™ USER’S GUIDE TC FX II ™ Renowned M2000 Reverb Algorithms Plug-in for Mackie Digital Mixers ® ™
Iconography This icon identifies a description of how to perform an action with the mouse. This icon identifies a description of how to perform an action from the console. This icon will lead you to some further explanations of features and practical tips. This icon marks information which is very important, so please make sure you have a read. This icon does not appear in this guide. “Mackie” and the “Running Man” figure are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mackie Designs Inc.
Contents Introduction ----------------------------------------4 About TC Electronic --------------------------------------------4 About the D8B UFX Card -------------------------------------- 5 About TC FX II --------------------------------------------------- 5 Let’s Get Started ---------------------------------- 6 Requirements ----------------------------------------------------6 Authorizing the Plug-in ----------------------------------------6 Unlock Procedure -------------------------------------------
Introduction TC Electronic’s™ TC FX II™ is one of the exciting new family of 24-bit plug-ins for the D8B, specifically designed for the new Mackie Universal Effects (UFX) card. The UFX comes bundled with Mackie Real Time OS 3.0, TC FX II (Level I), and Mackie’s Mono Delay. About TC Electronic TC Electronic was founded in 1976 with the objective of developing, producing, and marketing first class audio products. Now they're the undisputed industry leader in digital effects and reverb technology.
About the D8B UFX Card The UFX card provides robust processing power for computationheavy plug-ins. The UFX uses a 4-in/4-out architecture, which means it can support four mono, two mono and one stereo, or two stereo sends simultaneously. Up to four UFX cards can be installed in the D8B, allowing up to sixteen simultaneous singlechannel effects, eight stereo plug-ins, or combinations thereof. Note: It is recommended that you increase the D8B’s memory if you install more than one UFX card.
Let’s Get Started Requirements • One or more Mackie UFX cards • Mackie Real Time OS 3.0 Software • Plug-in Software We will assume you have successfully installed a Mackie UFX card and Mackie Real Time OS 3.0 software upgrade. If you have encountered problems with the installation of hardware or software please see their associated user guides or contact Mackie support (www.mackie.com). Authorizing the Plug-in If you have D8B v 3.
Unlock Procedure 1. Locate your D8B’s Electronic Serial Number (ESN). This is displayed at the bottom of the Licensing window which is accessed from the Setup screen. The 12 digit ESN is made from numbers 0–9 and letters A–F. It is unique to the D8B processor, and is not the serial number label on the rear of the control surface or CPU chassis. 2. You will also need your plug-in’s serial number which is 1111 1111 1111. 3. To obtain the unlock code, have the ESN and plug-in serial number ready.
Configuring the Plug-in After booting the D8B you must assign the plug-in to a UFX card. See “FX Routing” on page 15 for more details. Assign the Plug-in to a UFX card 1. Click the Plugins menu and select Plugins, or Ctrl+P on the keyboard. 2. In the Plugin Configuration window, locate the card slot that contains the UFX card you wish to assign to. 3. In the Mode column, click the Mono/ Stereo toggle button and set it to Stereo. 4.
Assign an Input Source to the Plug-in • Click the plug-in’s INPUT menu button to select an input source. In the example below, we have chosen the Aux 5 Bus as the input to the plug-in installed in Slot 5. When a plug-in is fed from an aux bus, its output appears on the FX Return channels (faders in the EFFECTS bank). The return channel is determined by the slot number and whether the effect output is mono or stereo.
Using the TC FX II Front Panel Overview Pre-Delay Input Assignment and Dropdown ButControl ton Meter Displays (In/Out) Decay Time Control Pre-Delay Display (mouse active) High/Low Freq Decay (mouse active) Input/Output Meter Toggle Button Preset Algorithm Preset Selection & Display Menu Button Effect Bypass Decay Time Display (mouse active) Close Display Memory A/B Buttons Pre-Delay Control and Display Pre-Delay is the subtle delaying of the reverb itself so that the dry signal more easily stands
Input/Output Meter Display and Toggle Button This button toggles from Input to Output. Meters range from –40 dB to 0 dB. Note: The meters above the Menu button are inactive in this version. Hi/Low Frequency Decay Control and Display These two parameters allow the decay time to be set separately for both low and high frequencies as a multiplication factor value.
