Pyramix X User manual

6.1
USER MANUAL
XUser Man-
ual
User Manual

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Contents iii
Contents
Document Version: V10.2 User Manual-rev 4
Date: 16th - February - 2017

Contents iv
Contents iii
1 Introduction 21
Thank you! 22
Contacting Merging 22
International Office: 22
UK: 22
USA: 22
Installation 23
About This Manual 23
Scope 23
Commands Reference 23
MassCore™ 24
Important Note 24
Pyramix Guides 24
Other Pyramix Guides 24
Assumptions 25
Conventions 25
Pyramix Virtual Studio Overview 26
Program Window 27
Project Window 28
Status Bar 28
Project Editing Panel 29
Project Management Panel 29
Tab Windows 30
Toolbars 31
Dual Monitors 32
TimeCode Entry 32
Automatic Fades and Crossfades 33
Summary 33
Sample Rate Conversion 33
2 MassCore 34
Overview 35
Windows Boot Choice 35
Memory 35
Core Load Indicators 36
3 Projects 39
Overview 40
Backward Compatibility 40

Contents v
Project Files 40
Editing Project 40
User Templates 43
4 Media Management & Libraries 44
Housekeeping 45
Databases 45
Performance Tips! 46
Media Folders 46
Media Target Settings 46
Audition Play 46
Drag and Drop 46
Database Views 47
Search 48
Quick Search 48
Search Media Dialog 49
Search Filters 55
Media Management 56
The Media Menu 56
Media Management and Library Tab Windows 57
Media Management and Library Tab Columns 57
The Trimmer 59
Media Management Tab Window 60
Media Browser 61
Media Management Tab Menus 61
Media Management Tab Context Menu 78
Media Manager File Format Conversions 80
Libraries and other View Windows 81
Other View Windows 82
Library Maintenance 82
Using Global Libraries 82
Useful Library Commands 84
Library Tab Windows 85
Library Menus 85
Library Tab Context Menu 91
Offline / Reference Libraries 92
Creating Offline/Reference Libraries 92
Using Offline/Reference Libraries 92
Media / Timeline Linkage 92
Mounting Rules 93

Contents vi
5 Tracks and Track Groups 95
Tracks 96
Track Numbering 96
Adding Tracks 96
Creating Tracks via Paste 96
Create New Tracks 97
Track Types 98
Audio Tracks 98
Tracks Grouping 99
Synchronized Creation/Deletion of Tracks/Strips 100
Deleting Tracks 100
Routing Tracks to / from the Mixer 100
Track Display Height 101
Track Header Panel 101
Track Header Components 103
Track Record Modes 107
Automation Tracks 107
Automation Sub-Tracks 107
Bus and VCA Group Automation Tracks 109
Tracks Tab Window 110
Track Tab Column Fields 111
Track Envelope and Static Gain 113
Static Gain 113
Envelope 114
Track Groups 117
Track Group Column Fields 117
6 Transport and Navigation 119
Transport Control 120
Navigation 120
Timeline Structure 120
Time Scale Rulers 120
Playhead Cursor Options 127
Cursor & Timescale Ruler Toolbars 128
Cursor Toolbar 128
Other Timescale Ruler Toolbars 130
Bars & Beats Ruler Toolbar 130
Markers 132
Project Markers 132
Track Group Markers 133
Media Markers 134

Contents vii
Markers Tab Window 139
Jog / Shuttle 140
Jog Wheel Settings 140
Mouse Scrubbing Settings 140
Vari Speed Audio Quality 141
Transport Controls 141
Transport Control Panel 143
Zooming and Panning 144
Time Scale Zoom and Pan 144
Track Height Zoom 144
Scroll Wheel 144
The Overview 145
Virtual Transport 2 145
7 Recording and Acquisition 146
Getting Audio into Pyramix Virtual Studio 147
Check Sync 147
File Format and Disk Limitations 147
Pyramix audio file format 147
Recording Audio into a Pyramix Virtual Studio Project 147
Record Source Before or After Effects 148
Track Record Modes 148
After Recording 148
AutoPunch Mode 149
SafetyRecord Mode 149
Background Recorders 149
Set-up and Operation 150
Edit while Recording 154
Recording Status 155
Take Logger 157
Importing Audio Files into Pyramix Virtual Studio 162
Mounting Media Folders 162
Sample Rate Conversion 162
Digitizing Sessions 165
Manual Digitizing 166
Autoconforming 167
8 Editing 168
Editing in the Timeline 169
Clips and Compositions 169
Clips in a Composition 169
Sample Rate Mismatch 169

