™ USER’S GUIDE MDW 2x2 ™ Massenburg’s High Resolution Parametric EQ Plug-in for Mackie Digital Mixers ® ™
Iconography This icon identifies a description of how to perform an action with the mouse. This icon identifies a description of how to perform an action from the console. This icon will lead you to some further explanations of features and practical tips. This icon marks information which is very important, so please make sure you have a read. “Mackie” and the “Running Man” figure are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mackie Designs Inc.
Contents Introduction ----------------------------------------4 About Massenburg Design Works ---------------------------4 About the D8B UFX Card --------------------------------------4 About the MDW Equalizer ------------------------------------ 5 Let’s Get Started ---------------------------------- 6 Requirements ----------------------------------------------------6 Authorizing the Plug-in ----------------------------------------6 Unlock Procedure ----------------------------------------------- 7 Configu
Introduction Thank you for purchasing this EQ plug-in from Massenburg Design Works. It is one of the exciting new family of 24-bit plugins for the D8B, specifically designed for the new Mackie Universal Effects (UFX) card. This high-resolution parametric EQ contains five discrete, overlapping bands. Each band’s center frequency can be set anywhere within the entire 16 Hz–21.5 kHz frequency range.
About the MDW Equalizer The MDW High-Resolution Parametric Equalizer plug-in provides a five-band stereo/mono EQ to the D8B master stereo bus, any individual channel or the surround buses. It operates at double sample rates (96 kHz) to deliver excellent clarity and response with superlative smoothness in the high-frequency audio spectrum. The plug-in can be loaded as MDW Stereo EQ or MDW Mono EQ.
Let’s Get Started Requirements • One or more Mackie UFX cards • Mackie Real Time OS 3.0 Software • Plug-in Software We will assume you have successfully installed a Mackie UFX card and Mackie Real Time OS 3.0 software upgrade. If you have encountered problems with the installation of hardware or software please see their associated user guides or contact Mackie support (www.mackie.com). Authorizing the Plug-in If you have D8B v 3.
Unlock Procedure 1. Locate your D8B’s Electronic Serial Number (ESN). This is displayed at the bottom of the Licensing window which is accessed from the Setup screen. The 12 digit ESN is made from numbers 0–9 and letters A–F. It is unique to the D8B processor, and is not the serial number label on the rear of the control surface or CPU chassis. 2. You will also need your plug-in’s serial number which is printed on each floppy disk label. 3.
Configuring the Plug-in After booting the D8B you must assign the MDW plug-in to a UFX card. See FX Routing on page 17 for more details. Assign the MDW Plug-in to a UFX card 1. Click the Plugins menu and select Plugins, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+P. 2. In the Plugin Configuration window, locate the card slot that contains the UFX card you wish to assign to. 3. In the Mode column, click the Mono/Stereo toggle button and set it to Mono or Stereo. 4.
Assign an Input Source to the Plug-in • Click the plug-in’s INPUT menu button to select an input source. In the example below, we have chosen the Aux 5 Bus as the input to the plug-in installed in slot 5. When a plug-in is fed from an aux bus, its output appears on the FX Return channels (faders in the EFFECTS bank). The return channel is determined by the slot number and whether the effect output is mono or stereo.
Using the MDW EQ Plug-in MDW Mono Front Panel Graphical Display (mouse active) Band Boundary Markers Expand Button (display controls) Five Bands of Parametric EQs Hide Plug-in Window Button Freq Q Level Menu Preset Selection & Display Memory Input Source EQ In/Out Meter Display (In/Out) EQ Type Display EQ In/Out Buttons MDW Stereo Front Panel Edit Channel toggle button Both right and left EQ curves displayed 10 Link for stereo control Global display buttons for both channels Massenburg EQ Gl
Level Control Each band’s gain can be adjusted within a range of +18 dB and –18 dB. There are a few ways of changing the level: • Click and drag up or down on the band’s Level control. • Click and drag up or down in the graphical EQ display within the band’s region (see note below). • Right click and drag in the EQ display to change the level and Q. Frequency Control Each band’s center frequency can be set between 16 Hz and 21.5 kHz. • Click and drag up or down on the band’s Freq control.
Q Control This control adjusts the bandwidth of the affected frequencies around the center frequency. A higher Q value creates a tighter bandwidth so fewer frequencies around the center frequency are affected. A smaller Q value creates a wider bandwidth so more frequencies around the center frequency are affected. Q ♦ To change the Q, click and drag up/down or right/left on the band’s Q control. ♦ The Q and Level can also be adjusted by right-clicking and dragging in the graphic display.
