SOURCE ELEMENTS Source-Talkback Plug in Pair Designed User Guide
Introducing Source-Talkback
Written by Source Elements | Last published at: October 30, 2023
This article is part of the Source-Talkback User Guide
Source-Talkback is a plug-in pair designed to enable talkback functionality without requiring external hardware, using a single keyboard stroke for toggle and latch. Simply place the Talkback plug-ins on your Aux track before your talkback input, and on your Master fader. Hold down the ‘\’ key for toggle, or shift+\ for latch, and enable Auto-On to open and close automatically during transport start and stop. Talkback allows for an engineer to talk to talent either over Source-Connect and/or in a local booth while not getting feedback through the monitoring speakers. Source-Talkback is also compatible with any remote connection method, for example ISDN, regardless of where you get your signal from.
Source-Talkback features system-wide recognition, so you don’t need to have either of the plug-in windows open, or even to have Pro Tools be the front-most application. Read on for details usage instructions, and how to place Source- Talkback into your Pro Tools session.
New Technology Now Available
- Source-Talkback WITH 2Q REMOTES
Check out the new 2Q remote system:
- USB remotes for Source-Talkback
Technique: Remote-buddy with Source-Talkback
As used by Robert Winder
With Source Element’s Source-Talkback plug-in, you can use your Apple Remote or any other supported Remote hardware with your Mac to open and close your Talkback switch. To help free you from the keyboard, we’re providing you this tutorial courtesy Robert Winder at ADR Anywhere. He’s using the great software ‘Remote Buddy’ from IOSPIRIT.
Important: Source Elements does not officially support Remote Buddy, as third party software. For questions regarding this product please visit the Remote Buddy website.
Remote Buddy from IOSPIRIT
Apple remote setup for Source-Talkback:
You need to purchase and download a $30 application called Remote Buddy: www.iospirit.com/remotebuddy
1. Launch Remote-Buddy
Once you launch the program, go to Remote-Buddy -> Preferences.
1. Uncheck application behaviours
Uncheck all applications in the Behavior window except Default Behaviour.
1. Create custom action
Click on Default Behaviour, and then click on “Perform action” on the Play/Pause line. Click on “Custom actions”.
This will open a window to allow you to define a custom action. The top area asks for a name of the action (I called it “Talkback”). The next area down called “Actors to run within action” is a summary of the selections made in the “Actor settings” area below. Simply enter a \ in the Keystr make sure that the Operation window reads “Single key press between button press & release with autorepeats”. Click on “Use”
“Talkback” should now be in the “Perform action” section of Play/Pause. Change whatever buttons you want to “Talkback”, it should be available as a choice as soon as you click “Perform action” for that button. I originally had selected all buttons as active for “Talkback” but discovered that double button pushes cancels the action (if for instance you hit “Play/Pause” and “+” simultaneously), so I’ve only programmed “Play/Pause” and “Menu” to be active. Deactivate any unused buttons by picking the top selection in “Perform Action” (-).
Remote-Buddy Tips
Be sure to launch the Remote-Buddy program before use. There are only two downsides I’ve found in using the remote:
You need to be in line of sight from the Apple remote IR transmitter to the Mac IR port. It works a little off-axis, but if the remote user has the IR transmitter pointed at their body rather than at the Mac, it probably won’t work.
- If you’re typing something at the keyboard (For example, labelling something during a session) while someone is using the remote for talkback you will find that your tex\\\\\t look\\\\\\\\s like this\\\\!
Recommended Tools
- Hardware
- Apple Remote (comes with any new Apple Mac) or any Remote Buddy supported hardware (For example, Keyspan RF remote or Express, Griffen AirClick USB).
What’s new with Source-Talkback 1.3?
Source-Talkback 1.3 a Native AAX plug-in built for Pro Tools with 64-bit support (10 and higher). Now featuring the ability to define any key as the talkback, latch, and auto enable function keys and also use MIDI to control these functions. The Talkback and Volume Control iOS app is designed as a companion app to wirelessly control these functions, available on the App Store.
Why do I need Source-Talkback?
When working with talent at your studio or remotely via Source-Connect (or any other method of connecting to another studio) whether it is across the hallway or across the world – you probably want to listen to the connection over your speakers rather than over headphones. This means that your connected partners will hear themselves back in your microphone, making it difficult for them to speak. If you are in your studio, you may have hardware at your disposal that provides talkback functionality: some analog mixers or control surfaces such as the D-Control come with built-in talkback functions.
However if you are on the road or using a smaller set-up like a Pro Tools Native, you may not have built-in talkback. The Source-Talkback plug-ins solves this problem for you, more efficiently and more conveniently than spending more money on an additional hardware piece to lug around just for a single, simple feature.
