New England Digital Synclavier PostPro
Hard-disk digital audio post-production system
Description
Technical
Specifications
Inputs / Outputs
| Inputs / outputs | Supported digital formats: AES/EBU, S/PDIF, SDIF (Sony) and ProDigi, transferring one or two tracks at a time. |
|---|
Processing
| DSP engine | Direct-To-Disk system (dedicated tower) controlled by a Macintosh computer (graphical interface + RTP real-time interface) |
|---|---|
| Max sample rate | 100 kHz |
| Bit depth | 16 bits |
| Architecture | Direct-To-Disk workstation: multitrack hard-disk recording/playback tower, controlled from a Macintosh through a graphical interface and a real-time interface (RTP). |
| Bit depth — details | 16 bits per channel, linear quantisation |
| DSP engine — details | Apple Macintosh host as front-end, communication over RS-422 |
| Sample rate | Variable sample rate (approx. 1 to 100 kHz, default ~50 kHz) according to the manufacturer's documentation. |
Surface
| Touchscreen | No |
|---|---|
| Ergonomics | Dedicated remote controller/editor/locator: motion control, track arming, auto-location |
Recording
| Onboard recording | Yes |
|---|---|
| Recording type | Hard drive (non-linear) |
| Recording | 16 random-access Direct-To-Disk tracks, locked to timecode (exact track count to be verified: the 500sound listing states 4 tracks expandable to 16). · SCSI hard disks (Wren IV and later); backup to WangDAT drive. |
Networking
| Networking & protocols | AES/EBU |
|---|---|
| Redundant PSU | No |
| Redundant networking | No |
| Sync | SMPTE / machine sync, autoconform from an edit decision list (CMX EDL), SMPTE striping. |
Diagrams
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Software
Logiciel PostPro (application Synclavier sur Macintosh)Recording, cue-editing, sequencing, autoconform (CMX EDL import) and SMPTE-sync environment specific to the PostPro system.
Other screenshots
Accessories
Other
- Direct-To-Disk (DTD) tower
Dedicated multitrack disk record/playback tower, the hardware core of the PostPro.
- SCSI hard drives (Wren IV and later)
Primary audio storage for the system.
- WangDAT backup
DAT tape backup drive referenced in the system documentation.
Surface / module
- Dedicated controller/editor/locator
Dedicated control surface: transport, track arming and auto-location.
Documents
Editorial & artists
Our take
History & design
The Synclavier PostPro is the post-production configuration of New England Digital's Synclavier system, released in the late 1980s. Derived from the Direct-to-Disk architecture that appeared around 1984, it is a non-linear hard-disk recording and editing system, 16-bit with linear quantisation, offering 4 channels expandable to 16 tracks.
The system uses an Apple Macintosh as its front-end, connected over RS-422, together with a dedicated remote controller/editor/locator handling motion control, track arming and auto-location. It provides balanced and unbalanced analog I/O plus SDIF, S/PDIF and AES/EBU digital formats, all lockable to timecode. Built for film, television and advertising, it let an entire movie's music, sound design, dialogue and effects be produced and edited on a single machine.
- Sydney A. Alonso — Co-founder, hardware design
- Cameron W. Jones — Co-founder, software design
- Jon Appleton — Co-creator of the Synclavier concept (Dartmouth College)
Notable users
- Glen Glenn Sound
Los Angeles post-production facility, a pioneer of tapeless Synclavier use for Foley and sound effects in film and TV.
- Skywalker Sound
Major user of NED systems (Synclavier, 16-track Direct-To-Disk, PostPro) in audio post-production.
Links
- Press article Wikipedia : New England Digital en.wikipedia.org
- Press article Perfect Circuit - History of the Synclavier perfectcircuit.com
- Personal site 500sound.com: PostPro specifications 500sound.com
- Personal site 500sound - PostPro Features (heritage site) 500sound.com
- Personal site 500sound.com: Synclavier PostPro photos 500sound.com
- Manufacturer Synclavier Digital synclavier.com
- Press article MusicRadar: Blast from the past — New England Digital Synclavier musicradar.com
- Press article Vintage Synth Explorer - NED Synclavier vintagesynth.com
- Archive Internet Archive - Synclavier manuals & docs archive.org
Related consoles
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Documents are archived locally for preservation. Source credited. Takedown requests: [email protected]