Probox d8b, User Manual

Page 1: ...Probox user manual Page 1 of 63 User manual V2 03 04 ...

Page 2: ...ws 7 64 bit 10 5 3 Windows 8 64 bit 12 5 4 MacOS 12 5 5 Linux 12 6 Installation DAW 13 6 1 Setting up Cubase for your ProBox 14 6 2 Setting up for Reaper 4 19 6 3 Setting up for Protools 22 6 4 Setting up for PresonusStudio One 23 6 5 Setting up for Logic 25 6 6 Setting up for Sonar Professional for two proboxes 30 7 Description 37 7 1 Startup 37 7 2 Configure your Probox 38 7 3 MCU and XT emulati...

Page 3: ...on green circle ONLY Mackie Logic 47 7 4 HUI emulation 49 7 4 1 Faders Off function 49 7 4 2 Button Map HUI 50 7 5 Monitor Controller function 53 7 5 1 Monitor Section 53 7 5 2 Cue Section 53 7 5 3 Signal path of Monitor controller 55 7 6 Generic Control functions 56 8 MIDI Implementation Table 57 9 Support 60 10 Warranty 61 11 Changelog 62 ...

Page 4: ...oBox without troubles The probox emulates a Mackie Logic Control with two extensions plus a monitor controller and a generic controller for the remaining not used buttons Vpots As there are several DAW programs available it is not possible for me to test the proBox on all platforms As the ProBox emulates the Mackie stuff it should work with all platforms that support the Mackie Logic Control The M...

Page 5: ...lity On Logic and maybe other DAW programs you might not have the full Fader range Logic stops at 6dB This is not a bug of the probox Logic doiesn t send a wider range to ensure that the level displayed in Logic fits to the marks beside the Fader A Fader calibration will not solve this issur The drivers for windows 7 Mac and Linux are OS drivers So I m not able to do any updates on that The ProBox...

Page 6: ...lity to DAW software The Probox supports following DAW solutions Now also HUI See also http www mackie com products mcupro mcupro_software html NOTE You can find the manuals for your DAW on the CD in the folder Manuals DAWs or on the link above ...

Page 7: ...rivers should be installed automatically 4 1 What s in the box Your package will contain the probox USB cable usually you will never need it Only for windows if a normal firmware update crashes All manuals will be available via email and download Firmware updates will also be available via download and email ...

Page 8: ...ual Page 8 of 63 4 2 Connecting the d8b Connect the probox to the 25 female SUB D connector marked as console Connect the power supply cable the fat one with the monster plug Mackie PSU CPU to your console ProBox PSU ...

Page 9: ...ource C AUX 9 INPUT Input for CUE AUX note 120 Ohm Load AUX 10 INPUT Input for CUE AUX note 120 Ohm Load AUX 11 INPUT Input for CUE AUX note 120 Ohm Load AUX 12 INPUT Input for CUE AUX note 120 Ohm Load TALKBACK INPUT Footswitch Talkback MIC1 12 INPUT Can be accessed analogue via Insert Out CR MAIN OUTPUT Main Speakers CR NEARFIELD OUTPUT Nearfield Speakers STUDIO OUT OUTPUT Studio Output PHONES 1...

Page 10: ...s not supported There are drivers available and they work but it is not tested fully on a DAW Never the less all my proboxes are tested on a testsoftware all communication commands that runs with windows XP So XP should work 5 2 Windows 7 64 bit Driver Windows_64 bit Connect the probox windows will automatically detect the box and install the windows driver You will gbet a message when the driver ...

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Page 12: ...ed as DAW The OS should install the drivers automatically 5 4 MacOS Driver includen in your OS Connect the probox via USB port marked as DAW The OS should install the drivers automatically 5 5 Linux Driver includen in your OS Connect the probox via USB port marked as DAW The OS should install the drivers automatically ...

Page 13: ... Ports The last port usually numbered with 5 is not used On Cubase it depends how you order your 3 MCU ports to manage the channels 1 24 in groups of eight If you want to have the channels 1 24 of your d8b to be the channels 1 24 in Cubase you have to generate 3 Mackie Controls and match it like the table Logic should autodetect the MCU and the two XTs You have only bring it in your preferred orde...

Page 14: ...4 of 63 6 1 Setting up Cubase for your ProBox This describes the setup for your Cubase Nuendo The probox has to be connected and recognized by Windows D8b should be booted up and working Select Geräte Devices and config Devices ...

Page 15: ...user manual Page 15 of 63 Add 3 Mackie Controls by pressing the Button Then you should get three Mackie control in your list Configure the forst to the USB Midi Port 4 Leave the setup as it is Kurz means short ...

