Merging Pyramix User manual

6.1
USER MANUAL
User Manual
User Manual

No part of this documentation may be reproduced in any form whatsoever or be stored in any
data retrieval system without prior written permission of the copyright owners.
This documentation is supplied on an as-is basis. Information contained within this documenta-
tion is subject to change at any time without notice and must not be relied upon.
All company and product names are ™ or Registered Trademarks ® of their respective owners.
Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 2000 are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Merging Technologies makes no warranties express or implied regarding this software, its qual-
ity, performance, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The software is supplied “as
is” you, the purchaser, are assuming the entire risk of the results of using this Merging Technolo-
gies software.
In no circumstances will Merging Technologies, its owners, directors, officers, employees or
agents be liable to you for any consequential, incidental or indirect loss or damages including
loss of time, loss of business, loss of profits, loss of data or similar resulting from the use of or
inability to use the Merging Technologies hardware and or software or for any defect in the
hardware software or documentation.
©Copyright Merging Technologies Inc. 2009. All rights reserved
Merging Technologies
Le Verney 1070 Puidoux Switzerland
Tel: [phone] •Fax: [phone]
www.merging.com

Contents : iii
Contents
Document Version: V6.1 User Manual-20
Date: 21st-July-2009

Contents : iv
Contents iii
1 Introduction 19
Thank you! 20
Contacting Merging 20
International Office: 20
UK: 20
USA: 20
Installation 21
About This Manual 21
Scope 21
Commands Reference 21
MassCore™ 21
Important Note 22
Pyramix Guides 22
Other Pyramix Guides 22
Assumptions 23
Conventions 23
Pyramix Virtual Studio Overview 24
Program Window 24
Project Window 25
Status Bar 25
Project Editing Panel 26
Project Management Panel 26
Dual Monitors 26
TimeCode Entry 27
Automatic Fades and Crossfades 27
Summary 27
Sample Rate Conversion 28
2 MassCore 29
Overview 30
Windows Boot Choice 30
Memory 31
Windows Vista 31
Windows XP 31
Core Load Indicators 32
Pyramix V6 Latency Modes for MassCore 34
3 Projects 35
Overview 36

Contents : v
Editing Project 36
User Templates 38
4 Media Management 39
Housekeeping 40
Audition Play 40
Media Folders 40
Media Target Settings 40
CD Import 40
Drag and Drop 40
Libraries 40
Shelves 41
Project Libraries 41
Global Libraries 41
User Libraries 41
Library Maintenance 42
Practical Media Management 43
The Media Menu 43
Media Management and Libraries Tab Windows 44
Media Management and Library Fields 46
Tools and Menus 46
The Trimmer 46
Library Menus 48
Quick Convert Process Properties Dialogs 55
Managing Media Folders 62
Quick Mount 62
Mounting Rules 63
Offline / Reference Libraries 65
Creating Offline/Reference Libraries 65
Using Offline/Reference Libraries 68
5 Tracks and Track Groups 69
Tracks 70
Adding Tracks 70
Creating tracks via paste 70
Create New Tracks 71
Track Types 72
Tracks Grouping 73
Deleting Tracks 73
Routing Tracks to / from the Mixer 74
Track Header Panel 74
Track Header Components 75

Contents : vi
Track Record Modes 77
Tracks Tab Window 78
Track Tab Column Fields 79
Track Groups 81
Track Group Column Fields 81
Virtual Tracks 83
6 Transport and Navigation 84
Transport Control 85
Navigation 85
Time Scale Bars 85
Playhead Cursor Options 92
Markers 94
Markers Tab Window 94
Jog / Shuttle 95
Jog Settings 95
Mouse Scrubbing Settings 96
Transport Controls 96
Transport Control Panel 98
Zooming and Panning 99
Time Scale Zoom and Pan 99
Track Height Zoom 99
Scroll Wheel 99
The Overview 100
7 Recording and Acquisition 101
Getting Audio into Pyramix Virtual Studio 102
Check Sync 102
File Format and Disk Limitations 102
Pyramix audio file format 103
Recording Audio into a Pyramix Virtual Studio Project 103
Track Record Modes 103
After Recording 104
AutoPunch Mode 104
Safety Record Mode 104
Importing Audio Files into Pyramix Virtual Studio 105
Mounting Media Folders 105
Sample Rate Conversion 105
Digitizing Sessions 107
Manual Digitizing 108
Autoconforming 108

