Midas Digital Consoles Addendum B — G-II to PRO Series Live Audio Systems and XL8 Live Performance System Owner’s Manuals MUSIC Group Research UK Limited, Klark Industrial Park, Walter Nash Road, Kidderminster. Worcestershire. DY11 7HJ. England. Tel: +44 1562 741515 Fax: +44 1562 745371 Email: mkt.info@music-group.com Website: www.midasconsoles.com PRO Series and XL8 — Owner’s Manuals DOC07-MDSV2ADDENDUM Issue A — October 2012 © MUSIC Group IP Limited © 2012 MUSIC Group IP Ltd.
B-iii Contents Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Licences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v Chapter 1 Introducing Generation-II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Which manuals are affected by G-II? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 About G-II software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Chapter 2 Internal Effects . .
B-iv Contents Midas Digital Consoles Addendum B
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.
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.
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.
B-1 Chapter 1: Introducing Generation-II This addendum is intended to provide users with information and operating instructions applicable to the enhancements and new features incorporated in the new Generation-II (G-II) software for Midas Digital Consoles (PRO1, PRO2, PRO2C, PRO3, PRO6, PRO9 and XL8). Note: As the PRO1 was initially introduced to the market as a fully G-II-equipped system, it may only be mentioned briefly in this addendum. Note: The PROb consoles are not affected by G-II.
B-2 Chapter 1: Introducing Generation-II About G-II software The G-II software contains the following enhancements and new features: PRO2 and PRO2C PRO Series (PRO3, PRO6 and PRO9) XL8 Feature PRO1 Eight internal effects Existing New (page B-3) New (page B-3) New (page B-3) Dynamic EQ internal effect Existing Existing New (page B-23) New (page B-23) Hardware Safe screen Existing Existing New (page B-29) New (page B-29) Diagnostics screen Existing New (page B-30) Existing Existing
B-3 Chapter 2: Internal Effects This chapter details the following eight internal effects of the G-II software: • Ambience reverb (see below) • Chamber reverb (see “Chamber reverb” on page B-4) • Hall reverb (see “Hall reverb” on page B-5) • Plate reverb (see “Plate reverb” on page B-7) • Vintage room reverb (see “Vintage room” on page B-8) • Stereo chorus (see “Stereo chorus” on page B-10) • Dual stereo delay (see “Dual stereo delay” on page B-10) • Matrix mixer (see “Matrix mixer” on page
B-4 Chapter 2: Internal Effects Item Element Function 5 Audition button This momentary-action button triggers a short internally generated sound to aid reverb evaluation (as a check). 6 output meter Two adjacent 11-LED columns — one each for left and right — comprise the output meters. 7 HF Cut control knob High frequency cut control knob applies a 6dB/Oct low pass filter to the input signal, in the range 200Hz to 20kHz.
B-5 Hall reverb Item Element Function 1 input meter Two adjacent 11-LED columns — one each for left and right — comprise the input meters. 2 mix control knob Adjusts the dry/wet signal ratio. 3 modulation control knob Specifies the combined rate and depth of modulation applied the reverb tail. 4 contour time control knob Controls the time over which the reflection density increases during the initial portion of the reverb tail.
B-6 Chapter 2: Internal Effects longer decay time at low frequencies or alternatively can be useful to reduce low frequency energy in a live environment where it may already be present due to the natural reverberation of the venue. If the global tap option is enabled the pre-delay parameter units will change from milliseconds to musical note durations as they do with the current effect units.
B-7 Plate reverb Item Element Function 15 decay control knob Adjusts the decay time relative to the room size, from minimum to maximum. 16 size control knob Specifies the room size (also affects decay), from small to large. 17 pre delay control knob Specifies the time before the reverb begins, between 0ms and 200ms. Plate reverb The plate reverb effect simulates the actual plate reverb devices that were used in studios in the 1960s and 1970s.
