Few Tips on Using the VM200, Channel Layers | Fostex instruction

Getting Started

A Few Tips on Using the VM200

If you have experience using analog audio mixers, a few things about the VM200 Digital Recording Mixer may be new to you. This section introduces some of the advantages of working with a digital mixer.

Channel Layers

If a conventional analog mixing console has 16 or 24 input channels, it also likely has16 or 24 faders, the same number of [ON] keys and [SOLO] keys, etc. Each input channel is a complete module, with its own dedicated set of input connector, preamp, etc. This type of design can work well, but is redundant and subject to analog noise.

The VM200 is a digital recording mixer, and does not conform to ana- log recording conventions.

The VM200 uses an innovative “channel layering” system that enables you to control up to 20 channels using only eight faders and one Master Fader.

You press one of three Page Select keys to specify the active channel layer. The faders, rotary controls, and various keys then control a channel on the selected layer, and the LCD Display shows parameters speciﬁc to the selected layer.

For example, Fader 1 can control input channels 1, 9, or 17 depend- ing on the selected channel layer. (It can also control various send lev- els, depending on the current mixer routing.)

You can select one of the following layers by pressing the appropriate Page Select key:

•Channels 1 - 8 Analog In

•Channels 9 - 16 ADAT In

•Channels 17 - 20 Eff Rtn

46	VM200 User’s Guide

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Fostex manual Few Tips on Using the VM200, Channel Layers

