Matrix Mixer Component

The Matrix Mixer Component is modeled after a standard analog mixer both in appearance and operation. The Matrix Mixer is scalable, and flexible, so you can customize the Matrix Mixer both in size and in function to meet your needs. Or you can have multiple Matrix Mixers for a variety of needs.

The Matrix Mixer size ranges from 1x1 to 512x512 mono channels, or 256x256 stereo channels. You can have both mono and stereo channels in the same Matrix Mixer, as long as the total ((mono + (2*stereo)) does not exceed 512. The Matrix Mixer provides up to 16 VCA groups, four different panning options, and customizable Control Banks for input and output controls, to make working with large Matrix Mixers easier.

NOTE: Click one of the links to go to the Properties and Control Pins tables.

Controls

Input

Control Name	Function	Range / Values
Trim (dB)	Adjusts the sensitivity of the Input signal, and works together with the Gain fader to create the gain structure. For example, you can set the Gain faders at 0 dB and adjust the Trim control in relation to the Gain, giving the Gain fader control in both directions from 0 dB.	Default = 0 Range = -12 to 12
Pan per Input	The Pan per Input control can be selected in the Properties when you have at least one stereo Input or Output channel. The Pan knob, for the associated Input channel, pans the input across all Output channels. A mono input is panned across the stereo left and right output. There is no pan for the mono input to mono output. A stereo input is panned across a mono output, the left and right stereo signals vary to the mono output. A stereo input is panned across a stereo output, the left and right signals vary on the left and right outputs respectively.	Default = 0 (-3 dB) Range = -1.00 to 1.00
VCA Group Assignment	Each VCA Group provides one Group Assignment button per channel. For example, three VCA Groups provide three Group Assignment buttons for each channel. To associate an input channel with a VCA Group, click the desired VCA Group Assignment button for the channel.	Off/On
Radius	Available with the 2-D Panner only. Controls the size of the "circle of influence" an Input Position Control has on the relative gain of the Output Position Controls. The larger the radius, more Output Position Controls are affected and there is little change when the Input Position Control is moved. The smaller the radius, fewer Output Position Controls are affected and there is a larger change when the Input Position Control is moved.	Default = .177 Range = .010 to 1.0
Solo	Mutes all of the other Input channels except other channels that have the Solo button engaged. The Solo button takes precedence over the Input or VCA Mute buttons, but not over the Crosspoint Mute button.	Off/On
Invert	Inverts the input signal for the Input channel. The signal is inverted for all Output channels.	Normal/Inverted
Mute	Mutes the input signal for the Input channel. The signal is muted for all Output channels.	Off/On
Gain (dB)	Adjusts the gain of the signal for the Input channel. The gain of the Input channel is adjusted for all Output channels.	Default = 0 Range = -100 to 20
Nudge + and - buttons	Allows small, equal adjustments of the Input Fader.	N/A

Crosspoint

NOTE: The junction between a mono input and a mono output will not have a crosspoint pan control.

Control Name	Function	Range / Values
Pan per Crosspoint	The Pan per Crosspoint control can be selected in the Properties when you have at least one stereo input or output channel. A Pan knob for an input/output combination, pans the input across the intersected output. A mono input to mono output does not have a crosspoint Pan knob. A stereo input left and right signals are panned across a mono output. Stereo input left and right signals are panned across the left and right stereo output.	Default = 0 (-3 dB) Range = -1.00 to 1.00
Solo	Available when the Crosspoint Solo Controls Option is set to Yes. The crosspoint Solo button solos the associated Input to the associated Output. The Input Solo button is different in that it solos one Input to all the Outputs. The crosspoint Solo button overrides the Input Mute, VCA Mute, and the crosspoint Mute buttons.	Off/On
Mute	Available when the Crosspoint Mute Controls Option is set to Yes. The crosspoint Mute button mutes the associated Input to the associated Output.
Gain	The Crosspoint Gain control adjusts the Input signal (both left and right channels if stereo) after the Crosspoint Pan controls and before the Output.	Default = 0 Range = -100 to 20
VCA Group	The VCA Group buttons determine to which VCA Group an Input channel belongs.	Off/On (Not in Group / In Group)
2-D Matrix Panner	The 2-D Matrix Panner is available only when there are no stereo channels defined in the Mixer Properties. There is one Position Control for each Input and each Output defined. Position Controls are numbered to indicate the associated Input/ Output. The Output Position Controls are indicated by a loudspeaker icon in a yellow box. The Input Position Controls are indicated by a microphone icon in a green box. Move the Position Controls around in the pan area to control the relative gain between inputs and outputs. As you move a Position Control, Gain Circles display over the Input or Output Position Controls in different sizes to indicate the relative gain to those Inputs or Outputs. The closer an Input (Output) Position Control is to an Output (Input) Position Control, the larger the Gain Circle.	N/A

