SurroundScope

Plug-In Guide
Version 1.0 for Macintosh and Windows

Digidesign Inc.
3401-A Hillview Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304 USA
tel: 650·842·7900
fax: 650·842·7999

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650·856·4275

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Visit the Digidesign Web site
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Copyright
This User’s Guide is copyrighted ©2001 by Digidesign, a
division of Avid Technology, Inc. (hereafter “Digidesign”), with
all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this manual may not
be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of
Digidesign.
DIGIDESIGN, AVID and PRO TOOLS are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Digidesign and/or Avid Technology,
Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
All features and specifications subject to change without
notice.
PN 932708614-00 REV A 01/01
contents

Chapter 1. Getting Started With SurroundScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
DSP Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Plug-In Formats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
TDM Plug-Ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
RTAS Plug-Ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
AudioSuite Plug-Ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Installing SurroundScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Authorizing SurroundScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Deauthorizing SurroundScope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Allocating Additional Memory to DAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 2. Using SurroundScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

SurroundScope Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Surround Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Lissajous Meter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Phase Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Input Level Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Using SurroundScope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Contents iii
iv SurroundScope Plug-In Guide
chapter 1

Getting Started With SurroundScope

Thank you for purchasing SurroundScope. Sur-

roundScope assists with multi-channel mixing
by visually representing the phase, individual
input levels, and position of multi-channel sig-
nals in the surround field.

SurroundScope supports all industry-standard,

multi-channel formats, including LCR, Quad,
LCRS, and 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.1, 7.0, and 7.1.

SurroundScope features include:

• 360° Surround Display indicates signal posi-
tion within the surround field.
• Lissajous meter ensures perfect stereo images
by indicating amplitude and phase. SurroundScope

• High-resolution meters accurately display in-

dividual input channel levels as low as
–60 dB.
System Requirements
• Stereo phase meter indicates signal phase. To use SurroundScope you need a Digidesign-
approved Pro Tools 24 MIX or MIXplus system
• SurroundScope operates in both TDM and
with version 5.1 software or higher.
RTAS plug-in formats.
For the latest compatibility information, con-
For information on using SurroundScope tact your local Digidesign dealer or visit Digide-
during mixdown with Pro Tools, see the sign's Web site.
Pro Tools Reference Guide.

Chapter 1: Getting Started With SurroundScope 1

 DSP Requirements The number and variety of TDM plug-ins that
you can use simultaneously in a session are lim-
Each SurroundScope plug-in used in a session ited only by the amount of DSP available. You
requires a portion of the total DSP resources can increase available DSP by installing addi-
available. The amount of DSP available depends tional MIX Farm or DSP Farm cards in your
on the number of DSP cards in your Pro Tools computer. This power-on-demand aspect is a
system. significant advantage of TDM-based systems.
Maximum instances of SurroundScope
plug-ins per Pro Tools 24 MIX DSP chip
RTAS Plug-Ins
DSP
Quad chips RTAS (Real-Time AudioSuite) plug-ins provide
Stereo LCR & 5.0 5.1 per
LCRS Mix features and functionality similar to their TDM
card counterparts, but unlike TDM plug-ins, they rely
23 18 14 12 10 6 on and are limited by the processing power of
your computer. The more powerful your com-
puter, the greater the number and variety of
RTAS plug-ins that you can use simultaneously.
Plug-In Formats
Because of this dependence on the CPU or host
DSP plug-in modules, or simply plug-ins, are spe-
processing, the more RTAS plug-ins you use con-
cial-purpose software add-ons that give addi-
currently in a session, the greater the impact on
tional functionality to Pro Tools. There are three
other aspects of system performance such as
formats of plug-ins:
available track count, edit density, and automa-
• TDM plug-ins (real-time) tion latency.
• RTAS plug-ins (real-time)
RTAS plug-ins can be used on both TDM and
• AudioSuite plug-ins (non-real-time, file-based non-TDM-based Pro Tools systems.
processing)

AudioSuite Plug-Ins
TDM Plug-Ins
Non-real-time AudioSuite plug-ins are not used
(TDM Systems only)
during playback, but are instead used to process
TDM plug-ins function as track inserts, are ap- audio files on disk, creating new, rewritten audio
plied to audio during playback, and process au- files with the effect permanently applied. Audi-
dio non-destructively in real time. TDM plug- oSuite plug-ins can be used on all Pro Tools sys-
ins are designed for use on TDM-based Pro Tools tems.
systems, and rely on the processing power of
Digidesign DSP cards.

