MP212 Principles of Audio Technology II Lab #2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Version 3, 06/07/2012 revised AR, previous versions: JMC, JL Version 4, 09/15/2013 revised AR Copyright 2007 Berklee College of Music. All rights reserved. Acrobat Reader 6.0 or higher required http://classes.berklee.edu/mpe
MP212 Lab #2 Integrating the DM2000 with Pro Tools Team: #1 #2 Objectives #3 #4 By the end of this lab you will be able to route signal through the DM2000 busses record a live mic through the DM2000 understand the digital interconnections between the X48, DM2000, and Pro Tools further your comprehension of the different operational controls on the DM2000 set up a master word clock scheme for all devices in M27 complete a mix through the DM2000 from Pro Tools, rendering it to a CD and back to Pro Tools This is a 3-hour Lab, performed in Studio M27. In this Lab, you and your partner will perform routing tasks utilizing the X48, the DM2000 and Pro Tools. You will begin with a song from the Mix 1 library on the X48, transfer that song into Pro Tools and each partner performs an overdub. Overdubs are anything your team feels like doing, from simple claps to additional background vocals, to solos. The idea is to learn how to record from a microphone into this digital studio. You will then complete a mix of the song with overdubs in Pro Tools. There is a quick overview from the manual of the DM2000 console parameters you will be using at the end of this document. Keep in mind, you will not mix inside Pro Tools, but cascade outputs from Pro Tools in order to mix using the digital audio inputs on the DM2000 (outputs from Pro Tools). In other words, Pro Tools will act as a pure multitrack. Your mix will be done in the DM2000. Before your session, choose a song from the MIX 1 X48 library and do some preproduction - listen to the rough mixes we have in the Studio Office, take some notes on your mix ideas, etc. Be prepared for your Lab time to get the most out of it! Remember, this is the same Mix 1 library you used in MP241. Each team member should write their own Session Report detailing their experiences in doing this Lab. Describe how you accomplished certain tasks, technical hurdles you had to overcome, and creative issues in completing the assignment. On or before the due date, submit a manila envelope (1 per team), properly labeled, Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 2 of 34
containing a labeled data CD with your Pro Tools session, an Audio CD (recorded on the HHB) of your different mix takes, a CD track sheet, showing which mix is the keeper, and a Session Report from each person (submitted separately), as well as COPIES of any other paperwork you generated while mixing (lyric sheets, production grids, patching grids, etc.). Be prepared to demonstrate fluency with all tasks associated with this lab during class. One note about video screens (monitors), keyboards and mice use in M27: The DM2000 uses its internal screen, so access to all parameters are with the dedicated surface controls, but both Pro Tools and the X48 use a dedicated video monitor, and dedicated keyboard and mouse. In this Lab we will be referring to X48 settings to be done using a mouse and the monitor, instead of on the front panel The following pages are a step-by-step walk through of one possible way to finish this lab. Feel free to complete the lab at your own discretion using only the objectives above. 1. Choose a song from the MIX 1 library; you will be performing overdubs on this song and then performing a mix. DM2000 Setup 2. Begin by setting the DM2000 to a default state. First, hit the Input Patch button in the display access area, find the Library page. From there, recall Library setting #0. This will reset the input patching in the DM2000. 3. Do the same thing for the Output Patch settings. Find the Library page, and recall Library setting #0. 4. Next, recall mix Scene Library #0, which will reset all of the DM2000 faders, EQ s, etc. Master Word Clock In this Lab we will set the clock in two different ways, depending on what are we considering our main platform. The first half of the Lab you are playing back tracks from the X48, so we will use the X48 Word Clock as master, and the DM2000 and Pro Tools will slave to it. On the second half we will use Pro Tools as the playback system, so we will use Pro Tools as the Master Word Clock and the other equipment, DM2000 and X48 slaved to it. This will be listed step by step Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 3 of 34
along the lab. X48 as Word Clock Master: 5. First, we set the Tascam X48 as internal. Go to the Sync window: Click the Windows menu and select the Settings window. Click on the Sync tab and click the Source submenu. Choose your desired master clock from the list: Internal in this case. The picture below shows Wordclock. You will select Internal Change to Internal 6. On the DM2000, go to the Digital I/O DIO" word clock page, and clock the DM2000 from the X48 by selecting any of the 4 square dots from the fourth slot. The picture below shows a generic DIO screen from the DM2000 manual. It doesn't show specifically how OUR DM2000 looks like, but you will need to select any of the four sources on the fourth slot. They represent the 8 channels of AES digital out coming from the X48. Each square represents an AES cable, Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 4 of 34