Contents viii
Anatomy of a Clip 170
Locking Clips 171
Grouping Clips 171
Clip and Selection Editing 172
Clip Properties 172
Renaming Clips 173
Selection Tab Window 174
Selections and Region Selections 176
Working with Selections and Regions 177
Dragging Clips into a Composition 178
Copy and Paste 178
Auto-Crossfade By Default 179
Clip Fade Commands 180
Editing Modes 180
Splitting Clips and Regions 182
Editing Context Menu 183
Editing Context Sub-menus 184
Jog-Wheel Editing 186
Edit Command highlights: 187
Auto Silence Removal 191
EDL Tab Window 192
The Placement Tool 194
Source - Destination Editing 195
Concept 195
Setting up a Source - Destination Environment 195
2,3 and 4 Point Edits 197
9 Fade Editor 198
Fade Editor Tab Window 199
Toolbar 199
Undo Note: 201
The Graphical Display 201
The Faders & Control Section 202
Parameters & Options Section 202
Save X Fade 204
Save Fade 205
10 Mixer 206
Overview 207
Mixer Pages 209
Mix ! 209

Contents ix
Basic Mixer 210
Mixer Rows 212
Mixer Components 219
Input Strips 219
Basic Strip 220
Stereo Strips 221
Multi Channel Strips 223
Channel Direct Outputs 223
Direct Monitoring Input Strips 223
Input Strips Fed From Internal Return Buses 223
Global Indicators / Buttons 224
Buses 225
General Mix Buses 225
Bus Sends 227
Bus Master Strips 231
Panning Control Group Buses 232
Internal Return Buses 234
Groups / VCA 235
Horus/Hapi Preamp Remote Controls 236
Effects and Plug-ins 239
Highlighting 243
Multiple Strip Selection and Operations 246
Mixer Configuration from the Mix! page 247
Adding Strips 247
Rearranging Strips 249
Effect Management 249
Configure Page 250
Settings 250
Strip and Bus operations 252
Effect Management 254
External Effects Inserts 256
Route Page 257
I/O Bus Capacity 258
Internal Return Buses 258
Organize Page 259
3D Panning Control Bus Window 261
The 3D Room Editor 263
GP Bus Channel Configuration or ‘3D Room’ types 264
Mixer Delay Compensation 268
Summary 268
Delay Compensation Switching 268
Delay Compensation 268

Contents x
Creating and Configuring Mixers 273
Mixer Configuration Wizard 273
Configuring a Blank or Existing Mixer 277
Adding Strips 277
Mixer I/O Assignments 277
Further Mixer Configuration Options 278
Dithering Options 279
Mixer Presets 281
Peak Logger 282
Audio Bridge 284
ASIO Device Mode 285
Secondary Audio Device Host Mode 286
Rewire 289
Mixer Sharing 290
Activating Mixer Sharing 290
Rewire 292
Legacy Mixer 293
Legacy Mixing/Monitoring/Aux Send and SubGroup Buses 293
Strip & Bus Channel Types 296
Basic Strip 302
Legacy Mixer Surround Components 307
Legacy Surround Control window 308
11 Monitor 311
Monitor ! Window 312
Scope 312
Monitor ! page 314
Speaker Sets 316
Configure page 317
Commands 319
Media Manager and Library Monitoring 321
External Metering 322
External Inputs 322
Adding an External Machine 323
Talkback 324
Setting Up 325
Foldback 331
12 Meter Bridge 333
Meter Bridge 334
Scope 334
Meter Bridge Switch 334

Contents xi
Meter Bridge Window 335
Configuring the Meter Bridge 336
Automation Fader Mode and Group Indicators 340
13 Effects and Plug-Ins 341
Effects and Plug-ins 342
Adding and Managing Effects 342
VS3 Plug-In Support 342
VS3 Plug-ins Maximum Sampling Rate 342
Viewing Plug-in Information 344
Common Components 344
Effects Automation 347
Parametric EQ 347
10 Bands EQ 348
Three Band Tone Control 348
Dynamics Processing 349
Delay 351
Flanger 352
MS Encoder 353
AnguDion 353
AnguDion II 354
Mastering Peak/VU Meters 355
Peak-Meter 356
Global Settings and Presets 357
Phase-Oscillo 363
Surround Meter 366
DC Meter 367
Modulometer 367
Function Generator 369
Wordlength Meter 369
Effects and Plug-in Automation 370
Effects Snapshots 370
Optional Plug-ins 371
Merging Technologies 371
EQ-X 371
PanNoir Panner 373
User Interface 374
VoiCode 377
User Interface 377
Flux 382
Algorithmix 384

