Copyright: Created by SSHC 1.9.1 (  Monday, October 16, 2000 15:06:05). Copyright (C) 1992-99 Michael Haydn


Unitor8 Module

The Unitor8 Module supports Emagic Unitor8, Unitor8 MkII, AMT8 and MT4. All units connected to the same computer port are considered one virtual device. This makes editing of Patches covering several units easy.

see also: Installation, MIDI, Scan


Unitor8

MIDI-Interface with SMPTE-Synchronization.

Unless stated otherwise, "Unitor8" means any of Unitor8, Unitor8 MkII, AMT8 or MT4.

Differences to Unitor8 MkII, AMT8 and MT4:

•	no USB

•	Mac Thru switch

Differences to AMT8 and MT4:

•	SMPTE synchronization

•	Firmware update

•	Click input

Differences to MT4:

•	AMT

•	serial ports

•	8 inputs instead of 2

•	8 outputs instead of 4

•	Filters configurable

•	stackable (up to 8 units)

All data of Unitor8 is supported.

Patch

Computer Mode Setup

Patch Mode Setup

Click Input Setup

Global Setup

see also: MIDI, Scan


Unitor8 MkII

MIDI interface with SMPTE synchronization.

Differences to Unitor8:

•	USB

•	no Mac Thru switch

Differences to AMT8 and MT4:

•	SMPTE synchronization

•	Firmware update

•	Click input

Differences to MT4:

•	AMT

•	serial ports

•	8 inputs instead of 2

•	8 outputs instead of 4

•	Filters configurable

•	stackable (up to 8 units)

All data of Unitor8 MkII is supported.

Patch

Computer Mode Setup

Patch Mode Setup

Click Input Setup

Global Setup

see also: MIDI, Scan


AMT8

MIDI-Interface

Differences to Unitor8:

•	USB

•	no Mac Thru switch

Differences to Unitor8 and Unitor8 MkII:

•	no SMPTE synchronization

•	no Firmware update

•	no Click input

Differences to MT4:

•	AMT

•	serial ports

•	8 inputs instead of 2

•	8 outputs instead of 4

•	Filters configurable

•	stackable (up to 8 units)

All data of AMT8 is supported.

Patch

Computer Mode Setup

Patch Mode Setup

Global Setup

see also: MIDI, Scan


MT4

MIDI-Interface

Differences to Unitor8:

•	USB

•	no Mac Thru switch

Differences to Unitor8 and Unitor8 MkII:

•	no SMPTE synchronization

•	no Firmware update

Differences to Unitor8, Unitor8 MkII and AMT8:

•	no AMT

•	no serial ports

•	2 inputs instead of 8

•	4 outputs instead of 8

•	Filters not configurable

•	not stackable

All data of MT4 is supported.

Patch

Global Setup

see also: MIDI, Scan


Credits

 Manual: Clemens Haas, Michael Haydn

Online help adaptation: Michael Haydn


Installation

Setup

Setting up the Unitor8 involves two basic steps. You simply connect the hardware components then instal the control software.

Setup – all platforms

Setup – MacOS

Setup – Windows

Connecting Unitor8 to two computers


Setup – all platforms

Here are the details:

•	Connect the cable of the power supply to the Power jack of the Unitor8 and the power plug into the socket.

•	Connect the MIDI Outs of your MIDI devices to the MIDI Ins of the Unitor8 and, naturally, vice versa.

It is sufficient to interconnect the MIDI Outs to a single MIDI In with those MIDI devices which send MIDI data but do not receive them (such as master keyboards, drum pads or fader boxes). In contrast, it is not required that MIDI devices such as sound modules or samplers send MIDI data to the sequencer – you just need to connect the MIDI Ins of the respective MIDI devices with a single MIDI Out of the Unitor8. In case you want to manage and edit the sound of your instruments with a an editor/librarian program like SoundDiver, a bi-directional cabling for the transmission of the MIDI SysEx data is necessary. (It is a good idea to label all of your MIDI cables to avoid confusion when troubleshooting problems later on.)

•	If you wish to work with the SMPTE/LTC synchronizer of Unitor8, connect the LTC Out of Unitor8 to the input of the audio track which shall record the LTC and the output of the respective audio track to the LTC Input of the Unitor8.

•	In case you want to work with the SMPTE/VITC synchronizer of the Unitor8 and/or want to burn in the time code into the video picture, connect the video output of your VCR to the video input of the Unitor8. Additionally, you must connect the video output of Unitor8 to the video input of your video screen (or TV).

If your VCR and/or video monitor (or TV) are not equipped with the necessary connector jacks, please take care to get proper adapters to S-Video (Coax or Scart to S-Video) at your retailer.

For information about the setup of Windows please turn to section »Setup – Windows«.


Setup – MacOS

You can connect your Unitor8 either via USB or via a serial port. If you MacOS computer is equipped with USB, you should prefer USB.

Tips for choosing the right port (Mac)

Setup – USB (Mac)

Stacking via USB (Mac)

Setup – serial port

Stacking via serial port

OMS driver


Tips for choosing the right port (Mac)

Modem/Printer or USB?

One or two serial ports?

Unitor8 without USB at G3/G4

Unitor8 without USB at iMac

Several Unitor8 chains at USB (Mac)


Modem/Printer or USB?

If your MacOS computer has a USB port, and one of your Unitor8 units as well (i.e. it's a Unitor8 Mk II or an AMT8), you should use USB. The speed advantage is that big that you might even consider to not use AMT.

However, only Logic Audio 4.0.1 or newer and SoundDiver 2.1 or newer can access the Unitor8 units via USB without OMS. For other software OMS (and the Unitor8 OMS driver) is required. If your MacOS computer also has a serial port, it might be more sensible to use the serial port, especially if you want to use third party software which does not support OMS.

If you have more than one Unitor8, you can use both USB and the serial ports. If you have more than eight, you even have to.

With a MacOS computer which has two serial ports as well as a USB PCI card installed (see details in section »Setup – USB«), you can connect up to 24 Unitor8 units and thus have up to 192 MIDI ins and outs which equals up to 3,072 MIDI channels.


One or two serial ports?

If you have several Unitor8 units, you can connect up to eight of them in a chain to one serial port – or you can disperse them on both ports.

The following items speak for using only one port:

•	Only one connection between computer and Unitor8 chain is required. This means an easier installation, especially if the computer is located in a machine room (then a long cable is required which must be installed in a cable channel).

•	As there is only one cable, there is one potential failure source less. The MiniDIN plugs cannot be locked and might fall off the jack.

•	When using AMT, the throughput advantage of using two ports does no more apply, except there is extremely high traffic.

•	In Patch Mode, any connections between all MIDI ports of all Unitor8 units can be made. So if you sometimes want to play one of your sound generators from your master keyboard without starting up the computer, this is an important item.

Advantages which result from using both the Modem and Printer Port are:

•	If you have more than eight Unitor8 units, there is no other choice, then you have to use both serial ports (or one serial port and the USB port, if available)

•	Better throughput; especially better timing if AMT is not in use

If you want to use MTP compatible third party software without OMS, you can address up to 32 MIDI ports; when using only one serial port you can address only up to 16.

There are rumors that the Printer Port of some Mac models are unreliable. We cannot confirm this however; in our tests, it worked perfectly.


Unitor8 without USB at G3/G4

Can I connect a Unitor8 without USB to a blue/white G3 or G4?

Yes, if you install a GeeThree »Stealth« or a Griffin »gPort«. See section »Setup – serial port«.

