Table of Contents Chapter 1 – Introduction ..................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Welcome ............................................................................................................. 3 1.2 Product Overview................................................................................................ 3 Chapter 2 – Quickstart Guide ............................................................................................
Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Welcome Thank you for choosing Waves! In order to get the most out of Waves MultiRack, please take the time to read through this manual. In conjunction, we also suggest you become familiar with www.wavesupport.net. There you will find an extensive Answer Base, the latest Tech Specs, detailed Installation guides, new Software Updates, and current information on Authorization and Registration. By signing up at www.wavesupport.
Chapter 2 Quickstart Guide The Quick Start section contains all you need to know to configure your system and to get up to speed with the application. We will follow these steps as we get started: 1. Connect your console to the sound card or external I/O 2. Create a new Session and set the preferences 3. Add new Racks and set their audio signal flow 4. Add plug-ins for sound processing 5. Create Snapshots for easy recall of Racks and processors 6.
2.1 Connect Your Console to the Sound Card or External I/O Before starting the application, connect your console to your sound card or external I/O. It’s useful to make a chart of the connections, so that when you assign Racks to specific I/O channels, you won’t need to look behind your console.
Here are some flowchart examples of MultiRack connections. For more about Rack I/O configurations, see the detail section “MultiRack Window: Setting up Your Processing Environment.” 2.2 Create a New Session and Set the Preferences A Session is a collection of Racks, each of which contains plug-in processors. It holds the “architecture” of your setup (input and output routing, how many Racks, in what order, which plug-ins and their order, etc.), as well as Rack I/O levels and plug-in settings.
Get started by accessing the Preferences window: Ctrl+P in Windows/Cmd+, on Mac). Set the audio I/O device by clicking the Audio Device dropdown and choosing from the available devices. (MultiRack supports Windows ASIO and Mac CoreAudio sound cards.) The rest of the Preferences can be set later.
2.3 Add Empty Racks A Rack is a chain of plug-ins used to process an audio signal, whether mono, stereo, or mono-to-stereo. In the hardware world, signals flow from a console’s channel insert or aux track, are processed with a collection of outboard gear, and then returned to the console. MultiRack follows the same principle, except that processing takes place in virtual Racks filled with plug-in processors rather than in hardware racks.
You may decide later to change a Rack’s input from mono to stereo, or to mono-to-stereo. Use the Switch Rack Type pull-down to modify the input and/or output. As you add Racks, a blank area will appear beneath the newest Rack. Double click in area to add more Racks, up to a maximum of 64. Just as it’s important to write on the scribble strip of your console to identify the source of each channel, it’s equally useful to name the Racks of your MultiRack Session.
2.4 Add Plug-ins for Sound Processing Once you’ve created Racks and assigned their I/O channels, it’s time to add plug-ins to each Rack. A Rack can hold up to eight plug-in processors, and the signal will always flow from left-to-right. Click on the small arrow near the Input Fader to add a plug-in from the pull-down list. Plugins are organized by type of processor. Add another plug-in by clicking on the arrow to the right of the first plug-in, and so forth.
2.5 Snapshots With MultiRack, you can easily store and recall Snapshots of the Racks and the plug-ins they contain. A Snapshot is sort of a “super preset,” a picture of all of the Racks in your MultiRack Session. It contains the following parameters: • Rack input and output gain • Rack in/out and mute states • Current plug-in parameters Snapshots are contained and saved as part of a Session file. A single Session file can contain up to 1000 Snapshots.
Here, you can store up to 1000 Snapshots. We’ll discuss the Snapshots Pane in greater detail later in this manual. For now, it’s sufficient to know that first you should set your I/O levels and plug-in parameters as desired, then click on a Snapshot register where you want to store the information. Click Store As…. This will reveal the Store Snapshot As window. Type a name for this Snapshot and click Store.
2.6 Create Processing Groups Since MultiRack allows you to build Sessions of up to 64 Racks, each of which are specific processing chains, you may choose to organize related Racks into groups to better manage your Session. Grouping Racks offers a few advantages: • Group related Racks together (such as all drum channels), and they will share a common group name. • Groups are color-coded, making visual identification of similar Racks much easier.
2.7 Saving in MultiRack MultiRack offers four different levels of “Save,” enabling you to quickly and confidently store and recall needed Session information. From most specific to most general, here are your options for saving information: • Per Plug-in: Each plug-in has its own WaveSystem Toolbar, so you can load and save your favorite plug-in settings without affecting the rest of the processing environment. Say you have a C4 preset that you’d like to use for the bass.
