Encore Plus

Encore Plus Features

Encore Plus Features Guide Issue 2 © 2006 AMS Neve Ltd own the copyright of all information and drawings contained in this manual which are not to be copied or reproduced by any means or disclosed in part or whole to any third party without written permission.

As part of our policy of continual product improvement, we reserve the right to alter specifications without notice but with due regard to all current legislation.

Disclaimer: The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate at the time of publication. However, no responsibility is taken by us for inaccuracies, errors or omissions nor any liability assumed for any loss or damage resulting either directly or indirectly from use of the information contained within it.

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Encore Plus Features

Encore Plus Features Documentation Encore Plus Features.................................................................................... 2 XP (Professional Edition) Operating System..................................................3 AutengX ..................................................................................................3 New Display Options .................................................................................3 Multiple Undo ...........................................................................................3 New-look screens .....................................................................................4 Import / Export path names.......................................................................5 EDL Conform / EDL Creator........................................................................6 Pro-Tools Import ......................................................................................7 Pro-Tools / Pyramix remote control .............................................................7 Import / Export path names.......................................................................7 Glide Timer ..............................................................................................7 88R: Recall Fast-Search ............................................................................7

Encore Plus Upgrade Procedure ................................................................. 8 Console Setup ........................................................................................ 15

Appendix A: ................................................................................................. 17 EncorePlus PC Minimum Specification..................................................... 17 Appendix B: ................................................................................................. 18 BIOS Settings for XP ................................................................................... 18

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Encore Plus Features

XP (Professional Edition) Operating System This natural successor to NT4 is now standard throughout the PC world.

Compared to the more domestic XP Home Edition, XP Professional has full User Management and Security Policies, allows Workgroup networking capabilities and is able to join a Domain.

Plus, there is up to 10 file sharing connections, allows remote desktop access and has full disk and folder security based on User Management structure.

AutengX This new automation engine stores automation data in SRAM so Load and Save times are now improved a hundredfold. As well as holding this automation in SRAM, the data is also written to disc (as with Standard Encore) at user-defined intervals. Not only does AutengX improve load and save times so significantly that it is possible to perform A/B comparisons on mixes, there is no discernible time lag when swapping between these source mixes.

New Display Options - The main screen can now be taken up either by showing the Label List or the Mix Tree by pressing the Space bar.

- All of Encore’s dialogue screens can now be set to full-screen mode for studios where visibility of the screen is limited, or where the signal is fed to a 3rd party screen with limited or distant sight-access.

Multiple Undo AutengX also allows multiple levels of UNDO – either within the Standard Mix Tree or on all the automation held in RAM. Despite having up to 49 separate and discreet automated ‘layers’ held in RAM at any one time without it being written to disc, it is still possible to UNDO (and REDO) any of these 49 separate layers of automation.

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Encore Plus Features This is possible even after it has been written to disc.

Automation is still written to disc as with Standard Encore, but with Encore Plus there is the option to save every pass on STOP, or every 5, 10, 20 or 50 passes.

Regardless of how the Automation Auto-save option is set, there is still a Manual Keep facility which writes the RAM contents to disc regardless of content.

Unlike other automation systems, ALL of Encore Plus’s editing capabilities are non-destructive to source automation.

Automation Write In Stop (Rolling Development) In the past, it was not possible to change or update the automation once the timeline was stopped without having to use the Offline Editing facilities. Now it is possible to Record To End / Record To Start even if the timeline is stopped, without having to use Windows based editing screens.

This means that it is no longer necessary to have a dedicated timeline source attached to the console when updating the automation.

New-look screens The Encore front-end screen has been redesigned to take advantage of faster graphics cards which can generate more colours and shading as standard. Not only is the new screen of a higher definition, but it also allows user colour-control of all component parts of the Encore program, including the inputting of one base colour to generate complimentary/contrasting colour schemes.

These colour schemes can be saved and loaded so each user can have their own customised colour schemes.

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Encore Plus Features

Import / Export path names It is possible to Import and Export path names between Mix Setups, even Mix Setups from different desk types (for example the path names on a session recorded on an 88R can be imported into the mixing session on a DFC).

The Naming program has been simplified to it is possible to name a range of sequential paths automatically (for example, VOX1, VOX2 to VOX8 without having to type in 8 separate entries).

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Encore Plus Features

EDL Conform / EDL Creator The EDL Editor is a separate application that allows the import of EDLs to conform automation. Similarly, if the automation has been cut first, an EDL can be generated and exported to the picture editor.

The EDL Editor also supports the import, creation & export of Cut Lists.

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Encore Plus Features

Pro-Tools Import Encore Plus supports the import of ProTools sessions, so any automation recorded with a ProTools system can be converted and reinterpreted within Encore.

Controls currently implemented include: faders, mutes, cuts, pans etc (rolling implementation).

The Import software also contains a remapping function where paths and controls can be remapped so only essential paths are imported into Encore. This also includes a +/- Offset function so mixes from different timecode points in a reel can be played synchronically.

Pro-Tools / Pyramix remote control Pro Tools and Pyramix Workstations can now be controlled through EncorePlus using the TCP/IP protocol.

Controls currently implemented include: faders, pans, mutes, EQ/filters, Dynamics, Auxiliaries and Routing.

Import / Export path names It is now possible to Import and Export path names between Mix Setups, even Mix Setups from different desk types (for example the path names on a session recorded on an 88R can be imported into the mixing session on a DFC).

The Naming program has been simplified to it is possible to name a range of sequential paths automatically (for example, VOX1, VOX2 to VOX8 without having to type in 8 separate entries).

