Transcript
Controlling the JBL Professional DSC260 System Controller Using SIA-Smaart® Pro SIA Software Company, Inc. an EAW Company
The SIA-Smaart Pro Real-Time module can control crossover and delay functions on the DSC260 as well as output EQ, limiter, gain and phase compensation. This document discusses details of the Real-Time module’s external device control interface specific to the DSC260. More general information about controlling external devices from Smaart Pro can be found in the SIA-Smaart Pro user’s manual or the Real-Time Module help file.
Preparing a DSC260 for Remote Control The first step in preparing a DSC260 system controller for remote control using SIA-Smaart Pro is to check the version number of the firmware (device-specific software stored in nonvolatile memory) currently running on the unit you want to control. The firmware version shipped with most DCS260s currently in the field does not support external control of this device and will need to be updated. The DSC260, the firmware version, actually consisting of two separate numbers, appears briefly on the front panel display during boot-up. When you first power the unit up, you should see something like this: JBL DSC-260 B0.12 A1.01 The number beginning with “B” is the boot version. The number beginning with “A” is the application version — the field-updatable software. Make a note of both numbers. If the application number is 1.05b or later, the DSC260 is ready for remote control and you can skip ahead to Making control connections on page 2. If the application number is earlier than 1.05b, you will need to update the firmware.
Updating the Firmware To update the firmware in the DSC260, you will need the following three items: 1. An RS-232 serial null modem cable. RS-232 is the serial communication standard used in virtually all Windows/IBM compatible computers. A null modem cable is a special type serial cable with the “terminal ready” and “modem ready” lines crossed so that the port is held “open” at all times when two devices are connected. The DSC260’s serial input (labeled RS232) requires a 9-pin female D connector. The serial (COM) port on your computer, could be a 9- or 25-pin, male or female D connector (only 9 of the pins in a 25-pin serial port are actually used). You should be able to purchase the cable and/or adapters you need from virtually any computer store. 2. The "Flash" loader application, 626loadr.exe, used to load the new firmware program into the DSC260's nonvolatile memory 3. The new firmware file for the DSC260 The Flash loader program and updated firmware file for the DSC260 are available for download from the JBL Professional web site (www.jblpro.com) or the downloads section of the SIA Software Company, Inc. web site (www.siasoft.com).
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Once you have obtained the necessary software and cable, follow the steps below to upload the new program to the DSC260. Step 1: Connect the DSC260 to your computer. Connect the serial port (labeled RS232) on the rear panel of the DSC260 to a serial (COM) port on your computer using the null modem cable. If the Boot version number (the number beginning with “B” displayed on the DSC260’s front panel display on power up) is B0.13 or later you can skip to Step 2 below. If the Boot software is B0.12 or earlier then you will have to disconnect the DSC260’s power cable and reconnect it while holding down the Recall and Mute4 keys. The unit will step through an led test pattern on power up then display a message similar to: OK 000 0000 Check:D993 The DSC260 is now waiting for the PC software to run. Step 2: Uploading the new program. Double-click on the file 626loadr.exe to start the flash loader application. If the path and file name for the new firmware file (626v105b.a21 or later) is not already entered in the Transfer File field, click the Browse button, select the file you want to upload and click OK. Now select the number of the computer’s serial port you connected to the DSC260 in the From Comm Port field, select the All option in the To MIDI Channel field, and click the Go button. The DSC260 will display the message Running Loader.. and the loader program will indicate the progress of the file transfer by displaying the percentage sent as the file is uploaded. The DSC260 will restart when the transfer is completed and display the following message: JBL DSC 260 B0.1x Updated The DSC260 should now be enabled for remote control through MIDI or serial connection (using the null modem cable) from Smaart Pro. You will need to configure an External Device definition and select the proper serial port or MIDI channel in the Real-Time module as you would any other supported external device.
Note: Depending on how you have Windows’ file display options set on your computer, 626loadr.hlp and 626loadr.exe may both appear as just "626loadr" in file folder windows. You can tell which is which by the icons used to represent the file type (the help file will be the one with the book icon).