Source-Talkback Compatibility
Source-Talkback 1.3 for Mac
- AAX 64-bit
- Mac OSX only
- Supported configurations
- OSX 10.9 to 10.15
- Pro Tools 10 and up
Source-Talkback 1.2 for Mac
- AAX 64-bit
- Mac OSX only
- Supported configurations
- OSX 10.9 to 10.11
- Pro Tools 10 and up
Source-Talkback 1.0 for Mac
- RTAS 32-bit
- Mac OSX only
- Supported configurations
- OSX 10.5 to 10.7
- Pro Tools 7 to 9
Source-Talkback 1.0 for Windows
Plug-in Type:
- 32-bit RTAS only
Windows XP
Supported configurations
- Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7
- Any 32-bit Pro Tools version from 6.4 and up, until Pro Tools 10
Installing Source-Talback
Go to your account dashboard, and access the Downloads section. Then, select “Source-Talkback 1.3”.
Once ready, select the Mac version and download the product.
After downloading the application, double-click the DMG executable file. Then, click on the .pkg file and follow the installation instructions.
Connecting Source-Talkback and Pro Tools
To use Source-Talkback, you will typically place the Source-Talkback plugin on the Aux or Master channel where your mix or any program material is feeding out to your speakers. Source-Talkback has multi-channel support for any channel count from mono to 7.1.
Uninstalling Source-Talkback
To uninstall Source-Talkback on Mac, open the installer package and double click on the “Source Talkback Uninstaller. pkg” file.
Follow the instructions on the uninstaller.
Getting Started with Source-Talkback
- If you haven’t already, buy a full license or request a full-featured demonstration license, from http://source-elements.com. You will be asked to create an account if you do not have
- Login to your account and download Source-Talkback from the Downloads section and run the Launch Pro Tools.
- You’ll need to create a separate Auxiliary track for your talkback, if you don’t already do this in your session template.
- Insert the ‘Source-Talkback-Aux’ plug-in on your Aux track from the Native > Other menu. Select your mic input for the Aux track and make sure the volume is up.
- Create a new Master Fader Insert the ‘Source-Talkback-Master’ plug-in here.
- If you wish, enable Auto mode and change the Talkback Dim level on the Master fader plug-in via the Options menu. The settings will be remembered according to your Pro Tools plug-in settings preferences
Source-Talkback at a first glance
Source-Talkback provides the following configuration settings in both open and closed modes.
- Push-to-talk mode options: push-to-talk, or talkback mode, can be enabled by holding down the
\ key. This will allow your connection partner to hear you.- Learn MIDI
- Forget MIDI CC 80 Learn key
- Forget key \
- ON/OFF mode options: on/off mode can be enabled by pressing the Shift+\ (↑ key on most
Macs) key. Doing this will latch the talkback, which means you will only need to press Shift+\ once,
and the talkback will remain open until you close it.- Learn MIDI (latching)
- Forget MIDI CC 81 (latching) Learn key (latching)
- Forget key ↑\ (latching)
- Auto enable options: in auto mode, your talkback will automatically close when your transport is in playback or record. Your talkback will automatically open when you stop playing or recording.
- Learn MIDI (toggle auto enable)
- Forget MIDI CC 82 (toggle auto enable) Learn key (toggle auto enable)
- Forget key ⌘\ (toggle auto enable)
- Mode selection options: this will be useful for some MIDI controllers and instruments. They do not, however, affect the general use of Source-Talkback with a keyboard or the iOS application.
- Toggle mode: Source-Talkback will enable the functionality every time you press the key and
stop it when you press it again. - On/off mode: each time you press the assigned key, Source-Talkback will alternate the state on/off. It is enabled by default.
For more information on any of the options in the Source-Talkback plugin, continue on to the Using Source-Talkback topic.
Initial Settings for Source-Talkback
Source-Talkback listens to your keyboard and defaults to the slash “\” key. When using the keyboard, you may get a system beep if you have another application front-most. To avoid this beep, disable System Alert sounds in your System Sound preferences.
To define any key you choose, control click on the talkback button to show the menu options to define different keys for the plugins functions:
When building your Pro Tools session, you may want your Aux track with the Source-Talkback-Aux plug-in to be “solo isolated”. Do this by command-clicking on its solo button.
iOS Setup and User Guide
Download and install the Source-Talkback app on your iOS device:
wnload and install the Source-Talkback app on your iOS device:
itunes://itunes.apple.com/us/app/source-talkback-remote-control/id1046595331?mt=8
Setting up your iOS Talkback app is a little different. Follow these steps:
- Open Finder and go to Applications -> Utilities and open Audio MIDI Setup
- On the Menu bar, go to Window -> Show MIDI Studio (or hit ⌘2)
- Double click the Network icon (or click the “Configure Network Driver” button in the top right-hand corner)
Alternatively, in Pro Tools on the Menu bar, go to Setup -> MIDI -> MIDI Studio
- Under My Sessions click the + icon to add a new MIDI Network Session.
