AUTOMATION & CONTROL SURFACE MANUAL Version: 1.
Contents ASP2802 Fader Automation........................................ Page 3 Automation Overview Automation Setup Recording & Editing Automation Data Automation Safe Running Automation in HUITM Mode 4 5 7 8 9 ASP2802 Control Surface Setup................................. Page 10 Control Surface Panel Overview Control Surface Setup 11 12 ASP2802 Control Surface Functions...........................
Fader Automation
Automation Overview of Functions The diagram below provides an overview of the automation system and the parameters that can be controlled. ASP2802 provides fader and mute automation along side its full DAW control surface layer.
Automation Setup Assuming that you have followed all steps outlined in the main manual networking section for Apple Mac or PC (page 84 onwards), you will have connected ASP2802 to your studio computer and connected to the console via AuNet. To set up the 8-channel fader automation system in Pro Tools we must use 8 MIDI tracks and place them at the start or end of your session (we recommend the start so you can add tracks afterwards with ease as your session progresses).
Automation Setup Step 3: Return to the edit window and create 8 new blank MIDI tracks for control of the ASP2802 fader and mute automation. It is suggested that you place them at the start of your session so that they do not disturb your normal workflow. Label the tracks something useful so that they are easy to locate, ASP1, ASP2, ASP3 etc, perhaps with a further addition of whatever source level you are riding, ASP1-LDVox, ASP3-DrumsL etc.
Automation Setup Recording Automation Data in Pro Tools You must take an ASP2802 channel out of automation safe mode (the default state) before you are free to record automation data to Pro Tools MIDI channels and playback your passes. To do this please see page 8). To record any automation passes you need onto the 8 MIDI tracks created - just record enable them and let your pass begin. The MIDI regions can be edited, copied and pasted etc just like any any other normal MIDI region.
Automation Enable / Safe A Note on Automation Safe Automation safe should be used when you want to isolate a particular channel from automation - for example - to audition rides without “fighting” existing automation data or without “printing” the rides if channels are still in write enabled. When the console boots automation safe is engaged by default.
Automation Setup - A Note Please note that it is not possible to run the ASP2802 analogue fader automation as a HUITM controlled device within Pro Tools alongside a HUITM based control surface. However if you are not using the ASP2802 as a control surface within Pro Tools (i.e you have another controller that is not HUITM based such as a C|24), you can trick the automation system into responding to HUITM data to take advantage of Pro Tools automation modes when using the ASP2802 analogue automation.
Control Surface Setup
Control Surface Panel Control Surface Operation The control surface panel on ASP2802 provides access to many common and useful DAW functions. Please follow the setup procedure outlined on pages 12 & 13 and then read onwards from page 14 to learn how to operate the ASP2802 control surface.
Control Surface Setup Assuming that you have followed all steps outlined in the main manual networking section for Apple Mac or PC (page 84 onwards), you will have connected ASP2802 to your studio computer and connected to the console via AuNet. To set up the ASP2802 as a control surface for Pro Tools please follow these steps: Step 1: Press the ASP2802 Setup button and select Pro Tools in the host software option page using the rotary encoder (press setup to confirm).
Control Surface Setup Step 4: Boot Pro Tools, create a new session and navigate to Setup > Peripherals... Step 5: Click on the MIDI Devices tab Step 6: Install a HUITM control surface, assigning the input and output MIDI ports to the ASP2802 control surface. Click OK. You are ready to use ASP2802.
Control Surface Functions
Control Surface Functions Entering DAW Layer To enter the DAW layer for control surface functionality ensure that the DAW switch (1) is depressed and illuminated. Whenever it is not illuminated, the faders and channel switches operate in the analogue layer. However some of the control surface functionality remains active when in the analogue layer to aid your session workflow, allowing simultaneous control of both analogue fader level and important DAW functions.
