Overview :
This mxm provides
IP control to the Richmond Soundman server.
Product Features
SoundMan-Server is a virtual sound system. It is an audio routing, playback and processing solution.. It runs under Windows and uses ASIO drivers. The software runs as a server and thus can be controlled externaly by TCP/IP on the network. ( See "http://www.richmondsounddesign.com"
for more details ).
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Installation (MXM) :
No specific installation
as long as the computer has a network card to communicate
with the SoundMan
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Creation (Device) :
Setup
dialog box.
If a SoundMan server is running, enter its IP address in the TCP/IP address edit box and then click the "Update" button : the interface list will be filled with the names of the ASIO interfaces present on the computer where SoundMan is running. When you select an interface, the SoundMan server returns the count of live inputs and the count of outputs of the selected interface : these values are displayed in the corresponding edit boxes and if the count of playback inputs is higher than the count of playbacks supported by the SoundMan, it is lowered.
If no SoundMan server is running, enter the values manually. If you enter a value of '0' for the interface ID, the first interface found will be taken.
Important note : The maximum count of playback inputs supported by the SoundMan server is 999 but Manager monitoring variables are created for each playback input, so think about it when you enter this count if you don't want your project to be overloaded with variables.
The remote path and the local path is the same path, the one where the media are stored. The remote path is the path as seen from the computer where Manager is running. The local path is the path as seen from the computer where SoundMan is running
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Graphical User Interface:
Device Control
Panel
This MxM provides
a Device Control Panel that can be displayed either as a stand
alone window or inside a User Screen Contenair object
with the "Device Control" Manager command. Note: See the
Manager Help menu for details about using this command
The Device Control
Panel has 2 main functions:
- Direct control/monitoring of the SoundMan
- Preset editing and management
Direct Control
Ranges :
The drop down lists at the top left allows selecting
the range of inputs and outputs which are displayed in
the control panel.
Status :
A status LED indicator at the top right shows the current status of the
Soundman. Note that the LED flashes while the MxM is initiliazing
the connection to the Soundman (approx. 10 seconds).
Inputs:
Each audio input
can be controlled and monitor via a dedicated panel.
- Fader:
sets the level.
- Level Text:
click on the level text to fine tune the level.
- Mute button/LED:
click on this button to mute or un mute the input
- Solo button/LED:
click on this button to solo or unsolo the input
Live Matrix / Playback Matrix:
The SoundMan has two sets of inputs : each set can be selected by these buttons..
Selected Playback Input
Detail:
Clicking on one input panel selects the input and shows
additional related controls at he bottom left of the control
panel.
- Stop button: stops
playback of the currently loaded audio file.
- Play button: starts
playback of the currently loaded audio file.
- TimeCode
display: shows the timecode position of the currently
loaded audio file.
- Current Selection:
shows the file currently loaded on this input. Clicking
on the "Load a new file" button allows loading a new
audio file in the plyaback input.

Crosspoints
The crosspoint grid shows the levels of the crosspoints.
Left click on any crosspoint to set the level of the crosspoint.
Right-click on a crosspoint to fine-tune its level.
Output control:
Each audio output
can be controlled and monitor via a dedicated panel.
- Fader:
sets the level.
- Level Text:
click on the level text to fine tune the level.
- Mute button/LED:
click on this button to mute or un mute the output
- Solo button/LED:
click on this button to solo or unsolo the output
Preset Editing
A preset is a set
of pre-programmed commands which can be sent all at once
to the SoundMan either via the Control Panel or via a
cue in a task. To add a command to a preset, merely change
its associated control value (for example, moving a fader). Once a command
is part of a preset it is drawn with a special violet
background color. To remove a command
from a preset, click on the control with while the Ctrl
key is pressed.
Presets can be
created and executed by the Preset Management Panel
on the right of the control panel.
- "Live Edit" button and LED:
when activated commands are sent to the SoundMan.
- "Preset Preview"
and LED: button: when activated user action on any audio
controls modifies the current preset.
- "Take button":
the current preset is executed (sent to the SoundMan)
when this button is pushed. Note that "Live Edit"
is automatically turned ON and "Preset Preview"
is turned OFF.
- "New"
button: creates a new blank preset.
- "Store":
stores the modifications into the current preset.
- Preset
List: click on one of the presets of the list to select
it and "recall" it. Note that "Preset
Preview" is automatically turned ON and "Live
Edit" is turned OFF.
- "Fade"
display: shows the fade time associated to the preset.
Click on the display to modify the fade time.

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Commands (List Of) :
Notes about Positrack:
- commands marked with a red start (*)
are positracked.