Making Control Connections If you want to control the DSC260 via serial connection, use the same setup you used to upload the new firmware program. To control the DSC260 via MIDI connection from your computer, the computer must be equipped with a Windows-compatible MIDI I/O hardware interface — typically a joystick-to-MIDI
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Controlling the JBL Professional DSC260 System Controller Using SIA-Smaart Pro
adapter cable or an add-on MIDI I/O box that connects to a serial or parallel port. MIDI connections between the computer and the EQ are made with outputs to inputs and inputs to out puts as in the figure below. An advantage to using a MIDI connection is that up to 16 units can be connected together in a “daisy chain” and controlled from a single MIDI port on the computer. The two figures below show connection diagrams for MIDI control of a single DSC260 and a chain of two or more units. Computer Computer
MIDI In MIDI Out
Two (or more) JBL DSC260s
JBL DSC260 MIDI In
MIDI Thru MIDI Out
To MIDI Mixer or Switcher (Optional)
MIDI In MIDI Out
To MIDI Mixer or Switcher (Optional)
MIDI In
MIDI Thru MIDI Out
MIDI In
MIDI Thru MIDI Out
On the left is a single DSC260 connected to a computer for MIDI control. The figure on the right illustrates a “Daisy-chain” of 2 (or more) DSC260s. Up to 16 DSC260s can be controlled from one computer MIDI port.
Configuring the DSC260 in Smaart Pro Once the physical control connections are made, each DSC260 you want to control through Smaart Pro must be configured as an external device in the Real-Time module. The first step is to add a device definition for each unit. Start Real-Time module and click the External Device Info button (shown at the left) on the top toolbar or select External Devices from the Options menu to open the External Device Information dialog box. Click the Add button at bottom left of the dialog box window. When the Add External Device dialog pops up, select “JBL DSC260” from the drop down list and click OK. A device definition for a DSC260 is created and the JBL DSC260 Configuration dialog box (shown on the right) opens automatically. In this dialog box, you need to select the audio I/O mode (2-Channel 3Way, 3-Channel 2-Way, or Mono) and the PC serial (COM) port or MIDI channel number you will use to control this device. If you are using a MIDI connection, the MIDI channel selected here must match the MIDI Channel number set on the DSC 260 itself (using the front panel controls). When multiple DSC260s are chained together you will need to add a new device definition for each unit in the chain and the MIDI channel setting for each unit must be unique. The Device Name appears only on the list of configured (physical) devices in the External Device Information dialog box and in the System Controllers list in Delay Locator mode. The Other Names section is where you set the output channel names you want to appear in the drop-down lists of available devices on the external control panel and in the System Presets dialog box. You can choose which channels will appear in these lists by checking or un-checking the “Show in drop-down lists” box next to each of the six output channel name fields. For example, if you were operating this DSC260 in a “stereo linked” configuration, you might want to see only “master” channels listed and would leave “slave” channels unchecked.
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The DSC260 Control Panel, Top to Bottom Once an DSC260 is physically connected and configured internally, put the Real-Time module in Transfer Function mode and click the External Device Mode button (shown on the left). The external device control panel will replace the Trace Information Area that normally appears to the right of the main plot area and the Real-Time module will attempt to establish communication with the “device” selected in the drop-down list of available devices at the top of the control panel. Make sure one of the names you set up for a connected DSC260 output channel is selected in the list. When communication is established with the remote device, a set of markers appears on the plot to indicate positions of any filters assigned on the current output channel. Crossover (high/lowpass) filter positions are indicated by triangular markers, EQ (bell and shelf) filters show up as square boxes with cross-hairs appended. If you do not see any filter markers within a few seconds after selecting the device and you know there are filters assigned on the selected channel, check all the cables, connections, and configuration settings. If you are controlling the DSC260 via MIDI, make sure you have the correct MIDI In and MIDI Out “devices” selected on the Devices Tab of the Options dialog box. After the markers appear, select a filter by