TMC-1v2-win/mac

I am about to release a new version of the TMC-1 configuration program, now that there are four different versions of the TMC-1 (Avid XMon, NTP Penta, Trinnov D-Mon and CB A-Mon) it has become more difficult to keep the TMC-1-win/mac configuration program in sync with the changing User key setup. Two changes were needed to solve this problem!

1) Save user functions by name, the method of saving the settings, the original TMC-1 program saved the settings as the offset in this list, not a problem if you do not change the list order - but this makes problems when adding functions in appropriate order. Saving by name solves this problem.

2) Read the user functions from the TMC-1, instead of keeping and updating a list of the user key functions in the TMC-1 program - read them from the TMC-1, that way the two programs are always in sync!

Two simple changes, like most solutions obvious once you see them!

TMC-1, A-Mon and XPand Manual Updates

I have spent the last two days updating manuals and some web pages with Daniel Gollety our previous French Distributer and my friend of more than 30 years. This was exhausting for both of us but we are happy with the results - especially after updating every screen shot of the TMC-1.

It was important for me to have both an outside proof reader and someone for whom English is not their first language, in English as in most languages there are many different ways of saying the same thing - some are easier to understand than others. It is well known that I do not write the best manuals!

The English versions are now on the web, the French versions will be on the web next week.

Thank You Daniel!

TMC-1 Making time for Customer requests II

Whilst testing yesterday I discovered that a bug was added when implementing the previous customer requests - always a possibility. There is a trade off on having a product that responds to the needs of the market and a good stable product. I err on the side of making to many updates and in consequence to many bugs. However in my defence once a bug is found I respond as quickly as possible and fix it. Unfortunately often the bug is found after a period of time has passed and I have made a number of other updates to the software - I only ever have one version of the software the current version!- c'est la vie!

TMC-1-mac/TMC-1-win
 I have updated this s/w to provide an easier upgrade path, in earlier versions on the s/w the user keys were saved as numbers, this meant that I could only add user functions at the end of the list and not always group them logically. I have now updated this s/w so that the user keys are saved by there labels so that I can rearrange the user keys - especially useful as I like to keep the unique functions for each version (XMon, Penta, D-Mon and A-Mon) at the end.

Note: when we release new software it is packages with the matching version of the TMC-1-mac/win s/w,  always update this otherwise the user key functions will not be correct!   

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).