2 SurroundScope Plug-In Guide

Installing SurroundScope Authorizing SurroundScope
To install SurroundScope, use the Installer CD- When you launch Pro Tools the first time after
ROM. installing SurroundScope, you will be prompted
to authorize the plug-in.
Macintosh
The Authorizer diskette authorizes a single sys-
tem to use SurroundScope. This diskette also al-
To install SurroundScope for Macintosh:
lows you to reclaim the authorization if neces-
1 Insert the Installer CD-ROM in your CD-ROM sary.
drive and double-click the Installer.
Do not lose your Authorizer diskette! You
2 Click Install.
will not be able to complete an installation
3 When installation is complete, click Quit. without it. Keep the disk in a safe place.
When you launch Pro Tools, you will be
prompted to authorize SurroundScope. Macintosh

To authorize SurroundScope for Macintosh:

Windows
1 Launch Pro Tools.
To install SurroundScope for WIndows:
2 Insert the Authorizer diskette when
1 Insert the Installer CD-ROM in your CD-ROM prompted.
drive. (If you have disabled the Autoplay option
3 When authorization is complete, click Done.
on your computer, locate and double-click the
Setup.exe file on the Installer CD-ROM.)
On the Macintosh, you can use the Autho-
2 Click Install. rizer diskette as a backup authorization key
when you have used all available authori-
3 When installation is complete, click Finish.
zations. Launch Pro Tools and insert the
When you launch Pro Tools, you will be
diskette when Pro Tools prompts you for au-
prompted to authorize SurroundScope.
thorization.

Register and Receive a Backup Windows

Authorizer Diskette
To authorize SurroundScope for Windows:
When you send in the Registration Card,
Digidesign will mail you an additional authori- 1 Launch Pro Tools.
zation disk for SurroundScope. If you are an in-
2 Insert the Authorizer diskette when
ternational customer, refer to the list of interna-
prompted, and click Next to authorize the plug-
tional distributors included with your
in.
registration package.

Chapter 1: Getting Started With SurroundScope 3

 4 Select the hard drive you want to deauthorize.
Deauthorizing SurroundScope (The drive with the authorization key is indi-
cated by a “key” icon.)
If you want to authorize a different hard drive to
use SurroundScope, you must reclaim the origi- 5 Click Remove.
nal SurroundScope authorization key since au-
6 When deauthorization is complete, click
thorization is limited to a single drive.
Done.
Similarly, if you plan to low-level reformat a
hard drive containing an authorization key, you
must first reclaim the authorization or it may be
Allocating Additional Memory
lost.
to DAE
Macintosh (Macintosh Only)

If you plan to use a large number of TDM plug-

To deauthorize SurroundScope for Macintosh:
ins with Pro Tools, allocating additional mem-
1 Insert the Authorizer diskette into the diskette ory to DAE will help ensure reliable system per-
drive. formance.
2 Double-click the DeAuthorizer application.
If enough RAM is available in your computer, al-
3 Click Setup. From the Authorization pop-up locate 1-2 megabytes of additional RAM to DAE
menu, select Remove, then select the appropri- for each non-DigiRack plug-in installed on your
ate hard drive. (The drive with the authorization system.
key is indicated by a “key” icon.)
To allocate additional memory to DAE:
4 Click Remove.
1 Start Pro Tools so that DAE can calculate its
5 When deauthorization is complete, click basic memory allocation.
Done, then Quit to return to the Finder.
2 Go to the Finder and choose About This Com-
puter from the Apple menu.
Windows
3 If you have 3 megabytes or more of memory
To deauthorize SurroundScope for Windows: available (as indicated in the Largest Unused
1 Locate the SurroundScope DeAuthorizer in- Block portion of this window), go to step 4. If
side the Digidesign Folder on your startup drive. you have less than 3 megabytes of free memory
(3,000k), stop here: Do not allocate additional
If you cannot locate the DeAuthorizer, use memory to DAE unless you install additional
the Authorizer diskette. RAM in your computer.

2 Double-click the DeAuthorizer application. 4 Quit Pro Tools.

3 Insert the Authorizer diskette. 5 Open the DAE folder inside your System
Folder, select DAE, and choose Get Info from the
Finder’s File menu.

4 SurroundScope Plug-In Guide

6 Choose Memory from the Show menu.

7 Enter the desired amount of memory above the

minimum requirement in the Preferred Size field.
For example, if the Preferred Size field currently
says “30410k” and you wish to allocate an addi-
tional 3 megabytes of memory (1 megabyte
equals 1024 kilobytes), enter “33410” into the
Preferred Size field.

