SoundCraft Ghost User Manual page 143

A A u u t t o o m m a a t t i i c c R R e e c c a a l l l l T T o o T T i i m m e e c c o o d d e e
This powerful feature allows presets to be created, consisting of various mute
combinations which may be required for different sections of the music -perhaps
corresponding to intro- verse-chorus, etc of a song, or if mixing music to picture,
to various scenes. These presets are created off-line, (ie without the tape running)
using the 128 snapshots. Once created, each preset snapshot can then be allocat-
ed a timecode value (in real-time with the tape running, or off-line) which defines
the point in the music when the snapshot will be automatically recalled.
Once allocated, the timecode value assigned to each snapshot can be changed if
required, by entering an edit mode, allowing the automatic recall to be trimmed to
1/4-frame accuracy. A simple switch allows the automatic recall facility to be
turned on or off, making sure that automatic recall does not become annoying
when not required. There is also a simple method for clearing the timecode values
from any given snapshot, or all at once.
R R e e m m o o t t e e l l y y V V i i a a M M I I D D I I P P r r o o g g r r a a m m C C h h a a n n g g e e
When used with an external MIDI sequencer, this allows Ghost to recall different
mute snapshots at specified times programmed into the sequencer.
The advantage of this method is that the sequencers graphical editing interface can
be used to precisely control the position of the program change event, and thus
the exact time of the snapshot recall.
As Ghost also transmits program changes when a snapshot is manually recalled by
pressing the Recall button, the program change events can be transmitted to the
sequencer in real time, as the music is playing. The exact timing can then be edited
on the sequencer as described above.
D D y y n n a a m m i i c c M M u u t t e e A A u u t t o o m m a a t t i i o o n n
It is important to understand the difference between automatic mute snapshot
recall against timecode (as described in the last section) and true dynamic mute
automation. The former requires mute snapshots to be set up in advance, and
then allocated a timecode value while the tape is rolling, in order for the snapshots
to subsequently be played back automatically. The latter allows individual channels
to be muted and unmuted at will, during a pass through the song, with all the
switch presses being recorded in real time. Playback will then reproduce exactly
the individual mute operations at the right place in the music.
Ghost does not have the capability for dynamic mute automation using its own
internal memory, but it does allow this to be achieved by using an external MIDI
sequencer as the storage device.
The way this works is that each Channel and Mix-B mute switch on the console
generates a MIDI note-on message whenever the switch is pressed. Un-muting
the channel generates a note-on with velocity 127, while muting the channel gen-
erates the same note-on but with velocity of 1. A unique note number is allocated
to each mute switch on the console. This MIDI data is sent out of Ghost's MIDI
out port whenever a mute switch is pressed, and can thus be fed to a sequencer
where it can be recorded on a dedicated track. When the sequencer track is
played back, the same note-on information will be transmitted back to Ghost's
MIDI in port, and will trigger the individual mute switches directly. Thus real- time
automation is achieved, and the sequencer graphical edit screens can be used to
alter the timings of individual mutes, or add or remove mute events.
GHOST Application Guide 9.9