Contents : vii
8 Editing 110
Editing in the Timeline 111
Clips and Compositions 111
Clips in a Composition 111
Sample Rate Mismatch 111
Anatomy of a Clip 112
Locking Clips 113
Grouping Clips 113
Gain Window 113
Clip and Selection Editing 114
Clip Properties 115
Renaming Clips 115
Selection Tab Window 116
Selections and Region Selections 118
Dragging Clips into a Composition 119
Copy and Paste 119
Auto-Crossfade By Default 121
Clip Fade Commands 121
Editing Modes 122
Splitting Clips and Regions 123
Jog-Wheel Editing 123
Playlists 124
Edit Command highlights: 124
Auto Silence Removal 129
EDL Tab Window 129
The Placement Tool 130
Source - Destination Editing 132
Concept 132
Setting up a Source - Destination Environment 132
2,3 and 4 Point Edits 135
9 Fade Editor 136
Fade Editor Tab Window 137
Toolbar 137
The Graphical Display 139
The Faders & Control Section 139
Parameters & Options Section 140
Save X Fade 142
Save Fade 143

Contents : viii
10 Mixer 144
Overview 145
Mixer Pages 145
Configure Page 146
Settings 146
Strip and Bus operations 148
Effect Management 150
External Effects Inserts 152
Organize Page 153
Route Page 154
Automate Page 155
Mix ! 156
Mixer Components 160
Input Strips 160
Direct Monitoring Input Strips 160
Mixing/Monitoring/Aux Send and SubGroup Buses 160
Groups 163
Channel Direct Outputs 164
Strip & Bus Channel Types 164
Basic Strip 171
Creating and Configuring Mixers 174
Mixer Configuration Wizard 175
I/O Buses Explained 176
Input Strip Types 176
Internal Return Buses 176
Mixer Delay Compensation 177
Summary 177
Delay Compensation Switching 177
Delay Compensation 178
Configuring a Blank or Existing Mixer 181
Adding Strips 181
Mixer I/O Assignments 181
Effects and Plug-ins 181
Further Mixer Configuration Options 187
Dithering Options 188
Mixer Presets 189
Mixer Surround Components 190
Surround Control window 191
Peak Logger 193
MT ASIO Bridge 195

Contents : ix
11 Monitor 196
Monitor ! Window 197
Scope 197
Monitor ! page 197
Speaker Sets 199
Configure page 200
Commands 202
Media Manager Monitoring 204
External Metering 204
External Inputs 205
Adding an External Machine 205
Talkback 205
Setting Up 207
Foldback 213
12 Meter Bridge 214
Meter Bridge 215
Scope 215
Meter Bridge Switch 215
Meter Bridge Window 216
Configuring the Meter Bridge 217
Automation Fader Mode and Group Indicators 220
13 Effects and Plug-Ins 221
Effects and Plug-ins 222
Adding and Managing Effects 222
VS3 Plug-In Support 222
Viewing Plug-in Information 223
Common Components 223
Effects Automation 226
Parametric EQ 226
10 Bands EQ 227
Three Band Tone Control 227
Dynamics Processing 228
Delay 230
Flanger 231
MS Encoder 232
AnguDion 232
AnguDion II 233
Mastering Peak/Vu Meters 234
Peak-Meter 235

Contents : x
Global Settings and Presets 236
Phase-Oscillo 240
Surround Meter 242
DC Meter 242
Modulometer 243
Function Generator 244
Wordlength Meter 245
Effects and Plug-in Automation 245
Effects Snapshots 245
Optional Plug-ins 245
Merging Technologies 246
Flux 248
Algorithmix 251
Arkamys 251
Vincent Burel 251
Cedar Audio Restoration Suite for Pyramix 252
Prosoniq 252
Scopein 254
VST Support 255
VST Plug-ins 255
VST Plug-in Automation 258
Direct X Plug-ins 260
External Effects 261
14 Automation 262
Scope 263
Master Automation Controls 263
Global Dynamic Automation Modes 263
Snapshot Automation 263
Dynamic Automation Modes 264
Selecting Automation Modes 264
Auto-Write and Release Modes 266
Projects With Existing Automation 267
Display and Editing of Automation Data 267
View Several Parameters 271
Undo/Redo 271
Editing Automation data 272
Automation Settings 273
Automation in editing and libraries 274
Mixer and Plug-in Snapshots 274

