Midas consoles PRO3 Control Centre Quick Reference Guide

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Midas Klark Teknik Limited,

Klark Industrial Park,

Walter Nash Road,

Kidderminster.

Worcestershire.

DY11 7HJ.

England.

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.midasconsoles.com

PRO3 Control Centre — Quick Reference Guide

DOC04-PRO3 Issue A — September 2010

In line with the company’s policy of continual improvement, specifications and function may be

subject to change without notice. This Quick Reference Guide was correct at the time of writing. E&OE.

© Red Chip Company Ltd.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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 intended to alert the user
to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions
in the literature accompanying the product.

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 Clean only with a dry cloth.
7 Do not block any of the ventilation

openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.

8 Do not install near any heat sources such

as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or
other apparatus (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.

9 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.

10 Protect the power cord from being walked

on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.

11 Only use attachments/accessories

specified by the manufacturer.

12 Use only with the cart, stand,

tripod, bracket, or table
specified by the
manufacturer, or sold with
the apparatus. When a cart
is used, use caution when moving the
cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury
from tip-over.

13 Unplug this apparatus during lightning

storms or when unused for long periods of
time.

14 Refer all servicing to qualified 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 Use the mains plug to disconnect the

apparatus from the mains.

16 Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or

electric shock, do not expose this
apparatus to rain or moisture.

17 Warning: Do not expose this

equipment to dripping or splashing
and ensure that no objects filled with
liquids, such as vases, are placed on
the equipment.

18 Warning: The mains plug of the power

supply cord shall remain readily
operable.

INSTRUCTIONS DE SÉCURITÉ IMPORTANTES

Le symbole représentant un éclair fléché dans un triangle équilatéral a pour but
d'alerter l'utilisateur de la présence d'une "tension dangereuse" non isolée à
l'intérieur du boîtier, pouvant être d'une force suffisante pour constituer un risque
d'électrocution.

Le point d'exclamation dans un triangle équilatéral a pour but d'alerter
l'utilisateur de la présence d'instructions importantes concernant le
fonctionnement et la maintenance, dans la documentation qui accompagne
l'appareil.

1 Veuillez lire ces instructions.
2 Conservez ces instructions.
3 Respectez toutes les consignes de

sécurité.

4 Suivez scrupuleusement toutes les

instructions.

5 N'utilisez pas cet appareil près d'un point

d'eau.

6 Utilisez uniquement un chiffon sec pour le

nettoyer.

7 N'obstruez aucune des ouïes de

ventilation. Installez-le en respectant les
instructions du fabricant.

8 Ne l'installez pas près de sources de

chaleur tels que radiateurs, panneaux
chauffants, étuves, ou autres appareils
produisant de la chaleur (dont les
amplificateurs).

9 Ne pas utiliser d'adaptateur pour

supprimer la prise de terre des prises à
trois fiches. Si la prise fournie ne peut pas
être branchée dans la prise électrique,
adressez-vous à un électricen qui
remplacera la prise obsolète.

10 Protégez le cordon secteur afin que l'on ne

marche pas dessus et qu'il ne soit pas
pincé, surtout au niveau des prises, ou à
l'endroit où il sort de l'appareil.

11 Utilisez exclusivement des fixations et des

accessoires recommandés par le fabricant.

12 Utilisez l'appareil uniquement

avec le chariot, le trépied, le
support ou la table spécifiés
par le fabricant, ou vendus
avec l'appareil. Si un chariot
est utilisé, prenez toutes les précautions
nécessaires lorsque vous devez déplacer
l'ensemble (chariot et appareil) afin qu'ils
ne se renversent pas.

13 Débranchez l'appareil en période d'orage

ou s'il doit rester inutilisé pendant
longtemps.

14 Confiez toutes les réparations et

interventions à un personnel qualifié. Une
intervention est nécessaire si l'appareil a
été endommagé d'une façon ou d'une
autre, si son cordon ou sa prise secteur
ont été endommagés, si du liquide a été
renversé ou si des objets sont tombés à
l'intérieur, ou encore si l'appareil a été
exposé à la pluie ou à l'humidité, s'il ne
fonctionne pas normalement, ou s'il est
tombé.

15 Débrancher l'appareil du réseau électrique

par la prise de secteur.

16 Avertissement : afin de réduire le

risque d'incendie ou de choc
électrique, ne pas exposer cet
appareil à la pluie ou à de l'humidité.

17 Avertissement : n'exposez pas cet

équipement aux éclaboussures et
veillez à ce qu'aucun récipient rempli
de liquide, verre ou vase, ne soit posé
dessus.

18 Avertissement : la prise secteur doit

toujours rester directement
accessible.

PRO6 EC-Declaration of Conformity

Midas

DOC04-PRO3ECDOC Rev. A

EC-Declaration of Conformity

The undersigned, representing the following manufacturer

Manufacturer: Address:

Midas Klark Teknik Ltd. Klark Industrial Park, Walter Nash Road,
Kidderminster. Worcestershire. DY11 7HJ.

hereby declares that the following product

Product Type Number Product Description Nominal Voltage(s) Current Freq.

PRO3 Control Centre

115V AC
230V AC

2.9A

1.5A

50/60Hz

is in conformity with the regulations of the following marked EC-directives and bears the

-mark accordingly

reference number title

2004/108/EC EMC Directive (EMC)

2006/95/EC Low-Voltage Directive (LVD)

The conformity of the product with EC Directives for use in environment E4 is provided by compliance with
the following standards:

Standards/date:

Applied Electrical Safety test standards:

reference number title

EN 60065:2002

Audio, video and similar electronic apparatus. Safety requirements.

Applied EMC emission test standards:

ref. no. title

EN 55103-1:1996
Class A

EN 55103-1 Annex A: Radiated
magnetic disturbance, 50Hz-50kHz

CISPR 22: Radiated disturbance,

30-1000MHz

CISPR 22: Conducted disturbance,

ac & signal ports

CISPR 16: Discontinuous

disturbance

EN 61000-3-2:2000 Mains

harmonics

EN 61000-3-3:1995 Mains voltage

flicker

Applied EMC immunity test standards:

ref. no. title

EN 61000-4-2:1995 Electrostatic
discharge

EN 55103-2:1996
Class A

EN 61000-4-3:1996: Radiated RF
disturbance, 80-1000MHz

EN 55103-2 Annex A: Magnetic LF

disturbance, 50Hz–10kHz

EN 61000-4-4:1995: Fast transient

bursts, ac & signal ports

EN 61000-4-5:1995: Surge, ac port

EN 61000-4-6:1996: Conducted RF

field, ac & signal ports

EN 61000-4-11:1994: Mains voltage

dips and interruptions

Place, date: Kidderminster, UK
18th August 2010
General Manager AVP, Product Development
Printed name: John Oakley Printed name: Alex Cooper

Licences

The following are the license agreements applicable to the Midas Digital Equipment.

End-User Licence Agreement for Midas™ and Klark Teknik™ Software

IMPORTANT - Please read this document carefully before using this Midas™ or

Klark Teknik™ Product. This is an agreement governing your use of software or

other machine instructions already installed on this Midas™ or Klark Teknik™

Product, as well as other software that we provide for installation on this Product.

The Midas™ or Klark Teknik™ Product will not operate in accordance with its

documentation without this software.

THIS AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT" OR "LICENCE") STATES THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS UPON WHICH
MIDAS KLARK TEKNIK LIMITED ("COMPANY") OFFERS TO LICENSE THE INSTALLED FIRMWARE,
SOFTWARE AND/OR PROGRAMS ("the SOFTWARE") WITH THE MIDAS™ OR KLARK TEKNIK™ CONSOLE
OR SIGNAL PROCESSING PRODUCT ("PRODUCT") IN WHICH IT HAS BEEN INSTALLED BY, OR FOR
WHICH IT IS PROVIDED BY, THE COMPANY. BY USING THIS PRODUCT YOU WILL BE AGREEING TO
BECOME BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS LICENCE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS
LICENCE, DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE PRODUCT TO THE PLACE WHERE
YOU OBTAINED IT FOR A FULL REFUND. You agree to notify any persons whom you permit to operate
this Product of the terms of this Licence, and to require them to comply with these terms.

The Software is licensed, not sold, to you for use only under the terms of this Licence, and the
Company reserves all rights not expressly granted to you. The Company retains ownership of all copies
of the Software itself, and all proprietary parts of it, including those stored on or in the Product.

1. Licence: Subject to the terms and conditions of this agreement, the Company grants you, and
other persons you permit to operate the Product, a personal, limited, non-exclusive,
non-transferable licence to use the Software only on the single Product unit in which it has been
installed.

2. Restrictions: (a) The Software, and the accompanying written materials, are copyrighted and
contain trade secrets and other proprietary matter, including confidential information relating to
the specifications and performance characteristics of this Product. Save for such elements as
may be licensed to the Company, as described in paragraph 5, all rights to copyrights, trade
marks and trade secrets in the Software, or any modifications to it, are owned by the Company.
Unauthorised use or copying of the Company's proprietary Software, or any portion thereof, or
copying of those written materials, is prohibited. (b) You may not create, market, distribute, or
transfer copies of the Company's proprietary Software, or any part of it, to others, or duplicate,
rent, lease or loan that Software, or any part of it, except that you may transfer that Software
installed in this Product in conjunction with the sale, transfer, loan, rent or lease of this Product,
and subject at all times to this Licence. YOU MAY NOT REVERSE ENGINEER, DECOMPILE,
DISASSEMBLE, EXTRACT OR SEPARAT E OUT, MODIFY, ADAPT, PORT, OR TRANSLATE THE
SOFTWARE, DERIVE THE SOURCE CODE OF THE SOFTWARE OR CREATE DERIVATIVE WORKS
BASED ON THE SOFTWARE OR ANY ACCOMPANYING WRITTEN MA TERIALS, save as is allowed by
licences pertaining to component parts of the Software which are licensed by third parties, as
described under paragraph 5, or otherwise by law. (c) In the event you violate any term of this
Licence, all rights granted herein will automatically and immediately terminate and you must stop
using the Software and destroy any copies of the Software.

3. Limited Warranty: Subject to your installation of any Software updates issued by the Compan y
as described herein, and the condition below, the Company warrants that the Software will
operate in compliance with the Software's material specifications and documentation for a period
of 90 days from your purchase of this Product. The Software is provided "as is" and the Company
does not warrant that the operation of the Software will meet your requirements or operate free
from error. To the greatest extent permissible by law, the Company DISCLAIMS ALL
WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD
PARTY RIGHTS OR CAPABILITY OF CORRECTLY PROCESSING PROVIDING AND/OR RECEIVING

DATE INFORMATION. You understand that the Company may update or revise the Software but
in so doing incurs no obligation to furnish such updates to you. However , the Company may in its
discretion make updates available from time to time upon such terms and conditions as it shall
determine. It is a condition of the above warranty that you install any such Software updates, as
may be issued from time to time by the Company for the Software, in accordance with the
Company's instructions, and if you do not do so such warranty will cease to apply. You may view
current Software updates at http://www.klarkteknik.com and http://www.midasconsoles.com.

4. Limited Liability: THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE
SOFTWARE REMAINS WITH YOU. THE LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING
OUT OF THIS LICENCE AND/OR BASED UPON THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF
ACTION, AND INCLUDING WORK STOPPAGE, PRODUCT FAILURE OF MALFUNCTION OR ANY
OTHER COMMERCIAL LOSS OR DAMAGE, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE COST OF THE LICENCE FEE
FOR THE SOFTWARE OR THE COST OF THIS PRODUCT. SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COMPANY BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OF DATA, LOST
OPPORTUNITY OR PROFITS, COST OF COVER OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR
INDIRECT DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU ADVISE THE COMPANY OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES. THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE SOFTWARE AND/OR THE PRODUCT REFLECTS THIS
ALLOCATION OF RISK. NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH PURPORTS TO EXCLUDE OR LIMIT THE
COMPANY'S LIABILITY FOR DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE OR ANY
OTHER LIABILITY WHICH CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED BY LAW.

5. Other Third-Party Computer Programs: As referred to herein, the term "Software" refers
only to proprietary Midas™ or Klark Teknik™ software, owned by the Company, that has been
provided to you for installation on, or already installed in, a Product. In addition to the Softw are,
you may have also been provided, at no additional charge, with a version of the widely-available
GNU Linux Operating System, which is a modular operating system made up of hundreds of
individual software components, each of which was written, and the copyright and other rights in
which are owned individually, by various parties (collectively, "the GNU Linux Programs"). Each
component has its own applicable end user li cence agreement, and many of these agreements
permit you to copy, modify, and redistribute the applicable software, but you must review the
on-line documentation that shares a directory or otherwise accompanies each of the GNU Linux
Programs provided to you for the specific terms and conditions. Nothing in this Licence limits
your rights under, or grants you rights that supersede, the terms of any other applicable end user
licence agreement. If you wish to receive a computer-readable copy of the source code for any
of the GNU Linux Programs that have been provided with your Midas™ or Klark Teknik™ Product,
send a cheque or money order (no cash accepted), your address and [£10.00] to cover the cost
of optical media, postage and handling, to:

Midas Klark Teknik Limited
ATTN: Linux Programs CD for Midas™/Klark Teknik™
Walter Nash Road,
Kidderminster.
Worcestershire.
DY11 7HJ.
England.

In your request, indicate your Product's name and model number, serial number and
version/release information. In your request, also indicate the relevant Software version/release
information. This offer, made pursuant to the GNU Linux Programs' end user licence agreements,
may expire according to the terms of those agreements, in which case your cheque will be
returned to you or destroyed at our option. Please note that the GNU Linux Programs that may

be available to you under this offer consists of the GNU Linux Operating System components only
and none of the proprietary application software developed by Midas or Klark Teknik is included.

Other updated Linux distributions containing application software are widely available from a
variety of Internet sources, and are often available at minimal or no cost.

6. Termination: This Licence will terminate immediately if you violate any of the Licence terms.
Upon termination you must discontinue use of the Software, and either destroy, erase or return
to Company all copies of the Software in your possession, custody or control, including those in
or on the Product.

7. General: This Licence constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Company with
respect to this Software and, save in the case of fraud, supersedes any other communication
(including advertising). Company reserves all rights not expressly granted to y ou in this licence.
If any provision of this Licence is held unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the
maximum extent permissible so as to give effect the intent of this Licence, and the remainder of
this Licence shall continue in full force and effect. This Licence shall be governed by English law

and the Courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide any
dispute concerning it or its formation. No breach by you of any provision of this Licence shall be
waived or discharged except with the express written consent of the Company and no failure or
delay by the Company to exercise any of its rights under this Licence shall operate as a waiver
thereof and no single or partial exercise of any such right shall prevent any other or further
exercise of that or any other right. You acknowledge that the Company could be irreparably
damaged if the terms of this Licence were not specifically enforced, and agree that the Company
may seek appropriate equitable remedies with respect to breaches of this Licence, including
injunctive relief, in addition to such other remedies as the Company may otherwise have
available to it under applicable laws.

GNU General Public License (GPL)

For details of the Third Party Software License Attribution, Copyright and Terms and Conditions and
Notices, and the GNU LESSER GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE, see the Midas Digital Equipment GNU
General Public License (GPL) Booklet part number DOC04-GPL issue A.

xi

Precautions

Before installing, setting up or operating this equipment make sure you have read and
fully understand all of this section and the “IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS” at the
front of this document.

This equipment is supplied by a mains voltage that can cause electric shock injury!
The following must be observed in order to maintain safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

performance.

Safety warnings

Signal 0V is connected internally to the
chassis.

