Euphonix MC color User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Euphonix Manuals
  4. Recording Equipment
  5. MC Control
  6. User manual

Euphonix MC color User Manual

Color grading media controller
Hide thumbs Also See for MC color:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

See also: User Manual , Setup Manual
COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER

USER GUIDE

Document Revision: A

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Related Manuals for Euphonix MC color

Summary of Contents for Euphonix MC color

  • Page 1: User Guide

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER USER GUIDE Document Revision: A...
  • Page 2 MC Color, MC Mix, MC Control, MC Transport, MC Pro, System 5-MC, and EuCon are trademarks of Euphonix, Inc. ©2009 Euphonix, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced, trans- mitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form by any means without written permission from Euphonix, Inc.
  • Page 3 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Canada This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003 Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada European Union Australia ABN 91 051 557 905 Japan...

  • Page 4: Important Safety Instructions

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS The lighting flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electrical shock to persons.
  • Page 5 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER 13) Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time. 14) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the appa- ratus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Table of Contents List of Figures ......................xi Chapter 1: Introduction ..................13 Chapter 2: Installation and Setup ..............15 Chapter 3: MC Color Surface Controls .............. 19 POWER Key ................21 Show Key ................... 21 3.2.1 Locking the Show Key ............
  • Page 8 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Chapter 4: Common Tasks ................. 29 Chapter 5: EuControl ................... 31 Surfaces..................32 Workstations................35 General ..................37 Preferences................38 Assign..................39 5.5.1 Lock to application ............39 Layouts ..................40 Soft Keys..................40 Chapter 6: Soft Keys ...................
  • Page 9 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER 6.11 Clear ..................43 6.12 Command................... 44 6.12.1 Add ................44 6.12.2 Delete ................44 6.12.3 Repeat................45 6.13 Command Types................. 46 6.13.1 Key................46 6.13.2 EuCon................47 Chapter 7: Using MC Color ................. 49 Controlling Apple Color with MC Color ........49 7.1.1 Primary In..............
  • Page 11 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER List of Figures Artist Series media controllers ................ 13 Foldout leg with locking metal clip (left); riser bracket (right) ......15 Menu bar with EuControl icon ................. 16 Connecting the power adapter ................ 16 Ethernet cable and rear panel jack ..............17 MC Color connected to router (left) and directly to computer (right) ....
  • Page 12 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Assign tab ...................... 39 Soft Keys tab ....................41 Section popup menu ..................42 Command Editor .................... 44 Selecting a command type from the Add menu ..........44 Repeat dialog ....................45 Key Command dialog ..................46 Creating a command in the Soft Keys tab ............

  • Page 13: Chapter 1: Introduction

    Soft Knobs, and programmable Soft Keys, MC Color provides unprecedented control over the entire color editing process. The Euphonix line of Artist Series of media controllers, comprised of MC Color, MC Control, MC Mix, and MC Transport, borrow features from MC Pro and System 5-MC large format media control surfaces.
  • Page 14 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER How to Use the PDF The Acrobat PDF version of this manual can be a valuable online help learning tool while using the MC Color. These are some useful features of the PDF: • The Bookmarks on the left serve as a continuously visible table of contents. Click on a subject heading to jump to that page.

  • Page 15: Chapter 2: Installation And Setup

    Always download the new version if prompted to do so after launching EuControl. • MC Color User Guide (PDF): This is the complete user guide for your MC Color. Before proceeding, download the latest versions from:www.euphonix.com/artist/support Unpacking and Elevating MC Color Unpack your MC Color, power supply, installation CD, Ethernet crossover cable, and riser brackets.

  • Page 16: Menu Bar With Eucontrol Icon

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Installation 1. If you downloaded the latest software from the web, double-click the in- staller. Otherwise, insert the installation CD into your Macintosh. NOTE: Be sure to eject the installation CD in your Mac if you downloaded the latest software from the web.

  • Page 17: Ethernet Cable And Rear Panel Jack

    If you did not see the green icon, see Troubleshooting on page 18 before pro- ceeding. 10. Launch Apple Color. 11. Select Setup Room. 12. Select User Prefs. 13. Select Show Control Surface Dialog. 14. Select Euphonix EuCon Control Surfaces from the drop down menu. 15. Click Yes to exit the dialog.