Saving, Loading, and Resetting a Preset EQ settings can be saved and recalled from the hard drive. You can save and load files from either Memory A or Memory B. To Save an EQ Preset: 1. Click and hold the Menu button. 2. Select Save User Preset to overwrite the file currently opened. 3. Select Save User Preset As to save to a new file name. The Save Preset File As dialog box appears: A new sub folder can be easily created to help organize custom patches. 4.
To Load an EQ Preset: 1. Click MEM A or MEM B to choose the memory location from which to load the file. 2. Click and hold the MENU button. 3. Select Load MDW Stereo (or Mono) EQ to open a file. The Load Preset File dialog box appears. 4. Click INTERNAL if the file is on the internal drive, or click FLOPPY if the file is on a floppy disk. 5. Select the preset you want to load. 6. Click Open to load the selected preset.
To Reset The Preset: Reset the plug-in also reverts to its default state. 1. Click and hold the MENU button. 2. Select Reset MDW Stereo (or Mono) EQ. To Cut Preset Settings: 1. Click and hold the MENU button. 2. Select Cut MDW Stereo (or Mono) EQ. The current settings are temporarily stored in the clipboard memory in case you want to paste them to a new patch. The plug-in also reverts to its default state (it is reset). To Copy Preset Settings: 1. Click and hold the MENU button. 2. Select Copy.
Automation and Snapshot Control Dynamic Real Time To write automation on a loaded plug-in: On The Console 1. Engage AUTO TOUCH. 2. Engage ALL, disengage BYPASS, and send timecode to the console – the POSITION readout will change to show TC is being received. 3. Move a parameter or recall a patch (user or factory preset). Subsequent edits to any recorded automation moves may be performed in the Mix Editor.
FX Routing The Plug-in Configuration Window Input Source AsCard Slot Column signment Column Plug-in display toggle Input Channel Assignment Dropdown Menu Button Card A Plug-in Assignment Column Close Window Stereo/Mono Mode Column Stereo/Mono Toggle Button Card B Card C Card D (no card installed) User’s Guide 17
Stereo Plug-in Routing If the plug-in has a stereo input as well as stereo output, typically it will be fed from two aux buses and returned to a pair of FX return channels. In the diagram below, Aux 1 and Aux 2 feed the plug-in in stereo, and its output is returned to FX 1 and FX 2. If the plug-in has a stereo input, it is permissible to send the same aux to both inputs.
Inserting a Plug-in into a Channel A pre- or post-DSP channel insert can also be used as the input source for a plug-in. When a channel insert point is selected, the plug-in output returns to the channel. The FX return path is disconnected, although the plug-in output is still displayed on the FX return channel meter. A plug-in channel insert assignment can be made from the Plugin Configuration window, or from a drop-down menu from the mixer screen.
Using an Aux Send with a Plug-in ♦ Click on the associated input menu button and select an Aux input source. In the example below, we have chosen the Aux 5 Bus. Send the Input Signal to the Aux Bus 1. Send a signal to a D8B mixer input channel (MIC/LINE or TAPE IN). 2. Assign the input channel V-Pot/GUI Control Pot to an Aux Send. We have chosen AUX 5 according to the example above. 3. Use the AUX 5 control to adjust the input level to the plug-in.
You will see the plug-in’s input meter become active as you raise the mixer input channel’s aux send. Set the plug-in input/output signal levels as you would with any effect, so the meter reaches it’s upper-most range every so often (always trust your ears first). This can be accomplished from the console or GUI. Pre-Fader and Post-Fader Auxiliary Sends Normally, effect sends are post-fader, so the signal sent to the effect follows the program level in the mix.
The FX Return Channel ♦ Switch the D8B Bank Select to EFFECTS (49-72) and bring up faders one and two (channels 49 and 50). You will also see meter activity associated with these channels. FX Channels 1&2 (channels 49&50) Stereo Plug-in The Plug button toggles between Windows menu buttons and FX buttons (lower left on the D8B mixer screen). Plug-ins button opens the Patch Configuration window (or Ctrl+P on the keyboard ) Here the Delay Factor plug-in is selected for display.
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® ™ ©2001 Mackie Designs Inc. and Massenburg Design Works All Rights Reserved. Part No. 820-254-00 Rev.