To completely isolate this equipment from
the AC mains, while observing full safety
precautions (see “Power”), switch off the
isolator switch (above the mains power
sockets on rear of control centre) and then
switch off the mains at the three mains
outlets. Unplug the three mains leads from
the rear of the control centre.

To avoid electrical shock do not remove
covers.

General precautions

In the event of ground loop problems,
disconnect the signal screen at one end of the
connecting cables. Note that this can only be
done when the equipment is used within a
balanced system.

Do not remove, hide or deface any warnings or
cautions.

Power

The power supplies contain LETHAL VOLTAGES
greatly in excess of the mains voltage and its
rails can produce extremely large currents that
could burn out equipment and wiring if shorted.

distributed so as to meet local safety
regulations.

A Volex locking type plug is fitted on each
supplied mains cable, which plugs into a mains
IEC connector on the equipment. When fitted
properly the Volex plug locks into place,
preventing it from working loose, or being
inadvertently knocked loose or pulled out. To fit
a Volex plug, insert it into the mains IEC
connector and push it in until it locks in place.
Then, check to make sure it is locked in place.
To remove it, release its locking device and then
pull it out. When fitting or removing a Volex
plug, always hold the plug itself and never use
the cable, as this may damage it.

During operation of the control centre, a
minimum of two of its three mains inlets must
be connected and supplying power.

When removing the equipment’s electric plugs
from the outlets, always hold the plug itself and
not the cable. Pulling out the plug by the cable
can damage it.

Never insert or remove an electric plug with wet
hands.

Do not connect/disconnect a mains power
connector to/from the control centre while
power is being applied to it. Switch the power
off first.

Before switching the control centre on or off,
make sure that all monitor loudspeaker power
amplifiers are turned off or muted.

The internal power supplies are of the switch
mode type that automatically sense the
incoming mains voltage and will work where the
nominal voltage is in the range 100VAC to
240VAC.

Each mains inlet is to be sourced from its own
separate wall-mounted mains outlet socket.
Otherwise, their mains sources must be suitably

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

Handling the equipment

Completely isolate the equipment electrically
and disconnect all cables from the equipment
before moving it.

When lifting or moving the equipment, always
take its size and weight into consideration. Use

xii Precautions

suitable lifting equipment or transporting gear,
or sufficient additional personnel.

Do not insert your fingers or hands in any gaps
or openings on the equipment, for example,
vents.

Do not press or rub on the sensitive surface of
the GUI screens.

If the glass of the GUI screen is broken, liquid
crystals shouldn’t leak through the break due to
the surface tension of the thin layer and the
type of construction of the LCD panel. However,
in the unlikely event that you do make contact
with this substance, wash it out with soap.

Installation

Before installing the equipment:

• Make sure the equipment is correctly
connected to the protective earth conductor
of the mains voltage supply of the system
installation through the mains leads.

• Power to the equipment must be via a fused
spur(s).

• Power plugs must be inserted in socket
outlets provided with protective earth
contacts. The electrical supply at the socket
outlets must provide appropriate
over-current protection.

• Both the mains supply and the quality of
earthing must be adequate for the
equipment.

• Before connecting up the equipment, check
that the mains power supply voltage rating
corresponds with the local mains power
supply . The rating of the mains power supply
voltage is printed on the equipment.

Make sure that the mains voltage and fuse
rating information of the equipment will be
visible after installation.

Audio connections

To ensure the correct and reliable operation of
your equipment, only high quality, balanced,
screened, twisted pair audio cable should be
used.

XLR connector shells should be of metal
construction so that they provide a screen when
connected to the control centre and, where
appropriate, they should have Pin 1 connected
to the cable screen.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions

Observe full electrostatic discharge
(ESD) — also known as “anti-static”
— precautions when carrying out

procedures in this manual that are
accompanied by the ESD Susceptibility Symbol
(shown above). This caution symbol shows you
that ESD damage may be caused to items
unless proper ESD precautions are taken, which
include the following practices:

• Keep the work area free from plastic, vinyl or

styrofoam.

• Wear an anti-static wrist strap.

• Discharge personal static before handling

devices.

• Ground the work surface.

• Avoid touching ESD-sensitive devices.

Location

Ideally a cool area is preferred, away from
power distribution equipment or other potential
sources of interference.

Do not install the equipment in places of poor
ventilation.

Do not install this equipment in a location
subjected to excessive heat, dust or mechanical
vibration. Allow for adequate ventilation around
the equipment, making sure that its fans and
vents are not obstructed. Whenever possible,
keep the equipment out of direct sunlight.

Do not place the equipment in an unstable
condition where it might accidentally fall over.

Radio frequency interference—Class A device

This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class A digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when
the equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area
is likely to cause harmful interference in which

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Precautions xiii

case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.

Electric fields

Caution:
In accordance with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules & Regulations, “… changes or
modifications not expressly approved by
the party responsible for compliance could
void the user's authority to operate the
equipment.”

Should this product be used in an
electromagnetic field that is amplitude
modulated by an audio frequency signal (20Hz
to 20kHz), the signal to noise ratio may be
degraded. Degradation of up to 60dB at a
frequency corresponding to the modulation
signal may be experienced under extreme
conditions (3V/m, 90% modulation).

Safety equipment

Never remove, for example, covers, housings or
any other safety guards. Do not operate the
equipment or any of its parts if safety guards
are ineffective or their effectiveness has been
reduced.

Optional equipment

Unless advised otherwise, optional equipment
must only be installed by service personnel and
in accordance with the appropriate assembly
and usage regulations.

Special accessories

To comply with part 15 of the FCC Rules, any
special accessories (that is, items that cannot be
readily obtained from multiple retail outlets)
supplied with this equipment must be used with
this equipment; do not use any alternatives as
they may not fulfil the RF requirement.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

xiv Precautions

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

xv

Recommandations

Avant l'installation, la mise au point ou l'exploitation de cet équipement, veiller à lire
attentivement et à comprendre l'intégralité de ce chapitre et la partie "CONSIGNES DE
SÉCURITÉ IMPORTANTES" au début de ce manuel.

Cet équipement est alimenté par une tension de secteur pouvant provoquer des blessures par choc
électrique !

Les points suivants doivent être observés afin de maintenir la sécurité et une compatibilité
électromagnétique (CEM) correcte.

Avertissements de sécurité

Une tension 0V de signal est raccordée en
interne au châssis.

Afin de déconnecter complètement cet
appareil du secteur CA, tout en observant
les précautions de sécurité (voir
“Puissance”), couper le sectionneur (au­dessus des prises secteur sur le panneau
arrière du centre de contrôle), puis couper
le secteur aux trois socles de secteur.
Isoler l'appareil en débranchant les trois
câbles de secteur du panneau arrière du
centre de contrôle.

Afin d'éviter un choc électrique, ne pas
retirer les couvercles.

Recommandations
générales

En cas de problème de boucle de terre,
débrancher le blindage de signal à une
extrémité des câbles de raccordement. Il
convient de noter que cela n'est faisable que si
l'équipement est utilisé dans un système
équilibré.

Ne pas retirer, cacher ni dégrader les
avertissements ou les mises en garde.

Puissance

Les alimentations électriques contiennent des
TENSIONS LÉTALES largement supérieures à la
tension de secteur et les barres peuvent
produire des courants extrêmement élevés
capables de griller l'équipement et le câblage en
cas de court-circuit.

Les alimentations électriques internes sont des
alimentations à découpage détectant

automatiquement la tension de secteur d'entrée
et fonctionnant lorsque la tension nominale se
trouve dans la plage de 100 VCA à 240 VCA.

Chaque prise de secteur doit être raccordée à
son propre socle mural séparé. Sans quoi, les
alimentations de secteur doivent être
correctement distribuées conformément aux
réglementations locales de sécurité.

Chaque câble d'alimentation fourni est équipé
d'une fiche Volex verrouillable qui se branche
dans une prise connecteur CEI sur l'appareil.
Lorsqu'elle est montée correctement la fiche
Volex se verrouille dans son logement,
l'empêchant de se desserrer ou d'être
déconnectée par inadvertance. Pour brancher
une fiche Volex, l'insérer dans la prise
connecteur secteur CEI et la pousser jusqu'à ce
qu'elle se verrouille dans son logement. Penser
ensuite à vérifier qu'elle soit correctement
verrouillée. Pour l'enlever, libérer son dispositif
de verrouillage pour ensuite la tirer. Lors de la
connection ou déconnection d'une fiche Volex,
toujours saisir la fiche elle-même et ne jamais
utiliser le câble, car cela pourrait l'endommager.

Pendant le fonctionnement du centre du contrôle
un minimum de deux de ses trois entrées
secteur doivent être connectés et alimentation.

Pour débrancher les cordons d'alimentation de
l'équipement des prises murales, tenir toujours
la prise et non le câble. Tirer la prise par le câble
peut l'endommager.

Ne jamais brancher ni débrancher une prise
électrique avec des mains humides.

Ne jamais brancher/débrancher un connecteur
de secteur au/du centre de contrôle s'il est sous
tension. Mettre d'abord hors tension.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

xvi Recommandations

Avant de metre le centre de contrôle ou se
désactiver, assurez-vous que tous les
amplificateurs de haut-parleur de surveiller
l'alimentation sont désactivées ou coupé.

Manipulation de
l'équipement

Isoler électriquement et totalement l'appareil et
débrancher tous ses câbles avant de le déplacer.

En soulevant ou en déplaçant l'appareil, tenir
toujours compte de sa taille et de son poids.
Utiliser un dispoitif de levage adapté ou un
matériel de transport, ou encore suffisamment
de personnel supplémentaire.

Ne pas introduire les doigts ni les mains dans les
fentes ni les ouvertures de l'appareil, telles que
les ouïes de ventilation.

Ne pas appuyer ou de frotter sur la surface
sensible des ecrans GUI.

Si le verre de l’écran GUI est cassé, les crystaux
liquids ne doit pas s’infiltrer dans la rupture en
raison de la tension superificielle de la couche
mince et le type de construction de l’écran LCD.
Toutefois, dans le cas improbable où vous ne
prendre contact avec cette substance, le laver
avec du savon.

Installation

Avant d'installer l'équipement :

• Vérifier qu'il est correctement raccordé au
conducteur de terre de protection de
l'alimentation de tension de secteur du
système par les câbles de secteur.

• L'équipement doit être alimenté par
l'intermédiaire de(s) dérivation(s) avec
fusible.

• Les prises doivent être branchées sur des
prises femelles dotées de contacts de terre
de protection. L'alimentation électrique aux
prises femelles doit assurer une protection
adéquate contre la surintensité.

• L'alimentation de secteur et la qualité de la
mise à la terre doivent être d'un niveau
convenant à l'appareil.

• Avant de brancher l'équipement, vérifier que
la tension nominale de l'alimentation de
secteur correspond à l'alimentation de
secteur locale. La valeur nominale de la
tension d'alimentation de secteur est
imprimée sur l'équipement.

Lieu d'installation

L'idéal est de disposer d'une zone fraîche, à
l'écart de tout équipement de distribution
électrique ou d'autres sources potentielles
d'interférences.

Ne pas installer l'équipement dans des endroits
mal aérés.

Ne pas installer cet équipement dans un local
exposé à la chaleur, à la poussière ou à des
vibrations mécaniques excessives. Prévoir une
ventilation adéquate autour de l'appareil, en
s'assurant que les ventilateurs et les ouïes ne
sont pas obstrués. Dans la mesure du possible,
le garder à l'écart de la lumière directe du soleil.

Ne pas placer l'appareil sur un support instable
d'où il pourrait tomber par accident.

S'assurer que les informations relatives à la
tension de secteur et au calibre des fusibles de
l'équipement sont visibles après l'installation.

Connexions audio

Afin d'assurer le fonctionnement correct et fiable
de l'équipement, utiliser uniquement un câble
audio à paire torsadée, blindé, équilibré, de
première qualité.

Les boîtiers de connecteurs XLR doivent être en
métal de façon à former un blindage lors du
raccordement au centre de commande et, le cas
échéant, la Fiche 1 devrait être raccordée au
blindage du câble.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions

Observe full electrostatic discharge
(ESD) — also known as “anti-static”
— precautions when carrying out

procedures in this manual that are
accompanied by the ESD Susceptibility Symbol
(shown above). This caution symbol shows you
that ESD damage may be caused to items
unless proper ESD precautions are taken, which
include the following practices:

• Keep the work area free from plastic, vinyl or

styrofoam.

• Wear an anti-static wrist strap.

• Discharge personal static before handling

devices.

• Ground the work surface.

• Avoid touching ESD-sensitive devices.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Recommandations xvii

Interférences
radioélectriques - Dispositif
de Classe A

Cet équipement a été testé et est conforme aux
limites d'un produit numérique de Classe A, en
application de la Partie 15 des Règles de la FCC.
Ces limites sont destinées à assurer une
protection raisonnable contre les interférences
néfastes lorsque l'équipement fonctionne dans
un environnement commercial. Cet équipement
génère, utilise et peut rayonner de l'énergie de
fréquence radio et, s'il n'est pas installé et utilisé
conformément au manuel d'exploitation, il peut
causer des interférences dommageables aux
communications radio. L'utilisation de cet
équipement dans une zone résidentielle est
susceptible de provoquer des interférences
néfastes, dans quel cas l'utilisateur se devra de
corriger les interférences à ses propres frais.

Champs électriques

Attention :
Conformément à la Partie 15 des Règles et

Réglementations de la FCC, "… tout
changement ou toute modification non
expressément approuvé(e) par la partie
responsable de la conformité pourrait
annuler l'autorisation accordée à
l'utilisateur d'utiliser cet appareil. "

Dans le cas où ce produit est utilisé dans un
champ électromagnétique dont l'amplitude est
modulée par un signal audiofréquence (20 Hz à
20 kHz), le rapport signal-bruit peut être

détérioré. Une détérioration atteignant 60 dB à
une fréquence correspondant au signal de
modulation peut se produire dans des conditions
extrêmes (modulation 90%, 3 V/m).

Équipement de sécurité

Ne jamais retirer les couvercles, les boîtiers ni
autres caches de sécurité. Ne pas faire
fonctionner l'appareil ni aucun de ses
composants si les protecteurs de sécurité ne
sont pas en mesure de remplir leur fonction ou
si leur efficacité a été réduite.

Équipement en option

Sauf indication contraire, tout équipement en
option doit être installé uniquement par le
personnel d'entretien et conformément aux
réglementations appropriées de montage et
d'usage.

Accessoires spéciaux

Aux fins de la conformité à la Partie 15 des
Règles de la FCC, tous les accessoires spéciaux
fournis avec cet équipement (à savoir les
articles que l'on ne peut se procurer facilement
auprès des chaînes de détaillants), doivent être
utilisés avec cet équipement ; ne pas utiliser de
composants de remplacement car ils pourraient
ne pas respecter l'exigence de RF.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

xviii Recommandations

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

xix

Contents

Overview

Chapter 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

About this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

PRO Series host software version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Warranty and registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Service and support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 2 PRO3 Live Audio System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Introducing the PRO3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

System components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Chapter 3 About The Control Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Overview of the control centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Bay and GUI layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Control surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

GUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Front and rear panel connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Operation

Chapter 4 Before You Start. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Principles of operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Operating modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Hints and tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Saving your work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Chapter 5 Working With The Control Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

About channel operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

About GUI operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Operating the GUI screen controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Using the GUI menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Text editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Chapter 6 Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

An introduction to navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Navigating the input channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Navigating the mix buses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Navigating the output channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Navigation via the GUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Fault finding a problem channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

xx

Chapter 7 Patching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

About the patching procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Configuring the devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Configuring the snake type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Setting up the I/O rack devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

How to patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Chapter 8 Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Setting a mic amplifier’s input gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Setting the high and low pass filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Input equalisation (E zone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Input dynamics processing (D zone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Output processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Using VCA/POP groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Setting up a mix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Using fader flip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Setting up the effects rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Simple routing to master stereo outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Scene and show management (automation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Configuring the inputs and outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Using copy and paste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

User library (presets) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Surround panning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Two-man operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Saving your show files to a USB memory stick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

External AES50 synchronisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Security (locking mode) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Connecting And Setting Up The System

Chapter 9 Setting Up The System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Initial set-up procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Unpacking the equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Making up a rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Wiring instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Powering the system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Switching the control centre on/off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Setting up the ID of the unit(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Appendices

Appendix A Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

No audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Swapping the active network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Swapping the active master controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Volume 1:Overview

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome to the PRO3 Control Centre. The PRO3 Control Centre is a user-friendly,
state-of-the-art, high performance digital console specifically designed for live use.

