Automix

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The VS-2480's Automix feature allows you to automate most of your mix's parameters. Faders , EQ settings, panning, and more may all be put under the precise control of the VS-2480.

Automix data is represented as a list of events that occur at specific times throughout the project. Even gradual fadeouts are represented as a series of discrete points and values.

Automix Controls and Setup

To place the VS-2480 in Automix mode, you may press the AUTOMIX button on either the VS-2480 or the VGA screen. Figure 18.10 show the Automix controls on the VGA screen.

Figure 18.10. The Automix controls


From left to right are the Automix On/Off, Record/Play, Undo/Redo, and Snapshot controls. When the VS-2480 is in Automix mode, the AUTOMIX button is illuminated, and the CH EDIT buttons represent Automix status, as follows :

Table 18.1. Automix Status Button Colors

Color

Status

Notes

Yellow

MANUAL

The channel will ignore all Automix information.

Red

WRITE

Changes made to the channel settings while in Automix Record mode will be written to the Automix list.

Green

READ

The channel will respond to events in its Automix list.


Even though many of a track's parameters may be Automixed, the VS-2480 lets you decide what will and won't be included. To access the Automix Setup screen, shown in Figure 18.11, you may either hold SHIFT while pressing AUTOMIX or select Automix Setup from the Utility menu.

Figure 18.11. The Automix Setup screen


In the above example, while the VS-2480 is in Automix Record mode, changes made to Track Mixer 16's fader level or pan settings will be written to the Automix list.

The After Punch Out selection, when set to Return, will automatically add events to the Automix list that return the parameters to what they were before the control was moved. The Return Time parameter can smooth this out by inserting a series of events over the specified time.

In general, I find it useful to set the After Punch Out parameter to Keep during the initial Automix of any given track and set it to Return while performing corrective or special Automix operations.

Viewing Automix Data

You may view a visual representation of the Automix list data by selecting the UTILITY AUTOMIX EDIT menu item. The Automix Edit screen resembles the Home view, and the zoom controls work the same way in both views. Automix data is displayed as a series of discrete points, depending on the zoom level. Figure 18.12 shows two tracks in a moderate zoom resolution.

Figure 18.12. The Automix Edit screen, showing Automix data on track 16

Interestingly enough, Automix data does indeed scroll in real time at all zoom resolutions .

Automix Record Mode

Automix Record mode may be activated either by clicking on the icon on the VGA screen or by holding AUTOMIX and pressing the REC button. The AUTOMIX button flashes and the words Automix Rec flash at the bottom of the VGA display while the VS-2480 is in Automix Record mode. The VS-2480 will stay in Automix Record mode until the STOP button is pressed or until a Stop operation is executed by a loop or preview operation.

Any Automix-enabled control whose value is actually changed while in Automix Record mode will add data to the Automix list.

Automix data is not updated to the Automix Edit display until the VS-2480 exits Automix Record mode.

Automix Snapshots

In addition to writing items to the Automix list by actually adjusting channel parameters, you may take an Automix Snapshot of data. Since a snapshot writes data to the Automix list, the VS-2480 must be in Automix Record mode, and individual channels and features must be enabled.

Figure 18.13 shows the same two tracks, with the addition of an Automix Snapshot taken of both tracks.

Figure 18.13. The Automix Snapshot data appears as a single event

It is a good idea to take an Automix Snapshot just before the start of a song. The snapshot should represent the nominal, or average, fader settings to be used for your mix. This will ensure that the faders are in the proper positions to begin the song.

Automix After Punch Out Operation

Figure 18.14 show the result of an After Punch Out Return operation. I punched in, brought track 16's fader down to infinity, and punched out. The timeline shows where the punch-out occurred. The VS-2480 added the data required to return the fader to its previous position over 400ms, my selected time value.

Figure 18.14. Automix After Punch Out data

If the After Punch Out setting had been set to Keep, the data would not have been added.

Automix Editing

Automix data is not edited along with the track data. That is to say, if you have Automix data associated with an audio track, and you edit the audio track, then the Automix data must be edited separately.

The time-based Automix edit operations are very similar to the corresponding region operations. You may move, copy, erase, cut, and insert data in the same way, using the IN, OUT, FROM, and TO buttons or the mouse.

