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Related Manuals for Acuma Labs RTA-31
Summary of Contents for Acuma Labs RTA-31
- Page 1 ™ U S E R ’ S G U I D E RTA-31 ™ Plug-in for Mackie Digital Mixers ® ™...
- Page 2 This icon does not appear in this guide. “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.
- Page 5 After using the functions that let you draw EQ curves, you will soon realize that the RTA-31 is destined to become an integral part of the way you produce sessions from now on.
- Page 6 UFX cards can be installed in the D8B, allowing up to sixteen simultaneous single-channel effects, eight stereo plug-ins, or combinations thereof. Acuma Labs' RTA-31 is a dedicated software plug-in for the Mackie Digital 8•Bus that utilizes 24-bit digital processing power to view and modify the frequency response from any given signal within the D8B.
- Page 7 • 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).
- Page 8 (and obtain the floppy disk). 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 After installing your UFX card, unlocking the plug-in, and booting up the D8B, all you need to do is assign the RTA-31 to a UFX card slot. 1. Click the Plugins menu and select Plugins, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+P.
- Page 10 In the INPUT column of the Plugin Configuration screen, select an input source for the RTA-31. This can be an auxiliary send, a Pre- or Post-DSP channel insert, or the main left or right mix. In this example, we’ve chosen the Pre-DSP insert point for Channel 1.
- Page 11 You can think of the RTA-31 as being comprised of two separate panels: the EQ Panel and the Analyzer Panel. There is also a reduced view (Shrunk Screen) that collapses the plug-in window into the minimized control strip. The 31-Band Graphic EQ section of the GUI (graphic user interface) is a fully functional 1/3-octave frequency EQ controlled by a series of linear sliders.
- Page 12 The “In” signal meter is determined by the amount of aux send or insert level sent from the D8B. The “Out” meter level from the RTA-31 is controlled with the Level slider found on the far-right side of the GUI. You will...
- Page 13 Preset Toggle Input Select Preset Title Close Button Memory B Analyze Morph Rate Menu Morph Memory A Enable The EQ selection button toggles the graphic EQ in and out of view via the mouse. Clicking the EQ button when the analyzer is not activated shrinks the EQ GUI to a condensed yet functional screen that can access and modify EQ curve settings, change between Mem A and B, and access the Menu functions.
- Page 14 This button simply enables or disables the RTA-31 for a wet/dry comparison. The up/down arrows, located just to the left of the Preset window, enable you to scroll up or down through either the Factory or User Presets. Tip: As there is no delay in loading presets, you might try...
- Page 15 dB Range Magnifier Graph Type To EQ Post EQ Graph Speed Select Pre EQ Freeze dB Reference Window The analyzer window is represented by thirty-one bar graphs that correspond to the same thirty-one sliders of the graphic EQ section. The Analyzer displays a frequency spectrum from 20Hz to 20kHz with a range that runs from –40 dBr to +20 dBr or –24 dBr to +12 dBr.
- Page 16 D8B via the reference microphone, selecting your reference point as you route signal through the RTA-31 (Pre- EQ). Pressing the To EQ button will take a snap shot of the analyzer’s current state and then send those settings to the EQ...
- Page 17 31-Band Graphic EQ Analyze Input/Output Meters The control bar is a convenient way of viewing your signal without taking up valuable real estate on the D8B screen. With the Analyzer button off, simply click the mouse pointer on the EQ button to switch from the full screen GUI to the reduced version.
- Page 18 RTA-31 settings can be saved and recalled from the hard drive. You can save and load files to either Memory A or Memory B. 1. Click and hold the MENU button. 2. Select Save User Preset to overwrite the file currently opened.
- Page 19 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 Graphic EQ to open a file. The Load Preset File dialog box appears. 4.
- Page 20 Reset will reload the previous patch. 1. Click and hold the MENU button. 2. Select Reset Graphic EQ. 1. Click and hold the MENU button. 2. Select Cut Graphic EQ. The current settings are temporarily stored in the clipboard memory in case you want to paste them to a new preset.
- Page 21 1. Engage AUTO TOUCH. 2. Engage ALL, disengage BYPASS, and send timecode to the console – the POSITION readout changes to show time code 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.
- Page 22 Card Slot Column Plug-in display toggle Input Channel Assignment Pull- down Menu Button Card A Card B Card C Card D Select RTA31 from the Plugin configuration window in one of two ways. You may go to the Plugin pull-down menu at the top of the Digital 8•Bus software or press the associated hot key to bring it back into view.
- Page 23 A plug-in channel insert assignment can be made from the Plugin Configuration window, or from a pull-down menu from the mixer screen, or from the RTA-31 front panel. Plugin Configuration Window This assignment can also be made from the control surface and VFD by holding in the desired channel’s SELECT button for two...
- Page 24 Click on the associated INPUT menu button and select ♦ an Aux input source. In the example below, we have chosen the Aux 5 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.
- Page 25 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 its upper-most range every so often (always trust your ears first).
- Page 26 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) Mono plug-in The Plug button toggles between Windows menu buttons and FX...
- Page 27 The following table is a simple guideline to help you understand the factory presets, and which type of source file was applied to the individual presets. But don't be afraid to run anything through the plug-in preset and customize the parameters to your specific needs, and save it as a user preset.
- Page 28 ® ™ ©2001 Mackie Designs Inc. and Acuma Labs. All Rights Reserved. Part No. 820-257-00 Rev. A1 07/2001...