Output

Control Name	Function	Range / Values
Pre	The default for the Pre/Post button is Post. In the Post position, all controls operate normally. In the Pre position, the Input Gain and VCA Gain faders are bypassed for the associated Output channel only. All other controls operate normally.	Post/Pre
Invert	Inverts all the Input signals, including left and right stereo channels, to the specific Output channel.	Normal/Inverted
Mute	Mutes all the Input signals, including left and right stereo channels, to the specific Output channel.	Off/On
Gain (overall per output) (dB)	Adjusts the gain of all the Input signals, including left and right stereo channels, to the specific Output channel.	Default = 0 Range = -100 to 20

VCA

Control Name	Function	Range / Values
Mute	Mutes all the input channels associated with that VCA Group.	Off/On
Gain (dB)	Adjusts the gain for all the input channels associated with that VCA Group.	Default = 0 Range = -100 to 20

Control Name

Function

Range / Values

Mute

Mutes all the input channels associated with that VCA Group.

Off/On

Gain (dB)

Adjusts the gain for all the input channels associated with that VCA Group.

Default = 0

Range = -100 to 20

Notes

Snapshot Banks

Since the Matrix Mixer controls can be banked, there a few special rules about the Matrix Mixer with banked controls, and Snapshot Banks.

NOTE: The advantage of placing individual controls into a Snapshot Bank is that when you Load the Snapshot, only those controls are repositioned. Any other controls that have been manually positioned, or positioned by another Snapshot do not change. If all the controls are in a Snapshot Bank, when one of the Snapshots is Loaded, all the controls are positioned as they were Saved in that Snapshot.

When the Matrix Mixer has "banked" controls:

the system will not allow you to place individual controls into a Snapshot Bank,
you can place the Matrix Mixer component into a Snapshot Bank, and all the controls will work properly,
you can "un-bank" the Matrix Mixer component, add individual controls, then re-bank the Mixer, and the individual controls will work properly.

Miscellaneous

Mono channels are on the left side of the Input bank and the top of the Output bank.
Stereo channels are on the right side of the Input bank and the bottom of the Output bank.
Input Channels — Input controls are aligned vertically in the Matrix Mixer Control Panel.
Crosspoint Controls — The Crosspoint controls are at the junction between an Input channel and an Output channel. The crosspoint Gain and Pan knobs control the input signal going to the intersected output.
Output Channels are aligned horizontally in the Matrix Mixer Control Panel.
Gain — The gains are cumulative for the related input and output channels.
- Input Gain — The gain prior to the crosspoint is derived from a combination of the Input Trim, Mute, Invert, Solo, Gain⁴ controls, and VCA Group Gain and Mute controls of groups in which the input channel is a member ⁴ ⁵.
- Crosspoint Gain — The gain after each crosspoint, and prior to the output, is derived from a combination of all the input gains plus the associated Pan ¹ ² ³ and Gain controls.
- Output Gain — The final output gain of a channel is derived from a combination of all the input controls, the crosspoint controls and the output Gain value, Mute, and Invert buttons.
The Pan Law is to keep the overall volume of two outputs, usually stereo channels, equal as the input is panned from one side to the other.
When the Pan knob is in the center (0.00) the sound is equal or balanced in the left and right outputs, but at -3 dB below the original input. This is done to keep the overall sound at the same volume when the Pan knob is moved to one side or the other. If the input is stereo, when the Pan knob is fully to one side, the opposite input is completely off and only one stereo channel is heard. If the input is mono, the signal is simply moved from one side to the other.

1. The 2-D Matrix Panner is available only when there are no stereo inputs/outputs, and the Matrix Mixer Properties, 2-D Matrix Panner is set to Yes.

