Panasonic Mixing Automation Expansion Software Users Guide

							5
Chapter  2 
CONNECTING THESYSTEM
MIXER ANDCOMPUTERCOMMUNICATIONHOOKUP
If you are connecting one DA7 to your Macintosh computer, you will need a
cable (which is not provided) that connects the DA7s TO PC port connector
to your Macintoshs Modem port.
If you are connecting two Panasonic DA7s, connect the first mixer as
described above, and the second mixers TO PC port to the Macintoshs
Printer port.
MAX Software communicates with the mixer at a very high data speed, (also
referred to as Baud Rate) using MIDI protocol.  Because Max uses this high
MIDI rate, you cannot use standard MIDI at the same time on the DA7 mixer.
SERIAL PORTTO PCRS422 / 485
110
OFF   ON
SERIAL PORTTO PCRS422 / 485
110
OFF   ON
WR-DA7 (Master) Rear Panel Macintosh
MODEM PortPrinter Port
WR-DA7 (Slave) Rear PanelPrinter Cable
2x Mini DIN 8 Male, Cross-type
Printer Cable
2x Mini DIN 8 Male, Cross-type
SERIAL PORTTO PCRS422 / 485
110
OFF   ON
WR-DA7 Rear Panel Macintosh
MODEM Port
Printer Cable
2x Mini DIN 8 Male, Cross-type 
						

							TIME-CODESYNCHOOKUP
The MAX System is SMPTE Time Code-driven. This means that it requires
SMPTE time code in the form of a longitudinal time code source. If your
system does not use SMPTE time code, or you would prefer to use MIDI time
code (MTC), skip down to the section on Using MTC.
The DA7 has an optional SMPTE time code reader available.  If you did not
purchase this option with your mixer, contact your DA7 dealer. 
The cable carrying the SMPTE time code signal from the device that you will
syncing to will connect directly to the SMPTE Input on the optional SMPTE /
V-SYNC card.
The SMPTE time code can come from one of several possible sources:
One track of your tape source may be pre-striped with SMPTE.
Most modern modular digital multitrack tape machines and certain hard disk
recorders can also generate SMPTE from a “sub code” track.
If two mixers are connected, send the time code into the mixer which is
connected to the Macintosh’s Printer port.
Using MTC
If OMS is installed, MAX can also sync to MIDI Time Code (MTC.) This can be
selected in the Port Setup Preferences.
MIDI HOOKUP
The MAX Software allows the mixer console to be a MIDI Controller.
MAX also features a built-in MIDI Machine Control locator.
To use this feature, connect a Macintosh MIDI Interface to the available serial
port on the Macintosh.
For example, if the mixer is connected to the Macintosh Modem Port, then
connect the MIDI Interface to the Macintosh’s Printer Port.
If you are connecting only one mixer, use the other available port for the
MIDI interface. 
Remember, you CANNOT use the DA7 MIDI port for this purpose because it
is being utilized for MAX.
6
Connecting the System  
						

							7
Connecting the System 
If you are connecting two mixers, see next page, System Connection
Examples, for Tandem Operation.
SYSTEMCONNECTIONEXAMPLES
MIDI
  INMIDI IN
MIDI OUT
MIDI
  OUT
DA-98
TDIF
WR-DA7INPUT 1-16
R
SR
Mic
Sampler
Keyboard
SP
MONITOR 
A
AES/EBU
SP
Power
AMP
REC
OUT
2TR
A IN
DAT
AB
To PC MODEM Port
Expansion
Software
        (Mac)
WCK MASTER
SLOT 1
(17-24ch)TDIF-1TDIF-1
PW-88DL
TO PCRS422 / 485
110
OFF   ON
MIDI Interface
SERIAL PORT
WR-DA7 Rear Panel
MODEM Port Printer PortMacintosh
For Single DA7 
						

