Panasonic Ramsa Audio Mixer Wr Da7 Users Guide

							Functionality
Lets take a moment to preview some of the main features and benefits of the
DA7.
The Fader Layercontrols permits you to mix and monitor the 32 inputs, the
6 aux sends and the 6 aux returns, the 8 buses, and the unique
CUSTOM/MIDIlayer. By not tying up input channels for outboard effects the
6 dedicated aux return faders provide extra inputs, for a total of 38 audio
inputs. 
The DA7is digitally controlled which allows you to automate all your mixer
functions, from mixing and MIDI parameters, to dynamics and effects.
Multiple LEDs provide instantaneous display of channel/bus/aux assignments,
as well as automation recording status.
The DA7comes with internal memory to store fifty EQ libraries, fifty
Dynamics libraries, fifty Channel libraries, plus fifty different scene memories.
Using optional software, you can store these memories in a computer and
save an unlimited number of these memories.
5.1 surround sound mixing is built into the DA7with multiple methods of
surround sound panning available on each channel.
Option cards expand the capabilities of the DA7. For example, the ability to
synchronize to videotape, using the SMPTE interface option card, makes it
easy to score or sweeten for film or television. There are other options that
expand the capabilities of the DA7, including a Meter Bridge, Mixing
Automation eXpansion software (MAX, for both Windows and Mac) and a
Tandem card that connects two DA7stogether.
Audio Input/Output option interface cards can be mixed and matched for a
particular project. You can have any type of audio option card installed and
transfer from one format to another without the need of outboard devices.
For instance, you could have an ADAT card and an AES/EBU card and transfer
from your Digital Audio Workstation to your ADAT, or vice versa.
There are four audio Input/Output option cards available:  ADAT, TDIF,
AES/EBU - S/PDIF and an Analog card.  Any audio card works in any slot.Chapter 1 
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							Simplicity
The DA7 is simple to operate, so you will spend less time as an engineer and
more time as an artist. Engineered for ease of use, the Human-Machine
Interface (HMI) provides a variety of ways to access and assign the channel
parameters for your sources. Every channel parameter is displayed on the
320 x 240 backlit LCD screen, providing a quick visual reference of every
aspect of the mixer setup.
To view the status of the console on a larger screen, use the optional
software package. This software allows you to create custom views of the
DA7and control the DA7from your computer. It acts as a library program
for backing up data from the DA7libraries, and expands the capabilities of
the automation system of the console. See your dealer for more details.
MIDI devices and MIDI remote control for peripheral gear can be controlled
from the DA7.
The Future is Now
The DA7 is ready for computer-controlled digital mixing right out of the box.
Connect it, and start recording. Everyone, from home musician to
professional artists and producers, can now operate in the “Digital Domain”
and create multi-track masterpieces using the DA7.Chapter 1 
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							1-2 About This Manual
Document Notes
The first three chapters of the DA7 Users’ Guide provide an introduction to
the system and basic information for the system.
Chapter 1, Introduction 
• general information about the Users’ Guideand the system used to
produce the document
• typical installation and usage scenarios for the DA7
Chapter 2, DA7 Tour 
• Top Panel overview and a literal look at the Rear Panel connections 
setup
• illustrations that are referenced throughout the following chapters of 
the Users’ Guide
Chapter 3, Quick Start 
• modules designed to familiarize you with a basic understanding of 
the features incorporated in the DA7mixer
Chapters 4-16 each discuss a primary function of the DA7. The information
follows a basic operational sequence. Some of the chapters will be divided
into sections which discuss specific capabilities and/or functions of the
chapter subject.
The sections in Chapter 17, Optionsdescribe various system configurations.
The Appendices provide general information groups and detail the mixer’s
technical specifications.
A Glossary providing definitions for information associated with the DA7
precedes the index for this document.Chapter 1 
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Symbols and Conventions Used in this Guide
The DA7 Users’ Guideuses the icons and conventions listed below.
Whenever possible, the way something appears in the Users’ Guideis as it
appears on the DA7.
Numbers in a triangle indicate a sequential step in a process.
Numbers in a circle indicate a list.
Square bullets indicate alternative ways to perform similar tasks
or actions.
Round bullets indicate items or elements in a group.
Text written in bold letters indicates the name of a knob, fader,
button, or element on the Top Panel or the Rear Panel of the
mixer. When panel labeling incorporates a background, the text
will appear on a medium gray background.
Bold upper-case text contained in square brackets indicates the
name of a window or a window area in the LCD.
Color terms presented in italics and parentheses denotes the
literal color of an LED button for a particular action or
condition.
In this document, cursoris used as both a noun and a verb. “Use
the ARROWbuttons to move the cursor”, or “Cursorto the OFF
button”.
Text presented on a black background or contained in a border
indicates buttons or elements that perform a function and
appear in the LCD.
This warning symbol alerts you to an action you may want to
avoid or, at least, seriously contemplate before executing.
This tip symbol indicates an important fact, procedure, and/or
other beneficial information for the mixer operation or
performance.
[STEREO]
(color)
cursor
PSTPRE
n
l
GAIN
SUB
1
1 
						