- positracking processes only the values which are
modified from the beginning of the positracked timeline
up to the the positrack point. This means for example
that an input fade level would not be modified by positracking
if there's no cue which impacts this input fade level
from the beginning of the timeline up to the positrack
point. If there's a need to set the "initial state"
of positrack, the programmer can insert a preset cue
(which sets the intial values of all of the values which
need to be positracked) at the begining of the timeline.
- the positracking of commands which accept a fade
time, positracks only the target fade value (as the
fade is performed by the SoundMan hardware).
Command group : Outputs
Set
output level*:
Mute
output*:
Solo
output*:
Set output
equalizer:
Description
: To equalize the specified output.
Parameters :
Output : [Type : Integer] : Output number to
set .
Band: [Type : Integer] : The band concerned
by the following parameters, available values are
1 to 7 : if 0 is specified, all the equalization
is cancelled.
Filter shape: [Type : Enum] : The filter shape
available values are : "flat", " 6db/octave lowpass","12db/octave lowpass","6db/octave highpass","12db/octave highpass","adjustable Q bandpass or notch (depending on the gain setting)","6db/octave low-shelf","12db/octave low shelf","6db/octave high shelf","12db/octave high shelf".
Center frequency: [Type : Integer] : Value
of the center frequency, in hertz.
Band width: [Type : Integer] : This is the
percentage of the bandwidth ( only if the filter is
"bandpass" ) .
Gain: [Type : Real] : Value of the gain,
in dB *10 (e.g. 156 = +15,6dB), from -30 to
+30 dB.
Command group : Live Inputs
Set
live input crosspoint level*:
Set
live input level*:
Mute
live input*:
Solo
live input*:
Set
live input
delay*:
Set
live input
equalizer:
Description
: To equalize an input.
Parameters :
Input : [Type : Integer] : Input to set .
Band: [Type : Integer] : The band concerned
by the following parameters, available values are
1 to 7 : if 0 is specified, all the equalization
is canceled.
Filter shape: [Type : Enum] : The filter shape
available values are : "flat", " 6db/octave lowpass","12db/octave lowpass","6db/octave highpass","12db/octave highpass","adjustable Q bandpass or notch (depending on the gain setting)","6db/octave low-shelf","12db/octave low shelf","6db/octave high shelf","12db/octave high shelf".
Center frequency: [Type : Integer] : Value
of the center frequency, in hertz.
Band width: [Type : Integer] : This is the
percentage of the bandwidth ( only if the filter is
"bandpass" ) .
Gain: [Type : Real] : Value of the gain,
in dB *10 (e.g. 156 = +15,6dB), from -30 to
+30 dB.
Command group : Playback Inputs
Set
playback input crosspoint level*:
Set
playback input level*:
Mute playback
input*:
Solo
playback input*:
Set playback input
delay*:
Set playback input
equalizer:
Description
: To equalize an input.
Parameters :
Input : [Type : Integer] : Input to set .
Band: [Type : Integer] : The band concerned
by the following parameters, available values are
1 to 7 : if 0 is specified, all the equalization
is canceled.
Filter shape: [Type : Enum] : The filter shape
available values are : "flat", " 6db/octave lowpass","12db/octave lowpass","6db/octave highpass","12db/octave highpass","adjustable Q bandpass or notch (depending on the gain setting)","6db/octave low-shelf","12db/octave low shelf","6db/octave high shelf","12db/octave high shelf".
Center frequency: [Type : Integer] : Value
of the center frequency, in hertz.
Band width: [Type : Integer] : This is the
percentage of the bandwidth ( only if the filter is
"bandpass" ) .
Gain: [Type : Real] : Value of the gain,
in dB *10 (e.g. 156 = +15,6dB), from -30 to
+30 dB.
Command group : Playback Commands
Get Audio File List:
Description
: To list the files located in the media folder (specified in the setup).
Parameters :
Sub Folder : [Type : String] : If specified, list only the files of this subfolder. If this parameter is empty, the root files are listed..
Return File List : [Type : String] : The list will be returned in this variable.
Load
for playback*:
Description
: To load the specified audio file on the input.
Parameters :
Input : [Type : Integer] : Input to set.
File Name : [Type : integer] : Full path of the file to play.
Track : [Type : Integer] : Track offset in the file : This number is a one based.
"1" is the first track in the file, which for a stereo file is the left channel.
NOTE: for backward compatibility, a value of "0" is allowed and specifies also the first track of the file.
