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Using the Yamaha DSP
Factory and Pro Audio 9.0/SONAR's AudioX Console
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Main Channel Strip
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The
Basics
In order to use the Audio X console in Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 or SONAR,
you must first install the latest version of DSP Factory Driver (Version
1.23b as of this writing). Be sure to run the Setup.exe program that
comes with the driver download. Then install the DSP Factory Audio
X driver from the Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 disk, or download the required
files from here
and here.
The Yamaha DSP Factory offers 24 channels of signal processing, including
EQ, compression and delay, as well as more the more commonplace tasks
of volume adjustment, panning, input gain and signal routing. Each
of these signal paths, and their various controls, are represented
individual channel strips on the left hand side of the Audio X Console.
Channels 1-20 serve as the mixer strips for the various inputs to
the card (both the physical inputs and the ones that exist in software).
Channels 21-24 are reserved as effects returns for the two on-board
signal processors.
All channels can be simultaneously routed to any of the internal Subgroup
(8) and Auxiliary (4) Busses, as well as the main Stereo Buss. Additionally
Channels 1-20 may be routed to the DSP chips built into the DS-2416
card via Aux 5 and Aux 6. (Channels 21-24 are excluded from Aux 5
and 6 to avoid feedback). Each channel has individual control over
the Level of signal sent down the Buss and the ability to be switched
from pre- to post-fader. The Subgroup and Auxiliary Buss Master Sends
appear on the Right hand end of the Audio X console (Note: The Subgroup
Busses 1-8 and the Aux Busses 1-4 differ in name only. They operate
exactly the same within the card and within the Audio X Console).
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Input Select
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Channel Effects
Buss Select
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Mute, Solo, and Phase
Invert
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Channel Fader
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| It is important
to keep in mind that the processing done by the DSP Factory happens
outside of the Cakewalk software, even though the controls for it
appear within the program. Depending on the configuration of the Audio
X console, this may happen before the signal reaches the Source of
a track ("Wave In" driver) or after it leaves the Port ("Wave
Out") of the track. Because of this, the signal flow from the
inputs of the card, into a track and back out the outputs of the card
can be come a little confusing. This confusion becomes compounded
by the fact that it all happens within a virtual realm, so you can't
simply follow cables from the output of one unit to the input of another.
But with a little practice and experimentation, you'll get the hang
of it and begin to realize (and more importantly, utilize) the virtues
of the DSP Factory and Audio X Console |
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Getting Signal Into a Track
The default state of the DSP Factory is a bit peculiar. It is set
up for Mixdown, typically one of the last things you do in the recording
process. Unless you're getting started with some previously recorded
.WRK files, you'll probably want to set up Pro Audio/SONAR and the
DS-24126 to do some tracking.
First you'll need to get your source signal in the to the Audio
X Console. By default, Channels 17-18 and 19-20 have the Analog
L-R and Digital L-R inputs of the card selected as the source of
those signal paths, so nothing more need be done if you wish to
use only those inputs. As you add hardware to expand the physical
I/O capabilities of the DSP Factory, the Audio X Console adds "patch
points" for these inputs. For instance, if you have a single
AX-44 expansion bay, its four inputs can be patched (in ascending
order) to the inputs of Channels 12-16 (or 17-20) by clicking on
the Sound Source selection button at the top of the Channel strip
and choosing the desired IO-Port.
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Remember that
the DSP Factory only has a finite amount of channels. Therefore if
you are patching in an IO-Port you will be UN-patching another IO-Port
or Wave Driver (which may or may not be in use). In the above example,
if you were to decide to patch IO-1 and IO-2 to Channels 17 and 18
you would be making the Analog Inputs on the back of the DS-2416 inactive.
Similarly, if you patched IO-3 and IO-4 to Channels 15 and 16. you
would be un-patching the DS-2416 Wave Out #8 (L-R). Any Tracks in
the current file being sent to that particular Port would fall silent
and need to be re-routed to a different DS-2416 Wave Out driver. At
this point you should be seeing your source signal appearing on the
meters of the Audio-X channel strip.
Another peculiarity of the DSP Factory's default setup is that all
24 Channels are patched to the Stereo Buss and ALL EIGHT Subgroups
simultaneously. From there the Stereo Bus Out of the Audio X console
is patched to all the DS-2416 Wave In drivers. This would be fine
if you were only tracking one stereo instrument or wished to record
a quick stereo sub-mix of many sources. If that's the case then you
are ready to start recording. Choose any DS2416 Wave In as the Source
of the track, arm it, and hit Record. |
However, if your
intention is to record many different sources into several different
tracks, there's still some more patching to do. Start by separating
the various inputs to different busses. To do this, click on
the Bus Select button if a. In this menu you can at a glance
see which Bus Sends are enabled and which aren't. If you wish
to enable/disable a particular bus, click on it in the menu.
