AB64 Motor Mix Interface

The CM Automation Motor Mix Digital Mixer Worksurface can be used with any AB64 running firmware version A437 or higher.

Contents

Using the Motor Mix Digital Mixer Worksurface with the AB64

MIDI Connections:

The Motor Mix must be connected to the AB64 MIDI Port 2. Plug the Motor Mix MIDI OUT connector to the AB64 Port 2 MIDI IN connector, and AB64 Port 2 MIDI OUT connector to the Motor Mix MIDI IN connector.

Up to eight Motor Mix units can be connected together in a chain, and each unit can be assigned its own channel range. Plug the AB64 Port 2 MIDI OUT connector to the MIDI IN connector of the first Motor Mix. Plug the MIDI OUT connector of the first Motor Mix to the MIDI IN connector of the second Motor Mix, and so on for all Motor Mix units. Plug the MIDI OUT connector of the last Motor Mix unit in the chain to the AB64 Port 2 MIDI IN connector.

Activating the Interface

The Motor Mix 'Pro Tools mode' must be off. Pressing PLAY and ESCAPE toggles Pro Tools mode on and off.

The AB64 MIDI port 2 is always enabled for Motor Mix. As soon as Motor Mix worksurface is plugged in, it should operate with the AB64.

 

 

(To download a printable pdf of this Layout drawing, click here.)

Motor Mix Control Groupings:

Please refer to the "Motor Mix Worksurface Layout for AB64" drawing, above. At the top of the unit is a two-line 40 character LCD display. The left and right arrow buttons in the upper left are used to control channel range (and sometimes for screen navigation). The bank button is used to set bank channel switching (the 8 channels mapped to the Motor Mix are moved left and right in banks of eight rather than one channel at a time).

There is a two digit LED display in the upper right corner (showing "P1" in the drawing), with a detented rotary controller below it. There is a row of rotary pots below the row of pushbuttons labeled "1" - "8". The lower half of the unit contain the motorized faders and on each side, a column of special purpose pushbuttons. All pushbuttons can be illuminated as appropriate. Not all controls on the Motor Mix Worksurface are active at all times. In general, when buttons are pressed, if they do something in the current mode, they either light up and stay lit (or go off if they were already on), or they flash momentarily to indicate that something did occur.

Pressing the "Escape" button forces a refresh of the Motor Mix indicators. This is rarely needed.

Interface Modes:

The AB64 Motor Mix interface is always in one of eleven modes: INPUT GAIN, OUTPUT GAIN, CROSSPOINT GAIN, INPUT DELAY, OUTPUT DELAY, CROSSPOINT DELAY, PLAYBACK, SHOW, SUBMASTER, RECORD INPUTS or RECORD OUTPUTS. When first activated, the interface is in SUBMASTER mode, indicated by the green "group" LED. This Function Map shows which controls are active, and what they control, in each mode. (To download a printable pdf of this Function Map, click here.)

FUNCTION MAP AB64 / Motor Mix Control Surface

MODE:

INPUT

OUTPUT

CROSSPOINT

INPUT

OUTPUT

CROSSPOINT

RECORD

RECORD

GAIN

GAIN

GAIN

DELAY

DELAY

DELAY

PLAYBACK

SHOW

SUBMASTER

INPUTS

OUTPUTS

CONTROL

MODE button

s mute eff-2

s mute eff-2

s mute eff-2

pre/pst eff-3

pre/pst eff-3

pre/pst eff-3

select eff-4

select eff-4

group

rec/rdy funt A

rec/rdy funt A

MODE LED indicator

green

yellow

green+yellow

green

yellow

green+yellow

green

yellow

green

red

yellow

ROTARY LED

"IP"

"OP"

matrix row 1..64

"dL"

"dL"

matrix row 1..64

"PL"

"SH"

"Sx" x:gain 0..3

"r1"

"rO"

LCD Row 1

input chan. I1..I64

output chan. O1..O64

output chan. O1..O64

input chan. I1..I64

output chan. O1..O64

output chan. O1..O64

input chan. I1..I64

list, clock, last cue

submaster S1..S32, Z

input chan. I1..I64

output chan. O1..O64

LCD Row 2

input level

output level

crosspoint level

input delay

output delay

crosspoint delay

selection number

path, cue time, next cue

submaster level

input level

output level

ROTARY ENCODER

matrix row (input chan.)

matrix row (input chan.)

