Not that type of gang – we’ve not gone all West Side Story on you…
Whilst checking out something wholly unrelated in AudioCore this very morning, I discovered a neat little feature that I (and I am glad to report no-one else here) knew about when you are working with ganged outputs.
So let’s assume for some reason you’ve ganged the first four outputs on a 448 together like this:
Outs 1-4 ganged. (and Ins A and B, as it happens…)
If I now go to the gains tab during editing, the gains will be linked and will all track together as expected, and the mutes will remain independent, as they do when operated via the front panel of the unit:
Gains will all be set to the same value and will track together if any of output 1-4 gain is adjusted. All as expected…
However…what I didn’t realise is that if I go to the EQ editing tab (where the output tabs for channels 2, 3 and 4 have been amalgamated to a single tab covering 1+2+3+4), there is also a Mute button. Its behaviour is different – it allows you to mute all the channels in the gang together, whilst leaving the individual mute controls accessible via the gains tab.
This mute button will mute/unmute all channels in the gang simultaneously.
If any channel in the gang is muted, this will show mute enabled – pressing it will set all mutes to the same state – it doesn’t just toggle the states – so if you turn it off here, all four outputs will unmute.
The same holds true of phase controls (always unganged via the front panel), but can be controlled as a gang via this control on the EQ editing tab.
Try it out – Very handy!
It’s funny the things you discover when you think you know it all 😉
Remote control of our units has been built-in and considered since we first developed the DP100, with its options of MIDI, RS232 and RS485 interfaces.
As we always want you to be able to use you equipment no matter what interfaces they support for remote control or connecting peripherals, we try to find solutions that will enable this as simply as possible.
We have overhauled two of our solutions to simplify not only the parts required, but of course to also make things work better!
Firstly, long distance comms for RS485 connections to a PC or laptop.
We have tested many USB to Serial adapters over the years and our recommendation for a simple USB to RS232 adapter still stands – the Aten UC232A. Aten US-232a
This uses an industry standard chip (made by FTDI if you are feeling particularly techhie!) to handle the protocol conversion and this chip (and so its associated drivers) are also used in the DC1048, and the MC2 Ti1048 to provide a direct USB connection.
Our original solution to extending this to RS485 (as RS232 is limited to about 25 feet, although it will run reliably further at lower baud rates) so extending this range to 1000m and allowing a network of units to connect was to add an RS232 to RS485 adapter onto this. The KK Systems K2-ADE adapter worked well for this and so we had a kit consisting of the Aten adapter, the KK Systems adapter, and an D-type to XLR cable converter so you had a USB – RS485 on XLR solution ready to plug straight in. This KK Systems K2-ADE adapter is added to the Aten adapter to make it a USB-RS485 converter.
Recently, some users have been experiencing difficulties with this solution, especially under Windows 8 – issues with AudioCore not picking up all connected units, or not getting all data back from them successfully. This has turned out to be a Windows serial comms timing issue and beyond our control.
So we looked for a hardware answer to sort this out.
We came up with a new converter that offers a direct USB-RS485 solution in a much more elegant (and cost effective!) manner, and still uses the same reliable chipset as we have been used to. This adapter will replace the combination above for a more streamlined elegant solution direct to RS485 for AudioCore.
Note that this solution is for AudioCore only – we still have a different adapter to work with iCore for control of MC2 Ti Series amplifiers, processors and Dante breakout boxes. iCore does also support 4 Series (and DP548) as well as DC1048s and Ti1048s and so offers an alternative remote platform if you use these together. This USB-485 adapter is only for use with iCcore systems.
The iCore solution is this KK Systems adapter which again does direct USB-RS485, but due to the fact that the Ti Series products were forced to run at 57600 fixed baud rate (due to having to support Cobranet breakout boxes and their maximum data tunnelling speed), we have to do it slightly differently yet again!
All of this might feel a little confusing but it’s all summarised in the Remote Interface Guide (get it here) along with order codes and what’s supplied with each adapter, and a handy decision tree to help you choose the correct one for you application.
Going Wireless – new Walkabout Kit.
We’ve also been working hard on getting a new “Walkabout Kit” solution together, allowing both wired and wireless Ethernet connection to all units. Some of you have been experiencing problems with the latest DiGi Wisp WiFi to Serial converter – primarily seeing it on your list of available networks. A change in the firmware supplied with the units has unfortunately made them less than ideal to work with due to the fact that once we set them up here, if there are problems “in the field”, resetting them now renders them invisible on WiFi SSID searches, and they need to be manually reconfigured with a serial cable. We realsie this is just not practical in most circumstances. We will no longer supply them.
Instead we have changed to a Moxa NPort wired Ethernet to serial converter. This has several advantages. Firstly, and probably most importantly, upon a hard reset, the device can always be discovered and reconfigured as it has a wired Ethernet connection! Secondly, this solution can “go wireless” simply by plugging into a standard router, making it part of existing networks, instead of being an “ad-hoc” peer-to-peer connection. Lastly, it’s just much better! Set-up in greatly simplified and it’s more robust and reliable. Everything you would want!
