurable from mono to 7.1 — plus 16 multitrack buses.
Every channel has a 6-band equaliser (bands 1 and 6 switchable between shelving and low/high-pass, the other four fully parametric), a 4-band clip-based EQ and a two-stage dynamics processor combining a gate with either an expander or a limiter; EQ and dynamics are simultaneously available on up to 144 channels. The console integrates a 96-track disk recorder and Binnacle tactile editing, with automation that follows audio edits at clip, track and range level.
The fully motorised, touch-sensitive surface comes in two standard chassis — Five Bay and Three Bay — for a maximum of 60 faders, completed by CAP (Channel Assign Panel), Editor and Channel Select panels and a bargraph meter bridge. Connectivity covers analogue, AES/EBU and MADI. As options, the DREAM family adds the Pyxis non-linear video system, Virtual Studio Runner, the MediaLink network licence and a library of more than 80 DSP plug-ins.
It was replaced in 2008 by the Constellation, which keeps most of the surface but swaps the QDC engine for the Crystal Core CC-1 FPGA: 230 channels, three-stage dynamics and a 192-track recorder.
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