Euphonix Max Air Control surface User manual

Operation Manual
Document Revision: 3.0
Software Version: 3.0
Part Number: 840-08718-06
Release Date: September 2007
Euphonix, Inc.
220 Portage Ave.
Palo Alto, California 94306
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web: http://www.euphonix.com
e-mail: [email protected]

In the interest of continued product development, Euphonix reserves the right to make improve-
ments to this manual and the product it describes at any time, without notice or obligation.
System 5, S5, PatchNet, eMix, EuCon, R1, Studio Hub, Audio Deck, Max Air, Reel Feel, Clear
Displays, Track Panner, SnapShot Recall, DSC (Digital Studio Controller), Hyper-Surround,
Total Automation and Mix View are trademarks of Euphonix, Inc.
Manual design by Rob Wenig.
Manual written by Tim Driedger, Steve Milne, Duane Takahashi, Martin Lucas and Rob Wenig.
©2007 Euphonix, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be repro-
duced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in
any form by any means without written permission from Euphonix, Inc.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is
operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interfer-
ence in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.
Caution:Any changes or modications made by the user that are not expressly approved
by Euphonix could void the user’s right to operate the equipment.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
The lighting ash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is
intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”
within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufcient magnitude to constitute a
risk of electrical shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user
to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions
in the literature accompanying the product.
Read these instructions.1)
Keep these instructions.2)
Heed all warnings.3)
Follow all instructions.4)
Do not use this apparatus near water.5)
Clean only with a dry cloth.6)
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s in-7)
structions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appara-8)
tus (including ampliers) that produce heat.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug9)
has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a
third grounding prong. The wider blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If
the provided plug does not t into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience10)
receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Only use attachments/accessories specied by the manufacturer.11)
Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specied by the manufacturer, or sold 12)
with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combi-
nation to avoid injury from tip-over.

Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.13)
Refer all servicing to qualied service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus 14)
has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has
been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain
or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
WARNING – TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EX-15)
POSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
Do not expose this equipment to dripping or splashing and ensure that no objects lled with 16)
liquids, such as vases, are placed on the equipment.
To completely disconnect this equipment from the AC Mains, disconnect the power supply 17)
cord plug from the AC receptacle.
The mains plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily operable.18)
This unit is provided with a power supply cord set suitable for 120V AC input only (for19)
U.S.A. and Canada). For other than U.S.A. and Canada, a qualied person must provide for
use with this unit, an appropriate, approved power supply cord set which is in compliance
with the end use country requirements and has a minimum cross-sectional area of 1.0mm2.
For units with more than one power cord:20)
Caution: This unit has more than one power supply cord. Disconnect two power supply
cords before servicing to avoid electrical shock.
Attention: Cet appareil comporte plus d’un cordon d’alimentation. An de prévenir les
chocs électriques, débrancher les deux cordons d’alimentation avant de faire
le dépannage.
Operator Accessible Fuse:21)
Caution: For continued protection against risk of re, replace only with same type and
rating of fuse.
Attention: Pour ne pas compromettre la protection contre les risques d’incendie, rem-
placer par un fusible de même type et de même caractéristiques nominales.

Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual
v
Table of Contents
List of Figures viii
Chapter 1: Introduction 17
1.1 How to Use This Manual 17
1.2 Overview of the System Components 19
1.2.1 DF66 SuperCore 19
1.2.2 Analog and Digital I/O 19
1.2.3 Control Surface 21
1.3 Additional Hardware Components 22
1.4 Max Air Startup Sequence 23
Chapter 2: New Features in Version 3.0 25
Chapter 3: Quickstart to Common Tasks 27
3.1 Create a Title 27
3.2 Initial Router and Patchbay Setup 28
3.2.1 Name Ports 28
3.2.2 Assigning the Mic Preamps to Hubs 29
3.2.3 Label Individual Signals 30
3.2.4 Label Destination Ports and Signals 30
3.3 Channel to Strip Layout 31
3.3.1 Setting up Stereo Channels using MF Masters 31
3.3.2 Assign Channels to Strips 32
3.4 Busses 33
3.4.1 Create Main Sections and Audio Subgroups 33
3.4.2 Route to the Main Sections and Busses 36
3.4.3 Using the 24 Group Busses 36
3.5 Meters 37
3.5.1 Setting the Fader Meters On Each Strip 37
3.5.2 Screen Meters on the Touchscreen 37
3.5.3 External Meters Display 38
3.6 Knobsets 39