Moxa NPort 5150 – a simpler, more reliable solution to Ethernet and Wifi remote connections.
The Walkabout Kit will no longer include an external USB-WiFi adapter as every device now comes with it built in and the quality has improved to the point that we don’t think it’s necessary to add this extra level of complexity. If you’re interested in finding out more about the Moxa Nport and how we configure it, there’s a guide on-line here which explains all.
Yes – start skipping! And this is why – there are serious and valuable additions to this latest AudioCore release, but the one thing that will probably be appreciated more than any other is the small addition of this little button:
If you know they’re not there, why wait? Tell the computer!
You’ll see it now when you start working on a new system and AudioCore is scanning all IDs to see what’s out there(after choosing to “Build System From Connected Units”):
Once your IDs have been found, hit the button.
Handy.
Even more handy is that AudioCore now supports the DC1048 (and the MC2 Ti1048) for the first time, including the ability to configure and manage the timed presets. We won’t go into all the editing and how that works – it’s basically the same as a DP448 but with the mix matrix mode of the DP548 (instead of fixed level routing).
Remember – if you’re connecting the DCor Ti1048 to the computer via the USB connection, you need to select “Master” as the connection type on the unit, and in AudioCore select “RS232” as the connection type and choose the appropriate COM Port that the USB-Serial device is installed on.
To access the timed presets, it’s a simple right click on the device window, in the same way as you would do to modify the routing or edit input and output names:
Choose “Timed Presets” to edit the automated recall configurations for this device…
This will then display the timed preset manager, where up to 10 events can be scheduled – either as weekly events on certain dyas, or as single one-shot events at a certain time on a certain day.
Set up your memory recall schedules.
Note the “Update to current time” tick box in the bottom left corner – it’s handy to tick this before hitting OK, as it will send you current computer’s clock settings to the unit to make sure its clock is correct – assuming your PC’s one is of course 😉 It’s worth knowing that once a one-shot event has “fired”, then next time you access the timed preset manager, it will have been deleted from the list.
Talking of presets, the ability to load presets from DP448 “.xbl” files (Library Manager files) has been extended to cover the DP548 and the DC1048 and Ti1048.
Presets are loaded on an individual basis through a right click on the Device Window and choice of “Modify Device”:
Just as you would choose to edit names or change routing configurations…
On the first tab, you’ll see the “Load Preset” button:
Remember – this will want to find an xbl file – NOT a bin file…
Point AudioCore to a Library Manager file (NOT the output bin file that you would load into the unit – they won’t be recognised!)
We will access the L-Acoustics library file:
…and given a suitable file (it has to be a DP448 file – so a compatible 4 in 8 output device) you will be greeted with a list of all the presets in this file. Pick one and load and you’re done!
Select your chosen preset.
Note that the routing is handled intelligently when loading a fixed routing preset into a DC1048 or Ti1048, and into a DP548 which is currently running in matrix mixer mode. Channel sends will be muted or set to 0dB in accordance to the fixed routing config in the preset. If, when loading into a DP548 the current config is already a “fixed” routing ( so anything other than mix matrix mode), then this mode of operation will be preserved.
For example, the L-Acoustics preset loaded into the DC1048 above (which only operates in mix matrix mode) will have set up the “sends” to work just like a 2 x 4 way system, as you can see below:
This is a stereo 4-way system.
In case you were wondering, presets with summed inputs (such as mono summed outputs for sub drive) are also sympathetically handled: an output fed from A+B for example in a preset, will be imported into a mix matrix with both sends set to -3dB so the output level is summed to 0dB. This is the way the fixed routing has always worked too.
And don’t forget this:
If you know they’re not there, why wait? Tell the computer!
Following on for the success of our flagship DP548 dynamic management system, and after many requests for a different format of this winning formula, we are expanding the DP548 into the 5 Series and introduce its newest family member, the DP544.
The DP544 includes all the features of the DP548 but now comes in a 4 input – 4 output format.
For all those applications where the main focus is the dynamic EQ, changing the I-O count to four inputs and four outputs makes sense – the DP544 will then fit in perfectly when considered as an in-line processor or insert processor. Imagine the top quality power available when two units are combined with a DS8000D running digitally at 96k directly into a pair of DP544s – superb mic preamps, and a digital signal chain of top quality equalisation and dynamics with remote control!
Coupled with this release, there’s a minor bump up of AudioCore to version 8.85, and an update of all 4 Series firmware to version 2.30 across the board. We’d recommend you update your units if you download the new AudioCore just to ensure you don’t get any comms errors.
8.81 – for most people, the only difference will appear to be the “1”!
First of all – if any of you have just downloaded version 8.80, then imagine we are the Adobe of professional audio and have just rolled out two updates in quick succession. This is where the comparison falls apart, as we won’t be doing it every time you turn your computer on 😉
OK so I love Adobe as I love Flash and where would we be without pdfs, never mind Photoshop and Dreamweaver and so on…
This update is to sort out a little bug that most of you will never even witness, but it’s highlighting does allow me to introduce something else to you that you may never have played with…the memory allocation option in AudioCore.
