Sony DMX-R100 User Manual

Digital A udio Mixer

Automation Operation

DMX-R100

 1999 – 2002 Sony Corporation

Table of Contents

Automation Operation

System Set-up ...................................................................4

Titles...................................................................................5

To Name a Title ............................................................... 5

To Keep a Title................................................................. 6

To Save a New Title......................................................... 6

To Save a Title ................................................................. 6

Cues ...................................................................................7

To Enter a New Cue at the Current Timecode Point ....... 8

To Revise the Time of a Cue ‘On the Fly’....................... 8

To Revise the Time of a Cue Manually ........................... 8

To Locate to a Cue ........................................................... 8

Cycle All .......................................................................... 8

Cycle Between Two Cues ................................................ 8

Overview of Automation Controls ...................................9

GUI Options for Automation ..........................................12

Automating Faders .........................................................14

To Clear Automation Data ............................................. 14

To Automate Moves on One or More Faders ................ 15

Operation of A and B Buffers ........................................ 16

Automation Drop-out Modes ......................................... 16

To Save a Mix ................................................................ 16

To Trim Moves on One or More Faders ........................ 17

Automating Fader Cut Switches....................................18

To Automate One or More Cut Switches....................... 18

To Automate Cuts Simultaneously ................................ 19

Trimming Cut Switches ................................................. 20

Automating Other Switches ...........................................20

Automating Knobs ..........................................................21

To Automate a Pan Knob ............................................... 21

To Automate a Number of Knobs .................................. 22

Trimming Knob Moves.................................................. 22

Automating Sections of Controls ..................................24

To Automate a Complete EQ Section ............................ 24

Trimming Sections of Knob Moves ............................... 25

To Automate All EQ Sections........................................ 26

(Continued)

Table of Contents 2

Table of Contents

Footswitch, Audition & Auto..........................................27

Automation Drop-in Using FOOT SW .......................... 28

Automation Drop-in Using AUDITION ........................ 28

Automation Record Using AUTO ................................. 29

Automation Isolate..........................................................30

Isolating Channels or Sections of All Channels............. 30

Snapshots........................................................................31

To Save a New Snapshot................................................ 31

To Revise a Snapshot ..................................................... 32

To Delete a Snapshot ..................................................... 32

To Recall a Complete Snapshot ..................................... 32

To Recall a Partial Snapshot .......................................... 32

Automating Snapshot & Library Entry Recall ..............33

Automating the Recall of a Snapshot............................. 33

Automating the Recall of a Library Entry...................... 33

Fader Gang Grouping Offsets........................................34

Setting Up a Fader Gang Group..................................... 34

Table of Contents 3

Automation Operation

System Set-up

The descriptions and operational procedures that follow assume that:

•A multitrack machine, either tape or hard drive, is connected to the DMX-R100.

•The multitrack has suitable material recorded on it, and its audio outputs are assigned to input channels on the mixer.

•The multitrack transport is under the control of the mixer transport keys.

•A timecode link, either SMPTE or MIDI, exists between the multitrack and the mixer for location and synchronisation purposes.

Automation Operation

Titles

The Title for any project is the heading under which all related data, such as mixes, snapshots and cue points, is held. So, although not vital, it is a good idea to have a Title name for any project right from the start.

To Name a Title

1 Touch {SYSTEM} for its pop-up and then touch

{TITLEMANAGER} to access the TITLE MANAGER GUI.

2 Touch the NAME line in the INFORMATION

block in the centre of the GUI, and the QWERTY Keyboard pop-up appears.

3 ‘UNTITLED’ will be displayed by default in the

upper entry dialogue line for a new system. Either

touch {BACKSPACE} several times to delete it, or touch and move a finger across it to highlight it. Then type in a Title name using the touch QWERTY keyboard. Touch {ENTER} when finished.

From now on, any changes in settings will relate to the Current Title which has just been named. The data for this Title resides in the system Dynamic RAM.

Note

Data left in RAM will be lost if the system is powered down. Use KEEP or SAVE to retain it.

Automation Operation

To Keep a Title

1 Touch {TITLE} at the very top left of the GUI for its

pop-down.

2 Touch {KEEP} in order to save the current settings

and data into the Flash Memory, where they will be safely stored.

If the system is turned off and turned on again, the settings stored using KEEP will be restored.

Note

That having used KEEP for the current Title, recalling a further Title will overwrite the previously ‘kept’ Title in the Flash Memory. SAVE or SAVE AS NEW must be used to

permanenty store a Title.

To Save a New Title

1 Touch {SAVEASNEW} and the Current Title will

be saved in the first available slot in the column to the left of the GUI. The slot number will be highlighted white and the Title name will appear in the NAME column.

To Save a Title

1 Touch {SAVE} to overwrite the data in the Title that

has its number highlighted white. A pop-up will appear, requiring confirmation. Touch {YES} to complete the save.

