Akai RE-32 Service Manual

re32

MULTITRACK REMOTE CONTROLLER

Operator’ s Manual

WARNING

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose this appliance to rain or moisture.

000420-3 Printed in Japan

Important Notice

The material in this document is copyright to AKAI professional M.I. Corp., and may not be
quoted or reproduced in any form without written permission from the company.

LIMITED SOFTWARE WARRANTY POLICY
All the software provided with, or purchased especially for, AKAI professional products has
been tested for functionality. AKAI professional M.I. Corp. will make its best efforts to correct
reported software defects for future releases subject to technical practicabilities.
AKAI professional M.I. Corp. makes no warranty or representation either expressed or
implied with respect to the system's performance or fitness for a particular purpose.
In no event will AKAI professional M.I. Corp. be liable for direct or indirect damages arising
from any defect in the software or its documentation. Further, AKAI professional M.I. Corp.
will not accept any liability for any programs, sounds, audio recording or sequences stored in
or used with AKAI professional products, including the cost of recovery of such data.
The warranties, remedies and disclaimers above are exclusive and take precedence over all
others, oral or written, express or implied, to the extent permitted by law in the geographical
area of the product's use. No employee of AKAI professional M.I. Corp., agent, distributor or
employee of an agent or distributor is authorised to offer any variation from this policy.

WARNING!!

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

THE SYMBOLS ARE RULED BY UL STANDARDS (U.S.A.)

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol , within an equilateral triangle, is
intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”
within the product’s enclosure; that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intented to alert the user
to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instruc­tions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

1-En

5B-En

Rev. 3 4/20/2000

Page i

WARNING

WARNING

The RE32 is designed to be used in a standard household environment.
Power requirements for electrical equipment vary from area to area. Please ensure that your
RE32 meets the power requirements in your area. If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician or
AKAI professional dealer.

120VAC @ 60Hz for USA and Canada
220-230/240VAC @ 50Hz for Europe
240VAC @ 50Hz for Australia

PROTECTING YOURSELF AND THE RE32

Never touch the AC plug with wet hands.

•

Always disconnect the RE32 from the power supply by pulling on the plug, not the cord.

•

Allow only an AKAI professional dealer or qualified professional engineer to repair or reas-

•

semble the RE32. Apart from voiding the warranty, unauthorized engineers might touch live
internal parts and receive a serious electric shock.

Do not put, or allow anyone to put any object, especially metal objects, into the RE32.

•

Use only a household AC power supply. Never use a DC power supply.

•

If water or any other liquid is spilled into or onto the RE32, disconnect the power, and call your

•

dealer.
Make sure that the unit is well-ventilated, and away from direct sunlight.

•

To avoid damage to internal circuitry, as well as the external finish, keep the RE32 away from

•

sources of direct heat (stoves, radiators, etc.).
Avoid using aerosol insecticides, etc. near the RE32. They may damage the surface, and may

•

ignite.
Do not use denaturated alcohol, thinner or similar chemicals to clean the RE32. They will

•

damage the finish.
Modification of this equipment is dangerous, and can result in the functions of the RE32 being

•

impaired. Never attempt to modify the equipment in any way.
In order to assure optimum performance of your RE32, select the setup location carefully, and

•

make sure the equipment is used properly . A void setting up the RE32 in the following locations:

1. In a humid or dusty environment

2. In a room with poor ventilation

3. On a surface which is not horizontal

4. Inside a vehicle such as a car, where it will be subject to vibration

5. In an extremely hot or cold environment

Page ii

WARNING

THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED

IMPORTANT

This equipment is fitted with an approved non-rewireable UK mains plug.
To change the fuse in this type of plug proceed as follows:

1) Remove the fuse cover and old fuse.

2) Fit a new fuse which should be a BS1362 5 Amp A.S.T.A or BSI approved type.

3) Refit the fuse cover.
If the AC mains plug fitted to the lead supplied with this equipment is not suitable for

your type of AC outlet sockets, it should be changed to an AC mains lead, complete
with moulded plug, to the appropriate type. If this is not possible, the plug should be
cut off and a correct one fitted to suit the AC outlet. This should be fused at 5 Amps.

If a plug without a fuse is used, the fuse at the distribution board should NOT BE
GREATER than 5 Amp.

PLEASE NOTE: THE SEVERED PLUG MUST BE DESTROYED TO AVOID A

POSSIBLE SHOCK HAZARD SHOULD IT BE INSERTED
INTO A 13 AMP SOCKET ELSEWHERE.

The wires in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:

GREEN and YELLOW — EARTH
BLUE — NEUTRAL
BROWN — LIVE

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond
with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, please proceed as
follows:

The wire which is coloured GREEN and YELLOW must be connected to the
terminal which is marked with the letter E or with the safety earth symbol or

coloured GREEN or coloured GREEN and YELLOW.
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is

marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is

marked with the letter L or coloured RED.

THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED

Ensure that all the terminals are securely tightened and no loose strands of wire
exist.

Before replacing the plug cover, make certain the cord grip is clamped over the
outer sheath of the lead and not simply over the wires.

6D-En

Page iii

FCC WARNING

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reason­able protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If
this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:

- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.

- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. 21B-En

CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS NOT EXPRESSLY APPROVED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR
COMPLIANCE COULD VOID THE USER’S AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT.

32-En

AVIS POUR LES ACHETEURS CANADIENS DU RE32

Le présent appareil numérique n’ément pas des bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numériques de la Class B prescrites dans le Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le ministère des Communications du Canada

27-F

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Depart­ment of Communications.

27-En

VENTILATION

Do not prevent the unit's ventilation, especially by placing the unit on the soft carpet, in a narrow space,
or by placing objects on the unit's chassis—top, side, or rear panels. Always keep the unit's chassis
at least 10 centimeters from any other objects.

31C-En

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

The AKAI RE32 is a computer-based device, and as such contains and uses software in ROMs.
This software, and all related documentation, including this Owner’s Manual, contain proprietary
information which is protected by copyright laws. All rights are reserved. No part of the software or
its documentation may be copied, transferred or modified. You may not modify, adapt, translate,
lease, distribute, resell for profit or create derivative works based on the software and its related
documentation or any part there of without prior written consent from AKAI professional M.I. Corp.,
Yokohama, Japan.

Page iv

WARRANTY
AKAI professional M.I. Corp. warrants its products, when purchased from an authorized AKAI professional

dealer, to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 12 (twelve) months from the date
of purchase. Warranty service is effective and available to the original purchaser only , and only on completion
and return of the AKAI professional Warranty Registration Card within 14 days of purchase.

