Avid Technology System 5 User manual

System 5 Digital Audio System User Guide

Legal Notices
This guide is copyrighted ©2011 by Avid Technology, Inc., with all rights
reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide may not be duplicated in whole or in
part without the written consent of Avid.
003, 96 I/O, 96i I/O, 192 Digital I/O, 192 I/O, 888|24 I/O, 882|20 I/O, 1622
I/O, 24-Bit ADAT Bridge I/O, AudioSuite, Avid, Avid DNA, Avid Mojo, Avid Unity,
Avid Unity ISIS, Avid Xpress, AVoption, Axiom, Beat Detective, Bomb Factory,
Bruno, C|24, Command|8, Control|24, D-Command, D-Control, D-Fi, D-fx, D-Show,
D-Verb, DAE, Digi 002, DigiBase, DigiDelivery, Digidesign, Digidesign Audio
Engine, Digidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction, Digidesign TDM Bus, DigiDrive,
DigiRack, DigiTest, DigiTranslator, DINR, DV Toolkit, EditPack, Eleven, HD Core,
HD Process, Hybrid, Impact, Interplay, LoFi, M-Audio, MachineControl, Maxim,
Mbox, MediaComposer, MIDI I/O, MIX, MultiShell, Nitris, OMF, OMF Interchange,
PRE, ProControl, Pro Tools M-Powered, Pro Tools, Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools LE,
QuickPunch, Recti-Fi, Reel Tape, Reso, Reverb One, ReVibe, RTAS, Sibelius,
Smack!, SoundReplacer, Sound Designer II, Strike, Structure, SYNC HD, SYNC
I/O, Synchronic, TL Aggro, TL AutoPan, TL Drum Rehab, TL Everyphase, TL
Fauxlder, TL In Tune, TL MasterMeter, TL Metro, TL Space, TL Utilities,
Transfuser, Trillium Lane Labs, Vari-Fi, Velvet, X-Form, and XMON are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. Xpand! is Registered in the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are
subject to change without notice.
Guide Part Number 9329-65129-00 REV A 08/11
Documentation Feedback
We are always looking for ways to improve our documentation. If you have
comments, corrections, or suggestions regarding our documentation, email us
at [email protected].

Contents iii
Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System 5 Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System 5 Startup Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
System Requirements and Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
About This Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
About www.avid.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 2. Quickstart to Common Tasks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Connect and Play a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Connect and Monitor a Microphone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Chapter 3. eMix Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
PatchNet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Busses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Externals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Folddown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Conform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
System 5 Wave Logo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Auto Failover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
View Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Console Operation Logging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Chapter 4. CM401T Master Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Solo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Chapter 5. CM402T Expanded Channel Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Channel Select Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Knobset Panels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Bus Routing Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

System 5 Digital Audio Mixing System User Guideiv
Chapter 6. Channels and Strips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Strips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Channel Control Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Channel Process Order and Patch Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Channel Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Channel Mixing Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Chapter 7. Busses and Bus Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Bus Master Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Mix and Group Bus Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Bus Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Chapter 8. Machine Control (S5P Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Transport Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Locate Registers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Track Arming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
TT002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Chapter 9. Control Groups and Multi Format Masters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Control Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Multi Format Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Spill Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Control Groups or Multi Format Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Chapter 10. Layouts and Snapshots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Scene Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Chapter 11. Linking (S5P Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Creating a Link. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Modifying and Clearing a Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Link Suspend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Links and Automation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Joystick Linking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

v
Chapter 12. Dynamic Automation (S5P Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Automation Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Automation Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Assigning an Automation Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Recording Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Playing Back Automation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Modifying Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Fill Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Automation Performance Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Synchronizing Automation with an External Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Bus Master Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Mix Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Automation Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Chapter 13. GPI/O Event System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Input Types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Output Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Logical Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Event Configuration Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Event List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Deleting Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
GPI Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Chapter 14. CM403 Film/Post Module (S5 Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
The Film Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Dual Joystick Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Multi-Operator Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Track Arming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Solo-In-Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Chapter 15. Hybrid Pilot and System 5 Fusion Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Hybrid CM403 Joysticks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Appendix A. Compliance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Environmental Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
EMC (Electromagnetic Compliance). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Safety Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

