Console

For each device there is in the project tree a Console subsection under the <Mixer> node. To configure the user interface of the console, select this subsection. There exist two view areas:

In the Console View area, you can configure the console layout and select keys for assigning key functions.

On the right hand side, you have two tabs: Properties and Console Parts.

<Mixer> - Console page with Console Parts tab

To create a new console, click Add Console below the Console View area. A new Console <X> tab will be created. You can create up to 16 consoles.

To remove a console, in the Console View area, select the console that should be removed and right-click on the console tab. Select Remove Console from the contextual menu. Alternatively you can click the Remove Console button below the Console View area.

To rename a console, in the Console View area, right-click on the console tab you want to rename. Select Rename Console from the contextual menu. A Rename Console window opens. Enter the new console name in the New Label box. Click OK.

Go to Console Parts tab on the right hand side. Select your preferred Type of Console from the list. Standard value is (Auto). You can also select the Size of your console, by selecting a specific console frame size from the list. When changing console type, size selection will also change.

Start creating your console layout by drag & drop your modules from the Available Parts for mounting list to the Console View.

When dragging the first module to the console view, the view editor selects automatically the type of your console and the size of installation frame. The Available parts for mounting list will now only show parts for your installation frame size. Selection of other modules than the selected type is now disabled. You can now start to drag & drop modules in the frame.

To remove a module, in the Console Layout area, right-click on the module you want to remove. Select Delete Module from the contextual menu.

Context menu

In the contextual menu of a module, you find the function Assign phys. Module. Use this function to match your console layout to the physical console. This assignment defines which hardware module corresponds to which configured software module.

You have to do this assignment for each each module, module group (controller in 52/MX) as well as for each TFT display. If your module needs to be assigned, displays will show NOT ASSIGNED. TFTs will remain blank if not assigned.

After clicking Assign phys. Module, the selected module or a group of modules start flashing in the console layout. At the same time, at least one key flashes on each available module of the physical console and ASSIGN buttons are shown on the TFT displays. Now press any key on the module or the ASSIGN button on the TFT display that you want to match to the software module from where you called the Assign physical Module command. This way, the function is automatically terminated and you have assigned the selected graphical module to the corresponding hardware.

To cancel the Assignment procedure right-click on an module in the console layout and select Cancel phys. Module Assignment.

In the contextual menu of a module you can find a Calibrate command.

Use the Calibrate command to adjust the 0 dB fader positions and to appoint the touch sensitive area of TFT displays.

Set all faders of a fader module to 0 dB (as accurately as possible). Right-click the respective module in the console layout and select Calibrate from the contextual menu. Now, all faders of this module are set to the new value. Repeat this procedure for all other fader modules.

Right-click the desired TFT display in the console layout and choose Calibrate in the contextual menu. Now, you can see a cross in one of the physical TFT displays corners. Press this cross as accurately as possible and do the same for the crosses that will appear in the other corners of the display. Repeat this procedure for all other TFT displays.

In the contextual menu of a selected module, the command Module Mode is useful for overbridge modules. Here you can select the assigned fader for the Module. For TFTs with fader views, it is the starting (first) fader.

In the contextual menu of a selected module, you find the commands Print module layout and Print key labels. Use them to either print the complete module view including the assigned labels or just the key labels.

Show Controller Assignment is also available with the Icon. It shows misconfiguration of modules on MX frames. Modules marked yellow are not connected to default controller port. Modules marked red are not connected. To change connection on the controller unit and port, select Properties Tab. On Controller Unit menu, you can set unit and port the module is connected.

TB8 assigns DSP resources for every inserted fader module automatically. These DSP resources are necessary for the input processing. One stereo processing is needed per fader. In this case, only empty DSP processings and the necessary routing channels are assigned to the bus system. If you assign specific DSP functions to the fader channel, the DSP load increases again.

The Properties tab is used to edit module options or push-button configuration.

Console View - Properties tab (with TFT Module selected)

If you select an entire module in the Console View area, it will be colored blue. The Properties tab shows all possible options on this module. Not all options are displayed and possible on all modules.