These add-ons are 100% compatible to a »normal« Modem Port. Fast Mode and AMT are supported. However you lose the option to install an internal modem.

The provided system extension (»Stealth Serial Port 1.0.2« or »gPort Driver«) is required if you use Logic Audio 4.0.1 or SoundDiver 2.1 or newer. These versions request the existence of the serial ports. Without these system extensions, the System does not know that the Stealth or gPort is installed, and the Modem Port will not be available in Logic / SoundDiver.


Unitor8 without USB at iMac

Can I connect a Unitor8 without USB to a Mac without a serial port (as the iMac)?

Only as the second unit in a chain, where the first unit is a Unitor8 Mk II or an AMT8 which is connected to the Mac via USB.

The available USB-serial adaptors don't work with MIDI interfaces, as they don't support external clocking.


Several Unitor8 chains at USB (Mac)

Can I connect several Unitor8 chains to USB?

The USB standard (as well as the Unitor8 USB driver) would allow this, however the port assignment would be ambiguous if the Unitor8 units connected to USB wouldn't be powered on in exactly the same order every time. However in many studios, all MIDI devices are connected to a single power line with a single power switch, so this condition cannot be met.

Logic and SoundDiver currently allow »only« up to three Unitor8 chains, which means a maximum of 192 MIDI ins and outs. An extension to even more chains would require a song file format change.

As the Unitor8 system allows chains of up to eight units connected to a single computer port, you should face this problem rather rarely. If you really need more than 64 MIDI ins or outs, you should connect a second Unitor8 chain to a serial port (see also section »Can I connect a Unitor8 without USB to a blue/white G3?«).


Setup – USB (Mac)

This setup option is only available for MacOS computers which built-in USB port (e.g. iMac or blue/white Power Macintosh G3) or equipped with a USB PCI card supported by Apple (e.g. the KeySpan USB Card).

If this does not apply, please connect your Unitor8 via a serial port (see section »Setup – serial port«).

•	Insert the provided CD-ROM and start the setup (in case it does not start automatically). It will install the Unitor8 Control software, the USB driver and the OMS driver. A restart is not required.

•	Connect the Unitor8 with the USB cable with the USB connector of your MacOS computer.

•	Power on the Unitor8.

If you get the message »The software needed to use the USB device "Unknown Device" cannot be found. Please refer to the device documentation to install the necessary software.«, you must install the driver from the CD, then power off and on the Unitor8.

You should always use the latest MacOS version, but at least 8.6. In this version, the USB support has been improved significantly. This should especially improve MIDI timing.

Setup is now complete. You may now switch on your Unitor8, your MIDI devices, your tape machine and/or your VCR and start Unitor8 Control or your sequencer software.

Only Emagic Logic Audio 4.0.1 or higher and SoundDiver 2.0.7 or higher can access the Unitor8 connected to USB without the OMS driver. For any third-party software, you must use OMS, even if the software is MTP compatible.

If you don't want to use OMS, you must otherwise connect the Unitor8 to a serial port.

If you have several Unitor8 units, please continue with the subsequent section, otherwise please continue with section »OMS driver«.


Stacking via USB (Mac)

If you plan to set up additional Unitor8 units to a Unitor8 connected via USB, simply connect the first Unitor8 with the second using the RS-422 cable (»Mac«), and not the RS-232 cable.

You cannot use the RS-232 cable for connecting the first unit with the second, as the RS-232 port cannot be used simultaneously with the USB port.

A third Unitor8 would be connected to the second using the RS-232 cable, the third to the fourth with the RS-422 cable and so forth (see illustration). Up to eight Unitor8 units can be connected this way to the USB port.

You can stack Unitor8 Mk II, AMT8 and old Unitor8 in any order. Regarding stacking, these three models are identical. It is however important that the first unit's RS-232 connector remains free. Thus, you must connect the first with the second unit via RS-422.

Please turn to section »OMS driver«.


Setup – serial port

This setup option is only possible with MacOS computers which have at least one built-in serial port (Modem Port or Printer Port). This includes white/blue (»Yosemite») Power Macintosh G3 with installed »Stealth« card from GeeThree or »gPort« from Griffin Technology. Not suitable however are USB to Serial adapters (e.g. iPort from Griffin Technology, or KeySpan's USB Serial Adapter), as they don't provide the external clock option. In this case, you should connect your Unitor8 via USB (see section »Setup – USB«).

•	Use the RS-422 cable to connect the Unitor8 to a serial port of your MacOS computer.

•	If you have a Mac IIfx, Quadra 900 or Quadra 950, you must install the »Serial Switch« control panel (if not yet done) and choose »Compatible« rather than »Faster«.

•	Install the software Unitor8 Control on your MacOS computer.

•	If you want to work with another device which uses the same serial port of the computer as Unitor8 (such as a printer or modem), you need a serial switch box where you can connect the Unitor8 and the other device. Of course you can use only one of them at a time.

Before running any MIDI software, always switch the switch box to the Unitor8 setting. Otherwise, the Unitor8 will not be recognized.

Setup is now complete. You may now switch on your Unitor8, your MIDI devices, your tape machine and/or your VCR and start Unitor8 Control or your sequencer software.

If you have several Unitor8 units, please go on with section »Stacking via serial port«. Otherwise, please continue with section »OMS driver«.


Stacking via serial port

If you plan to set up additional Unitor8 units to a Unitor8 connected to a MacOS computer' serial port, simply connect the first Unitor8 with the second using the RS-232 cable. A third Unitor8 would be connected to the second using the RS-422 cable, the third to the fourth with the RS-232 cable and so forth (see illustration). Up to eight Unitor8 units can be connected per serial port of the MacOS computer.

You can stack Unitor8 Mk II, AMT8 and old Unitor8 in any order. Regarding stacking, these three models are identical.

Please turn to section »OMS driver«.


OMS driver

If you intend to run Unitor8 with OMS (Open Music System, formerly known as »Opcode MIDI System«) it is necessary to install the OMS software. For OMS, there is a dedicated driver for the Unitor8. Although the MTP driver which comes with OMS will recognize the Unitor8, it will however recognize only the first unit of several stacked ones, and it will work only in the slow 1 MHz mode.

The Unitor8 OMS driver must be copied into the folder »OMS Folder« in the System folder. Then you can start OMS Setup and scan for interfaces.

If you want to use Unitor8 units connected to USB with OMS, version 1.1 or higher of the Unitor8 OMS driver is required.

If OMS has already recognized the MTP, but you want to use the Unitor8 OMS driver instead, simply start OMS Setup, choose menu item »Studio > MIDI Cards & Interfaces...« and then »Update Setup«.

If you are a Logic user and therefore do not need OMS you should de-install it in order or deactivate it in Logic to ameliorate timing of MIDI communication.


Setup – Windows

At print time of this user manual, the Unitor8 can only be connected to a COM port on Windows computers. Please read the Readme file on the CD-ROM and check if this has changed in the meantime.

When the driver required for USB is available, you will be able to download it from our web site at www.emagic.de/english/support/download.

Tips for choosing the right port (Windows)

No COM port left?

Setup – USB (Windows)

Stacking via USB (Windows)

Setup – COM port

Driver setup – Windows 95/98

Driver setup – Windows 2000

Stacking via COM port (Windows)

Windows driver settings

Driver Update


Tips for choosing the right port (Windows)

COM port or USB?

How many COM ports can I use?