B-8 Chapter 2: Internal Effects Item Element Function 7 output meter Two adjacent 11-LED columns — one each for left and right — comprise the output meters. 8 hf cut control knob High frequency cut control knob applies a 6dB/Oct low pass filter to the input signal, in the range 200Hz to 20kHz. 9 lf cut control knob Low frequency cut control knob applies a 6dB/Oct high pass filter to the input signal, in the range 10Hz to 500Hz.
B-9 Vintage room Item Element Function 1 input meter Two adjacent 11-LED columns — one each for left and right — comprise the input meters. 2 lf x-over control knob Adjusts the cross-over frequency for the low frequency decay. 3 hf x-over control knob Adjusts the cross-over frequency for the high frequency decay. 4 in switch Switches the Vintage Room reverb effect in/out.
B-10 Chapter 2: Internal Effects Stereo chorus Emulation of dual stereo chorus but with having two units in one rack space. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 10 Item Element Function 1 in switch Switches the stereo chorus effect in/out. 2 stereo input switch Changes the operation to be stereo in and stereo out. 3 Preset slow switch Sets a slow rate with minimal depth. 4 Preset deep switch Sets a slow rate with maximum depth. 5 Preset medium switch Sets a medium rate with minimal depth.
B-11 Dual stereo delay selected on the delay control and the global tempo is 120 bpm the delay value shown will be 0.75 x 60/120 bpm = 375 ms. • With global tap disabled the display shows the actual delay time set on the unit. • Up/down buttons adjust delay units by 1 millisecond increments. If the global tap option is enabled the delay time rotaries will change from seconds (milliseconds) to musical note durations as they do with the current effects units.
B-12 Chapter 2: Internal Effects Matrix mixer The matrix mixer is an eight mono I/O device with discrete metering for each input and output. The display of the matrix mixer comprises controls that duplicate the equivalent ones on the control surface and can be used as an alternative method of operation. You can link the output EQ settings across channels and also link odd and even outputs as a stereo pair, which is a GUI-only function.
B-13 Matrix mixer Item Element Function 7 Yellow box Shows which controls are currently assigned to the assignable controls panel. 8 Meter 11-segment meter for showing the output channel level. 9 MUTE switch Mutes the output channel. >> To switch an output mix send on/off You can have any combination of the eight outputs contributing to each input.
B-14 Chapter 2: Internal Effects Output screen The output screen shows the output channel controls with a detail area underneath for the selected. An inputs section to the left provides an input overview, with facility for muting.
B-15 Matrix mixer Item Element Function 1 Meter 8-segment meter for showing the input channel level. 2 MUTE switch Mutes in input channel. 3 Meter 8-segment meter for showing the output channel level. 4 MUTE switch Mutes the output channel. 5 Phase switch Adjusts the output signal phase by 180°. 6 EQ switch Switches the output channel EQ in/out. 7 LNK switch Links the EQ of the local output channel to the adjacent output channel to the right.
B-16 Chapter 2: Internal Effects Item Element Function 25 Icon Identifies the currently selected EQ shelving mode (see “EQ (E zone)” on page 266). Default parametric icon is . 26 EQ switch Switches the EQ in/out for the selected channel. 27 eq link LED Illuminates to indicate that the EQ is on for the selected channel.
B-17 Matrix mixer Figure 1: Scrolling order of right arrow navigation button Stereo linking Clicking a stereo linking button (LNK) stereo links the local pair of output channels, so that the input mix send controls operate as pan on the left (odd numbered) output channel and level on the right (even numbered) output channel, which is similar to the normal mix sends on the console.
B-18 Chapter 2: Internal Effects Midas Digital Consoles Addendum B
B-19 Chapter 3: Advanced Navigation This chapter explains how the following advanced navigation modes — which are already used on the PRO2, PRO2C and PRO1 — have been incorporated into the PRO3, PRO6, PRO9 and XL8.
