Zaxcom MAXX User manual

Table of Contents
KNOW YOUR MAXX ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
FRONT PANEL.................................................................................................................................................................................5
LEFT SIDE.......................................................................................................................................................................................7
RIGHT SIDE ....................................................................................................................................................................................8
REAR ............................................................................................................................................................................................9
HOME SCREEN /METERS................................................................................................................................................................10
HOME SCREEN EXPLAINED ..............................................................................................................................................................12
Transport Status..................................................................................................................................................................12
Timecode.............................................................................................................................................................................12
Headphone Selection...........................................................................................................................................................12
Battery Status Indicator ......................................................................................................................................................12
Save Indicator......................................................................................................................................................................12
Card Information Field ........................................................................................................................................................12
MAIN MENU .................................................................................................................................................................... 13
PLAYBACK CONTROL ......................................................................................................................................................................13
RECORD CARD /MIRROR MENU ......................................................................................................................................................14
Mirror Mode........................................................................................................................................................................14
Write Sound Report.............................................................................................................................................................14
PRIMARY COMPACT FLASH FOLDER MENU.........................................................................................................................................15
Choose Primary Folder ........................................................................................................................................................15
Delete Last Primary Segment..............................................................................................................................................15
Format Card ........................................................................................................................................................................16
ISO Attenuation...................................................................................................................................................................16
ISO Attenuation Enable .......................................................................................................................................................17
Edit Current Folder ..............................................................................................................................................................17
MIRROR ENABLES..........................................................................................................................................................................18
MIRROR SETTINGS MENU ...............................................................................................................................................................19
Mirror Mode........................................................................................................................................................................19
Folder to Mirror...................................................................................................................................................................19
Start Segment .....................................................................................................................................................................19
End Segment .......................................................................................................................................................................19
File Type ..............................................................................................................................................................................20
File Resolution .....................................................................................................................................................................20
File Name ............................................................................................................................................................................20
Mirror Options.....................................................................................................................................................................20
RECORD ROUTING .........................................................................................................................................................................21
FADER ASSIGN MATRIX ..................................................................................................................................................................22
Setting a Cross point ...........................................................................................................................................................22
STORE /RECALL ............................................................................................................................................................................23
CLEAR FADER ASSIGNS...................................................................................................................................................................23
FACTORY RESET ............................................................................................................................................................................24
STORE /RECALL USING THE COMPACT FLASH CARD .............................................................................................................................24
ABOUT MAXX MENU .....................................................................................................................................................................25
MODE MENU ................................................................................................................................................................... 26
SAMPLE RATE ...............................................................................................................................................................................26
TC Transport ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Prerecord.......................................................................................................................................................................... 27
AutoTrimTM ....................................................................................................................................................................... 27
AutoPan........................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Transport Keys.................................................................................................................................................................. 28
VFader Cycle..................................................................................................................................................................... 28
VFader Mode.................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Folder Change .................................................................................................................................................................. 29
AES Output Attenuation.................................................................................................................................................... 29
Meter Peak Hold............................................................................................................................................................... 30
Meter Peak Hold............................................................................................................................................................... 30
Punch-In ........................................................................................................................................................................... 30

