How do I setup my Avid Pro Tools | S3 with EUCON?

Before you get going with your Pro Tools | S3, there are three important configuration processes. These can be done once the EuControl software has been installed. If you don’t yet have the EuControl software, please go here for EuControl activation and Pro Tools | S3 registration instructions.

Enabling Studio Mode

The S3 must be in Studio Mode to be recognized by EuControl and any EUCON aware media applications.

1. Power off the S3.
2. Press and hold the Application/Workstation switch on the right side of the S3.
   
3. Press the power switch on the back of the S3 to the “on” position.
4. Keep holding the Application/Workstation switch until the two rightmost top row encoder displays (encoders 15 and 16) show Live Mode/Studio and OK, respectively.
   
5. Press the encoder under the display showing Live Mode/Studio once, so that Studio mode appears above and in larger text than the other mode in the display.
   
6. Press the encoder under the display showing OK. The S3 will reboot automatically into Studio Mode.
   

Updating S3 firmware

The following describes how to update your S3 firmware. Please be patient as it’s a two-part process that takes about 7-8 minutes.

1. Ensure your S3 is connected to your computer, powered on, and in Studio Mode.
2. Install EuControl, or launch EuControl if already installed.
3. Click (Mac) or double-click (Windows) the EuControl icon and select EuControl Settings. If necessary, click Surfaces to display the Surfaces tab.
4. Click Avid S3 in the My Surfaces list so it is highlighted.
   
5. Click Update Firmware. If the Update Firmware dialog shows a message that the surface is up to date, no further action is necessary. If the firmware needs to be updated, click Update Firmware. Do not power off the S3.
   
6. The first part of the firmware update will take about 2 minutes. Click Done once progress bar reaches 100%.
   
7. Studio Mode will be displayed on the S3 and S3 will reboot after about 15 seconds.
8. The second part of the firmware update begins when “Updating Do not power down” is shown on the S3 displays. This part takes about 5 minutes.
   
9. The S3 will reboot again and be added back into the “My Surfaces” list and ready for use with the latest firmware installed. If S3 does not appear in the Surfaces tab or is not detected by your DAW, click on the “E” menu at the top of your screen (Mac) or System Tray (Windows) and choose “Restart EUCON Applications…”.
10. If S3 still not detected, restart your computer and launch EuControl.

Enabling AVB on your computer

To use the S3’s built-in audio interface as an AVB device, an AVB-compatible Mac is required. Enable AVB audio on your computer as follows:

1. From the Finder Menu, click Go, then choose Utilities.
2. Double-click Audio MIDI Setup.
3. In Audio MIDI Setup, click the Window menu, then choose Show Network Device Browser.
4. Click the checkbox next to “Avid S3” in the Network Device Browser window. Your S3 can now be used as an audio interface with your Mac.
   
5. If you are using Pro Tools, go to Setup > Playback Engine and choose Avid S3:AVB to use the S3 as your Pro Tools audio interface.
   
6. Choose Setup > IO Setup. Click Default on both the Input and Output tabs, then click OK to close IO Setup.

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