System 5 Digital Audio Mixing System User Guidevi

Part I: Introduction to System 5

Chapter 1: Introduction 3
Chapter 1: Introduction
Welcome to the System 5, a highly advanced digital audio mixing system. System 5’s modular control surface can be easily con-
figured to handle large projects with many digital and analog sources. The System 5 is the perfect choice for serious audio pro-
duction facilities that need a powerful, easy-to-use digital mixing system that supports all common surround formats.
The number of processing cards in the DF66/DF70 Super Cores and SC264D determine the total processing power available to
channels and busses in each System 5 configuration. A Mixer Model is a file that specifies how these processing resources are de-
ployed to best suit the session and preferences of the engineer.
Each System 5 channel has identical processing functions. Channels can receive analog mic-line and digital inputs, as well
as audio subgroups and effects returns. The engineer is free to decide how to best route inputs to the console using PatchNet, a
software component of the eMix system. PatchNet is the digital patchbay that routes signals between the console I/O and all stu-
dio devices. All PatchNet settings are saved within the Title and can be quickly recalled.
System 5 Hardware
Overview of System Components
•TheControl Surface connects to the processing core via Ethernet and the EUCON Hub. Audio does not pass through the con-
trol surface.
• The SC264 System Computer runs the eMix software application; all file management and system setup is done from this com-
puter. The broadcast version of the console (System S5B) does not support console automation or transport controls (see
Chapter 3, “eMix Application”).
• The DF66 Digital Processing Core performs System 5’s audio I/O via MADI. The DF66 can have a maximum of six 120 MHz DSP
line cards.
• The DF70 Digital Processing Core supports more DSP than the DF66. The DF70’s audio I/O is done via MADI and has eight
120 MHz DSP cards.
• The C0600 Changeover Switch (optional) supports a backup DF66/DF70 Super Core.
• The SC264D combines the System Computer with up to two 120 MHz DSP cards and the Hybrid EUCON workstation control.
• The System I/O is comprised of digital and analog I/O units that connect all studio devices to the DF66/DF70 (or CO600) via
MADI. See “Console I/O” on page 20.

System 5 Digital Audio Mixing System User Guide4
System 5 hardware diagram

Chapter 1: Introduction 5
System 5 Startup Sequence
With all system components turned off:
1 Turn on the Ethernet switch and allow it to complete its startup diagnostics.
2 Turn on the SC264 System Computer.
3 Turn on all I/O units.
4 On the SC264, double-click the eMix icon on the desktop.
5 Turn on all of Surface Modules, the CO600 Changeover Switch (if present), and the DF66(s) or DF70.
If system modules have been saved as default, eMix continues to boot when all modules reach 100%. If no modules appear as
Unexpected, continue with step 6, otherwise proceed to “If any modules appear as Unexpected” below.
6 Click Continue to finish booting eMix and the startup sequence is complete.
If any modules appear as Unexpected:
1 Ctrl-click each Unexpected module.
Make sure all are selected.
2 Click Save selected as default.
3 Confirm the selection by clicking OK.
4 Click Continue to finish booting eMix.
System Requirements and Compatibility
Avid can only assure compatibility and provide support for hardware and software it has tested and approved.
For complete system requirements and a list of qualified computers, operating systems, hard drives, and third-party devices, visit:
www.avid.com/compatibility
When eMix launches, the control surface is temporarily disabled and audio is muted. Launching eMix automatically by putting
it in the Windows Startup folder may produce undesirable behavior if the System Computer reboots during a broadcast or session.

System 5 Digital Audio Mixing System User Guide6
About This Guide
This guide provides a basic overview of System 5 features and functionality.
For complete instructions on connecting and configuring your system, see the System 5 Installation Guide.
Conventions Used in This Guide
All of our guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands:
:
The names of Commands, Options, and Settings that appear on-screen are in a different font.
The following symbols are used to highlight important information:
About www.avid.com
The Avid website (www.avid.com) is your best online source for information to help you get the most out of your system. The
following are just a few of the services and features available.
Product Registration
Register your purchase online.
Support and Downloads
Contact Avid Customer Success (technical support); download software updates and the latest online manuals; browse the Com-
patibility documents for system requirements; search the online Knowledge Base or join the worldwide Avid user community on
the User Conference.
Training and Education
Study on your own using courses available online or find out how you can learn in a classroom setting at a certified Avid training
center.
Products and Developers
Learn about Avid products; download demo software or learn about our Development Partners and their plug-ins, applications,
and hardware.
News and Events
Get the latest news from Avid or sign up for a demo.
Convention Action
File > Save Choose Save from the File menu
Control+N Hold down the Control key and press the N key
Control-click Hold down the Control key and click the mouse button
Right-click Click with the right mouse button
User Tips are helpful hints for getting the most from your system.
Important Notices include information that could affect your data or the performance of your system.
Shortcuts show you useful keyboard or mouse shortcuts.
Cross References point to related sections in this guide and other Avid guides.