audio selection

show, list, path, cue

submaster gain

ENCODER PUSH KNOB

load selection

set next cue

1 - 8 buttons

channel to load

list for cue display

ROTARY POTs

set delay

set delay

set delay

A - H buttons

start / stop channel

start / stop list clock

I - P buttons

Go next cue

zero submaster

enable record on channel

enable record on channel

SOLO buttons

input solo

output solo

output solo

input solo

output solo

output solo

input solo

input solo

output solo

MUTE buttons

input mute

output mute

output mute

input mute

output mute

output mute

input mute

input mute

output mute

MOTORIZED FADERS

input level

output level

crosspoint level

input level

output level

crosspoint level

input level

submaster level

submaster level / zero

input level

output level

PLAY button

start all list clocks

start all list clocks

start all list clocks

start all list clocks

start all list clocks

start all list clocks

start all plbk chans

start all list clocks

start all list clocks

start recording

start recording

STOP button

stop all list clocks

stop all list clocks

stop all list clocks

stop all list clocks

stop all list clocks

stop all list clocks

stop all playback

stop all list clocks

stop all list clocks

stop recording

stop recording

REWIND button

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

zero all list clocks

NEXT button

advance next cue

advance next cue

advance next cue

advance next cue

advance next cue

advance next cue

advance next cue

advance next cue

advance next cue

advance next cue

advance next cue

LAST button

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

decrement next cue

ENTER button

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

Go next cue, all lists

shift DEFAULT

RESET

RESET

RESET

RESET

RESET

RESET

RESET

RESET

RESET

RESET

RESET

SUSPEND button

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

ALL_OFF RESTORE

shift ALL button

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

Matrix ON diagonal

shift WINDOW button

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

Matrix Off

View Controls:

The Motor Mix Control Surface View controls are used to map ("scroll" horizontally) the input and output channels and the submasters onto the eight vertical control strips on the Motor Mix (except in SHOW mode). If the "Bank" button is activated, pressing the right and left arrow buttons move the channels / submasters in banks of eight, otherwise the view moves by one channel (or submaster) per arrow keypress. In SHOW mode, the "Bank" and the right and left arrow buttons are used differently; see the SHOW mode section below.

Button Assignments Common to all Modes:

The mute and solo buttons control the channel's mute and solo settings in all modes except SUBMASTER and SHOW.

In all modes, the show control ALL_OFF command is performed by the SUSPEND button (to the left of the faders), the SUSPEND button lights up. The show control RESTORE command is performed by pressing the SUSPEND button again (which turns out the light).

In all modes, pressing the ENTER button GOs the standby cue in all open lists.

In all modes, pressing the NEXT button advances the standby cue in all open lists.

In all modes, pressing the LAST button moves the standby cue back one cue in all open lists.

In all modes, the show control RESET command is performed by holding the SHIFT key and pressing the DEFAULT button.

In all modes, holding the SHIFT key and pressing the ALL button will turn on all input, output and diagonal crosspoint levels, creating a unity gain channel from input 1 to output 1, input 2 to output 2, etc.

In all modes, holding the SHIFT key and pressing the WINDOW button will turn off all input, output and crosspoint levels.

INPUT, OUTPUT and CROSSPOINT GAIN Modes:

In the gain modes, the motorized faders indicate the current input, output or crosspoint levels and control the current levels when moved. The current gain levels are displayed on the second row of the LCD display. The first row of the LCD displays input channel numbers (e.g. "I9") in INPUT GAIN mode and output channel numbers (e.g. "O9") in OUTPUT GAIN mode . In CROSSPOINT GAIN mode, output channel numbers are displayed in the first row of the LCD (as in OUTPUT GAIN mode) and the detented rotary encoder is used to set the current crosspoint row (i.e. matrix input channel) (1..64), which is displayed on the LED above the rotary control.

INPUT, OUTPUT and CROSSPOINT DELAY Modes:

In the delay modes, the rotary pots are used to set the delay in milliseconds. In these modes, as in the gain modes, the motorized faders indicate the current input, output or crosspoint gain levels and control the current gain levels when moved. The current delay levels are displayed on the second row of the LCD display. The first row of the LCD displays input channel numbers (e.g. "I9") in INPUT DELAY mode and output channel numbers (e.g. "O9") in OUTPUT DELAY mode . In CROSSPOINT DELAY mode, output channel numbers are displayed in the first row of the LCD (as in OUTPUT DELAY mode) and the detented rotary encoder is used to set the current crosspoint row (i.e. matrix input channel) (1..64), which is displayed on the LED above the rotary control.

PLAYBACK Mode:

In PLAYBACK mode, input channels are displayed in the first row of the LCD, and the selection where the channel's current playback position is located is displayed in the second row of the LCD. The motorized faders control input channel levels. The buttons labeled 1 - 8 are used with the detented rotary encoder to make an audio selection. Pressing a 1 - 8 button selects the channel to be loaded (only one button is on at a time). Rotating the encoder selects the audio selection to be loaded (the selection number blinks). Pressing the encoder knob loads the selection. Playback on a channel can be started and stopped using the A - H buttons for that channel, which light when the channel is playing back. The PLAY and STOP buttons to the right of the faders start and stop all channels.

