Digital Mixing Console AUTOMATION GUIDE
Contents 1 – Introduction Using This Manual ...................................... 4 Automated Controls ................................... 4 A Note on Touch-Sensitive Faders ........................ 5 Setup ............................................................ 5 Timecode ................................................................. 5 MTC ...................................................................... 5 2 – Starting out with the timecode Access the automation screens ....................
Table of Figures 1 – Introduction Figure 1.1: Timecode source selection (showing USB MTC selected) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2 – Starting out with the timecode Figure 2.1: The automation FILES display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Figure 2.2: Automation SETUP screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 – Introduction The DM-3200 is capable of writing and reading mix moves as well as editing and refining mix moves during replay, all synchronized to timecode. No external computer is necessary, as all control of the automation is made from the DM-3200’s control surface.
1 – Introduction : Setup code rate of 30 frames per second, non-drop, this equates to about 8 milliseconds per event. A Note on Touch-Sensitive Faders When using the touch-sensitivity of the faders in automation, you should always use your fingers to touch the faders. If you use a pencil or ruler, etc. or even your fingernails to touch them, the fader will not register as having been touched. Setup There are two possible sources of timecode to which the DM-3200’s automation can lock.
2 – Starting out with the timecode While the DM-3200 automation system is extremely powerful, it is also very easy to use. This Quick Start covers much of what you need to know to run the system. The rest of the manual provides details on the concepts of the system and how to use it to its fullest potential. 1 Connect a SMPTE/EBU or MTC (timecode) source to the TIMECODE IN or MIDI IN on the rear panel of the DM-3200 or make sure that your DAW is outputting MTC over the USB connection.
2 – Starting out with the timecode : Setup Make the initial settings 7 Operate your recorder and navigate and operate the DM-3200 as you normally would during a mix. You are not writing mix moves yet! The DM-3200’s automation system stores control settings as you change them. Store the current settings 8 Store the current mix data using the AUTO FILES display, and pressing the POD 2 switch (STORE AS). Use the cursor keys, number keys, CLR key, and the data wheel and the ENTER key to name your mix.
2 – Starting out with the timecode : Setup Write some Aux send moves 11 Write Auxiliary Send moves using the touchsensitive faders: • • • To place the Auxiliary Sends 1 & 2 under fader control, select the AUX 1-2 level encoder mode (SHIFT + top key) and then use the FLIP key to assign the faders to Aux 1-2 level. Press the WRITE key and start the timecode. Touch a fader and move it up or down to write a mix move for Auxiliary Send 1 for that channel. Release the fader when your mix move is complete.
3 – Automation overview Modes Before going further, a brief description of automation modes and functions will be helpful. More detailed explanations of how these modes operate, along with how automatic mode switching is carried out, will be included in the Operations section of this manual (“Operation” on page 16). Auto This is the default mode for all controls when the automation system is enabled. The intelligent mode switching that occurs is done within Auto mode.
3 – Automation overview : Modes Trim During a mix there may be sections where there are good mix moves on a control but the overall level of that control needs to be raised or lowered while preserving the existing moves. Trim mode is used to make such relative offsets to existing mix moves for the duration of the Trim operation. The diagram below should help in the understanding of this concept.
3 – Automation overview : Displays Rehearse Rehearse is a special status that works with Write, Trim and Static modes. Rehearse allows you to practice or experiment with mix moves without recording them.
3 – Automation overview : Displays moves at will without having to manually enable Global Write or Global Trim on every pass. Here are examples of instances where this would be useful: TRIM ALL When enabled, a Trim operation will be • There may be existing mix moves all the way through a song which need to be louder from halfway through the song until the song’s end.
3 – Automation overview : AUTO FILES Since this fade is written directly using the Master Fader, it is not possible to change its time value after an Auto Fade has been performed. • To write an Auto Fade: • 1 Press the WRITE key. 2 Hold SHIFT and press AUTO FADE at the point where you want the fade to begin. To erase an Auto Fade it is necessary to overwrite the duration of the fade manually or by using the Write To End function. TIP A linear fade is often not musically desirable.
