Steinberg WK Audio ID Manual
Have a look at the manual Steinberg WK Audio ID Manual online for free. It’s possible to download the document as PDF or print. UserManuals.tech offer 523 Steinberg manuals and user’s guides for free. Share the user manual or guide on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
Hardware developed and manufactured by Osnabrücker Str.1 49328 MELLE-BUER Federal Republic of Germany Phone: + (0)5427-1691 FAX: + (0)5427-6416 Email: [email protected] ID Operation Manual by [email protected] Preface by Martin Stahl The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of WK-Audio and/or Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by WK-Audio and Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners. © WK-Audio 2004 All rights reserved.
: Safety First! Safety First! – 4 Packing List ❊ WK-Audio ID – Basic unit ❊ Mains cable ❊ USB standard cable ❊ Installer-CD-ROM, contents: • Nuendo version 2.1 • Driver installation software • WK-Audio ID Operation manual • ReadMe file System Requirements To be able to use your WK-Audio ID, you will need the following: ❊ PC with a processor that runs at 1.5 GHz or faster, a free USB port (type 1 or better) and at least 1 Gigabyte of free RAM space. ❊ Windows XP. ❊ Nuendo software version 2.1 or later. ❊ WK-Audio ID Driver software. Safety Warning N OTE : Mains electricity is dangerous and can kill. Within the WK-Audio ID, mains voltage is present. Do not remove any WK-Audio ID cover with mains connected! Check your mains wiring and earthing before your switch the WK-Audio ID on. The WK-Audio ID chassis is always connected to mains earth to ensure your safety. Do not remove the mains earth connection! Safety Precautions ❊ Make sure that the 230/115V switch on the ID rear panel is set correctly before you attach the power cable to an AC outlet! N OTE : The ID basic units with the serial numbers ID1-0310-04 to ID1-0310-20 and the optional Fader Modules with the serial numbers ID1 – 0312- 01E to ID1 – 0312- 04E as well as ID1 – 0310-02E to ID1 – 0310-05E are equipped with an internal 230/115V switch. If you have one of these units, you should definitely read the extra information that is supplied with these units. It explains the steps that are necessary to change the setting of this switch. ❊ Be sure that the ID mains connection cable is only routed in a way that nobody can walk on or trip over it, thereby accidentally cutting mains supply. ❊ If you use a mains extension cable, make sure that the overall power consumption of all connected devices does not exceed its maximum capacity. ❊ Before cleaning the WK-Audio ID, disconnect the mains connection. Do not use chemicals, solvents and abrasives for cleaning. Use a lint-free cloth and a soft brush. ❊ Prevent damage by avoiding exposure to fluids, dirt, dust heat and smoke. ❊ Prevent external objects from falling and liquids from spilling into the appliance. Objects could fall on parts that carry voltage (live parts) or cause a short circuit, which could lead to fire or electric shock. Liquids could lead to electric shock and damage the appliance. ❊ Do not open the appliance as this will expose parts that carry voltage. Do not attempt to service the appliance beyond what’s described in the operation manual. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel. ❊ The appliance should never be used near water or in moist places. ❊ The appliance should only be used with a stand that is recommended by the supplier. ❊ The appliance should not be exposed to room temperatures of less than 5°Celsius (41° Fahrenheit) or more than 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit) . Prevent ❊ Avoid large variations in temperature and dampness to prevent condensation which may short circuit the appliance. ❊ All electromechanical parts must be used in a proper fashion to ensure long-term trouble-free operation.