Several Unitor8 chains at USB (Windows)


COM port or USB?

If you have an MT4, there is only one choice: USB.

If your PC has a USB port, and one of your Unitor8 units as well (i.e. it's a Unitor8 Mk II or an AMT8), you should use USB. The speed advantage is that big that you might even consider to not use AMT.

If you have more than one Unitor8, you can use both USB and the COM port. If you have more than eight, you even have to.

With a PC which has a COM port as well as a USB port, you can connect up to 16 Unitor8 units and thus have up to 128 MIDI ins and outs which equals up to 2,048 MIDI channels.


How many COM ports can I use?

The Unitor8 driver currently supports only one COM port. However you can stack up to 8 Unitor8 units at the COM port (see section »Stacking via COM port (Windows)«).


Several Unitor8 chains at USB (Windows)

Can I connect several Unitor8 chains to USB?

The USB standard (as well as the Unitor8 USB driver) would allow this, however the port assignment would be ambiguous if the Unitor8 units connected to USB wouldn't be powered on in exactly the same order every time. However in many studios, all MIDI devices are connected to a single power line with a single power switch, so this condition cannot be met.

The Unitor8 driver can currently separate only one Unitor8 MkII/AMT8 chain from one MT4 connected to USB. Additional Unitor8 MkII, AMT8 or MT4 connected to USB are recognized, but the MIDI port enumeration is undefined.


No COM port left?

Possibly all your COM ports are already occupied by other peripheral devices. Here are some tips how you can achieve another spare COM port:

•	If your mouse is connected to a COM port, and your computer has a PS/2 connector, you can also connect the mouse via PS/2. Check the label at the bottom of your mouse. If it reads »Serial and PS/2 Compatible«, you should try this. Your mouse should have come with an adapter (usually PS/2 to DB9).

So-called OEM mice (i.e. mice which came with the computer) usually don't have this feature.

Possibly your PS/2 connector is not yet activated. Either you have to set a bridge connector on the main board, or you must enable the PS/2 interrupt in the BIOS (see the main board's user manual for details). Before rebooting, you should have connected the mouse to PS/2 so it can be recognized by Windows' Plug & Play.

If your computer has two PS/2 ports, make sure that the mouse is plugged into the PS/2 mouse connector, not the PS/2 keyboard connector.

•	A serial mouse can also be connected to the Logic dongle's »Thru« port.

If this does not work (especially if you have an IntelliMouse), please contact your Emagic distributor's hotline.

•	Since Logic version 3.6, you can connect the Unitor8 to the Logic dongle's Thru connector. See section »Setup – COM port«.

•	If you have an external modem, you might also be able to use it connected to the Logic dongle. Then you have to adjust the COM port setting in the »Modem« control panel.

You should not use ISA cards with additional COM ports (COM3 and COM4). These usually share the interrupts of COM1 and COM2. Therefore, COM1 and COM3 as well as COM2 and COM4 can be used only alternatively, not simultaneously.

This might however be sufficient to share a COM port between a modem and the Unitor8, as it does not make much sense to use the simultaneously.

•	The last workaround is to connect both the modem (or any other device which requires a COM port and is not needed while using MIDI software) and Unitor8 to the same COM port using an RS-232 switch box.


Setup – USB (Windows)

This setup option is only available for PCs with a USB port and Windows 98.

A USB driver for Windows 2000 is in development.

If this does not apply, please connect your Unitor8 via a COM port (see section »Setup – COM port«).

•	Connect the Unitor8 with the USB cable with the USB connector of your PC.

•	Power on the Unitor8 (not required for MT4). Windows should not recognize the Unitor8 and ask for a driver.

For the installation of this driver, see the separate readme file on the provided Hardware CD.

It is possible to connect one Unitor8 MkII/AMT8 chain with up to eight units and one MT4 in parallel to USB.

It is not possible to connect several Unitor8 MkII/AMT8 chains or several MT4 units in parallel to USB.


Stacking via USB (Windows)

If you plan to set up additional Unitor8 units to a Unitor8 connected via USB, simply connect the first Unitor8 with the second using the RS-422 cable (»Mac«), and not the RS-232 cable.

You cannot use the RS-232 cable for connecting the first unit with the second, as the RS-232 port cannot be used simultaneously with the USB port.

A third Unitor8 would be connected to the second using the RS-232 cable, the third to the fourth with the RS-422 cable and so forth (see illustration). Up to eight Unitor8 units can be connected this way to the USB port.

You can stack Unitor8 Mk II, AMT8 and old Unitor8 in any order. Regarding stacking, these three models are identical. It is however important that the first unit's RS-232 connector remains free. Thus, you must connect the first with the second unit via RS-422.


Setup – COM port

•	Use the provided RS-232 cable to connect your Unitor8 with a COM port of your PC. You may need a 9-to-25 pin adapter for this purpose.

If you run Logic Audio 3.6 or newer, you may connect the Unitor8 to the »Thru« jack of the Logic dongle.

•	Power on the Unitor8.

•	Install the MME driver delivered with this package and the software Unitor8 Control on your PC:


Driver setup – Windows 95/98

•	choose menu »Start > Settings > Control Panel«, then double-click the »Add/Remove Hardware« control panel.

•	click »Next«

•	Only on Windows 98: click »Next«

•	click »No« (Unitor8 cannot be automatically detected by Windows), then »Next«

•	select »Sound, video and game controllers«, then »Next«

•	Click »Have disk…«

•	Insert the provided CD-ROM, make sure that the path is the one to your CD-ROM drive, then click »OK«

If an error is displayed, continue with »Browse...« and re-select the folder containing the file »UNITOR08.INF«.

•	The driver »emagic Unitor8 - MIDI, SMPTE, VITC, LTC« should now be displayed.

•	Click »OK«

You're done – the driver will be installed.

If you work with Windows 95, a message box may pop up indicating that the maximum of 11 outputs has been exceeded and that less outputs have been activated accordingly. This is due to a bug in Windows 95. A system crash may occur while starting Windows or during opening of the control panel »Multimedia« or while starting MIDI applications if more than 11 MIDI Out ports are activated. This bug has been fixed in Windows 98 and does not occur with Windows NT and Windows 2000. The number of activated MIDI Outs of the Unitor8 can be changed later on (see below).


Driver setup – Windows 2000

The following instructions refer to Windows 2000 Beta 3. Possibly some details differ in the release version of Windows 2000.

•	Choose menu »Start > Settings > Control Panel«, then double-click the »Add/Remove Hardware« control panel.

•	Click »Next«

•	Make sure that »Add/Troubleshoot a device« is selected, then click »Next«. Windows 2000 is searching for Plug and Play devices. As the Unitor8 is not Plug and Play, you get into the »Choose a Hardware Device« page.

•	Select »Add a new device«, then click »Next«

•	Select »No, I want to select the hardware from a list«, then click »Next«

•	Select »Sound, video and game controllers«, then »Next«

•	Click »Have disk…«

•	Insert the provided CD-ROM, click »Browse...« and select the path on your CD-ROM drive which contains the file »OEMSETUP.INF«, then click »OK«

•	In the dialog »Digital Signature Not Found«, click »Yes«

•	The driver »emagic Unitor8 - MIDI, SMPTE, VITC, LTC« should now be displayed.

•	Make sure that this driver name is selected, and click »Next«

•	In the »Start Hardware Installation« dialog, click »Next«.

