Author Topic: Ways to use the new features.  (Read 35888 times)

Wynnd

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Ways to use the new features.
« on: November 18, 2014, 05:12:49 PM »
How are you using features in Master Fader 3.x?

I'll start:

Using VCA 1 as a volume master on my vocalists. 
Using VCA 2 for the rhythm section.
Color coded the channels to the VCA, it's easy to see what ties to it.  When choosing VCA1 in the view, you see only the channels tied to it.

I was ready to use groups for this, but didn't know what VCAs were and when I researched them, the advantages became obvious.  VCA will control the output of the channel which affects any effects on that channel too.  Groups won't do that.  I'm not sure when to use groups now.

Keyboard Magic

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2014, 05:20:29 PM »
How are you using features in Master Fader 3.x?

I'll start:

Using VCA 1 as a volume master on my vocalists. 
Using VCA 2 for the rhythm section.
Color coded the channels to the VCA, it's easy to see what ties to it.  When choosing VCA1 in the view, you see only the channels tied to it.

I was ready to use groups for this, but didn't know what VCAs were and when I researched them, the advantages became obvious.  VCA will control the output of the channel which affects any effects on that channel too.  Groups won't do that.  I'm not sure when to use groups now.

Your are brave! Kudos to you. I don't even want to go there yet  :eek: Probably get there eventually.  ;)
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is...you're the pilot." ~ Michael Althsuler

RoadRanger

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2014, 05:39:47 PM »
Go Wynn! :)

Ampli

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2014, 06:28:01 PM »
I tryed with vca1 is all the input channels
Vca 2 all the groupsfaders
On groups i put the compressors
Gives a nice effect, when vca1 goes up everyting goes in to compression
Lowering vca2 keeps the level at the output
Works great

Wynnd

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2014, 06:59:25 PM »
creative!  Wonder if that would help with any of my issues.  (All the big issues have addressed long ago.)  Gotta think about that.

Harpman

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2014, 09:37:01 PM »
All I can say is "Time to play" before next gig.
Gio Stefani
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"We Bring Good Music to Life"

Fluddman

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2014, 10:03:55 PM »
To play or not to play :-\

I am busting try out MF 3 but have two big gigs this coming weekend. So I think I am just going have to wait to update.  :(

Good on you Wynn for jumping right in.

Cheers

Wynnd

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2014, 04:20:56 AM »
Right now it looks like I won't have any sound gigs or music gigs before next year.  I figure I could really screw things up and recover.  The next thing I actually have scheduled is a senior's variety show next May.  Something is likely to pop up someplace along the way.   (Hopefully before the end of this year.)

robbocurry

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2014, 10:45:12 AM »
It runs great. I've been using it for a while ;)
Hasn't crashed, no "white noise", stays connected to wifi.
Digital trim applied to the iPad channel handiest feature so far.
Haven't had to use VCAs or Subgroups yet.
The older I get, the better I was!

mtsens1

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2014, 02:56:11 PM »
Here is a way to use groups and VCA's together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMMmR1u0CFk

CyberHippy

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2014, 04:23:32 PM »
Digital trim applied to the iPad channel handiest feature so far.

I just realized a secondary use of the digital trim would be in situations where you get to sound-check multiple bands, it can be used just like an actual digital gain control to save different incoming levels for each act. So, set the manual gains a lower than usual level when you start out & use the trim to set the difference between acts.

nottooloud

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2014, 07:31:21 PM »
So, set the manual gains a lower than usual level when you start out & use the trim to set the difference between acts.

Same same when leaving the mixer onstage and working without a snake. Modern gear has low enough noise floors and enough bit depth headroom that you can leave the trims set low. Before working with the DL1608 and the QSC Touchmix, I was bemoaning the lack of remote control preamps. I still bemoan the lack of recallable preamps, but with digital trim the analog trims turn out to not be a big deal.

Bufalo

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #12 on: November 23, 2014, 04:54:09 PM »
Maybe I haven't tapped enough settings yet, but is there a way to assign a default mix view when selecting an output?    I have set up three mix views, one for the main mix, one for my monitor mixes and one for my aux-fed subwoofer so I only have to scroll through the appropriate inputs for that output.   It'd be great if each time I picked an output, the assigned ABCD view defaulted.   It's only two touches to get there, sure, but when mixing while playing, two extra touches takes a long time.   The idea of the Mix Views is to SAVE time...

Rdmitch

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #13 on: November 23, 2014, 11:04:44 PM »
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the differences from VCA to subgroups.
The videos are not real clear, but it seems like the subgroup master lowers volume only so
Any residual fx are still present. On a vca group it's like turning the trim/gain down so anything
On the channel including fx get reduced.   Is that the difference ,or am I realing missing something
Else?

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sam.spoons

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Re: Ways to use the new features.
« Reply #14 on: November 23, 2014, 11:16:24 PM »
VCAs are like a remote control of each individual channel fader, assigned to the VCA. A group is a master fader for all the channels assigned to the group. That's how I understood it, does that help?