with two channels of digital audio. AES signals carry word clock embedded. We are taking the clock from any of the AES digital outs from the X48 to the DM2000. The picture below shows a selection on the second slot (highlighted in black. You will select any source on the fourth slot. Any of the fourth slot can be selected. 7. Set Pro Tools to External WC from the first HD I/O. There is a BNC WC connection from the DM2000 WC out to the first HD I/O WC-in in this studio. In order to do this: Open Session Setup, under Setup windows Select the first HD I/O from a list of three options (Sync HD, HD I/O 1 and HD I/O2) on Clock Source (see picture below) Select Word Clock (External) under Clock Reference Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 5 of 34
8. In the Control Room section of the DM2000, choose ST to listen to the 2-mix. 9. You should be ready to go! In Studio M27 the X48 digital returns, as well as Pro Tools returns, come in to the DM2000 via Card Slots. Pro Tools ins are on the second layer, X48 outs are on the third layer of the DM2000. Layers refer to faders layers, different from the digital audio card slots mentioned above. Check the interconnections diagram for any last minute changes to the routing for each specific studio. Go to the DM2000 layer were the digital returns appear in the studio you are working in. Be sure to use the digital returns and not the analog returns which also appear on the console. 10. Load the Mix 1 library song your team decided to work with. In order to load a song, follow the instructions below (we will have only one external drive for this machine). This is the list of steps needed to load a song from the library: "Open Project" from the drop down menu. Then in the "Root" folder: Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 6 of 34
Select the internal Drive "DATA (D:)" then: Select "MP 212 Lab Projects" Open Folder called "XProjects". Then all of the songs are listed in that folder. 11. Push Play on the X48, bring up the X48 faders (and the 2-Mix master fader), and you should have audio. If not, check your meters, and find the problem. All of the previous directions should be review from Lab #1. Lab 1 instructions have a series of troubleshooting steps you should follow if you don't get sounds from the X48 at this stage. Pro Tools Setup 12. We will record the X48 tracks into Pro Tools in order to perform overdubs on them. Boot Pro Tools and create a new session with the following settings. Save the session to Media Drive. At the end of the session you will need to make a copy to your own external firewire or USB drive (or CD or DVD-R). 13. In Pro Tools, go to the Session Setup window to set the Master Word Clock. The clock source should be set to HD I/O 1 - Word Clock. This will ensure the ProTools I/O hardware is following the same clocking reference as the DM2000 and the X48, all of them, coming from the X48 internal, as we set before. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 7 of 34
14. Create 8 new mono tracks in Pro Tools. Label these tracks based on the names from the track sheet. (the 8 tracks you are using from the Mix 1 library song you selected on the X48 machine) Routing from the DM2000 to Pro Tools 15. On the DM2000 prepare the tracks for transfer to Pro Tools by setting each X48 fader to 0dB. This ensures the console will provide a clean digital transfer between our two devices by not adjusting the digital audio bits before they are routed to PT. Just a reminder, X48 digital outs are showing on eth third layer of the DM2000, on channels 49 to 57. A permanent digital connection in this studio allows this to happen. 16. Use the busses to route each X48 track individually to an individual inputs on PT. For each X48 track on the console, select the channel and use the Routing area in the Selected Channel area to assign X48 track 1 (showing on channel 49, third layer, on the DM2000) from the X48 to Bus 1, track 2 (channel 50) to Bus 2, etc. through track 8 (channel 57) to Bus 8. While doing the routing also deselect the X48 tracks from the ST bus in the Routing area so that you don t hear them in the control room. You will stop hearing the X48 tracks for a moment, but that s OK, you will hear them back when you finish setting things on the Pro Tools side. 17. Confirm you have routed all tracks to busses 1 8 by pressing play on the X48 and switching to the Master layer on the DM2000. You should see meters for the levels on Busses 1 8. OR use the Routing Display to confirm assignment of tracks to busses 1 8. (a bus assignment will show as a black square with white number when selected) Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 8 of 34
Pro Tools Preparation 18. The DM2000 busses will feed PT digitally on inputs 9 through16. You can confirm this path in the I/O settings under the Setup menu. (The busses were normalled to these digital inputs when you recalled the DM2000 output patch library). Be sure you are using M27 I/O setup in the Pro Tools session. Go to Setup, and select I/O: Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 9 of 34