•	In the dialog »Digital Signature Not Found«, again click »Yes«

•	The »Settings« dialog appears. If you have more than one Unitor8 unit, change the number of input and output ports accordingly (8 per Unitor8 unit). Then click »OK«

•	Click »Finish«

•	In the »Systems Settings Change« dialog, click »Yes« to restart the computer.

You're done – the driver is installed.

Please go on with section »Unitor8 Control setup«.


Stacking via COM port (Windows)

Due to a bug in Windows 95, stacking is not reasonably possible with this Windows version, as installing more than 11 MIDI ports will lead to a crash. You should upgrade to Windows 98, which has fixed this bug.

If you want to set up additional Unitor8 units you can connect the first Unitor8 with the second using the RS-422 cable. Then connect the second Unitor8 with the third one using the RS-232 cable. Again, via the RS-422 cable, connect the third Unitor8 with the fourth one and so on. Using this method up to eight Unitor8 units can be installed.

Now you must tell the driver that more than 8 ports exists. See section »Inputs – Number« and section »Outputs – Number«.

The setup is completed. Switch on your Unitor8(s), your MIDI devices, your tape machine and/or your VCR as well as your PC and start Unitor8 Control or your sequencer software.


Windows driver settings

By default, the driver configures itself correctly when it is installed. In the event that you want to adjust the configuration, here is how:

•	Windows 95/98:

	•	Choose menu »Start > Settings > Control Panel«
	•	Double-click the »System« control panel.
	•	Select page »Device Manager«
	•	Double-click »Sound, video and game controllers«
	•	Double-click »emagic Unitor8 - MIDI, SMPTE, VITC, LTC«
	•	Select the »Settings« tab.
•	Windows 2000:

	•	Open control panel »Sounds and Multimedia«, click the »Hardware« tab
	•	Double-click »emagic Unitor8«
	•	Click the »Properties« tab
	•	Double-click »MIDI Devices and Instruments«
	•	Double-click »emagic Unitor8«
	•	Click the »Settings...« button.
Inputs – Number

Inputs – Port

Inputs – Title

Allow port messages (F5 xx) on Port 1

Outputs – Number

Outputs – Title

Enable Port 0 (send to all)

Serial port


Inputs – Number

Defines the number of inputs available of Unitor8 in the PC.

Due to an error in Windows 95 (see the tip above) it may be necessary to reduce the number of inputs to less than eight.


Inputs – Port

This parameter is currently unavailable for the Windows NT/2000 driver

Here you select a port in order to rename it in the field to the right.


Inputs – Title

This parameter is currently unavailable for the Windows NT/2000 driver

Here you can change the name of the port selected in »Inputs – Port«.

SoundDiver 2.0.6 and older did not yet know this option of the Unitor8 driver and instead assumed that all Unitor8 ports contain the word »Unitor« in their names. Deleting the word »Unitor« here may lead to malfunction in SoundDiver. You should update to version 2.0.7 oder newer. This version (as well as Logic Audio 4.0 or newer) recognizes the Unitor8 ports in a more elegant way.


Allow port messages (F5 xx) on Port 1

If checked all incoming MIDI messages will not only be routed to the respective input port but additionally to input port 1. Additionally, »cable messages« are inserted. The data format of a cable message is compatible with MotU MIDI Time Piece. Incoming data of all Unitor8 ports are processed in this manner, even if they are not activated. However, this may result in the loss of identification criteria of the input ports unless the software is able to decode the cable messages.

This setting should be used only with MIDI software which supports this format (currently, no Emagic software does so). Otherwise, all MIDI data will be incoming twice: once on port 1 and once on the port where the data has actually been received.

Alternatively, you can configure the software to open only input port 1 of the Unitor8.


Outputs – Number

Defines the number of available outputs of Unitor8.

A bug in Windows 95 may make it necessary to reduce the number of outputs to less than eight.


Outputs – Port

This parameter is currently unavailable for the Windows NT/2000 driver

Here you select a port in order to rename it in the field to the right.


Outputs – Title

This parameter is currently unavailable for the Windows NT/2000 driver

Here you can change the name of the port selected in »Outputs – Port«.

SoundDiver 2.0.6 and older did not yet know this option of the Unitor8 driver and instead assumed that all Unitor8 ports contain the word »Unitor« in their names. Deleting the word »Unitor« here may lead to malfunction in SoundDiver. You should update to version 2.0.7 oder newer. This version (as well as Logic Audio 4.0 or newer) recognizes the Unitor8 ports in a more elegant way.


Enable Port 0 (send to all)

An additional port is created if this option is checked. If applications send on this port, this data is transferred to all outputs of all connected Unitor8 units. This equals »Cable 0« with MIDI Time Piece.

The Unitor8 sends realtime messages on all ports by principle (except an according filter is enabled). Therefore, it is not required to enable this option just for this purpose.


Serial port

This parameter is currently unavailable for the Windows NT/2000 driver

Marks the serial port where the driver will search for the Unitor8 first. A change of parameter is required only if the devices connected to the other COM ports are mixed up due to the search operation.


Driver Update

If you receive a driver update from Emagic, open the tab »driver« (see »Configuration of the driver«) and click »Change driver«. Select the driver by clicking »Have Disk…« and then proceed as previously described in the beginning of this section.


Connecting Unitor8 to two computers

You can connect the Unitor8 to two computers.

This however does not mean that both computers can access all MIDI ports independently.

It depends on the type of computer connections at both ends of the daisy-chain if you need an even or odd number of Unitor8 units:

Computer 1	Computer 2	possible Unitor8 units
PC (RS-232)	PC (RS-232)	2, 4, 6, 8
PC (RS-232)	Mac (RS-422)	1, 3, 5, 7
Mac (RS-422)	PC (RS-232)	1, 3, 5, 7
Mac (RS-422)	Mac (RS-422)	2, 4, 6, 8
The USB port cannot be used here.

Only one of the computers will be recognized as the control computer in Computer Mode – the one which sends MIDI data to the Unitor8 first. The other computer can receive MIDI messages from and send messages to the control computer, as if it was connected to one of the MIDI ports.

Note that this not only works for one, but also for 3, 5 or 7 units:

Unitor8 units   	»slave« computer receives MIDI messages on ports

1               	0 (All), 9..64

2               	0 (All), 17..64

3               	0 (All), 25..64

4               	0 (All), 33..64

5               	0 (All), 41..64

6               	0 (All), 49..64

7               	0 (All), 57..64

8               	0 (All)

If you want to swap the computer controlling the Unitor8 units in Computer Mode, press the Panic/Patch button, then send a MIDI event from the new »control« computer.

The order of the MIDI ports is then reversed as the following example with 7 Unitor8 units depicts:

Please note that the software running on the »slave« computer should have MIDI Thru switched off. Otherwise MIDI loops can occur, stopping the whole system.


Scan

The software versions found by the scan function are shown in the Special parameter box. The MIDI port used to access the Unitor8 units is always the port of MIDI Out port 1 of the first unit.

Additional edits can be made in the Device Parameter box.


MIDI

The Unitor8 Module sends MIDI message in the MTP compatible form (as far as possible). Only if an option is not accessible with those messages, Unitor8 specific messages are used.


SysEx Communication Error

•	Is the cabling done according to the installation instructions?

•	Is the MIDI output allocation correct? (Set the correct port or use the scan function)

• The Unitor8 is not switched on or not able to process computer messages: switch off all units, then on again.

see also: Installation


Device Parameter box

Located on the left side of the Device window is the parameter column, which can be hidden or shown in the Options menu. This column displays the maximum of eight connected Unitor8 units as well as their respective firmware versions. Several Unitor8 units are processed as a single one by Unitor8 Control. For example, if you connect eight Unitor8 units to the modem port Unitor8 Control will treat them as a single device labelled "Unitor8 Modem".