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The term “area” refers to a window region in the LCD of the Display Bridge
of the mixer.
The term “section” refers to a region on either the Top Panel or the Rear
Panel of the mixer.
The term “soft knob” refers to a knob control in a window area in the LCD. 
						

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1-3 Making the DA7 Work For You
Although the DA7has some analog inputs, it should really be thought of as a
digital mixer. Like most equipment, the DA7comes set with factory defaults,
some of which may or may not provide the kind of operational preferences
you would like. Please refer to Appendix D, Default Settings for a complete
listing of these presets. You can’t change the factory default presets, but
when you have created mixer settings that you like, they can be saved by
making a snapshot of the setup and recording it in SCENE MEMORY. See
Chapter 15, Scene Memoryfor more information.
As with any new piece of equipment, it may take you a little time to figure it
out.  Here are a few things you WILL need to know about the DA7. Please
take a few minutes now to read them. It could save you time in the long run.
BULK BACKUP
One of the first things to think about is saving data. If you’ve already started
using the DA7straight out of the box for a major recording session, all of the
mixer data for your new million selling CD stored in the DA7 memory, BACK
IT UP!
The [MIDI>BULK]window can be accessed by pressing the MIDI button on
the Top Panel. In the [MIDI>BULK]window, you’ll find the [BULK I/O DATA
SELECT]area. All of the information recorded in the system can be sent en
masse to a Mac or IBM compatible computer. See Chapter 11, MIDI, page
11-2, for setting up the serial port output to a personal computer. Some
previous background knowledge of MIDI and a personal computer would be
helpful here. There is software on the market that readily captures bulk
dump information. If you have questions, either visit a local music retailer, or
visit one of a number of Web sites on the Internet for information.
MIDI>BULK Window 
						

							MASTER RESET
If you’ve already pushed as many buttons as possible after powering up the
DA7 to see what it could do, or if you have accidentally changed any of the
factory presets and cannot figure out what you have done, you need to know
about the master reset command.
To reset the DA7, turn the power off, and then simultaneously press and
hold the METERand CHANNELbuttons in the MASTER DISPLAYsection
of the Top Panel. While pressing these two buttons, turn the power on. Hold
the buttons down until the Channel window is displayed. Doing this will
reset the DA7 to the factory presets.
Also, there are a few windows on the LCD screen that you should acquaint
yourself with, that contain most of the information you need to know about
the current status of your mixer.
They are the [UTILITY>CONFIG], [SOLO/MON], [D-I/O>INPUT SET]and
[MIDI>BULK]windows. Pressing the relevant Top Panel buttons for these
features will display the windows in the LCD. Once you are in any window,
you will find the window group selection buttons on the bottom of the
screen. These buttons show all the windows within the window group. The
window group you are in is indicated on the top line of the [taskbar]. See
Chapter 2, page2-20for information on the LCD screen. Cursorto the
bottom of the current window, choose a window selection button, and press
the ENTERbutton to bring that window into the LCD. You can also access
the selections by pressing the Top Panel button again to toggle through the
selections.Chapter 1 
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METER
button
CHANNEL
button
MASTER DISPLAY Section 
						