B-20 Chapter 3: Advanced Navigation Collapsed flip With flip in operation, channels not assigned to the selected bus are hidden. FX In FX advanced navigation mode, if you select an aux send that is patched to an effect, that effect will appear on the GUI. GEQ In GEQ advanced navigation mode the faders underneath the VCA groups also operate as GEQ faders.
Activating the advanced navigation features B-21 Activating the advanced navigation features Both the PRO Series and XL8 use the LCD buttons in their respective population groups section to momentarily change their role and act as the advanced navigation buttons, which are then available for selection. Note: You cannot have both the GEQ and MCA advanced navigation features active at the same time.
B-22 Chapter 3: Advanced Navigation >> To activate/deactivate an advanced navigation feature on the XL8 1 In any input select section, press and hold down the asterisk (*) button (see Figure 2). After about one second the LCD buttons in the population group section should show their advanced navigation assignments. 2 Do one of the following: 3 • To activate an advanced navigation feature, press the desired button while still holding down asterisk (*) button.
B-23 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes This chapter deals with the other changes in the G-II software. Dynamic EQ internal effect The dynamic EQ is a 4-band parametric dynamic equaliser, which is able to provide frequency selective compression or expansion. The dynamic EQ features proportional-q filters that, when boosting or cutting by small amounts, reduce the bandwidth of the filter compared to the setting at maximum cut/boost.
B-24 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes 1 2 3 5 6 7 4 8 18 17 9 16 10 11 15 14 13 12 Item Element Function 1 MODE button Selects the routing configuration. Audio routing paths are illustrated by item 18. 2 Band selection indicator Shows the selected routing configuration mode. 3 Limit curve Shows the minimum cut/maximum boost EQ response for the selected band. 4 Dynamic curve Shows the real time dynamic EQ response curve.
B-25 Dynamic EQ internal effect Item Element Function 11 FIXED button and LED indicator Forces selected band to use a fixed EQ gain, so that when it is enabled it behaves as a static EQ. This is useful for previewing the effect of the EQ curve. 12 RATIO control knob Sets the ratio of the compression or expansion applied to the selected band. The centre position produces a ratio of 1:1, which will have no effect.
B-26 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes Above Threshold Compression ( Below = off, Ratio = comp ) Above Threshold Expansion ( Below = off, Ratio = exp ) Output Level Output Level threshold Input Level Below Threshold Compression ( Below = on, Ratio = comp ) Output Level threshold Input Level Below Threshold Expansion ( Below = on, Ratio = exp ) Output Level threshold Input Level threshold Input Level Figure 1: Transfer characteristics Midas Digital Consoles Addendum B
B-27 Stereo Graphic EQ effect Stereo Graphic EQ effect The Stereo Graphic EQ effect is based on the console’s internal GEQ effect and has two of these that can be stereo linked. For more information on the GEQ effect, see the console’s Owner’s Manual. A B C The two GEQs can be stereo linked using the LINK button (B). The YES LED (C) illuminates to show that the two GEQs are stereo linked and the NO LED (A) illuminates when the GEQs are operating independently of each other.
B-28 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes A B G C F D E Figure 2: Stereo GEQ navigation. A. Shows the GEQ controls section when currently selected. Selection is via the left/right arrow buttons (E). B. GEQ fader. C. White background indicates current selection. D. GEQ fader group identifier. Group selection is via its corresponding fader button (F). E. Left and right navigation buttons for scrolling through the fader groups and control sections. F.
Hardware Safe screen (PRO Series and XL8) B-29 Hardware Safe screen (PRO Series and XL8) Important: Safes are intended for emergency use only and are not to be confused with scope. Safes prevent certain controls from being recalled with a scene. The control surface of the PRO Series and XL8 consoles have dedicated channel safes sections where you can activate/deactivate their associated safes.
B-30 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes >> To switch a safe on/off Do one of the following: • At the GUI’s Hardware Safe screen, click the desired safe to switch it on/off. This can be done for any safe. • Use the appropriate button in the channel safes section with the appropriate channel assigned to the control surface. • At the GUI’s VCA Groups screen, click the desired safe button.