• Module Type: Shows the name of the module. This value can not be changed.
• Access Group: Select to which access group the module should belong. All modules of the same access group cooperate for certain functions, for example when you create parameters for a fader channel on the central console. There are four access groups.
• Fader ID: Shows the automatically assigned Fader IDs of this module. This value can not be changed.
• ModID: Shows the automatically assigned Module ID of this module. This value can not be changed. The Module ID is for example required to configure the Control Link feature.
• Description: This description is shown in the displays of the control modules. The description should simplify the identification during the further configuration. The description overwrites the module ID. Type a space character in the Description box to set the display to off by default.
• Select Variant: The selected module exists in different variants. Choose the correct variant in order to match the configuration with your hardware.
  Dependent on the current Product Filter for discontinued products (see TB8 Configuration) 52/MX console frames and 52/RX modules will provide a selection between Rev. B and Rev. C variant:
  
  • Rev. B indicates that the selected console/module is equipped with a 52-4050 controller internally.
  • Rev. C (standard variant) indicates that the selected console/module is equipped with a 52-4060 (APC based) controller internally.
• Mounting Location: You can assign a mounting location, if you have created any.
• TFT Group: Assign a TFT to a display group. It is recommended to use a different TFT Group for every TFT connected to avoid unlikely effects.
  

  Note
  From Toolbox 8.1.18 (together with FW 08-01-23 or higher) you can use up to 20 different Central Diplay groups. Up to Toolbox 8.1.17 you can use up to 16 different Central Diplay groups.

• Default View: Select a default view for the TFT. If you have more than one TFT in the same central display group, make sure to select the same default view everywhere to avoid unlikely effects.
• Access View: Select a default access view for the TFT.
• Show System Messages: Decide, if the TFT shows load/save state.
• Display Options (it is required to select the OLED display in the module preview): The displays of the Series 52 fader modules are able to show four lines. In the table you can define which content is shown in the several lines. Click on the content of a line to open a list and select the desired content for each line. You can create different setups for single channels by activating the function Independent Display for these channels.
• Invert fader scale (fader modules only): Invert the faders of the whole mixer. To close a fader, you have to move it to the upper position. To open, you have to move it to the lower position.
• 0 dB at fader max position (fader modules only): Shift the scale of all fader modules in a mixer by 10 dB, so the fader has an amplification of 0 dB on the top position. Please note that the labelling of the front plate can not reflect this shift, it remains unchanged.
• Fader Speed (52/MX, 52/RX fader modules only): Set the speed of motorised faders during automatic movements like Channel Start ON/OFF or layer switching.
• Encoder Bus Range: Can be used for changing encoder functions via central keys. Assign an encoder bus to encoders and use the key function Encoder Function Set to manipulate the encoders default function.

You can assign the desired functions and labels to the fader and control modules.

Key Configuration. Key label with forced line break.

To configure keys of fader and control modules, follow these steps:

1. In the Console View area, click on the key, which you want to configure. On the Properties tab the options for this key will be shown.
2. Enter a label for the key in the Text box. This label is used as printout for the label key caps. To use a forced line break in the key label, enter a backslash \.
3. Click Function…. The Key Functions window opens.
4. Select the desired key function by double clicking. Also, you can drag it to the key preview on the Properties tab, or to the (No Function) text, or to the desired key in the Console View area. According to the selected key function, additional parameters for the configuration of the key appear on the Properties tab.

The keys on the fader modules can be configured with the key functions for fader modules, independent from the position and layout of the keys. (See Key Functions - Fader Modules)

The keys on the control modules can be configured with the key functions for control modules, independent from the position and layout of the keys. (See Key Functions - Central Modules)

If you have assigned a key function to a key, always an area with color options appear on the Properties tab. Set the logic sources which lead to the lighting conditions of the key. Depending on the selected key function, you can define here, with which color the key shall light up according to the lamp source. On is the color if the function is enabled, Off if the function is in inactive condition. For the last case, mostly the Off option is used, for example the key does not light up. Depending on the selected key function, you find also different names in the Lamp Source column, for example Standby, Available, Busy, Owned, Layer A, Layer B or the name of the selected lamp source.

For the small keys of the modules, you can define the colors red and yellow. The large keys can light up in red, yellow and green. You can define flashing colors for the keys. Select the check box, in the Colors area.

You can assign authorisation groups to certain keys. Use these authorisation groups to deny a user group access to certain keys. You have to create the appropriate authorisation groups previously.

On the Authorisation tab, you see the modules of the console in a minimized view. Keys that have been assigned to an authorisation group are shown red, not assigned keys grey. All grey keys can be used by all console users without entering a PIN.