- Under Session, make sure Enabled is checked. You can change the Local Name of the session
and the Bonjour Name of your computer here if you wish. Set Who may connect to me: to Anyone.
- Now that your MIDI Network Session is active, you just need to connect your iOS device to the session.
First, be sure your device is connected to the same network as your host computer. Next, click the connect button in the app to connect to the session. The status bar along the top will show Connected once a connection is established.
- Make sure your device is listed under Participants. If it is not, then select the device from the Directory and hit the Connect button. The device is not actually connected unless it shows under Participants even if the status bar on the app says Connected.
- The default MIDI mappings on the Source-Talkback plugin match those on the app so now it is ready to use.
If the MIDI values have been changed either in the plugin or in the app, Learn MIDI will need to be used on the plugin to learn the new values.
How to use Source-Talkback with SourceNexus Mute-On
Following is a description of a new workflow for using Source-Nexus Mute-On by pairing the plugin with our Talkback and Volume Control iOS app to provide remote MIDI control to the plugin.
What you will need
First, if you have not already, please download and install the latest version of Source-Nexus Suite which includes the Source-Nexus Mute-On plugin.
Next, please download the Talkback and Volumen Control iOS app from the Apple AppStore on your iOS device. This app is only available for iOS.
Connecting the Source-Talkback iOS application with your host computer
To connect the app to your host computer, first make sure the iOS device is connected to the same network as your host computer, then you will need to set up a MIDI Network Session. You can follow the in-app instructions in the Talkback and Volume Control app, or please see the following link for macOS set up instructions (Share MIDI information over a network in Audio MIDI Setup on Mac).
For Windows, please download and install rtpMIDI to create a MIDI Network Session. There is a set up tutorial available as well, however the set up is the same procedure as on macOS once rtpMIDI is installed and running.
Configuring the iOS Source-Talkback application
- Once the iOS app is connected to your MIDI Network Session, open up an instance of Mute-On in your preferred DAW.
- Open the dropdown menu for “On Midi” in the Mute-On plugin and set your MIDI device to the name of your MIDI Network Session (by default this will be “Session 1”).
- Open the dropdown menu for “On Midi” and select “Midi key: (click to set new key)”.
- Now press the large talkback button in the Talkback and Volume Control iOS app, which will send the MIDI message to the plugin and allow it to learn the MIDI CC value from the If it worked correctly, the MIDI key should show CC80.
- If it does not, please verify that the iOS app is properly connected to the MIDI Network Session, and that the name of the session is selected as the MIDI device in the Mute-On
- Now the large talkback button in the iOS app should be working to trigger the MIDI action in the Mute-On plugin.
Setup for OSX 10.9 and higher
OSX since 10.9 (Mavericks) will ask you when you first activate Source-Talkback to allow Pro Tools to access the Accessibility privacy settings. To verify that Pro Tools has access, open System Preferences->Security and Privacy and check that Pro Tools is on the list of applications under the Privacy tab. You won’t see Pro Tools in this list until an application, such as Source-Talkback, requests it.
As of macOS Catalina (10.15) Pro Tools also needs to be given Input Monitoring access in the Security and Privacy settings. This is also under System Preferences->Security and Privacy under the Privacy tab.
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Using Source-Talkback
Auto Usage
The most common method will be to enable Auto-On. You can do this in two ways:
- Select Auto:on from the Options menu
- Use the key combination command + ‘\’ (apple + backslash)
Once Auto is enabled, Talkback will close when the transport is in playback or record. You can override the Auto functionality at any time with shift + ‘\’ or toggle Auto with command + ‘\’
Manual Usage
Source-Talkback takes two key commands and has one menu. It also accepts a mouse click on the
‘Talkback’ button in the plug-in window to toggle the ‘latch’ state.
Default Key command: ‘\’
The ‘forward slash’ key, usually found above the right-hand shift or return key on a standard keyboard.
Holding down this key enables the talkback volume, so your connected partner can hear you, and your master fader level is dimmed so they get as little feedback as possible from your speakers.
Default Key command: shift+’\’ :
The shift key plus the forward slash key.
Hitting this key command once toggles and ‘latches’ the talkback – this means that you only need to hit the key command once, and Talkback will stay open until closed.
Talkback Dim: options menu
Depending on your needs, you may wish to modify the dim menu from the default –15db. The recommended values are -10db, -15db and -20db.
Once one of the Source-Talkback plug-ins is visible in Pro Tools click on the red target in the upper right corner of the plug-in to deselect it from target mode. This will allow the plug-in to remain on the screen even when another plug-in is brought forward.