Contents

VM200 Safety Instructions VM200 Getting Started Monitoring Signals Scene Memory Initializing the VM200 VM200 User’s Guide VM200 About This Chapter Using this Guide Welcome to the VM200 Installing the VM200 Audio Speciﬁcations Feature SummaryInputs and Outputs Mixer Functions Midi functions Why a Digital Mixer? Mixer Conﬁguration Digital I/O Four-band Parametric EQ & EQ LibraryDual On-board Effects Processors About the Display and Graphic User Interface Faders Scene Memory Touring Top Panel Control Surface VM200 Analog Control Section PAD 26dB switches2TRK in switch Input selectors LCD Display +1/ Keys Data Wheel and Neighboring KeysEnter and Exit Keys Function Keys System Key Setup SectionMidi Key ROUTING/PHASE Key Key Mode SectionCurrent Scene Status PAIR/GROUP Key CH View Key CHANNEL/METER Key EFF1 and EFF2 Keys Fader Mode SectionAUX1, AUX2, AUX3, and AUX4 Keys Channel Key Recall Key EQ LibraryEQ on Key Store Key Eff Edit Section Effect Library Rec Buss Section Scene Memory Section Solo Key Channel Control Section Fader function On Keys ON, SOLO, & EQ Edit KeysOn key function Solo Keys Solo key function EQ Section Rotary Controls EQ Edit KeysEQ Edit key function Select Keys Rear Panel 2TRK Inputs 5 8 Phone Connectors Inputs 1 4 XLR or Phone Connectors a or B+48 Phantom Power Inserts 1-4 Phone Connectors Power Switch 75Ω On, Off Switch Diagram Block VM200 User’s Guide Started VM200 System Example Phones Connecting the Power Cord Turning the VM200 On and Off Few Tips on Using the VM200 Channel Layers Analog An Important Note About Word Clock Information Keeping It DigitalStopless Rotary Controls Reading the Display Lower and Raise Faders to Initiate SendsChannel Edit Function Examples of Other Function Pages Function Page Parameter Matrix Lit & Flashing LED Keys Lit & Flashing LED Keys Making Connections Finally...Let’s Get StartedConnect the ST Buss OUT to the analog inputs of a recorder Adjusting the Channel Input Powering OnLower all faders and Gain and Trim knobs on the VM200 Adjusting the EQ Press the channel 1 EQ Edit key Adjusting the EQ Press the EFF2 key in the Eff Edit section Audition Some EffectsPress the Recall key in the Eff Library section Storing a Mix Scene Press the EFF2 key in the Fader Mode sectionRecording Press the 17-20 EFF RTN Page Select key VM200 User’s Guide Channels Input Channels Phantom Power for Input Channels Insert Channels Pad Switches Input channels Trim Controls Inverting the Input Phase Press the Exit key or the CHANNEL/METER key Muting Channels Setting Channel LevelsInput Channel EQ Panning Input Channels Routing Input Channels REC Buss Out Monitoring and Soloing Input ChannelsFeeding Outputs ST Buss Out Digital Outs Pairing ChannelsGrouping Mute Channels Press the PAIR/GROUP key to display the 1CH Pair function Grouping Faders Viewing Input Channel Settings Press the CH View key to display the 1CH View function Press the EQ Edit key for the target channel Copying Channel Settings Press the Enter key to execute the copy operation VM200 User’s Guide Chapter Contents Equalizers EQ Adjusting the EQ Press the EQ on key in the Selected EQ section to turn it on Lo-Mid Hi-Mid Gain G Press the Enter key to conﬁrm your selection EQ Enabling ChannelsBypassing the EQ Press the EQ on key in the Selected EQ section Resetting the EQ While pressing and holding down the Enter key, press VM200 User’s Guide EQ Preset Library List Name Recalling EQ Programs Press the Enter key to recall the desired EQ Program Recalling EQ Programs Storing EQ Programs Press the Enter key Storing EQ Programs Editing EQ Program Titles EQ Library Name Edit function pages Copying EQ Settings Copying EQ Settings EQ Preset Library Parameters Name Parameter Description Lo-Mid Hi-Mid Gain Distortion of popular Description Lo-Mid Hi-Mid Gain VM200 User’s Guide Monitoring Signals Monitoring and Soloing Solo Mode ParameterMON SEL Parameter Monitor Outs and Phones Two Track Input 2TRK Press the Setup System key Monitoring Soloing Solo KEY Parameter Options Latch Selected Solo keys light up Press the Setup System key four times from start of cycle Solo Safe Function Viewing Input/Output Level Meters Metering Signal LevelsPress the CHANNEL/METER key or the Exit key in most modes LED Display Meter L/R or ST BUSS/SOLO Press the CH View key Chapter Contents Outputs Overview Adat OUT & S/P DIF OUT Monitoring the ST Buss OUT Using the ST Buss OUTViewing the ST Buss OUT Meters Soloing the ST Buss OUT Setting the ST Buss OUT LevelMuting the ST Buss OUT Monitoring the REC Buss OUT Using the REC Buss OUTViewing the REC Buss OUT Meters Setting the REC Buss OUT Level Soloing the REC Buss OUT 114 VM200 UserÕs Guide Using the AUX Sends Enabling AUX Sends 3 & 4 ADD. AUX Parameter Viewing the AUX Send and Master Setting Monitoring AUX Sends Sending Channel Signals to AUX Sends Pre-fader/Post-fader AUX Sends Muting AUX Sends Use the Master on button to turn the AUX Send on and off Pairing AUX Sends Press the Exit key to return to Channel Edit mode Press the Enter key to conﬁrm the setting Smoothing Function Viewing Buss Routing for Each Channel 122 Effects VM200 Effects Effects