The panic button is designed to send an "All Notes Off" command in case of stuck MIDI notes and is followed by discrete Note Off commands affecting all notes. Notice that the function of the panic button equals pressing the Panic/Patch button on the front panel of the Unitor8 unit itself.

You have access to the on-line help of Unitor8 Control by operating the Help button. In addition to that you can call up the on-line help with the command "Windows > Open Help".

In case you work with several Unitor8 units and forgot to switch on one of them prior to launching Unitor8 Control you can repeat scanning by clicking the "Unit" field (within the "Special Parameters" box).


Processing of Real-Time messages

The Unitor8 processes Real-Time messages in a special way, independent whether a Patch or Computer Mode is active.

 	"Real-Time message" mean in this context:

	F8	MIDI Clock (increases the clock by 1/24 note)
	FA	Start (starts playback at the beginning)
	FB	Continue (starts playback at the current clock position)
	FC	Stop (stops playback)
	F2 xx xx	Song Position Pointer (sets a new clock position)
There is always only one MIDI In port which routes Real-Time messages. Real-Time messages received by the other MIDI In ports at the same time are ignored.

The purpose of this special treatment is to prevent merging of Real-Time messages of several inputs which would cause to a lot of confusion.

An important term in this context is the "clock master", a specially designated MIDI In port of the Unitor8.

•	Real-Time messages received by the clock master are always routed to the computer as well as all MIDI Out ports (except they are filtered out by the settings in the computer or Patch Mode Setup).

•	After powering-up the Unitor8, MIDI Clock is not routed to anywhere (as there is no clock master found yet).

•	The MIDI In port which receives a Start message (FA, see above) first becomes clock master. For the time being, only Real-Time message received by this port are routed.

•	When the clock master receives a Stop message (FC, see above), every other MIDI In port may become clock master by receiving a Start message.

•	Until a new clock master has been found, the "old" clock master keeps routing Real-Time messages. This is important for some sequencer programs which need to receive MIDI clock while in external sync mode.

•	The above mentioned change of clock master is no more possible (i.e. it is "locked" again) when the "old" clock master receives a Start or Continue message in the meantime.


Device window

Now the Device window is displayed (this window can alternatively be opened by using the command "Open Device" in the Windows menu).

The Device window is the "main level" of Unitor8 Control and manages the 32 MIDI port configurations (Patches) which are stored in Unitor8 and can be recalled later on via Program Change commands. Besides, the Device window controls the Computer Mode Setup, Patch Mode Setup and Click Input Setup – but these will be explained later on.

•	A Patch is immediately activated when clicked. After clicking all connected Unitor8 units will switch to Patch Mode if Computer Mode was activated before.

•	All Unitor8 units switch to Computer Mode if Computer Mode Setup is clicked.

•	All Unitor8 units switch to Patch Mode if the Patch Mode Setup is clicked and the Patch which was the last one activated will be activated anew.

•	The mode will not change if Click Input Setup or Global Setup is clicked.

Parameter column


Patches

32 locations for Patches.


Patch

Patch Editor

Now for programming of Patches itself, i.e. defining which MIDI In port(s) will be connected to which MIDI Out port(s).

Patches are only valid for operation in Patch Mode. The computer need not be connected for using Patches – for instance while playing live on stage. If the computer is switched on this task is performed by your sequencer software or OMS.

You can see a matrix now where the available MIDI In ports are displayed as lines. All available MIDI Out ports are displayed as columns. If only one Unitor8 is connected the matrix contains eight lines and eight columns, which is an 8x8 matrix (MT4: two rows and four columns, which is a 2x4 matrix).

If several Unitor8 units are stacked, the equally numbered input ports of these Unitor8 units are merged in Patch Mode. Therefore, only eight independent inputs are accessible. Accordingly, the matrix always contains eight lines. An 8x16 matrix is displayed if two Unitor8 units are connected, three connected Unitor8 units yield a 8x24 matrix and so on.

Connection


Connection

In order to connect a MIDI In port to a MIDI Out port you just click the field in the matrix which belongs to the MIDI In and Out ports you selected. Click the field "third line/seventh column" in order to connect MIDI In port3 to MIDI Out port7. A marked position in this field now indicates the present connection.

In order to disconnect MIDI ports click the respective field again: The ports are now disconnected and the marked position deleted. All marked or deleted connections are immediately effective. Real-Time messages are processed in a special way, independent from the current routings. For details, see

Copy port settings


Copy port settings

To copy a connection setup from one output port onto another output port, hold down S, then use the mouse to drag the respective column onto the target column (while still holding S).

You can also drag columns with "Shift click-drag and drop" while in the input filter/output filter editor (in Patch Mode Setup/Computer Mode Setup) as well as in the Patch Mode Setup/Computer Mode Setup used to copy complete setups between several Unitor8 units.

Check connections


Check connections

If the number of connections is too high for you to monitor and if you furthermore want to know which MIDI Out ports are connected to a certain MIDI In port just click the icon of the In port: The connections of the selected In port as well as all connected Out ports are now colored in red.

To monitor the connections of the input ports you proceed similarly: Click the icon of the Out port.

Name Patch


Name Patch

Name

In order to facilitate identification of the edited Patch you can now name it – for example, you may choose the title of a song where the respective Patch is to be used.

To name the Patch you click the field "Name" in the editor and enter the name or select the function "Rename" in the Device window.

The name is not store in the Unitor8, but in SoundDiver. Therefore, it is lost when you delete a Patch in SoundDiver and re-request it from the Unitor8. Its is however not lost when you request an already known Patch.


Computer Mode Setup

Computer Mode Setup Editor

The Computer Mode Setup options are nearly identical with those of the Patch Mode Setup. In contrast to the latter, however, it is possible to stripe time code (LTC or VITC) in the Computer Mode Setup. Striping is required if you plan to sync to a tape which does not yet contain a time code.

You cannot set MIDI In port and MIDI channel to receive Program Change commands as they are only employed to switch between Patches in Patch Mode.


Patch Mode Setup

Patch Mode Setup Editor

The synchronization behavior of Unitor8 in Patch Mode is defined in the Patch Mode Setup. You can also establish how Unitor8 will react to special types of MIDI commands, as well as the MIDI port and channel which receives the Program Change commands that will change the Unitor8's patches.

If you connected several Unitor8 units a column for each of them is shown – and you will be able to set up each Unitor8 unit individually. Below the setup of a single Unitor8 unit is explained , as the operation of additional Unitor8 units is of course identical.


SMPTE Mode

VITC/LTC

In the flip menu "SMPTE Mode" you select the type of time code the Unitor8 shall receive or generate. Options are LTC-SMPTE, LTC-EBU and VITC. If you choose "OFF" in the menu, the sync functions of Unitor8 are deactivated. Consequently, all respective parameters disappear.


LTC

Longitudinal Time Code

LTC (Longitudinal Time Code) is recorded as an audible signal on an audio track and is the most common method to synchronize. The basic difference between LTC-SMPTE (SMPTE= Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) and LTC-EBU (EBU= European Broadcasting Union) is that European Video Standards feature 25 frames per second – thus, if LTC-EBU is selected, 25 frames per second are automatically selected in the format menu.


