Related Manuals for Acuma Labs Pro Audio Lab
Summary of Contents for Acuma Labs Pro Audio Lab
- Page 1 ™ U S E R ’ S G U I D E Pro Audio Lab ™ Precision Audio Analysis and Sound Precision Audio Analysis and Sound Precision Audio Analysis and Sound Generation Laboratory Generation Laboratory Plug-in for Mackie Digital Mixers...
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Page 2: Mackie Designs Plug-In Software License
Software is recorded to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase as evidenced by a copy of the purchase receipt. Mackie Designs’ en- tire liability and your exclusive remedy will be the replacement of the defective disk when it is returned postage prepaid to Mackie Designs at the address below or a Mackie Designs’... - Page 3 SION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN NO EVENT SHALL MACKIE DESIGNS’ TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEG- LIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE) EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU FOR THE SOFTWARE.
- Page 4 Note: Any future revisions of this guide will be available for viewing and downloading from: www.mackie.com “Mackie” and the “Running Man” figure are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mackie Designs Inc. All other brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby acknowledged.
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Page 5: Table Of Contents
Contents Mackie Designs Plug-in Software License --------------------- 2 Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------6 About Acuma Labs ----------------------------------------------------------6 About the D8B UFX Card---------------------------------------------------6 About Pro Audio Lab -------------------------------------------------------7 Requirements ----------------------------------------------------------------7 Obtaining the Plug-In ------------------------------------------------------7 Unlock Procedure -----------------------------------------------------------8 Using Pro Audio Lab------------------------------------------------9 The Status Screen ------------------------------------------------9... -
Page 6: Introduction
Introduction Thank you for purchasing Acuma Labs’ Pro Audio Lab. This is a precision audio analysis tool and sound generation software plug-in for the Mackie D8B digital mix- er. It offers a broad cross section of sophisticated meters, noise generation devices, and highly accurate instrument tuning references. -
Page 7: About Pro Audio Lab
1 shows the Levels display from the Analysis drop-down menu, and the Oscillator from the Generation menu. As with all Mackie plug-ins, Pro Audio Lab can be routed as an “insert” or “auxil- iary” connection. Typically, it is recommended that Pro Audio Lab be routed as an auxiliary when monitoring inputs. -
Page 8: Unlock Procedure
2. You will also need your plug-in’s serial number. 3. To obtain the unlock code, have the ESN and plug-in serial number ready. Then you have two options: • Log on to the Mackie plug-in authorization web page: http://www.mackie.com/D8Bauthorize.htm • Telephone Mackie Tech Support at 800-258-6883. -
Page 9: Using Pro Audio Lab
This switches Pro Audio Lab from the inactive state to active. Minimize/Close Button These buttons minimize Pro Audio Lab to a simplified version for better viewing of the D8B screen. To switch from one screen to another, simply toggle between the buttons to expand and shrink. -
Page 10: The Analysis Screens
The Analysis Screens The Levels, Spectrum Analysis, and Phase Analysis options are selected from the Analysis drop-down menu found in the Status Screen. Only one option can be open at a time. The Levels menu is further expandable by clicking on any of the level meters. See Page 9 See Page 11 Each Meter is... -
Page 11: The Levels Screen
The Levels Screen Peak The Levels Screen Select the Levels Screen from the Analysis drop-down menu. This shows an overview grouping of the primary meters of the Analysis section. Each meter can be isolated and expanded for a detailed view of the selected audio measurement, by selecting a meter and double-clicking on the display. - Page 12 RMS Level RMS (expanded view) Root Mean Square (RMS) is an audio measurement that correlates signal energy with a reference signal. Neither a peak, nor an average, RMS is derived by squaring all the instantaneous voltages from a waveform, averaging the squared value, and then taking the square root of that value.
- Page 13 The VU meter represents a commonly ac- cepted compromise of what our ear does naturally. Pro Audio Lab’s VU meters read average level but ignore the instantaneous peaks that are the job of the Peak Level Meters.
- Page 14 Note: When using this application on the left and right masters, remember to turn off the enable button in the Pro Audio Lab GUI to disable the Tone Generation, as you simply need to see the meters. The Loudness Meter displays both a VU and a Peak Level meter on the same graph.
- Page 15 Correlation/Loudness Balance Correlation (expanded view) Correlation This clear and easy-to-read display is designed to help you understand the complex phase relationship between two signals, and shows how the signals relate to each other. The correlation meter measures the similarities between two signals by dis- playing a range value of –1 (two signals are 180°out of phase) or +1 (indicating that the signals are perfectly in phase).
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Page 16: Spectrum Analyzer
Spectrum Analyzer Range Right Stereo Left Mono Spectrum Analyzer Screen Select the Spectrum Analyzer from the Analysis drop-down menu. The graphical rep- resentation indicates the level of an audio signal at various frequencies. The analyzer performs a Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) on the input audio to convert it to fre- quency information. - Page 17 Precision This offers precision viewing ranges from 1 octave to 1/6 octave with additional views in between. Click on the Precision window to open a drop-down menu to choose from 1 octave, 2/3 octave, 1/2 octave and 1/6 octave views. The maximum resolution is 1/6 octave for the mono display, and 1/3 octave for stereo.
