DiGiCo SD8 User Manual

SD8 Operation Manual
User Manual - Getting Started
To be read in conjunction with the SD Series Software Reference
User Manual Version E for Software Versions 5.0.680+
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SD8 Operation Manual
Copyright © 2014 Digico UK Ltd
All rights reserved.
All repair and service of the SD8 product should be undertaken by Digico UK Ltd or its authorised agents. Digico UK Ltd cannot accept any liability whatsoever for any loss or damage caused by service, maintenance, or repair by unauthorised personnel.
Software License Notice
Your license agreement with Digico UK Ltd, which is included with the SD8 product, specifies the permitted and prohibited uses of the product. Any unauthorised duplication or use of Digico UK Ltd software, in whole or in part, in print or in any other storage and retrieval system is prohibited.
Licenses and Trademarks
The SD8 logo and SD8 name are trademarks, and Digico UK Ltd and the Digico UK Ltd logo are registered trademarks of Digico UK Ltd. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.
Digico (UK) Ltd Unit 10 Silverglade Business Park Leatherhead Road Chessington Surrey KT9 2QL England Telephone: +44 (0)1372 845600 Fax: +44 (0)1372 845656 Email: sales@digiconsoles.com WWW: http://www.digiconsoles.com
Manual Issue and Date: Issue E - April 2014 - For Version 5.0.680+ Software
Licence Agreement
"Product" : SD8 software product produced by Digico UK Ltd intended for use on Target Platform identified below. "Target Platform": Digico SD8 Digital Console system.
In return for the payment of the one-time fee, the Customer (identified at the end of this Agreement) receives from Digico UK Ltd a licence to use the Product subject to the following terms and conditions.
1. The Product may be used without time limit by the Customer on the Target Platform.
2. The Customer must register the Product with Digico UK Ltd. Registering the Product is deemed an acceptance of the terms and conditions in this agreement.
3. The Product and its licence are not transferable, and the Customer is not permitted to onward-license to any third party. The Cus­tomer indemnifies Digico UK Ltd against any and all claims and actions arising from third party use of copies of the Product made by the Customer.
4. The Customer agrees not to attempt to decompile the object code of the Product otherwise than in circumstances specifically provided for by law, and then only after consultation with Digico UK Ltd.
5. The Customer agrees not to use, or licence the Product for use, with equipment other than the Target Platform.
6. The Customer agrees not to modify the Product without the prior written consent of Digico UK Ltd.
7. This Agreement applies to any enhancement or upgrades that may become available for the Product.
8. This Agreement does not transfer any right, title, or interest in the Product to Customer except as specifically set forth herein.
9. Digico UK Ltd reserves the right to terminate this Agreement upon breach, in which event Customer shall thereafter only be authorised to use the Product to the extent that its contractual commitments to third parties require and then only where such commitments relate to use of the Product as authorised in the foregoing provisions of the Agreement.
LIMITED WARRANTY - Digico UK Ltd warrants for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase of the Product, the Product will reason­ably execute its programming instructions when properly installed on the Target Platform. In the event that this Product fails to execute its programming instructions during the warranty period, the Customer's remedy shall be to return the Product to Digico UK Ltd for replace­ment or repair at Digico UK Ltd option. Digico UK Ltd makes no other express warranty, whether written or oral with respect of this Product.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY - Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, (a) the remedies provided above are the Customer's sole and exclusive remedies and (b) Digico UK Ltd shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages (including lost profit whether based on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory.)
This agreement is made under the Laws of England.
LICENCE NO:..................... ..........................................................
REGISTRATION DATE: ..... ..........................................................