Page 16: ...Probox user manual Page 16 of 63 Configure the next two Mackie Controls as following Select Port 3 ...

Page 17: ...Probox user manual Page 17 of 63 As this is the MCU and the others are the XTs you can make here your user defined setup for the F1 F9 keys shown in blue ...

Page 18: ...manual Page 18 of 63 If you want you can add the generic controller Press and add a generic controller Change the Midiports to the port MCU Port 5 Here you can program the additional generic functions of the probox ...

Page 19: ... for Reaper 4 For reaper 4 you have to do the following setup Mackie MCU MIDIIN4 MCU Port In and out Fader Offset 16 Mackie XT MIDIIN3 MCU Port In and out Fader Offset 8 Mackie XT MIDIIN2 MCU Port In and out Fader Offset 0 Select Options preferences ...

Page 20: ...Probox user manual Page 20 of 63 Select Control Surfaces and press Add to add one Mackie Control Universal and two Mackie Control Extender Set the 3 controllers to the following options ...

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Page 22: ...Probox user manual Page 22 of 63 6 3 Setting up for Protools For protools you have to do the following setup ...

Page 23: ...controllers in the Add external device dialog Select send and receive MIDI Ports MCUport3 and MCUport2 for the extenders Group your Units Use the surface Placement option to create a Group and fdefine the placement of each unit Put all three devices in one group Group 1 to get all channels 1 24 Note that the Extender with port MCUport2 has to be the first one the extender with port 3 has to be the...

Page 24: ...Probox user manual Page 24 of 63 Control Extender 2 MCUPort2 RED Control Extender 1 MCUPort3 GREEN Mackie Control MCUPort4 BLUE ...

Page 25: ...d8b In this case bring the MCU and XTs into the right order see screen shots The screenshots are done with Logic X but are valid for all Logic versions MCU must be right the XTs in the middle and left all three have to be on one group to ensure 24 channels in parallel The MCU on the right side must have MCUPort4 the XT in the middle must be MCUPort3 and the left one must have MCUPort2 Group ...

Page 26: ...Probox user manual Page 26 of 63 MCU XT2 ...

Page 27: ...Probox user manual Page 27 of 63 XT1 ...

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Page 30: ...Probox user manual Page 30 of 63 6 6 Setting up for Sonar Professional for two proboxes Special thanks to M Shaw for that ________________________________________________________________________ ...

Page 31: ... D8B I selected the Setup button and channel 9 Vpot to setup 9 16 On the D8B I selected the Memory A button and channel 17 Vpot to setup 17 24 For the second D8B under the Sonar Utilities menu Mackie Control 2 I selected the Configure Layout button On the D8B I selected the On button and using channel 1 25 Vpot to setup 25 32 On the D8B I selected the Setup button and channel 9 33 Vpot to setup 33...

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Page 36: ...omputer with the 2 Probox s first then power on the 2 D8B s then bring up the DAW It works consistently everytime when using this order Before using the DAW for the first time I did have to cal the faders on both D8B s in order to sync up all of the faders for both D8B s From then on everything worked perfectly ...

Page 37: ...o The display should show ProBox Version 1 01 07 loading firmware When Firmware is transmitted the d8b faders will go to 0 and the display will show DAW offline At this point it is possible to configure your ProBox or use the Monitor section Also the first 8 green channel LEds will lite Start your DAW application NOTE After transmitting the firmware the Probox is switched to the high datarate of 2...

Page 38: ...dedicated position and drive back again Monitor control use the Audio Monitor section of the d8b or use the buttons and Vpots as generic controller From V2 01 17 there is the possibility to use a mixture of the d8b Control Room In this mode the Stereo VPot is used as generic controller to have a PAN for the Master Out in Cubase and the rest operates as Monitor Controller of the d8b In this mode yo...

Page 39: ...e the faders manually to the 30dB Then press the button again The faders will go near 10dB Proceed as you did with the 30dB on the 10dB position and also for the U position Fader Calibration values will be stored when you leave the config setup NOTE The fadercalibration will scale the fader areas to the dB marks for Logic If you want to use the faders without matching scaling then set the useFcali...

Page 40: ... change is bigger than the selected value This helps to stop slightly fader changes but makes smooth fader movement more difficult PAGE 4 6 You can select three parameters Test LED Test Key Tst_Meter LEDS ON 0 TEST OFF 0 Start 0 LEDS OFF 1 TEST ON 1 1 5 1 5 LEDS ON will switch on all LEDS LEDS OFF will switch off all LEDS Test Key If Test Key is TEST ON the every button press will display 01 on th...

