Thoughts on this AP20 Automation Glitch?

[Ryan Gallagher]

As the AP20 offers plenty of presets, I would just create a preset for 'mute' and name it like that. Switching to 'Mute' would then also indicate at least '0' on the display.
Having a long fade attached to Mute generically is probably not a good idea, as usually, when you want to mute, you really want it to mute quickly.

Maybe i'm missing a nuance. But if you have a DCI format with 0 fade configured. And you have a "Mute" format like you suggest with fades configured. My impression is that triggering the switch will instantly mute the playing DCI format, and then "fade up" in your configured time to 0.0 on the your suggested Mute custom format.

Is that incorrect? Does it actually fade out the DCI format that was configured with no fades?

Getting to a mute button with zero fades is not a problem, as that is how the factory mute behaves (and does not seem changable), and is doable in automation too.

I could see your suggestion being useful if there WAS a way to change the factory mute fade behavior, to preserve an instant mute. Maybe that was what you were really pointing out? In the hypothetical if it were possible to change the factory mute behavior.

[Ryan Gallagher]

Your point about mute having long fades is valid though, not ideal when what you are actually trying to do is mute, like during tech-checks etc. And re-training people to use some other button when they really are trying to mute in a rush seems problematic too.

With that in mind, if automation methods are out, i'm starting to come around to the idea of having a "DCI 5.1 Preroll" and "DCI 7.1 Preroll" format. Those could be configured with zero or minimal fades. Then the features would play with our traditional "DCI 5.1 or 7.1" where a 5s fade out configuration could exist. You'd never hear it under normal conditions cause you you don't switch mid feature... but in the event of a Q&A interruption request, you could change away to any other format and trigger the 5s format fade.

It just means a couple more formats to maintain, but as they inherit most everything, not much extra work... if Dolby visits and makes a new EQ, I'd just have to remember to apply them to those preroll formats too. We'd only have to train operators to use them for pre-show content... and I feel like the labeling helps encourage that.