FaderMate Master Control Unit Assembly instructions

Product Fitting Guide v1.0.0 (October 2018)
© 2018 FaderMate. All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Background.............................................................................................................................3
1.2 Document Outline...................................................................................................................3
1.3 Further Reading......................................................................................................................3
2 System Overview............................................................................................................................
2.1 Component Descriptions.........................................................................................................
2.2 MCU Overview.......................................................................................................................
2.3 MCU Kit Contents..................................................................................................................5
2. FCU Overview........................................................................................................................5
2.5 FCU Kit Contents...................................................................................................................6
2.6 Block Diagram........................................................................................................................7
3 Console Compatibility Requirements.............................................................................................8
3.1 Fader Body Fit........................................................................................................................8
3.2 Fader Cables...........................................................................................................................9
3.3 FCU Fit.................................................................................................................................10
3. Cabling..................................................................................................................................1
3.5 Planning Your Installation.....................................................................................................16
Fitting Instructions........................................................................................................................18
.1 Before You Begin..................................................................................................................18
.2 Setting FCU IDs....................................................................................................................18
.3 Installing FCUs and Routing Daisychain Cables.................................................................20
. Connecting the Data Interface..............................................................................................21
.5 Connecting the Power Cables...............................................................................................2
.6 System Connectivity Test.....................................................................................................27
.7 Removing the Old Faders.....................................................................................................28
.8 Connecting Console Audio to the FCU................................................................................31
.9 Fitting and Connecting the Motorised Faders.......................................................................32
.10 Basic System Test...............................................................................................................3
.11 System Calibration..............................................................................................................35
5 Using the Product.........................................................................................................................35
Version History..................................................................................................................................36
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1 Introduction
1.1 Background
FaderMate is a oving fader auto ation syste which has been designed to be retrofitted
to a wide range of analogue recording consoles.
Fitting the syste involves replacing the existing audio faders in the console with the
otorised faders supplied as part of the FaderMate Fader Control Unit (FCU) kit.
FaderMate specifically does not require any echanical odifications to be ade to fader-
related etalwork in ost consoles.
Each bank of 8 faders is controlled by a single FCU circuit board (see section 2.4) which
ust be installed in the fader tray void. The FaderMate syste as a whole is controlled by
a 1U rack ount Master Control Unit (MCU - see section 2.2).
1.2 Document Outline
This docu ent explains the following:
How to deter ine if a particular console is co patible with FaderMate
How the syste plugs together
How to install a full syste
1.3 Further Reading
For ore infor ation about how to use the product after it has been installed, please refer
to the FaderMate Product Manual.
For specific infor ation relating to the FaderMate GUI anage ent software application
(used for syste calibration and configuration), please refer to the FaderMate GUI User
Guide.
The latest versions of these docu ents can be found at
http://fadermate.co.uk/downloads.html.
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2 ystem Overview
This section gives a brief overview of the FaderMate syste in order to provide context for
sections 3 (Console Compatibility Requirements) and 4 (Fitting Instructions).
More detailed descriptions of the roles of the various syste co ponents are given in the
Product Manual (available at http://fadermate.co.uk/downloads.html).
2.1 Component Descriptions
A FaderMate syste co prises two subsyste kits: a single Master Control Unit (MCU) kit
and up to 4 Fader Control Unit (FCU) kits.
2.2 MCU Overview
The Master Control Unit is the heart of the FaderMate syste . It is a 1U rack ount
odule which should be ounted close to the console. It connects the FaderMate syste
to the co puter by eans of 8 MIDI DIN connectors (on the rear panel) and a USB
anage ent connector (on the front panel).
The front and rear panels of the MCU are shown in Figures 2.2.1 and 2.2.2.
Figure . .1 – MCU Front Panel
Figure . . – MCU Rear Panel

2.3 MCU Kit Contents
The MCU kit contains the following co ponents:
a) 1 x FaderMate MCU odule
b) 1 x daisychain data interface cable
c) 1 x aster data interface cable
d) 1 x length of two core power cable
e) 1 x IEC ains cable
f) 1 x USB type A to type B configuration cable
A full MCU kit is shown in Figure 2.3.1.
Figure .3.1 – MCU Kit Contents
2.4 FCU Overview
The Fader Control Unit (FCU) is a single circuit board which deals with the auto ation of a
bank of 8 faders.
It receives its power fro and co unicates with the DAW software via the MCU.
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2.5 FCU Kit Contents
The FCU kit contains the following co ponents:
•1 x FaderMate FCU odule
•8 x Alps otorised faders (fitted with custo ribbon cables)
•8 x etallised fader knobs
A full FCU kit is shown in Figure 2.5.1.
Figure .5.1 – FCU Kit Contents
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2.6 Block Diagram
The block diagra of an exa ple 24 channel FaderMate installation is shown in Figure
2.6.1.