VITC

Vertical Interval Time Code

VITC (Vertical Interval Time Code) is written on the first lines of a video signal (not discernible on a common video screen) and can therefore be used solely with a VCR. It is advantageous to work with VITC as it can be decoded in still-picture (in contrast to LTC).


Refresh

Activate the refresh option and Unitor8 issues a newly generated time code output (LTC or VITC) which corresponds exactly to the incoming time code. This option comes in handy whenever you copy a videotape, as the quality of your time code would otherwise decrease. Copying may lead to problems with other devices (for example, the time code may not be decoded properly).

The quality of the incoming time code can be monitored in the depiction of the time code on the screen. Seconds and frames are divided by a colon if the time code is considered "good". In contrast, seconds and frames are divided by a period if the time code is of "bad" quality.


Frame Rate

Format

Select the frame rate of the time code in the flip menu. We recommend to change the frame rate only if you possess an exact knowledge in this line of work.

New since Firmware version 1.2.5:

•	29.97 fps no drop

•	30.00 fps drop

Further notes:

The frame rate depicts the number of full frames per second (fps). Unfortunately, it varies depending on country, standard and line of business.

Following formats exist:

•	24 fps

•	25 fps

•	30 fps

•	29.97 fps drop frame.

Occasionally, this format is used:

•	29.97 fps non-drop.

Theoretically possible, but more than exotic and not recommendable is the format

•	30.00 fps drop frame.

24 fps

In the film business, 24 fps are usual.

25 fps

In Europe, a frame rate of 25 fps is used, according to the TV standard. The PAL TV system fortunately has the same integer frame rate and thus does not create additional problems. Strictly speaking, it is not correct to name this format as "SMPTE code", rather correct is the term "EBU Time Code". EBU is the abbreviation of "European Broadcasting Union". As the handling is the same (except the frame rate), often the term "SMPTE" is used for all frame rates.

In the USA and some other countries, the various "around 30" fps rates are used:

30.00 fps non-drop

American black/white TV uses exactly 30 Hz. Accordingly, 30 fps is used. The frames are counted from 0 to 29, then the next second begins.

29.97 fps non-drop

Since the introduction of color TV, the frame rate is 29.97 Hz. The according format is 29.97 fps. Also with this format, the frames are counted from 0 to 29. This however leads to the effect that one SMPTE minute is no more exactly one real minute, but is a bit too long. With other words: after exactly one real minute, the SMPTE position shows a bit less than one minute. However, this does not disturb, so this format is widely used.

29.97 fps drop

To correct the deviation form the correct minute/hour, the so-called "29.97 drop-frame" code has been introduced. Formally, this is a 30 fps code with the frequency 29.97 Hz, as described above. However, the frame numbering has been changed additionally: at every full minute, two frames are skipped when counting them, for example after the frame "0 minutes, 59 seconds and 29 frames", the successor frame is called "1 minute, 0 seconds and 2 frames". So, 2 frames have been "dropped". Thus, the time code format is called "29.97 fps drop frame", in contrast to the non-drop formats.

Please note that also with the drop format, the "real" video frames are played back without skipping any frames, so the played film looks normal and has no cracks. Only the naming or counting changes. In practice, it is easier than it sounds. Don't be surprised if certain positions can't be set (e.g. instead of 00:03:00:00, 00:03:00:02 will appear). With this format, a real hour takes as long as a SMPTE hour.

Synchronization

It is very important to set the correct and uniform frame rate, otherwise device go out of sync or don't start at all. Always exactly separate between Drop Frame and Non-Drop Frame. When digital audio is involved the separation of 29.97 and 30 is very important, as sample frequency and frame rate often have to be in a defined relation.


Video Thru

This switch is new since Firmware version 1.2.5.

•	Disabled: the Video Out shows a test picture with the Burn-In Window, showing the incoming LTC.

•	Enabled: the incoming Video signal is merged with the Burn-In Window. This mode is useful if you use a video tape with LTC on the audio track.


Read Line

VITC Read line

If you want to sync to VITC, select here the lines in which the VITC is generated. If you are not too sure about these lines select the entry "Scan". Unitor8 then will scan the video signal and adjusts the right line automatically.

Only one line is needed to read or stripe VITC. The second line is used as a "backup line" and displays the same contents as the first one. Usually, the second line will be ignored while reading. The second line is of use only when the synchronizer – in this case Unitor8 – is unable to decode the first line. Note that it is necessary to leave a space of one line between the first and the second line. Therefore Unitor8 Control will not accept a "wrong" entry.


Freewheeling

VITC Freewheel

LTC Freewheel

Now set the freewheeling time. By doing this you fix the time it takes the Unitor8 to sync to internal reference (free-running) if the time code is cancelled or cannot be decoded. If decoding is possible Unitor8 is logged in again. Unfortunately, the advantage of setting the freewheeling time is always met with a disadvantage: Short values (or cancelled freewheeling) cause Unitor8 to stop synchronization after a short time (or immediately) if the incoming time code is difficult to decode. Using longer freewheeling times can prevent this. In this case, though, Unitor8 will continue to sync for the established amount of time (i.e. the freewheeling time which has been previously set), namely if the time code is "willingly" cancelled – that is if the master tape is stopped. Therefore take care to set the freewheeling time as short as possible and as long as needed – this is further influenced by the quality of the time code.


Timecode display

Video Mode

Video Border

Burn-in Window

Burn-in Window Horizontal Position

X

Burn-in Window Vertical Position

Y

Burn-in Window Settings

Burn-in Window Size

Burn-in Window Color

Video mode, Border, Video TC Display, X, Y, Size and Color are used to burn in the time code into the video picture. First of all select the video format of your VCR (PAL, NTSC or Auto). In Europe it is customary to work with PAL devices whereas in the U.S. mostly NTSC is employed. If in doubt set the video mode parameter on "Auto" in order to enable Unitor8 to recognize the right format automatically. The other parameters are used to vary position, size and color of the time code burn-in.


Send Full Frame Message

With this parameter you determine how often the entire time code information is transmitted additionally with a special SysEx message. Usually, MTC is transmitted with so-called Quarter Frame Messages which contain just a part of the time code information. Therefore, in most cases you keep this setting "Off".

Additional transmission of the Full Frame Message is needed for some software packages (such as ProTools) in order to function properly. If you happen to work with such a software please use the manual of the respective software package to look up how often (number of frames) the Full Frame Message has to be transmitted.


Enable MTC Output

Here you specify to which MIDI Out ports the incoming time code (LTC or VITC) shall be routed. In the Computer Mode Setup, this also applies to SMPTE striping.

Only choose the really relevant ports in order to prevent overload of MIDI cables.


Datenfilter

Mute Input

Mute Output

The "Input Filter" and "Output Filter" parameter groups are easy to explain: Special types of MIDI commands (MTC, SysEx, Active Sensing, Tune Request, Real-time, System Reset, Song Select) can be filtered separately for each MIDI In and Out port.


Patch Select

Program Change

Select MIDI In port and channel on which incoming Program Change messages lead the Unitor8 to recall Patches. It is useful to select the port your master keyboard is connected to or the channel which your master keyboard program uses to send change commands. If you don't want to use this feature, deactivate it with the "On" switch.


Stripe

Start/Stop Striping

See Stripe LTC or Stripe VITC


Striping - LTC

Stripe LTC

In order to stripe connect the LTC Output of your Unitor8 to the input of an audio track on your tape machine. Select appropriate frame rate in the flip menu "Format" – usually 25 frames per second.