Page 41: ...If you do not want to DIM the Speakers during Talkback then select off These function are also valid for the footswitch PAGE 6 6 You can select three parameters FdrTouch manual automatic manual As the faders are not touch sensitive on the d8b you can use the ASSIGN button to simulate the fader touch press the button and keep it pressed move the fader and release the ASSIGN button The pressing will...

Page 42: ...ttons marked blue to change the setup You will find it displayed in the second row of the display E g press the left button to change between Fader normal and fader fast the middle button for generic or d8b and the right one for the protocol Use the NEXT PREVIOUS button to access the Page 2 of the Setup or to get back to page 1 ...

Page 43: ...Probox user manual Page 43 of 63 Press one of the three red marked buttons ON SETUP or MEMORY A to get out of the config menu and store the setup ...

Page 44: ...p 2 Track Input A and as output Nearfiled speaker you have to do this Make your setup on the Monitoring controller section of the d8b setup your volumes for Talkback Phones etc NOTE Volume for Speaker out Talkback Mono and DIM is not important as it will always be set to 0 or Off on boot security reasons Press MEMORY B o enter the configuration menu Press one of the three red marked buttons ON SET...

Page 45: ...ou can access the XT1 by pressing the button ON The XT2 is selected by pressing SETUP MEMORY A select the MCU As we have too less characters in the display to show all messages you can scroll the display left and right by using the buttons PREVIOUS or NEXT You will find or arrows in the display that shows you where text is hided and can be accessed by the buttons Additional the PREVIOS and NEXT bu...

Page 46: ...ilename mackie_vs_d8b_buttons pdf 7 3 3 Vpots The VPots are rotate sensitive That means if your turn the vpot faster it will react with bigger jumps If you need real big value jumps on your vpot press down the MASTER PAN button and keep it pressed while turning the vpot You will change the value with a factor of 31 ...

Page 47: ... every time the fader send and fader receive messages can be turned on and off Cubase and Logic has this function build in on the Controller but other DAWs like Ableton do not have it Therefore this function is implemented in the probox To turn off the whole faders press the write button on the left side of the Master fader It will blink to indicate that the faders are off If you want to turn them...

Page 48: ...Probox user manual Page 48 of 63 the bridge For that you have to run the probox in the normal speed not boost and with no meterbridge hack press the SHORTCUT ALT button to disable the meterbridge ...

Page 49: ...he green channel LEDs will show you the selected HUI in groups of 8 7 4 1 Faders Off function As some of you have problems with the faders small changes every time the fader send and fader receive messages can be turned on and off Cubase and Logic has this function build in on the Controller but other DAWs like Ableton do not have it Therefore this function is implemented in the probox To turn off...

Page 50: ...ot supported Ch 21Assign Ch 21Rec Rdy 4 fader select mute solo auto v sel insert rec rdy 05 by fader movement Ch 22 Select Ch 22 Mute Ch 22 Solo Ch 22 Write not supported Ch 22 Assign Ch 22 Rec Rdy 5 fader select mute solo auto v sel insert rec rdy 06 by fader movement Ch 23 Select Ch 23 Mute Ch 23 Solo Ch 23 Write not supported Ch 23 Assign Ch 23 Rec Rdy 6 fader select mute solo auto v sel insert...

Page 51: ...gn Ch 21Rec Rdy 05 by fader movement Ch 22 Select Ch 22 M ute Ch 22 Solo Ch 22 Write not supported Ch 22 Assign Ch 22 Rec Rdy 06 by fader movement Ch 23 Select Ch 23 M ute Ch 23 Solo Ch 23 Write not supported Ch 23 Assign Ch 23 Rec Rdy 07 by fader movement Ch 24 Select Ch 24 M ute Ch 24 Solo Ch 24 Write not supported Ch 24 Assign Ch 24 Rec Rdy 08 M ASTER LR WRITE M ASTER LR SELECT CLIPBOARD PASTE ...

Page 52: ... auto v sel insert rec rdy 2 fader select mute solo auto v sel insert rec rdy 3 fader select mute solo auto v sel insert rec rdy 4 fader select mute solo auto v sel insert rec rdy 5 fader select mute solo auto v sel insert rec rdy 6 fader select mute solo auto v sel insert rec rdy 7 fader select mute solo auto v sel insert rec rdy 8 ctrl clt shift ad editmode undo alt fine option a edittool save 9...

