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Dan Dugan Sound Design
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Model M
User Manual
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Dan Dugan Sound Design Model M User Manual

Dan Dugan Sound Design
Model M Automatic Mixing Controller
User Guide
Release Date: November 2015
Version: 1.3
Author: Rob Wenig
Important Safety Instructions and Warnings
Standards Compliance
The third-party power supply provided with this product has been certified to comply with UL and CE.
Safety Instructions
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. WARNING! To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus
to rain or moisture.
7. Clean only with dry cloth.
8. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.
9. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
10. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized
plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
11. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, conve-
nience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
12. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14. WARNING! Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required
when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. WARNING! To reduce the risk of electric shock, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. No
user serviceable parts inside.
Warranty Statement
Warranty: One year parts and labor Dan Dugan Sound Design warrants that Model M hardware will be free from defects in
components and workmanship for a period of 12 months from the date of invoice. During the warranty period, Dan Dugan Sound Design will cover the cost of all parts and labor to remedy the defect, or replace products which prove to be defective. Dan Dugan Sound Design is not obliged to honor this warranty if the hardware has failed to be maintained and operated as specified by Dan Dugan Sound Design, in the accompanying documentation, or other than in accordance with industry standards. Defects caused by unauthorized modifications, misuse, negligence, act of God or accident are not covered by this warranty. Software is provided as a convenience, but due to the wide variety of computer systems, cannot be guaranteed to work. This Limited Warranty is exclusive and no other warranty is expressed or implied. Dan Dugan Sound Design does not warrant that Dan Dugan Sound Design soft­ware, or any third-party software, is error free. Third party branded or manufactured goods are supplied by Dan Dugan Sound Design with care but without responsibility and subject only to third party suppliers’ warranties. In all other respects Dan Dugan Sound Design is not liable for consequential damages.
Dugan Model M User Guide
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction.......................................................................................... 9
Chapter 2: Theory of the Speech and Music Systems.............. 11
Dugan Speech System........................................................................ 11
Insert Patching.................................................................................... 12
Dugan Music System........................................................................... 13
Insert Patching.................................................................................... 14
Chapter 3: Installation........................................................................................... 17
Rack Mounting........................................................................................ 17
Connections............................................................................................. 18
Audio I/O.............................................................................................. 18
MADI............................................................................................. 18
ADAT............................................................................................ 19
Unprocessed Outputs................................................................ 19
Linking.................................................................................................. 19
Word Clock.......................................................................................... 20
Network................................................................................................ 20
Power.................................................................................................... 20
Chapter 4: Connecting to a Computer.................................................... 21
Establishing Network Connections ................................................ 22
Manually Add Unit................................................................................. 23
Setting a Specific IP Address........................................................... 24
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Dugan Model M User Guide
Chapter 5: Dugan Control Panel Software......................................... 25
Top Pane................................................................................................... 26
Adding Units Manually....................................................................... 27
Setting Controls...................................................................................... 27
Naming Units and Channels............................................................. 27
Channel Pane.......................................................................................... 28
Level Indicator..................................................................................... 28
Bypass.................................................................................................. 29
Channel Modes................................................................................... 29
Man............................................................................................... 30
Auto.............................................................................................. 30
Mute.............................................................................................. 30
Preset................................................................................................... 30
Channel Groups.................................................................................. 31
Override................................................................................................ 31
Meters................................................................................................... 32
Weight Controls .................................................................................. 32
Master Pane............................................................................................. 35
Reset .................................................................................................... 36
Meters................................................................................................... 36
Clock Source....................................................................................... 36
System.................................................................................................. 37
Separating Systems................................................................... 37
Selecting Units to Display......................................................... 37
Group Master Controls ...................................................................... 38
Override....................................................................................... 38
Preset........................................................................................... 38
Mute.............................................................................................. 38
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Dugan Model M User Guide
Master Panels..................................................................................... 38
Music System Panel.................................................................. 38
Model K Devices Panel............................................................. 39
Scenes Panel.............................................................................. 39
Chapter 6: Pre-fader Insert................................................................................ 41
Muting Channels.................................................................................... 41
Pre-listening to Muted Channels..................................................... 42
Chapter 7: Dugan Music System and Gain Limiting................... 43
Dugan Music System........................................................................... 43
Meter..................................................................................................... 44
NOM Gain Limit .................................................................................. 44
Music System Threshold Input Channel......................................... 44
Music System Threshold Input Level .............................................. 44
Auto Mix Depth.................................................................................... 44
Setting up the Music System............................................................ 44
Controlling Ambience......................................................................... 46
Gain Limiting............................................................................................ 46
Gain Limiting and the Music System............................................... 46
Gain Limiting and the Speech System............................................47
Musical Theater...................................................................................... 47
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Dugan Model M User Guide
Chapter 8: Front Panel.......................................................................................... 49
All Channels Screen............................................................................. 50
Channel Block Selection.................................................................... 50
Top Row............................................................................................... 50
Eight Channels Screen........................................................................ 51
Top Row............................................................................................... 51
Channel Controls................................................................................ 52
Group Master Screen........................................................................... 53
Top Row............................................................................................... 53
Group Master Controls ...................................................................... 53
Menu Screen............................................................................................ 53
MADI Configuration Screen............................................................... 54
Network Configuration Screen......................................................... 55
Scene Memory Screen........................................................................ 56
Chapter 9: Updates.................................................................................................. 57
Appendix A:Specifications ................................................................................. 59
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Dugan Model M User Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction
The Dugan Model M Automatic Mixing Controller helps professional audio mixers handle multiple live mics without having to continually ride their individual faders. This signal processor patches into the input insert points of an audio mixing console. It detects which mics are being used and makes fast, transparent cross-fades, freeing the mixer to focus on balance and sound quality instead of being chained to the fad­ers. The Model M tracks unscripted dialogue, eliminating cueing mistakes and late fade-ups, while avoiding the choppy and distracting effects common to noise gates.
