Making Time for Customer Requests

This week we have been concentrating on finishing and checking the first batch of X-Mon and XPand. Having finished units allows us to check all the ins and outs and fix any final gremlins.

Whilst designing the test jigs I decided to add a new page to the TMC-1-win/TMC-1-mac software to simplify the cue send setup, here is a screen shot of the Cue assign page got A-Mon

The format of the page will change to suit the TMC-1 version, as you can see you can define up to 12 user presets and select between them with a mouse click. We recently added the meters page - primarily for demonstration but if you find it useful...

Assigning User Names to Speaker select keys
Today I was reminded by a customer that I had promised to assigning the user defined labels to the speaker select key.

Input Select Keys Added
He also asked for input select keys which I assumed would also need the labels assigned. This afternoon I added both of these requests to the user keys - the only problem is that the list gets ever longer!

Headphone A/B Switch
I also added a third A/B switch (The others are for the input selection and SLS cue send) The "HP A/B" switch is used to switch between two selections for the Headphone cue send.

I now have to build all four versions of the TMC-1 and build new software update files.  That may take a few days!

A-Mon and XPand now in stock

It has taken longer than estimated, we were distracted by orders for existing products and we had not allowed for the time required to built the test jigs!

Here are the photos,

A-Mon Front

A-Mon Rear

XPand Front

XPand rear

The XPand is already installed and working in one studio and we will be demonstrating both the XPand and A-Mon in different studios over the next few weeks.

You can see/hear both the A-Mon and XPand at "Mix with the Pros 4",  Jigsaw 24, Golden Square on Wednesday the 15th June

Dolby 'ATMOS' - using the new XPand from CB

Use with XMon or A-Mon the XPand will add up to 8 channels to the Main Input and output of the A-Mon or XMon. The XPand is now available to pre-order with a two week delivery.

The first XPand was installed in Amsterdam in a 7.1.4 studio one month ago with a customer who had previously purchased the TMC-1 for their XMon. According to Jelte who installed the XPand it was plug and play and worked first time.

TMC-1 Updates - Talkback Auto-Resume, SPL setting, SPL, Gain and Dolby Level

We recently supplied a TMC-1 to NRK who came back with one great quote and two suggestions for improvement.

"First, let me say I´m liking the TMC-1 more and more ! 

Great product,and it definitely fills a need in our small/mid-size rooms."

Olav Celius, NRK

The two suggestions for improvement were
1) The auto-talkback did not work in the same way as the Avid ICON
2) The NRK rooms are calibrated at 68 not 85 SPL how to use the CAL-A or CAL-B to display this?

Auto Resume Talkback
To replicate the ICON auto talkback I have added a new user key, "A/R T/B" (Auto-Resume TalkBack), when [A/R T/B] is enabled, if talkback is enabled then entering play will disable talkback and stop will resume talkback.

Room calibration
Both analog and digital monitoring systems are optimised for 0dB gain at the reference level. Whilst it is possible to reduce the gain by 17dB this would decrease the signal to noise ratio by the 17dB - not an ideal solution.  I have added a new advanced menu to set the displayed SPL at 0dB gain in 2dB steps from 85 down to 63 SPL.

SPL, Gain and Dolby Level
I added a menu to allow the user to select the main display mode as SPL, Gain or Dolby level. Good for explaining how to calibrate the SPL Level and Great for when the producer requests a setting of Dolby 7 (85dB SPL).

ATMOS - 9.1 Bed - PD-1

This week I have spoken to Ray Gillon and Bruce Emery about the current Dolby thinking on Mixing for ATMOS. The concept seems to be to record a 9.1 Bed (7.1+top left and top right) onto which the objects are added. If using stems and a 'Pec-Direct' his may require 9.1 stems to build the mix.

As the PD-1 is currently configured for 7.1 stems I can upgrade the PD-1 firmware to allow 16 track stems in two banks. I would be very interested in any input on this and for any other suggestions.

Using Xpand with XMon to Implement 9.1.2 or 7.1.4

The Xpand surround control unit may be configured for different monitor formats.  Currently we can implement the three following selections, there may be more that we will need to implement in the future! In all modes the outputs are only enabled when both main Input and Main Output are selected,  the outputs follow the master gain control and have individual gain trims and mutes.

Eight Channel
8 additional channels with no surround control or bass extension.

5.1/7.1/7.1.4 or 5.1/7.1/9.1.2
In these modes Xpand includes speaker routing for 5.1 and 7.1 as well as 7.1.4 or 9.1.2. Summing and Low Pass is also provided for rear left and right surround bass extension,

To switch from 7.1.4 to 7.1 - Xpand turns off top speakers
To switch from 7.1 to 5.1 - Xpand connects Rear speakers to Left and Right Surround and adjust surround levels.

To switch from 9.1.2 to 7.1 - Xpand turns off top speakers, connects Front surrounds to Left and Right Surrounds and adjust Surround Levels

To switch from 7.1 to 5.1 - Xpand connects Rear speakers to Left and Right Surround and adjust surround levels.

The 5,1, 71, and Rear BassX are available as user keys on the TMC-1 or on the Xpand App. You can select the speaker layout from the TMC-1 Menu or from the Xpand App.

XPand: A new product derived from the AMon Monitoring Interface

For the past two weeks I have been working on the software for the AMon (our new analog front end for the TMC-1). Whilst working on this we have received requests for a low cost way of adding Dolby Atmos or Auro 3D to an existing XMon system. Using the AMon hardware the XPand IU rack mount unit will add 8 channels to and existing XMon or AMon system. This will provide one input and one output with up to 16 channels.

Using XPand with the XMon and TMC-1

The XPand monitors the commands to the XMon, the dim, mute and gain follow the XMon commands.The XPand outputs are enabled when both main input and main output are selected.

Four  inputs are enough for the top speakers, by adding some switching to the XPand the remaining four inputs on XPand can be used to switch the rear speakers between 5.1 and 7.1 The TMC-1 has a user switch for this which also adjusts the surround output trim to compensate for any level change.

Using XPand to switch the surround speaker configuration between 5.1 and 7.1

When controlled by the TMC-1 individual speaker trims are available with individual speaker naming available from the USB port. When controlled by a ICON console the speaker trims can be adjusted via the USB port.

We are beta testing both the XPand and AMon in March provided the metalwork arrives on time.