Page 53: ...put by pressing NEAR FIELD If you press a selected Speakers button again the led will flush and the Output will be muted 7 5 2 Cue Section On the Phones Cue Mix 1 2 area you can select the Inputs Aux9 10 Aux 11 12 or the Signal on your Main Nearfield Speakers by pressing AUX 9 10 AUX 11 12 or CONTROL ROOM Control the volume of the Phones via the Vpot Use the Master Vpot to control the signal on th...

Page 54: ...ersion 2 1 12 it s possible to use an additional footswitch Connect your footswitch to the talkback jack on the back of your d8b Note You can configure the Talkback Button or footswitch to act as switch latched on off function or as a button Talkback as long as you keep the button pressed Additional you can configure an automatic Speaker DIM when pressing the talk button Details see probox configu...

Page 55: ...Probox user manual Page 55 of 63 7 5 3 Signal path of Monitor controller ...

Page 56: ... these buttons will also send a signal on the generic USB midi port You have to program your DAW for that For Cubase such a setup will be available as I will do that for my setup NOTE If you disable the Monitor Controller function on the ProBox you will have these buttons and Vpots as generic controller marked in green For the implementation into your DAW please look to the chapter MIDI Implementa...

Page 57: ...0x90 9 9 127 0x7F on 0 off Assign Ch11 Automation read 1 NoteOn 0x90 0A 10 127 0x7F on 0 off Assign Ch12 Automation read 1 NoteOn 0x90 0B 11 127 0x7F on 0 off Assign Ch13 Automation read 1 NoteOn 0x90 0C 12 127 0x7F on 0 off Assign Ch14 Automation read 1 NoteOn 0x90 0D 13 127 0x7F on 0 off Assign Ch15 Automation read 1 NoteOn 0x90 0E 14 127 0x7F on 0 off Assign Ch16 Automation read 1 NoteOn 0x90 0...

Page 58: ... 127 0x7F on 0 off TRANSPORT 8 1 NoteOn 0x90 47 71 127 0x7F on 0 off TRANSPORT 9 1 NoteOn 0x90 48 72 127 0x7F on 0 off TRANSPORT 10 1 NoteOn 0x90 49 73 127 0x7F on 0 off SOLO STUDIO MIXDOWN SOLO 1 NoteOn 0x90 4A 74 127 0x7F on 0 off SOLO STUDIO PFL SOLO 1 NoteOn 0x90 4B 75 127 0x7F on 0 off SOLO STUDIO AFL SOLO 1 NoteOn 0x90 4C 76 127 0x7F on 0 off SOLO STUDIO TALKBACK TO STUDIO 1 NoteOn 0x90 4D 7...

Page 59: ...ff SETUP GENERAL 1 NoteOn 0x90 67 103 127 0x7F on 0 off SETUP PLUGINS 1 NoteOn 0x90 68 104 127 0x7F on 0 off SETUP DIGITAL I O 1 NoteOn 0x90 69 105 127 0x7F on 0 off 1 24 LEVEL TO TAPE 1 NoteOn 0x90 6A 106 127 0x7F on 0 off 1 24 DIGITAL TRIM 1 NoteOn 0x90 6B 107 127 0x7F on 0 off Master Aux 11 12 1 NoteOn 0x90 6C 108 127 0x7F on 0 off Master Aux 11 12 PAN 1 NoteOn 0x90 6D 109 127 0x7F on 0 off MAS...

Page 60: ...es no Operating system DAW Software version used driver version Picture description of connection of the probox is the system booting does the config menue work does the USB Midi ports are available Controller seen by DAW Video of the problem would be great please describe as detailed as possible the Malfunction of the system Support email probox weritz com ...

Page 61: ...Every ProBox that is delivered is tested for their 100 functionality How is this done I ve developed a testprogram that checks all communication commands on all four USB ports and the serial connection to the d8b console E g if you press a button on your d8b it sends out a command via the serial connection to the probox The probox translates that to a midi command on USB1 4 and sends this out All ...

Page 62: ...splay also usable for configuration V1 01 18 V1 01 21 Meterbridge can be turned off Fader filter implemented to ged rid of the small ghost fader changes of the d8b V1 1 21 V2 01 01 HUI protocol implemented V2 01 01 V2 01 09 HUI protocol finalized some fader movement bug fixed V2 01 09 V2 01 12 Talkback switchable with footswitch via talkback jack MTC refresh issue in HUI mode solved V2 01 12 V2 01...

Page 63: ...Probox user manual Page 63 of 63 V2 02 03 V2 02 04 Talkback button modes also available on footswitch now V2 02 04 V2 03 04 Meterbridge improved Fader touch setting added manual automatic ...