The control centre, which forms an integral part of its live audio system, was conceived
by Midas to offer audio professionals high-performance audio equipment, designed to
provide no-compromise sonic quality with a feature set that offers all essential facilities
and functions. It represents the very best of British design and engineering combined
with contemporary, efficient manufacturing methods, and will give you many years of
reliable service.

So, to obtain the best results with a minimum of effort, please read this Quick
Reference Guide and, finally, enjoy your Midas PRO3 Live Audio System!

About this guide

3

This is the Quick Reference Guide for the PRO3 Control Centre. Its purpose is to quickly
familiarise the user with the control centre, show how to set up the system and then
show how to carry out some basic operations on the control centre in order to produce
some audio. This guide is structured such that it may also provide a useful introductory
guide for training purposes.

This document is aimed at professionals, such as front of house (FOH) and monitor
(MON) engineers, who will be using this equipment in a live performance environment.
It is assumed that the reader has prior experience of using professional audio
equipment and has, most likely, undergone training on this system.

This guide has been designed specifically so that mix engineers and system technicians
can go straight to the areas applicable to them, that is, “Operation” on page 15 and
“Connecting And Setting Up The System” on page 69, respectively. The rest of the
guide is intended for general readership.

For full details of the PRO3 Live Audio System and the PRO3 Control Centre, refer to the
PRO Series Live Audio System Owner’s Manual (part number DOC02-PROSERIES),
which can be found on our website at www.midasconsoles.com.

Note: The content of this guide does not supersede any information supplied with any
other item of this PRO Series Live Audio System.

PRO Series host software version

This manual is for a PRO Series Control Centre running host software version 1.12 and
later.

Warranty and registration

Midas has total confidence in the quality and reliability of this product. To back this up,
this product comes with the standard Midas three year warranty.

Please take the time to register your product by completing and returning the
registration card or by registering on our website at www.midasconsoles.com.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

4 Chapter 1: Introduction

Service and support

The PRO Series Live Audio Systems are very hi-tech pieces of equipment. We provide
superb levels of support and service to give users confidence in Midas digital products.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 2: PRO3 Live Audio System

This chapter gives an overview of the PRO3 Live Audio System.

Introducing the PRO3

The PRO3 Live Audio System is an entry-level system that is ideally suited to situations
requiring tighter budgets, enabling more touring riders and professional installations to
take advantage of Midas’ digital features.

The PRO3 Live Audio System has 56 input channels with remote controlled mic
preamps, 27 buses and six stereo effects. It utilises the fixed format, 5U I/O rack of
the DL251 Audio System I/O and can be fully upgraded to the specification of a PRO6 or
PRO9.

I/O box options include the DL351 Modular I/O and DL451 Modular I/O with the full
range of module options (DL441 analogue input (mic) module, DL442 analogue output
module, DL443 analogue Jack I/O module, DL444 8 analogue mic in and 8 analogue
line out module and DL452 AES/EBU input and output module), and also the DL431 Mic
Splitter.

5

Overview

A PRO3 Live Audio System is a very powerful and flexible audio processing system that
provides a complete solution for any audio mixing and signal distribution application in
a live sound environment, whose features include:

• Dual ‘daylight visible’ screens with three-way KVM switch.

•XL8-style ‘fast zones’.

• XL8-style dual operator ‘channel strips’.

• 10 VCAs.

• Six POPulation groups.

•Configurable ‘area B’.

• Surround panning, including 5.1, quad and left-centre-right-surround (LCRS).

• Dual redundant Linux control computers.

• Three AES50 ports on the rear of control centre for I/O expansion and XL8

• Eight AES50 ports for stage end of snake for I/O expansion.

• Up to 24 configurable inputs and 24 configurable outputs on control centre

• N+1 redundant, hot-swappable triple power supplies.

• Three-year factory warran ty.

• Accessories include: Klark Teknik DN9331 Rapide Graphic Controller, Klark Teknik

connectivity.

(depending on type of I/O cards fitted).

DN9696 Recorder and Klark Teknik DN9650 Network Bridge.

Despite its compact size the standard PRO3 offers 48 channel inputs, eight auxiliary
returns, 33 buses (16 auxes, eight matrices, three masters and six solos), six on-board
effects processors, PEQs (four-band on inputs and six-band on outputs), eight standard

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

6 Chapter 2: PRO3 Live Audio System

(up to 28 maximum) 31-band GEQs, eight configurable stereo effects, 5.1 surround
panning and comprehensive, easy-to-use routing. PRO3 automation provides up to
1,000 scenes with snapshot save/recall capability and global edit, and show file
archiving.

The PRO3 Control Centre forms the core of the PRO3 Live Audio System, which also
includes two 19” rack units — a DL251 Audio System I/O (5U) and a DL371 Audio
System Engine (7U) — interconnected by a networked data system. The network
carries both proprietary control data and open architecture AES50 digital audio, and
uses readily available standard cabling and connectors. The PRO3 uses a proven stable
Linux operating system. All of the control centre’s internal and network routing
(“patching”) is managed via the graphical user interface (GUI).

Operation of the control surface is intuitive, unique and easy. Its layout is based on
familiar analogue lines to retain that ‘analogue’ feel. To manage the numerous
channels, the control centre utilises VCA/POP groups and colours, and additionally there
are various navigational controls that aid quick channel/bus access and selection. A
daylight-viewable GUI at the top of the control surface assists operation and provides
extra functionality.

The live audio system is tolerant of many types of hardware or software failure. To
achieve this the system employs dual redundancy, where a key component has an
identical redundant spare that is ready to take over should it fail. Other failure
scenarios are managed by the N+1 principle, where redundant components form an
acceptable fraction of the system.

The Klark Teknik DN9696 Recorder can be used with the live audio system for live
multi-track recording and ‘virtual’ sound check. Optional equipment includes the XL8’s
DL451 I/O and DL431 splitter, and the DN9331 RapidE for remote GEQ operation.

Applications

The PRO Series are the ‘work horse’ mid- to high-end Midas Digital Console Systems,
akin to the ‘industry standard’ Heritage 3000. Although the PRO Series are designed
for the traditional touring live sound environment, they are also ideal for medium- sized
theatre, small house of worship installations and broadcast. So, being a truly
multi-functional console in the Midas tradition, the PRO Series are suitable for many
applications, such as:

• Live sound touring MON or FOH duties.

• Live sound small theatre MON or FOH duties.

• Live sound house of worship MON or FOH duties.

• Live sound broadcast mixer with basic 5.1 surround capabilities and monitoring.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

System components 7

System components

The PRO3 Live Audio System is modular, allowing for some variations in physical
placement and system size. The standard PRO3 touring system package is configured
as a 14U rack (containing two DLnn1 units) in a single, easily portable flight case, with
an equally portable, flight-cased control surface and minimal cabling.

The following table shows the equipment supplied in the standard touring package and
the additional I/O options that you can use with your system.

Table 1: System components

In
standard

Item

touring
package

I/O
option Graphic

PRO3 Control Centre This is
supplied with a DL443 module
and two blank panels.

DL251 Audio System I/O
This is supplied as a fixed
configuration unit, which has
48 mic/line inputs and
16 outputs.

DL351 Modular I/O This has
eight slots in an 8 x 8-channel
format, which provide up to
64 x 64 configurable I/Os. It is
supplied with seven DL441
modules and a DL442.

DL371 Audio System Engine
This is supplied with five DSP
module cards, the two empty
slots being blanked off. (If the
optional N+1 redundant card is
fitted, there will be six cards
and one empty slot.)

Yes N/A

Yes Yes

No Yes

Yes N/A

DL431 Mic Splitter This is a
fixed configuration I/O unit that
has 24 mic/line inputs in a
5-way split.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

No Yes

8 Chapter 2: PRO3 Live Audio System

In
standard

Item

touring
package

I/O
option Graphic

DL451 Modular I/O This
gives up to 24 configurable I/Os
in a 3 x 8 XLR modular format.
It is supplied with three DL441
modules.

DL441 analogue input (mic)
module This is an analogue

mic/line input "I" card.

DL442 analogue output
module This is an analogue

output "O" card.

DL443 analogue Jack I/O
module This is an 8-analogue

line in and 8-analogue line out
“TRS” card.

DL444 8 analogue mic in
and 8 analogue line out
module This is an 8-analogue

mic in and 8-analogue line out
"D Sub" card.

DL452 AES/EBU input and
output module This is an

AES/EBU input and output "D"
card.

Interconnecting cable
Interconnecting (N+1) rack
Cat 5e copper cables (4-off).

Interconnecting cable
Interconnecting (dual
redundant) gigabit HyperMac
Cat 5e copper cable, 100 m
long (2-off).

No Yes

No Yes

No Yes

Yes Yes

No Yes

No Yes

Yes N/A N/A

Yes N/A N/A

Mains cable (8-off.) Yes N/A N/A

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 3: About The Control Centre

This chapter introduces you to the control centre and provides a brief hardware
description.

Overview of the control centre

The control centre has a combined control surface and GUI that provide an array of
easy-to-use controls for the precise manipulation of audio.

The control centre is of modular construction and is built on a robust Midas steel frame
chassis similar to those used for established Midas analogue products. The frame
houses three full size bays with a smaller one on the right. All of the bays are
controlled from a single processor and, collectively, provide the primary mixing needs
of the engineer.

All associated power supplies, computer motherboards, memory, graphics cards etc.
are housed within the control centre, which also contains a digital audio router box that
supports local FOH (insert) I/O connectors on the rear panel. Substantial forced
air-cooling is provided by a bulkhead and large (but slow moving) internal fans. These
produce very low noise, suitable for seated areas theatres and concert sound.

9

Typical control centre

Externally, the control centre has three main areas: control surface, GUI and rear
panel. The control surface is populated with instantly recognisable controls that are
logically distributed in major sections. The GUI, which comprises two screens at the top
of the centre bays, enhances operation by providing visual representations of the
control surface and also gives you extra functionality. The rear panel provides all of the
control centre and network connectivity, and houses the mains power sockets and
isolator switch.

Being of modular design, the overall form and shape of the control centre is similar to
Midas’ flagship XL8. The control surface is split into bays, each one containing a flat
fader tray and shallow raked control area. The centre bays also have a third area that
houses a steep-raked display screen.

Multiple hardware fault types are tolerated by the control centre without loss of audio
control due to the dual redundancy and N+1 methods incorporated in the system. This
is further helped by the modular nature of the bays and GUI independence. Either of

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

10 Chapter 3: About The Control Centre

6

1

2

5

3

4

1 Input bay (12-channel).
2 Mix bay.
3 Master bay.

4 Input bay (4-channel).
5 Mix bay GUI screen.
6 Master bay GUI screen.

7 Talk mic and USB

connectors.

7

the GUI screens can be used to operate the whole control centre, even if none of the
control surface hardware is working. The unit offers the facility of universal input, N+1
redundant power supplies with three latching mains connectors.

Bay and GUI layout

The control centre has four discrete bays that house the following control surface
controls:

• Input bays (12-channel and 4-channel) — two input bays provide fast access to
input faders and important signal processing controls.

• Mix bay — provides access to outputs and groups, a detailed processing controller
(all channels) and navigational controls.

• Master bay — provides access to the master output mixes, monitor (A and B)
faders, automation, comms control, assignable effects control, and another set of
detailed processing and navigational controls.

Figure 1: Bay and GUI layout

T wo GUI display screens at the top of the central bays pro vide extensive screen support
(standard configuration) and extra functionality for the channels and buses. For
example, when mixing or processing. They also facilitate the use of the GUI menu,
which gives you access to the many powerful features of the control centre, such as
patching, effects, GEQs, diagnostics etc.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Control surface 11

A A

B

D

E

G

H

A — input fast zone: 16 input fast

strips across the 12-channel and
4-channel input bays provide the
operator’s ‘must have now’ controls.

B — channel strip and mixes:

processing areas, such as the D-zone
(dynamic), E-zone (EQ) and mix controls,
provide a more comprehensive control by
allowing detailed adjustments to a single
channel’s audio parameters.

C — channel and bus navigation

zone: sections for channel and bus

navigation and selection. For details, see
Chapter 6 “Navigation”.

D — output fast zone: 16 output fast

strips can be used for mixing and
processing aux, return, matrix and
master channels. Navigation and flip
buttons are on the right of the output fast
strips.

E — VCA and POP groups: VCA faders

and POP group sections.

F — miscellaneous: master channel

strips, A and B signal path monitoring,
communications, I-zone, surround
monitoring and mute groups.

G — primary navigation zone:

trackballs for mix and master bay GUI
screen control, and a screen access panel
(between trackballs) for direct access to
GUI menu options.

H — automation: scene store/recall

and system edit.

C

C

F

B

Control surface

The control surface is divided into areas whose function is, largely, dependent on bay
location. Each bay has assorted control elements with local feedback and/or support
from the two centrally located GUI display screens. The screens can be remoted via
external VGA connections, and third party systems can also be viewed/controlled via an
integrated KVM switch on the rear panel.

Figure 2: Main areas of the control surface

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

12 Chapter 3: About The Control Centre

Channel strip

Banner

Inputs

Outputs

Channel type
select buttons

All meters

display

Inputs and automation

summary

During show time the screen functions that require fast access are controlled by control
knobs, pushbutton switches, faders etc. More complex functions that do not require
this fast access are controlled by the trackballs and navigational keys. A keyboard
integral to the flight case is used for text entry via the master bay GUI screen. An
external USB keyboard can be used to operate the mix bay GUI screen.

The choice of controls provided by each bay type are prioritised by access time
importance. Fast zone areas, which contain fast strips, give instant access to specific
functions across the bay, and channel strips give greater control of the selected fast
strip.

GUI

The GUI comprises two screens that provide a pictorial representation of the control
surface layout so that its displays are easy to follow at a glance. Not only does it reflect
what is happening on the control surface, but it also provides extra functionality via a
GUI menu. This menu provides access to all the screens that you will require to set up,
configure, manage and operate the entire control centre, all from a single drop-down
list of easy to follow options.

Figure 3: Typical Overview screen (default of the mix bay GUI screen)

Typical Meters screen with no show loaded (default of the master bay GUI screen)

Each GUI screen has its own default display, although either is selectable via the GUI
main menu. The Overview screen displays 12 inputs and two sets of eight outputs,
and the Meters screen shows all the meters, four inputs and a summary of the

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Front and rear panel connections 13

Mains power

and ventilation

Audio, control

and networking

I/O

(configuration dependent)

automation. Both screens have a banner at the top, which is constantly displayed, and
a channel strip down the outermost side.

The channel strips have a similar function to the ones on the control surface (see
Figure 2 on page 11), but provide extra functionality. Each displays an ‘overview’ of
the associated selected channel, which is divided into specific sections that provide
access to processing areas.