2 To save in a different slot, touch its number to

highlight it, and then touch {SAVE}. A pop-up will appear, requiring confirmation. Touch {YES} to complete the save.

Automation Operation

Cues

The Cues GUI allows Cue Points, in the form of timecode markers, to be set along with a name entry. It is often extremely useful to set Cues for the crucial points in any piece of material to be worked on. These include the start and end, verses and choruses for music, and scene changes in post production projects.

Once set, Cues can be used for a number of purposes, including locate and cycling between specified Cues.

General

Cue timecode points can be set in a number of ways:

•From the current time point whilst the material is rolling (‘on the fly’).

•From the current time point whilst the material is stationary.

• Manual entry using the jog wheel.

• Manual entry using the ten-number key pad.

Cues can be linked to fire events at their timecode points. Events include Snapshots, EQ and Dynamics library settings.

Automation Operation

To Enter a New Cue at the Current Timecode Point

To enter a Cue for the start of the material, for example:

1 Whilst the material is either stationary or moving,

touch {NEW} in the CUE GUI, and a new entry will appear in the TIMECODE column. A default number will be entered automatically in the CUE NAME column.

2 To change the default number to an appropriate

name, touch the default in the CUE NAME column, and the QWERTY Keyboard pop-up appears.

3 The default will be displayed in the upper entry

dialogue line. Either touch {BACKSPACE} several times to delete it, or touch and move a finger across it to highlight it. Then type in a suitable name, such as ‘START OF TITLE’ in this case, using the touch QWERTY keyboard. Touch {ENTER} when finished.

To Locate to a Cue

1 Under the NUMBER column, touch the Cue

number that is to be the locate point, to highlight it white.

2 Touch {LOCATE} in the CUE GUI and the system

will locate to the timecode point for the highlighted Cue.

3 To locate to the same Cue, either touch {LOCATE}

or press the LOCATE button above the transport keys on the panel.

Note

The front panel LOCATE button will always cause a locate operation to the point set by touching {LOCATE} in the GUI, even if another Cue number is touched and highlighted white in the GUI. However, touching {LOCATE} in the GUI will always locate to the Cue which is highlighted. In other words, touching {LOCATE} in the GUI sets the Cue to which the front panel LOCATE button will operate.

Cycle All

To Revise the Time of a Cue ‘On the Fly’

1 Under the NUMBER column, touch the Cue

number to be revised. It highlights white.

2 Whilst the material is either stationary or moving,

touch {STORE} in the CUE GUI, and the current timecode point will appear in the TIMECODE column.

To Revise the Time of a Cue Manually

1 Under the TIMECODE column, touch the

timecode number to be revised. It highlights white.

2 Then adjust the timecode number using the jog

wheel or the ten-number key pad. Press {ENTER} at the bottom right of the number key pad when finished.

To play the source material from beginning to end and have it repeat until the stop transport key p is pressed:

1 Touch {CYCLEALL} in the CUE GUI and it turns

green. The LOCATE button above the transport keys on the panel also lights green.

2 Press the LOCATE button and the system will play

from the first Cue to the last Cue and repeat until the p transport key is pressed.

3 After pressing p, press {LOCATE} again to

continue Cycle All.

4 De-select {CYCLEALL} when finished.

Note

When {LOCATE} in GUI is pressed for the first time or Cycle All is continued, the system will always play from CUE 1. Press the z transport key to continue from the current point.

Cycle Between Two Cues

To play the source material from one Cue to another and have it repeat until the stop transport key p is pressed:

Automation Operation

1 Touch {SET2CUES} in the CUE GUI and it turns

green.

2 Under the NUMBER column, touch the first Cue

number and it highlights white.

3 Touch the Cue number for a second Cue, later than

the first. {SET2CUES} will return to grey, indicating that the two Cues have been accepted.

4 Touch {CYCLECUES} in the CUE GUI and it turns

green. The LOCATE button above the transport keys on the panel also lights green.

Overview of Automation of Controls

5 Press the front panel LOCATE button and the

system will play between Cues set up in step 3, and repeat until the p transport key is pressed.

6 After pressing p, press LOCATE again to

continue Cycle Cues.

7 De-select {CYCLECUES} when finished.

Note

When LOCATE is pressed for the first time or to continue Cycle Cues, the system will always play from the beginning. Press the z transport key to continue from the current point.

General

The DMX-R100 allows virtually all controls and switches to be automated. That is to say, movements of faders, knobs and switch operations can be recorded and replayed with reference to timecode. Snapshots of the controls can also be restored with reference to timecode.

Controls first have to be set or armed into an automation ‘ready’ mode, much like arming the tracks of a recorder in readiness for recording audio material. Once armed, they can be ‘dropped in’ to record automation data, control by control individually, on a channel basis, or all ‘ready’ controls simultaneously. This process will be described in more detail later in this supplement.