Then Import the corresponding Studio Setup for your room: 19. Label each track according to the names from the X48 track sheet. You can take the information from the Filemaker Pro folder with track lists for all songs from the Mix 1 library. Then, set the input paths to 9 16 on each individual PT track. Also set the output of the tracks to the first set of digital outputs that start at 9 (9 to 16 as well). Note: It may feel strange to start routing tracks from 9 and above, but this is because the first 8 ins and outs in Pro Tools are analog, and we are using digital inputs and outputs, which start from 9. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 10 of 34
Don t forget to rename the tracks before you record! Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 11 of 34
20. You should now be ready to record the X48 tracks into Pro Tools! Put the Pro Tools tracks into Record Ready and monitor back on the Pro Tools digital returns of the DM2000. (most likely this is on Layer 2 but check the Digital Interconnections chart to confirm the Pro Tools digital return into the console) Overdubs Now that you have the tracks in Pro Tools, you need to add an overdub track. From now on, the rest of the work will be done in Pro Tools. You are done with the X48 machine. This track should be simple, but musically related and beneficial to the song. You and your partner should take turns, singing or performing in the Studio LB Live Room or in the rear of M27. Your team will need to either work with headphones or adjust the monitoring levels and the mic placement so you can hear the recorded track and the microphone can capture your overdub performance without leakage from the speakers. WC resetting: Since Pro Tools will be the playback system, we are now switching to Pro Tools as the master word clock and everybody else will slave to it. 21. Set Pro Tools to Internal WC from the Sync I/O, as shown in the picture below. Open Session Setup, under Setup windows Select the Sync HD from a list of three options (Sync HD, HD I/O 1 and HD I/O2) on Clock Source (see picture below) Select Internal/VSO under Clock Reference Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 12 of 34
22. Set the DM2000 to receive clock from pro Tools by selecting any of the sources from any of the first or second card slots. Slots 1 and 2 have AES digital outputs from Pro Tools to the DM2000. Again, the picture below shows generic card slots, different from what we have in our studio: This could be a good selection. Any one can be selected from the first or second slots. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 13 of 34
23. Although not necessary, we better avoid clock errors and set the X48 to External WC in. M27 has a BNC cable with clock out from the DM2000 to WC in on the X48. By selecting WC In on the X48 we are setting it to slave from clock coming from the DM2000, which is getting it from Pro Tools, as we established in the step before. The next picture shows Clock set to internal on the X48: This time we are setting it to Word Clock (external). Please, refer to step 5 for detailed step-by-step on how to get to this screen in the X48. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 14 of 34
Using the external mic pre in Studio M27 24. We can use the Earthworks Lab 101 mic preamp in M27 studio to connect a microphone and raise its level to line level for future processing and/or recording. You will need to bring a mic from the studio office and connect it directly to the XLR mic input on the top right side rack. The XLR jacks are on top of the mic preamp, which is on top of the patch bay, upper right side of the console. 25. Patch from mic pre-out to Line In 1, which corresponds to the first analog input and A/D converter of the DM2000. On the corresponding channel of the DM2000 check to confirm the insert switch is off and also check that the 26dB pad is selected. Adjust the mic pre for a healthy record level. Use the same routing method and PT input as was used when recording the DA88 tracks. Route to Bus 1 to feed 9 in PT, obviously on a new track created to record your overdub(s). Headphone Mix in Studio M27 26. In Studio M27, there is no dedicated headphone amp. You can use the headphone jack on the DM2000 and route signal to the CDR to utilize that headphone jack as well. Mixing the Tracks 27. Use the remainder of the lab time to complete a mix of the new Pro Tools session. Practice the mix techniques you learned in Lab #1 on the console. When you are happy with your mix record the 2 Mix directly from the board, either using the digital patchbay or using the output patch library on the DM2000. You will record your mix to two different destinations: Pro Tools and a CD-R. This is a list of instructions for each one of them: Recording your mix back to Pro Tools Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 15 of 34