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Link Input ......................................................................................................................................................................... 30
TRANSMITTER SETUP ....................................................................................................................................................... 31
TRANSMITTER ENABLE....................................................................................................................................................... 31
TRANSMITTER FREQUENCY ................................................................................................................................................. 31
TRANSMITTER MODE ........................................................................................................................................................ 31
TRANSMITTER POWER ....................................................................................................................................................... 31
TRANSMITTER SOURCE ...................................................................................................................................................... 31
AUTOMIX ........................................................................................................................................................................ 32
A-Mix Mode.........................................................................................................................................................................32
Mic On Threshold ................................................................................................................................................................32
Attack..................................................................................................................................................................................32
Decay...................................................................................................................................................................................32
Noise Reduction ..................................................................................................................................................................32
Attenuation .........................................................................................................................................................................33
Auto-Mix Enables ................................................................................................................................................................33
ENG SETUP ....................................................................................................................................................................... 34
COMPRESSOR ENABLE ....................................................................................................................................................................34
INPUT COMPRESSOR PARAMETERS ...................................................................................................................................................35
OUTPUT COMPRESSOR PARAMETERS ................................................................................................................................................35
CARD COMPRESSOR PARAMETERS ....................................................................................................................................................35
HEADPHONE NAMES......................................................................................................................................................................36
TRACK NAMES ..............................................................................................................................................................................36
TRACK NAME PRESET .....................................................................................................................................................................36
NOTE PRESETS..............................................................................................................................................................................37
INPUT LEVELS ...............................................................................................................................................................................37
Slate Level ...........................................................................................................................................................................37
Return / Analog Input 5 and 6 Levels ..................................................................................................................................37
Digital Inputs 1-4 Levels ......................................................................................................................................................37
OUTPUT LEVELS ............................................................................................................................................................................38
XLR & AUX (TA5) Output Bus Levels ....................................................................................................................................38
Mono & Tape Output Bus Levels.........................................................................................................................................38
WARNINGS SETUP .........................................................................................................................................................................38
LCD Screen Brightness.........................................................................................................................................................39
LED Brightness.....................................................................................................................................................................39
Tone Frequency ...................................................................................................................................................................39
Tone Level ...........................................................................................................................................................................39
AES-42 Power - only available with the AES option ............................................................................................................39
ADVANCED SETUP MENU ...............................................................................................................................................................40
Prevent Empty Pan..............................................................................................................................................................40
Display Speed button ..........................................................................................................................................................40
Burn Boot loader .................................................................................................................................................................40
Debug Bits ...........................................................................................................................................................................40
UPGRADE CODE ............................................................................................................................................................................40
Allow Logging......................................................................................................................................................................40
Log Screen ...........................................................................................................................................................................40
Slate Always On...................................................................................................................................................................41
PRESSING THE TIMECODE KEY.......................................................................................................................................... 42
TIMECODE SLATE...........................................................................................................................................................................42
TIMECODE JAM.............................................................................................................................................................................42
ENTER TIMECODE..........................................................................................................................................................................43
Manually Entering Timecode ..............................................................................................................................................43
Manually Entering User-bit .................................................................................................................................................43
TIMECODE SETUP ..........................................................................................................................................................................44
TC Mode ..............................................................................................................................................................................44
TC Frame Rate.....................................................................................................................................................................44
TC Displayed ........................................................................................................................................................................44

3
TC Output ............................................................................................................................................................................44
Increment UBits...................................................................................................................................................................44
UB Date Style ......................................................................................................................................................................44
Set Date...............................................................................................................................................................................45
Timecode Routing ...............................................................................................................................................................45
PRESSING THE BUS KEY .................................................................................................................................................... 46
OUTPUT BUS ASSIGN BUSSES ..........................................................................................................................................................46
Setting a Crosspoint ............................................................................................................................................................46
TAPE/MONO OUT MATRIX .............................................................................................................................................................47
CARD TRACK TONE ENABLE .............................................................................................................................................................47
CARD TRACK SLATE ENABLES ...........................................................................................................................................................47
PRESSING THE SETUP KEY ................................................................................................................................................ 48
ANALOG INPUT SETUP....................................................................................................................................................................48
Adjustable Parameters........................................................................................................................................................48
Input Compressor Linking....................................................................................................................................................48
DIGITAL INPUT SETUP.....................................................................................................................................................................48
HEADPHONE SETUP ......................................................................................................................................................... 49
SETTING UP YOUR HEADPHONE...................................................................................................................................................49
PRE FADER LISTEN............................................................................................................................................................ 50
Listening to Inputs...............................................................................................................................................................50
SETTING UP AND ENGAGING TONE.................................................................................................................................. 51
ASSIGNING TONE TO OUTPUT BUSSES ...............................................................................................................................................51
ASSIGNING TONE TO CARD TRACKS...................................................................................................................................................51
ADJUSTING TONE ..........................................................................................................................................................................51
ENGAGING TONE...........................................................................................................................................................................51
ENTER TEXT...................................................................................................................................................................... 52
FALSE START .................................................................................................................................................................... 53
ENG /EFP BAG OPERATION .............................................................................................................................................. 54
ENG Panning .......................................................................................................................................................................54
AutoTrimTM ..........................................................................................................................................................................54
AutoPan...............................................................................................................................................................................55
MEDIA RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................................................................................... 56
Compact Flash Cards...........................................................................................................................................................56
SYNCING MAXX TO A DENECKE SLATE.............................................................................................................................. 57
CONNECTOR PIN ASSIGNMENTS ...................................................................................................................................... 58
Audio Input / Output Connectors (XLR-3)............................................................................................................................58
Tape / Mono Out - Uses a Switchcraft TA5-F ......................................................................................................................58
Return / Audio Inputs 5 and 6 - Uses a Switchcraft TA5-F ..................................................................................................58
12 Volt DC power -Uses Hirose HR10A-7P-4P .....................................................................................................................58
Headphone..........................................................................................................................................................................59
AES Digital Input / Output Connectors (DB-15)...................................................................................................................59
UPDATING FIRMWARE..................................................................................................................................................... 60
Upgrading the Firmware.....................................................................................................................................................60