Warranty coverage is valid for factory-authorized updates to AKAI professional instruments and their software,
when their installation is performed by an authorized AKAI professional Service Centre, and a properly
completed Warranty Registration has been returned to your AKAI professional dealer.

To obtain service under this warranty, the product must, on discovery of the defect, be properly packed and
shipped to the nearest AKAI professional Service Centre. The party requesting warranty service must provide
proof of original ownership and date of purchase of the product.

If the warranty is valid, AKAI professional will, without charge for parts or labour, either repair or replace the
defective part(s). Without a valid warranty , the entire cost of the repair (parts and labour) is the responsibility

of the product’s owner.
AKAI professional warrants that it will make all necessary adjustments, repairs and replacements at no cost

to the original owner within 12 (twelve) months of the purchase date if:
1 The product fails to perform its specified functions due to failure of one or more of its components.

2 The product fails to perform its specified functions due to defects in workmanship.
3 The product has been maintained and operated by the owner in strict accordance with the written

instructions for proper maintenance and use as specified in this Operator’s Manual.

Before purchase and use, owners should determine the suitability of the product for their intended use, and
the owner assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in connection therewith. AKAI professional shall not be
liable for any injury, loss or damage, direct or consequential, arising out of the use, or inability to use the
product.

The warranty provides only those benefits specified, and does not cover defects or repairs needed as a result
of acts beyond the control of AKAI professional, including, but not limited to:

1 Damage caused by abuse, accident or negligence. AKAI professional will not cover under warranty any

original factory disk damaged or destroyed as a result of the owner’s mishandling.

2 Damage caused by any tampering, alteration or modification of the product: operating software,

mechanical or electronic components.

3 Damage caused by failure to maintain and operate the product in strict accordance with the written

instructions for proper maintenance and use as specified in this Operator’s Manual.
4 Damage caused by repairs or attempted repairs by unauthorized persons.
5 Damage caused by fire, smoke, falling objects, water or other liquids, or natural events such as rain,

floods, earthquakes, lightning, tornadoes, storms, etc.
6 Damage caused by operation on improper voltages.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This warranty becomes void if the product or its software is electronically modified,
altered or tampered with in any way.

AKAI professional shall not be liable for costs involved in packing or preparing the product for shipping, with
regard to time, labour or materials, shipping or freight costs, or time and expenses involved in transporting
the product to and from an AKAI professional Authorized Service Centre or Authorized Dealer.

AKAI professional will not cover under warranty an apparent malfunction that is determined to be user error,
or the owner’s inability to use the product.

THE DURATION OF ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER IMPLIED OR EXPRESS, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED CONDITION OF MERCHANTABILITY, IS LIMITED TO THE DURATION
OF THE EXPRESS WARRANTY HEREIN.

AKAI professional hereby excludes incidental or consequential damages, including but not limited to:
1 Loss of time
2 Inconvenience
3 Delay in performance of the Warranty
4 The loss of use of the product
5 Commercial loss
6 Breach of any express or implied warranty, including the lmplied W arranty of Merchantability, applicable

to this product

Page v

INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 1

FEATURES .................................................................................................................................. 1

ABOUT THIS MANUAL................................................................................................................ 2

TERMINOLOGY........................................................................................................................... 3

MULTI-MACHINESYSTEM.......................................................................................................... 5

REAR PANEL............................................................................................................................... 6

SYSTEM CONNECTIONS........................................................................................................... 7

SETTING MACHINE ID NUMBERS ............................................................................................ 8

SETTING MACHINE ID NUMBERS - DR16pro........................................................................... 8

SETTING MACHINE ID NUMBERS - DD8 .................................................................................. 8

POWERING UP THE RE32 SYSTEM ......................................................................................... 9

RE32 PANEL LAYOUT...............................................................................................................10

VGA DISPLAY............................................................................................................................ 12

NAVIGATING THE RE32 ........................................................................................................... 15

CURSOR KEYS ......................................................................................................................... 15

GETTING AROUND A PROJECT .............................................................................................. 21

GETTING STARTED - BASIC CONCEPTS............................................................................................... 24

CUE............................................................................................................................................ 24

EDIT REGION............................................................................................................................ 24

SELECT Q ................................................................................................................................. 24

BASIC SYSTEM SETTINGS...................................................................................................... 26

FORMATTING DISKS................................................................................................................28

VGA SETUP............................................................................................................................... 31

RECORDING .............................................................................................................................................. 35

BASIC RECORDING .................................................................................................................35

ADVANCED RECORDING ........................................................................................................ 37

RECORD DISKS........................................................................................................................ 40

RECORD TYPE ......................................................................................................................... 41

RECORD SETUP....................................................................................................................... 43

AUTO PUNCH-IN/OUT .............................................................................................................. 46

REHEARSE ............................................................................................................................... 46

INPUT ROUTING - ASSIGNING INPUTS TO TRACKS ............................................................ 47

INPUT ROUTING - DR16pro ..................................................................................................... 48

NPUT ROUTING - DD8 (or DD8plus) ........................................................................................ 49

INPUT ROUTING - DD1500 ...................................................................................................... 50

RECORDING DIGITALLY .......................................................................................................... 52

PLAYING BACK AUDIO MATERIAL ......................................................................................................... 54

GROUPING TRACKS ................................................................................................................ 57

AUTOLOCATOR......................................................................................................................................... 57

LOCATING TO THE START OR END OF A PROJECT............................................................. 57

LOCATING TO THE NEXT OR PREVIOUS CUES ................................................................... 57

LOCATING T O TIMECODE POSITIONS................................................................................... 57

LOCATING TO LOCATOR MEMORIES .................................................................................... 57

STORING LOCATE MEMORIES ............................................................................................... 57

CLEARING LOCATE MEMORIES............................................................................................. 58

CLEARING SINGLE LOCATE MEMORIES ................................................................... 58

CLEARING ALL LOCATE MEMORIES........................................................................... 58

CYCLE ....................................................................................................................................... 59

PRE-ROLL ................................................................................................................................. 60

EDITING ................................................................................................................................................... 61

EDIT KEY................................................................................................................................... 61

EXIT KEY ................................................................................................................................... 61

UNDO KEY ................................................................................................................................ 61

REDO (SHIFT+UNDO) .............................................................................................................. 61

EXECUTE KEY .......................................................................................................................... 61

IN KEY ....................................................................................................................................... 61

SYNC KEY ................................................................................................................................. 61

Page vi

OUT KEY ................................................................................................................................... 61

TO SELECT A WHOLE TRACK................................................................................................. 62

TO SELECT A TRACK FROM THE IN POINT TO THE END .................................................... 62

TO SELECT A TRACK FROM THE OUT POINT TO THE START ............................................ 63

TO SELECT A TRACK FROM THE SYNC MARK TO THE START OR END............................ 63

SELECT Q KEY ......................................................................................................................... 63

