Using Custom Presets with Integrator Series DSPs

There are two types of presets available in both Symetrix integrator series DSP’s, Jupiter and Zone Mix 760. These preset types include global and custom presets. When setting up presets for recall it is important to understand the differences between the two options to best serve the intended purpose.

Global presets mean just that; global. Every parameter in the program file will be saved. This means no matter what changes might have been made after the program was last updated to tune the speakers, set input gain, etc. a global preset may return multiple parameters back to a prior state. Global presets are most useful in situations where a “system default” state is necessary. For example, this can be used by an end-user for easy troubleshooting, returning the system back to what should be a known good state.

Custom presets on the other hand allow us to select only the specific parameters we want to include in the preset. Custom presets are useful in situations like a restaurant or multi-purpose venue where certain times of day require different routing or base audio levels, or even to mute certain outputs.

This example will show the process of setting up two different custom presets for a location that is a coffee shop in the morning and a small performance venue at night. And quickly, will cover adding these presets to the Event Scheduler so that they will automatically trigger at a given time of day. The intended purpose is that the volume levels will be lower and certain output channels will not be active in the morning. Meanwhile, in the evening, some volumes will be higher and those speakers not used in the morning will be active.

We will also first set up a global preset that will be the known working state that can be recalled at any time. This example will not cover setting up remote control for preset recall. Refer to the Help File under Help, Contents, and searching for presets for more information.

First, let’s review the current state of a few parameters, remembering that global means everything. Input levels are set as they are, given the source devices and material. Output levels are set as they are as well, given the sources and material.

The matrix and sub-mix matrix are both set accordingly that music and TV are not routed to the front of house speakers via sub-mix two, but all mic and line inputs are routed to all outputs via sub-mix one.

Let’s begin setting up the default state preset by going to tools, store preset. Global preset is selected by default and we can change the name to default and ensure the location is set to location one. Click OK to save the preset. Now to set the two custom presets for morning and evening, we need to place the parameters we want to affect into the state that we want them. We’ll then store a new custom preset, only selecting those parameters to include.

Opening the sub-mix matrix we can see columns for the sub-mixes that then rout to the analog outputs. For organization and clarity, we can rename these two sub-mixes to mic line and BGM. The morning preset should make it so that the overall volume is lower. We can either use the sub-mix faders or the output master faders, but in this scenario we’ll use the master faders. Lower the fader from 0 dB down to -20 dB. Then lower the output two master to -20 dB, and then three and four. Even though the BGM inputs won’t be routed to outputs five and six, we can still lower the master faders to -20 dB as well, for good measure.

Now we need to activate some mute buttons for the front of house channels, outputs five and six, because these speakers don’t need to be active in the morning. We could simply mute these output channels at the analog output, however these mutes are post-limiter. This can potentially put the downstream sound system at risk of being overloaded with too much signal if the mute is suddenly disengaged. Engage the master mute button on channels five and six in the sub-mix matrix. Now that we have all desired parameters in the state the we want them, let’s review and begin building presets.

Go to tools, store preset. Edit the name to morning and select custom preset. Then select choose parameters. We need to include the sub-mix master gain faders for channels one through six as well as the mute buttons for channels five and six of the sub-mix matrix.

We can narrow down our available results by the filters at the top. The sub-mix matrix is middle processing. We are only considering channels one through six, but all channels won’t get in our way. Select sub-mix matrix from the module type.

Now we’ve filtered out hundreds of parameters, but still have quite a number of them left. Initially, let’s grab the master faders. Select fader from the control type. The control name we’re looking for is sub-mix one master gain fader. Check the box for this control and then for sub-mix two gain fader, and three. And then four, five, and six.

Now that we have the faders included in the preset we can add the two master mute buttons. From the filter area, click button. Similar to the fader, the control name we want is sub-mix master mute button. For this preset we only need to mute channels five and six. Check the boxes to include them in the preset.

To double-check our work, we can click All in the control type filter and then select “included in preset”. There should be eight parameters; six master faders and two master mute buttons. When all required faders and mute buttons are included, click OK to save this parameter selection. Then click ok again to save this preset.

Now, to save the evening preset we need to move the master faders and mute buttons into the desired position.

Move the faders of channels one through six to -10 dB and disengage the master mute buttons for channels five and six. Now go again to tools, store preset. Name this preset evening, select custom preset, and click choose parameters. Filter the results as we did before. Middle processing, sub-mix matrix, button and fader accordingly.

When all required controls are included, click ok, and then ok again to save the preset. Now that we have all three presets saved we can test them to make sure we’ve included the correct parameters and that they move to correct position.

Looking at the sub-mix matrix, go to tools, recall preset. Then select preset one for the default state and click ok. All sub-mix master faders should be now set to 0 dB and mute buttons disengaged. Once all presets have been confirmed we can set up the event scheduler for the morning and evening presets.

Go to tools, event scheduler. Here we can select a particular day and click add event. Name the event morning, select preset two for morning, then set the time this preset should be triggered. This example will leave the time at 8 am.

Now select recurring event. Choose daily and select all days of the week except Sunday. Then click ok. Now the morning preset will trigger every morning Monday through Saturday at 8 am. Click add event again. Name the event evening and select the evening preset. Change the time to 5 pm. Then choose recurring event and daily. This time only choose Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Click ok to save this event trigger.

Now click ok in the event scheduler to save these triggers.

That’s it! You can now create your own custom preset as well as set them up to automatically trigger.