AZSlow

AZ Controller plug-in for Cakewalk SONAR => Tutorials => Topic started by: azslow3 on March 31, 2015, 06:46:28 PM

Title: Strip level monitoring
Post by: azslow3 on March 31, 2015, 06:46:28 PM
In case you have some light coming from your controller, for example from LEDs or colored pads, it is possible to indicate current volume level of some strip. In this tutorial I am going to show how it works. I will explain 3 different cases:

We start from scratch, so in the Options Tab select from "Tweak current configuration..." "Reset configuration".

Additional explanation for proposed design:

I hope you could follow this tutorial. In case you have comments or questions, please let me know.
Title: Re: Strip level monitoring
Post by: azslow3 on March 31, 2015, 06:46:42 PM
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Title: Re: Strip level monitoring
Post by: fostiras on November 19, 2016, 11:27:49 PM
I played arround with strip level monitoring with the MUTE/ARM leds on my AKAI midimix. The maximum level segments/levels that I found to be working are 13 without the 0 state. Readings I got with noise on the Sonar meters are :

Level 13   lighting from  -   3.3 dB  to  -   1.1 dB
Level 12   lighting from  -   5.5 dB  to  -   3.3 dB
Level 11   lighting from  -   7.8 dB  to  -   5.5 dB
Level 10   lighting from  - 10.3 dB  to  -   7.8 dB
Level   9   lighting from  - 12.8 dB  to  - 10.3 dB
Level   8   lighting from  - 15.6 dB  to  - 12.8 dB
Level   7   lighting from  - 18.4 dB  to  - 15.6 dB
Level   6   lighting from  - 21.5 dB  to  - 18.4 dB
Level   5   lighting from  - 24.8 dB  to  - 21.5 dB
Level   4   lighting from  - 28.5 dB  to  - 24.8 dB
Level   3   lighting from  - 32.6 dB  to  - 28.5 dB
Level   2   lighting from  - 37.3 dB  to  - 32.6 dB
Level   1   lighting from  - 43.0 dB  to  - 37.3 dB
Level   0   lighting from  -    inf dB  to  - 43.0 dB

The problem for me was to have a CLIP led being ON above -1.1 dB. Anything above - 1.1 dB falls in the OK state and turns off the LED ( according to your tutorial) . I worked arround this by turning the LED ON without a condition mapped on the CLIP state and turning the LED OFF for all other 12 levels (conditions) mapped on the OK state.

I am now moving on to banking as the midimix has bank left and bank right buttons. I also managed to get MUTE/SOLO/ARM buttons to light/go off while pressed but would like to be able to read the buttons states from within Sonar. Do you have a tutorial for these kind of tasks?

Once again thank you so much for this fine piece of software.

Regards
George
Title: Re: Strip level monitoring
Post by: azslow3 on November 20, 2016, 10:58:42 PM
Hi George,

Unfortunately I do not have any good tutorial for monitoring. But I can make example preset with explanations, to show how to organize things. I will include:
* "bank switching" (really WAI movement...)
* 2 buttons/LEDs (just to keep things simple, it will be easy to extend it for 8 ) with SOLO/MUTE (per strip)/CLIP and signal for current strip.
* CLIP will light 5 seconds if detected
* "Mode" button (probably your "Solo") will switch between SOLO/MUTE (short press) or LEVEL-CLIP (long press)
(I assume MIDIMIX sends On AND Off events when you press buttons, I also assume MUTE buttons sends the same messages independent from SOLO button state, I mean all these buttons have not internal logic inside the device)
Is that sounds reasonable?
Title: Re: Strip level monitoring
Post by: fostiras on November 22, 2016, 10:40:40 PM
Thank you so much Alexey,

I managed to have fully synced MUTE/SOLO, ARM  buttons/LEDs with the help I got from InControl.spp preset. MUTE/SOLO have internal logic - by pressing SOLO shift button the same MUTE button sends other Note on/off. But it worked fine even when changed with mouse from Sonar, LEDs will light accordingly - you don't see any SOLO LEDs until the SOLO shift button is pressed continuously. Banking logic is not internal though - only buttons BANK LEFT and BANK RIGHT exist with LEDs.

A Mode button you suggest would be a great feature so does bank switching.

After that I will be ready to upload an AKAI MIDIMIX preset with your help.

Best  Regards
George
Title: Re: Strip level monitoring
Post by: azslow3 on November 23, 2016, 12:13:10 AM
If Solo button is internal switch, does it sends any MIDI at all? Probably not...

Do bank buttons send On/Off MIDI? If yes, we can use them as "multi-purpose". F.e. when used alone they will switch bank. But if used together, we can have 2 mode switches: the left pressed when the right is hold and the right pressed when the left is hold. 2x LEDs, on these buttons can indicate the current status for both switches.

In fact I have already prepared a preset, with settings I have described before. But since we can not use "Solo shift" for modes, I can modify it to use something else.

I have started to write an "advanced" tutorial about Monitors. The text is lengthy, I have rewritten "theoretical" part 2 times already and I have a hope now that someone can understand it. I still have to finish detailed preset explanation before publishing the result. Compare to that, modification for mode switching will take almost no time  ;)
Title: Re: Strip level monitoring
Post by: azslow3 on November 25, 2016, 03:00:54 PM
I have published "Buttons with LED" tutorial. Looking at it you will understand why it took a while  ;)

Do not forget to update AZ Controller and SAVE YOUR CURRENT PRESET if you decide to spend your time for it.
Title: Re: Strip level monitoring
Post by: fostiras on November 28, 2016, 11:01:42 PM
Looks like I am 5 versions behind!    :D