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DP548
Dynamic Audio Management
Software
Datasheet (19.4 meg)
Datasheet (2.9 meg)
Have you ever seen (not heard) Dynamic EQ?
Written by Waring Hayes at XTA Electronics.
Contact: waring(at)xta.co.uk
With the release of the DP548 imminent, the final testing of its integration into AudioCore is nearly complete, and the ante has been well and truly upped with the implementation of the Dynamic EQ.
Anyone who has played with a SiDD will remember the ability to drag the threshold point on a transfer function window with a bouncing ball showing the closeness of the input signal to the threshold, and how intuitive that made setting the threshold. This has been incorporated into the DEQ (and compressor) windows for the DP548, but the DEQ has gone well beyond that.
The individual bands of EQ are now dragable just as they are in any main EQ editing scenario, with the bandwidth (or ‘Q’ depending on which you prefer to think in) adjustable with your mouse scroll wheel. The gain adjustment meter mode is still in there, with the transfer function drag point allowing the ideal threshold to be easily worked out.
More conventional display with gain reduction (or expansion) meters centred around each band of DEQ.
A right click on the curve display allows you to change to the real time individual curves which move in real time showing each band's response with the shadow showing the maximum permissible response change that has been set.
Each separate band's EQ contribution is shown superimposed on the shadow curve which represents the maximum allowable effect level.
These curves moving about in real time is cool enough to watch and soon the operation of the DEQ becomes even more intuitive, especially as far as adjusting the attack and release times go – suddenly you can 'see' how the band is cutting or boosting in response to the audio, and how fast you want it to react.
However – the masterstroke is the combined response mode. Selected again from a right click on the display, this works out the interaction of each band with the others and displays an overall response curve, again in real time! This truly is brilliant to watch and I can honestly say I've not seen anything like it elsewhere. If you have – let me know and I will call you a liar, or a very efficient plagiarist ;)
You won't have seen anything like this before! DEQ bands interaction is shown in real time including the effect of the attack and release times of each band to show how the EQ is responding to the incoming audio...
Hints and tricks about the compressor and matrix.
Threshold is draggable in real time on transfer function window, and bouncing ball shows input level relative to this.
When editing the compressor, each output can be cycled through 1-8 then back to 1 by pressing F8 on the keyboard. This will also cycle outputs on the matrix editing screen, and inputs on DEQ editing.
The threshold can be dragged in real time on the transfer function graph by holding the mouse over the “knee” and left (normal!) clicking and dragging. A right click on this graph also allows you to enable/disable peak hold for the ball. (Same on DEQ).
The ratio can also be adjusted by clicking and holding the mouse as if you are about to adjust the threshold, and turning the scroll wheel (if your mouse has one). Page Up/Dn also achieves this.
The knee can be adjusted by by clicking and holding the mouse as if you are about to adjust the threshold, and the pressing the left or right arrow keys.
To get the unit into Matrix mixing mode, it’s accessible from the dropd own list you’d normally use to choose a crossover template (2 x 4 way, free assign etc. ):
Select matrix mixing in the list alongside “Free Assign” mode and the other routing templates. Accessed from “Device > Modify”.
Once in Matrix mixing mode, you’ll see that the routing shown in the device window is replaced by a large rectangle mysteriously labelled “Matrix”. What could that possibly do…?
Well, as with all the other processing blocks in the device window, clicking on the “Matrix” block will bring it up for editing.
Sliders set the “send” levels from each input to your chosen output. As with the compressor editing, and the DEQ editing, F8 will cycle round all the outputs allowing you to set up the mix send levels quicker and compare output settings.
DP548 Specifications
- Inputs Electronically balanced (transformers optional) AES/EBU (selectable) fitted as standard to all Series 4 units
- Impedance >10k ohms CMRR >65dB 50Hz - 10kHz
- Outputs All electronically balanced (transformers optional) AES/EBU fitted as standard to all Series 4 units
- Source Imp < 60ohms
- Minimum Load 600ohm
- Maximum Level +20dBm into 600 ohm load
- Sampling Rate DP548 – Up to 96kHz internal, up to 192kHz can be accepted and converted.
- Frequency Response ±0.5dB 10Hz - 32kHz
- Dynamic Range >116dB 20Hz -20kHz.
- Unwtd Distortion < 0.001% @ 1kHz, +10dBm
- Maximum Delay 650 mS. (increment 0.325 µs steps)
- Output gain Adjustable +15dB to -40dB in 0.1 dB steps and mute
Equalisation: - Filters Parametrics - 8 Per input / 9 per output
- Additional filters 28-band graphic on each input
- Each parametric can be switched to Bandpass, Allpass, Notch, VariQ, Shelf and Elliptical response
- Phase filtering - 2 degree steps on each input and output
Crossover Filters: - Bessel / Butterworth 6/12/18/24/48dB per octave
and Linkwitz-Riley 12/24/48dB per octave
Dynamic EQ: - 3 bands per input
- Parametric behaviour - 19.7Hz - 32kHz ‘Q’ 0.4 - 128,
- Max gain automatic gain adjustment 18dB
- Max ratio (cut above mode) 4:1
- Max ratio (all other modes) 2:1
- Attack 70uS - 2.0 Seconds
- Release 11mS - 3.4 Seconds
Compressor: - One per output
- Max ratio 16:1
- Variable knee - 12 steps + Off (Hard)
- Attack 70uS - 2.0 Seconds
- Release 11mS - 3.4 Seconds
Mix matrix mode: - Input sends to each output continuously variable from -40.0dB to _15.0dB in 0.1dB steps plus OFF,
Limiter: - Threshold +22dBu to -10dBu
- Attack time 0.3 to 90 milliseconds
- Release time 4, 8, 16 or 32 times the attack time
Clip/D-max Limiter : - Look-ahead attack time,
- Fast, Medium or Slow release times
Connectors: - Inputs 3 pin female XLR
- Outputs 3 pin male XLR
- RS485 In/Out XLRs
- RS232 9 Pin (Female) D Connector
- Power 3 pin IEC
- Power 60VAC - 240VAC
- Consumption < 40 watts
- Weight 3.5kg. Net (5kg. Shipping)
- Size 1.75"(1U) x 19" x 12" (44 x 482 x 305mm) excluding connectors
Due to continuing product improvement the above specifications are subject to change
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