model e-1 automatic mixier user guide · auro-matic pro auro-matic pro is an up-mixing plug-in that...

Auro TechnologiesAuro-Matic Pro Plug-in GuidePlug-in Version: 1.2

User Guide Version: 1.0

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction to Auro-3D .........................................................5

Chapter 2: Installation and System Requirements .....................7

2.1 Installation ...................................................................................7

2.2 System Requirements and Compatibility.......................7

Chapter 3: Auro-Matic Pro Plug-ins.........................................................9

3.1 Auro-Matic Pro ..........................................................................9

3.1.1 Connection ......................................................................9

3.1.2 Name ..............................................................................10

3.1.3 Volume ...........................................................................10

3.1.4 Mixing Engines Bus .....................................................10

3.1.5 Input Source ..................................................................11

3.1.6 Configuration.................................................................11

3.1.7 Ambience.......................................................................11

3.1.8 Strength .........................................................................11

3.1.9 Space and Depth..........................................................11

3.1.10 Weight ............................................................................11

3.1.11 Center ............................................................................12

3.1.12 Equalizer ........................................................................12

3.1.13 Control Panel and Settings Tabs ...............................13

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3.2 Auro-Mixing Engine...............................................................14

3.2.1 Connection ....................................................................14

3.2.2 Volume ...........................................................................14

3.2.3 Configuration.................................................................15

3.2.4 Name ..............................................................................15

3.2.5 Tracks.............................................................................15

3.2.6 Metering .........................................................................16

3.2.7 Control Panel and Settings Tabs ...............................16

3.3 Auro-Return ..............................................................................18

3.3.1 Connection ....................................................................18

3.3.2 Bus..................................................................................18

3.3.3 Preset .............................................................................19

3.3.4 1...N ................................................................................19

3.4 Auro-Settings App..................................................................20

3.4.1 Solo Mode .....................................................................20

3.4.2 Default Bus ....................................................................20

3.4.3 Architecture ...................................................................20

3.4.4 Restart Service .............................................................20

Chapter 4: Pro Tools Setup...........................................................................21

4.1 Auro-Matic Pro and Auro-Return.....................................22

4.2 Auro-Matic Pro and Auro-Mixing Engine .....................23

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Auro-3D

Welcome to Auro-3D®, the next step in sound evolution brought to you by Auro Technologies. To produce true three-dimensional sound, the reproduction system requires a third dimension cre-ated by the vertical Z axis (top to bottom), in addition to the existing X (side-to-side) and Y (front-to-back) horizontal axes. Auro-3D, with it’s three layered approach (Lower, Height, and Top Layers) is the culmination of audio reproduction that has evolved from a point source (mono), to a single dimension (stereo), to two-dimensional Surround Sound (5.1). The Auro-3D system completes this evolution by creating a realistic three-dimensional soundscape.

Films created for Auro-3D can still be shown in theatres without an Auro-3D system by using the 5.1-channel Surround standard that is provided in addition to the encoded Auro format.

Auro-3D Formats

The Auro-3D 9.1–11.1 formats are based on, and compatible with the 5.1 Standard. They include 5.1’s standard channels plus the following additional channels:

• 9.1: Four height channels (one above each side channel)

• 10.1: Four height channels + Top (“Voice of God”) Channel

• 11.1: Four height channels + Height Center + Top Channel

The Auro-3D 13.1 format is based on, and compatible with the 6.1 Standard. It includes 6.1’s stan-dard channels plus the following additional channels:

• 13.1: Four height channels + Height Center + Height Surround + Top Channel

Auro Technologies has developed Auro-Matic Pro as part of the Creative Tool Suite to allow three-dimensional panning in any DAW (Mac and PC) that supports AAX or VST plug-ins.

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Introduction to Auro-3D

Auro-Matic Pro

Auro-Matic Pro is an up-mixing plug-in that can create an Auro-3D sound field from mono, stereo or 5.1-channel sources without affecting the intentional aesthetics of the original mix. It is based on an intelligent and highly efficient algorithm that uses a variety of early reflection patterns to cre-ate a three-dimensional sound field. Auro-Matic Pro also has a two-dimensional version to up-mix from mono or stereo to 5.1.

