Volume Trim Level

[Gary Matheson]

The addition of a trim level adjustment for low volume setting has been a distinct advantage in later versions of SCS. However, when adding a level change cue, the trim level adjustment does not appear. This is a particular problem if you want to vary the volume of background ambiences throughout a performance subtly, for example. Any chance of adding a trim level to level change cues?

[jkowtko]

I've asked Mike to recalibrate the faders to behave more closely like mixing board faders -- which he has agreed to do in SCS10. I think when he does that the need for the "trim" feature will disappear.

[Mike Daniell]

I've asked Mike to recalibrate the faders to behave more closely like mixing board faders -- which he has agreed to do in SCS10. I think when he does that the need for the "trim" feature will disappear.

I hadn't thought about the "trim" control becoming redundant in SCS 10, but having completed most of the work on recalibrating the faders I think you're right!

[jkowtko]

Mike, the only thing I would still possibly consider -- and I don't think this is necessary with audio files as the input -- is having a "pad" button like mixers do, to attenuate the input signal by 20db. But I think with a standard fader range of travel and better low-end granularity I don't think you could come up with an audio file that's loud enough (i.e. the wav files are limited to 0db and cannot go over) to require the use of a Pad button

[Mike Daniell]

The addition of a trim level adjustment for low volume setting has been a distinct advantage in later versions of SCS. However, when adding a level change cue, the trim level adjustment does not appear. This is a particular problem if you want to vary the volume of background ambiences throughout a performance subtly, for example. Any chance of adding a trim level to level change cues?

I did intend to include this in SCS 10 but it seems to have missed out! I'll see if I can include it soon.

[jkowtko]

Doesn't the new fader calibration provide you with pretty granular control down to -75db? I would think that the trim level is no longer needed.

However, what I would be considered to be useful is a true trim / input gain control that lets you even out the level of the incoming audio tracks so that your fader positions can be used consistently across all audio tracks in the program. But this would require true variable level control (like a fader or pot), not a 10db stepped selector.

But I think the existing trim control was originally added to compensate for lack of fader control at the bottom end -- which I believe the product handles very well now.

Thanks. John

[Mike Daniell]

I agree that with the new fader scaling the trim control is probably not necessary. However, I have retained the control for two reasons: (1) I didn't want to throw away a bit of existing functionality that some users may want, and (2) to enable SCS 10 to correctly handle levels read from an SCS 9 cue file. Not having the trim control on the Level Change screen is basically a gap in the functionality.

A variable trim pot would certainly be a good enhancement. I originally used the drop-down list as it is much easier to implement and takes up less space on the screen.