clicking it’s marker with your mouse. The settings for the filter will appear in first three fields of the Filters section of the DSC260 Control Panel (shown on the left). The DSC260 features several different types of filters and the information displayed in the Filters section of the control panel will vary based on the type selected. For bell (parametric) EQ filters, the control panel displays the center frequency (Hz), bandwidth (Oct) and cut/boost (dB) value. For (High and Low) shelf EQ filters the 3 dB down point (Freq) and cut/boost value are displayed — the bandwidth (Oct) parameter is not applicable to this type of filter and so the field is disabled (grayed out). For crossover filters, only the 3 dB down point (Freq) parameter is variable and the other two fields are disabled. The drop-down list box below the three filter parameter fields controls the type of filter associated with the currently selected marker. Again, the choices vary based on the type of filter selected. For EQ filters, the available options are Bell (parametric), and High or Low shelf with either 6 or 12 dB/octave slope. For crossover filters, the options are a Butterworth (But) filter with a slope of 12, 18, 24 or 48 dB/octave or Linkwitz-Riley (L-R) with 12, 24 or 48 dB/octave slope. The name or number of the of the currently-selected filter is displayed below the filter type list box. Crossover filters are identified as Low Edge or High Edge. When an EQ filter is selected, the filter number is displayed along with the number of Free (unassigned) filters available. Clicking the New button will assign a new EQ filter to the selected channel (assuming there are free filters available) and cause an marker to appear on the 1 kHz line at -0.5 dB. A shortcut for creating a new EQ filter is to hold down the Shift key and click on the plot with your mouse at a point where you want a filter. Clicking the Flat button in the Filters section will set a selected EQ filter to 0 dB cut/boost. The All Flat button flattens all EQ filters on selected the output channel. On the DSC260, a flattened EQ filter is considered unassigned so the filter marker will disappear completely when a filter is set flat. Please note that the Flat and All Flat buttons affect only EQ filters. The crossover filters can only be assigned and unassigned through the DSC260 System Control dialog box (see page 7 for more information).
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The SIA-Smaart Pro Real-Time module shown controlling a JBL DSC260 digital system controller. The unit is shown in a two channel, three-way, stereo linked configuration. The light blue signal trace is a real-time frequency response measurement of output channel 5, the “master” channel for the high-frequency section currently under control. The magenta and yellow traces are stored response curves for the mid- and low-frequency bands. Note that two different types of filter markers are visible on the plot. The square markers control EQ (bell or shelf) filters. Triangular markers indicate the 3 dB down point for High and Low Edge (crossover) filters.
The last control in the Filters section is the Show Inverted check box. This option is normally used only when the response curve of the selected output channel is inverted (using Smaart Pro’s Swap Transfer Function Inputs feature) to facilitate using a room/system response measurement as a guide for setting filters. The unit’s audio I/O mode and the output channel number(s) currently under control are displayed immediately below the filters section.
Storing and Recalling Programs Below the Filters section, in the Program section of the control panel, are two buttons labeled Recall and Store. Clicking the Recall button pops up a dialog box that allows you to retrieve a program for the DSC260 stored either on the controller itself or in a file on disk. Clicking the Store button pops up a similar dialog box that allows you to save the current settings as a program stored in memory on the controller or as a file on disk. Note that this feature can be used to copy filter settings from one unit to another since Smaart Pro DSC260 programs stored on disk can be loaded into any connected DSC260. The DSC260’s front panel display normally shows the name of the last program recalled from memory on the controller itself and so will the title line above the Transfer Function plot in the Smaart Pro. If any controller settings have been changed since the program was recalled, an asterisk will appear after the program name to indicate that the current control states no longer reflect the stored settings. The plot title and the 260’s front panel display will only change when a different program is recalled on the DSC260 or when the current settings in Smaart Pro are saved to a memory slot on the controller.
