Video Transcript
Inputs
5m 57s
00:08
Let’s go through the process of configuring an MP-M Series system together.
00:11
For this video series, let’s assume that we are setting up a fairly typical restaurant scenario,
00:15
this one’s called … Patrick’s Diner,
00:18
- that place is going to get shut down -
00:19
with several different BGM and video sources that feed a host of different zones throughout the building,
00:24
and several different staff members who need access to the system.
00:28
Let’s start with some initial setup procedures followed by configuring the inputs.
00:32
We’ll be using an MP-M80, but if you have an MP-M40, the process is identical.
00:37
You’ll just see fewer inputs and outputs.
00:40
One of the cooler things about the MP-M Series
00:42
is that you can do a lot of the initial setup before you get on the job site
00:46
and before you ever get your hands on the mixer.
00:48
It lets you do a lot of the pre-work so that you can focus on fine-tuning while you’re on the job site.
00:54
All you need is the general plans for the Inputs and outputs.
00:58
Just to make sure we’re all using the same terminology,
01:00
a source consists of an audio device and the MP-M input channel that it’s connected to.
01:06
An output is used to feed audio to the geographical zones of your facility.
01:11
The best place to start is your trusty “Setup Wizard”.
01:15
It suggests that your first stop is to Load a Configuration File.
01:19
If this is your first installation, you probably won’t have a Configuration file to load –
01:24
– but if you do, you can understand why this is step one.
01:27
If this is your fourteenth identical Patrick's Diner,
01:30
you might as well save yourself the time by just loading a config file from your last one.
01:35
You can get to this page by pressing the Load Configuration button –
01:39
– but don’t forget all these Wizard buttons are simply shortcuts.
01:42
The standard way to get to the Configuration screen is to go the Menu,
01:45
and then select the first button, Configurations.
01:48
Regarding Configurations, you probably fall under one of three categories.
01:54
1) Starting fresh.
01:56
If you’re not using an existing configuration to start from, then you don’t need to load anything.
02:00
But we do recommend giving your configuration a name and saving it.
02:06
2) Basing a Config on a Previous Config.
02:09
In this case, select your configuration file from either the device where you are running MP-Install,
02:15
the internal memory of your mixer, or an external USB drive, and select Recall.
02:21
We highly recommend that you now give your configuration a new name
02:25
and use the Save/Save As button to keep this separate from your original file.
02:30
3) Continuing Work.
02:32
If you’ve been given a config file from a colleague that still needs some work,
02:36
you can actually double-click that file from your device browser
02:40
and it will automatically launch MP-Install and import that configuration, ready for editing.
02:45
Back in the Setup Wizard, let’s check off that we’ve done this step.
02:50
The next step is to Name and Link our Inputs, with a shortcut called Input Configuration.
02:56
This will jump us to the Setup tab for our Inputs.
02:59
Here you can change the channel’s name, whether or not it receives Phantom Power,
03:03
and whether this is part of a paired stereo link with a second channel.
03:07
If you engage this button, an odd-channel will always link with the even channel above it, or vice versa.
03:14
So channels 1 and 2 can be linked, for instance,
03:16
and 3 and 4 can be linked, but you can’t link 2 and 3, or 3 and 8.
03:22
Let’s name a few of them now.
03:24
We know we have a few channels from a music content provider:
03:29
one for the main dining area, and one specifically for the restrooms, and both of these by the way, are in stereo.
03:36
The names you define here are going to carry forward to appear on the MFC controllers
03:40
and the MP-Manage app,
03:42
which is why it’s so important to do this first and do it RIGHT
03:46
to help keep your inputs clear as you move forward.
03:49
You’ll notice that we proceed to the next channel with the Next button.
03:53
We also have a paging microphone for the reception area,
03:57
a Jukebox (because, you know, Patrick's Diner is cool like that),
04:02
we also have a few different Cable boxes for the bar,
04:06
and an audio wall plate for the private room.
04:08
If you’re not sure which channel you’re working on, just look at this channel strip here.
04:13
This represents your channel’s current state in the Mixer.
04:16
You can see its name, volume and settings the same way you’d expect to see it on a physical mixer.
04:21
If you wanted to navigate to this screen without the Wizard,
04:24
all you have to do is select “Inputs” from the main navigation bar,
04:27
and then select the Setup gear icon for whichever channel you want to adjust.
04:32
In fact, you’ll notice at the top of this page
04:35
that this Setup page is just one of six total pages that are used to configure the channel.
04:40
These are the same icons you’ll see on the master Inputs screen:
04:44
Setup, Overview, Presets, PEQ, Dynamics, and Gate.
04:49
We’ll get back to these other five pages in just a bit,
04:52
but for now we just care about setting up the bare minimum on each channel.
04:56
Make sure you proceed through each of our inputs until they’re all named,
05:00
powered, and linked to your satisfaction.
05:03
While we’re talking about inputs,
05:04
let’s navigate to the input screen and click “More” and take a look at the onboard USB Audio Player.
05:11
This media player can play MP3 files that are connected to your MP-M on a hard drive
05:16
or portable drive via one of its USB ports.
05:19
It has pretty standard playback controls, with the ability to play through your list normally,
05:24
in shuffle mode, or to play a single track.
05:27
This is a great way to play test audio tracks if you don’t have your real audio content handy.
05:32
This USB player is available as a source for every output as well as the onboard mixing function.
05:38
If you’d like to rename it, you can do so on the Setup page.
05:42
Now that we’ve finished with all of our inputs we can return to the Setup Wizard, and check off our list.
05:48
We’ll move to Output Configuration in the next video.
05:51
Feel free to take a break and move on when you’re ready.
Lesson Description
Inputs
5m 57s
Overview of the setup and configuration screens for all input channels to the MP-M Mixer.