							CONFIGURATION
The [UTILITY>CONFIG]window can be accessed by pressing the UTILITY
button on the Top Panel. This is where the [CONFIGURATION]selections
are located. One of the features here is [AUTO CHANNEL SELECT]. When
active, every time a fader is moved or a SELECT button is engaged, whatever
window you are in will change to the [CHANNEL]window for that selected
channel. If you are trying to set up parameters on different Channel Strips,
it could get frustrating to have to go back and forth between windows. To
render this feature inactive, make sure that the button is in the  mode.
OFF is the factory preset.
Another [CONFIGURATION] selection is [AUTO DISPLAY CHANGE].
When  , whenever a parameter adjustment is made from the Top Panel,
the LCD will change to that parameter window. If you tweek an EQUALIZER,
DYNAMICS/DELAYor PAN knob on the Top Panel, but want to stay in the
[CHANNEL] window, for example, make sure that the [AUTO DISPLAY
CHANGE]selection is  . OFF is the factory preset.
Other items in the [CONFIGURATION] area are the [DYN RANGE DBFS]
and [MOTOR FADER]buttons, which are set to  as part of the DA7’s
system default.
For more information, see Chapter 16, Utility and Solo Monitor, page 16-
9. Also, see Appendix Dfor a listing of all the factory default conditions.
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
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UTILITY>CONFIG Window 
						

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MONITOR SETUP
To customize the monitor setup of the DA7, access the [SOLO/MON]window
by pressing the SOLO MONITOR button on the Top Panel. 
The [MON A]area function mutes the MONITOR Aspeakers 20dB. When
selected, the  button will appear in inverse video, and the speakers will
remain dimmed until the  button is deactivated. The  function can
be accessed from the Top Panel by pressing the MMC/CURSORbutton and
SOLO MONITORbutton simultaneously.
SOLOis set to [IN PLACE]and [SOLO]in the factory default. This allows
you to only SOLOone channel at a time, post-fader and post-pan. In a mix
situation you may want the [SOLO MONITOR][POSITION]area set to [IN
PLACE], which is post-fader and post-pan, and the [SOLO MONITOR]
[MODE]area set to [MIX], which allows multiple channels to be solo’d.
SOLO MUTEreturns the monitor to normal, but leaves the selections of
solo’d channels intact. When SOLO MUTEis cleared, monitoring returns to
the previously selected SOLOchannels.
The [SURROUND MONITOR]area mode selection is important too. When
the [SURROUND MONITOR]is in the [AUX]mode, it will send the
surround bus 1 and 2 signals through MONITOR A L/R, while aux sends 3
through 6 route the surround bus 3 through 6 signals. In the [MON]mode,
the surround signal path uses the MONITOR A L/R, MONITOR B L/R, and
MASTER L/Routputs. If the [MON]mode is active, when trying to listen to
another source in the system that is not assigned to the [SURROUND
MONITOR], you will find nothing coming out of the monitor speakers. The
same condition could occur by selecting [SURR]for a channel in the
[CHANNEL] window [ASSIGN] area.
UTILITY>SOLO/MON Window 
						

							For more information on these windows, see Chapter 16, Utility and Solo
Monitor, page 16-2. To find out about the 5.1 surround sound monitor
output, see page 16-3, and for more on the DA7s’surround sound features,
see Chapter 8, Pan/Assign, Surround, Bus Assign.
D-I/O INTERFACING
With all the different devices on the market these days, getting all that gear to
speak to one another can be quite a challenge. The DA7system wordclock is
factory set to [INT 48K], with the option of setting it to [INT 44.1K] or to
external. All digital devices attached to the DA7must be set to the same
wordclock sampling rate in order to operate properly. If  the audio you are
hearing does not sound right, first check to see if you are operating every
device connected to the DA7at the same sample rate.
Find the sample rate the devices all have in common and set the DA7to that
rate, be it 44.1, 48K or another acceptable sample rate frequency. To set the
DA7s’wordclock reference, press the D-I/Obutton on the Top Panel to
display the [D-I/O>INPUT SET]window. 
When using the DA7 as the master wordclock, there are two buttons in the
[SOURCE SELECT]area for setting the sample frequency, [INT 44.1K]and
[INT 48K]. Cursor to the sample frequency that is common to your devices
and press the ENTER button on the Top Panel to engage the appropriate
sample frequency.Chapter 1 
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D-I/O INPUT SET Window