Contents : xi
15 Strip and Bus Tools 275
Strip and Bus Tools 276
Eq, Comp/Limiter/Expander 276
Sections 277
Common Features 277
Bus Tools 283
Delay Compensation 288
Delay Compensation / Pre-Anticipation 290
16 Project Processes 291
Dither 292
Mixing Down Projects 293
Archiving Projects 294
Consolidating Projects 295
Converting Projects 296
Changing Project Length / Pitch 296
Reconforming a Project 296
Surround Post-Processing Projects 296
Rendering Projects 297
Process Plug-ins 298
Effects Rack 298
Glitch Detector 300
Levelizer 300
Nova 300
Pencil 301
Prosoniq MPEX3 302
Cleaning Up Project media 302
Project Notes 302
17 File and Project Interchange 303
File Interchange - Formats 304
File Size Limitations 304
Hard Drive Limitations 305
PMF 305
WAV and BWF 305
Broadcast WAV file Tips. 306
Quicktime 306
Compressed Audio File Formats 307
Codecs 307
How Compressed Audio Support Works 307
MXF 308

Contents : xii
File & Project Interchange with Apple Macintosh 308
Project Interchange 310
Import 312
Export 313
AAF 314
AES-31 316
AKAI DD/DR 318
CD Import 319
CMX EDL 322
Cue Sheets Printer 323
DAR Reel/Segment 323
DDP Import 323
Final Cut Pro XML 323
OMF 324
Open TL 325
ProTools 326
Report Printer 327
SACD Edited Master Import 327
Sonic Solutions 327
Video Clips 327
XML 328
Cue Sheet Printer 328
18 Customizing Pyramix 331
Customizing the User Interface 332
Toolbars and Menus 332
Workspaces 332
Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts 334
User Macros 336
19 Applications 337
Project Templates 338
Virtual Multi-track 338
Player/Recorder Mode 340
Multitrack Editing 340
LTC sync 340
Dubbing Mode 341
Virtual Tape Mode 341
Discontinuous TimeCode 343
Metronome / Click Track 343
Reconforming to Original Media from Avid &/or OMF 345
Digitizing a Tape with Discontinuous TimeCode 346

Contents : xiii
Loop Recording With Simultaneous Playlist Creation 347
TimeCode Midnight 347
Editing Multitrack Recordings 347
Film 24 to NTSC Sync 347
Checking AC3 encoded files in Pyramix 348
Working with External Machines 349
Use Auto-chase 349
Using Freeze Mode 349
Versioning 349
20 Conforming and Reconforming 350
Conforming 351
CMX EDLs 351
Importing a CMX EDL 351
CMX EDL Format 353
CMX Autoconform 354
Reconform 355
Introduction 355
Reconforming with an Existing Change EDL 355
Reconforming Using Pyramix for Picture Change Detection 359
Reconforming Using VCube for Picture Change Detection 367
Relink to New Media 376
21 Machine Control 378
Control of External Device 379
External Machines 379
9-pin (Sony P2 protocol) 379
Setting up an external machine 379
Linking Functions of External and Internal Machines 380
Synchronizer 380
Chase Synchronizer 380
9-Pin Controller/Synchronizer Explained 380
Transport Control Panel 381
Internal / External Machine panels - Features 382
Internal Machine panel - Features 384
External Machine panel - Features 385
TimeCode Registers 387
Controllers Section 387
Examples: 388
22 Remote Control 389
Scope 390

Contents : xiv
Ramses MSC 390
Hardware Control Surfaces 390
ISIS 390
Supported Controllers Table 390
Controllers Table 391
Control by External Device 392
EMC 392
OASIS Protocol 394
23 GPI / GPO Control 396
GPI / GPO Support 397
24 CD/SACD Mastering 400
Mastering a Composition to CD-R 401
IMPORTANT! - First Steps 401
CD Markers 401
Convert Text Markers to CD 401
CD/SACD Tab Window 402
Album: 402
All Markers... 403
Track Inspector 404
Right section 404
CD/SACD Tab Window Menus 405
Discs 405
Markers 406
Offsets 406
ISRC 406
CD-Text 406
View 407
Default Settings 407
Show CD Player 409
Ghost Track 410
Multiple CDs or versions in one Project 410
Red-Book Validation 410
DDP Import 410
CD Image File / SACD Edited Master Import 411
SACD Functions 411
Exporting Projects to CD Image Files 412
CD Cue Sheets 415
Export 415
DiscWrite 417