Chapter 2: Quickstart to Common Tasks 7
Chapter 2: Quickstart to Common Tasks
In this chapter, you will learn how to route and patch devices using two simple examples:
• Connect and play a CD
• Connect and monitor a microphone
Connect and Play a CD
Connecting and playing a CD illustrates System 5’s basic configuration, routing, and monitoring principles:
• Set up eMix
• Assign the CD channels to the console
• Patch the CD player
• Route the CD channels to the mix bus
To set up eMix:
1Select Drives at the bottom of the eMix screen and choose a drive.
2Click Projects > New, and name the new Project.
3Click Titles > New, and name the new Title.
4Click Save the current title and mix data into the new title to use the current Title’s settings for the new Title (like Save As); click
Reset Console with Default Title settings to use default Title settings.
To assign channels to console:
1Select Channels from the main panel viewer in the console master section.
2Select Auto then Channel 1.
3Press Chan Sel keys for two neighboring console Strips (n and n+1).
Channels 1 and 2 are now assigned to Strips n and n+1, respectively.
New Title dialog

System 5 Digital Audio Mixing System User Guide8
To patch the CD Player:
1Select PatchNet at the bottom of the eMix screen and select Console I/O.
2Select A and B Inputs.
3Select the blue selection box for the A Input of channels 1 and 2.
The patch points show up in Selected - Destinations.
4Connect the CD’s digital output (AES or SDIF) to channels 1 and 2 on the DM714.
The DM714 should already be connected to DF66 1-1.
5Select Sources, then select Frame 1-1 from the left side of the screen.
6Under Sources - Frame 1-1, click in the Name column for channel 1 and name the device CD Player Left.
7Click in the Name column for channel 2 and name it CD Player Right.
8Click the green selection fields to add the patch points to Selected - Sources.
9Click the Patch button.
10 Select Console I/O, click in the Name column for channels 1 and 2 and name them CDL and CDR, respectively.
11 Press the Main Panel key and select Channels.
12 Press the Setup key and then press Show Input Names.
The TFT display above the channel shows the input names.
Sources page in PatchNet

Chapter 2: Quickstart to Common Tasks 9
To route to the mix bus:
1Press the Channel On switches for each CD channel.
2Select the Mix button on channels 1 and 2.
3Select the In key of the B Mix Bus, which defaults to two-channel stereo.
4Press the Master Section’s CR Source key.
The Mix Busses display in the Panel Viewer.
5Select the B Source.
6Move channel 1 and 2 faders up.
7Press both channel’s Pan buttons and set to L and R, respectively.
8Press the Master Section’s CR Output key.
The output formats display in the Panel Viewer.
9Select Stereo.
10 Press play on the CD player.
11 Turn off the Cut button and adjust the control room monitor level with the Master Section’s Main Monitor knob.
Connect and Monitor a Microphone
Connecting and monitoring a mic illustrates the following basic configuration, routing, and monitoring principles:
• Configure PatchNet
• Assign the channel to the console
• Route to the mix bus
To configure PatchNet:
1Select the Cabling tab from the left side of PatchNet.
2Select MADI In Ports and select Frame 1-8.
In this example, the AM713 is physically paired with the ML530, which is connected via MADI to DF66 MADI input #8.
3Select MADI Out Ports and click in the MADI Out column next to Mic 1.
This informs the DF66 which AM713 is connected to the ML530.
4Click Patch.
Cabling-MADI Out Ports

System 5 Digital Audio Mixing System User Guide10
To assign the mic channel to the console:
1Select Channels from the Main Panel Viewer.
2Select Auto then Channel 3.
3Press a Strip’s Chan Sel key.
4Press the Strip’s Inpt button, then turn the Inpt knob clockwise until the B input is selected.
5Press the button to display the B input page on the knobset.
6In PatchNet, select Console I/O.
7Select the B Input of Channel 3.
8Select Sources.
9Select Mic-Line 1, Ch 1, and name the channel.
10 Click Patch.
The knobs on Channel 3 now display HiZ, 48V, HPF, Gain.
To route the mic channel to the mix bus:
1Connect a microphone to channel 1 of the ML530.
2To listen to the mic return, press the Mix button on channel 3 and select the In key of the B Mix bus.
3Press the Master Section’s CR Source key.
The Mix Busses display in the Panel Viewer.
4Select the B Source.
5Move channel 3’s fader up.
6Set Pan to center.
7Press the Master Section’s CR Output key.
The output formats display in the Panel Viewer.
8Select Stereo.
9Turn off the Cut button and adjust the control room monitor level with the Master Section’s Main Monitor knob.
Microphone assignment in Sources

