Midas XL8 - User Manual

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Operator Manual

XL8 Control Centre

Main Page

Default Chapter15
- Table of Contents15
Chapter 1 Introduction25
- Warranty and Registration26
- About this Manual26
- Service and Support31
Chapter 2 XL8 Live Performance System Overview33
- Features33
- System Hardware35
- Network36
- System Interconnections36
- FOH and MON37
- Audio Physical Connections39
- Uses of the Configurable Audio Connections39
- MIX Matrix41
- Console Linking41
- Input Channel Processing41
- MIX Channel Processing42
- Output Channel Processing43
- Effects Processing and Geqs43
- Control Software44
- Gui44
- Resilience to Failure (Redundancy)44
- Integration of Third Party Software48
- System Documentation49
Chapter 3 XL8 Control Centre Description51
- Bays52
- Control Surface Layout53
- Gui54
- Pull-Out Keyboard55
- Front and Rear Connections55
Chapter 4 Input Bays57
- Input Signal Routing58
- Input Bay Control Surface59
- Input Bay GUI60
- Meters61
- MIC Amp - Preliminary Input Processing62
- Channel Configuration64
- Input Channel Gain and Filter68
- Direct out70
- Compressor (D Zone)72
  - Compressor Graph74
- Gate (D Zone)76
- Insert78
- EQ (E Zone)80
- Auxes and Matrices82
- Master Controls and Fader85
- Side Chain88
  - Select Side-Chain Source Window89
- Input Channel Select90
Chapter 5 MIX Bay91
- MIX Bay Control Surface92
- MIX Bay GUI93
- MIX Fast Strip94
- Auxes97
- Returns108
- Bank/Channel Selection114
- VCA Faders115
- VCA/POP Groups116
Chapter 6 Output Bay117
- Output Bay Control Surface118
- Output Bay GUI120
- Master Overview Strips122
- Output Fast Strips126
- Reset Switches130
- Comms130
- Monitoring134
- Automation141
- Auto-Mute Groups142
Chapter 7 GUI Menu Options143
- Common Screen Elements143
- GUI Menu Overview144
- GUI Menu Flowchart145
- Menu Option Identification146
- Default Screen146
- Files Screen147
- Input Channels Screen148
  - Input Channel Sheet Screen149
  - Input Channels Screen149
- MIX & Outputs Screen150
- Population Groups Screen155
- Rack Units Screen161
  - Effects Sheet Screen162
- Automation Screen163
- Monitors Screen163
- Diagnostics Screen163
- Preferences Screen163
  - General Screen164
  - Linking Screen165
- Lock Screen166
- Admin Screen167
- Shutdown System Screen167
Chapter 8 Connections, Setting up and Powering up169
- Description of the XL8 Connections169
- Connecting up the XL8178
  - Cable Type and Function180
- Manual Set-Up of Unit Ids181
- Powering the XL8 System182
  - To Power up the XL8 System182
  - To Power down the XL8 System182
- Switching the XL8 Control Centre On/Off183
  - To Switch on the XL8 Control Centre183
  - To Switch off the XL8 Control Centre184
- Booting up184
- GUI Screen Brightness - Adjustment184
Chapter 9 Basic Operation185
- Control Surface Layout185
- Hints and Tips186
  - Check What Is Hidden186
  - Check the Dashboard Screen186
  - Saving a Show Versus Storing a Scene186
- Working with the Controls187
  - To Adjust a GUI Control Knob Via Glide Pad/Trackball187
  - Selecting a Detail Area to the Channel Strip Via the GUI188
  - Operating the Control Knobs188
  - Operating the Pushbuttons/Switches188
  - LCD Buttons (Control Surface Only)189
  - Leds189
  - Meters189
  - Faders190
  - Quick Access Buttons190
  - Using the Keyboard190
- Digital Signal Path and Input Routing191
  - To 'Soft Patch' an Input Channel to a Source191
- Navigating the Inputs192
  - How Input Channels Are Displayed on the GUI192
  - To Select a Bank of Input Channels193
  - To Select an Input Channel by Typing in Its Number194
  - To Select an Input Channel Via a Switch or Button195
  - To Select an Input Channel Via the GUI196
  - To Select a Channel Section to the Gui's Channel Strip197
- Setting a MIC Amplifier's Input Gain198
  - To Set Stage Box Gain/Console Gain198
- Setting the High and Low Pass Filters199
  - To Set both High and Low Pass Filters in199
- Input Equalisation (E Zone)200
  - To EQ the Input Signal200
- Input Dynamics Processing (D Zone)201
  - To Set up a Compressor/Limiter201
  - To Set up a Gate202
- VCA/POP Groups203
  - To Assign Input Channels to a VCA/POP Group203
  - To Set up the Name and Colour of a VCA/POP Group204
  - To Recall a VCA/POP Input Group205
  - To Recall a VCA/POP Output Group206
- Navigating the Outputs207
  - To Select the Output Screen207
  - To Select a Bank of Auxes or Returns to the MIX Bay207
  - To Select an Output Channel208
- Setting up a MIX209
  - To Set up a Mono Aux MIX209
  - To Program a MIX Preset211
- Setting up the Effects Rack212
  - To Add an Effect212
- Routing an Aux to an Effect or Output213
  - To Route an Aux213
- Simple Routing to Master Stereo Outputs214
- Scenes (Automation)215
  - To Create a New Show215
  - To Save a Show216
  - To Load a Show216
  - To Store a Scene217
  - To Recall a Scene218
- Naming Inputs and Outputs219
  - To Change the Name and Colour of an Input219
  - To Change the Name and Colour of an Output219
- Areas a and B (Split Surface/Dual Operation)220
- Saving Your Show Files to USB Memory Stick221
  - To Save a Show File to a USB Memory Stick221
- Troubleshooting222
  - To Check Active Master Controller Via the GUI222
Chapter 10 Advanced Operation223
- Mixer Details223
  - Mixing (Buses)223
  - Side Chain225
    - To Select a Side Chain Source225
- Security (Locking Mode)226
  - Locking the XL8 Control Centre226
  - Unlocking the XL8 Control Centre226
- Monitors226
- Muting227
- Safes228
- Solo228
- Communications231
- Control Groups233
  - Mute Groups (Auto-Mutes)233
  - Assigning to a Mute Group233
- Stereo Linking233
  - Input Channels233
  - Output Channels234
- Service Information235
Chapter 11 Graphic Equaliser (GEQ)237
- The Graphic Eqs Screen237
- Front Panel Features238
  - Graphic EQ Section238
  - Filters238
- Example of System Connection239
- Using the GEQ240
- Equalising a System242
  - Preparing for Equalisation242
  - Equalisation Using an RTA242
- Effects of Equalisation244
  - Effects of Equalisation on Voice Reproduction244
  - Effects of Equalisation on Music Reproduction244
- Audio Signal Path245
- Proportional-Q Filter Response246
- Applications250
- Technical Specifications254
- Frequency Chart255
- Using a Rapide with the Geqs256
Chapter 12 Automation261
- Automation Control261
- Automation Navigation264
- Automation Data264
Chapter 13 Effects267
- Effect Configuration268
- Effect Programs268
- Virtual DN-780 Effects268
- Delay Effects278
  - Front Panel279
- Flanger Effects280
  - Front Panel281
- Phaser Effects282
  - Front Panel283
- Front Panel - Common Element284
- Rear Panel - Common285
Chapter 14 External Interfaces287
- Mouse287
- MIDI288
- Usb288
- Vga288
- HELIX Auto solo288
- Network Inter-Operability288
- HELIX Rapide DN9331288
Chapter 15 Testing, Diagnostics and Updating289
- Diagnostics290
- Fault Finding and Recovery292
  - To Reset a Master Controller or Router292
- Mapping a GUI Screen to Another Bay293
  - To Re-Map a GUI Screen293
Chapter 16 Application Notes295
- Spatial Imaging System (SIS™)295
- XL8 Compressor Modes (Dynamic)296
  - Description296
  - Compressor Envelope Modes297
- XL8 EQ Modes300
  - Basic Specification300
  - Description300
Appendix A Functional Block Diagrams303
- XL8 System Buses304
- XL8 System Diagram305
- MIC Splitter Signal Flow306
- Mono Input Channel Signal Flow307
- Stereo Input Channel Signal Flow308
- Mono Auxes and Returns Signal Flow309
- Stereo Auxes and Returns Signal Flow310
- Mono Group Signal Flow311
- Stereo Group Signal Flow312
- Master Signal Flow313
- Mono MIX Signal Flow314
- Stereo MIX Signal Flow315
- Monitor Signal Flow316
- Comms Signal Flow317
- Dynamics Signal Flow318
Appendix B Technical Specification319
- XL8 General Statistics319
- XL8 General Specifications320
- XL8 Audio Performance Specifications321
- XL8 System Inputs and Outputs324
- XL8 Input and Output Characteristics329
- XL8 Main Processing Functions331
- XL8 Status Functions334
  - Meters334
  - Screens334
Glossary335

