TC Electronic DB4, DB8 Operation Manual
1
DB8/DB4 OPERATION - CONTENTS
Introduction
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Basic Operation
Accessing a Mainframe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Engine Structure and Resources . . . . . . . . . . . .2
General Setup
Basic TC Icon Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Icon Views - Faders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Operating Levels Scene & Engine . . . . . . . . . . .3
Operation
Library Page
Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Store & Naming display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Frame Page
Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Frame System Main
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
SMPTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
GPI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Net - Software Versions, Network Identifier . . .15
Card - handling PCMCIA Cards . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Icon Setup
Icon User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Touch Fader Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Color Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Automation - SMPTE
The Auto Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Modify - Insert/Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
SNMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Frame System I/O
Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
DSP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
I/O - Slot A, B & C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Description of I/O card related parameters . . .17
I/O - Slot B with AES-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Engine - Edit Page
General introduction to operate
parameters in algorithms
User Fader Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
TC Electronic, Sindalsvej 34, DK-8240 Risskov
tcdk@tcelectronic.com
Operation DB8/DB4 Rev 1.90
English version
2
BASIC OPERATION
you run up to 4 Engine presets at the same time using any
available algorithms.
Basic TC Icon operation
Navigation in the Software Editor or TC Icon display is easy
as soon as a few basic elements are explained.
The Icon Link key in the upper left corner allows you to
navigate between the two pages/modes illustrated below.
Generally :
• Press the top-tabs to do primary selections
• Press the side-tabs or elements to do secondary
selections.
Fig 1
Via the “overall” Select & Setup pages you access
overall settings and choices like:
• Selection of which mainframe to operate
• Enable devices to network
• Updates via disk
• TC Icon settings such as display appearance
• SMPTE Automation
Fig 2
The selection of mainframe is done in the Select page
illustrated in “Fig 1”. The page/pages illustrated in Fig. 2
are pages containing parameters on a specific mainframe.
These are the Operating Pages and the page you will be
working in once the system is up and running. Only when
several mainframes are connected you will need to go to
the “overall” Select and Setup pages to switch mainframe.
Introduction
This section of the manual is a general introduction to
operate DB8/DB4 via the Software Editor or the TC Icon.
The basic DB8/DB4 consists of a Mainframe with a DSP
card and up to three I/O cards, plus a PC Editor but the
DB8/DB4 can also be controlled via a TC Icon hardware
remote.
Several mainframes, Mac/PC's with installed Software
Editor and TC Icons can be hooked up at the same time
via a standard Local Area Network (LAN).
Accessing a Mainframe
First time you connect the Mainframe to the PC with
installed PC editor and network adapter:
• Power up your computer and your DB8/DB4.
• Start the Software editor and the following page appears:
• Press Assign
• All connected DB8/DB4 mainframes will be detected and
assigned to one of the 8 locations (see fig. 1).
• Press the oval key with the DB8/DB4 icon to access the
DB8/DB4.
Scanning the system
The scenario described above covers the first time you
boot up your system or when no connected units are
assigned.
To scan the system for all connected units go to the Setup
page and press Detect (see fig 2). The connected
mainframes will the appear in the left side of the display
and you can assign them to any of the 8 location illustrated
in the right side of the display by selecting the frames with
the cursors followed by pressing one of the oval keys.
Engine Structure
The core element of DB8/DB4 is the 4 Engine structure.
This structure enables you to run up to four powerful
algorithms/ presets simultaneously.
Each Engine is capable of utilizing up to 8 Inputs and 8
Outputs, depending on the selected algorithm/preset.
Up to 16 physical Input and 16 physical Output channels
can be routed in the most flexible way.
Engine Resources
The powerful and flexible DSP distribution structure lets
3
BASIC OPERATION
Fader
Group
Selector
Function
Select
Tabs
Library, Frame &
Engine select Tabs
Operating Levels
The Library-Recall page illustrated in Fig.3 leads to
explanation of the “operating levels” in the DB8/DB4. We
differentiate between 2 levels of presets:
Scene and Engine levels.
• SCENE
This is the most extensive selection you can make. It
includes all four Engine algorithms as well as physical
and virtual Engine Routings. A Scene recall can be
compared to a “total recall.”
• ENGINE
Handles the current algorithm in the selected Engine.
A single preset can be loaded to each of the four
Engines.
Parameter Values and Fader Groups
In the bottom of the display, Fader assignments and values
will always reflect the last modified Engine. Most
parameters can be controlled via the 6 Faders. As some
algorithms hold numerous parameters and we operate with
6 Faders the preset parameters are organized in Fader
Groups. To scroll between the Fader Groups use the
Fader Group selectors.
Parameter value - Fine Adjust
Any parameter value can be adjusted in two accuracies.
A Normal and a Fine Adjust - mode. To switch between the
two modes press the Value Fields above the faders.
As shown in the illustration the Fine Adjust mode will be
indicated with two triangles in the value field.
Fader 6
Any parameter can always be assigned to Fader 6 by
pressing the parameter. Detailed explanation will follow in
the next sections.
