Panasonic Mixing Automation Expansion Software Users Guide

							Snap Back prevents this from occurring by automatically inserting a fader
move event at the end of the pass. 
Suppose that Snap Back is checked (on). 
Now we will clear memory, and make the first fader move again. Refer to the
figure.
This time, when the tape is stopped, a fader move event is taken. 
Once again, we write a different fader move on the same channel, and stop
the tape.
Now, because there is a fader move event in memory from the previous pass,
the original level (around +5) is restored at 5 seconds. 
The fader level “Snaps Back” to the position that it had at the frame where the
previous pass ended.
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MAX Real Time Operation 
						

							SOLOMODE
MAX’s Solo mode allows you to hear selected tracks in isolation from the
other tracks. 
MAX’s Solo mode is “destructive” to the mix but “non-destructive” to the mix
file. 
That is to say, when a track is soloed, all other tracks are turned off. The
channel offs, however, are not written into memory, nor are they displayed. 
Thus Solo is used while building a mix, but not used during mix down.
To Solo Tracks
First, to select channels you wish to make soloed, press
SOLO LED button(s) on the DA7 panel, or click SOLO
button(s) on the MAXs window. 
Then, use the SEL to solo the track or tracks.
The word “Solo” and a green “LED” will appear on the fader
knob of every channel in solo. 
All other channels are audibly turned off, though the
channel offs are not displayed on the software, nor are they
written into memory.
This allows you to write fader moves on one or a few
channels, without having to listen to the remaining
channels. 
Unsolo All
Clicking on the SOLO LED when lit will turn off any solos
one by one. Unsolo All command allows you to turn all
soloed channels off at once.
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MAX Real Time Operation
Solo Button 
						

							Solo Groups
Whenever a SoftGroup master is put into solo mode, the members of the
group are also put into solo. When the master is unsoloed, the members are
unsoloed too.
Solo Safe Mode
When you Solo a channel, any number of “Solo Safe” channels will also go
into solo at the same time automatically. When the channel is un-soloed, the
Solo Safe channels will also un-solo.
This is used, for example, when you want to solo a vocal and want the effects
return channels to also solo at the same time. By setting the effects returns to
Solo Safe, the vocal will never be soloed dry because the effects will
automatically solo at the same time that the vocal is soloed.
To Solo Safe a channel, click on the Selection menu (the small triangle in the
lower right corner of any module in the Custom View). Solo Safe is selected
when Solo Safe is checked. Repeat clicking on the “SOLO PFL” button in the
Control Bar until it turns to “SOLO IP (in place).
You can temporarily disable solo safe. If the first channel put into Solo is itself
a Solo Safe channel, Solo Safe is disabled. Only that one channel will go into
solo. Other channels may then be soloed individually. This allows you to, for
example, solo an effects return without having to listen to the vocal being
sent to the effect.
Solo Safe applies to individual channels only. You cannot “Solo Safe” a MIDI
Fader, SoftGroup, or Grand Master Fader. Solo Safe is dimmed as a menu
selection if the fader is not a Channel fader.
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MAX Real Time Operation
CAPTURINGMARKERSINREALTIME
Most of the information in this manual up to this point has related to mixing
in Real Time, that is, moving faders while time code is being received by MAX.
Later in the manual, 
MAX’s Cue List and Off Line editing will be introduced.
MAX’s Markers serve as not only a powerful production tool, but also may be
considered an important link between the concepts of Real Time and Off Line
mixing.
Simply put, a Marker is a location point with text (words) that is inserted into
the mix. Markers do not change the way the mix sounds or plays back.
Markers are rather like chapter headings, and are invaluable during Cue List
mix editing to help you navigate through the Cue List. The Markers make the
Cue List easier to comprehend, transforming a list of raw “data” into
meaningful information about the mix.
In the Custom View window, if time code is being received, click the MARK
button at any time to capture a Marker.
Markers may also be captured by typing Command ;
If time code is not being received, clicking on the MARK button (or typing
Command ;) opens the Create Marker dialogue. With the dialogue open, you
can type in any text you want and also specify the time that you want it to
appear at in the Cue List. 
						

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MAX Real Time Operation
The Marker is automatically added to the Locate Markers and Snapshots
menu. It can be quickly selected from the menu, and used as a MIDI Machine
Control Locate point.
When a Marker is captured in real time, the word “Marker” will appear in the
Locate menu (and in the Cue List), along with the exact SMPTE time code
corresponding to when you clicked MARK.
You can later change the word “Marker” to any other text, such as “First
Verse” or “Second Chorus” or “Scene Change”.
Markers may be used as notes to remind you of important edits that may need
to be made to the mix later, such as, “Vocal Overdub Needs Pitch Shift Here”,
or, “Scene Changes to Train Station, remember to insert a Program Change to
the digital delay unit which is inserted on the dialogue tracks. Which Effect
sounds best?”
Thus you have a means of marking all the important sections or transitions
that occur within the mix. This can be used to assist in Cue List editing. These
Markers can also simply be printed out (by selecting Print when the Cue List
window is opened), and used as a permanent record of the mix or as a
reference for program material editing.
Markers may later have their text added to or edited by the Edit Marker
dialogue. To edit a Marker in the Cue List, double click on it to open the Edit
Marker dialogue. 
You may edit the Markers text, or you may convert the Marker into some
other kind of automation event, either a Snapshot, Fader move, Channel
On/Off, or MIDI Event. This procedure will be described in more detail in this
manual in the sections on Cue List editing. 
						