							8
Connecting the System 
WR-DA7
MIDI
  IN MIDI
OUT
TANDMSYNC OUTSLOT 1
(17-24ch)
(MASTER) SLOT 2
(25-32ch)
INPUT 1-16WORD CLOCK
OUT (75½=ON) To PC
WORD
CLOCK 
IN
 (75½=ON)
To PC
WR-DA7
IN
SLOT 1
(17-24ch)
(SLAVE) SLOT 2
(25-32ch)
INPUT 1-16TANDM
WCK MASTERTDIF
DA-98TDIF
DA-38
IN SYNC OUT
TDIF
TDIFIN
SYNC 
OUT
R
SR
Mic
Sampler
Keyboard
R
SR
MicSampler
Keyboard
DA-98 ID3
DA-38
DA-38
SP
MONITOR 
AAES/EBU
SP
Power
AMP
REC
OUT
2TR
A IN
DAT
AB
MIDI OUT MIDI IN PORT 2
IN/OUTPORT 3
IN/OUT
MIDI
  INMIDI
OUT
OUT PORT 1 IN
Printer Port Modem Port
Expansion
Software
        (Mac)
MIDI
Timepiece
SLOT 3
SLOT 3
TDIF-1
TDIF-1
TDIF-1
TDIF-1 PW-88DL
PW-88DL
PW-88DL
PW-88DL PW-
88S
PW-88S
PW-88S(MASTER)
(SLAVE)
For Tandem Operation 
						

							9
Connecting the System 
SETTING UP THESYSTEM
Mixer Setup
The DA7 communicates with MAX via the mixer’s “TO PC” port, using a
special high-speed protocol. To enable this communication, it is essential
that several things be setup correctly in the mixer’s MIDI Setup Screen.
• Press the MIDI Button on mixer until the Setup Screen is displayed.
• Set Port Select to “TO PC”.
• Set Gen RX and Gen TX to “TO PC”.
• Enable TX and RX for PRG CHG, CTRL CHG, and SYSTEM EX.
• Set Other CMD to  for Single DA7. When used in TANDEM 
operation, set to  for Master and to  for Slave DA7.
• Enable NRPN.
• Set MTC to MIDI.
• Set the Mixer’s BAUD RATE to 125K.
• To receive time code at the mixer, connect a source of SMPTE (on the 
optional SMPTE / V-SYNC board) or MTC into the mixers MIDI In. 
• Go to the Automation Setup Screen and select SMPTE or MTC as the time 
base. 
Launching Software to Verify Connections
• Turn on the Macintosh first. 
• Before launching the MAX software, be sure the mixer is turned on. 
• Launch the software by double-clicking on the MAX icon.
• Moving a fader on the mixer should cause a fader to move on the computer
monitor.
• Moving a fader with the mouse should cause a fader to move on the mixer.
For TANDEM Operation, set the
Other CMD fields as shown below.
F
ORMASETERDA7
F
ORSLAVEDA7 
						

							SETTING THECOMMUNICATIONSPEED
The MAX software communicates with the Panasonic WR-DA7 Digital Mixer at
one of two rates; 62.5K and 125K.
To change the communication speed, select Preferences from the Edit menu.
Click on the Port Setup tab. This accesses the Communication Speed setting.
Notes:
• After changing the Communication Speed, you will need to close the
MAX software once and then restart it for some types of computers.
• When connecting with the computer, the DA7 mixer will not perform
one of functions, Auto Channel Selection assigned in the Utility
Configuration Window.
REQUIREDSETUP FORTWOMIXERS
If you are automating two Panasonic WR-DA7 Digital Mixers using MAX:
First connect the two mixers and install the software according to the
instructions in the previous chapters.
After launching the software, select Preferences from the Edit menu. Under
General Preferences, look at the setting
“Number of consoles”.
Check whether one or two mixers are connected to the Macintosh serial
ports. 
Be sure to check two when two mixers are connected.
10
Connecting the System  
						

							11
Chapter  3
MAX CONTROLBAR
Common to all three main windows is the Control Bar. 
It appears at the top of the Custom Views, the Cue List, and the Graphic View. 
The Control Bar displays some frequently used buttons, controls and displays.
Auto
Turns on Auto Punch In.
Click to turn on, (the button is yellow when on).
Auto Punch in means that a selected fader in Write mode will not actually start
writing new moves until you physically moves the fader knob (up or down)
until the fader position matches the current level, called the Null point.
Touch
Turns on SoftTouch.
Click to turn on, (the button is yellow when on).
SoftTouch means that a fader will automatically become selected when you
physically moves the fader knob. It is not necessary to press a Select button.
When the fader is selected, it switches to the current Edit Mode. In other
words, if the fader is currently in Read mode, and the Edit Mode menu is set
to Write, moving a fader will automatically switch the fader from Read into
Write mode.
Mark
Click to create a Marker.
If time code is running at the time, an untitled text Marker is inserted into the
mix when you click. (It can be edited later, by renaming it, moving it, or
turning it into another kind of automation event such as a snapshot.) 
If time code is not running, the Create Marker dialogue appears, allowing you
to create a marker and specify a name and a time. Markers can be viewed in
the Cue List and Graphic Editing windows. 
						