Auro-Matic Pro is part of the Auro-3D ecosystem, and uses the Auro-Return plug-in to output the additional Height channels; the Lower channels are output from the track on which Auro-Matic Pro is inserted.

Auro-Return: Returns the Height channels to the DAW.

Auro-Mixing Engine: The Mixing Engine can be used to collect multiple Auro-Matic Pro outputs into a single output track.

Auro-Settings: Preference settings menu accessed from the OS X menu bar used to change the Solo behavior for the Auro-Panner plug-ins and specify the architecture of the host DAW. These settings do not affect Auro-Matic Pro.

NOTE: We currently support AAX plug-ins for Avid's Pro Tools DAW. Please contact Auro Tech-nologies for information on when VST versions will be available.

This user guide covers the following information:

Chapter 2: Installation and System Requirements – Discusses how to install Auro-3D software.

Chapter 3: Auro-Matic Pro Plug-ins – Discusses the Auro-Matic Pro, Auro-Mixing Engine, and Auro-Return plug-in parameters in detail.

Chapter 4: Pro Tools Setup – Shows how to set up two Pro Tools sessions with for Auro-Matic Pro.

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Chapter 2: Installation and System Require-ments

2.1 InstallationDownload the latest Auro-Matic Pro software from the Auro website:

www.auro-3d.com

After downloading and unzipping the software, double-click on Auro-Matic Pro.pkg to begin the standard installation.

The following software is installed:

• Auro-Matic Pro and Auro-Return plug-ins

• A3DHost

• Auro-Settings menu bar extension and standalone app

2.2 System Requirements and CompatibilityAuro-Matic Pro was tested with Pro Tools 10 and Mac OS X 10.7.3 and 10.8.4.

Please refer to complete system requirements and a list of qualified computers, operating systems, hard drives, and third-party devices for Avid’s Pro Tools 10 by visiting:

www.avid.com/compatibility

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www.auro-3d.com

www.avid.com/compatibility

Installation and System Requirements

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Chapter 3: Auro-Matic Pro Plug-ins

Auro-Matic Pro is used as an insert plug-in on a mono, stereo or multichannel audio track. The plug-in can return its additional height channels to either an Auro-Mixing Engine or Auro-Return.

There are two versions of the Auro-Matic Pro plug-in:

• Auro-Matic Pro 3D can be set to either a mono, stereo, or 5.1-channel input.

• Auro-Matic Pro 2D can be set only to a mono or stereo input, outputs only a 5.1-channel format, and cannot be connected to Auro-Return or Mixing Engine plug-ins.

3.1 Auro-Matic Pro

Figure 3-1 Auro-Matic Pro plug-in

3.1.1 Connection

The Connection LED lights yellow to indicate the Panner is properly connected to the A3DHost service and the other two plug-ins. If the LED lights red or blinks red, there is a connectivity problem (see page 20 for help).

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Auro-Matic Pro Plug-ins

3.1.2 Name

This field initially displays an automatically generated track name. To rename this instance, click the field and type a new name. Note that this does not rename the DAW track.

3.1.3 Volume

This sets the signal level sent to a connected instance of Auro-Return or Auro-Mixing Engine, but has no effect on the Auro-Matic Pro plug-in’s direct output.

The Volume can be set three ways:

• Click and drag the Volume slider.

• Click in the path of the slider.

• Double-click the numerical field at the bottom of the Volume slider and enter a value.

Level Meter

This meter displays the direct input channel level.

Clip

The Clip LED lights red if more than five consecutive samples are more than 0.1 dB above 0 dBFS on any input channel.

Mute

• Click the M to toggle the mute status for this instance only.

• Alt + click a lit M to unmute all Auro-Matic Pro plug-ins.

Solo

• The S LED blinks to indicate another Auro-Matic Pro plug-in is soloed.

• Click the S to toggle the solo status for this instance only.

• Alt + click a lit or blinking S to unsolo all Auro-Matic Pro plug-ins.

• Command (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) + click to solo safe this Auro-Matic Pro instance.

NOTE: The Solo behavior can be changed between x-or and latch in the Auro-Settings ap-plication (see page 20).

