User's Manual

Fairlight Controls Workflow Guide
This section describes a basic workflow to help you get started using the Fairlight controls to
refine and enhance your audio mix.
1 Generally, the first step to optimizing your mix is to normalize all the inputs so they are
all at their maximum strength without clipping. This is normally done by increasing or
decreasing the input gain level for each input so their signal peaks just below 0dB on
the channel strip’s level indicator.
2 If you want to split any mono inputs into two separate channels for stereo output, go to
the general switcher settings and navigate to the audio tab. Enable the checkboxes for
the mono inputs you want to change to stereo. Click 'done'.
TIP If you want to split mono inputs into two separate channels, it's best to
dothis before normalizing the input as described in step 1, so that you can
normalize both channels after they have been split.
3 Now, click on the EQ indicators below input level controls and make equalization
changes to each input. You can move the windows into a better position, or close
them if needed.
4 After setting EQ, open the dynamics controls for each input by clicking on their
respective dynamics indicator. Make the required dynamics changes to generally
improve and refine the input audio.
5 With EQ and dynamics set for each input, you can now open the EQ controls for the
master output and sweeten the final audio mix.
6 Now open the master output’s dynamics controls and make any required changes to
improve the final output.
Once all the Fairlight controls are set, you can then increase or decrease the faders on the
audio mixer to set them at their best levels for the live mix and make adjustments where
necessary during the production. You can also go back to any of the settings and make further
adjustments if needed, but it’s best to follow the same order as described above to get the best
results from each function. For example, it’s important to set EQ controls before making
dynamics changes as the processing chain in your switcher applies dynamics to the audio after
equalization.
Most important of all is to apply the effects carefully so your audio still sounds natural but
exciting too!
Navigating the Browse Window on the Media Page
The browse window is a simplified file browser that lets you navigate your computer to look for
graphics files. All attached drives on your computer are displayed, and you can select folders
from them. View sub folders by clicking on the arrows next to each folder.
51Using ATEM Software Control