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SD8 Operation Manual
Contents
1.1 Introduction .............................................................................. .......1-1
1.2 Manual Overview ..................................................................... .......1-1
1.3 Before You Start ....................................................................... .......1-2
1.3.1 Worksurface Layout .............................................................1-2
1.3.2 Screen Assignment ..............................................................1-3
1.3.3 Layers and Banks.................................................................1-4
1.3.4 Using the Control Surface ...................................................1-4
1.3.5 The Assigned Channel.........................................................1-5
1.3.6 The Master Fader ..................................................................1-6
1.3.7 Other Centre Section Controls ............................................1-6
1.3.8 Channel Types ......................................................................1-6
1.4 Hardware Configuration.......................................................... .......1-7
1.4.1 Connections..........................................................................1-7
1.4.2 Audio I/O Panel......................................................................1-9
1.4.3 Opto V220 (DiGiRacks) and Opto V221 (SD Racks) .........1-10
1.4.4 Single SD Console System ................................................1-10
1.4.5 Rack Connections ..............................................................1-10
1.4.6 Rack Sharing ............................................................... .......1-11
1.5 Configuring a Session .......................................................... .......1-12
1.5.1 Session Structure ...............................................................1-12
1.5.2 Assigning Faders to the Worksurface....................... .......1-13
1.6 Saving and Loading Sessions ....................................................1-14
1.7 Audio Sync .....................................................................................1-15
1.8 Routing Basics ....................................................................... .......1-16
1.8.1 Selecting Inputs & Outputs ................................................1-16
1.8.2 Ripple Channels .................................................................1-17
1.8.3 Channel Names ..................................................................1-17
1.9 Channel Processing .............................................................. .......1-18
1.9.1 EQ ........................................................................................1-18
1.9.2 Dynamics.............................................................................1-19
1.9.3 Auxiliaries ............................................................................1-20
1.10 The Matrix ............................................................................. .......1-21
1.11 Control Groups............................................................................1-22
1.12 Solo Setup............................................................................. .......1-23
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SD8 Operation Manual
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SD8 - Getting Started
1.1 Introduction
The Digico SD8 consists of a worksurface with an onboard audio engine and a range of onboard inputs and outputs. This can be connected to multiple Input/Output Rack Units by MADI links or optical fibre (optionally) which carry all the audio input and output signals.
The console worksurface consists of 3 sections that can control 60 mono or stereo input channels, 12 VCAs, up to 24 mono or stereo busses, 16 Matrix inputs and 12 Matrix outputs, 12 onboard graphic EQs and 12 onboard stereo effects.
The left section has 12 assignable faders and 12 sets of assignable encoders and switches. The centre section has, a touchscreen, 12 assigned encoders, 12 assignable faders, 12 sets of assignable encoders and
switches, a full set of channel processing controls and a master fader. The right section has 12 assignable faders, 12 sets of assignable encoders and switches and controls for monitoring, head-
phones, talkback, macros and snapshots. Any of these worksurface sections can be assigned to the centre touchscreen.
Multiple console setups can provide: Front of House and Monitoring with shared stage racks and gain tracking. Remote control of a console from a laptop computer.
1.2 Manual Overview
This manual provides an overview of the desk, and describes some of the basic operating principles which the user will need to understand in order to run the desk.
For full details on all SD software functionality please refer to the SD Series Software Reference Manual available for download at www.digico.biz
The following typographical convention used in this manual: An arrow bracket (>) is used to indicate a sequence of button pressing.
For example, Layout > Fader Banks indicates that the Fader Banks button is accessed by first pressing the Layout button.
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SD8 - Getting Started
A A
USB Port
Light
Assignab le Rotary Scroll ers
Q
ff
n
A
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1.3 Before You Start
There are certain general operating principles and terms that should be understood before continuing to use this manual. Please read this chapter carefully before proceeding.
1.3.1 Worksurface Layout..............................................................
Centre Section
Controls
Input Gain and Phase
Touchscreen
ssignable Rotaries and Switches ux / Pan / Dynamic s / FX Controls
Mute and Chann el S elect Buttons
Channel Fader s
Left Section (Optional - not on SD8 24)
ALT Input Switch Channel Proc essing:
High and Low Pa s s Fil ters 4 Band Dynamic Parametric E Dynamics Thresholds & On / O Channel Inserts A & B On/Off Direct Out On/ Off Joystick Panning
Undo/Redo 2nd Function Button Option/All Button
Touch/Turn Controls Left/Right/Master Screen Assig
Centre Section Screen Assign Snaps hot Prev ious/Next
Bank Select Buttons & Master Fader / M ute
ssignable Rotaries and Switches
Aux / Pan / Dynamics Controls
Mute and Channel Select Buttons
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Laptop Area for Optional
Remote Control
Channel Faders
Left Section Screen Assig
Bank Select Buttons
Right Section
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SD8 - Getting Started
Keyboard & Trackball
Snapshot Automation
Macros
ssignable Rotaries and Switches
Aux / Pan / Dynamics Controls
Mute and Channel Select Buttons
Channel Faders
Monitoring
Talkback
Right Section Screen Assig
Bank Select Buttons
1.3.2 Screen Assignment...............................................................
The SD8 has one central touchscreen which is used to access many of the consoles functions. There are 4 possible views that can be seen on this screen - Left section - Centre section - Right section - Master screen Each console worksurface section has its own Screen Assign button which, when pressed, will allow the channels in that
section to be viewed on the screen and controlled by the Centre section's Channel Processing controls such as EQ and Dynam­ics. When the button is lit, that section is assigned to the screen.
When a section has been assigned to the screen all of the controls in the upper centre section are also assigned - these controls are highlighted in the picture below.
