I usually do not do major software changes during a production but I
couldn't resist this one. Zaxcom emailed to me new versions of
software for the Deva and digital radios that included the new Zaxnet
features. I figured I had the old versions available so I took the
chance and did the upgrade at call the other day. It was a pretty
quick process. I burned an SD card and used it to upgrade all the
TRX-900 transmitters (and the IFB transmitter) and used a CD to
upgrade the Deva. Enabling the Zaxnet was also very easy. There is a
new button in the Setup menu to enable Zaxnet and I had to go into
each channel on the Mix 12 that had a digital receiver attached to
enable transmitter remote control via the input gain pot. I had to re-
name a couple of my transmitters because the transmitter name has to
correspond to the Mix 12 input number (hence, the transmitter named
"3" is controlled by the Mix 12 trim pot for channel 3).
The system had it's first test on the first take we did. We were
filming audience reactions and all during the filming the audience had
been murmmering. During the first take the director asked everyone to
scream. So I turned down input trim pot 10 which controlled my
wireless boom rig and it turned the transmitter gain down.
You might be wondering that if I use my input gain pots to trim the
transmitters how do I trim the inputs to the board (and the Deva)?
Each channel has a software button to toggle the trim pot between
input gain control and transmitter gain control. Once I set up the
relationship between the receiver and the board (using the tone output
on the receivers) the input gain is now set and never needs to be
adjusted so it can be switched to transmitter gain control. Each
input is controlled individually so the Zaxnet control is only applied
to channels with Zaxcom digital radios. If, for some reason, you need
both input gain control AND transmitter gain control simultaneously,
you can assign a Deva trim pot to control the transmitter in question
leaving the Mix 12 (or Mix
trim pot as is. I have one digital
radio that bounces because I often use it for car rigs so it's not
always plugged into the same input. I assigned this one to be
controlled by a Deva pot.
I haven't played with the re-recording features yet even though Glenn
was very eager to demonstrate them. These features allow you to
select a take or time code point and it will tell all the radios to go
to that point and play so the take can be remixed if necessary. I'll
play with this when I have some time. But very happy to say the
Zaxnet install was very quick and easy and it's working as promised.
There was one slight hitch that was quickly fixed. Zaxnet sends some
of it's data via the time code user bits so after I did the install my
slates would no longer take the ubits when jammed. Howy had a fix the
next day which temporarily turns off Zaxnet when jamming. Denecke has
upgraded software on their end so their slates can work with Zaxnet
and will soon receive time code from Zaxnet automatically. Other than
that, the ability to control my transmitter gain in real time by just
tweaking it's corresponding trim pot on the mixer is pretty wild. I
didn't notice any range issues and Friday night we were shooting in
mid-town (NYC) and I was getting very good range from both the
wireless and the return control signal.
As far as I know, this is the first field use of Zaxnet. It's now a
permanent part of my rig. It's funny. Glenn asked me what he could
work on next and I really couldn't think of anything other than
smaller transmitters.
Best,
Billy Sarokin
Movies