Preface

The Mackie Digital 8•Bus is an amazing digital audio tool. Its flexibility, depth, and power provide the engineer/artist with nearly limitless creative freedom to produce top quality work.

The D8B v5.1 upgrade offers a host of new features that can make your mixes sound better and speed your workflow. Here’s a list of the newest features of the Mackie OS v5.1.

WHAT'S NEW WITH v5.1

•Great new overview screen graphics improve viewing and productivity

•HTML on-screen Help to quickly answer questions about D8B features and functions

•HUI Mode allows the D8B to operate as a HUI control surface with DAW software applications that support the Mackie HUI (i.e., Pro Tools, DP3, Nuendo, Cubase SX, Soundscape, Logic 6)

•New metering options offer more flexibility:

°On-screen level meters with choice of bottom view, top view, or off

°On-screen level Meter Type options include Pre Fader, Post Fader, and Post Mute/Fader

°On-screen level Meter Reference Point can be assigned to –10 dB, –15 dB, or –20 dB to accommodate different program sources

°Show Meters In Trim Mode displays the actual signal level in the on-screen meters when in Trim Levels Automation mode

°Show Peak Holds causes the Overload indicators in the Top meters view to remain lit when triggered by a transient peak

•Numeric Fader Reference—the fader’s current level in dB appears just below the fader

•Modify Fader Levels calibrated in dB

•Vertical channel linking

•Individual Aux Send mutes on each channel

•Stereo Aux Send Pan sliders

•Channel EQ window dims when the EQ is disabled instead of flat-lining

•Double-click the channel EQ window to open the Fat Channel for detailed editing

•Improved Fat Channel:

°Improved EQ algorithms

°Larger Channel EQ and Dynamics EQ views by double-clicking in either graphic window

°Expanded Dynamics View opens graphic views of the Compressor and Gate parameters

°Alternate view of the Compressor and Gate meters

°Compressor meter switches between Output Level or Compressor Gain Reduction

°Gate meter switches between Input Level and Gate Gain Reduction

°Gate Expansion mode allows reduction of the signal level below the designated threshold by a variable ratio

°Adjustable Dynamics Key Types provides a selection of four EQ types that can be applied to the Key Input (BAND 4 EQ TO DYN)

°External MIDI Trigger for the Gate

°Channel polarity can be flipped from the console VFD

•Advanced Mix Editor features including:

°Insert Event by placing Event markers in the Mix Editor window time bar

°Event markers can be moved, edited, and locked

°Events can be commited to Dynamic Automation for further editing

•Independent control of Plug-in Source and Destination

•Plug-in Chaining

•Plug-ins can now be used on Bus Inserts

D8B Manual • Preface • page 1