							Solo Pre
Lights to indicate a channel is soloed. 
Click to select Solo PFL, AFL, or Solo In Place.
Back Up
Click to turn on automatic Back Up feature. 
Back Up automatically saves the mix to disk every time that time code is
stopped, (if a change has been made). 
Mixes are automatically re-named with an upcounting extension number, for
example, mix.1, mix.2, mix.3, etc.
WWW
This button is a shortcut to launch your web browser. The first time you click
it a dialogue box opens to allow you to select your web browser.  This is
useful to go to our web page to check for updates, operating tips, contacting
technical support and other helpful information.
Locate
Sends an MMC Locate command to machines that respond to MMC. The
Locate Time is entered in the Locate Time field to the left of the Locate
button.
Alternately, a Locate time can be selected from the Locate Snapshots and
Markers Menu, which automatically lists all the snapshots and markers within
the mix.
Locates can be automatically adjusted with a Pre Roll time specified by you in
the Machine Control Preferences.
A. Play
When turned on, causes machines controlled by MIDI Machine Control to
automatically go into play after they have arrived at a locate point.
(Important: For MMC autolocation to work correctly, both the MIDI In and
the MIDI Out of the machine must be connected to your Macintosh MIDI
interface. Remember, your DA7 MIDI interface is in use by MAX, so it is
inoperative for this purpose.)
Locate Time Field
Enter a locate time here. It is sent via MIDI Machine Control the next time
your click on Locate.
12
MAX Control Bar 
						

							13
MAX Control Bar
Locate (Snapshots and Markers) Menu
Allows you to quickly locate and initiate playback from specific points within
the mix. This pop up menu contains a list of all the snapshots and markers in
the current mix.
Selecting a snapshot or marker from this menu causes its time to appear in
the Locate Point field.
Click on the Locate button to send the locate.
Transports
MIDI Machine Control Rewind, Fast Forward, Stop, Play, and Record.
Click on the Transport Buttons send MMC to a connected MIDI interface. 
Overwrite...
Opens the Overwrite dialogue box. This dialogue box is similar to the mixer’s
Automation Setup Overwrite section. It allows you to select which parameters
within the mixer can be edited in real time during the next automation pass.
When Trim has been selected in the Real Time Edit Mode menu (below), only
Faders and Channel Ons can be selected in the Overwrite dialogue box. The
other parameters are dimmed.
Real Time Edit Mode
Select the Edit Mode, either Write, Trim, Read, Manual.
An Edit Mode is chosen prior to selecting individual channels for editing.
Selected channels switch from their current mode (usually Read) into the Edit
Mode.
Memory Meters 
The top Memory Meter is called “Total Memory Used”. It shows how much of
the application’s available memory is being used by the open mixes, undo
buffers, and the clipboard.
The bottom Memory Meter is called “Memory This Mix”. 
It shows how much of the available memory is being used by the currently
active mix, the mix in the front most window. 
						

							SMPTE Time Code Display
Displays currently received time code in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames.
When time code reception stops, the SMPTE Time Code display holds the
value of the last time code received, in dim numbers.
T. C .
Click to turn on. Button is yellow when on.
Enables Time Code reception. Time code reception must be turned on for an
automated mix to play back. Turn time code reception off when you do not
want incoming time code to cause a mix to play back.
Frame Rate
Displays the frame rate of the currently received time code.
It is important to manually set the frame rate. Select Preferences in the Edit
Menu to open the Preferences dialogue box. Click to select the Time Code
tab. Click to select the frame rate that you are using for the current project.
If you select an incorrect time code (or one that doesnt match the incoming
time code), MAX may not function properly.  This could result in automated
moves occurring at the wrong time, or even the loss of data.  Please check this
setting before each new mix.
14
MAX Control Bar