Contents : xv
Source 417
Info 419
Target 419
Optical Drives - Important Note: 421
CD Text 421
Burning a CD-R 421
DDP Masters 422
Red Book Compatible Masters 422
CD Copy 422
TOCs 422
Importing a U-Matic Tape 423
25 Productivity 428
Locating Clips 429
Waveform Generator Utility 429
Tab Windows 430
Tab Arrangement 430
Optimizing Pyramix 437
Use Templates 437
Pyramix File Format .PMF 437
One File Per Track option 437
Reducing Unnecessary Disk Access 437
DSP optimization 437
DSP Allocation 439
MassCore DSP Allocation 442
Use Work Spaces 443
Creating tracks via paste 443
Disable Skin 443
26 Menus 444
Pyramix Default Menus 445
Project 445
Edit 447
View Menu 452
Clips 457
Tracks 461
Cursors & Marks 463
Selection 467
Fade Editor 468
Media 471
Automation 472
Workspaces 473

Contents : xvi
ADR 474
Machines 474
Macros 479
Settings 479
Window 479
Help 480
27 Settings 481
Configuration - The Settings Dialog Window 482
Settings Buttons 483
Hardware 484
Formats and Sync 484
MassCore 488
I/O Interfaces 489
Master Board(#Serial No.) 489
ADAT Board Settings 490
AES II and AES II SRC Board Settings 491
I/O Interfaces 491
AES/EBU 491
DUAL Board Settings 493
MADI Board Settings 494
SDIF Board Settings 496
TDIF Board Settings 496
HDTDM / XDTDM / MassCore Routing 498
HDTDM Routing 499
XDTDM Routing 500
MassCore 501
DXD Projects I/O Routing 501
DSD Projects I/O routing 502
TimeCode 503
Project 506
General 506
Record 507
Controller Mapping 512
Mixer 513
Level Meter 513
DSP Power Saving 515
Mixer Settings 516
Plug-ins Settings 517
Application 518
General 518
Editing 520

Contents : xvii
Playback/Record 522
Jog/Chase 524
CD/SACD 528
Desktop Layout 529
TimeLine layout 530
Track Headers Layout 532
Keys 533
Location 534
Automation 535
Time Stretch 536
TimeZone Settings 536
Prosoniq MPEX3 Settings 537
Remote Control 538
Machine 538
Controller 543
Virtual Transport 547
28 Troubleshooting 549
Keeping Up To Date 550
Error Messages 550
Multi-channel Audio Files 551
No Sound on Live Inputs 552
Clip Display Problems 553
Relaunch After Improper Exit 553
The I/O Status window 554
Input sources 554
Debug Menu 554
ADAT Daughterboard and XDTDM 556
General Troubleshooting 557
29 Appendices 559
Appendix I - Mouse Modifier Keys 560
Main Editor 560
Overview 561
Notes 562
Media Folder 562
Appendix II I/O Daughter-card Options 562
Daughter Card Support in Pyramix 6.x 566
Appendix III VS3 Control Panel 566
Saving Settings 571
Routing 571
Appendix IV - HDTDM v XDTDM v MassCore 571

Contents : xviii
Internal Bussing & I/O Capabilities 571
Appendix V Optional Features 573
Pyramix DSD / SACD 573
Time-code Sync 575
Cue Sequencer 575
Appendix VI 9 - Pin connection 576
PC RS-232 Serial Port to External Sony P2 RS-422 Controller 576
Connecting an RS422 device using a direct cable 576
Appendix VII - Mykerinos Latencies 578
Appendix IIX - Network Connections 578
Ethernet Connection & Settings 579
Synchronization with Virtual Transport 580
Appendix IX - Pyramix iXML Implementation 582
Index 583

USER MANUAL
www.merging.com/Pyramix
Introduction

Introduction : Thank you! 1 - 20
Thank you!
Congratulations on your purchase of Pyramix Virtual Studio. More than just a product, this is a gateway to the
future of sound recording, editing, mixing and mastering. You have joined a worldwide community of users who
have already discovered the Pyramix advantage.
Note: IMPORTANT! - The first thing you need to do is register your software to acquire
your Pyramix key(s) and to be included in our user support list.
Please also subscribe to the User Forum at:
http://forum.merging.com/
Contacting Merging
International Office:
Merging Technologies S.A.
Le Verney
CH-1070 Puidoux
Switzerland
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
UK:
Merging UK
St Clare House, St Clare Business Park
Holly Road, Hampton Hill
Middx UK
TW12 1QQ
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
USA:
Merging USA (Independent Audio)
43 Deerfield Road
Portland,
ME 04101-1805
United States of America
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
For all documentation inquiries or suggestions for improvement:
http://www.merging.com