Panasonic Mixing Automation Expansion Software Users Guide

							Create MIDI Events 
Select MIDI Channel 
MIDI Channels range from 1 to 16. 
Select Type of MIDI Event
Select Notes, Poly After Touch, Control Change, Program Change, Mono
Aftertouch, Pitch Bend, Song Select, or Real Time.
Enter Event Parameters
The parameters depend on the type off command, such as Note Name and
Octave, Pitch Bend Amount, etc.
Enter Time
Some MIDI commands have just a Time (such as a Program Change). 
Other MIDI commands have both an On Time and an Off Time (such as
Notes).
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							TRANSITIONBETWEENSNAPSHOTS
A “Transition Event” may be inserted between two Snapshots. 
A Transition Event consists of fader moves, that Transition or “dissolve”
between the audio channel levels in each Snapshot.
To create a Transition Event, first select two Snapshots in the Cue List. Then
select Transition Between Snapshots from the Off Line menu. This inserts the
Transition Event. The actual fader moves that comprise the event may be
viewed by clicking on the triangle to the left of the event.
The time that the transition starts is prior to the second Snapshot. The time
may be user set in the Preferences dialogue box. To change the time, select
Preferences from the Edit menu. Then click on the Faders tab. Type the time
in the Transitions Between Snapshots field. The time is entered in frames. 
For example, if your current frame rate is 30 frames per second, then 30
frames is the same as 1 second, 60 frames is 2 seconds, etc.
Suppose your second Snapshot starts at 00:01:00:00. If you want the
transition to start at 2 seconds before the second Snapshot, enter 60 frames in
the Preference.
For example, if your current frame rate is 24 frames per second, then 24
frames is the same as 1 second, 48 frames is 2 seconds, etc.
Note:Any fader events should not exist between the two Snapshots where you
try to insert a Transition Event.
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							MERGEMIX
Merge Mix allows you to combine a previously saved mix with the current
mix. The previously saved mix is “merged” into the Cue List of the mix you
are currently working on.
In other words, Merge Mix is a short cut which combines all the following
operations: 
Open,opens a previously saved mix,
Select All,selects every event in its Cue List,
Copy,copies every event,
Paste,pastes the previously saved mix into the Cue List of the mix you are
currently working on.
Merge Mix is found in the file menu. It is only available when viewing the Cue
List. Merge Mix is dimmed when viewing the Custom View. 
This feature allows you to save different parts of a mix as different files, and
later re-combine them to suit the needs of differently edited versions of a
song.
Merge mixing may also be used to create separate Fader and Channel On/Off
Cue Lists, and later combine them.
For various versions of a dance mix, for example, you could first use View
Events to isolate the channel on/offs. 
Select All, Copy, and Paste the Channel On/Offs into a New mix.
Save. Re do the channel on/offs in the old mix, and again, 
Select All, Copy, and Paste the channel on/offs into a New mix.
Repeat this process to create several different mix files of Channel On/Offs
only. These files can later be merged into the file of fader moves, allowing a
client to pick the most effective dance re-mix.
Note: Click on the View Filter to turn it off, before you start Merge Mix.
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							144MAX Off Line Operation 
Merge Mix Example
Suppose the Cue List is showing events that take place between, say,
00:00:00:00 and 00:07:00:00. 
Suppose a previously saved mix file has events that take place between
00:03:00:00 and 00:07:00:00. 
If this mix file is merged, the moves from the merged file will be “dropped
in”, that is, inserted into the Cue List around moves that are already in the
current Cue List.
After the merge is complete, the events from the merged file will remain
selected (highlighted). This permits you to immediately perform an edit (such
as an offset) on the merged events.
Avoid Merging Mixes with Conflicting Moves.
If a particular fader is moving during a certain time, and a mix is merged with
the same fader moving at that same time, a real mess will result. 
The individual discrete events that comprise the fader move may become
“interleaved”, resulting in a fader that rapidly dances up and down on
playback. 
This situation may be identified and corrected as follows.
Remember that, after merging, the merged file will appear as selected
(highlighted) events in the Cue List. If you see a “zebra stripped” pattern in
the Cue List, with identical fader moves at similar times, you may have created
overlapping moves.
You will want to edit this further (by removing the overlapping region) before
playing back the mix. 
						