Contents xii
Vincent Burel 384
Cedar Audio Restoration Suite for Pyramix 384
Prosoniq 385
Zynaptiq 387
ZTX Pro 387
VST Support 389
VST Plug-ins 389
VST Plug-in Automation 393
Direct X Plug-ins 394
External Effects 395
14 Automation 396
Scope 397
Master Automation Transport Controls 397
Global Dynamic Automation Modes 397
Snapshot Automation 397
Dynamic Automation Levels 398
Automation Modes 399
Dynamic Automation Transport Modes 400
Selecting Automation Modes 401
Preview Automation Mode 404
Projects With Existing Automation 405
Display and Editing of Automation Data 405
Automation Curve Colors 405
Track Automation Menu 406
Automation Tracks Versions 409
View Several Parameters 410
Undo/Redo 410
Editing and Automation 410
Editing Automation and Envelope Data 411
Filter Automation Tracks to Snapshot Dialog 414
Filter Automation Tracks to Snapshot Dialog Options 415
Automation Editing 416
VCA Group Automation Editing 416
Automation Settings 417
Automation in Editing and Libraries 418
Mixer and Plug-in Snapshots 419
15 Strip and Bus Tools 420
Strip and Bus Tools 421
Eq, Comp/Limiter/Expander 421
Sections 422

Contents xiii
Common Features 422
Bus Tools 428
Delay Compensation 432
Delay Compensation / Pre-Anticipation 434
16 Project Processes 435
Dither 436
Archiving Metadata 437
Mixing Down Projects 441
Non Real-Time Mixdown 444
Archiving Projects 444
Consolidating Projects 445
Converting Projects 446
Changing Project Length / Pitch 446
Reconforming a Project 446
Surround Post-Processing Projects 446
Rendering Projects 447
Process Plug-ins 448
Glitch Detector 448
ZTX Pro 449
Effects Rack 450
Pencil 452
Prosoniq MPEX 4 453
ReNOVAtor 453
Cleaning Up Project media 453
Project Notes 453
17 Final Check Metering 454
Final Check Metering 455
Final Check Window 455
Metering Tab 456
Meters 457
History Graphs 461
Setup 463
Loudness Metering Notes 467
Loudness and Peak Metering 468
18 File and Project Interchange 469
File Interchange - Formats 470
File Size Limitations 470
Hard Drive Limitations 471

Contents xiv
PMF 471
WAV and BWF 471
Broadcast WAV file Tips. 472
Quicktime 472
MTFF 473
DSD 473
Compressed Audio File Formats 474
Codecs 474
MXF 475
Dolby 475
Simple File Conversion 475
File & Project Interchange with Apple Macintosh 475
Project Interchange 476
Import / Export 478
Import 478
Export 480
AAF 481
AES-31 489
CD Import 490
CMX EDL 493
Cue Sheets Printer 494
DDP Import 494
Final Cut Pro XML 495
OMF 495
Open TL 497
Report Printer 497
SACD Edited Master Import 498
Sonic Solutions 498
Video Clips 499
XML 500
Cue Sheet Printer 501
19 Customizing Pyramix 503
Customizing the User Interface 504
Toolbars and Menus 504
Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts 505
User Macros 507
20 Applications 508
Project Templates 509
Virtual Multi-track 509
Multitrack Editing 511

Contents xv
Pyramix With VCube 511
Sony 9-pin (P2) Protocol Support Over IP 511
LTC sync 512
Dubbing Mode 512
Discontinuous TimeCode 512
Reconforming to Original Media from Avid &/or OMF 513
Digitizing a Tape with Discontinuous TimeCode 514
Loop Recording With Simultaneous Playlist Creation 514
TimeCode Midnight 514
Editing Multitrack Recordings 515
Film 24 to NTSC Sync 515
Checking AC3 encoded files in Pyramix 516
Working with External Machines 516
Use Auto-chase 516
Using Freeze Mode 516
Versioning 516
21 Video 518
Video Tracks 520
Video Output 522
Wrap in Video 525
22 Conforming and Reconforming 533
Conforming 534
CMX EDLs 534
Importing a CMX EDL 534
CMX EDL Format 536
CMX Autoconform 537
Reconform 538
Introduction 538
Reconforming with an Existing Change EDL 538
Reconforming Using Pyramix for Picture Change Detection 542
Reconforming Using VCube for Picture Change Detection 550
Relink to New Media 559
23 Machine Control 561
Pyramix and VCube 562
Virtual Transport 2 562
PyraCube 562
VCube on External PC 562
Control of External Device 563