Click on the Mute button directly below the Bus Send button
to toggle that particular buss on or off.
Once you have the channels sending down the desired bus you
must patch it to a DS-2416 Wave In driver: Click on the Output
Patcher button. In the Select a Patch Group field, select a
bus you are using. In the Available Outputs field, select a
Wave-In driver to complete the patch. You can now go to the
Track View, select your Sources, arm the tracks and start recording.
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Bus Select Button
Output Patcher
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Tip: As mentioned before,
the default state of the DSP Factory is for mix-down with all channels
sending on all busses, which is not very useful at the beginning
of a project. You will most likely have to spend a good deal of
time setting the Audio X Console to a tracking configuration that
is appropriate for your DSP Factory, optional hardware and work
habits. Once you have the Audio X Console way you like it, save
a Template (File | Save As, change the 'Save As Type' drop-down
to 'Template'). This way when ever you are beginning a New project,
you can easily call up your preferred tracking configuration by
choosing the template you created from the New Project File dialog
box.
Getting Signal Out of the Correct
Jacks
Once you have completed your basic tracks you are probably ready
to start doing some mixing. Previously we configured a number of
channels to connect the external inputs of the AX-44. Now you will
probably want to patch all the Wave Drivers back into the Audio
X Console (This will give you the most flexibility with virtual
signal routing and mixing). Simply click on the Sound Source select
button to re-patch the channel sources from the IO-Inputs, back
to the Wave Out drivers.
You'll also remember that we used the Busses and Output Patcher
to route the signal from an external input to a particular Wave
In driver. For mixing, you will apply the same steps to route your
signal, but now the goal is to steer your audio from a Wave Out
driver to an external output on the card or I/O expansion unit.
Tips on Effects
One of the advantages of the DSP Factory is that is has built in
effects processing that doesn't impact the CPU (that's probably
the main reason you bought the card in the first place). However,
because this processing happens on the card and not within Cakewalk
there are a few potential pitfalls you may want to be aware of before
you get started.
To activate the controls of the various Channel effects, double-click
on the effect names in the window near the top of a channel strip.
If you choose to apply a little EQ, Delay or Compression to a channel
strip that has the Source Select set to and external input (i.e.
while tracking), remember that the effects are being applied to
the signal "before it goes to tape" and cannot be removed
after the fact. Conversely, should you choose to apply some of the
Channel Effects during the mix-down they are completely non-destructive.
This is can be good because you can experiment with different processing
ideas but they occur Post-Cakewalk, they will not be included in
processes such as Mixdown Audio (Export or Bounce) nor will they
be present in a .BUN File opened on a non-DSP Factory Machine.
The DSP Factory also has two multi-effects processors on the card.
These processors are hardwired to Aux 5 and Aux 6, respectively.
To send a particular track (or tracks) through one of the processors,
click on the Bus Select button, choose Aux 5 or 6 and un-mute it.
Then use the Level slider just below the Bus Select button to adjust
the relative amount of that Channel you wish to send to the processor.
To adjust the Master Send for Aux 5 and 6 use the faders on the
far right end of the Audio X Console. Double clicking on 'FX1000'
the window near the top of either Master Send Fader will reveal
the control panel for both multi-effects processors*. This control
gives you access to the various effects algorithms and their parameters.
Like the channel effects, the audio is processed non-destructively,
outside of Cakewalk and will not be written in to any audio export
or .bun
If you need to include the DSP Factory
effects in a .bun file or audio mixdown export/bounce, you must
route the desired channel (or Aux return) to a Wave In driver using
the bussing and Output Patching techniques applied above. Then simply
record the processed signal to a new track. You may then want to
delete or archive the original track or blend the wet tracks in
with the dry.
NOTE: Access the FX1000 control panel from one Aux Send or
the other. Do not double click in Aux 5 to access Effects Processor
#1, then double click in Aux 6 to adjust the parameters for Effects
Processor #2. Doing so may cause a crash in Cakewalk 9.0 This will
not impact your ability use the processors independently as they
are both displayed individually on the same panel. If you double-click
on the FX 1000 controller in Aux 6 first, keep accessing it via
Aux 6 for the rest of the session. This should avoid any potential
problems.
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