  • Page 18: Surfaces Tab

    2. If you did not see MC Color in the My Surfaces list in EuControl, select it in the All Surfaces list and click Add. See the first two steps in Updating Firm- ware below to display the Surfaces tab in EuControl. 3. See www.euphonix.com/artist/support for the most current trouble- shooting information. Updating Firmware If you downloaded the latest software from the web, you may need to update the firmware on your Artist Series media controllers.

  • Page 19: Chapter 3: Mc Color Surface Controls

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Chapter 3: MC Color Surface Controls MC Color is a custom control surface with many programmable controls to suit your preferences, others that are deftly switched when different rooms are se- lected, and some dedicated to a single purpose. This chapter explains the dedicated surface controls (Figure 3-1) and identifies the others with cross references to the sections that discuss how to use them in a typical color editing workflow.

  • Page 20: Mc Color Controls

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Figure 3-1 MC Color controls...

  • Page 21: Power Key

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER POWER Key Press and release the POWER key to turn the device on and off (Figure 3-2). Show Key Since MC Color key and knob assignments change often during the color editing process, it is very helpful to display the current key assignments. The Show key is included for this purpose: 1.

  • Page 22: Shift Key

    2. Press and release the Shift key quickly again to restore normal operation. If you have another Euphonix Artist media controller connected to the same instance of EuControl as your MC Color, you can also lock the Shift key by pressing two Shift keys down simultaneously.

  • Page 23: Soft Knobs

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Soft Knobs The six Soft Knobs can be pressed like a switch or turned to adjust parameters. Pressing a Soft Knob can navigate to a room, clear color parameters, and select specific secondary operations. Soft Knobs Figure 3-4 Soft Knobs Reset Keys Each Trackball/Trackwheel has two reset keys to restore their default settings.

  • Page 24: Trackballs And Trackwheels

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Trackballs and Trackwheels Three Trackballs control Hue and Saturation for Shadow, Midtone, and Highlight. Three Trackwheels control the Brightness sliders for Shadow, Midtone, and Highlight. The right Trackwheel can be reassigned to jog through the timeline (see Chapter 6: Soft Keys).

  • Page 25: Application Key

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER APPLICATION Key Press the APPLICATION key to toggle between the two most recently used open applications. To cycle through all open applications in a circle, hold down the APPLICATION key and press the PAGE keys. PAGE keys APPLICATION Figure 3-8 APPLICATION and PAGE keys MC Color can control Apple Color running on a second computer, referred to in this...

  • Page 26: Bank Keys

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER 3.11 BANK Keys The Bank keys perform different functions depending on the context. When in a Primary room, press BANK 1 to select the Basic settings tab. Press BANK 2 to select Advanced. When in a Secondary room, press BANK 1 to select the Basic settings tab. Press BANK 2 to select Vignette controls, and Shift+BANK 1 to select the Advanced settings tab.

  • Page 27: Nav Key

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER 3.13 NAV Key In all rooms, press the NAV key to show the room names in the display. Press the PAGE > key to display the Still Store and Render Queue rooms. Navigate to the desired room by pressing the corresponding Soft Knob. In a secondary room, press Shift+NAV to show six operational tabs on the displays.

  • Page 29: Common Tasks

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Chapter 4: Common Tasks You are now ready to start learning how to perform some useful common tasks on your MC Color. A labeled drawing of MC Color’s surface controls appears on page 20 but most of the controls discussed in this chapter are also depicted. Note that the Soft Knobs can be turned like a conventional knob to alter its as- signed parameter, and pressed like a switch to select a new parameter.

  • Page 30: Show Key

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Using the Show Key 6. Press the Show key. The Soft Key assignments display on your computer screen. Show key Figure 4-1 Show key 7. Press the NAV key and navigate to Secondary In. Notice the Soft Key assignments change as you navigate between Primary In and Secondary In.