Front and rear panel connections

The control centre has connector panels on both the front and rear, and also to the left
of the mix bay GUI screen.

The connector panel to the left of the GUI has an XLR socket and two USB sockets for
connecting a talk mic and USB devices, respectively. For example, you can connect a
USB memory stick for show file backup and transfer, or a USB keyboard for text editing
on the GUI. The top USB socket is associated with the mix bay and the bottom one with
the master bay.

There are two panels at either end of the front of the control centre, under the
armrests. Each has a keyboard and phones socket. The left and right keyboard sockets
operate the mix and master bay GUI screens, respectively. The phones socket in the
left panel is for the monitor A section and the other one is for monitor B.

A connector panel on the rear of the control centre has three main sections (see below).
On the left are three mains power inlet and ventilation assemblies, with a
DC power switch above. The mid-section contains connections for the audio, network,
communications, intercoms, synchronisation, external remote devices and peripheral
devices. The section on the right is the user-configurable modular I/O section.

The modular I/O section can house up to three of any of the following I/O modules in
any combination: DL441 analogue input (mic) module; DL442 analogue output module;
DL443 analogue Jack I/O module; DL444 8 analogue mic in and 8 analogue line out
module and DL452 AES/EBU input and output module. This gives a maximum of 24
inputs and 24 outputs, if the appropriate cards are fitted.

Rear view of the control centre

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

14 Chapter 3: About The Control Centre

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Volume 1:Operation

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 4: Before You Start

This chapter is intended to familiarise you with the control centre by showing you how
to carry out some basic operations in order to get some audio out of it.

Note: As the operation of both input bays is principally the same, this chapter will
generally only show the operation of the 12-channel input bay. However, any
differences in operation between the 4-channel and 12-channel input bays will be
shown.

Please don’t forget that, although this system is a complex, high-tech piece of
equipment, it is very easy to use.

Principles of operation

Control centre operation is based on the concept of colours and groups rather than
‘layering’ or ‘paging’, which is the case with most digital consoles on the market today.
With so many channels available it is far easier to remember them by their
user-configured individual/group colour and name rather than their channel number.

The control surface is populated with instantly recognisable controls that are logically
distributed in major sections, so that all the controls you need to access most of the
time are always on the control surface, while the remainder are only one action away.
You can display all I/O meters, both on the control surface and the GUI, to give instant
monitoring feedback.

17

Operating modes

You can change certain aspects of control centre operation by assigning different tasks
to certain areas of the control surface. This section will explain the different ways in
which the control surface can operate.

Normal mode

During normal operation the 12-channel input bay is operated from the mix bay
controls and GUI screen, while the controls and GUI screen in the master bay operate
the 4-channel input bay. Both input bays operate in unison and are, in effect, area A.

Note: The 12-channel input bay will always be area A, no matter which operating mode
you are using.

Using the 4-channel input bay as area B

You can assign the 4-channel input bay as area B, thus making both the input bays
independent from each other. This facilitates two-man operation (see “Two-man
operation” on page 66).

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

18 Chapter 4: Before You Start

Operating the top output fast strips from the master bay

During normal operation, both rows of output fast strips — which are always
independent from each other — are operated using the controls in the mix bay.
However, you can assign the master bay to control the top row of output strips.

>> To switch control of the output strips to the master bay

Press the right arrow (to right channel) button (see Figure 7 “Output channel
navigational controls” on page 31).

Controlling the mix buses in flip mode

Flip provides a more global approach to mix bus level control. Normally, you can only
use the level control knobs in the channel strips to adjust the signal level of the
aux/matrix mix buses going to the aux/matrix channels. However, by using flip you
have the option of controlling them from either the pan control knobs or the faders in
the input fast strips.

In flip mode the left/right arrow buttons in the upper channel select section scroll
across the input fast strips.

>> To configure the control centre for pan or fader flip

1 At the GUI, choose homePreferencesGeneral.
2 Depending on which option you require, click the option button of one of the

following in the Fader flip section. When an option is selected, it will contain a
red circle:

• “Flip to faders”.

• “Flip to Pans”.

>> To flip mixes to input pan/fader control

With an output selected on the control surface, press FLIP (see Figure 6 “Mix bus
navigational controls” on page 29). The button will illuminate to show you are in ‘flip’
mode. The currently selected mix bus in the input fast strips will change to AuxS1 and,
on the GUI, the background colour of the pans and faders will change accordingly.
Also, the LCD select buttons in the input fast strips will display the current bus mode,
for example, “MONO AUX”.

Hints and tips

• Check what is hidden On the control centre, unlike on an analogue control
surface, some of the settings and parameters will be hidden from view (stored in the
computer memory of the control centre). At various times during a mix we
recommend that you select and view unused parameters to make sure there are no
hidden surprises, for example, a reverb send left from a previous mix.

• Check the Meters screen It is a good idea to frequently monitor the Meters
screen (default display of the master bay GUI), which provides at a glance an
overview of the control centre’s status and operation. It shows all the meters and
the status condition of faders and some switches, such as solos and mutes.
However, some things will still remain hidden.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Saving your work 19

Saving your work

We recommend that you save your work regularly while carrying out the procedures
included in this chapter. Not only is this good practise during normal operation, but in
this instance it may save you from losing some set-ups that could prove useful later on.
To do this, create a new show (see “To open the Automation screen” on page 56), and
then continue reading through the remainder of this section, following the instructions
carefully. Save your work at convenient points (see “To create a new scene using the
current settings” on page 59 and “To save a show or create a new one from the current
settings” on page 57).

Saving a show versus storing a scene

It is important to understand the differences between saving a show and storing a
scene.

• Storing a scene saves the current settings of the system to the show file. Scene
data is never updated unless you manually store a scene. The show file remains
unsaved in RAM.

Although the state of the control centre is copied every five seconds, it is not stored
in a scene. Instead, it is placed in the NVRAM (non-volatile random access memory)
of the control centre’s memory, which is a type of RAM that doesn't lose its data
when the power goes off. If the control centre loses power accidentally, these
settings are loaded so that audio parameters are identical, thus avoiding audio lev el
jumps. When power is lost, the showfile loaded (if any) will not

subsequently be restored, and any unsaved changes to it will be lost.

• Saving a show copies the show file onto the internal solid-state disk of the control
centre. This provides you with a ‘permanent’ copy, provided you shut down the
system properly as detailed in the following section.

Shutting down the control centre properly

When switching off the control centre, we recommend that you use the shutdown
option of the GUI menu (see “To switch off the control centre” on page 74).

By using shutdown, the cached copy of the show data, which is maintained by the
system, is automatically stored. Shutdown then uses the current showfile, NVRAM data
and cache files to restore the control centre to exactly the same state as at power
down; even to the point of loading the unsaved show and placing you at the correct
scene, with non-stored scene data at the control surface.

If you don’t use the Shutdown option the audio parameters are still restored, but the
show and show status (saved/unsaved) cannot be restored automatically. You must
manually reload the show, and any unsaved changes will be lost.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

20 Chapter 4: Before You Start

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 5: Working With The Control

Trackball

Right trackball
button

Left trackball
button

Centre

Although many controls on the control centre are similar to their equivalent
analogue-type counterparts, some have been specifically designed for the PRO3,
particularly those for navigation and GUI operation. As you will probably have had
experience on analogue consoles, you will already be familiar with most of the PRO3
controls and their operation. Therefore, this chapter only deals with the GUI controls
that may be new to you.

The navigational controls, such as quick access buttons and scroll buttons, are
described in Chapter 6 "Navigation" on page 25, and the one s specifically for
automation can be found in “Managing the scenes” on page 58.

About channel operation

21

During normal operation the task of controlling the input (12 channels), aux, return and
matrix channels is allocated to the two bays on the left. The two bays on the right
control the input (4-channel) and master channels.

This task allocation applies similarly to the GUI screens. However, you can control any
channel from either GUI screen. This is done by navigating the channel to the GUI
channel strip via the GUI menu; control is also then available via the local channel strip
on the control surface.

About GUI operation

This section explains the basic procedures you can perform at the GUI screens. In
general, you will control and operate the GUI by combining the operations described
here.

Figure 4: Controlling the GUI

Each trackball controls the movement of a pointer on its respective GUI screen (see
Figure 4). The left trackball operates the mix bay GUI screen and the right one
operates the GUI screen in the master bay. Each trackball has two buttons, which have
similar functionality to the buttons on a PC/laptop mouse. The left button is used in
click and drag operations, while the right button is generally used for editing and finer
control operations.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

22 Chapter 5: Working With The Control Centre

Drop-down
arrow

Currently selected
list item

Click

Moving the pointer to a specific point of the GUI screen and pressing the left button is
called “clicking”. This is fundamental to GUI operation and forms the basis of many of
its operations, such as switching a button on/off, selecting list and menu items, text
editing etc. Doing the same with the right button is called “right-clicking”.

Drag

Moving the pointer to a specific point of the GUI screen and then pressing the left
button while moving the pointer up/down/left/right is called “dragging”. Dragging is
used mainly to adjust control knobs and faders, and to move sliders (attached to
drop-down lists)—although it is also used to select blocks of connectors when patching.
The pointer disappears when the control has been selected to show that it is ready for
adjustment.

Operating the GUI screen controls

This section shows you how to operate GUI screen elements, such as buttons, control
knobs, drop-down lists and sliders.

>> To switch a GUI button on/off

Click the button. If it has a status indicator, this will illuminate/extinguish to show that
it is on/off, respectively.

>> To adjust a GUI control knob or fader

Use a drag operation. Move the pointer up/down/left/right for adjustment.

>> To select an option from a drop-down list

1 Click the drop-down arrow. The drop-down

list will unfold to display some or all of its
contents, depending on how many items it
contains.

2 Do one of the following:

• Click the option you require.

• If necessary, scroll the list (see “To scroll a drop-down list” below) to display
the option, and then click it.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Using the GUI menu 23

Scroll bar

Scroll arrow

Scroll box

GUI menu

Right arrow
shows that the
option has a
submenu

>> To scroll a drop-down list

With the drop-down list displayed, do one
of the following:

• Drag the scroll box.

• Click the scroll bar. The scroll box will
‘jump’ in the direction of the click to
another position in the scroll bar.

• Click an up/down scroll arrow. The
scroll box will ‘jump’ in the direction of
the scroll arrow to another scroll bar
position. Clicking a scroll arrow when
the scroll box is adjacent to it has no
effect.

Using the GUI menu

You can open the GUI menu at either GUI screen or you can go directly a GUI menu
screen by using a screen access button.

Throughout this guide, menu/submenu option selection sequences are shown in the
following format (for example, for choosing the general preferences screen):

PreferencesGeneral

home

>> To open the GUI menu

Click home.

Opening the GUI menu

>> To select a GUI menu option

Click the menu option, for example, Monitors. The background of the menu option will
change to blue when it is ready for selection.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

24 Chapter 5: Working With The Control Centre

>> To open the submenu of a GUI menu option

Move the pointer over the arrow to the right of the desired menu option. The submenu
will open automatically to the right of the arrow.

>> To open a GUI menu screen using a screen access button

In the primary navigation zone, press a screen access button to open the first screen
(printed to the right of the button). Press it again to open the second screen.

These two examples show you how to use the screen access buttons to open the
Automation screen (single press) and the Graphic EQs screen (two presses). These

buttons take you directly to the screen you want.

Text editing

A keyboard is used to type in text on the GUI, for example, to configure input and
output channel names. Editable text on the GUI is contained in text boxes, which
generally consist of a single line of limited length. Although all text editing can be done
using the normal keyboard functions, the GUI can be used to assist you, for example,
by highlighting portions of text (using drag).

>> To enter/edit text via the keyboard

1 At the GUI, click in the text box to place an insertion point in it. The pointer will

change to an I-beam shape.

2 Using the keyboard, type in the new text. If the text box already contains some

text, you can delete this first or edit it, which can be done via the keyboard or by
using the cut, copy and paste options after right-clicking.

3 Press ENTER on the keyboard to exit the text box (or click on an empty area of

the GUI screen). The pointer’s shape will change back to an arrow.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 6: Navigation

1-12 13-16 17-28 28-32 33-44 45-48

Three banks of four channels (12 channels), which
are also shown on the mix bay GUI screen

Single bank of four channels, which are also shown
on the master bay GUI screen

This chapter introduces you to navigation on the control centre and shows you how to
use its navigational tools.

For information on navigating the scenes in automation, refer to “Managing the scenes”
on page 58.

An introduction to navigation

The control centre provides you with unique navigational controls to quickly and easily
access the items, such as channels, buses, groups and processing areas, that you will
require for mixing.

Navigation is an important feature of the control centre. One of the advantages digital
consoles have over analogue ones is that their channel count is not limited by the
control surface hardware. However, this means that only a certain amount of channels
can be at the control surface at any time, while the others are ‘hidden’. So, navigation
is required to access these hidden channels whenever you need them.

25

Note: The way the control centre is set to operate may alter the function of som e of the
navigational controls. For more information, see “Operating modes” on page 17.

Navigation is primarily via the control surface, although the GUI may provide an
alternative and also has some unique navigational features of its own.

Navigating the input channels

The input channels are grouped into ‘banks’, with each bank containing four
consecutively numbered channels.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

Shows the number of control centres you would need to display all of the inputs of the
PRO3 simultaneously and helps to illustrate how the inputs populate the control surface
(and GUI) in banks of four

During normal operation, four banks of input channels populate the input bays, and
these are displayed across the control surface in ascending order from left to right.

26 Chapter 6: Navigation

1

2

3

4

Mix bay channel strip

Input fast

strip

VCA

5

7

8

6

9

11

10

Figure 5: Input channel navigational controls on the PRO3

Item Element(s) Description

1 Quick access

button —
channel strip

2 Quick access

button — input
fast strip

Quickly selects the local processing area of the selected
channel or channel pair, but doesn’t affect channel
selection. Illuminates (blue) when active.

Quickly selects the local input channel and assigns the
local processing area to the mix bay channel strip.
Illuminates (blue) when active.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Navigating the input channels 27

Item Element(s) Description

3 LCD select

button — input
fast strip

4 LCD select

button — VCA/
POP group

5 Channel select

keys and button

6 ALIGN button Navigates the currently selected input channel to the

7 scroll by 4

buttons

8 LEDs These LEDs illuminate to show you which inputs currently

Selects the local input channel. Has a backlit LCD display
(with user-configurable backlight colour), which shows
channel name etc. When selected, the display changes
to a ‘negative’ image.

Selects the VCA/POP group, unfolding the group
members to the control surface. Has a backlit LCD
display (with user-configurable backlight colour), which
shows group name.

This button is also used for setting up the group (see “To
assign channels to a VCA/POP group” on page 48).

The INPUT button in the channel type section is used
with the number keys in the lower channel select
section to select a specific channel number, assigning it
to the control surface (see “Fault finding a problem
channel” on page 33).

local input bay (see “To navigate the selected input
channel back to the control surface” on page 28).

These left and right scroll buttons scroll through the input
channels four channels (one bank) at a time.

populate the control surface. Each LED represents a
bank of four input channels.

When using VCA/POP groups, an LED will flash if its bank
contains a channel(s) that are members of the selected
group, but don’t currently populate the control surface.

9 B button Assigns the 4-channel input bay as area B, which then

operates with the master bay channel strip .

10 Display Shows the number of the currently selected channel and

its type.

11 scroll by 1

buttons

>> To assign an input channel to the control surface

Do one of the following:

• Scroll buttons Scroll the desired input channel to the control surface using the
scroll by 4 buttons in the input select section.