When you turn Recall Safe mode off, Racks and plug-ins which have been Recall Safe remain so; they just don’t glow blue. 2.9 Overview Window: Viewing the Status of All of Your Racks Once you’ve filled several Racks, you’ll want a convenient way to keep track of everything happening within your processing environment. To get an overview of your Racks, select Overview from the View menu. This will reveal the Overview Window, where you’ll see a condensed view of each Rack.
2.10 Controlling MultiRack with MIDI Since FOH situations demand that you keep your hands on the console and your eyes on the show, you may not always want to control MultiRack using a mouse and a computer display. Instead, you may choose to control MultiRack using your digital console or other familiar MIDI hardware controller for greater efficiency.
Controller Strip, which can be displayed at the bottom of the Rack View page by choosing Show Controller Strip from the View menu or by using the shortcut Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+C. The Controller Strip shows up to eight variable controls (top row) and eight switches for the displayed plug-in that can be remotely controlled via MIDI. Many plug-ins have more than eight variable and or discrete controls; to assign these additional controls, extra Controller Strip pages are provided.
Assigning Hardware Control with the Remote Controller Editor Use the Remote Controller Editor to map relationships between hardware MIDI controllers and numerous MultiRack functions. Its interface displays MultiRack functions that can be controlled directly via MIDI, including the eight continuous and eight discrete controls of the Controller Strip.
• Snapshot Recall This provides control for Next and Previous Snapshots. You can also directly recall specific “Hot” Snapshots. To assign MIDI controls, launch the Remote Controller Editor by clicking Editor from the Control Setup tab of the Preferences window. Select a MIDI port. Use the pull-down menu to choose the port your MIDI controller is connected to.
Remotely Triggering Snapshots Assign hardware switches to control the Previous and Next Snapshot function. When using remote MIDI control to scroll to a Snapshot, the Snapshot will become active immediately. By creating Hot Snapshots, you can assign up to eight Snapshots to specific MIDI switches. This is useful for very important or frequently used Snapshots. In the Snapshots pane, select a Snapshot you want to make Hot.
Return to MultiRack and open the Control Setup tab of the Preferences window. Browse to your newly created MIDI control file in the window, MIDI/Keyboard Setup File. Select the desired MIDI/Keyboard Setup file. The mapping you assigned with Remote Controller Editor will become available to MultiRack. MIDI control setup is discussed in greater detail in the section “The Preferences Window.
2.11 Show Mode Show Mode is a “safe mode,” used during performances, that lets you adjust parameters within plugins, but not change routing, configuration, and other settings that could cause problems in a live situation. When Show is selected you’re locked out from much of the interface - select Setup to return to the Setup mode. To move between Setup and Show modes, double-click the Setup/Show button. 2.
Chapter 3 MultiRack Windows and Controls Explained In this section, we take a look at each of MultiRack’s windows in greater detail. If you’ve not read the first section of this manual, “MultiRack Quick Start,” please do so before continuing. There are terms and concepts discussed in the Quick Start that are essential to understanding MultiRack workflow.
3.1 Status Bar At the top of the interface, above all of the Racks, is the Status Bar, with which you select modes and monitor system status. This information bar is visible from any view. Audio On/Off Turns the audio engine on and off. Use this button to reset button the engine if audio has become corrupted, or if the application is unresponsive.
Snapshot button This opens the Snapshots pane, where you name, manage and recall Snapshots. You can also open the Snapshots pane by typing Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+O. Snapshot pull- Displays the current Snapshot and allows you to quickly down menu recall any Snapshot directly. Snapshot Click the left arrow to recall the previous Snapshot, and previous/next the right arrow to recall the next Snapshot, in sequential buttons order. Message area Error and alert messages are displayed in this area.
3.2 A Quick Look at the Windows The MultiRack interface consists of just five windows, each of which displays details about your Session. Here is a brief description of the windows, after which each will be described in more detail. MultiRack Window This is the main user window, where up to 64 Racks are connected and controlled. Here you add Racks, fill Racks with plug-ins, adjust levels, and generally get organized. Rack View Window This window opens when you double click on a plug-in within a Rack.
Group Properties Window Here you group sets of Racks for easier organization and to adjust for latency alignment between the group’s Racks. Snapshots Pane Lists all Session Snapshots and allows Snapshot management. Here you can store, rename, move, duplicate, and recall Snapshots.