User Fader Group - Custom Group
A User Fader group where you can assign parameters to
all 6 faders can also be created and saved along with the
preset. The User Fader group is selected by pressing the
Fader Group selectors.
The Icon
LINK key
Bank Select
UI - Icon Views
On the Icon Setup page two sub-pages are available for
controlling the TC Icon appearance.
Fader appearance
Three options are available. Changes will take place next
time you open the TC Icon.
Faders at bottom
Fader at right side
No faders
Fader
Group
Selector
LIBRARY - RECALL
Library Recall
On the Library Recall page the following banks are
available for recall operations.
Scene
Gives access to the following preset banks:
• Factory
• User
• Card (optional)
Engine 1-4
Gives access to the following preset banks:
• Factory
• User
• Card (optional)
Routing
Various standard routings can be selected.
Operation Level Tabs Bank Selectors
Function
Select
Tabs
Library, Frame and Engine selectors
Parameter Fader
values present in
the last modified
Engine.
Press “info” for
preset information
Decade selector
(“tens”)
Recalling a Scene or an Engine preset
• Press the RECALL tab to select the Recall page.
• Now select the level of: Scene or Engine 1-4.
• Select which bank you wish to recall from: Factory or
User. If a DB8/DB4 formatted PCMCIA card is inserted in
the Mainframe card-banks will be available and displayed
below the User banks.
• Select presets pressing: Bank, Decade(tens) and preset
number.
(grayed out numbers indicates that the Decade is empty)
• Press the Recall key to recall/load the preset.
Info
For presets carrying the “info” tag we have added relevant
information for the specific preset. Press Info and a pop-up
display will appear.
Example:
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LIBRARY - STORE
Library Store
For storing operations the following banks are available.
Scene
Allows you to store in the following banks.
• User
• Card (optional)
Engine 1-4
Allows you to store in the following banks.
• User
• Card (optional)
Storing a Preset
• Press the Store tab and select Scene or Engine level.
• Select bank (user or card) and location using Decade to
select “tens” followed by location 1-9.
(grayed out numbers indicates that the bank is empty)
• Press the Store key to store the preset.
Naming Presets
All user preset types can be renamed.
Basic operation
• Press the Name field. A keyboard will pop up.
• Type in the new name.
• Press Enter.
The preset
is not stored when the keyboards Enter
key is pressed. Only the name is entered.
To store you MUST press the red Store key on the
Store page.
The previous accessed display will always be present
beneath the keyboard. Current Fader values will be
displayed and faders can be used to adjust parameter
values.The preset is not stored when the keyboard Enter
key is pressed. Only the name is entered.
To store you MUST press the red Store key.
Fader assignments in the bottom of the display will
always reflect the last modified Engine. The Engine
Fader Group selector in the lower left corner
indicates the Engine in use.
Operation Level Tabs Bank Selectors
Library, Frame and
Engine selectors
Fader
Group
Selector
Function
Select
Tabs
Decade selector
(“tens”)
Preset location
selector (“ones”)
6
THE LIBRARY BANK
Library - Bank
From the Library Archive page you can copy Scene,
Routing and Engine banks to and from a 3.5” disk or a
PCMCIA card. If you are using the TC Icon software
editor on an Mac or a PC, preset banks can also be
copied to and from your hard disk.
Basic Operation
Bank copying is handled as a complete User bank
transferal.
• Press Scene, Routing or Engine to select preset bank
type.
• Select “from” and “to” depending on your choice.
• Press Copy Bank.
Scene/Routing/Engine Banks
T
o/From - Bank/Floppy/File
Scene, Routing or Engine banks can be backed up and
retrieved from a 3.5” disk, a PCMCIA or a file location on a
connected computer (when using the TC Icon software
editor).
Copy Bank
Press to activate copy function between the selected
Banks.
Rename
Press to rename selected bank via the Naming pop-up
display.
Delete
Press to clear the selected Bank. You will be asked to
confirm your choice to avoid unintended deletion.
Using PCMCIA cards
To use a PCMCIA card with DB8-DB4 the card must be
properly formatted. This is done from the
Frame/System/Card page.
A
1MB PCMCIA card can hold:
1000 Engine presets in 10 banks of 100 presets
500 Routing presets in 10 banks of 50 presets
500 Scene presets in 10 banks of 50 presets
A
512kB PCMCIA card can hold:
500 Engine presets in 5 banks of 100 presets
250 Routing presets in 5 banks of 50 presets
250 Scene presets in 5 banks of 50 presets
7
LIBRARY - DELETE
Library - Delete
For convenience it is possible to “clean up” the User
banks by deleting individual presets.
Deleting a Preset
• Select Delete (side tab) and select level by pressing
Scene or Engine.
• Select the preset to delete by pressing the actual Bank,
Decade(to select tens) and the actual preset.
• Press the Delete key to delete the preset.
Library, Frame and Engine selectors
Fader
Group
Selector
Function
Select
Tabs
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