3.1.4 Mixing Engines Bus

Mixing Engine instances already created will show up in this menu. Click the menu and select a Mixing Engine to receive this Auro-Matic Pro’s processed output. The menu title reflects the currently selected Mixing Engine or none.

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3.1.5 Input Source

Each instance of Auro-Matic Pro must be set for a specific input source format. For example, a mono source uses the Auro-Matic Pro 3D (mono/5.1) plug-in type; a stereo source uses Auro-Matic Pro 3D (stereo/5.1). In these cases the input format is known so the Input Source menu does not appear in the Auro-Matic Pro plug-in window.

For multichannel input sources, use the Auro-Matic Pro 3D (5.1) plug-in type. The Input Source menu appears and you must select the type of input source explicitly: mono, stereo, or 5.1.

NOTE: When feeding from a 5.1-channel Bus with mono selected as the Input Source,Auro-Matic Pro takes the input signal from the Center channel.

For stereo and mono inputs, all x.1 output configurations leave the LFE channel empty.

3.1.6 Configuration

The Auro-Matic Pro 3D output configuration options are: 5.1, 9.1, 11.1, and 13.1.

The only configuration option for the 2D version is 5.1.

3.1.7 Ambience

The Ambience parameter sets the overall size and sonic characteristics of the virtual space. Two versions of each size are available: Small, Medium, Large, and Open.

3.1.8 Strength

The Strength fader sets the amount of signal sent to Auro-Matic Pro’s 3D processing.

3.1.9 Space and Depth

These parameters affect how spatial information is sent to the additional Auro 3D channels.

3.1.10 Weight

The Weight parameters, F/R and Height, determine how much of the generated spatial information is sent to Front/Rear and Height channels, respectively.

NOTE: Strength, Space, Depth, Weight, and EQ affect only the generated output channels.

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3.1.11 Center

The Center parameters determine how to generate the Center channel. The Center menu has the following options: Bypass, Classic, Standard, Adv Music, Adv Medium, Adv Dialog.

The Center parameters are available only when Auro-Matic Pro is inserted in a stereo track, or when stereo is selected as the Input Source.

NOTE: In Bypass, Classic, and Standard modes, the latency of the plug-in will be 0 on nativesystems. When using Adv Music, Medium, and Dialog modes, the latency will be 4095samples; this may vary depending on the Pro Tools hardware used.

Level and Divergence

The Level knob sets the amount of Center signal.

The Divergence knob sets how much Center signal to divert to the Left and Right channels.

3.1.12 Equalizer

The Equalizer can be switched in and out by clicking the LED to the left.

Bass and Treble

Each knob can boost or cut the signal 6 dB.

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3.1.13 Control Panel and Settings Tabs

Click the Settings tab to adjust more detailed, less frequently accessed parameters.

Click the Control panel tab to use the plug-in normally.

Figure 3-2 Auro-Matic Pro Settings

RoutingThe routing panel becomes active only when Auro-Matic Pro is inserted on an 7.1-channel track. It specifies which channels to route to the two additional channels in the 7.1 format.

NOTE: Auro-Matic Pro does not currently support up-mixing to or from a 7.1-channel format.

GeneralThe Knob Mode menu determines how the knobs are adjusted:

• Rotary: Drag the knob as if you are turning it physically.

• Horizontal Drag: Click the knob and drag left to decrease and right to increase the value.

• Vertical Drag: Click the knob and drag down to decrease and up to increase the value.

AboutClick the user manual link to view this guide as a PDF.

Click the Auro web link to visit our website.

The plug-in’s software version is displayed in the top-right.

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3.2 Auro-Mixing EngineThe Auro-Mixing Engine receives audio from the connected Auro-Matic Pro instances through the A3DHost. It also sets the Auro-3D format (8.0–13.1) for all connected Tracks, and outputs a downmix with its own track format.

Figure 3-3 Mixing Engine

3.2.1 Connection

The Connection LED lights yellow to indicate the Mixing Engine is properly connected to the A3DHost service and the other two plug-ins. If the LED lights red or blinks red, there is a con-nectivity problem (see page 20 for help).