Preferences Window Contains all application and global settings that affect the entire application. This window is accessed from the Edit menu (PC) or Apple menu (OS X). 3.3 The Windows in Detail MultiRack Main View: Setting Up Your Processing Environment This is the view where you’ll probably spend most of your setup time. It’s here that you build Racks of processors. Racks are stacked one below another; there are no unoccupied slots between Racks. By default, MultiRack opens with the last Session used.
To add a Rack, double click on the area below an existing Rack (if one exists). The Add Racks dialog window will appear. It allows you to add Racks below the last Rack in the Session. The numeric field specifies the number (1-64) of new Racks to be added. From the drop-down menu choose the Rack type: mono, mono-to-stereo, or stereo. When a new Rack is added, its default setup is: No plug-ins; Gain at 0dB; Rack on; Rack in; Mute off; No group; Untitled name; No input; No output.
On/Off Disables a Rack and removes it from CPU processing. Mutes all signals routed to the Rack. Turning off an unneeded Rack results in better CPU management of the system. In/Out Disables the Rack’s plug-ins and passes the signal directly from Rack input to Rack output. Typically used for “before and after” comparison or to bypass processing. Mute Silences the Rack, but doesn’t remove it from CPU processing.
Active(On) Turns Rack on/off, disabling and removing it from the CPU. This is useful for greater CPU efficiency when a Rack is not needed. Bypass Disables the Rack’s plug-in processing and passes signal from Rack input to Rack output. Mute Mutes entire Rack but doesn’t remove plug-ins from CPU. Cut Rack(s) Cuts the Rack and its contents and places them in the computer’s clipboard. Copy Rack(s) Copies the Rack and its contents into the computer’s clipboard.
Places the selected Rack or plug-in into a “safe” mode Recall Safe that protects it from Snapshot recalls. Recall Safe Racks or plug-ins are unaffected by all Snapshot recalls, even if a Snapshot has parameters that should be changed on Snapshot recall This command is allowed only when Recall Safe Mode is selected in the Snapshots menu. Assign the Rack to Presents a list of available processing groups from a processing group which to choose.
• A physical output channel can be connected to only one Rack. Two or more Racks cannot share the same output. Use the same menu with which you set the input/output channels to switch the channel configuration of the Rack. Adding Plug-ins to a Rack To add a plug-in to a Rack, click on the small arrow to the right of the Input Fader. Select a plug-in from the pull-down menu.
Rack View: Using Your Plug-ins Double click on a plug-in’s icon to open its interface and enter MultiRack’s Rack View. Here you adjust each plug-in. If you’re already familiar with Waves plug-ins, this window will be very easy to use. At the top of each plug-in’s window is a WaveSystem Toolbar, used to load, save, and compare processor settings. The layout of the WaveSystem Toolbar may vary from one plug-in to another. Use this toolbar to save plug-in or Rack-specific presets.
WaveSystem Toolbar Buttons Undo Undoes the last change(s) you made within the plug-in. Setup A Toggles between two setups, allowing you to compare (Setup B) different settings. This facilitates quick A/B comparisons and lets you determine which of two settings works best without having to save a preset. An asterisk (*) on the button indicates that changes have been made since a preset was loaded. A►B; B►A Copies the current settings to the second setup register.
Save Save your plug-in presets here. You can save the current parameters as a user preset in the Preset menu, or create a new file. If you choose to save the preset as a new file — outside the plug-in’s Preset menu — WaveSystem will ask you where you want to put it. ? (Help) Opens the PDF manual for the current plug-in. Clicking on the Waves logo will bring up the “About This Plug-in” page, providing information about the plug-in.
Group Properties Window: For Organization and Latency Alignment This window allows you to group several Racks together. Racks often have something in common, and it may make sense to assign all of these similar Racks to a group. Grouping all of the channels of your brass section, or drums, or audience, then assigning these groups a color, helps you to keep track of Racks in concert situations. Also, each rack will display the name of the group, further aiding quick visual organization.
None A group is created, but there is no latency alignment. Auto The group is delayed to match the latency of the Rack in the group with the greatest total latency. Manual Manually delay the group by a specific value by entering it in the Latency field. The value is displayed in samples, milliseconds, meters or feet, depending on your choice in the pull-down window. The minimal value allowed for this setting matches the latency of the Rack in the group with the greatest total latency.
Snapshot Pane: Automating Your Racks One of the main benefits of a plug-in based processing host for live applications is the ability to create detailed presets and recall them live, during concerts. The Snapshot Pane is where you store, recall and manage the Snapshots that contain all of the parameters of the plug-ins that make up your processing Racks. It’s here where your programming efforts pay off.