MULTI- MACHINE EDIT ............................................................................................................................. 64

COPYING A REGION ................................................................................................................64

MULTITRACK PASTE ................................................................................................................66

MULTITRACK INSERT .............................................................................................................. 66

MULTITRACK OVERLAY........................................................................................................... 67

CUT............................................................................................................................................ 68

ERASE ....................................................................................................................................... 68

DISCARD ................................................................................................................................... 68

SPLIT EDIT ................................................................................................................................ 69

SINGLE MACHINE EDIT............................................................................................................................ 70

EDIT CLIPBOARD ..................................................................................................................... 70

COPY TO CLIPBOARD ............................................................................................................. 72

CUT TO CLIPBOARD ................................................................................................................74

CUT FORWARDS TO CLIPBOARD (SHIFT+CUT) ................................................................... 75

ERASE TO CLIPBOARD ........................................................................................................... 76

DISCARD ................................................................................................................................... 77

PASTE FROM CLIPBOARD ...................................................................................................... 78

PASTING TO OUT AND SYNC REFERENCES ........................................................................ 79

INSERT FROM CLIPBOARD..................................................................................................... 80

INSERTING TO OUT AND SYNC REFERENCES .................................................................... 81

OVERLAY FROM CLIPBOARD ................................................................................................. 82

OVERLAYING TO OUT AND SYNC REFERENCES................................................................. 82

MOVE REGION ......................................................................................................................... 83

NUDGING IN/SYNC/OUT TIMES .............................................................................................. 84

NUDGING AUDIO ...................................................................................................................... 84

UNDOING A NUDGE .................................................................................................................85

NUDGE SET (SHIFT+NUDGE) ................................................................................................. 85

SPLIT CUE................................................................................................................................. 86

IN->NOW (SHIFT+IN) ................................................................................................................ 87

EDIT PLAY KEYS ...................................................................................................................... 90

SELECT CUE/EDIT CUE........................................................................................................... 91

USING EDIT CUE TO AFFECT MULTIPLE CUES .................................................................... 94

CROSSFADE TOOLS................................................................................................................ 95

DISK MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................................................ 98

SAVING PROJECTS.................................................................................................................. 98

SAVING A PROJECT WITH A DIFFERENT NAME ...................................................... 101

SAVING LOCATOR MEMORIES OR OTHER SETTINGS ........................................... 101

LOAD ....................................................................................................................................... 102

CREATING A NEW PROJECT................................................................................................. 104

DISK UTILITIES ....................................................................................................................... 105

DISK INFO ............................................................................................................................... 105

DISK DIRECTORY................................................................................................................... 106

COPYING FILES/DISKS.......................................................................................................... 107

DELETE FILES .........................................................................................................................111

RENAMING FILES................................................................................................................... 112

BACKING UP YOUR WORK ................................................................................................... 113

BACKING UP TO SCSI TAPE DRIVES ........................................................................ 113

FORMATTING A TAPE FOR BACKUP ......................................................................... 114

BACKING UP SELECTED FILES................................................................................. 116

BACKING UP ALL PROJECTS AND/OR LIBRARIES.................................................. 117

BACKING UP AN ENTIRE DISK .................................................................................. 117

PERFORMING THE BACKUP ..................................................................................... 118

VERIFYING A BACKUP................................................................................................ 120

Page vii

RESTORING A BACKUP.............................................................................................. 121

PERFORMING A RESTORE ........................................................................................ 122

RESTORING THE ENTIRE BACKUP .......................................................................... 125

NOTES ABOUT BACKUP/RESTORE .......................................................................... 126

SUGGESTIONS FOR BACKUP/RESTORE................................................................. 127

TAKING CARE OF YOUR TAPE DRIVE ...................................................................... 128

ARCHIVING DATA TO DAT .......................................................................................... 129

RESTORING FROM DAT ............................................................................................. 132

CLEANUP DISK ........................................................................................................... 133

MINIMISE DISK ............................................................................................................ 134

DISK COMPATIBILITY ............................................................................................................................. 136

MACINTOSH............................................................................................................................ 136

PROTOOLS IMPORT................................................................................................... 137

CREATING PROTOOLS SESSIONS ........................................................................... 138

WAVEFRAME .......................................................................................................................... 139

FAIRLIGHT MFX3PLUS........................................................................................................... 140

MSDOS (FAT16) ...................................................................................................................... 140

SYSTEM SETUP ...................................................................................................................................... 141

SETUP - MULTI ....................................................................................................................... 142

DISPLAY....................................................................................................................... 143

DISPLAY OFFSET........................................................................................................ 144

FOOTAGE DISPLAY .................................................................................................... 144

RECORD SETUP ......................................................................................................... 145

SPEED.......................................................................................................................... 148

TEMPO MAPS.............................................................................................................. 149

CREATING A MIDI TEMPO MAP ................................................................................. 150

DELETING TEMPO MAP STEPS ................................................................................ 151

LOCATING TO STEPS ................................................................................................. 151

MORE SETUP FUNCTIONS ................................................................................................... 152

SAVE SETTINGS ......................................................................................................... 152

LOAD SETTINGS ......................................................................................................... 152

INFO ............................................................................................................................. 153

SETUP - SINGLE MACHINE ................................................................................................... 154

DIGITAL SETTINGS ..................................................................................................... 154

DIGITAL OUTPUT FORMAT ........................................................................................ 157

OUTPUT DE-EMPHASIS ............................................................................................. 157

SYNC SETTINGS......................................................................................................... 158

RECORD SETUP..................................................................................................................... 162

OPERATING LEVELS.............................................................................................................. 162

REMOTE PAGES..................................................................................................................... 163

GPIO SETUP ........................................................................................................................... 164

USER KEYS............................................................................................................................. 168

RC15 CONNECTION............................................................................................................... 170

SYNCING TO EXTERNAL TIMECODE ................................................................................................... 171

SETTING TIMECODE OFFSETS ............................................................................................ 172

ADVANCED OFFSETS............................................................................................................ 173

RS422 MASTER CONTROL .................................................................................................................... 175

LAYBACK FUNCTION IN RS422 MASTER............................................................................. 176

USING THE LAYBACK FUNCTION......................................................................................... 177

RS422 MASTER CONTROL OF NON-LINEAR VIDEO RECORDERS .................................. 178

SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................................... 179

INDEX ................................................................................................................................................ 180-182

Page viii

Page ix

INTRODUCTION

The staff at AKAI professional would like to thank you for buying the RE32 Multi-track Remote
Controller. We are confident that the RE32 will be a sound investment, offering many years of
reliable service and will be a product you can rely on in your daily work.