• VCA/POP group buttons If the desired input channel is in a group, press its
VCA/POP group LCD select button.

You can use the GUI menu to select any VCA/POP group you want via the

Control GroupsVCA Groups option.

home

These left and right scroll buttons scroll through the
channels one at a time. Channel selection follows the
scrolling.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

28 Chapter 6: Navigation

>> To select an input channel

With the desired input channel currently assigned to the input fast strips on the control
surface, do one of the following:

• LCD select button Press the LCD select button in the desired input fast strip. This
will assign the input channel to the local channel strip and its input channel
overview to the GUI channel strip.

• Quick access button Press any quick access button in the desired input fast strip.
This will assign the input channel to the local channel strip and its local processing
area to the GUI channel strip.

• Touch sensitive control knobs Touch/operate one of the control knobs in the
desired input fast strip. This will select the input channel.

You can use the scroll by 1 buttons in the upper channel select section to scroll
channel by channel to go to the input channel you want. You can scroll all of the input
channels using this method and the desired input channel doesn’t have to be assigned
to the control surface initially. Channel selection follows the scrolling.

You can use the GUI menu to select any input channel you want via the

Input Channels option.

home

>> To navigate the selected input channel back to the control surface

If you have navigated the currently selected input channel away from the control
surface, you can bring it back by pressing ALIGN.

>> To select a processing area

You may want a specific processing area of an input channel assigned to the local
channel strip, for example, to carry out processing or for copying its parameters to
another input channel.

Do one of the following:

• Quick access button (channel strip) If the input channel you want is currently
selected at the control surface, press the quick access button local to the desired
processing area in the channel strip.

• Quick access button (input fast strip) If the input channel you want is currently
at the control surface, but is unselected, press the quick access button local to the
desired processing area in its input fast strip.

You can select a processing area via the input channel overview in the GUI channel
strip by clicking within a non-control area of the desired section.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Navigating the mix buses 29

Mix sections

(mix bay)

Input fast

strip

Mix sections

(master bay)

34 34

2

1

2

5

5

6

Navigating the mix buses

The input channels each have aux and matrix mix buses.

Figure 6: Mix bus navigational controls

Item Element(s) Description

1 Quick access

button — input fast
strip

2 Quick access

button — mix
section

This button in the mix section of the input fast strips
quickly selects the local mix area of the selected
channel. Illuminates (blue) when active.

This button in the mix section of the mix and master
bays quickly selects the bank of the currently selected
aux/matrix bus, assigning it to the local channel strip
on the control surface, and also assigning the bus
processing area to the local GUI channel strip.
Illuminates (blue) when active.

3 scroll by 8

buttons

4 scroll by 1

buttons

These up and down scroll buttons scroll through the
mix buses in groups of eight (one bank) at a time.

These up and down scroll buttons scroll through the
mix buses one at a time. Mix bus selection follows
the scrolling.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

30 Chapter 6: Navigation

Item Element(s) Description

5 Display Shows the number of the currently selected mix bus

and its type.

6 FLIP button See “Controlling the mix buses in flip mode” on

page 18.

>> To navigate a mix bus to the control surface

Do one of the following:

• Scroll to the desired mix bus using the scroll by 1 buttons in the mix section. Mix
bus selection follows the scrolling.

• Scroll the desired bank of mix buses to the control surface using the scroll by 8
buttons in the mix section.

>> To select a mix bus

Do one of the following:

• Scroll buttons Scroll to the desired mix bus using the scroll by 1 buttons in the
mix section. Mix bus selection follows the scrolling.

• Touch sensitive control knobs With the desired mix bus assigned to the mix
section on the control surface, touch/operate its control knob.

>> To navigate the mix bus processing area to the channel strip

Press the quick access button in the mix section of the desired input fast strip. This
does not affect the current population of the output fast zone.

You can select an aux bus or matrix bus processing area on the GUI by clicking on the
title of the desired bank of mix buses in the input channel overview of the GUI
channel strip (see Figure 12, “Typical sends sections of the mixes in the GUI channel
strip,” on page 50).

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Navigating the output channels 31

2

1

Master bay channel strip

Master channels

Output fast

strip

3

3a

6

5

7

8

4

3a

Navigating the output channels

The output channels comprise auxes, returns, matrices and masters.

Figure 7: Output channel navigational controls

Item Element(s) Description

1 Quick access

button — master

Quickly selects the local master channel. Illuminates
(blue) when active.

channels

2 Quick access

button — output

Quickly selects the local output channel. Illuminates
(blue) when active.

fast strip

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

32 Chapter 6: Navigation

Item Element(s) Description

3 Channel type

buttons

4 Right arrow button See “Operating the top output fast strips from the

5 Quick access

button — channel
strip

6 Channel selection

keys and buttons

7 scroll by 1

buttons

8 Display Shows the number of the currently selected channel

>> To assign output channels to the control surface

Do one of the following:

Each button assigns its bank of channels to the eight
output fast strips to the left. (The MTX buttons (3a)
for output channels 9 to 16 are not used.)

master bay” on page 18.
Quickly selects the local processing area of the

selected channel or channel pair, but doesn’t affect
channel selection. Illuminates (blue) when active.

The buttons in the channel type section (except the

INPUT button) are used with the number keys in the
channel select (lower) section to select a specific

output channel number, assigning it to the control
surface (see “Fault finding a problem channel” on
page 33).

These left and right scroll buttons scroll through the
channels one at a time. Channel selection follows the
scrolling.

and its type.

• Channel type buttons Press the desired channel type button to assign its bank of
eight outputs to the local row of output fast strips on the control surface. For
example, press the upper RET button to assign returns 1 to 8 to the upper row of
output fast strips.

• Scroll buttons Scroll the desired output channel to the control surface using the
scroll by 1 buttons in the channel select (upper) section.

You can assign a bank of channels to the output fast strip via the GUI. Similarly to the
layout of the control surface, the overview GUI screen has channel select buttons to the
right of the two rows of outputs (see Figure 3, “Typical Overview screen (default of the
mix bay GUI screen),” on page 12). Click the desired channel type button to assign its
bank of outputs to the row on the left. For example, click the lower AUX button to
assign auxes 1 to 8 to the lower row of outputs.

>> To select an output channel

Do one of the following:

• Quick access button (output fast strip) To select an output channel that is
currently assigned to the output fast strips, press its local quick access button in the
desired output fast strip. This will assign the output channel to the local channel
strip.

• Quick access button (master channel) To select a master channel, press its
local quick access button. This will assign the master channel to the local channel
strip.

• Touch sensitive control knobs Touch/operate the control knob in the desired
output fast strip. This will select the local channel and assign it to the local channel
strip.

You can use the GUI menu to select any output channel you want via the

Mix & Outputs option.

home

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Navigation via the GUI 33

Up arrow

Back button

Forward button

>> To select a processing area

You may want a specific processing area of an output channel assigned to the local
channel strip, for example, to carry out processing or for copying its parameters to
another output channel. To do this, provided the output channel is currently selected at
the control surface, press the quick access button local to the desired channel strip’s
processing area to select it.

You can select a processing area via the GUI by clicking on a non-control area within
the desired section of the ‘overview’ display (aux send, aux return, matrix or master) in
the GUI channel strip.

Navigation via the GUI

The GUI has unique navigational tools by which to return to a channel ‘overview’ display
from one of its processing areas in the GUI channel strip, and also to browse through
the GUI screen display history.

>> To navigate back to a channel’s overview display from one of its processing
areas in the GUI channel strip

Click the up arrow.

>> To find a GUI screen that you recently opened

Use the back/forward browser buttons to do one of the following:

• To return to the GUI screen you have just
opened, click the back button.

• To open one of the GUI screens you have
recently visited, click the back/forward
buttons. The back button will take you back
through your browser history, while the
forward button goes the opposite way.

The back/forward buttons are similar to those on standard browsers used on any PC.

Fault finding a problem channel

If you know the number of the channel that has a problem, you can quickly navigate it
to the control surface by typing in its channel type and number via the lower channel

select (lower) and channel type sections.

>> To select a channel using its number

1 In the channel type section, press the button of the desired type. F or example,

if the channel is an input, press INPUT.

2 In the channel select (lower) section, type in the channel’s number. For

example, press 4 and then 7 for channel 47.

3 Press ENTER.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

34 Chapter 6: Navigation

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 7: Patching

16

14

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

15

17

This chapter describes the patching feature of the PRO3.

Introduction

Patching is a GUI-only feature that lets you carry out all system routing requirements.
The GUI main menu has a Patching option that takes you to the Patching screen,
which contains all of the available patching connectors in the system. This screen
provides an easy-to-use interface, where you can select your source and destination
patching options, facilitated by a panel of function buttons. Additionally, the Patching
screen lets you set up the units (devices). For example, you can adjust the analogue
gain, select +48V phantom voltage etc., of the line I/O units connected in the system.

35

Figure 8: Patching screen

Item Element Description

1 SINGLE button Lets you patch a single source to a single destination

or multiple destinations. See “Single patching
(SINGLE)” on page 42.

2 SEQ. button Lets you select multiple sources and patch them one

by one (see “Sequence patching (SEQ .)” on page 42).

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

36 Chapter 7: Patching

Item Element Description

3 AUTO button Lets you select a block of sources and patch them all

automatically, simply by selecting a single
destination. Any existing patches within the
destination range will be replaced by the new ones.

4 NONE button Clears all currently selected patch connectors from all

tabs in the From and To sections.

5 LIST button Changes the tooltip type from standard to list when

carrying out a sequence patching operating via the

SEQ. button.

6 CHECKPOINT

button

7 RESTORE button Reverts patching status to the last checkpoint or, if no

8 UNDO button Undoes the latest single patch, even if it w as part of a

9 REDO button Redoes an undo. This can be repeated for each undo

10 CLEAR SEL.

button

Sets a patching store point, or snapshot, that
contains the patching status at that instant. Each
time CHECKPOINT is clicked the previous checkpoint
is overwritten.

checkpoints have been created, it will revert patching
status to the power up condition. All patching done in
the intervening period will be lost.

multiple patching operation. Repeated clicks will
undo the preceding patching operations, going back
to the last checkpoint, or power up if no checkpoints
have been created.

in the previous undo operation.
Clears all current selections and their patches.

Important:
Unlike the NONE button, which merely removes
the current selections (highlighted in yellow),
CLEAR SEL. goes a step further by removing the
patch as well. This will stop any audio that may
have been going through the patched signal.

11 CLEAR button Clears all patching.

Important:
Exercise great caution when using this function.
Observe the warning that appears after clicking
this button.

12 CONFIG button Opens the AES50 Device Configuration window,

from where you can set up the I/O tabs in the
Patching screen (see “Typical AES50 Device
Configuration window” on page 39).

13 STORE PRESET

and LOAD

PRESET buttons

14 Title section Section titles and tab names.
15 Patching area Contains all of the patch connectors on tabs.
16 To section Houses the tabs that contain all of the patch

17 From section Houses the tabs that contain all of the patch

These are user library (preset) function buttons (see
“User library (presets)” on page 63).

connector destinations.

connector sources.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

About the patching procedure 37

>> To access the Patching screen

Do one of the following:

• At the GUI, choose home

• Press the patching/metering button in the primary navigation zone.

• At the GUI, click a src (source) or dest (destination) button. The Patching screen
will open at the appropriate tab/configuration window.

Patching.

About the patching procedure

Although patching can be thought of as routing/rerouting the control centre’s incoming,
internal and outgoing signals, in the context of the Patching screen, patching also
encompasses the setting up and configuration of the stage and FOH rack I/O devices.
The patching procedure is initially carried out after system installation and comprises:

• Device configuration Configure the devices by adjusting their parameters (see
below).

• Snake selection Configure the control centre according to the type of ‘snake’ you
are using for the X and Y networks (see “Configuring the snake type” on page 39).

This is important, as the control centre will not work unless the snake type
is correctly configured.

• Setting up the I/O rack devices Set up the system devices, such as line I/O,
DN9696 and generic AES50, in the I/O tabs in the From and To sections of the
Patching screen (see “Setting up the I/O rack devices” on page 39).

• Patching Carry out all of the required routing, for example, mics to input channels
(see “How to patch” on page 41).

Configuring the devices

You have the option to configure the devices from the Patching screen. Parameters,
such as gain and +48V phantom voltage, can be adjusted or switched on/off,
respectively, via a device-specific configuration window.

These configuration settings can be independent of channel data, as (until patched)
they only control the physical unit. If a device is subsequently patched to one or more
channels, the channel(s) control the device, and vice-versa.

The device configuration area also allows control of audio parameters when the device
is used as a direct connection to another device. For example, FOH to stage via a
digital snake, instead of through the DSP. In this case the settings are also saved in the
show file and can be automated, even though the signals are not routed through the
control centre DSP.

Device configuration procedure

Although the procedure for configuring the devices is similar, their parameters are
dependent on device type. The procedure for configuring the devices of a similar type
involves:

• Opening the configuration window of the device.

• Selecting one of the device’s cards/channel ranges and configuring the available
parameters.

• Repeating for the other cards/channel ranges of the device.

• Repeating for the other devices.

• Closing the device’s configuration window.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

38 Chapter 7: Patching

>> To open the configuration window of a device

Click the device’s spanner button.

>> To set up/change the configuration of an I/O device

1 Open the configuration window of the I/O device you want to configure.
2 Select the I/O device from the drop-down list at the

top of the configuration window.

3 Select the card/channel you want to

configure/change, from the
drop-down list at the upper-right
corner of the configuration window.
For example, the “Analogue In
Card”.

4 In a channel, configure the parameters. For example, in

channel “In1”, adjust the gain and switch the +48V phantom
voltage on (shown right).

5 Repeat step 4 for the other channels in the card.
6 Repeat step 3 to step 5 for the other cards.

7 If necessary, configure other I/O devices by repeating step 2

to step 6.

8 Click CLOSE.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Configuring the snake type 39

2

3

4

1

5

Configuring the snake type

Important:
The snakes must be correctly configured before operating the control centre,
as it will not pass audio or control data if the snakes are not configured
correctly.

You can connect the DL371 Audio System Engine to the control centre with either
copper or fibre-optic snakes. The control centre needs to be configured with this
information before operation can begin.

>> To configure the control centre with the snake type information

1 At the GUI, choose homePreferencesGeneral.
2 Under the Stage Link X heading, click the Fibre

or Copper option, according to whichever is
fitted to the X network. For example, click the
Fibre option (shown right). A selected option
will contain a red circle.

3 Do the same for the Y network, under the Stage

Link Y heading.

Setting up the I/O rack devices

You can add, remove and set up the devices, such as line I/Os, mic splitters, DN9696s
etc., that are in the Stage I/O and FOH I/O racks. This is done via the AES50 Device
Configuration window. Here, you can set up the device ID and also the type of cards
(modules) fitted to the physical unit. The options are context-sensitive, so some may
be blank, depending on the type of device.

Figure 9: Typical AES50 Device Configuration window

Item Description

1 List of Stage and FOH ports, showing current device assignments.
2 device type drop-down list, contains a list of the available devices to

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

choose from.

40 Chapter 7: Patching

Item Description

3 device ID drop-down list, contains a full list of IDs for the selected device

type. Those already in use will be prefixed with the text “(In use)”.

4 device options drop-down list(s), from which you can select the card that

is actually fitted in the physical unit. The positions of the drop-down lists
are relative to the card positions in the physical unit.

5 CLOSE button, closes the AES50 Device Configuration window.

To cater for the dual redundant ports of the DL431 Mic Splitter and DL451 Modular I/O
(X and Y connections) there are two options in the device type drop-down list,
MS Cable Red and Line Io Cable Red, respectively. Initially, the device is allocated
to a port (as for any device), then a second port is allocated to the redundant
connection, but with the same device ID (see below for details).

