Group Logic - Join Channels in Groups
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Group Logic - Join Channels in Groups

[Important]Important

The group functionality is limited by the system’s architecture and has some deciding disadvantages. It is no longer improved by DHD. For a more comfortable way to group fader signals, please use the VCA Fader function instead. To learn more about VCA Faders, proceed to the end of this Group Logic section. (see function VCA Faders - a flexible alternative.)

You can join the signals of different faders into a group. This group signal in turn is controlled by its own fader, which affects the sum signal of the whole group. You can define up to four groups, associated Clean Feed signals are completely taken into account.

[Tip]Tip

The group function is not used very often. However, if you want to control several microphones together – for instance to record the audience atmosphere at a concert – it is useful.

The creation of groups works like that:

  1. For each group you define a separate bus, the Group Bus.

  2. This bus is assigned as source to a dedicated Fader Channel. This channel becomes the Group Channel.

  3. Using a key associated to a fader, the signal of this fader is routed off Program Bus 1 and onto the Group Bus.

  4. The Group Channel is routed onto a fader. Now you can control the level of the whole group with this single fader.

[Important]Important

Please keep in mind, that putting a signal into a group always implies that the signal is removed from Program Bus 1 and routed onto the Group Bus. You should also try to define group functions early in the configuration process. That way you can avoid problems later on when saving Mixer Setups. (Please see below for an explanation.)

To define a group function, do the following:

  1. In the project tree, select the node Audio System and click on the tab Mixing Functions. Create a Program Bus for each group and give it a descriptive name.

  2. In the project tree, change to the node Fader Channels. Create a new Fader Channel for each group, this will become the Group Channel. Again, give it a descriptive name. Assign the bus signal defined in step 1 as input to the new Fader Channel.

  3. Change to the node Audio System in the project tree and select the tab Group Logic. Use the popup menus to assign the groups to the Fader Channels: For each group, use the popup menu Group program bus <No.> to select the bus you have created in step 1. Now, select the associated Group Channel from the popup menu Group fader channel <No.>.

  4. In the project tree, change to the node Console, select the tab Keys and click on a Fader Module. Select the key you want to use for switching the fader signal onto a Group Bus. In the popup menu Function, select the item Group Logic. The pop up menu Group appears, select the desired group here. The fader signal will be switched onto this Group Bus when the key is engaged.

  5. Download the new Config into the Device.

  6. If you want to switch a fader signal onto a group, the Group Bus must be routed to a fader first. If this is the case, press the key defined in step 3 on the desired fader strip. Its signal will now be routed onto the Group Bus. Press the key again to remove it from the Group Bus.

  7. [Important]Important

    If you switch a signal to a Group Bus, you are effectively removing it from Program Bus 1 at the same time. However, if you did not save any Mixer Setups, all signals are initially routed to all buses. Therefore, if you want the group functions to work properly, you need to assign every defined channel to a fader on the Console once. Follow the instructions of the next steps carefully, otherwise the group functions will not work properly!

  8. In the first fader strip, press the Access key. Choose the function Input Select. Keep turning the rotary encoder, until every signal in the Input Pool was shown shortly in the LED display. This suffices as assignment, the routing onto the Group Bus happens in the background.

  9. In the next fader strip, again press the Access key and choose the function Input Select. Turn the rotary encoder one step to the left or right and back again. Now you have prepared the current signal on this fader strip for a potential group function.

  10. Repeat step 8 for every fader strip on the Console, until you have initialised all Fader Channels for their group functions.

  11. In the Toolbox4 software, call up the Maintenance Window (key F7). Select the correct Device and store the current state of the Console as Setup 0. Use the command Save Setup 0 from the menu Devices. Select the command Save Setup 1..6 from the same menu to save the group function for all other Setups, too. Now you can use the routing you have just saved as starting point for all further customisation. Also, this is the reason, why you should save this settings early in the configuration process.

[Important]Important

Please note the following restrictions when using group functions:

  • You can only route a signal onto a Group Bus when this Group Bus is currently routed onto a fader strip in the Console.

  • The group assignment of signals is automatically removed as soon as the Group Bus is “removed” from its fader strip.

  • You can not switch a group signal onto its own Group Bus!

  • If a Fader Channel is routed to a group, its logic functions will only work, if the fader of the Group Bus is open.

  • You can not use the group function and the Off Air function simultaneously!

[Warning]Warning

If you assigned certain faders to one or more groups, you can not save this assignment – neither as Mixer Setup nor as Parameter Setup! Group assignments are “operational only” and therefore can not be saved!

If you try to save Setups while group assignments are active, these assignments will be cancelled and all signals will be routed back to Program Bus 1. The same happens, if you switch the power of the RM4200D off and on again, the group assignments will be lost. Therefore, do not store Setups while the RM4200D is On Air!

VCA Faders - a flexible alternative.

Due to its restrictions, using the Group Logic is not recommended for some applications. To balance the disadvantages, the VCA Fader function describes a good alternative.

The advantages of VCA Faders are:

  • very easy to configure

  • switchings to a VCA Fader will be saved in Setups

  • the channel’s bus routing is not influenced

  • more VCA Faders possible than group faders.

Two steps are necessary to create a VCA Fader:

  1. Audio System - Fader channels: Create a new Fader Channel and assign the desired VCA Fader (1..8) from the Audio Sources window.

  2. Console view: On a fader module, select the key you would like to configure as VCA Switch. Select function VCA Fader and choose the correct VCA Fader number.

If you “input select” a VCA fader to the console, its “ACCESS” key starts blinking. This blinking indicates, that the VCA is not active yet. This security mechanism takes care, that no signal is suddenly switched off, which was previously routed to that VCA fader. To activate a newly assigned VCA Fader, press the blinking “ACCESS” key and move the fader potientiometer to 0dB.

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