The RE32 is designed to be used with Akai DD/DR-Series Hard Disk Recorders (such as the
DR16pro, DD8, DD8plus or DD1500) allowing control of up to 128 tracks of audio.

Dedicated track select keys, transport keys and autolocator functions give the RE32 the feel of a
conventional MTR whilst access to sophisticated editing functions are also provided allowing you
to edit audio quickly and precisely. The jog wheel allows you to ‘scrub’ audio across all tracks just
like reel rocking ordinary tape.

The RE32 is connected to the machines via Ethernet and includes a built-in VGA display capable
of displaying metering and scrolling track information for all of the connected machines. A simple
but effective colour scheme eliminates eye strain even in prolonged sessions. Y ou will no doubt be
pleased to know that the screen you see on the monitor is the only one you work in and there are
no multiple, stacked ‘windows’ to confuse you!

FEATURES

• Traditional recording and monitoring functions

• Dedicated track select keys for easy selection of play, mute, edit and record.

• Large dedicated MTR-style transport keys.

• The weighted jog wheel allows you to ‘scrub’ audio across all tracks for editing.

• MTR style autolocator with 100 locate memories and 100 ‘grab’ markers.

• Detailed track editing with waveform display.

• Powerful multi-track editing functions,

• LED timecode display

• 248x60 pixel LCD display for parameter settings and function selection.

• PS/2 keyboard input for easy naming of audio takes.

• Custom graphics LSI ensures fast screen re-drawing and updates on any size S-VGA monitor .

• The AKAINET link from the RE32 to the connected machines allows true remote control with
virtually no limit on distance.

TRADEMARKS

Digidesign and Protools are registered tademarks of Digidesign and/or A vid Technology, Inc.
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. All other trademarks, product
and company names are the property of their respective owners.

Version 1.00 1

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT THIS MANUAL

This owner’s manual has been written to provide you with the information to get the best from the
RE32. Although it hoped that the RE32 is easy enough to use without constant reference to this
manual, please take the time to read it in order to understand the system fully. The manual takes
you through the available functions from scratch, assuming you have just installed it and you are
using it for the first time.

This manual covers all basic functions and operation and, wherever possible, gives hints and tips
and application notes. However, because of the diversity of applications in which the RE32 can be
used, it is not always possible to cover every application specifically . As such, most descriptions of
functions are fairly general unless, however, a certain function has a specific use in a particular
application.

The availability of some functions on the RE32 may depend on the facilities provided by the
connected machines. For example, the DD8plus provides certain features not available on the
DR16pro. This manual will give an indication where certain functions may be unavailable. Please
refer to the manuals provided with each machine for further details.

2 Version 1.00

INTRODUCTION

As with any piece of new gear, there is always a bit of new jargon to get to grips with. The RE32 is
no exception! What follows, therefore, is a short list of some of the terms you will come across
during the course of this manual.

GRID This stands for GRaphic Interface Display and refers to the track display on the

external monitor.

PROJECT This contains all your recordings, edited and positioned as required and shown

on the GRID. Think of it as a reel of multi-track tape if you like and the GRID as
an animated track sheet.

A PROJECT also contains autolocator memories, MIDI tempo maps, etc., and
these are all saved with the project. The SYSTEM settings are also saved with
the project and when a project is subsequently loaded, the whole system is
restored to exactly the status the project was saved in. For example, the tracks
selected for playback, editing and/or record, the sample rate, external timecode
selection, input routing, etc.. All these will be explained later.

Each connected machine actually has its own PROJECT containing audio tracks
on that machine but the RE32 assembles this information for display on the
monitor as a single ‘multi-track’ PROJECT.

NOW TIME In the centre of the GRID are two vertical lines. The centre of these two lines is

known as the NOW TIME and the actual NOW time is shown in the display
above it (and on the LED timecode display). All work is done with referenced to
this NOW time. For example, to select a cue for editing, move it to the NOW
time and press SELECT Q. Marking IN times and OUT times and locate
memories is also done referenced to the NOW time.

CUE This refers to a piece of audio from its start to its end in the GRID. In this

manual, a cue may be referred to as “a stereo cue” - this is actually two mono
cues across two (normally adjacent) tracks that make up a ‘stereo’ cue.

EDIT REGION This refers to the area selected between the IN and the OUT points. A track (or

tracks) must be selected for editing and the edit region is highlighted green on
the external monitor.

IN TIME This usually refers to the start of an edit. However, the IN TIME is used to set

auto punch-in and cycle times as well. It is marked by pressing the IN key
located above the jog wheel.

OUT TIME This usually refers to the end of an edit although it is also used to set auto

punch-out and cycle times. It is marked by pressing the OUT key located above
the jog wheel.

SYNC POINT This is a special marker you can place within an edit region or cue for sync

purposes.

MARK POINT This is a special marker intended for Biphase synchronisation. It can be set to

define a sync point between audio and film (usually a cross before the first
frame).

Version 1.00 3

INTRODUCTION

LIBRARY A library is a file created for convenient storage of groups of cues (referred to

as ‘clips’). For example, a library may contain sound effects, or music cues,
etc.. Although the library function is not supported on the RE32, several disk
related functions can be used on disks containing library files made on another
system.

MUL TI-MODE Most operations on the RE32 are designed to make the system feel like a

single multi-track tape machine even if the tracks are on two or more individual
machine. For example, in a system with two DR16pro machines, selecting
‘Track 17’ on the RE32 will actually select Track 1 on the second machine. This
method of operation is referred to in this manual as MULTI-MODE.

SINGLE-MODE This refers to an alternate method of operation where each machine is used

individually. This may be necessary for configuring the system for more
complicated environments.

4 Version 1.00

MULTI-MACHINE SYSTEM

The followingshows a typical multi-machine system

INTRODUCTION

Audio is recorded through the inputs (analogue and/or digital) directly to project tracks on each
machine and displayed in the GRID as a multi-track project ready for editing etc.. For example,
you may record a long vocal onto track 1, edit out all the mistakes, coughs, breath noises and
other unwanted artefacts and simply save the project. Y ou can also copy audio from one region of
the project to another region as required.

Audio can be recorded directly into the GRID at the timecode position you want it. That audio may
subsequently be edited, crossfaded, etc., as appropriate for the project.

When several machines are connected to the RE32 to expand the total number of tracks available,
the system will behave as if there is a single ‘multi-track’ project encompassing all of these tracks.
However, in reality each connected machine maintains its own internal project containing data for
the tracks assigned to that machine. Usually, you do not need to worry about the fact that there
may be several machines connected as the RE32 will control them as a single ‘multi-track’ system.
However, there may be times when you want to do something specifically on one machine and the
RE32 will allow you to do this as well if you wish as explained during the course of this manual.

