Contents THANKS INTRODUCTION INSTALLATION STARTING THE SOFTWARE CONNECTING UNITS TO THE COMPUTER Using Midi... Using RS232... Using RS485... 4 4 5 7 8 8 8 8 TYPICAL INTERFACE SET-UPS RS232 Connection (Single Unit) RS485 Connection RS232 Connection (Multiple Units) Midi Connection 9 9 10 11 9 CONFIGURING A UNIT SETTING UP COMMUNICATIONS AND GOING ON-LINE Configuring the Units Themselves Configuring the Computer and Software Going `On-line' Uploading Data from Connected Units Working Off-line and Downloading Changes to the Units 12 13 THE DEVICE WINDOW AND EDITING BLOCKS MENU BAR AND TOOL BAR SUMMARY GUIDES EDITING INPUT AND OUTPUT GAINS EDITING DELAY SETTINGS EDITING LIMITER SETTINGS EDITING EQ AND CROSSOVER SETTINGS Editing with Curve Drag Features Modifying Curve Dragging Behaviour Editing with Direct Filter Control Parametric or Shelving Filter Behaviour Crossover Settings Additional Controls and Solo Function Swapping Bandwidth Units Readout Tool Bar Guide 15 16 18 20 21 22 22 23 24 24 25 26 26 17 13 13 14 14 14 SECURITY FEATURES AND PASSWORD LOCKOUT COPYING AND PASTING SETTINGS MEMORY STORE AND RECALL Erasing a Memory Options for Memory Access 27 29 30 30 30 GLOBAL GANGING SETS 31 Page 2 Audiocore Version 5.70 ARRAY CONTROL Starting Array Control Setting up Zones Control and Details of Zones Array Control Options Scan System Flash ID's Cycle Outputs Temperature Check System Monitor External MIDI Recall Background Image Option Printing from Audiocore Smart Tips 33 33 35 36 37 39 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 43 MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS AND FUNCTIONS 39 APPENDIX 1: UPDATES TO VERSION 5.70 Refresh Button SiDD Access Button Input/Output Names and Unit Names Stored in Units 20uS Input Delay Adjustment PEQ and High/Low pass Editing: Full Filter Control Option Memory Schemes Option Additional COM ports and new `Advanced Settings' 44 44 44 44 45 45 46 46 Audiocore Version 5.70 Page 3 Thanks Thank you for choosing the XTA for Windows TM software. Please spend a little time reading through this manual, so that you obtain the best possible performance from your purchase. All XTA products are carefully designed and engineered for cutting-edge performance and world class reliability. If you would like further information about this or any other XTA product, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Introduction This manual covers the installation and use of XTA's proprietary software package known as `Audiocore'. This software is a remote control application running under Microsoft Windows TM , and is compatible with the following XTA products: The DP226 Speaker Management System The DP224 Speaker Management System The DP6i Audio Installaiton Controller The DP100 2-In 4-Out Digital Audio Delay Processor The DP202 2-In 2-Out Digital Equaliser/Processor The DP200 2-In 4-Out Digital Equaliser/Processor The software is designed to allow all these products to be connected to a computer through a variety of interfaces (RS232/485 or Midi) and will permit full remote control of any combination of up to 32 devices. It is also possible to set up and configure an entire system off-line (not actually connected to the units) and then download the new settings later. These `configuration' files may be stored on the computer, and/or distributed to anyone with a copy of Audiocore, thus allowing system designers to maintain and handle complex systems easily from any location. Recent additions to the software have included the introduction of `Array Control' (DP224/6 only) which permits individual outputs on any DP224/6 to be included in any required zoning configuration, and includes real time metering of any output. For the latest information about XTA's software and product range, visit the website at www.xta.co.uk. Page 4 Audiocore Version 5.70 Installation Please note that this software will not run under WindowsTM 3.1 or 3.11. It is designed for WindowsTM 95/98/NT4 2000, ME and XP. Follow these steps to install your copy of for Windows TM . Insert the disk supplied into floppy disk drive A on your computer. It is recommended that you close all other applications before attempting to install this software. This is true during all software installation, and is not peculiar to this package. Click on the `Start' button on the toolbar, and select `Run' with another click.. Type `a:\setup' in the text box as shown, and then click `OK'. After a couple of seconds the installation will begin. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen. Audiocore Version 5.70 Page 5 Alternatively, open the control panel by clicking on the `Start' button, selecting `Settings' and then `Control panel'. From this window, select the `Add/Remove Programs' icon, and double click on it, opening the window shown below. Click on the button marked `Install...' which will start the software installation wizard. Follow the instructions to install the software. Page 6 Audiocore Version 5.70 Starting the Software The installation procedure will have created an entry in the `Programs' list off the `Start' menu. This will be called `AudioCore'. Clicking on this followed by the `AudioCore V5.00' that appears will start the software. When the software is started for the very first time, you will be prompted to choose the type of unit you wish to control. This may be a DP100, a DP200 or 202, or a DP224/6. Throughout this manual, the DP226 is used for all examples, being the most complex of the currently available devices that may be used. All other devices offer sub-sets of the control available with a DP226, and so will be easily integrated into any system should they be required. For example, if the first unit is chosen to be a DP226, typically the window would show this and, after clicking `OK' the configuration screen for a DP226 will appear. If you have already been using the software, the last file used will be opened automatically, if the option is enabled (under File Options). There are actually two options available, as shown by the window below. The first is the `Auto Save File' option which, if checked, will automatically save the current file without user intervention as the software is closed down. The second, the `Auto Load Last File' option, will load the last file worked on as the software opens, again without user intervention. Audiocore Version 5.70 Page 7 Connecting Units to the Computer There are three types of remote connection that may be