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3.6.1 Creating a Custom Knobset for Mono Channels 39
3.6.2 Creating a Custom Knobset for Stereo Channels 40
3.7 External Device Setup 40
3.7.1 Patching External Devices into the External Inputs 40
3.7.2 Assign External Inputs a Format and a Button 41
3.8 Monitors 42
3.9 Save a Default Title 43
Chapter 4: Touchscreen 45
4.1 Introduction to the Touchscreen 45
4.2 File 49
4.2.1 Projects 49
4.2.2 Titles 51
4.2.3 Operations on the Current Title 52
4.2.4 Default Titles 53
4.3 Patch 54
4.3.1 Destinations and Sources 55
4.3.2 Console I/O 55
4.3.3 Cabling 60
4.4 Patching Examples 63
4.4.1 Patch 12 Mics Into Channels 25–36 63
4.4.2 Main Bus Send/Return 67
4.4.3 Monitor Patching 68
4.4.4 Solo Bus and Utility Patching 68
4.4.5 Talkback Signal Patching 68
4.5 Busses 69
4.6 System 69
4.6.1 Externals 69
4.6.2 *Knobset 70
4.6.3 Mixer Model 71
4.6.4 Preferences 72
4.6.5 About 73
4.7 Channels 74
4.7.1 Multi Format Masters 74

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4.7.2 Control Groups 74
4.8 Surface 74
4.8.1 Assign 74
4.8.2 Layouts and Snapshots 76
4.8.3 Spill Area 76
4.8.4 Lock Strips 77
4.8.5 Fader Unity 77
4.9 Status 78
4.10 Super Channel 80
4.10.1 Process Order 81
4.10.2 Main and Group Bus Routing 82
4.11 Meters 83
4.11.1 Presets 83
4.11.2 Screen 84
4.11.3 Fader 87
4.11.4 Setup 88
4.12 Events 88
Chapter 5: Channels and Strips 89
5.1 Strips 89
5.1.1 Assign Channels to Strips 91
5.2 Channel Control Features 93
5.2.1 Channel Name 93
5.2.2 Fader 94
5.2.3 Meters 95
5.2.4 Status LEDs 95
5.2.5 Wave Key 95
5.2.6 Channel On Key 95
5.2.7 Channel Select Key 96
5.2.8 Solo Key 96
5.2.9 Copy and Paste 96
5.2.10 Rotary Knobs 96
5.2.11 Knobset Select Keys 97
5.2.12 In/Out Keys 98
5.2.13 Expand 98

Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual
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5.3 Channel Processing Functions 98
5.3.1 Inputs 98
5.3.2 Dynamics 101
5.3.3 EQ 102
5.3.4 Filters 103
5.3.5 Pan 104
5.3.6 Aux Busses 106
5.4 Channel Processor Order and Patch Points 107
5.4.1 Channel Processor Order 107
5.4.2 Insert Point 107
5.5 Channel Routing Functions 108
5.5.1 Group Bus Routing 108
5.5.2 Main Bus Routing 109
5.6 Mix Minus 110
Chapter 6: Busses 111
6.1 Introduction to Max Air Busses 111
6.2 Conguring Main and Group Busses 112
6.2.1 Format Selector 113
6.3 Conguring Aux Busses 116
6.3.1 Aux to Faders 116
6.3.2 Toggle On/Off 117
6.3.3 Toggle Pre/Post 117
6.3.4 Copy Fader to Aux 117
6.3.5 Copy Aux to Aux 118
6.3.6 Set Unity 118
6.3.7 Level To Off 118
6.3.8 Toggle Stereo 118
6.4 Mix Minus 119
6.5 Bus Centric Views 120
6.5.1 Group Bus View 120
6.5.2 Aux View 120
6.5.3 Main View 122
6.6 Bus Masters 123

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6.6.1 Main Section Masters 123
6.6.2 Group and Aux Bus Masters 124
6.6.3 Bus Inserts 124
6.7 Bus Processing 125
Chapter 7: Center Section 126
7.1 Super Channel 127
7.1.1 Assign a Channel to the Super Channel 128
7.1.2 Input Section 129
7.1.3 Pan 129
7.1.4 Filters 130
7.1.5 Insert 130
7.1.6 EQ 130
7.1.7 Dynamics 131
7.1.8 Fader 131
7.2 Monitors and Control Room 132
7.2.1 Monitors 133
7.2.2 Control Room 134
7.3 Talkback/Slate 137
7.3.1 Talkback 138
7.3.2 Listenback 139
7.3.3 Slate 140
7.4 Oscillator 140
7.5 Solo 142
7.5.1 Solo Mode 143
7.5.2 Solo Level 143
7.5.3 Clear Solo 143
7.5.4 Solo Switch Mode 143
7.5.5 Speaker Selection 144
7.5.6 Solo Speaker Dim 144
7.5.7 Solo-Safe 144
7.5.8 Backstop PFL 145
7.6 Soft Knobs 145
7.6.1 Soft Knob Setup Popup 146
7.7 Center Section Faders 147