2. Input Pan controls are available only when Matrix Mixer Properties, Pan Controls are set to Pan per Input, and any of the input or output channels are stereo.

3. Crosspoint Pan controls are available only when Matrix Mixer Properties, Pan Controls are set to Pan per Crosspoint, and any of the input or output channels are stereo.

4. The output channel Pre/Post button must be in the Post position, that is, not engaged.

5. VCA groups must be enabled.

Properties

Input Count

Property	Function	Choices
Mono	Sets the number of Input channels. The default for Input Count is eight Mono and zero Stereo. In order to change the Mono count to zero, you must put a value in the Stereo count before changing the Mono to zero. The Mono plus Stereo Count total cannot exceed 512.	0 to 512
Stereo	Sets the number of Input Stereo channels. The Mono plus Stereo Count total cannot exceed 512.	0 to 256

Property

Function

Choices

Mono

Sets the number of Input channels.

The default for Input Count is eight Mono and zero Stereo. In order to change the Mono count to zero, you must put a value in the Stereo count before changing the Mono to zero.

The Mono plus Stereo Count total cannot exceed 512.

0 to 512

Stereo

Sets the number of Input Stereo channels.

The Mono plus Stereo Count total cannot exceed 512.

0 to 256

Output Count

Property	Function	Choices
Mono	Sets the number of Output Mono channels. The default for Output Count is eight Mono and zero Stereo. In order to change the Mono count to zero, you must put a value in the Stereo count before changing the Mono to zero. The Mono plus Stereo Output Count total cannot exceed 512.	0 to 512
Stereo	Sets the number of Input and Output Stereo channels. The Mono plus Stereo Output Count total cannot exceed 512.	0 to 256

Property

Function

Choices

Mono

Sets the number of Output Mono channels.

The default for Output Count is eight Mono and zero Stereo. In order to change the Mono count to zero, you must put a value in the Stereo count before changing the Mono to zero.

The Mono plus Stereo Output Count total cannot exceed 512.

0 to 512

Stereo

Sets the number of Input and Output Stereo channels.

The Mono plus Stereo Output Count total cannot exceed 512.

0 to 256

Control Banking

Property	Function	Choices
Input Bank Size	Banks allow you to view larger Matrix Mixers in sections, or Banks, by choosing the number of channels you want in one of the sections. Input Bank Size sets the number of input channels in one Bank. The system then divides the Matrix Mixer into the number of Banks required for the existing number of channels. If the division is not an equal number of channels per Bank, the remainder of channels is in the last Bank. If there are fewer channels than specified for one Bank, the Bank selector buttons do not display. The Input Bank selector buttons are displayed horizontally across the top of the Matrix Mixer.	Not Banked Automatic 1, 16, or 32 Channels Custom - 1 to 512
Output Bank Size	The Output Bank selector buttons are displayed vertically down the side of the Matrix Mixer.	Not Banked Automatic 1, 16, or 32 Channels line 100 Custom - 1 to 512

Property

Function

Choices

Input Bank Size

Banks allow you to view larger Matrix Mixers in sections, or Banks, by choosing the number of channels you want in one of the sections.

Input Bank Size sets the number of input channels in one Bank. The system then divides the Matrix Mixer into the number of Banks required for the existing number of channels. If the division is not an equal number of channels per Bank, the remainder of channels is in the last Bank. If there are fewer channels than specified for one Bank, the Bank selector buttons do not display.

The Input Bank selector buttons are displayed horizontally across the top of the Matrix Mixer.

Not Banked

Automatic

1, 16, or 32 Channels

Custom - 1 to 512

Output Bank Size

The Output Bank selector buttons are displayed vertically down the side of the Matrix Mixer.