Control Surface Functions Editing Setup Parameters To edit parameters in any of the OLED displays when in setup mode, rotate the corresponding rotary encoder to change values and then press the setup switch to apply the changes. Note that once a change has been made, the setup switch LED will flash to indicate that a setting has changed and will return to a solid red once changes are confirmed.
Control Surface Functions Console Setup Switch Setup Page 3 - IP Address (networking option) Setup Page 4 - Subnet Mask (networking option) Setup Page 5 - Port (default 1212, networking option) Setup Page 6 - Firmware Info © Audient Ltd Page -17-
Control Surface Functions Transport Panel The transport panel on ASP2802 provides access to the following functions: • • • • • Rewind (3) Fast-Forward (4) Stop (5) Play (6) Record (7) A jog wheel (8) is also provided and can be used to control several DAW commands. When operating the rewind or fast-forward controls (3 & 4) it should be noted that one switch press (released immediately) initiates a playhead movement of one bar or second etc depending upon which ruler is currently active in Pro Tools.
Control Surface Functions Transport Panel cont. By using the scrub function (12) in conjunction with the jog wheel (8), the playhead cursor can be used to ‘scrub’ through the audio within your Pro Tools session in realtime as if ‘rocking the tape against the playhead’. This is useful for finding edit points and punch-in locations etc. When in this mode, the scrub switch will illuminated a solid green.
Control Surface Functions Navigation & Utility Controls cont. The marker control (10) can be used to add memory locations to the marker track in Pro Tools. This may be useful for flagging edit points during a take for example. Tap on the marker switch to place a marker in the timeline, a second tap will close the marker window. Multiple tap pairs will place multiple markers at their corresponding timeline positions. The nudge control (11) is currently unsupported in the initial Pro Tools software release.
Control Surface Functions Navigation & Utility Controls cont. If used with shift mode (pressing switch 13), the navigation cursors operate as zoom controls. Vertical audio zoom is achieved with the up & down cursor switches, while horizontal timeline zoom is achieved with the left & right cursor switches.
Control Surface Functions Track Navigation Controls cont. To access encoder parameters and / or OLED display information for all eight channels, the 5-8 switch (16) must be used to access the last four channels in the bank of eight. The channels that are active and available on the encoders are illuminated in blue. The encoders can be used to access pan, aux, insert and input / output assigns for the four active channels.
Control Surface Functions DAW Meters cont.
Control Surface Functions Channel Select Mode The select mode panel provides various functions, some of which operate on the analogue layer and are useful for automation control (auto safe etc), while others are specifically used for control over DAW functions on the DAW layer. Above each fader are three illuminated push switches.
Control Surface Functions Record Enable Mode Use record enable (20) within DAW control surface mode when arming tracks for recording in Pro Tools. Activate this mode and then use the large green channel select switches (18) to record enable each track active on the eight channel HUITM bank. Please note that by using multiple channel select switches (18), you can record enable more than one track at once.
Control Surface Functions Automation Modes cont. To access the automation mode selections using the ASP2802 control surface press the automation mode switch (21). Observing the OLED displays, you should see a series of options appear above each encoder. You can page to the right using the page switches (26) to access the next set of options (trim and off). Please note that trim is only available as an option within Pro Tools HD systems.
Control Surface Functions Group Mode To access Pro Tools’ internal grouping function press the group mode switch (22) in the select panel. The OLED display will update to show the group control options. Select the tracks you wish to group by holding down and pressing multiple channel select switches (18) at once. To create the group press down on the create encoder. This will bring up the group attributes window in Pro Tools.
Control Surface Functions Group Mode cont. To finalise the group you must click OK from within Pro Tools. However it is most likely that at this point you will want to name your group and assign group attributes to the selection. The final group option available on ASP2802 is the global suspend groups function (shift+cmd+g). This allows you to freely move faders and other track parameters including regions (if using an edit group) without fighting the group linking.