3.2.2 Volume

This sets the signal level sent to the Auro-Return plug-in.

The Volume can be set three ways:

• Click and drag the Volume slider.

• Click in the path of the slider.

• Double-click the numerical field at the bottom of the Volume slider and enter a value.

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Clip

The Clip LED lights red if more than five consecutive samples are more than 0.1 dB above 0 dBFS on any input channel.

Mute• Click the M to toggle the mute status for this instance only.

• Alt + click a lit M to unmute all Mixing Engine plug-ins.

Solo• The S LED blinks to indicate another Mixing Engine plug-in is soloed.

• Click the S to toggle the solo status for this instance only.

• Alt + click a lit or blinking S to unsolo all Auro-Panner plug-ins.

3.2.3 Configuration

This menu sets the panning format for this Mixing Engine.

Select an Auro format from the Configuration menu (8.1, 9.1, 10.1, 11.1, 13.1). The channel labels along the bottom of the meter automatically change to reflect the selected format.

3.2.4 Name

This field displays the name assigned to this Mixing Engine instance. This name appears in the Auro-Panner Bus menu. To rename it, click in the field and type a new name.

3.2.5 Tracks

This lists the connected Auro-Matic Pro plug-ins currently routed to this Mixing Engine.

NOTE: These names are the Auro-Matic Pro plug-ins inserted on tracks, not the track names.

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3.2.6 Metering

The Pan Graph below displays the energy and level of the routed audio sources in the selected Auro-3D configuration.

Figure 3-4 Pan Graph

3.2.7 Control Panel and Settings Tabs

Click the Settings tab to adjust more detailed, less frequently accessed parameters.

Click the Control panel tab when finished adjusting Settings to use the plug-in normally.

Figure 3-5 Mixing Engine Settings

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Panning Settings

Click the Pan Law menu to choose -3dB or -6dB.

Downmix Settings

The Mixing Engine always outputs a Downmix in the same format as the track the plug-in is initi-ated on (Stereo – 5.1). These settings also determine how to downmix the Height channels, and how and where to downmix the Top channel.

Lower Level, Height Level, Top level: 0, -3dB, -4.5dB, -6dB, or -9dB

Top Target: Lower or Center (destination for the Top Channel)

NOTE: The Auro-Codec® currently supports downmixing the Top channel to the Lower cornerchannels (L, R, Ls, Rs) only.

LFE lowpass: Enables a low frequency filter when selected. The crossover frequency is 100 Hz, and the filter slope is 6 dB/octave.

About

Click the user manual link to view this guide as a PDF.

Click the Auro web link to visit our website.

The plug-in’s software version is displayed in the top-right corner.

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3.3 Auro-ReturnThe Auro-Return plug-in routes channels from Auro-Matic Pro.

Figure 3-6 Auro-Return

3.3.1 Connection

The Connection LED lights yellow to indicate the Return is properly connected to the A3DHost service and the other two plug-ins. If the LED lights red or blinks red, there is a connectivity problem (see page 20 for help).

3.3.2 Bus

This menu lets you select the Mixing Engine plug-in from which to receive panned audio.

NOTE: Stem, Mix, and Downmix are reserved for future versions.

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3.3.3 PresetThis menu lets you select a channel configuration Preset. Film and ITU conventions are both avail-able for Lower and Height channels.

The 1...N channel menus are initially configured by the selected Preset, but are editable at any time. If you change a channel assignment in the selected Preset, the Preset menu displays Custom.

3.3.4 1...N

These entries are typically populated by Preset selection, but can also be individually set to create a Custom format.

Select from these menus to reassign the Mixing Engine channels routed to this Return plug-in’s output channels.

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3.4 Auro-Settings AppAuro-Settings runs as a Finder menu bar extension and standalone app. It provides easy access to Solo Mode, Default Bus, and Architecture settings, and can restart the A3DHost if necessary. Solo Mode and Default Bus do not affect Auro-Matic Pro’s operation, but Architecture does (see below).

Figure 3-7 Auro-Settings options in the Finder menu bar

3.4.1 Solo Mode

The Solo Mode can be set to:

• X-OR: Each solo selection replaces the previous selection(s).