Listen Back
Sometimes the musician in a local booth doesn’t have a microphone nearby or at all. In this situation you can also set up one more aux input fed by a microphone in the musician’s room. Place SourceTalkback-a on this track. This aux is output to the engineer’s monitor speakers and is switched on and off by toggling or latching Source-Talkback. This way you don’t have a continuous feed from the microphone in the musician’s room.
You can use as many Source-Talkback plug-ins as you need at the same time. Thus Talkback and ListenBack functionality can be simultaneous.
System-wide recognition
Source-Talkback will listen for the key commands regardless of whether you have either plug-in visible, and even if Pro Tools is a background application.
We recommend leaving at least one Talkback plug-in visible so you can see your status. It doesn’t matter which, and we have designed them in two different sizes so you can choose which fits best on your screen.
Remote Control for iOS Devices
You can use the Talkback and Volume Control app for iOS devices to control the talkback switch, latch, and auto enable controls on the Source-Talkback plugin. Download the app from the App Store. To connect the app to the Source-Talkback plugin, setup a MIDI Network Session and connect your iOS device to it. Setup tutorials are also available directly in the app.
To setup a MIDI Network Session, open Finder and go to Applications->Utilities and open Audio MIDI Setup. On the Menu bar, go to Window->Show MIDI Studio (or hit ⌘2). Double click the Network icon. Alternatively, in Pro Tools on the Menu bar, go to Setup->MIDI->MIDI Studio…
Under My Sessions click the + icon to add a new MIDI Network Session. Under Session, make sure Enabled is checked. You can change the Local Name of the session and the Bonjour Name of your computer here if you wish. Set Who may connect to me: to Anyone. Then, make sure your device is listed under Participants. If it is not, then select the device from the Directory and hit the Connect button. The device is not actually connected unless it shows under Participants even if the status bar on the app says Connected.
The default MIDI mappings on the Source-Talkback plugin match those on the app so now it is ready to use. If the MIDI values have been changed either in the plugin or in the app, Learn MIDI will need to be used on the plugin to learn the new values by right clicking on it, selecting Learn MIDI for the control you wish it to learn, then tapping the corresponding control on the app. The MIDI mode should be set to On/off mode.
Source-Talkback Troubleshooting
Known Issues
Source-Talkback plugin does not respond to its key assignment, or it is not possible to learn a new key
Make sure Pro Tools is given Accessibility and Input Monitoring access in the Privacy settings located in System Preferences -> Security and Privacy -> Privacy. See the following article for details: Source-Talkback Privacy Settings
If you continue to have issues with key assignments, try the steps detailed below in the “latches cannot be changed” section.
Source-Talkback latches and cannot be changed
If Source-Talkback latches automatically when using the iOS application, switch to use the Master version of the plugin. Then:
- Right click the plugin for the
- Forget the existing
- Relearn the
Cursors issues when selecting a text field
If your cursor has selected a text field anywhere within Pro Tools, you will see a series of ‘\’ whenever you use Source-Talkback. To avoid this, press the ‘ESC’ key. It will return your cursor focus back to Pro Tools, which doesn’t recognize the forward slash key.
IAC Driver and Source-Talkback
In order to work with Source-Talkback, the IAC Driver needs to be OFF. In some cases, Source- Talkback might be stuck open when the driver is on. In order to turn off the IAC driver:
- Go to Audio MIDI
- Go to Window > Show MIDI
- Double click the “IAC Driver” icon, if it
- Uncheck the “Device is online”
Pro Tools crash with MIDI devices
When a MIDI device is being used (as an input, a controller, etc.) in Pro Tools and users add SourceTalkback into a track, Pro Tools crashes. In order to fix the issue, try disabling the MIDI devices and reload Source-Talkback onto the track.
Contacting Support
Comprehensive documentation is available on our website. If your question is not answered please contact us via telephone, email or we can arrange communication over other methods such as Skype on request.
Comprehensive documentation is available on our website. If your question is not answered please contact us via telephone, email or we can arrange communication over other methods such as Skype on request.
Online support and user guides
https://support.source-elements.com/pages/software-user-guides-and-manuals
Email
Support: support@source-elements.com Sales: sales@source- elements.com
When emailing Support, please provide us with the information required to resolve the issue: for example, your Source-Connect login, computer type, host version, and as much detail about the problem you are having as possible. This will assist us in responding to you with relevant assistance more rapidly.
Documents / Resources
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SOURCE ELEMENTS Source-Talkback Plug in Pair Designed [pdf] User Guide Source-Talkback Plug in Pair Designed, Source-Talkback, Plug in Pair Designed, Pair Designed, Designed |