Contents xvi
External Machines 563
9-pin (Sony P2 protocol) 563
Setting up an external machine 563
Sony P2 Protocol Over IP 563
Linking Functions of External and Internal Machines 567
Synchronizer 567
Chase Synchronizer 567
9-Pin Controller/Synchronizer Explained 567
Transport Control Panel 568
Internal / External Machine panels - Features 569
Internal Machine panel - Features 571
External Machine panel - Features 572
TimeCode Registers 574
Controllers Section 575
Examples: 576
24 Remote Control 577
Generic Control 578
Hardware Control Surfaces 578
ISIS 578
Supported Controllers Table 578
Controllers Table 579
Control by External Device 579
Control by Another Pyramix 579
EMC 583
OASIS Protocol 584
EUCON Control Surfaces 586
25 GPI / GPO Control 589
GPI / GPO Support 590
26 CD/SACD Mastering and Album Production 593
Mastering a Composition to CD-R 594
IMPORTANT! - First Steps 594
CD Markers 594
Convert Text Markers to CD 595
SACD Notes 595
CD/SACD Tab Window 596
Album Section: 596
Tree Info/Track Inspector Section 596
PQ Markers Section 598
Tracks List Section 599

Contents xvii
CD/SACD Tab Window Menus 600
Default Settings 602
Show CD Player 603
Ghost Track 604
Multiple CDs or versions in one Project 604
Red-Book Validation 604
DDP Import 605
CD Image File / SACD Edited Master Import 605
SACD Functions 605
Exporting Projects to CD Image Files 606
Album Publishing 610
Digital Release 610
Album Publishing Settings 611
Cover Artwork 618
Cue Sheets 618
Generating Album(s) 621
DiscWrite 623
Optical Drives - Important Note: 629
CD Text 629
Burning a CD-R 629
DDP Masters 630
Red Book Compatible Masters 630
CD Copy 630
TOCs 630
27 Productivity 631
Locating Clips 632
Playlists 633
Playlists Tab Window 633
Bars & Beats 635
Bars & Beats Settings 636
Bars & Beats Ruler Toolbar 638
Tempo Map 641
Tab Windows 643
Tab Arrangement 643
Workspaces 651
Workspaces Tab Window 651
Optimizing Pyramix 653
PC/OS Setup 653
Housekeeping 653
Use Templates 653
Pyramix File Format .PMF 653

Contents xviii
One File Per Track option 654
Reducing Unnecessary Disk Access 654
Core Power Saving 655
MassCore & VST Core Allocation 655
Use Workspaces 658
Creating Tracks via paste 658
Disable Skin 658
28 Menus 659
Pyramix Default Menus 660
Project 660
Edit 663
View Menu 669
Clips 674
Tracks 678
Cursor & Marks 680
Markers 683
Selection 686
Fade Editor 687
Media 691
Automation 692
Video 694
Workspaces 694
ADR 695
Machines 695
Monitor 701
Macros 701
Settings 702
Window 702
Help 702
29 Settings 703
Configuration - The Settings Dialog Window 704
Settings Buttons 704
Hardware 706
Formats and Sync 706
Secondary Audio Device Bridging 708
MassCore 709
Routing 710
Mic/Pre Remote 711
MIDI Sync 712

Contents xix
TimeCode Setup 714
TimeCode over Physical MIDI (MTC) Horus/Hapi 716
Mixer 717
Level Meter 717
Core Power Saving 720
Mixer Settings 721
VST Plug-Ins Settings 722
Project 724
General 724
Record 726
Controller Mapping 732
Application 733
General 733
Editing 736
Playback/Record 738
Jog/Chase 741
CD/SACD 744
Desktop Layout 745
TimeLine layout 747
Location 750
Automation 752
Background Recorders 754
Time Stretch 756
ZTX Pro Settings 756
Prosoniq MPEX4 Settings 757
Remote Control 758
Machine 758
Controller 763
Virtual Transport 2 768
Video 769
30 Troubleshooting 771
Keeping Up To Date 772
Pyramix Busy Warning 772
Error Messages 772
Multi-channel Audio Files 773
Clip Display Problems 773
Relaunch After Improper Exit 774
Debug Menu 774
General Troubleshooting 777

Contents xx
31 Appendices 779
Appendix I - Mouse Modifier Keys 780
Main Editor 780
Overview 782
Notes 782
Media Folder 782
Appendix II VS3 Control Panel 783
Audio Bridge 785
Saving Settings 785
Appendix III Optional Features 786
Pyramix DSD / DXD / SACD 786
Appendix IV 9-Pin connection 793
PC RS-232 Serial Port to External Sony P2 RS-422 Controller 793
Connecting an RS422 device using a direct cable 793
Appendix V - Network Connections 795
Ethernet Connection & Settings 795
Synchronization with Virtual Transport 2 797
Appendix VI - Pyramix iXML Implementation 798
32 Index 799