• Latch: Each solo selection adds to the previous selection(s).

3.4.2 Default Bus

This menu is reserved for future use. It is currently locked to Main Bus.

3.4.3 Architecture

Set Architecture to 32-bit to use Auro-Matic Pro in Pro Tools 10.

Set Architecture to 64-bit to use Auro-Matic Pro in Pro Tools 11.

3.4.4 Restart Service

A blinking Connection LED in the Auro-Matic Pro plug-in means there is no valid connection be-tween it and the A3DHost service and/or the Mix Engine. This can occur for the following reasons:

• The Mix Engine service is not installed properly, or the workstation was not restarted after installation.

• The Mix Engine stopped for some reason and did not automatically restart.

Restart it manually by selecting Restart Service from the Auro Settings menu bar app.

You can also use the A3DHost.RestartService.command found in:

Library/Application Support/Auro Technologies/A3DHost.

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Chapter 4: Pro Tools Setup

This section shows how to set up two simple Pro Tools sessions with Auro-Matic Pro. Each demonstrates a different way to use the plug-in. In both examples, you’ll create one mono, one ste-reo, and one 5.1-channel track, each with an Auro-Matic Pro plug-in.

In the first example, each Auro-Matic Pro track outputs its own Lower layer but delivers its Height layer from a connected instance of Auro-Return inserted on an adjacent track.

In the second example, each track’s Auro-Matic Pro plug-in is routed to an Auro-Mixing Engine plug-in, which combines each track’s panned information. The Auro-Mixing Engine delivers the Lower and Height layers to Auro-Return plug-ins on two additional tracks.

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Pro Tools Setup

4.1 Auro-Matic Pro and Auro-ReturnTo create a Pro Tools session with Auro-Matic Pro and Auro-Return:

1. In a new Pro Tools session, create two 5.1-channel tracks.

2. Name the first stereo source and the second AR2.

Figure 4-1 Pro Tools session with Auro-Matic Pro and Return plug-ins

3. On stereo source, insert the Auro-Matic Pro 3D (stereo/5.1) plug-in.

4. Click the plug-in’s Name field to name this instance ampro st.

5. On AR2, insert an Auro-Return plug-in, and select ampro st from the Bus menu.

AR2 is now configured to receive the Height layers generated from the stereo source track.

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Pro Tools Setup

4.2 Auro-Matic Pro and Auro-Mixing EngineMultiple tracks, each with Auro-Matic Pro plug-ins, can be output to another track with the Auro-Mixing Engine plug-in. The Mixing Engine then returns Height and Lower layers to two additional tracks with Auro-Return plug-ins.

To create a Pro Tools session with Auro-Matic Pro, Auro-Mixing Engine, and Auro-Return:

1. In a new Pro Tools sessions, create one mono and five 5.1-channel tracks.

Refer to Figure 4-2 for the track names used below.

Figure 4-2 Pro Tools session with Auro-Matic Pro, Mixing Engine, and Return plug-ins

2. On mono source, insert the Auro-Matic Pro 3D (mono/5.1) plug-in.

3. Click the plug-in’s Name field to name this instance ampro m.

4. On stereo source, insert the Auro-Matic Pro 3D (stereo/5.1) plug-in.

Auro-Matic Pro Source Tracks Return TracksMixing Engine

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Pro Tools Setup

5. Click the plug-in’s Name field to name this instance ampro st.

6. On mch source, insert the Auro-Matic Pro 3D (5.1) plug-in.

7. Click the plug-in’s Name field to name this instance ampro mch.

8. On AME, insert an Auro-Mixing Engine plug-in, name it AME, and select an Auro Configuration.

9. On both AR Low and AR Height, insert an Auro-Return plug-in, and select AME from the Bus menu.

10. On AR Low, select the Lower (Film or ITU) format from the Preset menu.

11. On AR Height, select the Height (Film or ITU) format from the Preset menu.

AR Low and AR Height comprise the actual Auro multichannel format selected from the Configuration menu in the Auro-Mixing Engine on track AME.

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model e-1 automatic mixier user guide · auro-matic pro auro-matic pro is an up-mixing plug-in that...

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