mc²56 - User Labels

The fader strip label display shows either a text label or thumbnail image to identify the channel.

• The text labels are switched globally across the console.
• The LiveView^TM images can be enabled either globally or individually (per channel).

This topic describes how to control the different options, edit the text labels and setup the LiveView images.

Label Switching

The centre section LABEL buttons change what is shown in the "user label" fields (on the fader strips and GUI).

From here, you can choose which text labels are in view, and whether LiveView images are enabled. 

Text Labels (default view)

For the text labels, there are three possible options:

• CHANNEL NAME = the system name of the channel (e.g. INP 1). This is system-defined and cannot be edited.
• USER LABEL = the user label given to the channel (e.g. Guest).
• INHERIT SOURCE = the user label given to the source connected to the channel (e.g. Mic 1).

By default, the selected label is shown in large text with the channel level (in small text) below. The image below shows a typical example.

ADD IMAGE: Fader Strip Label Displays: Name + Level, Label + level, Source + level

Please note: If INHERIT SOURCE is selected but there is no source assigned to the channel, then the USER LABEL is displayed. This also applies to all channel types that do not have an input source such as an Aux, Group, Sum, VCA, Surround VCA or GPC.

Text Labels (Label View)

Optionally, the channel level can be replaced by a sub label. For example, to view the channel name AND user label, or user label AND inherited source. 

To work in this mode:

1. Turn on the "Console → Surface TFT → Label View" option (in the System Settings display).
2. Use the centre section's LABEL buttons to choose the main label (as described above).
3. The main and sub labels update accordingly.

The image below shows what happens to our example once Label View is enabled.

ADD IMAGE: Fader Strip Label Displays: Name + Label, Label+Source, Source+Label

LiveView Images

If LiveView images are enabled, then the thumbnail image assigned to the channel or source is displayed instead of the text label.

There are two ways to enable this mode: either globally (using the IMAGE button in the centre section) or individually per channel (using a pre-configured fader user button).

In each case, the displayed image follows the USER LABEL or INHERIT SOURCE selections (in the same manner as for the text labels):

• IMAGE + USER LABEL = the image assigned to the channel.
• IMAGE + INHERIT SOURCE = the image assigned to the source connected to the channel.

If an image is not available, then the equivalent text label is displayed.

By default, the image enlarges to fill the display whenever you touch the channel fader.  Optionally, you can enable (and disable) the full-screen view from another pre-configured fader user button.

ADD IMAGE: Text labels replaced by an image

Best Practice

To make the most of the global LABEL options, here are some recommendations:

1. Switch the labels to CHANNEL NAME while preparing the console.
   This makes it easy to see which fader strips are assigned to inputs, groups, VCAs, etc.
2. Select USER LABEL to see the generic label for each input channel - e.g. Presenter, Guest, etc. 
   This can be useful if you want to define the layout of the surface but do not have the signal connection list.
3. Select INHERIT SOURCE once you start connecting sources to input channels (to check the signal routing). 
   For example, if the channel user labels are Comm 1, Comm 2 and Guest, and the source user labels are Mic 1, Mic 2 and Mic 3, then when you begin to connect sources to channels, the fader strip label displays should update. 
   If you see say Mic 1, Mic 2 and then Guest, this means that the first two channels are correctly connected but the third channel has no connected source.

User Label Editing

For each DSP channel, there are two ways to edit its user label: from the 'label editor' in the Signal List or the 'channel in access' field in the Central GUI title bar.

The first method is usually best if you have lots of channels (or signals) to label. The second method can be quicker if you have a single channel label to edit.

Please note:

• The user labels for signals can only be edited from the Signal List.
• The user labels for control channels can only be edited from the Central GUI title bar.

Entering Text

To enter a new label, please use the console keyboard as follows:

1. Left-click on the text field - either once to overwrite, or twice to modify an existing name (a cursor will appear).
2. Type in the text. You can use the left or right cursor keys to move the position of the cursor within the field.
3. Press ENTER to confirm. Or, to exit without making any changes, press ESC.

Once you have some text selected, you can:

• Right-click to access Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Select All and Insert Emoji.
• Or, use the CTRL+C and CTRL+V keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste the selected text between fields.

Using the Signal List 'Label Editor'

To open the Signal List display label editor, select a source (or destination) and click on the corresponding User Label button.

The editor contains two fields: the full "Label" (used in the GUI displays) and "Short" label (shown on the fader strip, up to 8 characters). 

To edit an individual label:

1. Type the new label into the "User Label" field (e.g. Commentator 1).
   If this is the first time you have edited a label, then the "Short User Label" updates automatically. The Short Label is limited to 8 characters and so the truncation is handled on a best-effort basis.
2. If you do not like the result, then enter something different.
   You can use the TAB (or SHIFT+TAB) keyboard shortcuts to move quickly between the full and Short Label fields.
3. Select Done to confirm the new labels and close the editor. Or, Cancel to close the editor without making any changes.

The auto-increment option can be used to speed up the labelling process for consecutive signals. It allows you to quickly enter the same label for multiple signals. Or, enter an auto-incrementing label such as Guest 1, Guest 2, etc.

1. Open the label editor for the first signal and enter some text into the "User Label" and "Short User Label" fields.
2. Enable the Auto-Increment Next Label option.
3. Select Next.
   The new labels for the first signal are confirmed, and the editor steps down to the next signal. The contents of the previous label is carried forwards. If the label ends with a number, then this increments by one.
4. Keep pressing Next until you reach the last signal you wish to edit.
5. Select Done to confirm and close the editor.