>> To add a device or change its set up

1 Click CONFIG to open the AES50 Device Configuration window.
2 Click the port you want to allocate the device to. For example, “FOH Port 3

(unused)”. The text in the device type: field will change accordingly. (A port
that has no device allocated to it will have the text “(unused)” after its name.)

3 In the device type: drop-down list, click the type of device. For example,

“DL351A”.

4 In the device ID: drop-down list, click the ID you want for the device. For

example, “ID6”.

5 In the device options: drop-down list, click the type of card fitted physical unit.

For example, “Analogue 8 Input”. If there is more than one device options:
drop-down list, repeat for the remaining ones, making sure they match the actual
cards fitted.

6 Click CLOSE.

>> To add a DL431 Mic Splitter or DL451 Modular I/O device

1 Set up the device (as detailed above), but select the Mic Splitter (for DL431) or

Line IO (for DL451) option in the device type drop-down list as necessary.

2 Set up the device’s redundant connection by selecting another port from the list

in the left of the AES50 Device Configuration window. Select the MS Cable
Red or Line Io Cable Red option in the device type drop-down list as

necessary . Then, in the device ID: drop-down list, select the same device ID as
the one you chose in step 1.

3 Click CLOSE.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

How to patch 41

OR

How to patch

Patching, basically, involves selecting the source patching connectors in the From
section of the Patching screen and then selecting their destination(s) in the To section.
You can select patches singly, or in multiples by using the sequence and automatic
operations.

>> To open a tab in the From or To sections

Click the tab title. For example, click Ins. Sends to open the insert sends tab.

>> To select a single patch connector

Click the patch connector. The effects of clicking a patch connector are shown in the
following table.

Table 2: Effects of clicking a patch connector

Clicking Does this in the From section D oes this in the To section

Selects patch the
connector.

Deselects the
patch connector ,
which then
reverts to its previous state
(patched or unpatched).

Selects the patch
connector and all the ones
it is patched to in the To
section.

To quickly check the destinations of a source patch connector, click it. This will
select it and all of its destinations. A green triangle will appear under the name
of any tab in the To section that contains a destination(s).

Will do one of the following
(provided a source patch
connector(s) has been selected
in the From section):

• Selects the patch
connector during a
single patching
operation.

• Patches the patch
connector during either
a sequence or an
automatic patching operation.

Otherwise, this has no effect.
Removes the patch.

Removes the patch.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

42 Chapter 7: Patching

Single patching (SINGLE)

The SINGLE function button lets you patch a single source to a single destination or
multiple destinations.

>> To patch a single source to a single destination

The following example shows you how to patch an output from a mic splitter to an input
channel.

1 Click SINGLE.
2 Select the source patch connector. For example, in

the Stage I/O tab of the From section, click the first
patch connector (XLR1) of card A of the DL351
Modular I/O. Its background will change to yellow
and a green triangle will appear under the tab title
(as shown right).

3 Select the destination patch connector. For

example, in the Inputs tab of the To section,
click the patch connector for input channel 14
(Mic14). It will now be patched to the source.
If the new patch is carrying a signal, this
audio may be heard, depending on the
settings of the control centre.

Note: You can also carry out single patching
operations using the CLEAR SEL. and AUTO
functions.

>> To patch a single source to multiple destinations

1 Patch the desired source patch connector to one of its destinations, as detailed in

“To patch a single source to a single destination” on page 42.

2 In the To section, select the other destinations.

Sequence patching (SEQ.)

If you need to do a number of patches, and each has only a single destination, you can
use the sequence function. All of the source patch connectors are selected in the From
section before being patched, one by one, in the To section. This saves you having to
go back to the From section at the start of each patch.

To assist you in sequence patching, you can change the tooltip to the list type (see the
LIST function button in Figure 8 “Patching screen” on page 35).

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 8: Basic Operation

Input gain/trim section

Input fast

strip

Swap button

Channel

strip

Filters

section

GUI input fast strip

GUI channel

strip

Graph shows the effect of
the filter on the signal

This chapter is intended to familiarise you with the control centre by showing you how
to carry out some basic operations in order to get some audio out of it.

Note: As the operation of both input bays is principally the same, this chapter will
generally only show the operation of the 12-channel input bay. However, any
differences in operation between the 4-channel and 12-channel input bays will be
highlighted.

Please don’t forget that, although this system is a complex, high-tech piece of
equipment, it is very easy to use.

Setting a mic amplifier’s input gain

The control centre has two input gains per channel, one is the remote gain for the
analogue mic pre (stage box gain) and the other is the digital trim (console gain). In its
default state, the stage box gain is in the channel strip and the console gain is in each
input fast strip. However, you can swap these sections over (by pressing the gain swap
button) to give you a more global control of the stage box gain.

43

Figure 10: Gain and filter sections of the input strips
Note: The gain trim and stage box control knobs on the control surface will adjust

whatever has been ‘swapped’ to their respective strips and not necessarily what their
names suggest. The stage box control knob (channel strip) always controls the
alternative ‘swap’ to the ones shown in the input fast strips on the GUI screen.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

44 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

>> To set the stage box gain/console gain

1 In the gain trim section of an input fast strip, press the quick access button (see

Figure 10 “Gain and filter sections of the input strips” on page 43). This selects
the input channel and assigns its configuration processing area to GUI channel
strip, which contains the GAIN SWAP button.

2 Press the left-right arrow gain swap button

(or click GAIN SWAP) to swap the gain
trim and stage box sections over. The

diagram right shows an example of each
section.

3 Adjust the gain trim control knob (5dB

steps from -2.5dB to +45dB) to the
required level to suit the Midas pre-amp
characteristic. A suitable level could be one
that only just illuminates the yellow LEDs. Do this for each required channel.

Drive the mic amps for that ‘Midas colouration’; feel free to overdrive if you want.

4 After you have achieved the required gain state, press the left-right arrow gain

swap button (or click GAIN SWAP) to swap the gains back to their default state.

5 Adjust the gain trim control knob to (this time) adjust the console digital trim

(+20dB to -40dB continuous trim) for your preferred gain structure.

6 Set analogue remotes for initial set-up, then adjust digital trim for showtime.

Setting the high and low pass filters

Select high and low pass filters. The high and low pass filters can be switched on/off
and, when on, each has two settings. The filters are replicated on the GUI, which also
shows the value of the filter in operation.

>> To set both high and low pass filters in

1 In the gain trim section of an input fast strip (see Figure 10 “Gain and filter

sections of the input strips” on page 43), press the quick access button. This
selects the input channel and assigns its configuration processing area to the GUI
channel strip, which contains the filters section.

2 In the filters section of the input channel strip, press the filter select button

(high pass or low pass ) to switch the filter in.

3 If necessary, press the filter’s SLOPE button to set its slope (dB); its status is

shown on the GUI. For the high pass filter, in = 24dB and out = 12dB, and for the
low pass filter, in = 12dB and out = 6dB.

4 Adjust the high pass/low pass control knob to set the filter frequency (Hz).

The ranges are 10Hz to 400Hz for the high pass filter and 2kHz to 40kHz for the
low pass filter.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Input equalisation (E zone) 45

Graph shows the effects of EQ

Filter quick
access button

LEDs for EQ
filter selection
indication

E zone

Input fast
strip

GUI channel

strip

Light background shows that
this is the selected EQ filter

Input equalisation (E zone)

Use EQ to equalise the input signal via the treble, hi-mid, lo-mid and bass filters, which
are situated in the input channel strip’s E zone. Treble and bass each have a
parametric filter option and three specific shelving modes. Visual feedback for EQ is via
GUI only.

>> To EQ the input signal

1 In an input fast strip, press the quick access button of the desired EQ filter

(treble, hi-mid, lo-mid or bass). This will select the channel and open the EQ
filter’s processing area in the GUI’s channel strip. Alternatively, you can navigate
to it using the bass and treble up and down arrow buttons in the E-zone (shown
above).

2 In the input fast strip, press EQ to switch the EQ in. The EQ button’s LED will

illuminate when its EQ is switched in.

3 In the E zone, adjust the freq, width and gain control knobs to apply EQ as

desired.

4 Audition the different filters, including the ‘minimum

harmonic disruption’ types, by scrolling through them
using the SHAPE button.

Note: The minimum harmonic disruption filters are bright
and deep, which are available for treble and bass,
respectively. These filters use psychoacoustic phenomena to
generate steep slopes that sound natural.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

46 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

Compressor quick
access button

D zone

Input fast
strip

GUI channel strip

Gate quick access
button

Graphs show the effects of
compression/gating

Soft

Medium

Hard

Input dynamics processing (D zone)

Set up compressor and gate dynamics processors using the controls in the input
channel strip’s D zone.

There are four compressors available, corrective, adaptive, creative and vintage, each
with the option of hard knee, medium knee and soft knee.

>> To set up a compressor/limiter

1 In an input fast strip, press the compressor quick access button in the comp

section. This will select the channel and assign its compressor processing area to
the GUI channel strip.

2 In the comp section, press ON to switch the compressor in.
3 In the D zone, operate the attack, ratio/range (ratio), release, threshold and

make up controls to apply processing. You could also set up a limiter by using a

high threshold and a steep ratio (greater than 5:1).
The hold control knob has no affect as it is only used for the gate.

4 Press KNEE to audition the

different algorithms (hard
knee, medium knee and soft
knee as shown right).

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Output processing 47

5 Press MODE to try different compressor types (corrective,

adaptive, creative and vintage). For example, creative

shown right.

>> To set up a gate

1 In an input fast strip, press the gate quick access button in the gate section.

This will select the channel and assign its gate processing area to the GUI channel
strip.

2 In the gate section, press ON to switch the gate in.
3 In the D zone, operate the attack, ratio/range (range), release, threshold

and hold controls to apply processing.
The make up control knob has no affect as it is only used for the compressor.

Output processing

Apart from the returns, which are similar to the input channel EQ, the outputs have a
six-band PEQ with shelving modes on bands 1, 2 and 6. They also have the option of
using a GEQ, which is accessed via the GEQ button in their EQ processing areas.

The outputs (except returns) have the same four compressor modes as the input
channels, but with the addition of a shimmer mode.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

48 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

VCA group LCD

select button

Input channel
LCD select
buttons

Using VCA/POP groups

VCA/POP groups (bottom of the mix bay) allow simultaneous control over a number of
channels. This provides a quick method of bringing particular channels to the control
surface and saves you having to remember their name/number. You can choose
channel group associations and also configure the colour and legend of each group’s
LCD select button to make them instantly recognisable. The LCD select button for each
group is used for both group member assignment and group recall.

Any group can have any channels (input/output) assigned to them, although in normal
practise is more likely that they will only have one or the other. Only input channel
group members are unfolded to the surface (input bays).

VCA groups include fader, solo and mute control. However, POP groups — which have
no audio function — are limited to unfolding channels (on area A or B). POP groups let
you create a group of related instruments that you need on the control surface for some
function.

>> To assign channels to a VCA/POP group

1 Press and hold down the LCD select button of the desired group (VCA or POP).

For example, “Kit” in the VCAs (as shown above). The group’s LCD select button
will start flashing when you are in group member selection mode and the inputs
will jump to program mode. Any existing input channel group members will be
unfolded to the control surface.

2 While still holding down the LCD select button, do one of the following:

• To assign an input channel to the group, press the LCD select button of the
desired input channel. Repeat for any other input channels you want in the
group. For example, “Kik 1”, “Sn1”, “Hihat” and “Tom” (shown above). If
necessary, scroll to a new bank of input channels.

• T o assign an output channel to the group, press the quick access button of the
desired output channel. Repeat for any other output channels you w ant in the
group. If necessary, navigate the desired output channels to the control
surface. The quick access buttons of any output channels that are at the
control surface and are group members will illuminate. Individual output
select buttons will flash if their bank contains a member of the current group.

3 Release the group LCD select button. The group now contains the channel

members you have just assigned and the group will be selected.

4 To exit the group, quickly press the group LCD select button.

To quickly see which channels are in a particular VCA group, press its SOLO
button on and off. Monitor this action on the Meters display (master bay GUI).
Only the SOLO buttons of channels that are group members will be affected.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Using VCA/POP groups 49

Group name field

Control knob icon

Palette icon

Pencil icon

VCA groups

POP groups

Fill icon

Configuring VCA/POP groups

The default name and associated colour of a group, which appear on its LCD select
button and on the GUI, can be configured to suit your own preference. You can also
globally change the colour of the group members to match the group colour.
Configuration is carried out at the Group Sheet screen (see Figure 11).

Figure 11: VCA/POP group fields on the Group Sheet screen

Note: Clicking the control knob icon will take you to the VCA Groups screen (a
submenu of the Control Groups option), which provides group management control.

>> To access the Group Sheet screen

Do one of the following:

• At the GUI, choose homeControl GroupsGroup Sheet.

• In the primary navigation zone, press the vca/assignable controls screen access
button.

>> To set up the name of a VCA/POP group

Do one of the following:

• Choose from a list of pre-configured names by clicking the pencil icon of the
group. In the drop-down list, click the name of your choice, for example, “E Gtr”.
Scroll the list, if required.

• Type in a new name by clicking within the name field of the group. The pointer
will change to a white flashing I-shaped cursor, which will appear at the end of the
name field. Type in the new name via the keyboard (maximum six characters).

>> To set up the colour of a VCA/POP group

1 Click the palette icon of the group.
2 In the palette (shown right), click y our chosen colour. For

example, blue.

>> To set up the colour of a VCA/POP group and all of its
members

Click the fill icon of the group. The colour of all group

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

members will now match that of the group.

50 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

Ramp shows that this
signal is post-fader

This transition point across each group of
eight mix buses, where solid colours
change to translucent, indicates 0dB

Bar shows that this
signal is pre-fader

Bright aux number

and ramp/bar

shows that this

aux is on

Dull aux number

and ramp/bar

shows that this

aux is off

Name of bank of mix buses

Setting up a mix

The control centre has 24 configurable mix buses (16 auxes and 8 matrices), each of
which can be used as aux mixes, subgroups or mix minus. All of the mixes can also be
set up as stereo pairs or mono. Eight matrix outputs can also be accessed directly from
input channels via level controls, which gives the control centre the ability to provide 24
discrete mixes, plus left, right and mono. The mix sections (input fast strips) and the
mix and sends sections (mix and master bays) provide mix control and navigation,
while the bus mode selection is via GUI only.

Similarly to the inputs and groups, identification of mixes is by colour coding.
The overview displays in the GUI channel strip (see Figure 12) show the status of the

mixes, which are colour coordinated to match those in the sends section of the control
surface.

Figure 12: Typical sends sections of the mixes in the GUI channel strip

>> To select the mix bus mode

1 Select the mix bus (see “To select a mix bus” on page 30).
2 Press the quick access button

(adjacent to the filters section)
to assign the mix overview to
the channel strip. For example,
the aux send overview for
AuxS1.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Setting up a mix 51

a

b

c

3 Click a non-control area within one of the sections (for

example, dir in) to open the configuration processing area
in the GUI channel strip.

4 Click MODE repeatedly to scroll through the mix modes

(mix, group and mix minus) to select the one you want.
Group mode is fader only with no pre-fader, and in mix
minus mode all buses are initially routed — you have to turn
a bus routing switch on to take it out of the mix. Stereo mix
mode — with mix selected and LINK button on — is only
accessed from the odd numbered output channel of the
linked pair. In stereo mix mode the top control knob
becomes pan adjust and the bottom one adjusts level.

When creating a stereo mix, you can use either the odd or
even output to link the two channels, but the mode of the
odd channel is used on both.