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Page 18: Phase Analyzer
Phase Analyzer Phase Meter Phase Analyzer Screen (Out of Phase example) Phase Analyzer Screen (In Phase example) Select the Phase Analyzer from the Analyzer drop-down menu of the Status Screen. Phase Meter The Phase Meter displays an X/Y plot of a set of raw Left and Right audio samples. This results in a ‘swarm of bees’... -
Page 19: The Generation Screens
The Generation Screens Tone Generator options are selected from the Generation drop-down menu found in the Status Screen. This is where you will find a wide variety of oscillators and tuners to suit any task. Only one option can be open at a time. See Page 9 See Page 20 See Page 21... -
Page 20: Noise Generator
Noise Generator Burst/Pause Total Time Level Ratio The Noise Generator This noise generator produces white and pink noise, and has independent burst/ pause ratio, total time, and repetitions. White and pink noise are random signals that include all of the audio frequencies. The noise simulates the random thermal motion of electrons. -
Page 21: Slate Tone Generator
Slate Tone Generator Burst/Pause Total Time Level Ratio The Slate Tone Generator The familiar three-step oscillated tone sequences (like we used to hear at the be- ginning of cassette albums), are known as Slate Tones. They are used to calibrate faders, buses, and meters between consoles and decks to insure that all input and output levels are set to a single reference point. -
Page 22: The Oscillator
D8B Channel Delay. Tip: Using the Delay feature in Pro Audio Lab does not adjust the delay in your signal. Remember, it’s for identifying a problem only. Use the Channel Delay feature in the D8B to make sample changes. -
Page 23: The Piano Tuning Reference
The Piano Tuning Reference Level Note Select Piano Tuning Reference The piano tuning reference is a very convenient tool which is useful for many studio applications. Use your mouse to click a desired note on the keyboard. Level Use your mouse to select an output level ranging from off to 0 dB. Note Select This one-octave keyboard lets you use your mouse to select the note or key to use as a tuning reference. -
Page 24: The Guitar Tuning Reference
The Guitar Tuning Reference String Select Level Display The Guitar Tuning Reference This offers an easy way to make sure your guitar player is in tune. It’s always a good idea to check tuning prior to recording. Tuning Use this to select alternate guitar tunings such as, Open G, Open C, Do Bro, etc. The String Select plays the appropriate tones for the selected tunings. -
Page 25: The Bass Tuning Reference
The Bass Tuning Reference String Select Level Display The Bass Tuning Reference This offers an easy way to make sure that your bass player is in tune. It’s always a good idea to check tuning prior to recording. Type Use this to select the bass type from 4 string (normal), 5, or 6 string setups. Some bass guitars have alternate tunings to accommodate alternate string configurations. -
Page 26: The A440 Tuning Reference
The A440 Tuning Reference Level Reference Tone A440 Tuning Reference Level Use your mouse to select an output level ranging from off to 0 dB. Reference Tone The A440 is the accepted standard tuning reference. It’s handy to have access to this reference tone to quickly compare an instrument tuning to an A440 reference. -
Page 27: Plug-In Confi Guration And Routing
Plug-in Confi guration and Routing Confi guring the Plug-In After installing your UFX card, unlocking the plug-in, and booting up the D8B, all you need to do is put the kettle on, have a cup of tea, and assign the plug-in to the card. The following instructions are general for most plug-ins. - Page 28 Assigning an Input Source to the Plug-in • Click the plug-in’s Input Source button to select an input source. In the example below, we have chosen the Aux 4 Bus as the input to the plug-in installed in slot 6. •...
- Page 29 Saving, Loading, and Resetting a Preset Plug-in settings can be saved and recalled from the hard drive. You can save and load files to either Memory A or Memory B. Some plug-ins just show these as A or B. To Save a Preset: 1.
- Page 30 To Reset the Plug-in: Reset will reload the default patch. 1. Click and hold the Menu button. Menu Menu button. 2. Select Reset (Plug-in). To Cut Plug-in Settings: 1. Click and hold the Menu button. Menu Menu button. 2. Select Cut (Plug-in). The current settings are temporarily stored in the clipboard memory in case you want to paste them to a new preset.
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Page 31: Automation And Snapshot Control
Automation and Snapshot Control Dynamic Real Time To write automation on a loaded plug-in: 1. Engage AUTO TOUCH. 2. Engage ALL, disengage BYPASS, and send timecode to the console –the POSITION readout will change to show time code is being received. 3. -
Page 32: Fx Routing
FX Routing The Plug-in Confi guration Window Input Source Input Source Input Source Assignment Assignment Card Slot Column Column Plug-in display toggle display toggle Card A Card B Card C Card D 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 by default. - Page 33 Using an Aux Send with a Plug-in • Click the associated Input Source button and select an Aux input source. In the example below, we have chosen the Aux 4 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.
- Page 34 Pre-Fader and Post-Fader Auxiliary Sends Normally, effect sends are post-fader, so the signal sent to the effect follows the pro- gram level in the mix. Occasionally you may wish to feed an effect from a pre-fader source so that the signal level from the aux control is independent of the channel fader position.
- Page 35 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) The Plug button toggles between Windows menu...
- Page 36 Acuma Pro Audio Lab © 2003 Mackie Designs Inc. All Rights Reserved...