  • Page 31: Chapter 5: Eucontrol

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Chapter 5: EuControl EuControl is launched automatically upon starting your Mac and runs in the background. EuControl is responsible for finding, linking, and communicating with all Artist media controllers on the network. EuControl’s configuration tasks are accessed by clicking the green icon on the Mac taskbar and selecting EuControl Settings.

  • Page 32: Surfaces

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Surfaces The Surfaces tab shows all Artist media controllers on your network and those connected to your instance of EuControl. Figure 5-2 Surfaces tab The following feature does not pertain to MC Color: • Control unit banks independently. All Surfaces All Surfaces shows all Artist media controllers on the network.
  • Page 33 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER The top-to-bottom order corresponds to the left-to-right order of the surfaces, respectively. The leftmost surface has fader strip 1. Use the buttons to reorder the list. Each Artist media controller can be renamed by double-clicking the existing name and typing a new name.
  • Page 34 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Update Firmware Each time a new version of EuControl is installed, each MC Color, MC Transport, MC Control, and MC Mix in your system may need its firmware updated. The firmware is embedded in EuControl so an Internet connection is not required. Select each Artist media controller in the My Surfaces list (shift-click to select multiple devices).

  • Page 35: Workstations

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Workstations An Artist media controller can control applications running on a second computer, referred to in this guide as a workstation. The Workstations tab establishes the list of workstations that the Shift+APPLICATION key cycles through. Any work- station running EuCon software can be in this list, including those controlled by the System 5-MC, MC Pro, MC Mix, MC Transport, and MC Control.
  • Page 36 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Click Add add the selected workstation from the All Workstations list to the My Workstations list. If the workstation is already in the My Workstations list, it is gray and cannot be selected. Remove Click Remove to remove the selected workstation from the My Workstations list. Attach/Detach Select a workstation in the My Workstations list and click Attach.

  • Page 37: General

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER General This tab controls how the Artist media controller and application software work together. Figure 5-4 General tab This tab does not pertain to MC Color.

  • Page 38: Preferences

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Preferences Figure 5-5 Preferences tab The following features do not pertain to MC Color: • Footswitch • MC Control Display MC Mix, MC Transport, and MC Color display screen dim time Drag the slider to set the amount of inactive time before the display screens of any of these devices in your system dims to half intensity.

  • Page 39: Assign

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Assign This tab manages how tracks are assigned to strips on the MC Control or MC Mix. By default, tracks are automatically assigned in banks of four. Figure 5-6 Assign tab The following features do not pertain to MC Color: •...

  • Page 40: Layouts

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Layouts This tab does not pertain to MC Color. Soft Keys This tab controls assignments and programming for MC Color’s nine Soft Keys. Since this is a very detailed subject and showcases MC Color’s most innovative functions, the Soft Keys tab has its own chapter (Chapter 6: Soft Keys).

  • Page 41: Chapter 6: Soft Keys

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Chapter 6: Soft Keys This tab controls function assignments to MC Color’s nine Soft Keys. Figure 6-1 Soft Keys tab NOTE: To edit an application’s assignments in EuControl, that application must be topmost immediately before switching to EuControl. The application listed in the upper left of the window (Apple Color in Figure 6-1) is called in focus because it •...

  • Page 42: Save

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Save Clicking Save permanently stores the Application Set. However, changes to the Soft Key assignments are retained even without clicking Save until you quit EuControl, at which point you will be prompted to save. Revert Click Revert to revert to the Application Set last saved. This discards any changes made since the last Save command or EuControl was last started.

  • Page 43: Layout

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Layout Select Text Only, Icon Only, or Text and Icon from the Layout popup menu. Icon Click the Icon button and select an icon from the standard Mac dialog. Font Click the Font button and select a font from the standard Mac dialog. 6.10 Color Click the Color button and select a color from the standard Mac dialog for the se-...

  • Page 44: Command

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER 6.12 Command Select a Soft Key (its outline highlights yellow) and click Command to view or edit the command(s) assigned to that Soft Key. Double-clicking the key is a shortcut to open the command editor. Figure 6-3 Command Editor Each Command type and how to create a new command are discussed in Com- mand Types on page 46.