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7.8 Keypad 148
7.9 Global Functions 150
7.10 Custom Keys 151
Chapter 8: Control Groups and Multi Format Masters 152
8.1 Control Groups 152
8.1.1 Create a Control Group 152
8.1.2 Assign Control Group Master to Strip 153
8.2 Multi Format Master Channels 154
8.2.1 Create a Multi Format Master Channel 154
8.3 Control Groups or Multi Format Masters 155
8.4 Spill 156
Chapter 9: Layouts and Snapshots 157
9.1 Layouts 157
9.1.1 Store 158
9.1.2 Recall 158
9.1.3 Name 158
9.1.4 Clear 158
9.2 Snapshots 159
9.2.1 Store 159
9.2.2 Recall 161
9.2.3 Name 161
9.2.4 Clear 161
Chapter 10: Scene Automation 162
10.1 Scene List 162
10.1.1 Scenes 162
10.1.2 Scene Menu 163
10.1.3 Add Scene 163
10.1.4 Insert Scene 163
10.1.5 Delete Scene 163
10.1.6 Take 163
10.1.7 Finish 164
10.1.8 Previous and Next 164

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Chapter 11: Event System 165
11.1 Input Types 166
11.2 Output Types 167
11.3 Logical Operators 168
11.4 Event Conguration Display 169
11.5 Event List 169
11.6 Input 170
11.7 Output 171
11.8 Deleting Events 171
11.9 Event Trigger on Title Load 171
11.10 GPI Examples 172
11.10.1Creating an “On-Air” Tally 172
11.10.2Using a Channel Strip to Control a Cart Machine 175
11.10.3Audio Follow Video 177

Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual
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Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual
xiii
List of Figures
1-1 Typical Max Air Hardware Conguration 20
1-2 Max Air Control Surface 21
3-1 Console Sources 28
3-3 Monitor Routing 42
4-1 Keyboard Popup 45
4-2 Touchscreen Main Menu Buttons 46
4-3 Touchscreen Main View 47
4-4 Touchscreen Navigation 48
4-5 Drives View 49
4-6 Projects View 50
4-7 Titles View 51
4-8 Save Current Data Popup 52
4-9 Current Title Buttons 52
4-10 Simplied MADI routing diagram 54
4-11 Sources and Destinations with respect to Max Air 55
4-12 Console I/O -A and B Inputs View 56
4-13 Sources and Destinations Selected 57
4-14 Patch Complete 58
4-15 Source input naming 59
4-16 Sources patched to channels 59
4-17 Cabling: MADI Out Port 61
4-18 Cabling: MADI In Port 62
4-19 Sources View with 12 Mic-Line Sources Selected 63
4-20 Selecting Destination Channels 65
4-21 Mic Patch Complete 65
4-22 Sources Selected 66
4-23 R-1 and Mics Patched 67
4-24 Main Bus Send and Return 67
4-25 Externals View 69
4-26 Knobset View 70

Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual
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4-27 Mixer Model View 71
4-28 Preferences View 72
4-29 Channels Tabs 74
4-31 Assign View 75
4-32 Spill Area function 76
4-33 Lock Strips View 77
4-34 Fader Unity popup 78
4-35 Status View 79
4-36 Super Channel View 80
4-37 Channel Selector Popup 81
4-38 Process Order Popup 81
4-39 Channel Routing Popup 82
4-40 Meters-Presets Popup 83
4-41 Meters-Screen Popup with Meters Display 84
4-42 Meters-Screen=Ext1 Popup with Meters Display 85
4-43 External Meters Display, fully congured 86
4-44 Meters-Fader Popup 87
4-45 Meters-Setup View 88
5-1 Console Strip and Bus display with block diagrams for Main and Swap channels 90
5-2 Channel Assign View 91
5-3 Channel Selector 93
5-4 Main and Swap Channel displays 93
5-5 Strip Fader 94
5-6 Rotary Knob Controls 97
5-7 Strip Function Switches 97
5-8 Mono Input knobsets 98
5-9 Stereo Input Knobsets 100
5-10 Dynamics knobsets 101
5-11 EQ knobsets 102
5-12 Filters knobsets 103
5-13 Pan Knobsets 104
5-14 Aux bus Knobset 106

Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual
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5-15 Channel processor order and patch points 107
5-16 Group Bus Routing Knobsets 108
5-17 Main Section Routing Knobset 109
5-18 Mix Minus Processing 110
6-1 Main Bus View 112
6-2 Group Bus View 113
6-3 Format Selector 114
6-4 Aux Bus Settings View 116
6-5 Mix Minus Conguration-Strips View 119
6-6 Group Bus View-Strips 120
6-7 Aux Bus View-Channels 121
6-8 Main View: A-Channels 122
6-9 CM404 Center Section with Soft Knobs 123
6-10 Bus Processing Conguration 125
7-1 CM404 Master Module 126
7-2 CM404 Super Channel Controls 127
7-3 Super Channel: Selected Channel, Pan, Filters, and Input 128
7-4 Super Channel: EQ, Insert 130
7-5 Super Channel: Dynamics 131
7-6 Monitoring Matrix 132
7-7 CM404 Monitor Controls 133
7-8 Monitors Setup Popup 133
7-9 Control Room Setup: CR Source 135
7-10 Control Room Setup: CR Output 135
7-11 CM404 Talkback/Slate 137
7-12 Talkback/Slate Setup Popup 138
7-13 Listenback Setup Popup 139
7-14 Slate Setup Popup 140
7-15 CM404 Oscillator 141
7-16 Oscillator Setup Popup 141
7-17 CM404 Solo Controls 142
7-18 Solo Setup Popup 142

Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual
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7-19 Solo Safe Popup 144
7-20 CM404 Soft Knobs 145
7-21 Soft Knobs Setup Popup 146
7-22 CM404 Center Section Faders 147
7-23 CM404 Keypad 148
7-24 Keypad Directory Popup 149
7-25 Global Function Keys 150
7-26 Custom Keys 151
8-1 Control Groups View 152
8-2 Assign Channels to CG View 153
8-3 MF Masters View 154
9-1 Layouts View 157
9-2 Store Layout Popup 158
9-3 Snapshots View 159
9-4 Store Snapshot: Strip View 160
9-5 Store Snapshot: Channel View 161
10-1 Scene Automation Operations View 162
11-1 Event View 169
11-2 Add Input Event Popup 170
11-3 Add Output Event Popup 171
11-4 On-Air Tally On 174
11-5 On-Air Tally Off 174
11-6 Cart Start 176
11-7 Cart Stop 176
11-8 Audio Follow Video Conguration 177

17
Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual
IntroductionChapter 1:
Congratulations on your purchase of Max Air, a compact high-performance digital mix-
ing console intended for on-air broadcast and live applications. Max Air has been de-
signed to satisfy broadcast audio professionals who demand the highest quality stan-
dards. Max Air is the perfect choice for serious broadcast audio production facilities that
require a powerful digital mixing system with an easy-to-use interface.
How to Use This Manual1.1
Euphonix has dedicated substantial time and resources to the Max Air documentation.
We recognize the diverse range of experience among our customers and have written
and organized the manual to be accessible to everyone. Of course it is more fun to use
Max Air than read about it but we assure you that your time reading this manual will be
well spent.
Manual Structure
We recommend that everyone read this introduction in its entirety. The manual contains
the following chapters:
Chapter 3:• Quickstart to Common Tasks: Provides the fastest way to begin using
Max Air’s basic features. Since this chapter depends on using the Touchscreen,
read page 45–48 to acquire introductory knowledge before beginning.
Chapter 4:• Touchscreen: Since Max Air uses Touchscreen software to implement
its ground-breaking user-interface, it is important to get acquainted with this new
technology. We recommend reading this chapter in its entirety.
Chapter 5:• Channels and Strips: Discusses the physical area of the console used to
control channels and the channel processing functions.
Chapter 6:• Busses: Discusses Max Air’s bus system consisting of 24 Main busses,
24 Group busses, 16 Aux busses, and a stereo solo bus.
Chapter 7:• Center Section: Discusses Max Air’s center section including the Su-
per Channel, monitors, talkback/slate, oscillator, solo, Soft Knobs, faders, keypad,
global functions, and Custom keys.
Chapter 8:• Control Groups and Multi Format Masters: Discusses how to use Con-
trol Groups and Multi Format Masters and the difference between them.
Chapter 9:• Layouts and Snapshots: Discusses how to store/recall channel-tostrip
mappings (layouts) to the console and how to store/recall channel functions (snap-
shots).
Chapter 10: Scene Automation: Describes the scene automation system and how•
to program scenes.

Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual Introduction
18
Chapter 11:• Event System: Discusses how to use the event system to program Max
Air.
How to Use the PDF
The Acrobat PDF version of this manual provided in your system can be a valuable “on-
line help” learning tool while using Max Air. We have included some amenities that we
wish to explain for those not familiar with Acrobat:
The Bookmarks on the left serve as a continuously visible table of contents while•
reading. Click on a subject heading to jump to that page. Click a + symbol to
expand that heading to show subheadings. Click the - symbol to collapse the sub-
headings.
The manual’s table of contents and list of gures are “active links” to their pages. •
Select the “hand” cursor, allow it to hover over the heading and turn into a “n-
ger.” Then click to locate to that subject and page.
All cross references are active links. Allow the “hand” cursor to hover over the•
reference, turn into a “nger,” and click to follow the reference.
Use the left and right arrow keys on the top bar to go back and forth between•
views. This is a great way to follow a cross reference and return to the page from
which you were reading.
Select the• Find item from the Edit menu (Ctrl-F) to search for a subject. This can
be used as an “index on the y.”
Use the magnifying glass tool or the zoom edit box on the top bar to zoom in/out.•
This is helpful when examining a complex graphic or setting the text size for easy
reading online.
Acrobat Reader version 4 or later is required to open the PDF. This can be downloaded
for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual Introduction
19
Overview of the System Components1.2
DF66 SuperCore1.2.1
The DF66 SuperCore performs all Max Air audio processing: dynamics and EQ; Mix,
Group, Aux, and Monitor busses. The DF66 can employ from two to six SP662 DSP
cards, supporting Mixer Models from 68 to 194 channels
Analog and Digital I/O1.2.2
The engineer has complete freedom to decide how to route sources and destinations to
the console from the Touchscreen Patch View, which easily handles 224 digital and ana-
log sources. Max Air can be expanded to accommodate 1536 sources, suitable for large
commercial installations.
Digital and analog I/O units connect all of the devices in the studio via MADI. All audio
signals are converted to and from the MADI format through analog and digital convert-
ers. The basic Max Air system includes eight MADI Inputs and seven Outputs to con-
nect I/O devices. Additional MADI ports can be added by expanding the system with up
to six SP662 DSP cards. Each 75- Ω coaxial MADI cable can carry up to 56 channels
of 24-bit digital audio at 44.1 or 48 kHz. These MADI inputs and outputs appear at the
console’s internal router/patchbay. See Console I/O on page 55 for more information.
Microphone Inputs
Microphone inputs are handled by the ML530 Mic/Line Interfaces or the Modular I/O
System.
Each ML530 unit contains 24 remote-controlled microphone preamps, connected
to a dedicated AM713 Analog to MADI Conveter. A system can include up to seven
ML530s.
Each Modular I/O System frame can contain from 4 to 64 remote-controlled microphone
preamps. A system can include up to four frames.

Euphonix Max Air Mixing Console Operation Manual Introduction
20
Monitoring
The MC524 Monitor Controller provides analog monitor outputs. This unit provides
Main (7.1), Alt 1 (5.1), and Alt 2 (stereo) control room monitoring, SLS (7.1), and Cues
1–3 (each stereo) studio monitoring, two talkback preamps, and four listen microphone
preamps. The MC524 is connected to a dedicated MA703 MADI to Analog Converter.
MC524
Monitor Interface
MA703
MADI to Analog
MIDI I/F
GPI/O
MA703
MADI to Analog
AM713
Analog to MADI
ML530
Analog Mic/Line
AM713
Analog to MADI
Talk & Listen
Mics
Speakers
FC726
Digital
FC726
Digital
Ethernet
Control
MADI
Analog Audio
Digital Audio
24
24 24
Typical Max Air Configuration
107 Full Channel Signal Paths
Inputs: 112 Digital, 24 Mic, 24 Line = 160
Ouputs: 112 Digital, 24 Line = 136
56 Digital
56 Digital
56 Digital
56 Digital
System
Computer
CM404
Center Section
CM416
Sixteen Fader Module
CM416
Sixteen Fader Module
DF66
SuperCore
Typical Max Air Hardware Conguration (Modular I/O not shown)Figure 1-1