LTC Output


LTC Output

Now specify the output level of LTC. The factory preset for this option is -6dBu (equals -10VU at a nominal level of +4 dBu). Try several levels if you cannot work properly with -6dBu.

You have to compromise when specifying the LTC level: The level should be high enough in order to be decoded properly but cross-talk should be kept at a minimum. Therefore take care to specify the LTC level as high as required and as low as possible.

Stripe Start Clock


Stripe Start Clock

Allows you to individually select the time code starting time. Make sure to avoid a wrap-around (transition from 23:59:59:24 to 00:00:00:00) on the time code track as problems may arise. Discontinuity in the time code may occur if you partially overwrite a tape that already contains a time code.

Start Striping (LTC)


Start Striping (LTC)

Start your tape machine and press the Stripe button. Please take care that the lead-in as well as lead-out of your tape contain enough time code. This is important as the synchronizer (Unitor8) cannot log in fast enough if, for example, the striped time code is too short. We recommend to stripe the time code on the whole tape. Generate one minute "headroom" before the program.

It would be best to use an edge track when striping LTC on an analog multi-track as this facilitates monitoring. Due to a jitter of the tape the edge track may be of minor audio quality which is nonetheless still satisfactory for LTC. It is furthermore advantageous to use an edge track because it cross-talk will exist to only one adjacent track. Naturally, you may neglect the tip given above if you are working with digital multi track devices or HD recorders because of their elevated audio quality.


Striping – VITC

Stripe VITC

In order to stripe VITC connect the S-Video output of the Unitor8 to the S-Video input of your VCR (If your VCR does not have an S-Video input please get the necessary adapter at your retailer. For pin assignment see appendix).

Set VITC write lines


Set VITC write lines

VITC Write line

Select the video lines in which VITC shall be striped. Usually recommended are the factory preset lines 12 and 14. For time code offset, time code jumps and the like follow the procedure explained in section "Striping – LTC".

Striping VITC = Copy Video


Striping VITC = Copy Video

Before striping VITC on a video tape please bear in mind that VITC is part of the actual video signal and therefore can only be striped in conjunction with the picture itself. If you intend to overwrite a video tape with VITC which has already been striped you will have to copy this tape with an additionally striped VITC. To stripe a tape a second time, then, you have to connect the S-Video Output of the playback VCR to the S-Video Input of Unitor8 and the S-Video Output of Unitor8 to the S-Video Input of the first, i.e. the recording VCR.

Start striping (VITC)


Stripe Thru

Start striping (VITC)

Start the VITC generator of Unitor8 ("Stripe Thru") and switch on the playback as well as recording VCR. Unitor8 now merges the video signal of the playback VCR with the generated VITC lines and routes the result to the recording VCR.

Stripe Thru + Burn In

Stripe Test


Stripe Test

The video Output of Unitor8 will display a test picture with time code burn-in and VITC if you stripe with the "Stripe Test" option. The signal at the S-Video In jack is not used in this case.

Stripe Thru

Stripe Thru + Burn In


Stripe Thru + Burn In

Sometimes it is desirable to write not only the VITC code, but also a burn-in window when copying a video tape. In this case, click the "Stripe Thru + Burn In" instead of the "Stripe Thru" button.

Please note that in this mode, no feedback in the Start Time display is given for performance reasons. The Unitor8 is already busy enough with writing the VITC code and the burn-in window.

(This feature is new since Unitor8 Control 1.0.6 and Unitor8 Module Release 2.)


Click Input Setup

Click Input Setup Editor

Use this editor to define how Unitor8 will react to a signal fed to the Click Input jack. This may be a common audio signal or a signal generated with the foot switch. Unitor8 differentiates between a signal at the tip and a signal at the ring of a (stereo or 3-pin) quarter inch jack (If your foot switch is only equipped with a mono quarter inch jack the ring input cannot be put to use). You may assign a different function to each signal. Both signals can be used simultaneously.

Each of the signals is made up of four phases. With a foot switch as an example, these are:

•	Pressing the switch (Phase 1)

•	Releasing the switch (Phase 2)

•	Pressing the switch again (Phase 3)

•	Releasing the switch again (Phase 4)

Then phase 1 starts again and so on. During each phase, a separate MIDI command can be transmitted.

You may ask yourself why two phases (Press and Release) are not sufficient. Be assured that the four phases are very efficient. For example, you can send a start command to your sequencer if you press the foot switch once. If you press the foot switch a second time a stop command is issued. In order to do this select for phase 1 MIDI byte "Start" and for phase 3 MIDI byte "Stop" (# of MIDI bytes = 1). Phase 2 and 4 do not contain any functions (# of MIDI bytes = O).

There are two types of foot switches which are distinguished by the following characteristics: The first causes a short-circuit between tip and ground when switched ("Closer"), the second operates reversely and disconnects the short-circuit ("Opener"). Unitor8 is capable to recognize which type of foot switch is presently active. A foot switch should be plugged in the Click Input jack before Unitor8 is switched on. In addition to that, never press the foot switch while switching on your Unitor8.


Mode

Phase Mode

In the flip menu you can select either "MIDI" or "Panic".

MIDI

 	A certain MIDI message is sent. See Phase MIDI Byte for details.

Panic

 	An "All Notes Off" command followed by discrete Note Off commands on all channels and outputs in order to mute stuck notes safely. Other proceedings are not influenced meanwhile.

New since Unitor8 version 1.27:

P Down

 	If in Patch Mode, the Unitor8 switches to the previous Patch. If Patch 1 was selected, it switches to Patch 32.

P Up

 	If in Patch Mode, the Unitor8 switches to the next Patch. If Patch 32 was selected, it switches to Patch 1.

When switching the current Patch with "P Down" or "P Up", the number of the new Patch is shown for one second with the MIDI In and Out LEDs, using the octal system known from many Roland devices:

Patch	octal	LEDs (* = on, - = off)
----------------------------------------

1	11	*------- *-------
2	12	*------- **------
3	13	*------- ***-----
...

8	18	*------- ********
9	11	**------ *-------
10	12	**------ **------
11	13	**------ ***-----
...

16	18	**------ ********
...

25	13	****---- *-------
...

32	18	****---- ********
During this display, the MIDI connections of the new Patch are already active, so that you can play your keyboards immediately.

Number of MIDI Bytes


Number of MIDI Bytes

Phase MIDI Byte

If you select "MIDI" you can send any MIDI command. Prior to that set the length of MIDI command ("# of MIDI bytes") and then the respective MIDI bytes (max. 7).

While in Computer Mode, MIDI commands are sent solely to the computer whereas in Patch Mode they are treated as if they had been routed from Input 1. Note that the Input filter is not taken into account and that special treatment of real-time messages is effective (see section "Processing of Real-Time messages").

The options for the Click Input are virtually unlimited. Besides the "Panic" feature you can send start and stop commands to your sequencer for example.

Furthermore, you can generate MIDI commands which are routed to Logic's Tempo Interpreter (please see Logic manual). For instance, tap the foot switch or send a percussive audio signal (like a bass drum) in order to control playback tempo of Logic.

If you want to employ the Panic option take care that this option is also set for phase 3. Otherwise your second try will fail!


Input Mode

Unitor8 Version 1.2.0 or newer:

You can connect either a foot switch to the tip of the Click Input jack or send an audio signal to it. Choose the appropriate signal source with this parameter.

You can simply use a mono quarter inch jack.