The Left and Right worksurface sections also each have a button labelled Assign To Centre which will allow all of the Centre sections controls including faders, mutes and solos to control the bank which has been selected in the Left or Right sections..
There are also additional buttons in the centre section which can assign the Left and Right sections to the screen and a Master button which allows you to view the Master screen. The Master screen gives access to many setup and other functions which are not directly related to the console's channels.
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SD8 - Getting Started
P
S
1.3.3 Layers and Banks .................................................................
The SD8's worksurface is divided into Layers and Banks. Each Bank contains twelve channels, and the channels which are currently active on the control surface are defined using the fader bank and bank layer buttons to the right of the Channel Strip section’s faders:
elect a Layer
Select a Bank
A ‘bank’ is a set of twelve faders, and a ‘layer’ contains up to four ‘banks’. There are two ‘layers’ in each section of the desk, allowing up to 288 channels to be accessible on the worksurface.
Pressing the bank layer button, located above the fader bank buttons, toggles between layers.
To access a bank of faders within that layer, press the appropriate fader bank button. To switch all three sections of the console to the same bank level, press and hold one of the fader bank buttons.
The position of the banks on the worksurface is defined in the Layout > Fader Banks panel. By default, the Input channels will be assigned to Layer 1 on the left and right sections of the console. The different output channels will be assigned to Layer 1 on centre section. Control Groups will also be assigned to the centre section. These bank assignments can be customised by the user and saved in a session at any time.
1.3.4 Using the Control Surface ....................................................
There are two main ways in which all of the functions of the SD8 are accessed:
1. The touchscreen display, which can be controlled directly using a finger, or by using the keyboard and mouse
2. The physical encoders, switches and faders.
Note that when touching the screen directly, you may find it easier to use a finer point than your finger. However, in order to prevent damage to the screen, it is important that you only use devices specifically designed for touching screens (such as a pda stylus), and that you never press down hard on the screen.
A number of functions can be accessed in different ways, allowing users to operate the console using whichever interface they prefer. This manual will describe accessing on-screen functions by touching the screen directly and not by using the mouse.
All of the physical controls found in the centre section are described in full within the relevant section of the manual and many require no further introduction. The Master screen has a row of grey buttons which are used to access a range of configuration displays. Pressing these buttons opens either a further drop-down sub-menu or a pop-up display. If a drop-down menu is opened, pressing on one of its entries will open a pop-up display. The buttons lighten to indicate that their sub-menu or pop-up display is open. A number of the buttons within each pop-up display generate further pop-ups.
The buttons within the pop-ups are coloured grey when their function is inactive, generally switching to a lighter shade of the pop-up background when their function is active. Pressing on a text box opens a numeric or QWERTY keypad which can be operated directly by pressing the screen or via the console’s external keyboard.
Pop-ups are closed by pressing the box in the top right-hand corner of the pop-up, marked CLOSE or CANCEL (or by pressing CAN on keypad pop-ups).
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SD8 - Getting Started
To the right and below the Master screen is a single encoder marked Touch-Turn (shown below). This is used to access some of the rotary and switch controls within the Master screen. To assign the Touch-Turn encoder to a particular on-screen pot, touch the pot to be assigned. You will notice that a coloured ring appears around the on-screen pot, indicating that it is assigned to the Touch-Turn encoder/switch.
1.3.5 The Assigned Channel .........................................................
One of the channels in the Channel Strip panel is displayed in gold, indicating that it is currently the Assigned Channel. This means that it has been assigned to the worksurface controls and can be configured in detail, as described below. To Assign a channel, touch anywhere in the channel on the screen.
Once a channel is Assigned, all of the controls for that channel which are not displayed within the channel strip itself can be accessed via secondary pop-ups, displayed by touching inside the relevant area of the channel. These pop-ups include controls such as input and output routing and signal processing parameters.
A number of the physical rotary encoders on the control surface can be assigned to different on-screen pots. In order to ensure that it is clear which function is assigned to which encoder, the assigned on-screen pot will have a coloured ring around it.
The twelve encoders and buttons immediately above the touchscreen (shown above) refer to the channels with which they are aligned. These controls are concerned with the channel input, located at the top of the Channel Strip panel.
The three rows of encoders and buttons immediately below the touchscreen also refer to the channels with which they are aligned. Normally, these control the level and on/off status of the three highlighted aux sends, but can have a number of functions assigned to them. Touching on an aux send on the screen will assign that aux and the ones immediately below it to the aux encoders. Six aux sends can be displayed in the Channel Strip panel at any one time. If more than six aux sends have been created in the session, the scroll button outside the bottom left-hand corner of the screen can be used to scroll the display through the remaining auxiliaries:
The controls to the right of the Channel Strip panel allow the Assigned channel to be adjusted:
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