System information

System Design

Placing Component Objects

E Desk™ system design begins with the placement of Component Objects into the Layout. This can be done in two

ways. The simplest way is to select a component category from the Equipment Room, and then drag & drop a pre-

defined component into the Layout. Equipment Room component categories can also be selected from the Equipment

Room Menu (at the top of the screen), which indicates keyboard short-cuts as well. However, component placement

can instead be done using the Object Toolbar, located directly above the Layout. On the Object Toolbar, next to each

category icon is a drop-down menu of components. Selecting a component from the menu, then clicking over the

Layout, will place the selected component at that location. Holding the Shift key allows multiple copies of the

component to be placed. Certain components will provide a pop-up window, allowing further component definition

& customization before placement. Using the Object Bar also allows the Equipment Room to be closed (providing

greater width to the Layout). Component Objects, and their current settings (DSP data), can also be placed using the

Copy/Paste functions on the Standard Toolbar or the Edit Menu. Selected objects can also be copied by holding the

Alt key while dragging and dropping. NOTE: Components cannot be selected when the current Layer is invisible

(see Layers Sheet).

Arranging Component Objects

The physical arrangement of objects within the Layout can be modified in several ways. Objects can be packed side-

by-side, have their edges aligned, be centered in the view, be spaced evenly, and be made the same size. Objects can

also be arranged from front to back, when multiple objects are overlaid. In addition, objects can be forced to snap to

an adjustable grid. See Layout Toolbar and Layout Menu. Objects within the Layout can also be organized in

separate groups called Layers (see Layers Sheet).

Connecting Component Objects

Each Component Object includes Nodes for making system wiring connections. Nodes are provided in four types,

each with a specific location on the Component Object. Audio input Nodes are always on the left. Audio outputs

Nodes are always on the right. Control (logic) input Nodes are always on the top. Control (logic) output Nodes are

always on the bottom. An exception to these rules is the Pass-Through block, which allows wiring nodes to be

strategically placed for routing signals in different directions. When an object (such as a Ducker) includes an audio

control (sense) input, it will be below the audio inputs (on the left).

To make a connection, select a Node and drag/drop a Line Object (wire) to a corresponding Node. Multiple Nodes on

one object can be selected, and then connected to a matching set of multiple Nodes on another object. If multiple

Nodes from individual objects are to be connected to multiple Nodes on a single object, select the individual object

Nodes first (drag to select as group). Nodes from multiple individual objects must be connected to Nodes of other

individual objects one at a time.

An output Node can be connected to multiple input Nodes, but an input Node cannot be connected to multiple output

Nodes. Audio Nodes & Control (logic) Nodes cannot be connected to each other. Input & Output Nodes on the same

object cannot be connected to each other. Nodes of the same type (Input or Output) cannot be connected together.

An individual Line Object (wire) or Node connection can be moved (but not copied). The appearance & properties of

Line Objects (wires) in the Layout can be changed (see Format Toolbar and Property Sheet).