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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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)