4
PRODUCT SUPPORT ......................................................................................................................................................... 61
MAXX SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................................................... 62
ZAXCOM WARRANTY POLICY AND LIMITATIONS ............................................................................................................. 63

5
Know Your Maxx
Front Panel
1 23 4 5 6 7 89 10 11
13 14 15 16 17 18
1. Wireless Camera Link Antenna -SMA
2. TC / REC Key
•A single short press once opens the Visual Time Code Slate.
•Additional presses accesses the Time Code menus.
•Press and hold for one second, puts the Maxx into Record.
•When in setup menu press it to access the analog input 1 setup menu.
3. Record LED
Indicates Maxx is in Record mode.
In the Warning Setup Menu Maxx can be set up that if you are recording just to the primary folder the LED will
flash red, and when Maxx is mirroring the LED will go to solid red. This is to warn the user that Maxx is not in
Continuous Mirror Mode.
4. BUS /PLAY key
•When in the ENG Home Page a single short press allows you to adjust the Quick Pan Matrix.
•A second press or a press from any other Home page takes you into the Bus Routing menu.
•Pressed and hold for one second, puts Maxx into Playback mode.
•When in setup menu press it to access the analog input 2 setup menu.
5. Play LED
Indicates Maxx is in Playback mode.
6. SETUP / STOP Key
•A single short press opens the Analog Input Setup menu.
•Press and hold for one second while in record mode, or playback mode, stops Maxx.
•When in setup menu press it to access the analog input 3 setup menu.
7. STOP LED
Indicates Maxx is in Stop mode.
8. TONE Key
•Press to toggle Tone on and off.
•When in setup menu press it to access the analog input 4 setup menu.
9. Internal Slate Microphone
10. Color LCD Screen
Daylight-readable color LCD screen.
12

6
11. HEADPHONE Knob / BACK Knob
•Press it to back out of a menu to the previous menu.
•Turn it to adjust headphone volume.
•Press and hold will enter user inputted data.
12. Star key
•From the any Home page, it advances to the next Home page.
•In the Bus Routing matrix and Card Mix matrix if pressed it you will add phase reverse to your cross point
options.
•In the Fader Assign matrix if pressed it will add trim to your cross point options.
•If pressed and held while powering-up, Maxx will look for new software and start the update process.
13. Fader 1 (4 total)
Each of four faders can be assigned to any channel or combination of channels, or act as a hardware trim
knob.
14. Auto-TrimTM LED (4 total)
Indicates which fader is active for AutoTrimTM.
15. Pre Fader Listen key
•Press to listen to Pre Fader audio from the corresponding fader.
•When in setup mode press to access the AES input setup menu for the corresponding AES inputs.
•Pressing from the Meta Data menu or Track Naming menu will open the list of presets.
16. SLT key
•Press and hold it to activate the Slate mic.
17. Power Key
•A quick press will power up Maxx.
•Press and hold for 3 seconds to power down Maxx. Release the key when the countdown reaches 1.
•When Auto-Pan is ON the power key will change the panning for the active channel.
18. MENU knob / SHIFT key
•From the Home page press it to access the Main Menu page.
NOTE: From the AES Virtual Fader meter screen or from the ENG meter screen you have to push and hold
to access the Main Menu.
•Turn it to scroll through the items in a menu.
•Press to select a menu item.
SHORTCUT:While scrolling through a parameter with a long list, pressing the MENU knob while turning it will
speed up the scroll speed by 10 times.