SUBMASTER Mode:

In SUBMASTER mode, the faders control and indicate the submaster gain and zero levels. The 1 - 8 buttons and the mute and solo buttons are inactive. The individual submasters are labeled "S1" through "S32". The rightmost fader (to the right of "S32") is the submaster zero fader, labeled "ZERO". The submaster zero fader sets the zero level (no gain cut or boost) for all submasters. The zero level is typically set near the middle of the range to allow for both gain cut and boost. Pressing a I - P button will set a submaster to the current zero level. The submaster gain is controlled by the rotary encoder, and displayed in the second digit of the encoder LED as follows:

S0: 0.75 dB change every four submaster amplitude steps
S1: 0.75 dB change every two submaster amplitude steps
S2: 0.75 dB change every submaster amplitude step (default)
S3: 1.50 dB change every submaster amplitude step

SHOW Mode:

In SHOW mode, the faders control submaster gain and zero levels, the same as in SUBMASTER mode. The mute, solo and BANK buttons are inactive. There are three types of LCD screen in SHOW mode: the OPEN screen, the LIST/PATH screen, and the CUE screens (one for each currently open list). The right and left arrow keys are used to move between the fields of the OPEN screen, the LIST/PATH screen, and the CUE screens. Conceptually, the LIST/PATH screen is to the right of the OPEN screen, and the CUE screens are to the right of the LIST/PATH screen. The 1 - 8 buttons can also be used to navigate between the CUE screens, as described below.

On the OPEN screen there are fields for show, list and path. The OPEN screen looks something like this:

SHOW: 55 LIST: 127 PATH: 123
    open               open

The number field that is blinking can be changed using the rotary encoder. If the show number displayed is the open show on the AB64, "open" appears below the show number. If the blinking field is the show number, when the encoder knob is pressed the show is opened. If a show is already open, opening another show closes the first show and opens the new one. Pressing the right and left arrow buttons (in the VIEW group) moves the blinking field. The list and path fields are only available if a show is open. If the list and path displayed is open on the AB64, "open" appears below the path number. If a list is not open, pressing the encoder knob with either the list or path field blinking opens that list and path. At least eight lists may be open on the AB64 at one time. If a list is already open, pressing the encoder knob with either the list or path field blinking closes that list.

Pressing the right arrow button when the blinking cursor is on the path number scrolls the display to the LIST/PATH display screen.

The LIST/PATH screen displays all of the currently open lists. The list numbers are displayed in the first row of the LCD (e.g. "L127") and the path numbers currently open in that list are displayed below the list numbers in the second row (e.g. "P123"). The LIST/PATH screen looks something like this:

L127 L12 L55 L8
P123 P5  P45 P45

Pressing the 1 - 8 button below the list brings up the CUE screen for that list (if not open, the CUE screen is blank). Pressing the right arrow button while on the LIST/PATH screen brings up the CUE screen for the first open list. Pressing the left arrow button returns the OPEN screen.

The CUE screen looks something like this:

L27  01:45:23 145.12.1
P123 01:45:35 171.1.22

This displays, on the first row, the list number (27), the current list clock at 1 hour, 45 minutes and 23 seconds and the last cue to GO: 145.12.1. The second row shows the path number (123), the time at which the standby cue will GO (1 hour, 45 minutes and 35 seconds) and the standby cue number 171.1.22. Pressing the I - P button GOs the standby cue in the list that is open in that control strip. Pressing the ENTER button GOs the standby cue in all open lists. Rotating the encoder knob selects any cue in the currently open path for loading to standby (the selected cue number and time blinks). Pressing the encoder knob loads the selected cue to standby. (To return the display to the standby cue without loading a cue to standby, press the lit 1 - 8 button twice.)

From a CUE screen, pressing the lit 1 - 8 button returns to the LIST/PATH screen, while pressing an unlit 1 - 8 button brings up the CUE screen for that list (if not open, the CUE screen is blank). Pressing the right arrow button while on a CUE screen scrolls to the CUE screen for the next open list to the right. Pressing the left arrow button scrolls to the next open list to the left, and scrolls to the LIST/PATH screen when on the leftmost open list.

Pressing the A - H button for a list will stop a running list clock (LED goes off) or start a stopped list clock (LED goes on) for that list. The STOP button to the right of the faders will stop the list clock in all open lists (in all modes except PLAYBACK). The PLAY button to the right of the faders will start the list clock in all open lists (in all modes except PLAYBACK). The NEXT button to the right of the faders advances the standby cue in the selected list (STANDBY + command). The LAST button moves the standby cue back one cue in the selected list (STANDBY - command). If no list is selected (all 1 - 8 LEDs off), the NEXT and LAST buttons send STANDBY + and STANDBY - commands to all open lists.

RECORD INPUTS Mode:

In RECORD INPUTS mode, input channels are displayed in the first row of the LCD, with the channel's gain level displayed in the second row of the LCD. The motorized faders control input channel levels. The buttons labeled I - P are used to select input channels for recording. Recording on all enabled input channels can be started by pressing the PLAY button, and stopped by pressing the STOP button. A file containing all of the recorded channels is added to the AB64 audio directory, using the data and time when the recording started as a file name.

RECORD OUTPUTS Mode:

In RECORD OUTPUTS mode, output channels are displayed in the first row of the LCD, with the channel's gain level displayed in the second row of the LCD. The motorized faders control output channel levels. The buttons labeled I - P are used to select output channels for recording. Recording on all enabled output channels can be started by pressing the PLAY button, and stopped by pressing the STOP button. A file containing all of the recorded channels is added to the AB64 audio directory, using the data and time when the recording started as a file name.