: Table of Contents Table of Contents – 6 Safety First! 3 Packing List 4 System Requirements 4 Safety Warning 4 Safety Precautions 4 Table of Contents 5 Foreword 7 Chapter Overview 7 Introduction 9 Chapter Overview 9 Welcome 10 ID Features 10 ID User Interface 11 Getting Started 13 Chapter Overview 13 Connecting the ID 14 The ID Driver Software 14 ID Driver Installation 14 Nuendo Settings 14 ID Control types 15 Motor Faders 15 Encoders with Key function 15 Square Function Buttons 15 Assigning User Functions 16 Round Function button 16 Potentiometers 16 Transport Controls 16 Trackball 16 ASCII Keyboard 16 Jog Wheel 16 The Edit Section 17 Chapter Overview 17 The ASCII Keyboard 18 ASCII Mode 18 Reverse Mode 19 Goto Mark Mode 19 Function buttons above the ASCII Keyboard 20 Window Function buttons 20 Grid Function buttons 20 Edit Function buttons 21 Global Function buttons 22 The Transport Controls 22 Locator/Preroll Displays 22 Function buttons in the Transport section 23 Preroll, Postroll, Punch & Locator Function Buttons 23 Cycle, Click, Edit Mode, Sync, Marker and other Function buttons 24 Timecode Display 24 The Jog Wheel 25 Jog Wheel Function buttons 25 The Fader Section 27 Chapter Overview 27 The Fader Bank 28 Fader Function buttons 28 Fader Deviation Indicators 28 Select & Flip buttons 28 Track name displays 28 The Encoders 29 General Functions 29 Scroll – Assigning Tracks/Channels 29 Bank Select – Assigning Track classes 30 The Expand function 30 The Channel Strip Section 31 Chapter Overview 31 The Basics 32 Local Assign 32 Multi Channel view 33 Single Channel View 34 Equalizer 34 Aux Assign 34 Channel Assign 35 Insert 1-8 35 Insert Assign 36 Assigning an Insert effect to a slot 36 Removing an Insert effect from a slot 36 Status Panning 37 VSTI 37 The General Functions Strip 39 Chapter Overview 39 Memory 40 VU/Select 40 Enc Sens 40 Parameter Bank 40 Double Digit Display 40 Select Dial 40 Bank Select 41 Scroll 41 Automation 42 The Monitoring Section 43 Chapter Overview 43 Solo 44 Master VU 44 Solo Dim 44 Talkback Dim 45 User Settings 45 Talk Button 45 Speaker Out Controls 45 Extern Return 45 Control Room Controls 46 Studios 1, 2, 3 46 Phones 47 Technical Specifications 49 Dimensions 50 Connections 50 Specifications 50
1 – 7 Chapter 1 Foreword Chapter Overview This chapter contains a foreword written by Martin Stahl, Steinberg’s Product Manager responsible for the WK-Audio ID.
Chapter 1: Foreword 1 – 8 When Steinberg introduced the first VST application, probably only few people may have realised the signifi- cance of the technology or would have foreseen its rapid market acceptance and high potential for further development. Only a few years ago, my own studio equipment con- sisted of an analog 24-track tape recorder, an analog mixing desk, many 19” rack effect devices and hard- ware synthesizers. Such a typical analog studio was expensive, it needed a lot of space and it was quite inflexible. I often wished that I had more than one unit of certain compressor device when I wanted to apply it to yet another important channel. Not to mention the desire for Total Recall, which really wasn’t up to much then. Nowadays, my studio has changed completely: it con- sists of a powerful PC as the command center, three space-saving 19" TFT flat screen monitors, a high qual- ity AD/DA converter and a surround speaker system. Today, we smile about having been limited to the tape recorder’s 24 tracks and using an additional compres- sor on track 57 is no problem anymore. All you have to do is open the necessary VST PlugIn a second time and there you have it. Presets that I have tailored to my needs and saved once make my life a lot easier and issues like Total Recall and complete automation have become commonplace. You simply press “Ctrl-S” on your computer keyboard and hundreds of instrument, mixer and VST PlugIn parameters are stored. Tape noise, loose cable contacts and crackling potentiome- ters are history – and development will of course not stop there. We believe that an increasing number of audio produc- tions will be created and mixed solely based on VST Workstations. There are already countless examples for this type of production. But has this development improved the sound of the final product? Then and now this still depends on the people who are involved in the production itself. A good song is still a good song and a good sound engineer will probably create a good mix – no matter which technology he or she uses. The result therefore always depends on who uses the respective technol- ogy. And this is where we get to the aspect that became our starting point for developing the WK-Audio ID. The development of integrated native Digital Audio Workstation systems (DAW) has fundamentally changed the way we use the tools in our studio today. Especially in mixing, many new possibilities have emerged. At the same time, some have also been lost. Full of fascination I looked at the beautiful graphic fre- quency response curve display visible in the EQ PlugIn. “That looks great, it will also sound great!” . Mesmer- ized I stared at the third decimal place in a text field that controlled the level of a fader. The new possibilities offered by the precise and graphi- cally appealing user interface on the screen captured my attention in such a way that a great deal of my con- centration was simply used up. Over and over I caught myself mixing according to the graphics on screen instead of trusting my ears. But how could I? It was virtually impossible to close my eyes and at the same time move the mouse cursor in a circle in order to control the replica of a frequency dial on the screen. A mouse simply doesn’t provide the same physical feedback as a dial. This becomes more evident when you try to set a high pass and a low pass filter simultaneously. It is simply impossible as there is only one mouse available. Now imagine you want to do that with your eyes closed… Here, the software world is clearly less user-friendly than the hardware world. Therefore, what was