Of course, your setup need not be as elaborate as the one shown above and an RE32 with just
one or two 16-track machines is a powerful combination.

Version 1.00 5

INTRODUCTION

REAR PANEL

In this section, we take a look at the RE32’s rear panel connections. Actual operation of the RE32
will be discussed later.

DISPLAY

This connects to any standard S-VGA monitor such as you would use with any PC. Y ou will probably
have bought a monitor with the system as supplied by your dealer but, if not, any reputable computer
store will be able to sell you one. Any monitor should be able to be used but there are many
monitors of different quality available (usually reflected in the price!) and some may not give as
good results as others. For example, some may have a particular blue, red or green bias to them,
others may not have particularly clear colour contrast and may appear ‘hazy’ or not have a particularly
sharp focus. Other monitors can be sometimes show a faint image of screen items twice resulting
in a ‘ghosty’ image that is difficult to read (especially text). If you are buying a monitor and have
any doubts, please contact your dealer who will no doubt be able to recommend a suitable monitor.

Any size monitor may be used and the graphics automatically resize accordingly. You may even
use very large RGB monitors but you will need a suitable S-VGA to RGB converter for this. Again,
please speak to your dealer for information on choosing and connecting a monitor.

KEYBOARD

This mini DIN socket will accept a PS/2 compatible PC keyboard and is provided to make the
naming of files easier.

EXPANSION CONNECTION

This connector is used to attach the optional RC15 User Assignable Remote Controller.

AKAINET

This takes a standard BNC Ethernet cable and is used to connect the RE32 to other machines in
the system. You may use the cable provided but, if longer lengths are required, any reputable
computer store should sell BNC Ethernet cables in a variety of lengths.

If you choose to use a cable other than the one provided, please make sure it is a high quality one.
If there are any problems with the cable or the BNC plugs, you will have communications problems
and erratic and unreliable performance.

TERM

This switches termination for the AKAINET connection on or off.

SIGNAL GND

This can be used to overcome ground loops in a complex system.

MAINS INPUT

Mains power is connected here.

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REMOTE

Terminator ON Terminator ON

Terminator ON

Terminator OFF

Terminator OFF

To S-VGA monitor

MULTITRACK REMOTE CONTROLLER

INPSTOLOC

REMOTE

The external monitor is a standard S-VGA colour monitor such as you would use with any PC
and any size may be used.

Of course, to this basic system, you may add analogue and/or digital inputs and outputs for use
with an external mixer.

If you plan to do a lot of naming of recordings and files, an external PC keyboard is
recommended.

All the machines in the system are connected together (and to the RE32) using standard
Ethernet BNC cables. These are chained between the AKNET BNC connectors on each
machine using BNC ‘T’ connectors to link each cable (in 16-bit DD8s, an Ethernet option board
must be installed).

It is essential that the TERMINATOR switch is switched to the ON position on the first and last
units in the chain. Failure to do so will prevent correct communications and the system will not
work.

NOTE: The AKNET interface used in the Akai DD/DR system is 10-Base-2 Ethernet. There
are certain rules that must be adhered to when setting up the system to ensure reliable
operation:

• All cables should be 50 ohm impedance.

• There should be a maximum of 185m of cable in the system between the first and last
nodes.

• There should be at least 0.5m of cable between each connection.

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INTRODUCTION

SETTING MACHINE ID NUMBERS

When multiple machines are connected to the RE32, each must be assigned a unique MACHINE
NUMBER before the system is used for the first time. These must be assigned sequentially from 1
to the number of machines in the system and are used to allocate tracks to machines by the RE32.

Example 1: With two DR16pro machines:

Machine “1” = Tracks 1-16
Machine “2” = Tracks 17-32

Example 2: With three DD8 machines:

Machine “1” = Tracks 1-8
Machine “2” = Tracks 9-16
Machine “3” = Tracks 17-24

Please refer to the machine’s own operators manual for detailed information. The following is
intended to provide a brief description relevant to certain machines:

SETTING MACHINE ID NUMBERS - DR16pro

The DR16pro’s MACHINE NUMBER assignment may be set as follows:

1. Press the SUB-MENU key followed by the 3 (SETUP) key on the numeric keypad then
select AKAINET on the display by rotating the JOG/SHUTTLE control.

2. Press the STORE/ENT key. The message MACHINE 01 will appear in the display showing
the current Machine ID.

3. Use the JOG wheel to select the required Machine ID number and press the STORE/ENT
key to confirm the assignment and exit the menu.

SETTING MACHINE ID NUMBERS - DD8

The DD8’s MACHINE NUMBER assignment is set on the AKNET INFO page which is accessed
from REMOTE page in the SYSTEM menus. On the front panel of the DD8, press the SYSTEM
key, followed by the MORE (F6) key then the REMOTE key (F2). Finally, press the AKNET key
(F1) and you will see the following screen:

Note: DD8’s front panel LCD

The NUMBER field shows the MACHINE NUMBER currently assigned. Y ou may change the number
using the DATA +/- keys and then save the new setting to flash ROM.

NOTE: Please refer to the operators manual provided with each machine for more detailed
information about setting MACHINE NUMBERs.

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POWERING UP THE RE32 SYSTEM

First, turn on any disk drives that may be connected to the system. Next, turn on the individual
machines (DR16pro, DD8plus etc.). The machines will ‘talk to’ their disk drives and you will see
some disk activity as they do this. When this has settled down, turn on the RE32. The external
monitor screen can be switched on at any time and will have no effect on the system.

When you power up the RE32, the RE32 will scan the ethernet bus for connected machines. You
will see this screen display momentarily:

A few seconds later, you will see this screen:

This indicates that the RE32 has successfully established communications with the connected
machines. A few seconds after the RE32 is booted, you will see this screen which indicates that
the system is ready for use:

If there is a problem with the AKAINET connections, the system will display this screen permanently:

This indicates that the RE32 has detected a fault and cannot communicate with the connected
machines. If this occurs, check the AKAINET BNC cables to make sure they are securely connected.
If that seems o.k., check the AKAINET termination switches. As shown in the diagram in the
previous section, the TERMINA TOR must be switched ON on the first and last devices in the chain
and switched OFF on all other devices.

If this doesn’t work, try powering everything down and trying again. If you still find that you cannot
boot up, please contact your dealer.

But take heart! This should not happen and if you do have problems, you will probably find it is
nothing more serious than a damaged AKAINET BNC cable or that the AKAINET termination has
been incorrectly set. If these are alright, however, but the problem persists, you should contact
your dealer.