Figure .6.1 – 4 Channel Installation Block Diagram
A single MCU can support between 1 and 4 (inclusive) FCUs and thus up to 32 oving
faders can be acco odated. There is no reason (in principle) that an installation could
not include 2 or ore MCUs to allow ore than 32 faders to be auto ated (subject to
support in your preferred DAW software).
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3 Console Compatibility Requirements
Although FaderMate is intended to be a universal syste , there are several echanical
factors to consider when deter ining whether your console is co patible with the syste .
These require ents can be su arised as:
The otorised faders ust fit in place of the original faders
The console ust be able to acco odate the FCU circuit boards in such a way
that the otorised fader interface cables reach between the board connectors and
the faders
There ust be a way to get the necessary data interface and power cables inside
the console and connected to one of the FCU circuit boards
It ay also be useful to refer to sections 2 (System Overview) and 4 (Fitting Instructions)
which provide so e context for how the whole syste fits together.
3.1 Fader Body Fit
Each FCU kit ships with 8 Alps otorised faders.
The crucial difference between this fader and a non- otorised unit is that there is a drive
pulley at the top of the fader as shown in Figure 3.1.1.
Figure 3.1.1 – Motorised Fader Drive Pulley
The presence of the drive pulley extends the body of the fader by approxi ately 14
beyond the centre of the top fader ounting hole.
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FaderMate will only fit a console which can acco odate this extended fader body. The
parts which are ost likely to foul the otorised fader are
•The first potentio eter/switch in the channel strip (at the top of the fader)
•The console ‘buffer rail’ (at the botto of the fader)
Figure 3.1.2 illustrates these space constraints in a typical console.
Figure 3.1. – Typical Motorised Fader Space Constraints
3.2 Fader Cables
The faders supplied as part of the standard FCU kit are fitted with cables 10c in length. If
required to acco odate echanical peculiarities of a particular console, you ay
request any nu ber of your otorised faders to be fitted with an alternative longer cable of
approxi ate length 33c .
Please see section 3.5 (Planning Your Installation) for ore details about the
circu stances under which it is appropriate to request faders with longer interface cables
when sub itting an order.
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3.3 FCU Fit
An outline (plan view) drawing of the FCU circuit board is shown in Figure 3.3.1. Note that
if the diagra is printed on A4 paper it is to scale.
Crucially, the FCU board has di ensions of 23.2 c x 14.5 c x 2.5c (width x length x
height) and would usually be placed in the fader tray directly underneath the faders which
it controls.
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Figure 3.3.1 – FCU Circuit Board Dimensions
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Figure 3.3.2 shows a photograph of 2 FCU circuit boards with all ancillary connection
cables (although no audio wires and no faders) fitted.
NOTE: As the ‘daisychain’ power and data cables are used to allow all FCU boards
to connect to the MCU through a single set o connectors/cables, they are only
necessary or systems which include more than 1 FCU.
Figure 3.3. – FCU Boards With FaderMate System Connections
The standard otorised fader (including connector) adds a further 3.5c to the required
fader tray depth giving a total required height of 6 c fro the botto of the fader
faceplates to the botto of the fader tray.
To illustrate the space taken up by an FCU underneath the otorised faders. Figure 3.3.3
shows a single otorised fader installed in a console above an FCU which has been fitted
in the fader tray.
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Figure 3.3.3 – FCU Circuit Board and Motorised Fader Installed in Console
Figure 3.3.4 illustrates the total FCU syste co ponent stack up which deter ines the
required fader tray depth.
Figure 3.3.4 – FCU Circuit Board and Motorised Fader Stackup (Side View)
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3.4 Cabling
It is expected that the MCU will usually be ounted in an equip ent rack adjacent to the
console. It is necessary to pass two types of cable fro the rear of the MCU to one of the
FCUs inside the console:
Master data interface cable (a 26 way ribbon cable of length 2 etres ter inated at
both ends by DB25 connectors).
Power cable (a 2 core cable of length 2 etres and dia eter ~6 )
Figure 3.4.1 shows the aster data interface cable.
Figure 3.4.1 – Master Data Interface Cable
It is i portant to consider the di ensions of the DB25 connectors on the data interface
cable as one of these ust also be passed into the console. The di ensions of the DB25
connectors are shown in Figure 3.4.2.
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Figure 3.4. – Data Interface Cable DB 5 Connector Dimensions
Figure 3.4.3 shows a length of the supplied power cable.
Figure 3.4.3 – Power Cable
The two possible ways of getting the cables inside the console are:
Cutting/drilling panels and gro eting the hole(s)
Feeding the cables through existing gaps in the etalwork
Note that the data interface cable is 2 etres long. It is therefore not possible to locate the
MCU further than this distance fro the console.
Di ensions for the daisychain data cable used to connect together all of the FCUs in the
syste are shown in Figure 3.4.4.