7
WARNING:Take your time when inserting a card in Maxx. The card should slide in easily. If there is any
resistance required the card is not aligned correctly and can bend the pins.
Left Side
1
52 3 4
1. Battery Door
The Silver knob rotates clockwise to lock the battery compartment door. Inside, you will find space for the
battery carrier with six AA batteries.
NOTE: It is possible to insert the battery carrier incorrectly. Even if you insert with the contacts reversed it
will do NO harm to the unit because there is reversed current protection. It just won’t turn on.
WARNING:Use ONLY NiMH rechargeable or Lithium batteries. If you use ANY other batteries, they will
EXPLODE and can SEVERLY damage or DESTROY the unit.
2. AES Input Output connector / GPI (DE-15F)
Maxx has AES 2 input pairs and 3 AES output pairs. The Input has a sample-rate conversion, allowing each
input to have a different sampling-rate. Maxx will accept any unlocked AES signal with a sampling-rate of 44.1
to 96 kHz. The dynamic range of the sample-rate conversion is 124 dB, offering completely transparent
conversion of digital audio from one sample-rate to another.
3. Timecode Input / Output connector (BNC) - the function of this connector is set in the Time Code Setup
menu.
4. Compact Flash Card Mirror Media Slot
Compact Flash card is inserted with the top of the card (Label side) facing down.

8
Right Side
1 2
1. Headphone (1/4” stereo jack)
2. External Power connector (Hirose-HR10A-7P-4P)
10 to 18 VDC {1/2 A @ 12 VDC}
3. Tape / Mono Out (TA-5M)
Outputs both the Tape and Mono Out busses. The tape and mono out are both balanced mono sources. The
audio that is fed to these busses are controlled from the Mono / Tape bus matrix.
4. Output Bus 1/2 (TA-5M)
This is an isolated copy of the XLR bus outputs. Levels are independently adjustable.
5. Return / Line Level Inputs for analog in 5 and 6 (TA-5M)
•This is where a camera returns are connected. The return is wired to accept two channels of audio so it can
receive one stereo return from one camera or two mono returns from two cameras.
•This input can be used as line level analog input 5 and 6.
6. Output Bus 1/2 (XLR)
Main XLR output. Levels are independently adjustable.
3 4 56

9
Rear
12
1. Mic/Line-level Inputs 3 and 4 (Combo XLR-3F 1/4" Stereo )
2. Mic/Line-level Inputs 1 and 2 (XLR-3F)

Zaxcom Maxx Meters Explained
10
Home Screen / Meters
There are several selectable Home meter screens from which to choose. You can toggle through the different pages by
pressing the Star key.
The color of the left half of the meter indicates the source type being metered:
•Light blue for an analog input
•Darker blue for an AES input
•Green for an output bus
•Purple for a recorded track
The track name is indicated within the meter itself to aid in channel identification. If a compressor is engaged, a white
gain reduction indication will appear at the right side of the meter if the compression threshold has been exceeded.
ENG Home Screen
ENG Home Screen
Only on Maxx with AES Option
Card Track Home Screen
Output busses 1 and 2
ENG Quick Pan Matrix
AutoTrim
TM
Meter
See ENG / EFP Bag Operation
Red Record Enabled Indicators – Show which
tracks will be recorded
Yellow ISO Attenuation Enabled Indicators -
Shows which ISO tracks will be attenuated
See ENG / EFP Bag Operation
Yellow Strike Through – Represents that
these tracks will not be recorded
Blue Trim indicators
ENG Quick Pan Matrix with AES Inputs