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INTRODUCTION

PANEL LAYOUT

The RE32 is an MTR style remote controller with many commonly used functions available on

dedicated keys. If you break down the RE32’s panel into its various sections, it really is quite

straightforward to understand and use.

Data Entry

MULTITRACK REMOTE CONTROLLER

Track Select Keys

Track Mode

Timecode Display

Utilities

INPSTOLOC

LCD Jog Wheel

Transport Keys

Across the top of the panel are the track select keys. The top row of keys are used to turn tracks on

and off for playback. The second row of keys are used to either select tracks for recording or for

editing. When these keys are showing edit tracks, they are illuminated in green whilst record track

selections are shown illuminated in red.

The TRACK MODE keys are used to setup the function of the track select keys.

TRACKS

1-32

33-64

65-96

97-128

The TRACKS key is used to select which bank of
tracks are currently assigned to the 32 track keys.

The RE32 can control up to 128 tracks in 4 banks.
The currently selected bank is indicated by the

column of LEDs next to the TRACKS key.
The GROUP keys allow you to store and recall combinations of track settings.
The LCD displays information concerning the status of the system at any time as well as being

used to provide soft keys, the function of which changes according to the system’s status.
The TIMECODE DISPLAY shows the current now time.
The UTILITIES keys give you access to functions such as DISK, SETUP, EDIT, PREROLL etc..

The amber SHIFT key gives access to keys’ sub-functions and these are shown in amber text
beneath the keys.

The TRANSPORT keys provide the basic PLAY, STOP, REWIND, FAST FORWARD, etc.. They
also offer special ‘edit play’ keys used when editing and these include PLAY TO, PLA Y FROM etc..

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INTRODUCTION

Located directly beneath the LCD is a row of six soft keys, the function of which depends on the
RE32’s current status.

The JOG wheel emulates reel rocking for finding edit points. It is possible to jog all tracks
simultaneously.

The DATA ENTRY section includes a numeric keypad for inputting timecode and values and for
selecting locator memories and edit clipboards. The +/- DATA ENTRY keys allows you to set
parameter values whilst the CURSOR keys are used for selecting parameter fields in the RE32’s
LCD. The +/- DATA ENTRY keys can also be used to nudge audio into sync and to go to the next
and previous cues and the CURSOR keys double as vertical and horizontal zoom keys. The
SCROLL VIEW keys are used to scroll the vertical selection of tracks currently being shown on the
VGA.

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INTRODUCTION

VGA DISPLAY

The RE32’s VGA display is designed to present all the information you will need in a simple and
easy to digest manner. There are no multiple windows stacked on top of each other to confuse
you, and ALL work (including recording, editing, slipping, syncing, etc..) is done here ensuring that
operations are consistent throughout.

1 TRACK METERS

At the top of the screen is a meter bridge where you may see the levels of each individual
track.

2 SYSTEM STATUS

Information relating to the current system settings is displayed at the left hand side of the
status bar above the GRID. This includes the signal source for the meters, the project sample
rate and the number of tracks available in the system.

3 PROJECT NAME

At the right hand side of the status bar above the GRID right is displayed the currently
selected project’s name

4 NOW TIME

Directly above the GRID is the NOW time and this indicates the current time on the NOW
line that intersects the GRID vertically in the centre. The NOW line position may be adjusted
so that you can see more or less of what is coming as the cues scroll.

5 TRACK STATUS

This shows the current status of the tracks - i.e. PLAY, REC, and EDIT.

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INTRODUCTION

6 GRID

The GRID (GRaphic Interface Display) shows the audio as waveforms and/or as blocks and
you may choose whether to display waveforms or not according to your preference. Consistent
colour coding is used throughout - blue for play , grey for muted, red for record, green for edit
and light brown (ochre) for EDIT CUE. This allows you to see at a glance the status of the
tracks even from a distance. The waveforms/blocks scroll during playback and you may
zoom in horizontally or vertically for more precise editing and the RE32’s real-time operating
system even allows you to zoom in or out when the machine is currently busy doing other
things such as playing back, recording, etc.. It is also possible to show cue names and
these are shown in a column on the right of the GRID.

7 CLIPBOARDS

When Single Machine Edit Mode is selected, these panels are shown on the right hand side
of the screen. Each panel is aligned vertically with the tracks related to the corresponding
machine.

Project 1Project 1

1

STOP

O: Sax stab
1: Gtr hook
2: Strings1
3:
4:

CLIPBOARD

5:
6:
7:
8:
9:

The top line of this box shows the machine number, the name of the project currently loaded
on this machine and the current transport status (PLAY, STOP etc..)

The symbol is shown alongside the currently selected machine. The next box displays
either the current project name or the machine name, depending on the setting in the
INFORMA TION field on the SHOW ON VGA MONIT OR - MACHINES page. This box will be
coloured red while the machine is in record and in a mustard colour while the machine is in
rehearsing a record. The final box displays the machines transport status (STOP, PLAY
etc..).

Below this are shown the edit clipboards available on this machine. These are the ten edits
available for pasting and/or inserting into a project at any time. The EDIT CLIPBOARD will
be explained fully later in the section “EDITING”.

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INTRODUCTION

CUE NAME DISPLAY

To the right of the track display, you may choose to see the names of the cue(s) currently being
played. This is used instead of the normal convention on other hard disk recorders where the
name is shown within the cue itself because with short cues, the name often gets abbreviated into
something meaningless. This can also make the screen very cluttered. On the RE32, you see the
entire name regardless of its length.

For example:

MUSIC 1 L
MUSIC 1 R

FO

FOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFO

‘Conventional’ disk recorder cue name display.

Whilst the long music cue can display the full name, the footsteps SFX on the adjacent tracks
(called FOOTSTP 1L and FOOTSTP 1R) are abbreviated to FO. Compare this with the RE32:

MUSIC 1 L
MUSIC 1 R
FOOTSTP1 L

FOOTSTP1 R

RE32 cue name display.

On the RE32, regardless of the length of the cue, the entire name is shown clearly.

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NAVIGATING THE RE32

INTRODUCTION

Getting around the RE32 is quite straightforward. Dedicated keys for most commonly used functions
reduces the need for multi-menu operation. Less day-to-day functions are kept hidden away out of
harms way but are still readily accessible.

The external monitor is used purely for referencing your work to see what is going on. You can
think of it as an animated track sheet. In theory, the RE32 could be used without it as most work is
done from the RE32’s front panel LCD.

The keys we will look at in this section are highlighted in the above diagram although others may
be referred to where necessary.