If you’re saving a new Snapshot, the Store Snapshot As pane will open. Choose the list position where you want to save the new or modified Snapshot and click Store. If you are overwriting an existing Snapshot, you will see this warning: Once you have named a few Snapshots, the Snapshot Pane may look like this: Note that selected Snapshots are highlighted, and the currenlty recalled Snapshot’s name appears in boldface and its number is highlighted in green.
Global Paste enables you to copy a plug-in’s or a Rack’s parameters into one or more other Snapshots. This is useful when you’ve set up several Racks filled with plug-ins and you decide to change plug-ins settings across several Snapshots. Say, for example, that after several rehearsals you arrived at the perfect plug-in settings for a particular instrument, an instrument that is included in numerous Snapshots.
Import allows you to add Snapshots from another MultiRack Session. Click on the Import button. A browser window will appear. Locate the MultiRack Session that contains the Snapshot you want to import into the current Session. The Import Snapshot window will appear. Choose the Snapshot(s) you wish to add, and then click Import. Remember, Snapshots contain information about parameters, not configurations, so the source and target Sessions must have the same plug-in content and order in each Rack.
Preferences Window: Global Controls Enter the Preferences window from the Edit menu (PC) or MultiRack menu (OS X) ,or by typing “Ctrl+P” (PC) or “Cmd+,” (Mac). There are two tabs in the Preferences window: • System Setup • Control Setup System Setup – Audio Section On this simple page, you choose the device (sound card) you will use for MultiRack’s audio input/output.
Recall first Snapshot when Session loads. If you regularly start your shows with the first Snapshot, this is a good choice. Enable verbose log. This option places MultiRack in a “debug” mode that outputs what is called a “verbose data file”. It’s used to collect data that technical support may require. When selected, the message area of the Status Bar displays a flashing message: “Verbose Output.” The output file is titled “DebugMultiRack_date.txt.
• Set MIDI Control Change messages for snapshots recall determines which control messages — sent on the above-set MIDI channel — will be used to initiate/recall Snapshots #129-1000. For example, if you select Control Change message #7 to recall Snapshots 129-256, then sending CC#7 with value 0 will recall Snapshot #129. Value 2 will recall Snapshot #130, and so forth. • Set MIDI Pickup Mode determines how MultiRack will respond to parameter changes.
Chapter 4 MultiRack Menus MultiRack is controlled mostly from within its five windows, so there are very few application menus. Most menu commands offer keystroke shortcuts, so it’s worthwhile studying the menus in order to learn how to quickly navigate through MultiRack’s commands. 4.
4.2 MultiRack Menu (OS X only) Menu Item About MultiRack Preferences… Quit MultiRack Keyboard shortcut Definition Reveals information about current version of MultiRack. Opens the application’s Preferences window Closes the application. Comments Cmd+, Cmd+Q 4.
Invert Selection Add Rack(s)… Selects all deselected Racks; deselects all selected Racks. Applicable only in MultiRack window. Opens the Add Racks dialog window. Applicable only in MultiRack window. Preferences Opens the Preferences window Hot Plug-in Mode Group Properties … Enables Hot Plug-in mode Opens the Group Properties window Ctrl/Cmd+I Ctrl/Cmd+R Ctrl/Cmd+P Alt+H Ctrl/Cmd+G 4.
4.5 View Menu Menu Item Mainview Mode Overview Mode Rackview Mode Show Mode Setup Mode Show Controller Strip Full Screen Keyboard shortcut Definition Displays the Session in the Main view Displays the Session in Overview Mode Displays the Rack view and its housed plug-in’s interface Switches MultiRack to Show Mode Switches MultiRack to Setup Mode Opens the Controller Strip in the Rack view. Displays the interface in full screen.
4.6 Snapshots Menu Menu Item Open Snapshot Pane Store Snapshot Opens/closes the Snapshot Pane in MultiRack window. Stores Snapshot parameters. If a Snapshot already exists in the selected register, “Store” will overwrite. Store Snapshot As… Saves current Recall Previous Snapshot Recalls the previous Snapshot in the play list. Recall Next Snapshot Recall-Safe Mode Global Paste Mode Import… Move Snapshot(s) To… Keyboard shortcut Definition Recalls the next Snapshot in the play list.
4.7 Help Menu Item Read MultiRack manual Go to Waves web site About MultiRack Keyboard shortcut Comments Ctrl/Cmd+Alt+? If the help manual is unavailable, visit www.waves.com. Definition Opens MultiRack PDF manual Launches the default browser with the URL www.Waves.