Zaxcom Maxx Meters Explained
11
Input Meter Screen
Digital Input Virtual Fader Screen
Only on Maxx with AES Option
Output Buses
Input signal from XLR Inputs
Output Busses
Digital Inputs with Virtual Faders
AutoTrim
TM
Meter

MAIN MENU Meta Data / Playback
12
Home Screen Explained
Transport Status
Displays the current mode RECORD, PLAY or STOP.
Timecode
Displays the current time code. The time code setup menu will determine if this will display the time code generator
or the time code from the card playback.
Headphone Selection
Displays which headphone selection you are monitoring.
•Once the PFL key is pressed, the name in the Headphone Monitor field is replaced with PFL alternating with the
selected channel number(s) as follows:
•Press the corresponding PFL key to select a channel to listen to. If you want to listen to multiple channels at the
same time, just press and hold an additional PFL key for approximately 1 second to add that channel to the PFL
circuit.
•Press the HEADPHONE knob to restore normal headphone monitoring.
Battery Status Indicator
Displays the power source (I- Internal / E - External), and a numeric display of the current voltage.
Save Indicator
A moving pixel on bottom of screen moving right to left indicates that the Maxx is saving a parameter setting to
Maxx’s ROM memory. If you power down while the pixel is moving the settings will not be saved.
Card Information Field
Top Line - Mirror Free Space
Displays available Mirror space
Second Line - Mirror File Progress
Displays what percentage of mirroring is left
Third Line
Time left on the Primary Folder
Headphone Selection
Battery Indicator
Timecode
ENG Panning shortcut Matrix
Card information field
Limiter reduction indicators
Peak Hold Indicator
Trim Level Indicator
Save Indicator
Shows which inputs are
being listened to pre fader
Transport Status
Input Meter

MAIN MENU Meta Data / Playback
13
Main Menu
To access the Main Menu press the MENU knob.
Scroll for additional menu items
NOTE: If you are in the Virtual Fader Screen or the ENG Screen and have the Virtual Fader enabled you have to
press and hold the MENU knob for 1 second to enter the Main Menu.
Meta Data
This menu displays and allows you to adjust the Meta Data.
To adjust the META DATA select one of the data fields and press the MENU knob see Enter Text page
Playback Control
This menu controls playback of recorded files.
Sample Rate
TC Frame Rate
Pre-Record setting
Current Record Folder,
Scene, Take and Notes
Segment Currently Playing
Segment Timecode
Alternates between
RecordTime
& Mirroring Segment
Playback Shuttle Control
Turn the MENU knob to adjust
Press and turn for 10X
adjustment
Playing Segment Meta Data
Folder Playing
Primary Card Info
Mirror Status

MAIN MENU Recording Setup
14
Record Card / Mirror Menu
This menu controls your primary recording and mirroring functions.
Mirror Mode
•OFF: Maxx will not mirror any files.
•ON: Maxx will only start to mirror once the unit stop recording.
•CONTINUOUS: When Maxx is recording, the audio is copied to the mirror folder as is written to the primary
folder. Depending on the track count, the mirror card may lag behind a bit. Not to worry, after you go into Stop
mode, the mirror card will catch up.
Write Sound Report
When you select this, Maxx will create a Sound Report and write it on the Mirror CF card file. The sound report
contains the Meta Data information for what was recorded.
IMPORTANT:Mirror mode must be turned off to write a sound report.
NOTE: If you are finding that mirroring is lagging you may be using too much of Maxx’s processing power
elsewhere. Many times there are items that are on that are on are not needed. These items can often be shut off
to conserve processing power and speed up the mirroring process. You can check to see that some of these items
are not unnecessarily on:
Bus Assignments Cross Points, Compressor Enables (input, output and card), High Pass Filters and Notch Filters.