Automatable Controls

Dynamic automation is possible on the following controls and groups of controls that can be automated:

•Channel Faders, Cuts & Pans

• M/T Faders, Cuts & Pans

• Aux Send Levels & Cuts

• Routing Assignment Buttons

•Equaliser Knobs & Switches

• Dynamics Knobs & Switches

• Master Faders

Static settings and I/O assignments will be stored when a Title is saved, independent of automation operations. Saved static settings do not include the CR MONITOR

level knob and SELECT MACHINE buttons.

Automation set-up

The following section describes how to turn the automation functions on, and the options included. The actual operation varies according to control type and therefore the detail will be described in separate sections later.

Automation data is recorded in two basic modes: ABS (absolute) where the exact settings are recorded for the first time or overwrite previous data, and TRIM, which allows previous data to be trimmed and modified.

The way controls are dropped into automation record varies according to control type. The following brief summary assumes controls are already set to automation ready:

•FADERS

Individual faders drop into automation record when they are touched and drop out when released. (This applies so long as ‘Touch Hold’ and ‘Write Hold’ are not enabled.)

•SWITCHES

An individual switch drops into automation record when it is pressed and remains so until automation timecode ceases.

•KNOBS

An individual rotary knob drops into automation record when its numeric indicator in the CHANNEL

Automation Operation

4165

TC AUTOMA TION SNAPSHOT

A B SAFE

ABS

HOURS

TRIM OFF

MINUTES SECONDS

BARS SETLTC

789

456

TO LINK DELETE SETUP

STORE RECALL UNDO

FRAMES SNAPSHOT

LOCATE

– +

SET

SHUTTLE

TC AUTOMATION buttons

GUI is touched (changing its colour from yellow to red). Touching it once more will drop it out.

•INDIVIDUAL CHANNELS

Any controls set to ready on an individual channel will drop into automation record when the {WRITE} button for that channel is pressed, and drop out when it is pressed once more.

•ALL CHANNELS

Any controls set to ready on all channels will drop into automation record when {MASTERDROPIN}, at

123

CLEAR

ENTER

the bottom right of the LCD, is touched. Touching it once more will drop all channels out.

Refer to the illustration ‘TC AUTOMATION buttons’ above for the following sections describing the functionality of buttons related to automation.

1 OFF button

{OFF} is set as the system fire-up default. When this button is lit, the recording and replaying of automation data is prevented. All functions remain as manual operations.

Automation Operation

The upper central indicator block in the GUI will be black, displaying OFF, when this button is lit. {OFF}, {ABS} and {TRIM} inter-cancel.

Note

Although automation cannot be recorded or replayed when OFF is lit, controls can still be set into automation ‘ready’.

2 ABS button

Pressing {ABS} allows ‘absolute’ settings and movements to be recorded as automation data for any controls set to automation ‘ready’, i.e. the exact settings or movements of faders and knobs will be recorded once dropped in.

A ‘ready’ status is indicated with a yellow marker or display for each individual control. Red markers or displays indicate automation record status.

The upper central indicator block in the GUI will be red, displaying ABS, when this button is lit. {ABS}, {TRIM} and {OFF} inter-cancel.

Automation data can be copied from one buffer to the other. Press and hold the button, {A} or {B}, for the source data until its button flashes. Then press the button for the other buffer. A pop-up will appear, requiring confirmation before the copy operation can be completed.

6 SAFE button

When {SAFE} is set to on, automation data will not be updated. In other words, automation operations can be performed whilst {SAFE} is on but previous data is safe.

{SAFE} functions in other ways too:

•Whilst {SAFE} is off, if a mistake is made during an automation operation, press {SAFE} before stopping the tape or material rolling, to prevent updating the automation data.

•Whilst {SAFE} is on, if an automation operation is performed that should be stored, press SAFE before stopping the tape or material rolling, to update the automation data.

3 TRIM button

Pressing {TRIM} allows previously recorded automation data to be trimmed for any controls set to automation ‘ready’. So, as an example, a fader may have certain movements recorded using the ‘ABS’ function and TRIM allows those movements to be globally adjusted. In other words, the original moves are retained but are at a higher or lower level overall. TRIM can also be dynamic in operation.

To make this operation easy for faders, they will all jump to their 0dB scale points. This is the reference point from which any trimming moves are made.

The upper central automation status indicator block in the GUI will be green, displaying ‘TRIM’, when this button is lit. {TRIM}, {ABS} and {OFF} inter-cancel.

4 A button

The {A} button will be lit as the system fire-up default and indicates that automation data will be stored and recalled to and from the ‘A’ buffer. The {A} and {B} buttons inter-cancel.

Note

The {SAFE} button is also used for the AUDITION function described later in this document.

5 B button

Pressing the {B} button will cause automation data to be stored and recalled to and from the ‘B’ buffer. The {B} and {A} buttons inter-cancel.

Automation Operation

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