8 Close the Get Info dialog.

Allocating additional memory to DAE

The next time you start Pro Tools, DAE will use
this new memory allocation.

Chapter 1: Getting Started With SurroundScope 5

6 SurroundScope Plug-In Guide
chapter 2

Using SurroundScope

Surround Display
SurroundScope Parameters
The Surround Display shows signal position
Each of SurroundScope’s interactive meters dis- within the surround field. When SurroundScope
plays a different type of information about a is inserted on a track, it detects the multi-chan-
multi-channel audio signal. Following is an ex- nel format of the track and displays each speaker
planation of these meters and their behavior. channel in the signal in a circle around the Sur-
round Display’s center.

Each speaker channel is indicated by letter and

is equidistant from the center of the 360° sur-
round field.

SurroundScope

Surround Display

During audio playback, the Surround Display

generates a circular metering image whose
shape and position change according to the am-
plitude energy emanating from the various
speaker channels in the signal.

Chapter 2: Using SurroundScope 7

 To understand the precise location of an audio The Lissajous Meter display is divided into four
signal within the sound field, observe how the quadrants, with left and right channels arranged
circular sound pattern moves: diagonally. When audio is panned predomi-
◆ A perfect circle in the center of the Surround nantly to a particular speaker channel, a diago-
Display denotes a perfectly centered surround nal line appears, indicating the channel.
signal—one that is panned equally to all chan- The Lissajous Meter displays in-phase material
nels. as a vertical line and out-of-phase material as a
◆ A signal that balloons toward the outer edges horizontal line.
of the display indicates which channels ema-
nate the strongest signal.
Phase Meter
◆ A signal that is completely panned to one
speaker channel appears teardrop-shaped and The Phase Meter indicates the phase coherency
points toward the channel emanating the sig- of the left and right channels (exclusively) of a
nal. multi-channel signal. This enables you to see at
a glance if a signal is in or out of phase.

Lissajous Meter
When SurroundScope is inserted on a stereo
track, the standard Surround Display is replaced
by the Lissajous Meter.

Phase Meter

The Phase Meter is green when the signal is pos-

itively out of phase (values from 0 to +1) and red
when the signal is negatively out of phase (val-
ues from 0 to –1).

At center or zero position, the signal is a perfect

Lissajous Meter with audio panned predominantly left stereo image. At the +1 position, the signal is a
The Lissajous Meter shows the relationship be- perfect mono image. At the –1 position, the sig-
tween the amplitude and phase of a stereo sig- nal is 100% out of phase.
nal, enabling you to monitor and ensure perfect
stereo imaging.

8 SurroundScope Plug-In Guide

Input Level Meters To use SurroundScope:
1 Click the Insert selector on the desired multi-
The Input Level Meters provide decibel level
readings for each channel of a multi-channel channel track and choose SurroundScope from
signal, including readings for an LFE channel if the plug-in pop-up menu.
present. Metering range is from 0 to –60 dB. 2 Begin audio playback.

3 Watch the Surround Display, Phase Meter, and

Input Level Meters to visually monitor the
multi-channel signal.

Input Level Meters

The input level meters always appear in

standard Film layout (L, C, R, Ls, Rs, LFE)
for 5.1 format mixes.

Using SurroundScope
Since it has no user-adjustable parameters, Sur-
roundScope is extremely easy to use. Once in-
serted on a multi-channel track or Master Fader,
you can use it to accurately monitor phase, po-
sition, and input level metering of multi-chan-
nel signals.

For more information about multi-channel

signals and multi-channel mixing, refer to
the Pro Tools Reference Guide.

Chapter 2: Using SurroundScope 9

10 SurroundScope Plug-In Guide
index

A S
AudioSuite plug-ins 2 Surround Display 7
Authorizer diskette SurroundScope
obtaining a backup 3 DSP requirements 2
using as a key 3 features 1
authorizing SurroundScope 3 parameters 7
system requirements 1
using 9
D
system requirements 1
DAE memory, increasing 4
deauthorizing SurroundScope 4
DSP requirements for SurroundScope 2 T
TDM plug-ins 2
H
host processing 2

I
Installer CD-ROM 3
installing SurroundScope 3

L
Lissajous Meter 1

M
multi-channel formats 1

P
Phase Meter 8

R
RAM and DAE memory 4
registering SurroundScope 3
RTAS plug-ins 2

Index 11
12 SurroundScope Plug-In Guide