"There's a lot of stuff in an igloo, but by concentrating on the basics, it's easy to specify exactly what you want"

"If you need a feature not listed here, jus ask us!"

Crookwood Products: igloo Specification

This page details how to specify an igloo. To find more details on the igloo, check out:

igloo Navigation

Overview. A thorough overview of the igloo concept.
Hardware. All about the processing cards and rack framework.
Controllers. About the user control panels.
Software. An insight into the integration power of the system.
Clients. Who's bought igloo's and what did they specify.

Overview

The igloo is a complex beast, but does a simple job in your studio. The easiest way to specify it is to think about the following areas which appear in many different desk configurations. As you think about these areas, jot down you thoughts and then give us a call to talk about it further.

Monitoring

Do you need to listen to stuff on speakers? If so try answering these questions to get a feel for what features you need:

Speakers. How many speaker sets do you want? Are they stereo or surround sets? Do you want a headphone output? Do you want the headphone output at the same time as the speaker sets, or is it mutually exclusive? Do you want separate level trims on each set so you can switch between them at he same level.
Check Functions. Choose from: Individual speaker cuts, cut or solo action, global Cut, global Dim with preset level, Lift (momentary action, opposite of Dim), Phase L, Phase R, Absolute Phase, Mono L, Mono R, Mono Sum, Mono Difference, Swap L&R. On multichannel setups, Phantom C, Mono all, Mono LS&RS, downmix to Stereo, downmix to LCRS, monitor insert, mono output.
Monitor sources. How many machines do you want to monitor? Are they stereo or surround? Do you want to monitor them digitally, or use their analogue outputs or both? 1 wire or 1 wire digital? Do you want to monitor any other parts of the desk - inserts, transfer path, desk output? Do they need decoding to listen to (AC3?)?
Monitor DAs. Which DA do you want to use for monitoring digital sources? Do you want to chose one from a pool of DA's? Do you want the DA to automatically be inserted for monitoring digital sources, or do you want to permanently plug a DA onto a digital source?
Monitor A/B. Do you want to switch between 2 sources for A/B'ing them? Do you want to remove any level differences when A/B'ing, so you just hear the processing change?
Aux Outputs. Do you want the source you're monitoring to be routed anywhere else? Do you want it buffered, or passively copied?

Metering

Do you need to send stuff to meters? If so try answering these questions to get a feel for what features you need:

Sources. Do you want to meter digital or analogue sources, or both? Do you want to convert signals to/ from digital to/from analogue, or keep signals in the same domain? Do you need a meter switcher to select the meter source, or just have it follow the monitor source?
Meter Types. Do you want VU's or bargraphs? Do you want to use our meters, or your own. What scales do you want (VU, PPM, Nordic, DIN, K)? Do you want to use digital meters?
Meter Attenuators. Do you want analogue attenuators to allow VU's to respond within their movement for loud signals?
Meter Buffers. Do you want to send our signal to multiple meters or destinations? Do you need buffers?

Transfer, or Recording

Do you need to record from one machine to another? If so try answering these questions to get a feel for what features you need:

Sources. How many machines do you want to transfer from? Are they stereo or surround? Do you want to transfer them digitally, or use their analogue outputs or both? 1 wire or 1 wire digital?
Destinations. How many machines do you want to transfer to? Are they stereo or surround? Do you want to transfer to them digitally, or use their analogue outputs or both? 1 wire or 1 wire digital? Do you want to select the machines, or just transfer to all machines? Do you want a master analogue out, or just a digital out, or both?
Inserts. How much outboard do you want to insert? How many pieces are digital (1 wire, 2 wire?), how many analogue, how many both? Do you want them in a fixed order, or do you want to insert them in the order you choose? Are they stereo, or surround?
Transfer DA and AD. Which converters do you want to use? Do you want to chose one from a pool of converters? Do you want the converters to automatically be inserted for analogue inserts, or do you want to do it manually? Do you want to run the converter as a digital insert, as well as a converter?
Codecs. Do you want to use codecs as inserts or machine destinations? What type of codec do you need, analogue or digital or both?
Level Trims. Do you want analogue level trims? Post transfer DA or pre transfer AD, or insertable where needed? What range and resolution do you want to trim over? One control for all channels, or one for each channel? Do you want a real analogue fader?
Desk Processing. Do you want a MS processor? Do you want mono, phase or other desk processors in the path?
Modes. Do you want to switch routing modes for stereo, upmix or multichannel work? Do you to choose what pair of a multichannel source is used for stereo work, or just 1&2?

Dubbing

Do you need to simultaneously dub from one machine to others, while you do a transfer? If so consider what you need from following features

Sources. How many machines do you want to dub from? Are they stereo or surround? Do you want to dub them digitally, or use their analogue outputs or both? 1 wire or 1 wire digital?
Destinations. How many machines do you want to dub to? Are they stereo or surround? Do you want to dub to them digitally, or use their analogue outputs or both? 1 wire or 1 wire digital? Do you want to select the machines, or just dub to all machines not being transferred to?

Talkback

Do you need to talk or listen to other destinations? If so consider what you need from following features

Sources. How many sources do you want to talk from? Analogue, digital, line or mic? Do you need gain control, compression? Mix the sources, or talk exclusively?
Destinations. How many destinations do you want to talk to? Analogue, digital, mono, stereo?
Cue Feeds. Do you want to just talk, or mix to cues? Do you want to replace or mix with a cue feed? Do you want to select the source for the cue feed? Or select the destination? Analogue, or digital?

Mechanical

How do you want this to all hang together?. Consider the following areas:

Front Panels. Can you use our standard panels, or do you want a custom set made? Do you want to minimise the number of panels, or have one button per function?
Mounting. Do you want to mount the panels in your woodwork, in 19" racks, or floating pods? How far are the front panels from the racks? Do you want the racks all in one place, or spread around where the equipment is?
Audio IO. Do you want to wire to our multiway connectors, or get us to supply tails, or XLR patches?

O&S

What other features do you need? Write it down, and let's have a look. It's all possible.

So what do I do next?

Look around the igloo site. The links at the top of the page will take you around. When you've had a look and think you're ready to move forwards, call us, and we'll speak further. Your life will never be the same again!