MAIN MENU Recording Setup / Primary Folder
15
Primary Compact Flash Folder Menu
This menu manages the primary recording Compact Flash card.
Choose Primary Folder
Chooses which folder is used for recording audio.
All recorded files are directed to individual folders. Folders can be created to help separate and organize files - for
example a folder can be created for a specific date.
This menu allows you to choose which folder will be used for recording. The folder can be renamed to help identify
its contents. To name your folder hit the back button and in the PRIMRY CF menu scroll down to the Edit Current
Folder Name and press the MENU knob to change the name of the folder.
NOTE: Folder names need to be seven characters or less, and can contain no spaces or symbols
The primary folder is recorded as a Zaxcom MARF file. The advantage: any power loss while recording will result in no
loss of any recorded audio.
In the event of a power loss Maxx automatically closes any open files to the point the audio recording was
interrupted with no loss of audio up to that point. Even though Maxx uses a proprietary file system, it is 100%
compatible with Mac or PC by using the free file conversion utility ZaxConvert. The latest version can be downloaded
from www.zaxcom.com
Delete Last Primary Segment
This menu allows you to delete the last recorded segment
Green checkmark indicates
which folder the audio will
be recorded to.

MAIN MENU Recording Setup / Primary Folder
16
Format Card
This menu allows you to format the CF card. This process will take about 2 minutes to complete.
ISO Attenuation
NeverClip™ inputs allow large signals to travel through the digital mixing engine using 32 bit floating point numbers.
Once these large signals are recorded into a 24-bit WAV (or MARF) file, the advantage of floating point math is lost and
these signals can clip if you don’t use a card limiter.
ISO Attenuation allows ISO record tracks to be attenuated by a user selectable fixed amount of 6, 12, 18 or 24 dB. This
allows audio to be recorded, even if its dynamic range would normally be too large. This gain reduction is stored in the
metadata of the WAV file so post can restore the amplitude of the ISO tracks, when needed.

MAIN MENU Recording Setup / Primary Folder
17
ISO Attenuation Enable
This menu allows you to choose which record tracks you choose to attenuate.
Edit Current Folder
To edit the folder name
1. Scroll down to the Edit Current Folder Name.
2. Press the MENU knob to highlight the folder name and to access the Enter Text menu.
Shows current Folder Name

MAIN MENU Recording Setup / Mirror Enables
18
Mirror Enables
This menu controls which of the tracks are copied on to Maxx’s Mirror file.
Maxx without the ISO record option
will only display two mirror tracks.
SHORTCUT: It is not necessary to remove record enable cross points from the Mirror Matrix. If a Primary
card track is not assigned, it will NOT be recorded and not written to the Mirror file. This allows you to leave
all of the Mirror tracks enabled. This makes it unnecessary to change the tracks being mirrored every time
you change a primary track.

MAIN MENU Recording Setup / Mirror Folder
19
Mirror Settings Menu
This menu controls the copying of the Primary (MARF) audio to the Mirror CF folder.
The mirror audio is recorded as FAT32 files and is fully compatible with all Mac and PC platforms and is generally used as a
deliverable format to Post.
Mirror Mode
•OFF: Maxx will not mirror any files.
•ON: Maxx will only start to mirror once the unit stop recording.
•CONTINUOUS: When Maxx is recording, the audio is copied to the mirror folder as is written to the primary
folder. Depending on the track count, the mirror card may lag behind a bit. Not to worry, after you go into Stop
mode, the mirror card will catch up.
Folder to Mirror
This menu specifies which folder on the primary media is to be mirrored.
•If you want to CONTINIOUS MIRROR this folder needs to match the primary folder.
•If you want to re-mirror a folder, this folder needs to match the primary folder you want to copy.
Start Segment
This will set the first segment that Maxx will mirror or re-mirror. When you are recording the start segment will
automatically increment with each file on the primary card.
End Segment
This will set the last segment that Maxx will Mirror or Re-mirror.
Green checkmark indicates
which folder will be
mirrored to.
NOTE: If you are finding that mirroring is lagging you may be using too much of Maxx’s processing power
elsewhere. Many times there are items that are on that are on are not needed. These items can often be shut off to
conserve processing power and speed up the mirroring process. You can check to see that some of these items are
not unnecessarily on:
Bus Assignments Cross Points, Compressor Enables (input, output and card), High Pass Filters and Notch Filters.