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Chapter  7
SOFTGROUPS™
MAX “SoftGroups” feature allows any fader to be a group master. 
This immediately expands the power and flexibility of the mixer, by providing
an additional 15 groups. 
For example, moving fader 2 could simultaneously control the level of
channels 2, 4, 5, 6, 19, etc. Group member channels will also follow the
group master’s status, if Channel On/Offs, Solo and Panning are changed.
SoftGroups are assigned bydouble-clicking on the fader that you want to
be the master.
Then single click on the faders that you want to assign to the SoftGroup. 
Then press Return or Enter.
Channels assigned to SoftGroups are color-coded for easy recognition.
When a SoftGroup (or the mixer’s Stereo Master fader) is moved, you can
chose whether the group members also move along with the master. 
To make the SoftGroup members move along with the master, check “Group
Members Move with Master” in the Real Time menu.
Notes: 
• Make sure to include both channels, when you assign Stereo channels into a
SoftGroup.
• Stereo Linking should be performed on the MAX window, not on the DA7
mixer window, for Stereo Link channels in a SoftGroup. 
• For a group master, channels assigned to Stereo or Link can not be selected. 
						

							EXAMPLE OF ASOFTGROUPASSIGNMENT
Suppose that you have percussion recorded on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, with
an overdub on track 15. Say that you want fader 15 to control all the
percussion tracks.
(a) Double-click on fader 15. The fader’s outline flashes.
(b)Single-click on faders 1 through 4, and 7.
(c) Press Return. 
Notice the colored group indicators, G-15, above the channels assigned to
SoftGroup 15. 
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Soft Groups 
						

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Soft Groups
RE-ARRANGINGSOFTGROUPS IN THECUSTOMVIEW
In the Custom View, faders may be re-arranged in any order. You may create a
screen which displays a SoftGroup master along with all the faders that are a
part of the group.
By clicking on the Selection menu in the lower right corner of the module,
the pop up menu allows you to change the fader channel number. If any
SoftGroups have been created, they appear in a sub menu.
Here is an example, using the same SoftGroup assignments shown in the
previous example.
First change the Custom View to a higher screen number, using the Mac’s up
arrow key, until you reach a blank screen.
Click in the lower right of any blank module.
Select Fader Module from the sub menu.
Select G 15 from the sub menu.
Then click on an adjacent Section menu in an adjacent module.
Select Fader Module.
Select channel 7.
Repeat the process for channels 1 through 4.
MAX provides the ability to see these alternative views of the mix, so that at
any given time you are only looking at the information you want to look at,
relevant to what you are working on. 
						

							REMOVINGSOFTGROUPASSIGNMENTS
Removing a SoftGroup
Double click on the master fader for the channel that you want to un-assign. 
Press the Delete key on the Macintosh keyboard to remove the assignment.
Removing members from a SoftGroup
Double click on the master fader. 
Click on the members fader that you want to remove from the assignments.
IMPORTANTNOTESABOUTSOFTGROUPS
Keep in mind that if a SoftGroup fader is at its minimum position, then the
level of any channels that are members of the group will also be at minimum.
When a fader is turned into a SoftGroup Master, 
that fader is automatically part of the group.
In other words, suppose you make channel 2 a SoftGroup master, and assign
channel 1 to be part of the group. Moving fader 2 will control both 1 and 2. 
The master, 2, is part of the group.
When a fader is turned into a SoftGroup Master, 
the moves previously made on that fader are preserved.
In other words, say that you wrote a fade-in on fader 2. 
Then you turn fader 2 into a SoftGroup Master. 
When the mix is playing back, the fade-in will still occur, and it will affect
channel 2 only. But any other moves written on SoftGroup Master 2 will affect
the overall level of channel 2 and any other faders assigned to the group.
When a fader is turned into a SoftGroup Master, the moves previously made
on that fader are displayed independently of the SoftGroup fader moves.
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Soft Groups 
						

							In the moves previously made on that fader are
displayed independently of the SoftGroup fader
moves.
In the Custom View, you may display and edit both the
SoftGroup Master fader and the Channel Fader.
Normally, Selecting a Fader with the SEL button
enables the individual channel only.
To make the select button enable the SoftGroup
master, select “Faders Control SoftGroups or MIDI” in
the Real Time Menu.
Shown here is an example of how you would write
moves to either the SoftGroup or Channel. 
These faders were arranged in the Custom View side
by side. 
In this example (remember that we were using 15 as a
SoftGroup), click on the Selection menu for Channel
16. Change Channel 16 into G15. That allows you to
view Channel 15 to the left of SoftGroup 15.
(Since you have removed Channel 16 from one screen
of the Custom View, you may want to go to place
Channel 16 on another screen of the Custom View.
Use the up arrow key to advance to a higher screen,
and place Channel 16 anywhere you want it.)
(1) Check “Faders Control SoftGroups or MIDI”.
Then use the SEL button to select the fader before
writing moves to SoftGroup 15. Fader moves made on
fader 15 will affect all channels that are members of the
group.
Note: Operating parameters on the DA7 other than
Faders or Channel On/Offs will not affect, when
checked.
(2) Un-check “Faders Control SoftGroups or MIDI”.
Then use the SEL button to select channel 15. 
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Soft Groups