Play*:
Pause*:
Stop*:
Rewind*:
Resume*:
Locate*:
Command group : Group Commands
Set
group:
Description
: To set the group of this input, for the "General
playback" sync command of the Master device.
Parameters :
Channel Block : [Type : String] : A string specifying the inputs and/or outputs present in the block, separated by spaces. "I" stands for live inputs, "P" stands for playback inputs, "O" stands for outputs. A wizzard is available for creating these blocks (see picture).
Group : [Type : Integer] : Group number to
set ( see "General playback" command).

Group Play:
Group Pause*:
Group Stop:
Group Rewind:
Group Resume:
Group Submaster Gain:
Command group : Presets
Take Preset*:
Description
: Executes the currently active preset.
Parameters :
Fade
Time Mode: [Type : Enum] : ("Preset', "Specified")
Specifies which fade time is used when the preset
is executed: if "Preset" the fade time associated
to the preset is used. If "Specified": the
"Specified Fade Time" parameter is used.
Specified Fade Time: [Type : Time] : Fade time
used when executing the preset if the "Fade Time
Mode" paramater is set to "Specified".
Recall Preset*:
Command group : Timecode Generators
Start Timecode:
Description : Start the specified timecode generator.
Parameters :
Generator : [Type : Integer] :Generator to control (either #1 or #2).
Timecode Type : [Type : Enum] : Type of the timecode to generate.
Start Timecode : [Type : Time] : Start timecode value.
Stop Timecode:
Description : Stop the specified timecode generator.
Parameters :
Generator : [Type : Integer] :Generator to control (either #1 or #2).
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Variables (List Of) :
Status :
Type : Enum.
Description : Current status of the SoundMan.
Available Values :
"Stopped" : No communication with the SoundMan.
"Initializing" : The MxM
is trying to communicate with the specified SoundMan.
"Error" : Error in communication process.
"Ready" : The SoundMan is ready to receive commands.
"File transfer" : Files are uploaded.
"Transfer canceled" :The file trnsfer has been canceled.
LastCommandStatus
:
PresetList
:
Type
: String.
Description : List of the presets defined for
this device.
ErrorNumber
:
Type
: Integer.
Description : Number of the last error, if any.
ErrorMessage :
Type
: String.
Description : Message of the last error, if any.
TimecodeGenerator1 :
Type
: Time.
Description : Current value of the time generated by the timecode generator #1 .
TimecodeGenerator2 :
Type
: Time.
Description : Current value of the time generated by the timecode generator #2 .
Variables
for each input:
InXX_Status
:
Type
: Enum. Available Values: "Stopped", "Playing".
Description : Playback status for this input.
InXX_TimeCode
:
Type
: Time.
Description : Current timecode position for this
input.
InXX_Selection
:
Type
: Integer.
Description : Currently loaded selection ID (0
= none).
InXX_Duration
:
Type
: Integer.
Description : Duration of the currently loaded
selection.
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Support (Difference with previous versions):
V 1.0.1:
- Fixed: crash when using the mousewheel on the Device Control Panel.
- Fixed: inconsistent display update of the Device Control Panel.
- Fixed: crash while positracking.
- Fixed: Output Mute/Solo buttons on control panel don't work correctly.
- Fixed: statuses of some XPoints are not correctly reported.
- Fixed: XPoint preset entries are sometimes not executed.
- Fixed: cannot load files which have embedded spaces in their names.
- Fixed: memory leak.
- Fixed: crash which occurs sometimes after a timeout is detected.
- Added: Support for Showmaster.
V 1.0.2:
- Fixed: Preset commands are available in Showmaster though they cannot work because there is no Control Panel.
V 1.0.3:
- Fixed: If several Soundman devices are used in a MedialonManager project, the timecode is not polled in some cases.
V 1.0.4:
- Added: Support for Showmaster Pro.
V 1.0.5:
- Fixed: preset commands are now available in Showmaster.
- Fixed: conversion problems when editing levels in a text box of the control panel.
- Fixed: incorrect management of bank switching in the control panel.
- Fixed: incomplete presets if several banks are used in the preset.
- Fixed: playback preset recall is only directed to the selected channel of the control panel.
- Added: filenames are now shortened in the control panel (if they don't fit).
- Added: crosspoint fader detail window can now be closed by clicking anywhere outside of the detail window.
- Modified: filenames for cues and presets are now stored as relative paths to the root media folder.
- Added: timecode generator commands and system variables.
V 1.0.6:
- Fixed: Parameter 'Start Time' of Start Timecode doesn't work.
- Fixed: Timecode commands and polling format is not compatible with SoundMan Server version 1.0.62.
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