Unitor8 with versions older than 1.2.0:

You can connect either a foot switch to the ring of the Click Input jack or send an audio signal to it. Choose the appropriate signal source with this parameter.

To connect to the ring, use an adapter which has a stereo quarter inch plug on one end and two mono quarter inch jacks at the other. You can get those adapters from your retailer. They are commonly used for effect inserts in mixing consoles.


Analog Hold Off

After you have chosen input type "Signal" for the tip (Unitor8 1.1.x: ring) input, you can adjust the "sluggishness" of the input with this slider. After a trigger pulse has been detected, Unitor8 will start to decode trigger pulses only after this amount of time has elapsed. Thus, incorrect entries can be prevented such as sudden tempo changes caused by a fast double kick of the bass drum.


Global Setup

Global Setup Editor

Here you can change global settings of the Unitor8.

In/Out LED Brightness

RS-232/422 LED Brightness


In/Out LED Brightness

Defines the brightness (or minimum flash duration) of the MIDI In and MIDI Out LEDs. If set to "Off", the LEDs won't go on at all.

If you are disturbed by the MIDI In LEDs flashing all the way (because there is a device connected which sends Active Sense), you should set this parameter to 1 or "Off".


RS-232/422 LED Brightness

Defines the brightness (or minimum flash duration) of the Connection LEDs (i.e. "RS 232", "RS 422" and "USB"). If set to "Off", the LEDs won't go on at all.


Several Unitor8 units on both Serial Ports

As mentioned above Unitor8 Control recognizes all Unitor8 units connected to a computer port as one single device. Thus, you are able to edit eight Unitor8 units simultaneously. All successive units have to be connected to another port as eight Unitor8 units are the maximum per port.

Unitor8 Control can edit multiple »virtual devices« (= computer ports), however this is not that obvious as in SoundDiver, as Unitor8 Control does not have a Setup window.

•	To switch the current virtual device (i.e. the computer port), choose »Next Device« or »Previous Device« from the Device window window's local Options menu. Check the computer port in the parameter column to find out if this is the desired port.

If not all ports can be selected where Unitor8 units are connected to, Unitor8 Control has not found them during the scan procedure. In this case, the scan procedure must be repeated. Quit Unitor8 Control, delete the file »Unitor8 Control Preferences« in the System folder's Preferences folder and restart Unitor8 Control. See section »First Program Launch«, especially concerning the communication preferences.

•	To exchange data between the Unitor8 units of one chain to the ones of another chain, use the menu items »Edit > Copy« before and »Edit > Paste« after the above mentioned switching.

•	You can also open one Device window for each port:

	•	disable the »Window Link« switch in the upper left corner
	•	open a second Device window with C3
	•	again disable the »Window Link« switch in the upper left corner
	•	choose the desired virtual device for the second window (see above)
	•	by simply activating the appropriate Device window, you can switch to the desired port
	•	you can also copy data between the windows with »drag and drop«.


Wordclock Synchronization

In order to achieve perfect sync with digital tape devices such as HD recorders next to common SMPTE synchronization, the sync of digital data flow (the sampling rate) is necessary. This is usually achieved with a Wordclock Interface which is able to translate a fluctuating SMPTE time code into an appropriately fluctuating Wordclock information. Thus, the playback tempo of the HD recorder is assimilated to the master's.

You won't need an additional Wordclock Interface even if Unitor8 does not feature special Wordclock connector jacks: In conjunction with Audiowerk8 a true continuous sync from 30 KHz to 52 KHz is possible. In order to sync additional audio devices (such as ProTools) just connect the digital output of Audiowerk8 to the digital input of your ProTools system and set the sync mode to "digital".

It is of course up to you to decide for an external Wordclock Interface. However, we recommend that you compare the prices of an external Interface and Audiowerk8. Please consider that an HD recorder with eight distinct outputs is included as an extra if you buy an Audiowerk8 (We hope you are not annoyed with some promotion at this point).


Pin assignment of the S-Video plug

Unitor8 uses only one pin of the S-Video jack: Pin 3 (Luminance). All other pins are not utilized and are fed through internally.

You can connect virtually any other plug type used for video signal to the S-Video jacks with an adapter. Pin 3 of the Mini DIN plug has to be connected with the RCA plug or (with SCART plugs) to a pin named "Video In" or "Video Out", depending on whether the adapter serves as Input or Output.


Firmware update

Update

With Unitor8 Control 1.0.5 (or SoundDiver 2.0.5) or higher, you can update the Unitor8's firmware by importing a Standard MIDI File. Simply choose it with menu item "File > Open...".

For updating to version 1.2.5, choose file "Uni8_125.mid".

Differences to simply playing back the Standard MIDI File by a Sequencer software:

• All Unitor8 units connected to a serial port are updated in one go. Playing back the Standard MIDI File only updates the first unit's firmware.

• By using handshaking communication, the update procedure is faster.

• Error messages sent by Unitor8 during the update procedure are shown on the screen.

Due to a bug in the EPROM, Unitor8 units with serial number up to and including #980501166 cannot be updated with a PC (only with a Mac OS computer). If you encounter this problem, please contact Emagic. Unitor8 units with #980501167 or higher don't have this problem.


Version

version

The following lists the different firmware versions of the Unitor8.

1.14 - Beta version

 	EEPROM cannot be updated! You must replace the EPROM with a version 1.20 first.

1.20 - First public release

 	EEPROM can be updated, but problems when updating via RS-232. You need Unitor8 Control 1.0.6 and a special plug. See text file "Unitor8 1.20 RS-232 update E".

1.21

Bugfixes:

*	EEPROM Update via RS-232 now works without the special plug.

1.22 ... 1.25

not publicly released

1.26

New Features:

*	all 6 frame formats can be striped

*	can mix Video In with Burn-in window (Video Thru)

1.27 ... 1.28

not publicly released

1.29

New Features:

*	New modes for Click Input: see Phase Mode..

Bugfixes:

*	Clock master was not enabled if a device sends only the Continue status byte instead of the Start byte.

*	Several Unitor8 connected to a PC: sending long SysEx messages could "swallow" some bytes.

You can upload the newest version to the Unitor8 without opening the housing. See Firmware update.


AMT

Active MIDI Transmission


COM

COMmunication Port


EBU

European Broadcasting Union


EEPROM

Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM.

The Unitor8 has one EEPROM, holding the 32 Patches, Computer Mode Setup, Patch Mode Setup, Click Setup and firmware updates.

It can be deleted by clicking the "Panic" button in the Special Parameters box while holding the Shift key.


EPROM

Erasable Programmable ROM

Contains the basic version of the firmware. Exchanging the EPROM is only required in special cases. See Firmware update.


Firmware

firmware

The operating system of the Unitor8. It is saved on an EPROM, but can be updated (patched) by writing to the EEPROM. See Firmware update.


HDR

Hard Disk Recorder


LED

Light Emitting Diode


MacOS

Macintosh Operating System


MME

Multimedia Extension


MotU

Mark of the Unicorn


MTC

MIDI Time Code


MTP

MIDI Time Piece


NTSC

National Television Standard Code


OMS

Open Music System / Opcode MIDI System

Please contact Opcode Inc. (www.opcode.com)  for further details.


PAL

Phase Alternating Line


PC

Personal Computer


ROM

Read Only Memory


SMPTE

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers


SysEx

System Exclusive


TV

Television


USB

Universal Serial Bus


VCR

Video Cassette Recorder


VTR

Video Tape Recorder