It is now possible to create a library of pathnames for regular sessions that require the same pathnames but used by different Mix Setups.

Glide Timer For occasions where a slow glide is needed (either to a CUT or to match a previous scene), EncorePlus contains a Glide Timer.

Start the timecode, right-click on the Glide control at the point you wish the glide to start, then right-click again at the time you wish the glide to end.

The length of the glide will be automatically set for that control.

88R: Recall Fast-Search There is a new Recall Find function where Recall files can be searched for by name without having to search through all the Client/Project/Title/Mixes.

A ‘Recently Used’ list has been added which displays the last ten Recalls used, independent of which Automation Title it has been associated with.

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Encore Plus Features

Encore Plus Upgrade Procedure These notes outline the upgrade procedure for migrating from standard Encore to Encore Plus.

These notes presume that the system hardware meets the minimum spec for EncorePlus and Windows XP. For the full list of necessary hardware, please contact AMS Neve Customer Support Dept or see Appendix A at the back of this document.

The steps involved in upgrading are: 1. Backup all existing data (Mix Setups / Automation / System files) on the Encore drive.

2. Install the Encore Plus software.

3. Licence the required components using the 32-digit ‘keys’.

3a. Set the CFGEdit file (digital systems only).

1: Backup all files: It is recommended that you back up ALL of your Automation / Mix Setups / System files before proceeding with the upgrade.

There are no issues of compatibility of files created with Standard Encore and those created in Encore Plus, and - as there has been no file format change between these two versions - all files should be freely transferable.

As a safety precaution, it is always wise to backup all of these files before attempting any operation such as changing Encore versions.

Please see the User documentation for your console on how to backup all of your files.

2. Encore Plus Installation.

Place the CD (or zip disc) into the PC and open the volume.

Double click on the EncorePlus icon.

(The Encore Version number will be different to that shown here).

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Encore Plus Features The installation will start‌

Click Next.

Ensure both the boxes on screen are ticked as shown above.

Click Next.

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Encore Plus Features

Click Next.

The system files will begin copying.

Click Finish.

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The computer will automatically reboot. Once rebooted Administrator if applicable), and the installation will continue.

Click Next.

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Encore Plus Features

Ensure that the four options shown are ticked as above. (For Offline installation of Encore Plus, the ‘Offline Option’ MUST be ticked).

Click Next.

Click Next. The installation of Encore Plus files will continue.

The ‘Validation’ screen will open informing you that validation has passed.

(If Validation fails, start the installation procedure again. If it continuously fails, please contact AMS-Neve).

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Encore Plus Features Click Exit and AMS-Neve Hardware Settings will open.

In ‘Encore Settings’, tick the radio button for ‘Encore Plus’

In ‘Enhanced Features…’ (if it is not already done so), tick the ‘AutengX’ box.

Click on the Licensing tab.

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Encore Plus Features

The 32-digit key number by the ‘Copy’ button is unique to every PC. With Encore Plus (as with all the other additional components to Standard Encore shown above), a separate licence key is required to activate it.

Please e-mail this number to AMS-Neve, giving your name and studio.

In return, you will be sent a licence key for each component shown above.

To enter these keys: - Highlight the component you wish to licence.

- Type the 32 digit key into the 4 boxes next to ‘Licence number’ - Click Update.

You will be informed whether the licence key is correct.

(The 32-digit licence keys are made up of numbers 0-9 and characters A – F. Regardless of whether the keyboard CAPS LOCK is on, the licence will always be shown as in upper case you enter it).

When all the licence keys have been entered, click OK.

The PC will automatically reboot.

Analogue consoles should be rebooted at this point, after which the install and setup of Encore Plus is complete, and the system will be ready for use.

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Encore Plus Features

Console Setup (This part of the setup procedure is relevant only to digital consoles) In C:/Encore, open the program called CFGEdit.exe.

Tick the box labelled ‘AutengX’.

Click Set.

Click OK.

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Encore Plus Features

Click Exit.

(Your registration number will be different to that shown above) Open ‘Service Control’ and click ‘Reboot Console’.

Once the console has rebooted, the installation and setup is complete, and both the console and EncorePlus are ready for operation.

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Appendix A: EncorePlus PC Minimum Specification • • • • • •

2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor only.

1 GB RAM. 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space.

Windows XP Professional Operating System*.

Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor (plus DVD and/or Zip drive + keyboard, mouse etc).

Windows XP Professional Operating System.

Currently approved P4 motherboards are: • • •

Soyo P41845PEISA IBase MB800H Super Micro P4SCA

Recommended drives are: • • • • • • • • • •

Micropolis 1674-07 Micropolis 1684-07 HP C2235 Quantum ELS127S/170S Quantum LPS105S/170S/240S/270S Quantum Maverick Quantum TRB420S/850S Quantum Fireball Quantum Trailblazer Quantum Atlas Seagate Barracuda ST34573N & ST318417N

* Further information on Windows XP: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/sysreqs.mspx http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314865

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Encore Plus Features

Appendix B: BIOS Settings for XP Support for ISA Link Adaptor / Analog Link Adaptor Advanced BIOS Features: Default settings apart from…

APIC Mode: Disabled

-- Very important!!! --

Integrated Peripherals: Default settings apart from…

Any Audio devices: Disabled Onboard Parallel port: Disabled Game Port Address: Disabled Midi Port Address: Disabled PnP/PCI Configurations: Default settings apart from…

Resources Controlled By: Manual IRQ Resources…

IRQ-7 assigned to: All others:

Legacy PCI/ISA PnP

--- NB: To be set up BEFORE XP is installed ---

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ISA