Creating your own devices

The MediaMatrix system offers many devices.  While these devices were designed to include many features and capabilities, they also have been designed to be "building blocks" which can be combined into more elaborate devices to fill the specific needs of a project.  By combining devices users of the system can create their own devices which exactly meet the needs of each particular application without using cycles on functions which are not required for a particular system.  As an example, consider a three way crossover network.  The standard crossover offers a flexible high quality design.  You may select crossover frequencies and slopes for each filter independently, allowing you to adjust the crossover to meet your specific needs.  Many people like to have delay or equalization on each output of the crossover.  These are not included in the crossover device as these are standard devices themselves.  In other words, they could be used either independently or in conjunction with another device while features such as "slope" or "crossover frequency" are part of a standard device as they cannot function independently.

If you want a crossover with delay and equalization on each output you can create this device yourself by combining primitives and building a new device.  These custom devices can be added to your device library.  You can create as many devices as you want. We will build the crossover described above as an example in this section of the help file.

Opening a block and giving it focus

Blocks are used whenever you want to create a custom view or device.

Double click on the block so that it's child window opens.  This child window is where you will be building your new device.

Labeling the new device

A new block will be labeled "New Block".  To re-label the block with whatever name you want to give the new device select the block and type the new name. (you do not have to name it now, this can be done at any time)  In this example type in "EQ/Delay Crossover"

Building the system from standard devices

Choose the first device you want to use in your new device in the normal manner.  When the "nutdriver" icon appears place the devices within the new block window.  In our example this block is labeled "EQ/Delay Crossover".  Repeat this step for each device to be included in the new device.  Build the device in the same manner as you would any other system.  Locate the devices in the desired locations and wire the system.  In the example you would choose a two way crossover, two delays, two parametric equalizers, one input node and two output nodes (described below).

Using Nodes

There are two types of Nodes in MediaMatrix.  The "external nodes" which appear on a block provide a means of connecting blocks together.  These are discussed elsewhere in this help file.  Internal Nodes are "internal connectors" used within a block.  They will appear as "external nodes on the outside of the new device block.  When you create a new device you must include nodes so that the device has input and output connection points.  Click the right button and the mode selection menu will appear.  Choose "PROPERTIES" and the Block Object Properties dialog box will appear ( or use the Alt-Enter keyboard accelerator.  Click on the "Nodes" tab, and type in the desired number of inputs and outputs in the Audio Nodes box and then choose "OK". The block will now have the selected number of input and output nodes.  You now wire the inputs and outputs of the devices within your new device to meet your requirements.  There is also a type of node known as a control node, which you can also specify the number of inputs and outputs.  These are used for special functions where you wish to send or receive a non-audio control signal

How to copy controls out of a device

While you can save the device as described above at this point you may find it convenient to copy the controls out into the new block window (in the case of this example, the "EQ/Delay Crossover" block.  By using the procedure described above in "Creating Your Own Views" you can copy the desired controls into the new device's window.

The following steps are not required but may prove to be helpful.  It is convenient to use a large window.  Next select the entire system, in the example, the crossover, delays and parametric equalizers as well as the nodes and wires.  Drag the entire system down off the bottom of the window.  The window will automatically scroll downward.  By doing this you have created an empty area at the top of the window.  You can use this area to copy the desired controls and indicators into.

You may now copy the controls or indicators into the top of the window, arranging them in any manner that you desire.  You may use the paint mode, labels, comment boxes, and the object editor to further create the control panel that you desire.  Refer to the Windows Properties section of this help file for information on using these tools to further enhance your new device design.

Orphan control indication

During the first stage of the compile process, all orphan control objects (controls copied from a device that has been deleted) are marked with a green hatch pattern.  This allows the user to easily find and delete useless controls from control panels when the schematic is changed.  The compile status dialog box will also indicate the number of such orphan controls encountered, if any.  This information is only visible if the dialog is in the expanded state.

Defining a device

After you have created a device you may permanently save it in the device menu.  This will allow you to choose it in the same manner that you would any other device when building a system.  Devices are stored in a directory hierarchy under the DEVICES directory.  The first level of directories under the DEVICES directory represent the Device Libraries.  Each Library directory contains directories for its Device Categories, each of which contain the Device Files for that category.  The Define Device dialog and the Remove Device dialog each contain Help buttons linked to the appropriate on-line help topics explaining its operation.  To define a device, first select the device block (the device in the system window, not the parts of the system in the child window).  In our example, you would select the device labeled EQ/Delay Crossover.  It will become highlighted with a red outline.  Select Window, then select "Show Tab View".  The TAB window will open, and you should click on the Tree View tab.  Next select Tools from the menu bar. From the Tools menu choose Define Device.  A new device will be saved in the devices directory, and you will be prompted to enter the device name that you want to save it as.  In our example you would type "EQ/Delay Crossover".  You can now drag this custom device into the "Crossover" sub-directory, or the sub-directory of your choice.  The new device has now been stored into the proper library and category under the name just given to it.  It may be chosen in the same manner as any other device in the device menu.  If you are redefining a device you will be warned and a dialog box will ask if you want to redefine the device.  You cannot redefine standard devices as they are write protected.  If you want to make changes to standard devices you must re-name them as well.

Removing a Device

To remove a device, open the TAB View window, and then click on the Treeview tab.  Next, click on the device you wish to delete to select it.  Then right click, and chose "delete".  A warning dialog box will appear informing you that you are permanently erasing the device from your hard drive, and asking if you want to proceed.  Choosing YES will remove the device from the Device menu.