used to connect units to the computer. These are outlined below. Using Midi... To output Midi information from the computer, it must be fitted with a suitable Midi device and driver software appropriate to that device. A Midiman `Portman PC/P' can be used to convert the parallel port to a Midi port, if there are not enough spare Com (serial) ports available, or if the computer is a laptop. If this device is used, be sure to select the driver with the `w/LEDs' extension in the `Setup' menu, and ensure that the `Enable Device' box is checked. If the Midi device is internal, such as a Soundblaster sound card, an adapter cable is required to `break-out' the Midi connections from the 25 way D-connector on the card. Note that the maximum recommended cable run for Midi is 15 metres. Using RS232... RS232 uses a serial port connection from the computer (normally a 9-pin Dconnector for Com1 ports) and allows remote control of one unit directly. In the case of the DP226, additional units may be cascaded from the RS485 connectors on the rear of the first unit. This may be a pair of XLR connectors, or RJ45 (telephone jack) connectors. Typical set-ups are included in the section following this. Using RS485... To output RS485 from a computer requires either a converter to connect to the serial (RS232) port, available from XTA, or a plug in card along the same lines as a Midi or Sound-card. The main advantage that RS485 has over RS232 is that the RS485 system is a `multi-drop' system as opposed to a `point-to-point' system, so if one unit fails, all other units will continue to operate as no unit is dependant on the one electrically previous to it in the remote control chain for the relay of data. Additionally, the electrical specification of RS485 permits cable rums of up to 1km before any regeneration is required. The basic specification of RS232 only caters for cable runs up to 25m. Page 8 Audiocore Version 5.70 Typical Interface Set-ups RS232 Connection (Single Unit) A typical interface set-up might involve running an RS232 link from laptop or a desktop computer to a DP226 set up as a master unit. The diagram below shows this method of connection, the required menu options are also given. RS485 Connection To use RS485 communication directly from a computer, a master DP226 must be configured to receive RS485. You must have a suitable RS485 port on your computer, or a converter connected to the serial port in use. This configuration is shown below, along with the required menu options. Audiocore Version 5.70 Page 9 RS232 Connection (Multiple Units) If control over multiple units is required, typically the slaves will be set up to run from the RS485 ports on the master DP226. This arrangement is shown below. Note the incremental `Remote ID Num' option in the unit's menu options. Page 10 Audiocore Version 5.70 Midi Connection To use MIDI communications, the DP226 must be configured to receive as a master via its MIDI port. You must have a MIDI card or interface connected to your computer. The setup is shown below. Audiocore Version 5.70 Page 11 Configuring a Unit The configurations available will depend on the type of unit. In the case of a DP226 this screen is equivalent to the `Design a Xover' menu within the unit itself, choosing the type of crossover to implement, and various basic options relating to this. These names and the device configuration may be changed at any time by selecting the device in question (click on it's device window) and then Device Modify from the menu bar. This window also allows the device itself, and all the inputs and outputs on that device, to be given names. These are used throughout the software ­ on the actual device window (which appears after clicking `OK') and on the editing screens. It is accessed by clicking on the `Names' tab at the top of the window. Note that, although the text boxes will accept names up to 15 characters long, it is recommended that names are less than nine characters if they are to be completely visible on all screens. Try to include identifiers such as `L' or `R' or numbers at the start rather than the end of the name. Page 12 Audiocore Version 5.70 Setting Up Communications and Going On-line Configuring the Units Themselves For details as to the exact interface operation for each unit, please refer to the operator manual particular to that unit. All units have an interface menu ­ check that the correct interface has been selected for the type of computer connection to be utilised ­ Midi, RS232 or RS485. Ensure that, in the case of RS232 or RS485, no two units are set to the same channel (or ID). It is recommended that the first unit in the chain is assigned ID number 1, the second 2 etc. In the case of a Midi connection, the slave channel does not matter as communication uses `System Exclusive' commands. Also ensure that the baud rate of the unit is the same as that selected for the computer (described below). Configuring the Computer and Software After starting Audiocore, choose Remote RS232/RS485/Midi as appropriate from the menu bar. A window will appear containing the configuration settings required for the interface. In the case of RS232, this is as shown here, with selectable options for the `Com' (serial) port to use, the speed of this port and options for improving the robustness of the interface, if the port supports them. `Use Acknowledge Cmd' ensures that every message sent from the software reaches its destination correctly, but at the expense of operational speed. It is recommended to enable this option when long cable runs are used in noisy environments. `Hardware Flow Control' uses additional physical lines to control the traffic on the port, and is only available with the RS232 interface. If the cable being used to connect the units to the computer does not physically have these additional lines connected, do not enable this option as communications will not work correctly. Audiocore Version 5.70 Page 13 Going `On-line' If the remote interfaces have been configured correctly at both the units(s) end and the computer/software end, it will now be possible to go `on-line'. This is achieved simply either by choosing Status On Line from the menu bar or by pressing the On/Off line button on the tool bar. In either case, once the chain has been scanned (errors will be reported if units fail to respond), the system will become live, and a dialogue will appear offering the chance to download (transmit to) the uni ...