Automix editing also provides a few ways to edit the Automix data. Gradation will create a series of steps between two values over a length of time. Compress/Expand will either lessen or increase the change to a setting within a selected time period. The SHIFT button will increase or decrease each event by the same amount. Let's see an example of each.

Automix Gradation Demo

Figure 18.15 shows track 16 set up for a fade out via the Gradation operation. The IN point is where the fade out will start. I located to that point, pressed IN, and took a snapshot of track 16 to create an Automix list event there. I next located to the end of the audio phrase on track 16, pressed OUT, and took another Automix Snapshot. I next pressed F3 to mark the region between IN and OUT. I could have set my IN and OUT points and marked the region with the mouse, then located to the IN and OUT points to take snapshots. The important thing is to have a region with snapshots at both the IN and OUT points. The region may include any number of tracks.

Figure 18.15. Track 16 setup for Automix Gradation

Now that the region is marked, pressing the Gradation control on the VS-2480 displays the Gradation dialog box, shown in Figure 18.16.

Figure 18.16. Automix Gradation dialog box


The IN and OUT points are displayed, and you may select from three curve settings. Linear creates a straight line ramp. Exp+ creates an exponential curve whose values change the most at the start of the operation, and Exp “ creates an exponential curve that starts gradually and ends quickly. Figure 18.17 shows the result of a Linear Gradation operation.

Figure 18.17. Results of Automix Linear Gradation operation

Automix COMP/EXP/SHIFT Demo

Figure 18.18 shows track 16 set up for a COMP/EXP/SHIFT operation. I set my IN and OUT points and marked the region with the mouse.

Figure 18.18. Track 16 set up for Automix Comp/Exp/Shift

Now that the region is marked, pressing the COMP/EXP button on the VS-2480 displays the COMP/EXP dialog box, shown in Figure 18.19.

Figure 18.19. Automix COMP/EXP dialog box


The IN and OUT points are displayed, along with settings for Expand, Threshold, and Shift. Expand is a value by which each existing point will be multiplied. Values of less than 1 reduce the range of the existing data, and values of greater than 1 increase the range of values. Threshold is the base value for the computations . Values will be changed based on their original relation to the Threshold value. The Shift setting is a value that will be applied equally to the results of the multiplication operations. Figure 18.20 shows the result of this operation.

Figure 18.20. Results of Automix COMP/ EXP operation

Automix Edit Target Section

The Automix Edit Target setting defines what parameters the visible Automix data represents. It can be as specific as the LoMidEQ Gain or as broad as All Track Parameters. Located just above the channel status area of the VGA are the AUTOMIX SECT (Section) and PRM (Parameter) display and selection areas. Figure 18.21 shows the pop-up list of section choices.

Figure 18.21. Automix Edit Target section choices


Depending upon which section is selected, the parameters list may be quite extensive . Figure 18.22 shows the choices for the Track Mixer parameters.

Figure 18.22. Automix Target Track Mixer parameter choices

Automix Pattern Save and Load

The VS-2480 can store nine separate Automix patterns per project. Access the Automix Pattern Save (or Load) dialog box via the Automix Edit dialog box. As shown in Figure 18.23, Automixes may be named when stored.

Figure 18.23. Automix Pattern Save dialog box

You cannot erase stored Automix patterns, but you may save a new pattern over an existing one. Once your Automix pattern has been stored, you may or may not decide to erase the existing Automix data from the current project. The Automix Erase function is accessed via the Automix Setup screen.

Automix Micro Edit

In Micro Edit mode, edits are made to the Automix list directly. Refer to Figure 18.24 for a representation of the Automix Micro Edit screen.

Figure 18.24. Automix Micro Edit dialog box

At the top of the dialog box is a fixed-resolution graphical display of each data event. Below this is a list of Automix events. Each event is displayed on its own line. Time, target parameter, and value information is displayed. You can change the time or the value of a list item, but you cannot change the target parameter. You may delete and create events in the Automix list.

The Micro Edit screen provides a very detailed view, and it provides very precise editing capabilities. It is not, however, particularly user friendly. Proceed slowly when in Automix Micro Edit mode.

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Roland VS Recorder Power.
Roland VS Recorder Power.
ISBN: 1592008364
EAN: N/A
Year: 2005
Pages: 202

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