Control Surface Functions Other Select Modes - Analogue Layer. There are three further select modes available on ASP2802 which are used in the analogue layer. For more specfic information about the functionality of these modes, please see the main analogue manual. Solo-In-Place Safe - not used in the DAW layer, please consult the full ASP2802 analogue manual for more information.
Control Surface Functions Channel Solo & Cut When in DAW layer the large channel cut and solo switches (23 & 24) perform mute and solo functionality within Pro Tools. If you are using any internal Pro Tools grouping you may find it useful to group these functions (Group Attributes) to provide quick and easy solo or cut auditioning across a larger group of channels. Function Keys Function keys F1 to F4 (25) are programmed to provide access to four useful Pro Tools window functions.
Control Surface Functions Page Keys The page keys (26) are used to page through various parameters that are assigned to the rotary encoders and OLED displays. If editing aux sends, input and output routing or plugin insert effects, the parameters or host options will often cover more than one page. Scroll left to right through the available parameter pages using the page keys located beneath the left hand encoder.
Control Surface Functions Pan Mode + Assign By pressing the assign key (30) when in pan mode, the encoders provide access to assigning channel inputs and outputs. This is very useful for setting up inputs for recording or bussing architecture when mixing. Input assigns are set on page one. Use the page keys (26) to access outputs via page two. Rotate the encoder to the desired input, bus or output and press the encoder to select the destination.
Control Surface Functions Pan Mode + Assign cont. Pro Tools I/O labelling can increase the speed of your session setup time. If you have a studio that is setup with a fixed routing system and / or a typical ‘normalled’ signal path, this is a very useful tool. Please bear in mind that the HUITM protocol only relays 4 characters to the control surface therefore short names may be more useful.
Control Surface Functions Encoder Aux Mode When selecting aux (28) as the encoder mode on the right hand side of the control surface, the encoders become aux send controls for channels 1-4 (or 5-8) of the control surface selection. The OLED displays indicate Pro Tools channel send level with a horizontal slider located beneath the channel name. Use the page keys (26) to select other available sends (sends A - E).
Control Surface Functions Aux / Fader Flip When in aux mode pressing the aux switch (28) again will flip the aux send encoders on to the 8 channel faders. This provides faster access to send levels across an 8 channel bank and is very useful for setting up headphone mixes or fx sends. This mode is indicated by a flashing aux switch LED.
Control Surface Functions Aux Mode + Assign When in aux mode, pressing the assign key (30) provides access to instantiating new sends and re-routing existing aux sends within Pro Tools. To instantiate a send press the assign key and use the page keys (26) to select the send slot you wish to use (SndA, SndB, SndC, SndD or SndE). Rotate the encoders to scroll through the available send destination options available within Pro Tools.
Control Surface Functions Insert Mode The ASP2802 control surface can be used to instantiate and control insert plugins within Pro Tools. Firstly select the track you wish to instantiate the plugin insert on via the large green channel select switches (18) banking or nudging the control surface if needed. Once your channel is selected, press the insert switch (29) in the encoder mode panel. Note that the OLED display changes to show you the first available four insert slots.
Control Surface Functions Insert Mode cont. To select a plugin for instantiation, rotate the rotary encoder for the corresponding insert slot to scroll through the plugin list. Once the desired plugin is located, press the assign key once more to instantiate the plugin in Pro Tools. At this point you can open the current active plugin window by using the F3 function key (see page 30). Use this function key to also close the plugin once you have finished editing the parameters.
Control Surface Functions Insert Editing Mode To edit plugin parameters use the page switches (26) to navigate through all available parameters. Use the encoders to edit values. Press the assign switch to exit edit mode and use F3 to toggle (open / close) the plugin window.
Future Updates For any future updates to the control surface functionality of ASP2802, please see the ASP2802 webpage and latest firmware available online at www.audient.com. We hope you enjoy your new control surface and analogue console. Thanks from the Audient team.
Panel Visualisation © Audient Ltd Page -41-
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