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Quick Reference Guide92 pages

Questions and Answers

T
Troy SuarezJul 25, 2025
What to do if I'm not hearing anything through the speakers on my Midas XL8?
- L
  Lee DavidsonJul 25, 2025
  If you're not hearing anything through the speakers, here are a few things to check: * Ensure the correct ST buttons in the channel fast strips are activated. * Verify the appropriate ST buttons in the source a/b panels (located in the monitors section of the output bay) are on. * Confirm that nothing is muted. * Check that no faders are set to the minimum level. * Make sure the VCA/group master faders are at unity gain. * Use solo at different points in the signal path to identify where the signal is being lost. * Verify correct signal routing by ensuring channel sources/destinations are properly assigned.
J
Jason SteeleAug 9, 2025
What to do if the active master controller (MC) on my Midas Music Mixer malfunctions?
- S
  Steven FordAug 9, 2025
  If the active master controller (MC) malfunctions, consider these steps: 1. Before a performance, copy the show file to both MCs. 2. If a malfunction occurs, copy the show file to a USB memory stick, switch the active MC (reset the MCs), and then copy the show file to the other MC.

Midas XL8 Specifications

General

EQ	4-band fully parametric EQ per channel
Dynamics	Compressor/Limiter on each channel and bus
Effects	8 stereo effects processors
Bus Structure	24 mix buses
Matrix Outputs	8
Digital Interface	MADI, AES/EBU
Processing	Analog
Control Surface	Yes
Built-in Effects	Yes
Recallable Preamps	Yes, fully recallable
Power Supply	Redundant