Saving, Loading and Resetting a Preset TC FX II settings can be saved and recalled from the hard drive. You can save and load files from either Memory A or Memory B. To Save a Preset: 1. Click and hold the Menu button. 2. Select Save to overwrite the file currently opened. 3. Select Save TC Level I As to save to a new file name. The Save Preset File As dialog box appears. 4. A default name for the preset is automatically displayed, such as Preset#1.
To Load a Preset: 1. Click Memory A or Memory B to choose the memory location from which to load the file. 2. Click and hold the Menu button. 3. Select Load TC Level I to open a file. The Load Preset File dialog box appears. 4. Click INTERNAL if the file is on the internal drive, or click FLOPPY if the file is on a floppy disk. 5. Select the preset you want to load. 6. Click Open to load the selected preset. Other Menu Items: Reset: Loads the previous patch.
Automation and Snapshot Control Dynamic Real Time To write automation on a loaded Plug-in: On The Console 1. Engage AUTO TOUCH. 2. Engage ALL, disengage BYPASS, and send timecode to the console – the POSITION readout will change to show TC is being received. 3. Move a parameter or recall a patch (user or factory preset). Subsequent edits to any recorded automation moves may be performed in the Mix Editor.
FX Routing The Plug-in Configuration Window Input Source AsCard Slot Column signment Column Plug-in display toggle Plug-in Assignment Column Close Window Stereo/Mono Mode Column Input Channel Assignment Dropdown Menu Button Stereo/Mono Toggle Button Card A Card B Card C Card D (no card installed) Stereo Plug-in Routing If the plug-in has a stereo input as well as stereo output, typically it will be fed from two aux buses and returned to a pair of FX return channels.
Inserting a Plug-in into a Channel A pre- or post-DSP channel insert can also be used as the input source for a plug-in. When a channel insert point is selected, the plug-in output returns to the channel. The FX return path is disconnected, although the plug-in output is still displayed on the FX return channel meter. A plug-in channel insert assignment can be made from the Plugin Configuration window, or from a drop-down menu from the mixer screen.
Using an Aux Send with a Plug-in ♦ Click on the associated INPUT menu button and select an aux input source. In the example below, we have chosen the Aux 5 Bus. Send the Input Signal to the Aux Bus 1. Send a signal to a D8B mixer input channel (MIC/LINE or TAPE IN). 2. Assign the input channel V-Pot/GUI Control Pot to an aux send. We have chosen AUX 5 according to the example above. 3. Use the AUX 5 control to adjust the input level to the plug-in.
You will see the plug-in’s input meter become active as you raise the mixer input channel’s aux send. Set the plug-in input/output signal levels as you would with any effect, so the meter reaches its upper-most range every so often (always trust your ears first). This can be accomplished from the console or GUI. Pre-Fader and Post-Fader Auxiliary Sends Normally, effect sends are post-fader, so the signal sent to the effect follows the program level in the mix.
The FX Return Channel ♦ Switch the D8B Bank Select to EFFECTS (49-72) and bring up faders one and two (channels 49 and 50). You will also see meter activity associated with these channels. FX Channels 1&2 (channels 49&50) Stereo Plug-in The Plug button toggles between Windows menu buttons and FX buttons (lower left on the D8B mixer screen). Plug-ins button opens the Patch Configuration window (or Ctrl+P on the keyboard) Here the Delay Factor plug-in is selected for display.
® ™ ©2001 Mackie Designs Inc. and TC Electronic. All Rights Reserved. Part No. 820-246-00 Rev.