B-31 Diagnostics screen Item Element Description 1 Console column This column contains boxes that represent the internal processes of the PRO1 Control Centre, such as the control surface, master controller, DSP, Audio IO and GUI. If any of these develop an error condition the colour of the boxes will change to red. Clicking the DL271 DSP Board box will open a Diagnostics Inspector window (see “About the Diagnostics Inspector window” on page 32).
B-32 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes There is also an amber condition, which means that the item(s) is in error, but is not contributing to the audio. About the Diagnostics Inspector window Clicking an item in the Diagnostics screen will open its Diagnostics Inspector window, which provides detailed information, particularly if the item has an error condition.
B-33 Select follows solo To ignore all error conditions, click IGNORE ALL. Click UNIGNORE ALL to highlight all error conditions. Select follows solo There are two new select follow solo options Input Select Follows Solo and Output Select Follows Solo, both of which are independent of fader flip. These new solo options replace Select follows solo on consoles that already had this option. For information on their function, see “The new User tab” on page B-35.
B-34 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes • FB Mirror — Pan values are not linked and, in surround modes, front-back panning is mirrored and left-right panning is linked. • Mirror Both — Pan values are mirrored between the left/right channels and, in surround modes, are also mirrored front-back. Preferences screen updated The new tab-based Preferences screen replaces the old one.
B-35 Preferences screen updated The new User tab The User Interface section of the User tab (Preferences User screen) lets you set some of the consoles’ operating parameters to suit your own preferences.
B-36 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes Polarity reverse switch added to output channels A phase switch has been added to bus trim section (configuration detail area) on the aux send, matrix and master channels of the PRO Series and XL8 consoles. Important: Down-converting a showfile will lose this setting. Polarity reverse switch (highlighted), added to the bus trim section. This example shows the Console Overview screen of the a PRO6.
B-37 Send pan follows channel pan Send pan follows channel pan The pre and post buttons have been added to the PRO Series and XL8 consoles (already existing on the PRO1 and PRO2), and a send pan follows channel button has been added to the PRO2, PRO Series and XL8 consoles (already existing on the PRO1). These are only available on the auxes and matrices.
B-38 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes Output channel names on GEQ rack GEQ names and their patching sources have been added to the Graphic EQs screen. A A name and patching source text field (A), whose background colour is user-configurable, has been added to each GEQ on the Graphic EQs screen New scene and show warning messages in automation G-II software includes two new warnings in automation.
B-39 Show timestamp in Files list The ‘saving a show with no scenes’ warning, which appears when you click SAVE on the GUI’s Automation screen Show timestamp in Files list The files in listed on the Files screen now have a timestamp. A A. File timestamps Wireless remote control via iPad The PRO2, PRO Series and XL8 now include an on-board DHCP server, which permits remote control of any MIDAS digital console wirelessly from an Apple iPad, via any standard Ethernet-equipped wireless router.
B-40 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes New Console Overview screen The PRO Series has a new Console Overview screen, which replaces the Meters screen. (This screen already exists on the PRO1 and PRO2. The XL8 has two options for the default mix bay screen, which remain unchanged.
Values displayed on GUI and LCD select buttons B-41 Values displayed on GUI and LCD select buttons Control and fader values have been added to the GUI and the LCD select buttons on the control surface. Control knob values displayed on the effects screen On the PRO Series and XL8 consoles the control values are displayed above the assignable control knobs for the effects.
B-42 Chapter 4: Other G-II Changes Midas Digital Consoles Addendum B
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© 2012 MUSIC Group Research UK Limited Klark Industrial Park, Walter Nash Road, Kidderminster. Worcestershire. DY11 7HJ. England. Tel: +44 1562 741515, Fax: +44 1562 745371 Email: mkt.info@music-group.com Website: www.midasconsoles.