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Figure 3.4.4 – Daisychain Data Cable Dimensions
The cable length and connector spacing on the standard daisychain data cable are
adequate for ost consoles. However, we are able to acco odate requests for the
supply of non-standard data cables where necessary (subject to axi u length
constraints).
3.5 Planning Your Installation
When planning a FaderMate installation, here are so e questions you should ask
yourself:
•Will the FCU boards definitely fit? It ay be useful to print out the scale diagra in
section 3.3.1 and use it to visualise how the syste will be installed.
•Are the faders for all of the channels you wish to auto ate next to each other?
So e designs split the console into sections. So eti es the sections/’buckets’
don’t contain ultiples of 8 faders and so faders controlled by a single FCU ay be
so e distance fro the board.
•Will the standard daisychain data cable reach between your planned positions for
the FCUs? Do you need to request a custo cable as described in section 3.4?
•Will you require any faders with long interface cables to span the distance between
the FCU board and the faders which will be furthest away fro it?
•Will it be possible to install all FCU boards underneath the faders which they
control? Will the internal construction of the console (e.g. bulkheads between
‘buckets’ of channels) ake it necessary to stack FCU boards on top of each other?
•Are there any legacy syste s (e.g. a defunct auto ation syste ) taking up space
inside the console?
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•How will the aster data and power cables be passed inside the console? Will you
need to perfor any cutting/drilling or other physical odifications to your console?
NOTE: I in doubt, please arrange to have the work completed by a suitably-
knowledgeable technician.
We have a small network o approved installers. Please get in contact via
in o@ adermate.co.uk to ind out i we have an installer in your area.
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4 Fitting Instructions
4.1 Before You Begin
Before fitting the FaderMate syste to the console, it is strongly advised that you perfor
a ‘dry run’. That is, you should find a suitably large area (e.g. a large table) and asse ble
the syste electrically (except for the audio connections) to ensure that everything works
as expected before odifying the console.
It is extre ely i portant to respect the order of operations described in this section.
WARNING: The FCU system is implemented as a bare circuit board which contains
several devices which may be damaged by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). Proper
handling precautions must be observed.
I in doubt, please seek the help o an appropriately-quali ied technician be ore
proceeding.
4.2 etting FCU IDs
The MCU deals with the routing of data between the individual FCUs in a FaderMate
installation and the co puter running the DAW with which the syste is co unicating.
In order to route MIDI data appropriately between a particular FCU and a given MIDI
interface input/output pair, it is necessary that the MCU knows
How any FCUs are connected and;
Where (physically) each FCU resides in the installation
For this reason, each FCU circuit board includes an ID Selection switch. Figure 4.2.1
highlights the location of SW1 (ID Selection Switch).
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Figure 4. .1 – FCU ID Selection Switch SW1 (Top View)
Figure 4.2.2 shows SW1 as viewed fro the rear edge of the circuit board.
Figure 4. . – FCU ID Selection Switch SW1 (Rear View)
Prior to connecting any cables, SW1 on each FCU odule in the installation ust be set to
the appropriate state.
The positions of the individual switches in SW1 correspond to the FCU ID nu bers as
described in Table 4.2.1.
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Switch 1 Switch 2 FCU ID
Down Down 1
Up Down 2
Down Up 3
Up Up 4
Table 4. .1 – SW1 Positions → FCU ID Map
A FaderMate installation co prising n FCUs ust always use the lowest n FCU IDs.
For exa ple, a 16 channel syste will include 2 FCUs. The 2 FCUs ust have their IDs
set to 1 and 2. If, for exa ple, the FCU IDs were set to 3 and 4, or 1 and 3, the syste
would alfunction.
The ost logical way of assigning FCU IDs to odules in a FaderMate installation is to
ake FCU 1 control the first (left ost) bank of 8 faders (channels 1 - 8 on the console),
FCU 2 control the second bank of 8 faders (channels 9 – 16 on the console) and so on.
WARNING: I any FCU IDs are duplicated and the system is powered up, serious
damage may result. Please ensure that all FCU IDs have been double-checked
be ore connecting any cables or powering up the MCU.
4.3 Installing FCUs and Routing Daisychain Cables
NOTE: Only per orm this step i you are actually installing the system in a console.
I you are per orming a ‘dry run’ to ensure that the system is working correctly, skip
this step.
The standard way to install an FCU is to stick it to an e pty fader tray (directly underneath
the faders it will control) using the standard supplied adhesive feet. However, your console
ay offer ore of a challenge!
It doesn’t really atter where the FCUs are installed so long as the following rules are
followed:
•All cables (fader, power and data interface) reach where they need to without being
placed under undue strain
•Care is taken to not cause any short circuits or other da age to the FCU boards.
For exa ple, a board cannot be placed directly on to a bare etal surface with no
insulating layer in between.
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