needed to rediscover mixing with your ears instead of with your eyes was a hardware tool that looks and feels like the good old analog mix- ing desk. This hardware solution would of course have to offer the possibility to use all those fantastic new functions that were not available on the old analog desk. It would thus have to be a custom-made Con- troller for digital VST-DAWs. In the past, a few attempts have been made to create such a device. But these DAW Controllers carried the burden of too many compromises – as many that it was always necessary to fall back on using the computer keyboard and the mouse. There again, a great deal of the attention that should have been focused on hearing was lost to concentrating on using the Controller. In addition, you could develop a postural damage because of the less than favourable ergonomic design of the workplace. Designing the WK-Audio ID started at this point. We wanted to develop a VST Controller that seamlessly combines the advantages of an analog mixing desk and the manifold innovations provided by the VST world, so that its user’s attention can be fully focused on what he or she hears during recording, editing or mixing. An Input Device that helps your creativity, that you like to touch and that is simply fun to use. This ambitious task was reached in a joint effort with WK-Audio, who devel- oped and built this Controller together with us. This fan- tastic co-operation has produced a unique and unparalleled production tool. The WK-Audio ID is unique because of its innovative combination of record- ing, editing and mixing features with a number of remarkable operational concepts like “Dial Editing”, “Reverse Operation”, “Expand” or “Push Hold Detec- tion”. But we have also thought of the future: VST software development progresses so fast that it was necessary to make the WK-Audio ID future-proof as an invest- ment. Therefore it has great reserves to grow further with future software development. We have developed a Controller concept that many of you have wanted. And here it is – the WK-Audio ID. Have fun reading this manual. Martin Stahl
2 – 9 Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter Overview This chapter contains the following information: ❊ A few introductory words. ❊ A list of WK-Audio ID’s basic features ❊ A short overview of the ID’s user interface sections with cross references to parts in this manual where you can find detailed information on the respective section.
Chapter 2: Introduction 2 – 10 Welcome Thank you for choosing the WK-Audio ID! This Digital Audio Workstation Controller is made of premium hardware components. It integrates perfectly with the Steinberg Nuendo software and lets you seamlessly control all major functions the software has to offer. It will help you focus your attention where it belongs: on the audio you are recording, editing or mixing. The basic unit alone features a large amount of direct hardware controls. You can step through and assign the available individual Nuendo channels or channel banks to the available hardware motor faders and Encoder dials. Using the optionally available Fader Modules, you can extend your direct control and access up to 120 channels at once. The WK-Audio ID adheres to the latest standards in hardware control surfaces. It also features many unique functions not to be found anywhere else. An Edit section with a jog dial, its built-in multifunctional ASCII keyboard, its direct PlugIn access and the advanced channel selection features really make the WK-Audio ID superior. Functions like Expand, Global Access and the reverse view intelligence will set new standards in terms of workflow and usability. The WK-Audio ID and Nuendo were developed in parallel always ensuring optimal cooperation between soft- and hardware. All controls on the hardware user interface have been put in their respective positions with an ergonomic benefit in mind. They were chosen to best reflect and/or give you better access to the existing Nuendo software features. We are sure that, once you have quickly mastered its handling, it will greatly enhance your workflow, thereby helping you to reduce cost and gain flexibility. We hope that you have fun using the WK-Audio ID! ID Features The basic WK-Audio ID version features: ❊ Direct and far-reaching control of the Nuendo audio recording software application from one central point. Functions that are not yet accessible as well as new software functions will be supported by future Nuendo versions. ❊ 24 channels in direct access, switchable. ❊ 40 rotary push/pull Encoders in the basic version. ❊ 12 control room potentiometers ❊ 380 backlit keys, framed (10.000.000 key cycles) ❊ More than 50 large displays for instant feedback. ❊ ASCII keyboard ❊ Trackball, protected against dust and water. ❊ Jog dial for easy editing. ❊ Channel Matrix. ❊ Direct PlugIn parameter access. Load, edit and apply VST instruments and effects directly from the Controller. ❊ Reverse intelligence – The keys on the ASCII keyboard can be used as On/Off switches for the last selected function type on up to 96 channels. ❊ Talkback microphone and headphone preamp. ❊ Digital control room remote ❊ 32 channel VU meter bridge (24 channel meters and 8 Master section meters) . Each meter has 30 segments. ❊ 1 USB connector per unit. ❊ Non-reflecting surface. ❊ Chassis material: Aluminum and steel. ❊ Metal support stand. ❊ Expandable with up to four additional Fader Modules to provide a maximum number of 120 directly accessible channels. Each additional Fader Module is basically a copy of the left half of the basic WK- Audio ID version. It provides 12 large touch-sensitive motor faders, 39 Encoder dials, 52 displays and a great number of different keys. ❊ Other custom options: Fader Modules, Joystick, custom modification of electronic components, hardware and design, e.g. built-in analog preamps, different front covers, other LED colours, different leather for padded arm rest., Meter Bridge removal, Wooden side panels: Genuine mahogany etc.