							CHANNELNAMES ANDLABELSDIALOGUE
Each audio channel can be named. Names appear in the Cue List, and also in
every list of channels, such as the View dialogue and the Create dialogues.
Labels are the short text fields that are seen under each fader in the Custom
View.
Click to select a channel number, then type in the name and or the label. The
label appears under the fader in the Custom View. The name is what appears
in the Cue List for every event on that channel.
Press either Tab or Enter to validate the entry.
The Names and Labels dialogue shows the name of the file you are working
on, that is, Mix: “[mix name]”.
Clicking Clear All clears out all the Names and Labels.
Checking “Also apply to new mixes” saves the Names and Labels as a part of
the Preference file. Any new mixes opened will automatically have the names
and labels applied.
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							Channel Labels
Channel Labels are shown under the fader within the standard fader module.
They can also appear in any module created or edited with the Edit Module
dialogue.
(Labels may also be entered directly on the Custom View, much like a write
strip on mixer. Simply click in the text field under the fader, and type the
name, such as “kick”, “hat”, etc. Tab advances to the next text field.)
Names may be converted into labels automatically by clicking  . 
This takes the first four characters of the name and turns it into a label.
For example, if the channel is named “guitar”, clicking  will create a
label in the Custom View under the fader that says “guit”.
This is a time saving shortcut. There are some instances where it will not be
effective to use. 
For example, if the Channel is named, “Lead Guitar”, then clicking 
would create a label in the Custom View that says “Lead”, which may be
unclear.
Labels may be converted to Names automatically by clicking  . This
copies the label into the Names table.
For example, if the channel is labeled “guit”, clicking  will create a
name in the Cue List for all events on that channel, indicated by “guit” in the
Cue List.
This is a time saving shortcut. There are some instances where it will not be
effective to use. The Cue List is capable of displaying a longer name, and the
labels may be too cryptic.
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							PRINTING THECUELIST ORTRACKLIST
Print Cue List... prints the Cue List as it appears. 
Be aware that this might be really long! It would be a good practice to scroll
to the bottom of the Cue List and observe the number of pages before
printing.
To shorten the Cue List, use the View Events dialogue prior to printing. It may
be useful, for example, to print only Markers.
A printout of markers may assist in tape editing.
If a Comment has been entered in the Comment window, it is also printed at
the top of the Cue List.
Print Track List... prints a list of all the Channel Names, along with the
Comment.
Selecting either Print Cue List or Print Track List from the File menu opens
the Macintosh’s printer dialogue. The dialogue will depend on the printer
drivers installed in the Macintosh, and which printer has been selected with
the Chooser in the Apple menu.
To print via AppleTalk, AppleTalk must be Active.
To make AppleTalk active, select the Chooser from the Apple menu. Then
click on the AppleTalk Active button. 
Otherwise, you may print to a locally connected Image Writer.
When making AppleTalk Active or Inactive, you will see a prompt reminding
you to connect or disconnect the AppleTalk network, i.e., printer cable.
Turn AppleTalk Off after printing and before mixing.
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							149
Chapter 12
MAX EDITMODULEDIALOGUE
The topic of editing Modules is related to Custom Views and the Edit Custom
View Dialogue. It is recommended that you be first familiar with the sections
of the manual relating to Custom View, prior to attempting module editing.
Custom Views consist of an arrangement of some number of Modules.
Changes to the Custom Views are cosmetic in nature. They do not affect the
sound of the mix, nor the functionality of MAX.
Individual modules may be pre-defined and taken from a library, or they may
be edited library modules, or they may be created from scratch, using the Edit
Module dialogue. Extensive editing of modules, and creation of new modules,
will affect the functionality of MAX, at least by making it easier or more
complicated to operate. 
ABOUTMODULES
MAX’s Custom View window allows the simultaneous display of up to 96
“modules”. These modules represent the automated mixing console’s
modules. 
The modules feature faders and knobs that move, and switches with LEDs that
turn on and off.
MAX has a library of modules that represent the modules found on the real,
hardware version of the DA7. 
MAX also allows a module’s appearance and function to be edited. Entirely
new modules may be designed by the user. These modules can be designed
to represent automated or non-automated modules, as described below. 
						

							Automated Custom Modules
Modules may also be designed by the user to make a particular mix session
easier to manage.
For example, suppose the current mix session involves mixing audio channels
using a fader, a pan knob, and only two Aux sends. A custom module may be
designed that features only these controls, and not the others. A whole row of
these custom modules may be displayed. That way MAX lets you see only the
information you want, without having to look at every control all the time,
making it much easier to concentrate on the mix.
Non-Automated Modules
Even within the most sophisticated mixing consoles, there may still be some
sections that are not automated. For example, the input gain knob.
MAX allows you to create modules that resemble the look of non automated
sections of the mixer.
Once the module is placed in a Custom View, knob and fader positions can
be set with the mouse.
This allows an engineer to save a picture of the settings related to a particular
session, facilitating set up before a re mix. 
This feature is known “recall” on many automation systems.
Automated Virtual Modules
In addition to automating a digital mixing console, MAX can also automate
additional equipment, using MIDI. For example, MAX can automate signal
processors, tone modules, samplers, external MIDI-controlled mixers, or
digital audio workstations.
You can design virtual MIDI modules, which are controlled by the faders on
your digital mixing console. MIDI fader moves can be recorded, edited, and
played back. MIDI faders can automatically move on screen independently of
the audio level faders that are controlling your mix.
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							ABOUT THEEDITMODULEDIALOGUE
The Edit Module Dialogue box is used to create a new module, or edit an
existing module.
To open the dialogue box, select Module from the Edit Menu.
To create a new module, select New Module from the Module: menu within
the dialogue box.
Shortcut:
In the Custom View, notice that each module has a small triangle in the
lower right corner. Clicking here opens a pop up menu for selecting
channel number, module type, etc. Click on the small triangle to reveal
the menu, and drag down to select Module. Then drag to select New
Module from the sub menu. You will be prompted to give the new
module a name. The default name is “Untitled Module.” Click OK to
open the Edit Module dialogue box. 
To edit an existing module, select the module from the Module: menu within
the dialogue box. Then select Duplicate from the Module: menu.
Shortcut:
In the Custom View, to edit an existing module, simply option-click on
any fader, knob, switch, or label. You will be prompted to give the new
module a name. The default name will be the same as the original name,
plus the word “Copy”. Click OK to open the Edit Module dialogue box. 
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MAX Edit Module Dialogue