>> To set up a mono aux mix

1 Making sure that the mix bus is not linked, select mix (see “To

select the mix bus mode” on page 50).

2 Select the input channel (see “To select an input channel” on

page 28).

3 At the GUI, click within the appropriate sends section (aux or

matrices) in the overview display (see Figure 12 on page 50) to
open its processing area.

4 In the mix (upper) section, do the

following:

a Press PRE to select pre-fader

(on) or post-fader (off).
Button status is only
available on the GUI (see
Figure 12 on page 50).

b Press ON to route the aux

mix from input to aux output.

c Adjust the level control knob

to change the signal level.
You have the option to adjust them using the pan/fader controls in the
input fast zone (12-channel input bay); this is known as “flip” mode. (You
can also adjust them in the GUI channel strip — overview or processing
area — using drag.)

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

52 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

Mix bus routing

You can route an aux or matrix (or even master output) to an effect or output. This is
a GUI-only operation, which is done via the GUI channel strip or Patching screen (see
Chapter 7 “Patching”).

>> To route an aux or matrix to an effect or output

Do one of the following:

• In the processing area of the channel strip, click the required
mix bus destination from the drop-down list. For details of how
to open the processing area, refer to “To select the mix bus
mode” on page 50.

• In the processing area of the channel strip, click dest (shown
right). This will open the Patching screen and the appropriate
tab. For details of how to open the processing area, refer to
“To select the mix bus mode” on page 50.

•Open the Patching screen and route the aux/matrix from
there. For information on patching, see Chapter 7 "Patching"
on page 35.

Linking

You can link two mixes together. Pairs can only be created from adjacent mix buses of
the same colour. To link a pair of mix buses, click the LINK button of either of the mix
buses (odd or even) you want to link (see “To select the mix bus mode” on page 50).

The linked parameters default to the user-configurable global default link settings,
which are set via the GUI menu (choose home
you can override these default link settings for the pair via the Stereo Linking
Options window, which is opened by pressing the LINK OPT. button (to the right of
the LINK button).

Using fader flip

For information on using fader flip, see “Controlling the mix buses in flip mode” on
page 18.

Note: When using fader flip to control the aux bus levels, always use the GUI to check
the level. This is because the fader level markings have a maximum of +10dB, whereas
the aux bus levels only go up to +6dB.

PreferencesLinking). However,

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Setting up the effects rack 53

Setting up the effects rack

The GUI’s Effects screen contains a virtual eight-unit rack.
You can have a maximum of six effects units in the rack, the
number being dependent on configuration (via the Effects
and GEQs section of the Preferences screen). Each unit
can contain any combination of the effects listed in the
Change Device Type window.

The assignable controls panel (shown in the Delay
diagram below) is common to all effects, and lets you control
effect parameters via the equivalent panel on the control
surface (master bay).

Delay — provides simple delay
line-based effects. Delay times can
be specified manually or you can use
the ‘tempo-tap’ button. It has a
three-mode delay algorithm: one
delay tap (mono or stereo
processing); dual - two delay lines
(stereo inset only); and ping-pong ­two delay lines with cross feedback.

DN780 — is a reverberation device
that emulates the Klark Teknik
DN780 Digital Reverberator/
Processor unit and lets you create
unique acoustic environments of
virtually any type.

Flanger — has one or, if configured
as stereo, two tap delay lines. One
tap is fixed and the other tap
position is modulated to provide
‘thru-zero’ flanging or single tap
modulation when ‘thru-zero’ is off.

Phaser — has one, or if configured
for dual operation, two stereo
phasers connected in serial or
parallel, according to mode setting.

Pitch Shifter — has two
independent channels that can
independently shift the pitch of
signals up or down to correct poor
pitching or generate harmonies. The
pitch change can also be modulated
as an effect.

SQ1 Dynamics — is an emulation
of the Klark Teknik Square ONE
Dynamics, which is an 8-channel
analogue dynamics processor. Used
for the precise manipulation of
compression parameters, it also
includes gating for creative and
corrective applications, and channel
linking for stereo/multi-channel
operation.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

54 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

4

5

3 Band Compressor — is a
minimum phase shift (analogue
style) implementation that
guarantees coherent band summing,
even at the most extreme crossover
point settings. Each band provides
full control of its compressor’s
action, with partially adaptive time constants ensuring the most natural results from
even the most variable sources.

>> To choose an effect

1 At the GUI, choose homeRack UnitsEffects. Alternatively, press the

effects/graphics screen access button in the primary navigation zone.

2 Click within your chosen rack position.

This will be the position of the new
effect.

3 In the effect window, click CHANGE

DEVICE TYPE.

4 In the Change Device Type window, click your chosen

device type. For example, “DN780”.

5 Click OK.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Simple routing to master stereo outputs 55

6 Change the parameters of the new

effect device as necessary. For
example, adjust control knobs, press
buttons etc. You can even change the
effect’s name by editing its name field
(upper-left corner of effect window).

7 Click CLOSE to close the effect

window. The new effect will appear in
the effects rack.

You can now patch the new effect, which will
be on the Effects tabs of both the From and
To sections of the Patching screen. For
information on how to patch, see Chapter 7 "Patching" on page 35.

Simple routing to master stereo outputs

The following shows you how to obtain audio. Before proceeding with this operation,
make sure nothing is muted and master faders are up.

>> To obtain audio

Do one of the following:

• Press the ST (stereo) button of
an input fast strip.

• Press the ST (stereo) button of
a channel strip.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

56 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

Scene and show management (automation)

Automation lets you manage show files and the scenes within the shows. This can all
be done via the Automation screen (a GUI menu option).

Typical Automation screens before (left) and after (right) a show has been initially
loaded

>> To open the Automation screen

Do one of the following:

• At the GUI, choose home

• In the primary navigation zone, press the automation/filing screen access button.

Managing the shows

The four buttons (NEW, LOAD, SAVE and SAVE AS) towards the top of Automation
screen let you create a new show, load an existing show, update the current show or
create a new show using the current settings.

Important:
We recommend that you save your show
settings regularly (see “Saving a show
versus storing a scene” on page 19). The
control centre will indicate that there are
show settings to be saved by changing the
background colour of the SAVE button to red
(as shown right).

>> To create a new show

1 Click NEW.
2 In the Enter new show name: window, type

your chosen name for the new show.

AutomationAutomation.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Scene and show management (automation) 57

3 Click OK. You can now create

and manage the scenes for your
new show. (Clicking CANCEL
instead of OK will close the
Enter new show name:
window without creating a new
show.)

>> To save a show or create a new one from the current settings

Do one of the following:

• To update the current show with the latest settings, click SAVE.

• To create a new show using the current show
settings, click SAVE AS. Then, in the Save
File window, type in the name of the new show.
Click OK to save the new show and close the
window. (Clicking Cancel will close the window
without saving the new show.)

>> To load a show

1 Click LOAD.
2 In the Load File window, click the show file

you want to load (shown right). The file
name will appear in the Load this file:
name field.

The Load File window will contain a list of
all the shows currently loaded. If the one
you want is not there, load it from a USB
memory stick (see “To load (import) a show
file from a USB memory stick” on page 67).

3 Click OK to start loading the file and close

the window. The show file name will appear
in the show file name field (next to the
SAVE AS button) when it has finished
loading.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

58 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

Managing the scenes

An automation section in the master bay (see item H in Figure 2 “Main areas of the
control surface” on page 11) supports the Automation screen by providing a number
of controls for scene navigation and management. A jogwheel and a next LCD button
are unique automation controls, while the store, ok, cancel, last and now buttons are
replicated on the Automation screen.

The four coloured, backlit buttons are context-sensitive and illuminate only when they
are available. Typically, three scenes in the cue list (Automation screen) will be
highlighted to match the button colours (red, yellow or green) to show which scene
each button will act upon.

The jogwheel quickly scrolls through the individual scenes in either direction. You can
even go to the empty scenes towards the end of the cue list and then wrap to the
beginning. Operation of the jogwheel does not affect scene selection.

The next LCD button displays information on the scene you have just scrolled to.
Additional function buttons on the Automation screen allow you to copy scenes and

also to choose what is stored within each scene (store and recall scope buttons).

The eye icon in the Automation screen (just under the ADD MIDI button)
opens a Show window, which contains a list of filter options.

>> To navigate the scenes using the jogwheel

Rotate the jogwheel in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction to
scroll through the scenes one by one.

When using the jogwheel the next LCD button will illuminate yellow
and will track the scene currently highlighted in yellow in the cue
list. In this case, pressing this button will only have an affect if a
non-empty scene is currently highlighted.

>> To recall a scene
Important:

When recalling a new scene, make sure monitor output levels are low, as the
new scene’s settings may produce higher audio output levels than the one it is
replacing. Also, recalling a scene clears any unsaved adjustments made to the
previous scene.

Do one of the following:

• Press last to change scene selection to the one currently
highlighted in red in the cue list, which was the last selected
scene.

• Press now to change scene selection to the one currently
highlighted in yellow in the cue list.

• Press next (LCD button) to change scene selection to the one
currently highlighted in green in the cue list, which is the scene
immediately following the ‘now’ scene. However, if you have used
the jogwheel the effect will be different.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Scene and show management (automation) 59

>> To create a new scene using the current settings

1 Click STORE SCENE.
2 In the Store Scene window (shown right),

type in the scene name.

3 In the Notes panel, type in any scene notes.
4 Do one of the following:

• Click “Insert before scene” to put the new
scene in between the one currently
highlighted in yellow and the scene
immediately before it.

• Click “Store to empty scene” to put the
new scene in the one currently
highlighted in yellow, provided it is empty.

• Click “Store to next scene” to put the new scene in the next one, provided it is
empty.

• Click “Overwrite scene” to overwrite the scene currently highlighted in yellow.

An OK button will appear at the bottom of the window, to the left of the Cancel
button.

The options in the Store Scene window are context-sensitive, so some may be
greyed-out to show that they are unavailable.

5 Click OK. This will store the scene, saving any changes you have made, and

close the window. (Clicking CANCEL will close the window, ignoring any
changes.)

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

60 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

Additional control — managing events

You can use the MIDI or GPIO functions of the control centre to control the parameters
of an external device (outgoing), and conversely you can use an external device to
control the control centre (incoming). Also, by using the unique ‘internal’ event option,
you can trigger events from within the showfile itself. All this is done by creating events
in scenes/point scenes.

You can have any number and types of events in any scene/point scene, and event
parameters are set up and edited in an Edit Event window. Similarly to scenes/point
scenes, you can skip events during rehearsals.

To aid event management, a menu opens (shown right) when you
right-click a scene/point scene or event. The menu options allow you to
create, edit and copy events. Click an option to select it.

The following shows what some of the event symbols in the Automation
screen mean: = currently selected event; = MIDI event;

= GPIO event; = internal event; = incoming event; and

= outgoing event.

>> To create an event

Select the scene in which you want to create the event, and then do one of the
following:

• Click the ADD GPIO, ADD INTERNAL or ADD MIDI button as necessary.

• From the ‘right-click’ menu, choose AddMidi Event, AddInternal Event or

Add

GPIO Event as necessary.

>> To edit an event

1 Open the Edit Event window by doing one of the

following:

• Right-click the event you want to edit and
then choose Edit from the right-click menu.

• Select the event you want to edit and then
click EDIT.

2 In the Edit Event window, choose your options

as necessary. For example, you can use a
program change to trigger the event.

3 Click CLOSE to close the Edit Event window.

>> To copy and paste an event

1 Right-click the event you want to copy, and then

choose Copy from the menu.

2 Select the scene in which you want to paste the

copied event. Or, if the scene already contains an
event(s), select the event after which you want to
paste the copied event.

3 Right-click to open the menu, and then choose

Paste.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Scene and show management (automation) 61

Show editor

The show editor is a GUI-only function
that lets you copy and paste settings
through scenes very easily. This is
done via the Show Editor screen
(shown right).

The panel at the far left of the Show
Editor screen shows the sources, such
as channels, GEQs and effects, from
which you can copy the settings. The
Sections panel in the centre of the
screen contains source sections that
you can copy to the scene(s). At the far
right of the screen is the Scenelist
panel, which is a cue list of the current
show.

>> To open the Show Editor screen

Do one of the following:

• From the GUI menu, choose home

• At the Automation screen, click SHOW EDITOR.

>> To copy and paste sections to a scene(s)

AutomationShow Editor.

1 In the Show Editor screen, click the sources that contain the sections you want

to copy to a scene(s). These are in the far left panel of the screen. You can
choose any combination of inputs, aux returns, aux sends, matrices, GEQs,
effects and masters.

2 In the Sections panel, click the boxes of the sections that you want to copy.

Ticked options will be copied.

3 In the Scenelist panel, click the scene(s) in which you want to paste the

sections. You can use the buttons at the bottom of the list to help you, as
follows:

• Click ALL to select all of the scenes in the list.

• Click NONE to deselect all selected scenes.

4 Click PASTE TO SCENES.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

62 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

Configuring the inputs and outputs

Similarly to the VCA/POP groups, you can change the name and colour of each of the
inputs and outputs. This is done via the GUI at their respective sheet screens. For
configuration details, see “Configuring VCA/POP groups” on page 49.

>> To open the Input/Output Sheet screen

Do one of the following:

• At the GUI, choose homeInput ChannelsInput Sheet to open the
Input Sheet screen, or choose home
the Output Sheet screen.

• In the primary navigation zone, press the inputs/outputs screen access button to
open the Input Sheet screen. T o open the Output Sheet screen, press it again.

Mix & OutputsOutput Sheet to open

Using copy and paste

The copy and paste buttons (upper-right corner of GUI) let you copy the parameters of
one/all of a single channel’s processing area(s) — such as the EQ, compressor, gate etc.
— and paste them to one/all of the channels of a similar type.

copy and paste buttons on the GUI. Right-clicking a copy or paste button will open
its respective menu, which contains full copy/paste options.

>> To copy a processing area to a channel/all channels

1 If necessary, navigate the channel’s processing area to the channel strip (see “To

select a processing area” on page 33).

2 Click copy.
3 Do one of the following:

• To copy the processing area to another channel, select the channel and then
click paste. (As the copied parameters are still stored, you can paste to as
many channels as you want.)

• T o copy the processing area to all other channels, right-click paste to open its
menu and then choose Paste To All.

>> To copy all parameters to a channel/all channels

1 If necessary, select the channel from which you want to copy all of the processing

areas.

2 Right-click copy to open its menu, and then choose Copy All.
3 Do one of the following:

• To copy the parameters to another channel, select the desired channel and
then click paste.

• T o copy the processing area to all other channels, right-click paste to open its
menu and then choose Paste To All.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

User library (presets) 63

Copy and paste rules and restrictions

• You can only copy and paste similar functions. For example, you can’t copy the
input EQ from one channel to the output EQ of another, as they are different.

• You can only copy and paste across similar chan nel t ypes. F or example, y ou cannot
copy from an aux and paste to a matrix.

• Copying and pasting across inputs is restricted to the input bays only.

• Channel names are not copied.

• Compressor and gate side chain listen cannot be copied.

User library (presets)

The control centre has a user library where you can store settings, such as for the EQ or
the whole channel. For example, you may wish to store the EQ settings of a singer who
may be called upon to perform during a future show. You can then easily recall these
EQ settings to the appropriate channel, when required.

Store and load preset buttons on the GUI

The settings are stored as presets, which are saved in a library. The library files are
managed via a Preset Manager screen on the GUI. Here, you can create new
libraries, load existing libraries, save the current library or give it a new name. You can
also delete presets from the library.