CURSOR KEYS

You use the four CURSOR keys to move around the LCD. In the following example, the page is

displaying a list of files and the CURSOR keys are used to scroll up and down the list in order to
select one.

You can also, in this example, move the cursor to the top line to select a different disk. Disk
selection would be made using the DATA ENTRY +/- keys or by typing in a number directly from
the numeric keypad.

NOTE: The two arrows shown in this example indicate that there are files ‘above’ and ‘below’
the screen which may be accessed by scrolling up or down. This is a convention used in all
file-lists in the RE32 (for example, when loading PROJECTS etc.). If the arrows don’t appear,
there are no files ‘off-screen’.

The cursor keys are ‘accelerators’ - that is, they move faster the longer you hold them so scrolling
through long lists of files or parameters is very fast.

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INTRODUCTION

Another example of a typical screen is this:

This shows a list of parameters. To change any of them, move the cursor to the one you wish to
change and use the DA TA ENTRY +/- keys to select a new value. In cases where there are many
options to select, the DATA +/- keys are ‘accelerators’ that speed up the longer you press them.

However, it is not always necessary to use the cursor keys to move up and down parameter lists
and some pages offer a more direct approach to parameter selection. For example:

In this example, INSERT, you can select the clipboard to insert from simply by pressing any of the
numeric keypad’s number keys 0-9. You can specifically move the cursor to the REFERENCED
TO field if you wish to select IN, SYNC or OUT with the DA TA ENTRY +/- keys but you can achieve
this more easily by just pressing the IN, SYNC or OUT keys - the display will change accordingly,
showing your selection. Y ou can also see a ‘?’ softkey . This conveniently ‘toggles’ selects the SLIP
TYPE parameter.

TRACK ZOOM KEYS

The CURSOR keys are also used with the SHIFT key to zoom in and out on tracks.
SHIFT plus the CURSOR allow horizontal zoom in/out. You may also use these keys

simultaneously to switch between maximum horizontal zoom in and a zoom out of your choice by
pressing SHIFT+CURSOR keys simultaneously. To do this, zoom in to the level of your
choice - pressing SHIFT and the CURSOR keys together will now switch you between that
level and maximum zoom.

SHIFT plus the CURSOR keys allow you to zoom in vertically on tracks. SHIFT+ will zoom
in, showing fewer and fewer tracks whilst SHIFT+ will zoom out, showing more tracks. As you
zoom in, so you will see tracks 1-24, 1-16, 1-12, 1-8, 1-4, 1-2 and finally, 1 displayed on the
external monitor.

SCROLL VIEW KEYS

When the display is zoomed in, you may want to view different tracks to the ones shown on the
screen. This can be done using the SCROLL VIEW keys to scroll up or down to the required
tracks. For example, if the display is currently zoomed in to display tracks 1-4, pressing SCROLL
VIEW will scroll the display to show tracks 5-8.

In the SHOW ON VGA monitor page, you may set the RE32 so that tracks selected for edit are
those that are shown on the VGA as you zoom in. For example, with tracks 3 and 4 selected for
edit, when you zoom to two tracks, 3 and 4 would automatically be placed at the top of the screen.
Please see the section that describes the SHOW functions for more details on this.

The SCROLL VIEW keys are also used with the SHIFT key to increase or decrease the waveform
magnification on the external monitor.

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INTRODUCTION

NUMERIC KEYPAD

The NUMERIC KEYPAD has two main functions. It is used to store and recall up to 10 edits in

what we call the EDIT CLIPBOARD (see the section on editing that describes this). It is also used
for timecode and numeric entry.

EDITING NUMERIC FIELDS

To edit number fields, you can just type the number directly followed by ENT on the numeric

keypad or the main EXECUTE key. You may also use the DATA ENTRY +/- keys to increment/
decrement through the values.

If you make a mistake, press EXIT - this will restore the parameter’s previous value.

EDITING NAMES THAT INCLUDE NUMBERS

In names that have a number as part of the name (i.e. PROJECT 5), this can be renamed very

quickly simply by pressing any other number on the numeric keypad. For example, pressing 9
would immediately change this name to PROJECT 9. This can be useful when saving a project
with a different name (SAVE AS). It is also useful for quickly renaming libraries or clips.

ENTERING TIMECODE VALUES

Timecode is entered using the NUMERIC KEYPAD. V alues enter from the right and time divisions

(i.e. hours, minutes, seconds and frames) are confirmed using the keypad’s 00 ‘double zero’ key.

For example, to enter a value of 1 hour, 23 minutes, 12 seconds, 12 frames, type the following:

1, 00, 23, 00, 12, 00, 12, 00, ENT

You will see the following display in the selected timecode field as you enter the numbers:

1
00
23
00
12
00
12

ENT

The important thing to remember is to ‘confirm’ the time division using the numeric keypad’s 00
‘double zero’ key.

If you make a mistake when entering a timecode value, press EXIT. This will restore the field’s
previous timecode entry and you may try again.

It is also possible to ‘nudge’ timecode entries. You can move the cursor ‘within’ the timecode field
by pressing SHIFT+DATA ENTRY +/-. As an example, in EDIT CUE, you may wish to nudge a fade
up time from 2 seconds to 3 seconds. Rather than type in 3, 00, EXECUTE, move the cursor to the
seconds field using SHIFT+DATA ENTRY +/- as appropriate and use the DATA ENTRY + key to
increment by one. For example:

The digit is highlighted with an ‘underbar’. Now press SHIFT + DATA ENTRY ‘-’ to move the cursor
left and press the DATA ENTRY + key:

In this way, instead of having to type out long strings of timecode numbers, you can nudge a
timecode field to a value quite easily.

Version 1.00 17

INTRODUCTION

DATA ENTRY/NUDGE KEYS

These two keys allow you to set data values.
T o set a data value, simply move the cursor to appropriate field and press the DA TA ENTRY ‘+’ key

to increase the value or the DATA ENTRY ‘-’ key to decrease the value. Like the CURSOR keys,
these keys are ‘accelerators’ that get gradually faster the longer you keep them held down, allowing
rapid changes to be made to long parameter fields.

These keys are also used with the SHIFT key to move the sub-cursor left or right within a parameter
field as described above for entering timecode values.

USING THE SOFT KEYS

The soft keys perform two main functions. One is to take you to another page, another is to
perform some kind of action.

Page keys are highlighted - i.e.: will take you to the disk page.
Action keys are ‘hollow’ - i.e.: will save the current file.
There is another type of action key that we saw a bit earlier and the is the ‘?’ action key . These use

Lower case characters and refer to the name of the parameter they are linked to. These allow you
to switch parameters in the field they refer to.

