The A/B Buffers / Safe And Audition - Sony DMX-R100 Quick Reference

The A/B Buffers / SAFE and AUDITION

When the A/B Buffer Rotation is set to MANUAL in the Automation window, each buffer operates
independently, although you can easily copy automation data from one buffer to the other by holding down the
source buffer button until it begins blinking, keeping it held down and then pressing the destination buffer
button. (For example, to copy data from the "A" buffer to the "B" buffer, press and hold down the A button
for a couple of seconds until it begins blinking, then press the B button, then answer YES to the resulting
dialog.)
When set to AUTO rotation, the data recorded in one buffer is automatically copied into the other buffer when
the STOP button is pressed, or when incoming timecode is no longer received — unless the SAFE button is
pressed first, in which case no data is written and the buffers do not rotate.
The SAFE button can also be used prior to automation playback in order to provide a single level of undo.
Here's an exercise that shows how this works:
1
Set A/B BUFFER ROTATION to AUTO in the Automation window.
2
Select buffer A and make sure the SAFE button is off (unlit).
3
Arm all faders using the READY SETUP / OPTION menu and do a pass in ABS / BUTT mode.
Bring the faders for channels 1 - 4 to unity gain (0.0 dB) and hold them that way for several seconds.
4
If you are controlling an external multitrack recorder from the DMX-R100, press the STOP button in the
DMX-R100 transport section; if the DMX-R100 is slaving to incoming timecode, stop the master
machine. Note that the buffer light changes to "B" when you do so.
5
Do another pass and this time raise the faders for channels 1 - 4 to maximum and hold them that way for
several seconds. Again stop the timecode and note that the buffer light changes to "A" when you do so.
6
Press the SAFE button so that it is lit. Now play back the automated mix stored in the A buffer.
It contains the data of faders 1 - 4 held to maximum (that is, the data stored in the last pass, which was
automatically rotated from buffer B to buffer A).
7
With the SAFE button still lit, press the B button and play back the automated mix stored in the B buffer.
It still contains the data recorded in the first pass — faders 1 - 4 at the unity gain (0.0 dB) position.
As long as the SAFE button is lit, you can go back and forth between your last pass and the pass before
that one in order to decide which one you prefer. Once you make that decision, you can then continue
mixing from that point by selecting the buffer you want to use and then turning off the SAFE switch.
The SAFE button serves another important function, allowing you to rehearse moves while automation data
plays back, but without actually writing new data. A similar, enhanced function is provided by AUDITION
mode, which actually allows you to punch in and out of recording by turning the SAFE switch on and off.
AUDITION mode can be turned on either from the Automation window or from the AUTO box at the top of
the touchscreen. When in AUDITION mode, the AUTO box changes color from red or green (depending
upon whether you were last working in ABS or TRIM mode) to gray and the SAFE switch is automatically
turned on. In addition, both Write Hold and Touch Hold are activated, allowing all armed objects to remain
armed even after time code is stopped and faders are released. For more information, see Chapter 4 in the
DMX-R100 Operating Instructions and the Sony DMX-R100 Automation Operation document.
Tutorial 3 Automated Mixing Session
T3-17