For even faster label editing, you can enable (and disable) the Auto-Increment Next Label option temporarily from the keyboard as follows:

1. Select the first signal and edit the labels in the usual manner.
2. Press and hold SHIFT and then press ENTER - the editor steps down to the next signal in the list, and automatically carries forward the text labels.
3. Keep holding SHIFT and press ENTER until you have labelled all the required signals.
4. Press ESC to exit the labelling mode.

Editing the 'Access Channel' Label field

The "channel in access" field at to the top of the Central GUI is great way to edit the user label of the selected channel.

This is the only method available for control channels such as VCA masters, Surround VCA masters and GPCs.

1. Select the channel you wish to work on, by pressing a fader SEL button or using the  Access/Assign panel.
2. Switch the centre section LABEL buttons to USER LABEL. 
3. Type the text into the Access Channel label field and press Enter.

LiveView Images (Preparation)

A LiveView image can be assigned to any DSP channel (or signal) from the Signal List display.

In each case, the thumbnail image can be either a still image, stored locally on the mc² control system, or a moving image from a networked stream provider.

The system comes with 18 still images. To this, you can add your own custom images and/or configure a networked device as a moving image provider. How to upload custom images is described later. For now, it is useful to know that:

• Up to 128 still images are supported by the Image Stills stream provider. This includes the 18 still images (included with the system).
• Supported video thumbnail providers (for moving images) are Lawo's V__pro8, V__link4 and V__remote4. In the current release, up to 10 devices can be configured, where each device can deliver eight streams.

'Signal Thumbnail' (Image) Assignment

To make a new assignment:

1. Right-click on a source or destination.
2. Select Assign Thumbnail from the context menu. This opens the 'Signal Thumbnails' window.
3. Choose a stream provider (e.g. Image Stills). 
4. Select an image / stream number.
5. The assignment is made and you can close the 'Signal Thumbnails' window. 
   Or, make another assignment by using the up/down arrows (top right) to select a different source or destination,

Please note:

• If channels are linked for stereo or surround, then make the assignment to the first (left) channel.
• The 'Signal Thumbnail' assignments are saved in both snapshots and productions.

To test the assignment:

1. Assign the channel to a fader strip and turn on IMAGE from the centre section LABEL buttons.
2. The LiveView image should appear in the fader strip label display. If not, check the USER LABEL and INHERIT SOURCE options.
3. By default, the image enlarges to fill the display when you touch the channel fader.

To remove an existing assignment:

1. Right-click on the source or destination.
2. Select Remove Thumbnail from the context menu.
3. If the channel (or source) is still assigned to the surface, then the image should be replaced by the equivalent text label.

Uploading Custom Images

The system is delivered with an Image Stills stream provider that supports up to 128 still images.

Custom images can be added to this provider by copying the prepared files to the following folder (on the mc² control system): /data/config/mcx/user_thumbnails

Each custom image must be a .jpeg file that meets the conditions specified below.

To make the copy, you can use mxGUI's File Transfer display. Once the upload is complete, refresh the Image Stills provider (if the 'Signal Thumbnails' window is open). The new images should appear in the preview area. 

Please note: If a custom image has the same index number as one of the system-provided images, then the custom image takes precedence (until the custom image is removed from the "user_thumbnails" folder).

Custom Image File Conditions

The conditions for the custom image files are saved in a "README.txt" file that is stored on the mc² system in the "user_thumbnails" folder. The full file path is:

/data/config/mcx/user_thumbnails

Configuring a Moving Image Stream Provider

Lawo's V__pro8, V__link4 or V__remote4 can operate as a moving image stream provider. Up to 10 devices can be configured, where each device can deliver eight streams.

Currently, the configuration must be performed by the Lawo engineering team, so please contact support@lawo.com for assistance or more information.

Once the provider(s) are configured, they are listed below the Image Stills provide in the 'Signal Thumbnails' assignment window (described earlier). From here, you can check the status of the streams and providers as follows:

Beside each entry in the Stream Providers list you will see either a green or red circle: 

• The Stream Provider circle indicates the connection status: green = ok; red = connection error.
• The Name circle indicates the stream status: green = valid stream; red = stream is invalid.

If the Stream Provider is red, then you should check your network connections and the IP settings on the remote device.

If the Stream Provider is green but one or more stream Names are red, then check the number of streams being output by the providing device.

LiveView Images (Local Control)

There are two custom functions that can be used to control LiveView images locally from the fader strips: Live View Image and Live View Fullscreen.

In each case, the functions are triggered from a fader user button and programmed from the Custom Functions display as follows:

1. Start by adding an instance of the Fader User Buttons, Channel Functions.
2. Assign the Live View Image parameter to a fader user button.
3. Assign the Live View Fullscreen parameter to a different fader user button.
4. Confirm the custom function (in the usual manner).

To test the functionality:

1. Assign a channel with a 'Signal Thumbnail' assignment to a fader strip.
2. Press the Live View Image fader user button. The label display should update to show the thumbnail image. If the image does not appear, check the USER LABEL and INHERIT SOURCE options.
   You can now use this button to toggle between the thumbnail image and text labels.
3. With the image in view, press the Live View Fullscreen fader user button. The image should fill the fader strip label display.
   You can now use this button to toggle between fullscreen and halfscreen (when the image is enabled).

Once programmed, you can use the same fader user buttons on any channel (or inherited source) with a valid thumbnail assignment.