Not Banked

Automatic

1, 16, or 32 Channels line 100

Custom - 1 to 512

Options

Property	Function	Choices
VCA Groups	The maximum VCA groups is the number of Mono Inputs + Stereo Inputs up to a maximum of 16.	0 to 16
Pan Controls	Sets the type of Pan control. Available only when at least one of the Input or Output channels is Stereo.	No Pan Controls Pan per Input Pan per Crosspoint
2-D Matrix Panner	The 2-D Matrix Panner is available only when there are no Stereo Inputs/Outputs, and the Properties, 2-D Matrix Panner is set to Yes.	Yes / No
Panner Normalization	Available only when the 2-D Matrix Panner Property is set to Yes. Constant Voltage: If you take the outputs of the 2-D Matrix Panner and sum them back together with a second mixer, the output of the second mixer is exactly the same as the input to the panner. It also means that if you have one input and two outputs and the input is located exactly between the outputs, the gain applied to each output will be -6dB. Constant Power: if you sum the power at each output of the panner, it will equal the power at the input to the panner. It also means that if you have one input and two outputs and the input is located exactly between the outputs, the gain applied to each output will be -3dB.	Constant Voltage Constant Power
Crosspoint Mute Controls	Available when the 2-D Matrix Panner Property is set to No. When set to Yes, this provides a Mute button for each crosspoint.	Yes / No
Crosspoint Solo Controls	Available when the 2-D Matrix Panner Property is set to No. When set to Yes, this provides a Solo button for each crosspoint, and removes the Input solo buttons.	Yes / No

Control Pins

The available Control Pins depend on settings in Properties.

Pin Name	Value	String	Position	Pins Available
Group n Gain ¹	-100 to 20	-100 dB to 20 dB	0.000 1.000	Input / Output
Group n Mute ¹	0 1	unmute mute	0 1	Input / Output
Input n Gain	-100 to 20	-100 dB to 20 dB	0.000 1.000	Input / Output
Input n Invert	0 1	normal invert	0 1	Input / Output
Input n Mute	0 1	unmute mute	0 1	Input / Output
Input n Output n Gain (crosspoint)	-100 to 20	-100 dB to 20 dB	0.000 1.000	Input / Output
Input n Output n Mute ² (crosspoint)	0 1	unmute mute	0 1	Input / Output
Input n Output n Pan ³ (crosspoint)	-1.00 to 1.00	-1.00 to 1.00	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Input n Output n Solo ⁴ (crosspoint)	0 1	normal solo	0 1	Output
Input n Output n Position ⁵	0.000 to 1.00	0.000 to 1.00	0.000 to 1.00	-100 to 20
Input n Solo	0 1	normal solo	0 1	Output
Input n Trim	-12 to 12	-12 dB to 12 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Output
Input n VCA Group n Assign ¹	0 1	false true	0 1	Output
Output n Gain	-100 to 20	-100 dB to 20 dB	0.000 1.000	Input / Output
Output n Invert	0 1	normal invert	0 1	Input / Output
Output n Mute	0 1	unmute mute	0 1	Input / Output
Output n Position ⁵	0.000 to 1.00	0.000 to 1.00	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Output n Pre/Post	0 1	post pre	0 1	Input / Output
1. Available when the VCA Groups Property is greater than zero. 2. Available when Crosspoint Mute Controls Option is set to Yes. 3. Available on Stereo Input to Stereo Output crosspoints when Pan Per Crosspoint is set to Yes. 4. Available when Crosspoint Solo Controls Option is set to Yes. 5. Available when there are no Stereo Inputs or Outputs and the 2-D Matrix Panner is set to Yes. If you connect directly to this control pin from another control, for example a position control, the Position Controls in the 2-D Panner only move horizontally. The input to this control can be an array accessed by a script with which you can move the Position Controls in any direction.

Matrix Mixer Component

Controls

Input

Crosspoint

Output

VCA

Notes

Snapshot Banks

Miscellaneous

1. The 2-D Matrix Panner is available only when there are no stereo inputs/outputs, and the Matrix Mixer Properties, 2-D Matrix Panner is set to Yes.

2. Input Pan controls are available only when Matrix Mixer Properties, Pan Controls are set to Pan per Input, and any of the input or output channels are stereo.

3. Crosspoint Pan controls are available only when Matrix Mixer Properties, Pan Controls are set to Pan per Crosspoint, and any of the input or output channels are stereo.

4. The output channel Pre/Post button must be in the Post position, that is, not engaged.

5. VCA groups must be enabled.

Properties

Input Count

Output Count

Control Banking

Options

Control Pins

1. Available when the VCA Groups Property is greater than zero.

2. Available when Crosspoint Mute Controls Option is set to Yes.

3. Available on Stereo Input to Stereo Output crosspoints when Pan Per Crosspoint is set to Yes.

4. Available when Crosspoint Solo Controls Option is set to Yes.