28. When using the digital patchbay you need to set up the Pro Tools I/O to use the enclosure connections on the top 192 I/O. The back panel of a 192 I/O features a set of non-removable connectors that are mounted to the enclosure. These connectors feature two additional channels of AES/EBU I/O. These ports appear on-screen in Pro Tools as AES/EBU [Encl]. It must be setup initially in the Hardware Setup dialogue and then given I/O capabilities in the I/O setup dialogue. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 16 of 34
29. Routing the Stereo 2 Mix through the DM2000 can also be accomplished internally through the output patch library. The left and right channels of the Stereo Out can be patched to the Slot Outputs, Omni Outs, or the 2TR Digital Outputs. Recording your mix to a CD-R: 30. Connect from DM digital out to CD-R AES in in the digital patch bay. Digital connections are not typically normalled in our studios. 31. Select digital input (Coaxial) as the input source on the HHB CD-R 32. Insert a blank CD, wait for the CD burner to recognize it, press the record button, and when ready, press play (while record light is on), 33. When done, with all needed takes, including slating identifying each take as explained in Lab 1, then Finalize the CD. Click on Finalize, wait for a few seconds until is ready showing a negative time count-down, press play and the Finalize process will be done. Don t forget to label the CD (CD cover and CD sleeve). Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 17 of 34
Backing Up your Pro Tools session: When done with the mix, before leaving, you need to transfer your Pro Tools session to a blank CD-R or blank DVD-R. This is a different media from the Audio CD you recorded before. Follow these steps to copy your session to a portable media, like a CD-R or a DVD-R to hand in class, and/or) to your own external hard drive to keep a copy of your work); 34. Click on File Menu and select Save Copy In, selecting Audio Files on the Save Copy In dialog. This process will unify all the audio files, if they are located on different folders or not, and create a unique folder with a copy of all the audio files from your PT session. 35. Select your destination for this copy, probably your personal external hard drive. Then make a data CD or DVD copy of this folder to be submitted as part of your lab submission. Finishing Up 36. Each team member should write their own Session Report detailing their experiences in doing this Lab. Describe how you accomplished certain tasks, technical hurdles you had to overcome, and creative issues in routing between the DM2000, the DA-88 and Pro Tools. 37. On or before the due date, submit a manila envelope (1 per team), properly labeled, containing your labeled CD with your Pro Tools session, your Audio CD of your final mix, your Session Reports from each person (these can be submitted separately), as well as COPIES of any other paperwork you generated while working (lyric sheets, production grids, patching grids, etc.). In other words: Audio CD, and Data CD or DVD are one each per team, session reports are individual, per each team member. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 18 of 34
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New DM2000 features for Lab #2 Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 20 of 34
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DM2000 Overview from Lab #1 AD Input Section This section controls the analog inputs to the board, before they are converted to digital data. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 22 of 34
Display Access This section contains global settings for the console. For this lab you will be concerned with the DIO, Input Patch and Output Patch areas. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 23 of 34
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Display Section All DM2000 parameters can be edited on the various display pages. The LCD display contains information related to the paged architecture of the DM2000. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 25 of 34
Selected Channel The selected channel area contains individual settings as they are applied to each channel strip. Settings include bus assignment/routing, eq, compression & gating, aux sends and the phase/insert menu. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 26 of 34
Monitor Section This section controls the Control Room and Studio monitor source and volume, Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 27 of 34
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Layer This section controls which channels are currently controlled by the channel strips. Fader Mode The fader mode determines the functionality of each channel strip s fader. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 29 of 34
Encoder Mode The encoder mode adjusts the functionality of each individual encoder. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 30 of 34
Channel Strips The channel strips are used for individual track adjustments. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 31 of 34
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Aux Select The aux select section determines which aux is currently being adjusted. Berklee College of Music MP212 Lab # 2 DM2000 and Pro Tools Page 33 of 34
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