The Model M includes three patented automatic mixing algorithms:
• Dugan Speech System™ for all dialog applications
• Dugan Music System
• Dugan Gain Limiting
The Model M can:
• connect up to 64 channels (MADI), or 16 channels (ADAT);
• be remote controlled from the Dugan Control Panel for Java (included) and Dugan Control Panel for iPad (sold separately);
• be physically controlled from its own front panel;
• be remote controlled from the Dugan Model K Tactile Control Panel;
• link with other Dugan automatic mixing controllers to create a larger system;
• partition channels into one to three groups that can span linked units;
• create separate systems that do not interact (i.e., for separate studios);
• conveniently connect multiple devices via three network ports;
• be powered by PoE.
™ for mixing a musical group
™ for reducing feedback when using the Music System
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Dugan Model M User Guide
The Model M supports a broad spectrum of live mixing applications:
• Conference reinforcement, video trucks
• Houses of worship
• TV news and sports panels, reality and game shows
• Wireless mics for theater
• Boardrooms and civic meeting rooms
• Teleconferencing and distance learning
The Model M dramatically improves live mixing with multiple mics by:
• eliminating late upcuts;
• reducing PA feedback and studio noise;
• reducing comb filtering from adjacent mics.
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Dugan Model M User Guide
Chapter 2: Theory of the Speech and Music Systems
Dugan Speech System
The Dugan Speech System is a patented and trademarked automatic mixing function. The Speech System distributes the gain of one open microphone over the entire system, maintaining a natural ambience. It is essential to distinguish this behavior from the an­noying fluctuation of levels and uneven ambience in a conventional gating system.
The system automatically manages any number of live mics in unpredictable dia­logue situations. When one person speaks, that mic’s gain fades up instantly, and the others down. When the speaker pauses, all mics fade to medium gains that sum to equal one mic at full gain. The result sounds like passing one mic around among the speakers. When several people talk at once, the gain is shared.
Figure 2-1 Four snapshots of a three-mic system
Figure 2-1 shows the Speech System in action with a three-mic system.
• The first frame shows no one speaking; the sound levels at all mics are low. The system fades all channels to medium gains that sum to the equivalent of one mic at full gain.
• The second frame shows one person speaking. The system automatically fades his/her gain to full, while the other two inputs are turned down.
• The third frame shows a different person speaking. The system automatically fades his/her gain to full, while the other two inputs are turned down.
• The fourth frame shows two people speaking simultaneously. The system automatically shares the gain between them, while the other input is turned down.
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Dugan Model M User Guide
Insert Patching
CONSOLE
MICROPHONE
INPUT
INSERT
POINT
EQ
INSERT
POINT
DUGAN CONTROLLER
ALGORITHM
WEIGHT
DCA
FADER
MIX BUS
INSERT
POINT
Figure 2-2 Post-fader insert patching
The Dugan Speech System is best patched post-EQ, post-fader, pre-compressor:
• Post-EQ: Equalization can be applied to different mic types so they sound more alike, which benefits both the sound quality and the automixing process.
• Post-fader: This allows muting channels on the console by pulling down the fader or activating the mute button. A pre-fader patch leaves the mic in the automix even when the fader is down or the console channel is muted.
Most analog consoles only have pre-fader inserts. You can use Dugan auto­mixing with these consoles but you must be careful to mute channels by muting on the Dugan, not the console.
• Pre-compressor: The Dugan Speech System works on the level differences between channels. Compression reduces level differences between channels, making automixing less effective. It is OK to patch post-compressor if only occasional peak limiting occurs. However, if compression is active during normal speech, better results will be obtained by patching the Dugan pre-compressor.
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Dugan Model M User Guide Theory of the Speech and Music Systems
Dugan Music System
Music System
The Music System is a soft-gating or ducking system with its threshold set by an audio signal, typically from a mic measuring the ambient sound level. Each channel has a 2:1 expansion ratio below the floating threshold.
The Music System can also be used to duck an audience mix when the people on stage talk, attenuating the sound of the PA in the room. Use an aux send of the stage vocal mix to supply the threshold signal instead of a mic.
The following example ( ground vocalists.
• Frame 1 shows no one singing. The system keeps all channels at a low gain.
• Frame 2 shows one person singing. The system automatically fades his/her gain to full, while the other two inputs stay low.