To assign a key to authorisation groups, follow these steps:

1. Select the key in the Console View area.
2. In the Properties tab, you can see a Authorisation section with authorisation group check boxes. Select the authorisation groups, which have access to that key. When clicking the icon on top of the Console View area, keys with limited access will light up red.

You can assign a logic condition to unlock the key or TFT button. The key action will only be handled if the unlock condition is true. Unlock condition can be e.g. another key, TFT button or a logic function. You can use this function to protect key functions vital for operation (e.g. routing actions) against accidental pushes.

Key Functions window - with filter selection for channel related and central related functions

On TFT views you can assign key functions to buttons. Depending on their purpose these buttons could be used for channel related functions or for central control related functions.

In the Key Functions window, below the functions list, you can select in the Filter tree as… area if you want to see the central functions (Central List) or channel related functions (Channel List).

With the Channel List filter , you can see nearly all key functions, that are usually available for use on fader modules, see Key Functions - Fader Modules.

When using the key functions of fader channels on a central TFT or a central module, you must assign the channel, you want to act on. In the Act… area on the Element Configuration or Properties tab, you can define a Fader / Layer, a Channel or flexible assignment with access.

With the Central List filter, you can see nearly all key functions, that are usually available for use on central modules, see Key Functions - Central Modules.

All functions that you can configure for fader modules and fader overbridge modules are described in this subsection.

To basically configure a key, see Configuring keys of fader and control modules.

If you define a function for a key on a fader module, this function is assigned for the same key on all neighbour fader modules of the same type. If you change the function of a key, the appropriate keys of the other fader modules change as well. You can stop this coupled behaviour for each key. To do this, select the Independent Key check box on the Properties tab.

You can use the Independent Key option for example for a fader with statically assigned sources or if you want to physically offset a fader module, for example for an independent operator.

Depending on the function you chose for a key, on the Properties tab, additional options are shown.

In the following tables, you find all available Key Functions and their options or sub-functions.

The functions that can be assigned directly to the encoders of fader modules are identical to the options of the Encoder Function Set function.

In general, each key of a central module can be configured with any module function, independent from its location and built.

On central modules you can assign channel related functions or central control related functions to keys.

In the Key Functions window, below the functions list, you can select in the Filter tree as… area if you want to see the central functions (Central List) or channel related functions (Channel List).

To configure a key, see Key Configuration.

Some functions are ACCESS and DISPLAY functions. In addition, some have more layers that you have access to by pressing a function key again or by pressing OK on the same module. The option ON/OFF in a function can also be operated inversely. This means that you either select the desired channel first (ACCESS) and then press the ON/OFF key of a function or press the ON/OFF key of a function first. In the last case, the channels linked to the function indicate this assignment by lighting up the corresponding keys. This is especially useful for dynamic and routing functions.

For more information on Processing and Parameters, see Fixed Processing and Channel Assignment.

Examples:

• First press the Access key in a fader strip. Now you can switch the corresponding key for the channel buses on and off in the control module.
• If instead no Access function is active in the fader strip, you can press and hold a key for assigning a bus in the control module. Now, the Access keys of all channels are lighting up that are assigned to this bus. So you can check quite quickly, which signals are routed to a certain bus. Functions like this are marked INVERSE in the following table.

has no function.

System Functions display a defined parameter set on a Console Display. The Functions can be edited by the rotary pulse encoders near the display.

To configure a system function edit key:

• Assign a System Function to a key
• Select the display you want to use and check Display follows menu

Press access and the defined key. You can now access the assigned system function. You can switch between parameters via pressing the rotary pulse encoders (Potentiometers).

For more information on DSP Parameters, see Fixed Processing and Channel Assignment.

Use these key functions to change the behavior of several functions (e.g. PFL) for the current mixer.

Control keys for the Fixed Processing Profanity Delay. For more information see Fixed Processing/Profanity Delay

The Potentiometer key function allows to assign a potentiometer to an encoder and control it. When pressing the key again, the encoder is set back to default function.

• Potentiometer: Click Select to define the potentiometer you want to control.
• Encoder: Click Select to define the encoder which shall control the potentiometer.

The DelayNr key function allows to control a Fixed Processing Delay by an encoder. This function is activated by pressing the defined key. when pressing the key again, the encoder switches back to default function.

• Encoder: Click Select and assign the encoder you want to use.
• DelayNr: Select the Fixed Processing that contains the delay. If no fixed processing with a delay is defined, only (None) will be shown.