3 – Automation overview : AUTO CONFIG AUTO CONFIG Figure 3.4: AUTO CONFIG display The grid represented in the AUTO CONFIG display is used for manual override of the automation’s mode switching. The selected channel is displayed in the upper left of the display. If the displayed channel is part of a group, this is indicated in the upper right of the grid. The changes made in this grid are applied to channel and controls selected by the APPLY TO buttons at the right of the display.
3 – Automation overview : AUTO CONFIG Channel LED Indicators Each channel has an OL/STATUS indicator immediately above the fader. When automating a mix, these indicators can be used to show whether a channel is writing, reading or reverting. When used as automation indicators, they flash when any control on a channel is writing or reverting. They are lit steadily when all controls on a channel are reading. Use the OPTION display screen to set the function of these indicators.
4 – Operation Operating the DM-3200’s automation system is designed to be intuitive and transparent to the mixing process, while offering power and flexibility previously unavailable on a mixing console. The steps below, combined with an understanding of the information on the previous pages, will have you automating your mixes in no time. Setting Up Your Mix Action: Enable the automation system in the AUTO SETUP display by moving the cursor to the on-screen AUTOMATION ENGINE button and pressing ENTER.
4 – Operation : Writing Mix Moves See the diagrams below to understand how this works: Existing Static Fader Position 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec 6 sec 7 sec 8 sec 6 sec 7 sec 8 sec +12 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -12 Mix Move 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec +12 Revert Time +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 Fader Movement Touch Fader Release Fader or Stop Timecode Figure 4.
4 – Operation : Writing Mix Moves Existing Fader Move 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec 6 sec 7 sec 8 sec 6 sec 7 sec 8 sec +12 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -12 Mix Move 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec +12 Revert Time +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 Fader Movement Touch Fader Release Fader or Stop Timecode Figure 4.
4 – Operation : Writing Mix Moves Disabling Auto Revert allows you to manually stop writing mix moves, either by stopping the timecode, or by pressing the REVERT key. In this case, all controls that are writing mix moves will stop writing simultaneously when REVERT is pressed or timecode stops.
4 – Operation : Writing Mix Moves Existing Fader Move 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec 6 sec 7 sec 8 sec 6 sec 7 sec 8 sec +12 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -12 Mix Move 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec +12 Revert Time +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 Fader Movement Touch Fader Release Fader Press REVERT or stop Time Code Figure 4.
4 – Operation : Writing Mix Moves Write To End: When the Write Revert Time is set to ∞s, you are essentially telling the automation system to maintain a control’s last setting from the point where the automation recording ends, all the way to the end of the program. This is called Write To End. In this case, any mix moves existing in the time between the end of automation recording and the end of the program will be erased. NOTE A Write/Trim to End operation must be completed by stopping the timecode.
4 – Operation : Writing Mix Moves Existing Static POD Position 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec 6 sec 7 sec 8 sec 6 sec 7 sec 8 sec +12 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -12 Mix Move 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec +12 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 POD Movement Move POD Release POD Stop Time Code Figure 4.
4 – Operation : Writing Switch Events Writing Switch Events Switch Events are defined as the switching of any “on/off” controls. Examples of such controls are MUTE keys and the EQ ON key. Action: Press the WRITE key before or after starting timecode and its indicator lights. With timecode running, press the desired key or keys to write the switch event at the desired timecode location. Result: This works for muting, EQ On/Off, EQ band type switching, Auxiliary send Pre/Post switching and Library Recall.
4 – Operation : Writing Switch Events Auto Revert Choices: With AUTO REVERT — WRITE/TRIM enabled, the automation system stops recording switch events automatically on a per control basis, without any need to end writing manually. In this case, keys stop recording switch events at different times, depending on when they were last pressed and depending on the value set in CONTROL SENSE TIME OUT. control surface keys to respond as if they are touchsensitive, even though they are not.
4 – Operation : Writing Switch Events Disabling Auto Revert allows you to stop writing switch events manually, either by stopping the timecode or by pressing the REVERT key. In this case, all controls that are writing will stop writing simulta- neously when REVERT is pressed or when timecode stops.