No one singing Mic 2 singing Mic 3 singing Mics 2 & 3 singing
70
Sound at mics
(dBSPL)
Resulting
automix
gains (dB)
60
50
40
0
-10
-20
-30
Figure 2-3) shows how the Music System works with three back-
Music System
Threshold Input
Threshold
follows
audio level
Depth set to
-15 dB
Figure 2-3 Function of the Dugan Music System
• Frame 3 shows a different person singing. The system automatically fades his/ her gain to full, while the previous singer’s mic and the other input stay low.
• Frame 4 shows two people singing together. The system automatically gives their channels full gain, while the other input stays low.
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Dugan Model M User Guide
Insert Patching
CONSOLE
MICROPHONE
INPUT
INSERT
POINT
DUGAN CONTROLLER
ALGORITHM
WEIGHT
DCA
EQ
INSERT
POINT
FADER
MIX BUS
INSERT
POINT
Figure 2-4 Pre-fader insert patching
The Dugan Music System is best patched post-EQ, pre-fader, pre-compressor:
• Post-EQ: Equalization can be applied to different mic types so they sound more alike, which benefits both the sound quality and the automixing process.
• Pre-fader: This allows the expansion threshold for automixing to remain stable while adjusting the mix with the faders.
• Pre-compressor: The Dugan Music System works better with consistent ambience caused by bleed from neighboring voices and instruments. It is OK to patch post-compressor if only occasional peak limiting occurs. However, if compression is active during normal singing or playing, better results will be obtained by patching the Dugan pre-compressor.
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Dugan Model M User Guide Theory of the Speech and Music Systems
Gain Limiting
Gain Limiting reduces master gain as new mics become active, thus avoiding feed­back and noise. This is commonly called NOM (number of open mics) gain adjust­ment. Unlike NOM functions on other systems, Dugan Gain Limiting does not base its gain limiting calculation on the number of open mics. Instead it sums the gains of all active channels (including partially attenuated channels), compares them to a gain threshold, and reduces the gain appropriately.
10
8
Gain Reduction (dB)
6
4
2
0
0
2
Number of Open Mikes
4
(NOM)
6
8
Gain
Reduction
(dB)
4
2
0
0
2
Number of Open Mikes
4
(NOM)
6
8
Figure 2-5 NOM and gain reduction: NOM =1 (left); NOM = 4 (right)
Conventional automatic mixing implementations always assume an NOM of 1. The Dugan’s unique implementation allows you to set the number of mics that will op­erate at full gain before gain limiting occurs. For example, if there is enough gain be­fore feedback to tolerate four open mics, the gain limit can be set to 4. Gain reduction begins when the fifth mic turns on.
NOTE: Since the Model M has no master audio channel, Gain Limiting reduces the gain on all
channels in the group for which NOM is active.
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Dugan Model M User Guide
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Dugan Model M User Guide Installation
Chapter 3: Installation
Rack Mounting
One or two half-rack-sized Dugan controllers can be mounted in a single rack space. Each unit ships with one long and one short rack ear and one joining plate. Two units provide the necessary parts for mounting side-by-side.
The rack ears for older half-rack Dugans differ slightly from the current design, but the joining plates are the same. All half-rack-sized Dugans can be mounted side-by­side using the appropriate rack ear for each unit.
To rack-mount a single unit, attach one long and one short rack ear, then mount in the rack.
To mount two units side-by-side:
1. For the left unit, remove the four screws from the right side of the top and bottom lids.
2. Attach the top and bottom joining plates to the left unit.
3. For the right unit, remove the four screws from the left side of the top and
bottom lids.
4. Attach the top and bottom joining plates to the right unit.
5. Attach the appropriate short rack ears to the left and right units.
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Dugan Model M User Guide
Connections
Model M channels are patched as inserts to your console’s input channels. Where they are inserted depends on whether you are using the Dugan Speech System (see page 12), the Dugan Music System (see page 14), or both.
NOTE: When an actor both sings and speaks, it is best to route the same mic through two
Dugan channels (one for the Music and one for the Speech System) and switch be­tween them. See Musical Theater on page 47 for more information.
Audio I/O
The rear panel has the following connectors: MADI, Word Clock, ADAT, network connectors, and power. It also has two switches:
MADI–ADAT and NORM–SLAVE.
Figure 3-1 Model M rear panel connectors
The MADI–ADAT switch selects whether the input is derived from the MADI (up posi­tion) or
ADAT (down position) connectors. In the ADAT position, the LINK connectors are
re-purposed to carry eight additional ADAT channels, so linking multiple units is not possible (see Linking on page 19).
MADI
MADI I/O can use a dual SC optical cable for input and output or two BNC coaxial connectors for input and output. The Model M automatically selects the active input. If signal is present at both inputs, optical is selected.
Select the desired cable and connect the appropriate MADI ports on your console and the Dugan.
MADI connections can carry up to 64 audio channels. You can select a block of chan­nels for Dugan processing. MADI channels not assigned to the Dugan are passed through unprocessed. MADI channels are assigned from the unit’s front panel (see page 54).
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