Chapter 3: eMix Application 11
Chapter 3: eMix Application
The eMix application has the following tabs along the bottom of the window:
Directory
The Directory tab contains its own tabs right above the main eMix tabs: Drives, Projects, Titles, and Mixes. The order of these tabs
also represents their hierarchy (i.e., a Title is within a Project located on a Drive). Operations in the Directory are almost identical
to those in Windows.
Projects
To browse an existing Project:
1 Click the Drives tab to see a list of available Drives.
2 Single-click to select the desired Drive and click the Projects tab button.
– or –
Double-click the Drive.
The Projects Window opens with a list of Projects on that Drive.
3 Select a Project and click the Titles tab.
– or –
Double-click the Project.
The Titles Window opens with a list of Titles in that Project.
4 Select a Title and click the Open button.
The Title opens with the last mix used.
– or –
Double-click the Title.
The Mixes Window opens with a list of Mixes in that Project.
Directory File management (see first section below)
PatchNet Digital patchbay (see page 19)
Busses Group and mix bus formats (see page 26)
System System setup (see page 28)
Folddown Folddown formats (see page 31)
Masters Format master channels and externals (see Chapter 9, “Control Groups and Multi Format Masters”)
Conform Entering conform information for automation system (see “Automation Conform” on page 148)
Events GPI/O event configuration (see Chapter 13, “GPI/O Event System”)
Diagnostics Summary of system status (page 32)

System 5 Digital Audio Mixing System User Guide12
To open a Project:
1 Click the Drives tab to see a list of available Drives.
2 Select the desired Drive and click the Projects tab or double-click the Drive.
The Projects Window appears with a list of Projects on that Drive.
To create a new Project:
1 Click the New button on the right side of the Projects window.
– or –
Double-click an existing Project.
– or –
Select an existing Project and click the Projects tab.
2 Name the new Project in the dialog that appears.
Rename, Copy, Paste, and Delete Project
These buttons are arranged vertically along the right side of the Projects Window.
Copying a Project and pasting it to another Drive is the easiest way to backup a Project.
Projects Window

Chapter 3: eMix Application 13
To copy and paste a Project:
1 Select a Project from the Projects Window.
2 Click the Copy button to copy the selected Project.
The Paste button remains dim until the Copy button is used.
3 Click the Paste button to paste the copied Project.
You can navigate the Directory to another Drive before pasting.
If the selected Project’s name is Test, the copied Project is Copy of Test.
4 Click the Rename button to rename the selected Project in the dialog that appears.
To delete a Project:
1 Select a Project from the Projects Window.
2 Click the Delete button to delete the selected Project.
The Project is deleted and does not get copied to the Copy buffer.
Title
A Project must exist before selecting, opening, or creating a new Title. The Rename, Copy, Paste, and Delete buttons work the same
on Titles as described above for Projects.
If a CMX 3600 EDL is present in the Project with the Title, it may be imported into the Cue list. If an EDL is selected, the Open
option changes to Import (see figure below).
Although Titles from previous versions of eMix are compatible with version 5.x, we recommend rebuilding them as soon as
possible to take advantage of increased DSP efficiency and higher channel count.
Titles Window

System 5 Digital Audio Mixing System User Guide14
To create a new Title:
1 Click the Drives tab to see a list of available Drives.
2 Select the desired Drive and click the Projects tab.
– or –
Double-click the Drive.
The Projects Window appears with a list of Projects on that Drive.
3 Select a Project and click the Titles tab.
– or –
Double-click the Project.
The Titles Window appears with all Titles in that Project.
4 Click the New button on the right side of the Titles window.
The New Title dialog appears.
5 Name the new Title and select one of the Creation Options radio buttons:
•Save the current title and mix data into the new title: Uses the current state of the console for new Title. If a mix is open, that mix
is saved in the new title.
•Reset Console with Default Title settings: Uses settings for Default Title to reset console. See page 17 to see how to change the de-
fault settings. There is no mix in the new Title; one must be explicitly created.
To open an existing Title:
1 Click the Drives tab to see a list of available Drives.
2 Select the desired Drive and click the Projects tab.
– or –
Double-click the Drive.
The Projects Window appears with a list of Projects on that Drive.
3 Select a Project and click the Titles tab.
– or –
Double-click the Project.
The Titles Window appears with all Titles in that Project.
New Title dialog
A Title appears as a folder but is actually a single file with multiple Mixes.