Following up a technical support email which amongst other things, asked how to import presets into AudioCore, I touched upon the ability for the software to pull presets out of a connected unit. By “presets” here I mean speaker manufacturer’s settings stored in ROM (so locations 256 and above when you go to recall a “Xover” only).
You get to this through the File Menu > Options and then the Memory Allocation tab…
So when you build a system from connected units and then choose to upload current and memory settings, AudioCore will, in this instance, request the first 40 user memories and then skip to 256 and start requesting the first 60 presets.
The split between these two sets of memories can be adjusted through this option so if you want more user memories and no presets (maybe because there aren’t any installed) you’d choose 100 Memories and “None” for presets – you get the idea…
The bug fix associated with the release of version 8.81 over 8.80 was just to prevent a restart event* occurring if you tried to adjust this option before you had a system in place on screen. By “system in place” I just mean at least one unit displayed. This can be a workaround if you don’t want to update right now – make sure you’ve built your system before you access this option…
*there is another name for this type of behaviour – some people call it a crash 😉
Just a quick post, after we finished a day of training here at XTA. Having bought a very nice HP touchscreen monitor last year to use at Plasa, it suddenly seemed appropriate to give it a proper job. We have distributors coming, Microsoft release Windows 8, and I have a training/exhibition computer running Win7 just begging to be upgraded.
So for the princely sum of £25, I upgrade the machine to Windows 8. This is not the quickest process ever, but that’s fine – the upgrade assistant confirms the vast majority of things on the PC will survive the process (to be honest, being an exhibition PC, there’s not a lot on it, and also being Win7, I should hope there would be minimal trashing…).
So after several reboots, we’re up and running…well almost.
For no apparent reason, Windows 8 does not allow me to set the monitor resolution to the native settings for the display (this worked in Win7) so I am stuck with either a stretched but small option, or a correctly proportioned but massive anti-aliased choice. I opt for the massive option, based on the fact that I intend to poke at the monitor with my fingers and the bigger the better.
The next issue is the fact that actually finding where programs now live and accessing them is actually hampered by the lovely swipey start screen. This is made more frustrating by the oddity that when you start something that is very much a built-in “app” like Internet Explorer, a very normal Windows desktop appears briefly, before the program opens. So just how do I access this standard desktop?
As it turns out, you flip between the Start screen and a desktop (albeit one MINUS a start button – quite irritating) with the Windows key on the keyboard. Fine if you still HAVE a keyboard attached. I have yet to work out how you achieve this if you just have a touchscreen (and no mouse) but I am sure someone can comment below and help with that!
In any case, it is teething trouble – I am so wanting Windows8 to be as good as my Win7 phone (the beautiful Nokia Lumia 800) that I am willing to get shot of my android tablet (ruined earlier this year by an ICS upgrade and now becoming ever more frustrating to use – Acer A100 – great 7″ tab, pre-upgrade, now often close dropping into bin.)
A Surface beckons me with its smooth swipey fingers…but tey’re just too silly expensive right now.
Anyway, the basis for this “quick” post was just to let everyone know that with no driver upgrades or reinstallation, both AudioCore and iCore worked fine. Whilst I had a suitable setup in place, I made a couple of quick videos just to show you – if you can get past the stunning jumper I had one that day!
A technical post for you, courtesy of Tom Taylor from Brighton, who called us last week about problems he was having installing the Aten UC232a converter on his Win 7 machine. Whilst we have not experienced any issues with our Win 7 machines here (64 bit version), I did try an install on the phone with Tom and came across some strange behaviour.
The standard manufacturer supplied drivers, which work from XP through to Win 7 are here , but Tom also sourced some alternate drivers through a forum post, which are here.
Thanks again Tom for your assistance – we’re never to proud to accept help!
Just a quick update for those of you with RSS feeds – the latest version to coincide with the release of the promised DP548 new firmware is now available. Remember to update your 548 as well as downloading the software to unlock the new features in the dynamic eq bands and have a play around – you’ll be amazed how powerful a seemingly small change can be!
It’s come to our attention that a bug has crept into the latest version of AudioCore that prevents loading of individual preset from xbl files. Attempting to load a preset via the Modify Device > Load Preset route will all appear to work (you can select the xbl file and browse the list of presets within it), but when you actually load it, only the name appares on the device title bar in AudioCore but no settings are sent to the unit.
As a temporary workaround, please uninstall version 8.70 and then reinstall 8.60. Unless you are using DP548 units, there is no operational difference between these versions. You can get V8.60 here:
and it’s always available through the software revision history on the website. Apologies to anyone who has encountered this, and be assured we’re getting it sorted and will release an update shortly.
Here, actually. Well, not exactly here, as I’m not going to explain them all again, but there is an updated guide to help you choose the best one for your application. It covers all the interfaces we stock, with part numbers and shows what you get with each kit. You can download a copy from the Tech Support section of the site, under the “Remote and Interfaces” section or directly from here: https://audiocore.wpengine.com/tech-support-docs/Remote_Interfaces.pdf
Now, onto more important things like our sea-faring activities of late… 🙂