Library Effect Preset Library ListReverb effects Early Reﬂection-type Reverbs DelaysModulation effects Pitch Changer Multi-effects Selecting an Effects Processor Setting Effects ReturnApplying Effects Press the CHANNEL/METER key Sending Signal to Effects Processor Routing Effects Returns Viewing and Adjusting the Effect Send Level Controlling the Sends SignalsPre-fader/Post-fader Effect Sends Viewing and Adjusting the Effect Send Master Level Raise the fader for the corresponding channel Muting Effect Sends Controlling the Return SignalsSetting the Effect Return Level Monitoring Effects Sends Editing Effects Recalling Effects Programs Storing Effects Programs Press the Store key in the Eff Library section EFF Library Name Edit function pages Editing Effect Program Titles Press the Enter key to recall the desired Effect program 138 Reverb-type Effects Effects ParametersEarly Reﬂection-type Effects Monodelay Dualdelay 3CHDELAY Chorus 3DCHORUS Monopitch Delay-Reverb-type Effects CHORUS-REVERB REVERB-CHORUS REVERB-FLANGE Memory What is Scene Memory? Scene Edit Indicator What Can You Store in a Scene? Preset Scene Memory AUX Recalling a Scene Manually Recalling Mix ScenesRecalling a Scene Automatically at Start-up Press the System key ﬁve times Recalling Mix Scenes Using Midi Program Change MessagesAssign Program Change messages to scene memories Motorized Faders Storing Mix Scenes Press the Scene Memory Store key When you’ve ﬁnished naming the scene, press the Enter key Specifying Recall Safe Channels Editing Scene Memory TitlesRecall Safe Function Press the System key three times Press the CHANNEL/METER key to return to Channel Edit mode Specifying Recall Safe Parameters 158 Connections Digital Connections, Word Clocks, and Sample Rates 161 Setting the Master Word Clock Word Clock SetupWord IN/OUT Connectors Press the System key Setting the VM200 as Master or Slave Recording to a Digital Multitrack Recorder or DAT Multitrack Recording and Mastering to a DAT VM200 is word clock Slave Using Adat Digital I/Os Using Adat OUT Assigning Channels to Adat Direct SENDs 167 Using S/P DIF OUT Assigning S/P DIF Signals to Channels Using S/P DIFPress the ROUTING/PHASE key twice Press the CHANNEL/METER key or Exit key Cascading the VM200 172 VM200 Using the VM200 with Midi Midi Ports Connecting Midi devices Cascading Two VM200s TX CH Transmit Channel Midi Transmit and Receive ChannelsRX CH Receive Channel Program Change RX Program Change MessagesProgram Change TX Program Change Table Control Change RX Control Change MessagesControl Change TX Control Change Table System Exclusive TX & RX System Exclusive Messages Fostex ExclusiveBulk Dump System Exclusive DevID Press the Midi key Using Program Change Messages to Recall ScenesSet the TX CH and/or RX CH parameters to on Select a Program Change number Editing the User Program Change Assign TablePress the Midi key twice Select a Scene number Press the Midi key three times Viewing the Preset Program Change Assign TableProgram Change Assign Table Notes Examples Using Program Change Messages Using Control Change Messages Press the Midi key four times Editing the Control Change Assign TableSelect a Control Change number Press the Midi key ﬁve times Viewing the Preset Control Change Assign TableControl Change Assign Table Notes Examples Using Control Change Messages Controlling Parameters Using Fostex Exclusive Messages Transmitting Midi Bulk Dump Messages Bulk DumpAutomatic transmission in response to Bulk Dump Request Manual transmission of Bulk Dump Messages Specifying the data you want to transfer Receiving Bulk Dump Requests Receiving Bulk Dump Requests MMC Midi Machine Control Send Setting the Device ID NumberEntering MMC Send Mode Select an ID number for the DevID parameter 193 MMC Send and Timecode Frame ModePress the CHANNEL/METER key or the Exit key Storing Locate Points Transmitting the Locate CommandsChecking the Locate Points 196 Initializing the VM200 Initializing the VM200 199 Default Setup Parameters System Parameters Value Data Chapter C ontents EQ 1-8 Invalid! EQ Enable Display Warning Messages Inputs SpeciﬁcationsOutputs General Midi IN/OUT/THRU Maintenance Maintenance Tables & Data Channel Fader Gain Table Master Fader Gain Pan Gain Left Right Pan EQ Frequency Range 20.3Hz 20.2kHz 240 steps per 1/24 octave Program Change To Scene Memory Assignment Tables Program Change AssignTable 2 PresetProgram Change Assign User Control Change To Control Parameters Assignment Tables Control Change Assign User Control Change Assign Preset Preset Scene Parameters P0 InitMix P1 Recording P2 MixDown Motion Control Process MCP MMC Locate target Midi In/Out Data FormatControl Change Bn Program Change Bn Command List Fostex Exclusive Message Remote Command Command Details Setup Commands Channel/Buss Commands 221 Effects Commands Bulk Dump & Request Bulk Dump Request Midi Device Inquiry Message Midi Implementation Chart Model VM200 Version1.0 Affect of Immunity on This Equipment Declaration of EC DirectiveFostex Distributors List In Europe 227 228 Index 230 VM200 User’s Guide VM200 User’s Guide 231 Symbols Numerics Page Fostex Corporation