There are also double width soft keys: or
These may be page keys (highlighted) or ‘action’ keys (hollow) as described above. There can

also be double width ‘?’ action keys. When a double width key is used, either of the soft keys
directly below it may be used.

In some pages, the soft keys act as ‘radio’ keys - i.e. switching one on will switch one or more
others off - and select different functions. In this case, the selected key highlights. Although these
look essentially like ‘action’ keys or ‘page’ keys, the distinction should be clear from the context of
the page you are in.

EXECUTE

Nearly all actions on the RE32 require completion using the EXECUTE key located beneath the
soft keys. This key has a LED in it that will flash indicating that it should be pressed to complete the
action. You may also receive a prompt to tell you to press EXECUTE. Sometimes, where multiple
prompts are shown (i.e. “DELETE SELECTED FILE?” followed by “ARE YOU SURE? NO UNDO!!”),
the EXECUTE key will remain flashing until the whole process has been completed. Basically,
whenever the EXECUTE key is flashing, this indicates that you must press it to complete an
action.

EXECUTE can also be used to complete entering a name or number or timecode value.

EXIT

Whenever the EXECUTE can be used (i.e. its LED is flashing), the EXIT key will abort or cancel
the process without committing it. This is your ‘escape route’ should you be in a situation where
you change your mind. The EXIT key also functions as a “NO” key in situations where YES/NO
responses are required.

At all times, the EXIT key will take you out of the current page and back to a ‘safe’ situation.
In cases where you have arrived at a page by going through other pages first (for example, SETUP ,

DISP, OFFSET) the EXIT key will take you back step by step through those pages until you arrive
back at the main display.

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INTRODUCTION

UNDO

The UNDO key offers twenty levels of undo and redo. If you make a mistake and do something
you’re not happy with, press UNDO and the original data will be restored. If you then find that you
preferred the mistake, press REDO (SHIFT+UNDO).

You may undo/redo the last twenty things you did by repeatedly pressing UNDO or REDO
(SHIFT+UNDO). This allows you to try a few edits out in succession and then, if you don’t like the
results, restore the original version.

NOTE 1: The UNDO function only refers to recording and editing. You cannot undo anything
else. For example, if you load a project and change your mind, you cannot undo that. If you
select some tracks for edit when you really meant to select them for record, you cannot undo
that.

NOTE 2: IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO USE UNDO IF YOU DELETE A FILE (I.E. A PROJECT)
BY MISTAKE. PLEASE TAKE CARE WHEN DELETING FILES.

SHIFT

The amber SHIFT key gives access to sub-functions on certain keys. Most keys’ sub-functions
relate to the key itself (for example, many keys have sub-functions to SET parameters associated
with the main function of the key).

When using certain sub-functions such as VGA (SHIFT+SETUP), XFADE (SHIFT+EDITQ), the
keys’ LEDs flash indicating you are the key’s ‘alternative’ function.

SET FUNCTIONS

Some keys’ SHIFT function is SET, allowing you to set up certain parameters relevant to the key
(for example, SHIFT+PREROLL allows you to set the preroll time). When using SET pages, the
LED will not flash but will be lit according to whether that key is switched ON or OFF (for example,
when setting the PREROLL time, the LED will indicate whether the PREROLL function is turned
on or off.

NOTE: Not all keys’ SET functions are operational. Some of the SET functions are reserved
for future enhancements via software.

JOG WHEEL

The jog wheel is normally used to ‘scrub’ audio when finding edit points. It is possible to jog all
tracks simultaneously. You may also use the jog wheel to ‘spool’ through a project and the jog
wheel acts as a speed control for forwards or backwards playback.

The function of the jog wheel is selected by pressing the JOG key to toggle the function. The
current function is indicated by the JOG/SHUTTLE LEDs located next to the key . When both LEDs
are lit, this selects a special ‘JOG VIEW’ mode which allows you to jog through the project but
without audio.

NAMING FILES

Although the RE32 has an auto-naming function for naming recordings, projects, etc., sometimes
it is necessary to name files yourself. T ypically , you want to name projects, libraries and clips most
of the time and you may wish to name edits prior to copying them into the clipboard.

Naming is usually done from a PS/2 ASCII keyboard connected to the RE32. The computer keyboard
is connected to the KEYBOARD input on the rear of the RE32.

When the cursor is placed on a filename and a key is pressed on the PS/2 keyboard, the selected
file will be highlighted thus ready for editing:

The first character of the name will be highlighted and you may type in a name of up to ten
characters.

Version 1.00 19

INTRODUCTION

As the LCD prompts you, you must press EXECUTE to complete the naming process. If you

change your mind, press EXIT at any time. Pressing EXIT will leave the naming process and

revert to the original name.

When using a computer keyboard, you will note that the numeric keypad functions just like the

RE32’s. You will also note that you can use the keyboard’s first six function keys to duplicate the

RE32’s soft keys. ESC(ape) duplicates the action of the RE32’s EXIT key. SHIFT and CAPS

LOCK work as you would expect as do the cursor keys which duplicate the action of the RE32’s

CURSOR keys. In fact, for the most part, you will find that the keyboard performs much like it

would when used with a computer.

NOTE: The following characters are not available from the computer keyboard:

£ $ ^ & { } [ ] @ | ~ ‘ + -

The following keys also have no function:

TAB CTRL ALT PAGE UP PAGE DOWN

HOME END F7-F12 PRINT SCREEN SCROLL LOCK

RENAMING FILES

There will be occasions where you want to rename an existing project, library or clip. Renaming is

exactly the same as naming a file - move the cursor to the file you wish to rename and start typing

to enter a suitable name.

You may also re-name existing files that have a number in them very quickly just be pressing any

of the numeric keys. For example, you can rename PROJECT 1 to PROJECT 2 simply by pressing

2, EXECUTE.

You can also add numbers to files in this way. For example, to re-name the file ANIMALS to

ANIMALS 1, simply move the cursor to the file, press 1, EXECUTE. Again, pressing EXIT will abort

the naming process.

PROMPTS

Two types of prompts are used on the RE32. One is a temporary one that is displayed for information

only. I.e.:

This pops up and lasts for a few seconds. Pressing any key while it is displayed will clear the

message. Different messages stay up for different lengths of time depending on the nature of the

message. If the message relates to something fairly serious such as DISK DRIVE NOT READY,

the message will stay up longer than, say , the message FILE COPIED or PROJECT LOADED. In

the event of a really serious problem, the message may stay up permanently until any key is

pressed.

You may also receive this kind of prompt on the bottom line of the LCD:

In this situation, the EXECUTE key’s LED will be flashing and you should press EXECUTE to

continue (the equivalent of answering “YES” to the prompt) or EXIT to abandon what you are

doing (the equivalent of responding “NO”).

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