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Audient ASP510: Test Review
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 SIMON TILLBROOK of Audio Media hooks up this promising alternative to a new console, for your all-round convenience.
With so many music facilities either in the process of or considering the implementation of, surround mixing capabilities into current equipment arrangements, finding cost-effective third-party units to solve this can be frustrating. With such a wide choice of units at various price levels, complexity, and control capabilities up to 7.1 and beyond, so much of this surround equipment, as you would expect, is geared towards the broadcast and film industries, and seriously over-featured and over-priced for music mixing applications.
One of the problems of controlling routing and monitoring from your console or DAW to your mastering machines and speakers. I have been testing a number of these units for a surround upgrade with varying degrees of frustration caused by over complex operation, so it was quite a breath of fresh air to see in front of me a unit that, even at first glance, was simple to understand.
What's What
The Audient ASP 510 Surround Controller can handle a maximum 5.1 monitoring set-up, and comes in two pieces: a 1U rackmounted unit which has all the 25-pin D-sub connectors on the rear allowing for a total of three six-channel and three two-channel sources, a six-channel speaker output, and two-channel and six-channel recorder outputs. On the front there are individual channel level trim pots giving +10dB range of adjustment. This is connected via a CAT5 cable to the simply laid out remote controller.
On the right end of the controller we have six illuminated buttons, which can be either solo or cut switches for each of the six channels, depending on the mode selected with a button above. Also, by holding down the sub button until the legend below is lit, you can engage a 120Hz low-pass filter.
The large rotary volume control is centrally located with associated cut and dim buttons. The dim level can be set by holding down the dim button until it begins to flash, select the level you wish to achieve when this function is engaged, then push the dim button again to store this level.
You can also set a general reference volume level for the monitor system using the REF button. Above this there is a button labelled Guide. This enables a production track to be directly routed to the main left and right monitors. The associated 'On' legend is lit when this function is active.
On the left side of the remote at the top are selection switches for the monitor mode. There are options for 5.1, LCRS, Stereo, Mono, and a bypass. When selecting 5.1 for Film mode monitoring press and hold down the 5.1 button until it flashes and release. This attenuates the left and right surround channels by 3dB. The bypass sets the ASP510 into stereo mode routing the control room monitor outputs of your source directly to the left and right front speakers. This also disables all the ASP510 functions, apart from the Alt function. Pushing this will select an alternative pair of front stereo speakers.
Source Selection
Three buttons select the source for your stereo recording devices. Bus takes a direct stereo feed from your console or DAW, Downmix takes from the current direct surround source, and Encoder Output with LT and RT. The encoder/decoder can be inserted into the monitor chain using an associated In switch.
There are three selectable stereo and surround monitor sources. In all cases Rec selects the direct bus signals from your console or DAW. Play A and Play B can be any external signal, but most likely the recording device returns. Selecting one source will cancel the previous one.
It is possible to lock on a single surround source by holding down the appropriate button (Rec, Play A, Play B) for a few seconds. As an example, this will allow auditioning of a surround guide track to be listened to when monitoring recording or playback. You can also gang together any two or three surround buttons so you can switch for example, from surround Play A and B to a stereo source and then back to surround Play A (surround Play B will still be ganged with it).
For those with the need or desire for full bass management and re-direction function, an optional 1U bass management unit that links to the ASP510 with two sub bass speaker outputs will be available around the time this review is published.
Using the ASP510 was as straightforward as the remote looks. Each of the functions is clear, even without the benefit of seeing the manual first. The feel of the controls is solid, and in no time at all I was taking the ASP510 for granted. I did not find myself wanting for any additional function during the mixing sessions. With the speaker arrangement I was using, in particular two sub bass units, the addition of the future bass management unit would make the system interconnection much more controllable. The need for its bass re-direction capability would depend entirely on your preference for mixing and the application.
Conclusion
Surround monitoring control is a high-use part of your system set-up, and operation needs to be clear and intuitive. There are many surround applications, and differing monitoring controllers for them all. One system will never suit everybody.
When it comes to music mix monitoring control the ASP510 is a delight to use. Audient has achieved a great balance between functions and clear usability. I would strongly recommend you try the ASP510. My surround monitor control problem has now been solved.
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