Before you can save/load a preset, you need to create a new preset library or open an
existing one. To create a new one, open the Preset Manager screen (choose

Preset Manager) and click New. Then, after typing in the details in the

home
Enter new Library name window, click OK.

>> To save a preset to the user library

1 Make sure that the settings you want to save are assigned to the channel strip,

then click store preset. If the channel’s overview is displayed, all o f its settings
will be saved in the preset. Otherwise, just the settings of the displayed
processing area will be saved.

2 In the Save Preset window (shown right), type in

your chosen preset name (Preset Name), your
name (Preset Author) and any note (Notes) as
necessary.

3 Click OK.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

64 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

LCR

Position cursor

Speaker

Sound image

RR

Listener’s position

RL

>> To load a preset

1 Make sure that the channel in which you want to load the settings of the preset is

assigned to the channel strip, then click load preset.

2 In the Load Preset window, click the desired preset.
3 Click OK.

Surround panning

In addition to stereo and left­centre-right (LCR) panning, the
control centre has three surround
panning modes: quad; left,
centre, right and surround
(LCRS); and 5.1 surround.

To help you visualise the
surround panning envelope, the
masters processing area of the
GUI channel strip has a spatial
diagram (shown right) that
updates in real time when you
operate the panning controls.

The surround panning modes are operated via a surround monitoring system, which
uses matrix channels 1 to 6 as the surround bus channels. The channels are muted via
six MUTE buttons in the master bay. Control centre monitor output connections are via
the surround, sub, centre and front XLRs on the rear panel.

The 5.1 panning mode uses all six channels, while quad mode uses four (left and right
on both the front and surround). Although the LCRS mode uses five channels (front left
and right, centre and surround left and right), both surround channels are the same.
(In an LCRS surround panning arrangement, you can have a single surround speaker
positioned directly behind the listener.)

In surround mode, the SIS button routes the channel to the surround buses in much
the same way that the ST button routes to the master buses.

Figure 13 “5.1 surround panning arrangement” on page 65 shows the location of the
surround MUTE buttons and their matrix channel allocation, and shows the allocation of

the surround MUTE buttons per loudspeaker and the recommended
system configuration.

>> To select the surround panning mode

1 At a GUI screen, choose homePreferencesGeneral to open the

Preferences screen.

2 In the Surround Mode section, select the desired surround mode.

1. Reference - ITU-R BS.775.1, 1994. Multichannel stereophonic sound system with and without
accompanying picture. International Telecommunications Union.

1

5.1 surround

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Surround panning 65

Subwoofer

Front left

Centre

Front right

Rear right

(right surround)

Rear left

(left surround)

30°30°

110° ±10°

110° ±10°

Listening
distance

Loudspeaker

Matrix channels

12 3 4 56

Figure 13: 5.1 surround panning arrangement

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

66 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

Area A

Area B

Two-man operation

The control centre can be operated by two people simultaneously. In this mode of
operation the 4-channel input bay is designated as area B, and operates independently
of the 12-channel input bay, which is always area A. (You can have the same channel
selected simultaneously in both bays.)

This feature can also be used by a single operator if they require somewhere to
store important channels. In this case, area B can be used in the same way a
‘channel 25’ would be used on an analogue console.

The following diagram shows the areas designated as A and B during two-man
operation and also shows the location of the area B button. All other parts of the
control surface are common to both areas.

Figure 14: Two-man operation

VCA/POP groups can be pre-selected to populate area A or B, and a single group of
inputs can have members in both areas of the control surface. An operator can then
recall them to their own area to work on.

Note: When operating in area B, remember to select the B option, where appropriate,
particularly in the monitor section. Also note that solo B (also for talkback) is totally
independent of area B, which is used for navigation only.

>> To set up the control centre for two-man operation
In the input select section of the master bay, press B (see Figure 14 above).

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Saving your show files to a USB memory stick 67

USB memory

stick

Saving your show files to a USB memory stick

When you are satisfied that your show file is how you want it, we recommend that you
save it to a removable storage device (USB memory stick). This provides a valuable
back up should the show file stored in the internal memory of the control centre be lost,
for example, due to inadvertent deletion.

You can also load show files onto the control centre from the same storage device.

>> To save (export) a show file to a USB memory stick

1 If necessary, close and save the show file you want to export; you can’t export a

show file that is open.

2 Insert the USB memory stick

into the active USB socket,
which is the one with the
flashing active LED. For
example, USB key 2 (shown
right).

3 Do one of the following:

• At the GUI, choose

home

Files.

• In the primary navigation
zone, press the
automation/filing screen
access button twice.

4 You may see an “Analysing...”

message in the Removable Storage
panel, which means that the Midas
folder on the USB memory stick is
being read. Wait for the message to
clear. Then, in the Control Surface
panel, click the show file you want to
copy (shown right).

5 Click EXPORT.

6 In the Are You Sure you Want To

Export? message window, click OK. The file will

start copying to the USB memory stick.

7 When your show file appears in the Removable

Storage panel, it has finished copying to the

USB memory stick. Remove the USB memory
stick.

>> To load (import) a show file from a USB memory stick

The procedure is similar to the export procedure, as detailed in “To save (export) a
show file to a USB memory stick” on page 67, but select the file to be imported to the
control centre from the Removable Storage panel and then click IMPORT.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

68 Chapter 8: Basic Operation

External AES50 synchronisation

If you want to connect AES50 audio between two Midas digital consoles the slave
console must be set to external AES50 synchronisation, irrespective of the
synchronisation source of the master console.

Console 2 sync setting

External
Console 1
sync setting

Master Not valid Not valid Not valid Valid

Word clock Not valid Not valid Not valid Valid

AES3 Not valid Not valid Not valid Valid

External
AES50 from
console 2

Master Word clock AES3

Valid
connection

Valid
connection

Valid
connection

AES50 from

console 1

connection

connection

connection

Not valid

A valid connection can be a tie line between the stage routers or the secondary port
(Bx/By) of a mic splitter that has its primary port (Ax/Ay) connected to the master
console.

Security (locking mode)

If you need to leave the control centre unattended, but you want to preserve its current
state of operation, you can lock it via the GUI menu. This will prevent unauthorised
adjustment of its settings. When locked the GUI displays the ‘splash’ screens (shown
during the start up sequence) and none of the controls on the control surface will
function; the control centre will be totally locked out.

>> To lock the control centre
At the GUI, choose home

>> To unlock the control centre

At the GUI, click UNLOCK. This button is in the lower-left corner of
both GUI screens. For security, this button has been designed to blend
in with the background to disguise it. When unlocked, the control
centre will revert to the state it was in the last time it was locked.

Lock.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Volume 1:Connecting And

Setting Up The

System

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 9: Setting Up The System

This chapter shows you how to set up a live audio system to its default configuration.

Note: If you want to set up the system using a configuration other than the default,
please contact Midas Technical Support for details.

Initial set-up procedure

Initial system set-up basically comprises:

• Unpacking and checking the equipment — see “Unpacking the equipment” on
page 71.

• Making up a rack — see “Making up a rack” on page 71.

• Connecting up the equipment — see “Wiring instructions” on page 71.

71

• Powering the equipment — see “Powering the system” on page 73.

• Initial patching — see “Setting up the I/O rack devices” on page 39. It is

important to set up the type of snakes connected in the system.

• Configuring the rack unit(s) — see “Setting up the ID of the unit(s)” on page 75.

Unpacking the equipment

After carefully unpacking the equipment, save all packing materials, as they will prove
useful should it become necessary to transport the equipment later.

Inspect the equipment carefully for any sign of damage incurred during transportation.
It has undergone stringent quality control inspection and tests prior to packing and was
in perfect condition when it left the factory. However, if the equipment shows any signs
of damage, notify the transportation company without delay. Only you, the consignee,
may institute a claim against the carrier for damage during transportation.

Making up a rack

In the standard supply, the rack supplied with the your system is fully fitted with the
DL371 Audio System Engine unit and the I/O unit(s) appropriate for your system.

Wiring instructions

Important:
The control centre and all of the DLnn1 units have Volex locking type plugs
fitted on their supplied mains cables, which plug into their mains IEC
connectors. When fitted properly the Volex plug locks into place, preventing it
working loose, or being inadvertently knocked loose or pulled out. For details
of how to fit/remove a Volex plug, see “Power” on page xvii.

Basically, to connect the system equipment together all you have to do is to connect
the control centre to the DL371 Audio System Engine using the Cat 5e or fibre optic
snake; the racks units should already be connected together when you receive them.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

72 Chapter 9: Setting Up The System

DL371 Audio

System Engine

(4 x AES50

expansion ports)

Rack (the DL251 and
DL371 units are
typically located in a
single 14U rack)

Maximum 100 m,
typically 0.5 m
(N+1 redundant
AES50)

Cat 5e snakes (100 m, bi-directional,
192 + 192-channel)

PRO3 Control Centre

(control surface, router, 8 x inputs, 8 x outputs, 8 x insert

Jack I/O pairs and 6 x monitor outputs)

DL251 Audio System
I/O (48 x inputs and

16 x outputs)

Mix position
Stage

3 x AES50 expansion
ports

Figure 15: Standard PRO3 system configuration

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Powering the system 73

Powering the system

The following details the recommended power up and power down procedures for the
system.

Note: If you are in any doubt as to how to switch the rack units on/off, refer to their
operator manuals.

>> To power up the system

Important Note:
DO NOT switch on the speaker sub-system until after the start-up of the
system has been completed.

After all system interconnections have been made (see “Wiring instructions” on
page 71), start up the system by doing the following:

1 Make sure that all of the system equipment is switched off, such as the control

centre, speaker sub-system, DL371 Audio System Engine unit and I/O unit(s).

2 Switch on the control centre (see “To switch on the control centre” on page 74).
3 In the master bay of the control centre, move all of the monitor and master

channel faders to the minimum position and mute all of the master channels (see
section F in Figure 2 “Main areas of the control surface” on page 11).

4 Power up the other system equipment, such as the DL371 Audio System Engine

unit and I/O unit(s). This can be done in any order you like.

5 After the status indicator at the top of each GUI screen has

changed to green (shown right), switch on the speaker
sub-system.

6 Switch on the audio source and start playing the audio.
7 On the control centre, check that the audio inputs are routed to the master

channels. Then, unmute the master channels and gradually increase their faders
while listening to the sound levels from the speakers.

If there is no sound at all coming from the speakers when the faders are at maximum,
move the faders to below the 0dB level and check if the audio is muted somewhere
along the input paths and also check that the individual speakers are switched on. If
there is still no sound from the speakers, see “No audio” on page 79.

>> To power down the system

Important Note:
BEFORE switching off any of the system components, don’t forg et to mut e the
audio from the speakers and switch off the speaker sub-system.

1 Mute the audio from the speakers and switch off the speaker sub-system.
2 Switch off the I/O unit(s).
3 Switch off the DL371 Audio System Engine unit.
4 Switch off the control centre (see “To switch off the control centre” on page 74).

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

74 Chapter 9: Setting Up The System

Mains

plug

Mains
outlet

Rear of control centre

1

2

3

Mains power on/off LED indicator

Switching the control centre on/off

Carry out the following to switch the control centre on or off in a safe manner,
observing all WARNINGS and Cautions.

>> To switch on the control centre

Caution (1)!
A minimum of two power supply modules must be supplying power
to the control centre for correct operation.

Caution (2)!
Before switching on, check that all monitor loudspeaker power
amplifiers are turned off or muted.

After connecting up the audio cables, carry out the following:

Switching on the control centre

1 Plug the three mains cables into the mains power outlets.
2 Observing C a ution (1)! above, plug the Volex connectors (see “Wiring

instructions” on page 71) of the mains cables into the mains sockets on the rear
of the control centre. (The green LED next to each mains socket will illuminate if
its mains supply is on.)

3 Observing C a ution (2)! above, apply power to the control centre by switching

the D.C. POWER switch on. The control centre will boot up and, when the
default GUI screens are displayed, it is ready for use.

>> To switch off the control centre

1 Make sure you have saved any shows, scenes or settings you require (see

“Saving your show files to a USB memory stick” on page 67).

2 At the GUI, choose homePreferencesShutdown System.
3 At the Shutdown ENTIRE system? prompt, click OK.
4 After the shutdown sequence has finished, switch off the D.C. POWER switch

(rear of control centre).

5 Disconnect the mains cables from the rear of the control centre.

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Setting up the ID of the unit(s) 75

Setting up the ID of the unit(s)

After connecting up your system, you may need to set up the ID of the unit(s) in the
rack, such as the DL351 Modular I/O, DL451 Modular I/O or DL431 Mic Splitter, as each
unit must have its own unique ID number. (This does not apply to the DL251 Audio
System I/O.)

Note: The I/O unit doesn’t have to be connected in the system for you to set up its ID,
as the procedure can be carried out offline.

>> To set up the ID of an unit

Although the programming menu of each type of I/O unit may look slightly different,
the procedure for setting up its ID is basically very similar. For full instructions on how
to set up the ID of each particular I/O unit, refer to its operator manual.

1 If necessary, switch on the I/O unit.
2 Press MENU and hold for approximately two seconds to enter the main menu.

3 If necessary, use the down arrow button to navigate to the set ID option.
4 Press SELECT to enter the set ID option.

5 If necessary, use the down arrow button to navigate to the desired ID number .
6 Press SELECT to select the ID number.
7 Press MENU repeatedly to exit the main menu. (The unit will automatically exit

programming mode after 20 seconds of inactivity, that is, if none of the
programming buttons are pressed within that time.)

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

76 Chapter 9: Setting Up The System

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide

Volume 2:Appendices

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

Appendix A: Troubleshooting

This appendix gives a brief troubleshooting guide to your system.

No audio

If you have set up your system and followed all of the instructions for obtaining audio,
but you are not hearing anything through the speakers, check the following:

• Make sure the appropriate ST buttons in the input fast strips are on.

• Make sure the appropriate ST buttons in the source a/b panels (monitors section of
the master bay) are on.

• Make sure nothing is muted.

• Make sure no faders are set to minimum.

79

• Check that the VCA/group master faders are at unity gain.

• Use solo at selected points in the signal path to try and pinpoint where the signal is
being lost.

• Check for correct signal routing by making sure channel sources/destinations are
correctly assigned.

If you still don’t have any audio, contact Midas Technical Support.

Diagnostics

You can view the Diagnostics screen to get an overview of the current health and
status of the system. The Diagnostics screen shows real-time connectivity of the
system, the health of connected nodes and whether a device is configured or not. The
Diagnostics screen also includes a SWAP HYPERMAC button for changing the current
network from X to Y, and vice versa. For more information, see the PRO Series Owner’s
Manual (part number DOC02-PROSERIES).

The status LED at the top of the screen, which is constantly displayed while the control
centre is switched on, is linked to the status of individual items on the Diagnostics
screen. You can click on it to see what is causing the error.

PRO3 Control Centre
Quick Reference Guide

80 Appendix A: Troubleshooting

12

3

4

An example of the Diagnostics screen, showing the three types of device condition.

Item Element Description

1 REDEOPLOY DSP

ROLES button

2 CONFIG button Opens the AES50 Device Configuration window

3 Column titles The columns house the following: Unconfigured

4 SWAP

HYPERMAC

button

Copies all files to all DSPs. This is usually done after
a software upgrade.

(see Figure 9 “Typical AES50 Device Configuration
window” on page 39)

contains any units that have not been configured
during the patching procedure; Configured contains
configured units; Link shows the router/unit
connection; Stage Router/FOH Router contains the
appropriate router and any associated rack units; and
HyperMac shows the router/router connections.

Swaps the active network from X to Y and the reverse
(see “Swapping the active network” on page 81).

PRO3 Control Centre

Quick Reference Guide