User`s guide

MachineControl Guide24
Identifying your Machine
If Pro Tools does not recognize your machine,
you can use the generic1 personality. However,
you should try a few test laybacks, using backup
tapes or other non-vital material, to determine
the best settings for your system.
Requesting additional machine profiles for
Track Arming
If you would like Digidesign to facilitate auto-
detection of a specific machine in an upcoming
release, you can e-mail a request, including the
manufacturer and machine model to post-
[e-mail].
Configuring the Number of Tracks
Use the Record Tracks pop-up to specify the
number of record tracks for the target deck. The
maximum number of supported record tracks is
eight. If you specify more record tracks than the
machine possesses, they will be ignored.
If you are using a “generic” device personality,
set the number of tracks to eight. Be sure to dou-
ble-check track arming, as machines differ in
how they will map arming commands.
After the number of record tracks is specified in
the Record Tracks popup, the record-arming
track buttons are active. The Record Arm but-
tons will be named with the appropriate ma-
chine-specific track name. The button text dis-
plays in red when armed.
Choosing a Record Protocol
The following two choices are available for con-
figuring the recording protocol to be utilized by
the target deck:
Auto Edit
This mode is a highly accurate way to ensure
that the target deck will record only within the
boundaries of an on-screen selection. (If your
deck does not support Auto Edit, use Punch
In/Punch Out, explained below.)
In this mode, the record start/end times are
downloaded to the target deck (along with any
pre- or post-roll), and the deck is responsible for
performing the insert punch in/out at the spec-
ified times (see “Rules for On-Screen Selections”
on page 25 for details).
Because this protocol removes the vagaries of
CPU timing from the remote recording process,
Auto Edit is frame-accurate. It is also the best
way to ensure that your machine will punch out
correctly and avoid accidental erasure of audio,
even in the event of a CPU error.
Punch In/Out
This mode uses Pro Tools to control the process
of punch in/out. Instead of downloading the
punch points (as in Auto Edit), Pro Tools actu-
ally performs them during the record pass. Be-
cause serial communication has inherent de-
lays, timing with Punch In/Punch Out mode
cannot guarantee frame-accuracy (though it will
almost always be within 2 to 3 frames).
If you are using the generic1 device person-
ality, be sure to double-check record behav-
ior using non-essential tapes before at-
tempting to use MachineControl’s remote
track arming modes.