4 – Operation : Writing Switch Events Write To End: When the Write Revert Time is set to ∞s, you are essentially telling the automation system to maintain that control’s last setting from the point when automation recording ends, all the way to the end of the program. NOTE A Write/Trim To End operation must be completed by stopping the timecode. Manually disabling Write or Trim mode while timecode is running will not perform a Write To End operation. AUTO REVERT must be enabled to use Write To End.
4 – Operation : Trimming Mix Moves Trimming Mix Moves There may be times when a control has existing mix moves that are good, but the overall level of those moves needs to be raised or lowered. In this case, Trim is used to offset existing moves. Action: Press the TRIM key before or after starting timecode and its indicator lights. With timecode running, perform the desired Trim operation.
4 – Operation : Trimming Mix Moves Auto Revert Choices: With AUTO REVERT — TRIM enabled, the automation system stops trimming mix moves automatically per control without the need to stop trimming manually. In this case, controls stop trimming mix moves at different times, depending on when they were released (faders) or when movement ended (POD controls), or when the timecode was stopped. In the case of the touch-sensitive faders, the revert starts when the fader is released.
4 – Operation : Trimming Mix Moves case, all controls that are trimming mix moves will stop trimming simultaneously when REVERT is pressed or timecode stops. Disabling AUTO REVERT — TRIM allows you to manually stop trimming mix moves by stopping the timecode or by pressing the REVERT key.
4 – Operation : Trimming Mix Moves Trim To End When the Trim Revert Time is set to ∞s, you are essentially telling the automation system to maintain the offset created by the trim operation from the point where trimming ends, all the way to the end of the program. NOTE A Write/Trim To End operation must be completed by stopping the timecode. Manually disabling Write or Trim mode while timecode is running will not perform a Write To End operation.
4 – Operation : Trimming Mix Moves TIP Punch into a mix (This can be done with Trim or Write mode). Start the timecode. Move a control to its desired position. You will hear the audio follow the move. Press the WRITE or TRIM key to instantly punch that control into automation Write at the new position. The result will be the fastest possible move when reading back the mix.
4 – Operation : Initial Status Initial Status The Initial Status of a control is its value before the first dynamic mix move is present. Until dynamic mix moves are written to a control, there is no difference between the Initial Status of the control and its Static position. 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec When dynamic mix moves are written to a control, that control is no longer in Static mode. It is in Dynamic mode.
4 – Operation : Initial Status The diagram below illustrates the results of Initial Status editing: Before Initial Status Edit 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec 6 sec 7 sec 8 sec 7 sec 8 sec 7 sec 8 sec +12 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -12 Dynamic Data Initial Status After Initial Status Edit (Decrease) 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec 6 sec +12 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 Dynamic Data Initial Status After Initial Status Edit (Increase) 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 4 sec 5 sec 6 sec +12 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -12 Dynamic Data
4 – Operation : Automating Library Recall Automating Library Recall The DM-3200 automation system is capable of including library recall events as part of an automated mix. These are treated by the automation system as Switch Events.
4 – Operation : Automating Groups Automating Groups There are several considerations and possibilities when using the DM-3200 automation with grouped controls: • Creating a group containing controls that have existing dynamic automation. • Automating the Group Master. • Creating a group containing controls that do not have existing dynamic automation. • Automating group slaves. • Removing slaves from an automated group. • Automation of hierarchical groups.
DM-3200 TEAC CORPORATION Phone: +81-422-52-5082 3-7-3, Nakacho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8550, Japan www.tascam.com TEAC AMERICA, INC. Phone: +1-323-726-0303 7733 Telegraph Road, Montebello, California 90640 www.tascam.com TEAC CANADA LTD. Phone: +1905-890-8008 Facsimile: +1905-890-9888 5939 Wallace Street, Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1Z8, Canada www.tascam.com TEAC MEXICO, S.A. De C.V Phone: +52-555-581-5500 Campesinos No.