  • Page 45: Repeat

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER 6.12.3 Repeat Click Repeat to allow the command to be repeated if the Soft Key is held down. Numeric fields in the Repeat dialog accept integer values only. Figure 6-5 Repeat dialog The Repeat controls are: No Repeat: The key does not repeat (default setting).

  • Page 46: Command Types

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER 6.13 Command Types MC Color uses two of the five command types: Key and EuCon. 6.13.1 Key commands can execute menu commands and other application-specific com- mands that have key equivalents. Figure 6-6 shows the Key Command dialog. Figure 6-6 Key Command dialog Type keystrokes into the text field in the Details pane.

  • Page 47: Eucon

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER 6.13.2 EuCon The EuCon command types under the Details column are specific to Apple Color. The Mouse Injection command engages the center Trackball to control the mouse cursor and the R3/R4 buttons control left click/right click. When entering the Color Effects room, MC Color automatically activates Mouse Injection, how- ever it can be useful to implement this function elsewhere (i.e., to control curves in a primary room).

  • Page 49: Chapter 7: Using Mc Color

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Chapter 7: Using MC Color Controlling Apple Color with MC Color This section describes the color correction process by examining important functions in some of the Apple color rooms: Primary In, Secondary: Vignette Control, and Color FX. 7.1.1 Primary In Contrast...

  • Page 50: Secondary: Vignette Control

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Color Balance After correcting the image’s contrast, adjusting the color balance is the next step. Fast, coarse adjustments to the color balance (Shadow, Midtone, and Highlight) can be made using the Trackballs to set the primary color balance controls: The left Trackball controls the Shadow Color Balance wheel;...

  • Page 51: Color Fx

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER The following parameters are available only when the Square or Circle options are selected from the Shape popup menu. • Angle: Rotates the current shape • Center: Adjusts the position of the shape • Softness: Blurs the edges of the shape •...

  • Page 52: Using Mc Color And Mc Transport

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Using MC Color and MC Transport MC Transport can be integrated with an MC Color to create a larger control sur- face with additional programmable Soft Keys, Numeric Keypad, weighted Jog Wheel, and high-resolution Shuttle Ring. MC Transport's Numeric Keypad allows navigating to specific clips and timecode locations in the timeline.

  • Page 53: Appendix A: Setting The Ip Address

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Appendix A: Setting the IP Address Most MC Color users will never have to set a static Internet Protocol (IP) address but in the rare cases that require it, the MC Mix does allow for it. Normally MC Color uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to obtain its IP address, typically from a router.
  • Page 54 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER 7. Use these techniques to set the two remaining IP Address fields. 8. After setting the fourth IP Address field, press the Shift key to move the cursor to the first field of the Subnet Mask screen (Figure A-3). Figure A-3 Subnet Mask display 9.

  • Page 55: Appendix B: Eucon Commands

    COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Appendix B: EuCon Commands Table 7-1 EuCon Commands and descriptions EuCon Command Name Description Add all to Queue Adds all clips in the project to the Render Queue Add Key Frame Adds a keyframe to the current clip at the position of the playhead Add Selected to Queue Adds selected clips in the timeline to the Render Queue Blue Channel Waveform...
  • Page 56 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Keyer Enable S Enable or disable secondary keyer for Saturation Keyer Enable L Enable or disable secondary keyer for Luma Keyer Left Side Only Control only the left side of selected keyer spread or falloff Keyer Right Side Only Control only the right side of selected keyer spread or falloff Luma Y Waveform Displays the Luma Channel...
  • Page 57 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Save Project Saves Project Set Player Marker In Sets the player in Marker Set Player Marker Out Sets the player out Marker Scope Resolution 100% Sets the vector scope resolution to 100% Scope Resolution 25% Sets the vector scope resolution to 25% Scope Resolution 50% Sets the vector scope resolution to 50% Scope Resolution 75%...
  • Page 58 COLOR GRADING MEDIA CONTROLLER Center trackball controls mouse cursor; R3 and R4 become mouse Toggle Mouse Injection buttons Toggle Trackwheel Jog Right trackwheel becomes jog wheel Trackball & Wheel Accel multiplies acceleration of ball and wheel 10 times...

Table of Contents