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The DSC260 has three basic types of security; program locking, Lock Out and OEM Lock. Smaart Pro always stores programs on the DSC260 using the program lock feature. This helps prevent accidental changes to current controller settings from overwriting the settings stored in the program. Program locking does not prevent you from making changes to any controller setting in Smaart Pro after a program is recalled or from overwriting the stored program. Smaart Pro can overwrite locked programs without requiring you to unlock them. It does mean that the stored program is held intact in memory and can be recalled after changes are made. It also means that any changes you make after recalling a program will only be applied to the program stored in memory if you overwrite the existing program. If you recall a different program without storing your revised settings, your changes will be lost. Smaart Pro ignores Lock Out mode on the DSC260. You can make any changes you like to current settings and store and recall programs whether Lock Out is on or off. OEM Lock security is another story. Most of the same restrictions that apply to working with OEM Locked programs using the 260’s front panel controls also apply when controlling the unit using Smaart Pro. When you recall OEM Locked programs on the DSC260, controls for locked parameters are disabled but visible. You will be able to see all the settings but you cannot change any locked parameters while OEM Lock is on. If you turn the OEM Lock off for an OEM locked program, using the DSC260’s front panel controls (a password is required), you can make changes to current controller settings but your changes will not affect the program stored in memory and you will not be allowed to overwrite the stored program with your revised settings. Smaart Pro cannot overwrite an OEM Locked program on the DSC260 even if OEM Lock is turned off. To use a memory slot containing an OEM Locked program to store your own program, you would first need to delete the existing program using the 260’s front panel controls. Smaart Pro also does not support OEM Locking when storing DSC260 programs. When you store a program using Smaart Pro, either on the 260 or as a file on disk, no OEM Lock tags are set on any parameters. If you recall an OEM Locked program and store it to another available memory slot (i.e., one that does not contain an OEM Locked program) or to a file disk, you can make any changes you like to the copy and store the revised settings as your own program. If you want to protect a program created by Smaart Pro with OEM Lock security, you will need to use the DSC260’s front panel controls to set it up. Smaart Pro programs stores programs on the DSC260 with the OEM password set to all blank spaces. When setting up OEM locks for a program created using Smaart Pro, just press the Store/Enter button on the DSC260 when it asks for the Password to enter OEM Lock mode. In OEM Lock mode, you can then set locks and change the password for unlocking the program to anything you like. All Smaart Pro external device program files (stored on disk) are given the file name extension “.eqp.” When you save a program to disk, you have the option of attaching a descriptive text comment to the file. When you select an EQP file to be loaded from disk, the type of device the program is for, the type of program (if applicable) and the text comment (if any) are displayed at the bottom of the Open file dialog box. Since this is really the only way to tell EQP file for different devices apart, it’s a good idea to store files for different devices and/or for different jobs in separate folders. The lower portion of the DSC260 control panel, below the Program section, has several additional controls. The Gain control, sets the overall output gain of the selected output channels in decibels (dB). You can mute or un-mute any of the 260’s output channels by checking or un-checking the appropriate check box under Mutes (checked = muted). The Stereo Link box links controls for adjacent output channels (1- 2, 3 -4, and 5 -6) when checked so that changes made to the settings on one
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output channel are also applied to the linked channel. If the settings on the two linked channels are not identical, changes are applied incrementally to the linked channel. For example adding 2 dB of boost to filter number three on channel one will also add 2 dB of boost to filter number three on channel two. When adjusting EQ filters in Stereo Linked mode, be aware that the linking relationship follows filter number and not necessarily frequency order. Care should be exercised to use like-numbered filters for similar frequency ranges on linked channels. At the bottom of the DSC260 control bar are two buttons labeled Config and Sys Control. The Config button pops up the DSC260 Configuration dialog box (discussed on page 3) to allow you to make changes to the device and channel names and I/O configuration. The Sys Control button opens the System Control Options dialog box. This is where you will find controls for most system controller functions not shown on the DSC260 control bar.
The DSC260 System Control Options Dialog Box The System Control Options dialog box allows you to control input assignment, delay time, crossover (highpass and lowpass) filter parameters, polarity, limiter threshold, gain and mutes for all output channels on the DSC260 currently under control, regardless of which output channel is currently selected. You can also set the delay time for the input channels and turn the Stereo Link feature on and off from this dialog box. The System Control Options dialog box is resizable, so you can shrink it to a convenient size to show just the information you wan to see, and “modeless,” meaning you can leave it open while you continue to work in the main Real-Time module program window.
When you make change to the settings in the dialog box, you will see the changes reflected in any associated on-screen controls. For example, if you click the spinner (up/down) buttons next to the Lo Freq field for the currently selected output channel. This changes the 3 dB down point for the highpass filter and you will see the triangular marker for that filter move on the Transfer Function plot to reflect the change. Type the word “Out” in the same field then click the Apply button and the marker on the plot will disappear. Note that whenever you see the Apply button activate itself, it means some action is required from you to send the change you just made to the DSC260. If you change a value using the spinner buttons, select something from a list, or check or un-check a check box, the changes are sent immediately and the Apply button will not activate. When you type a value in a text field, you have to press the Enter key on your keyboard, select another control, or click the Apply button to actually send the change. At the top of the System Control Options dialog box on the left, the current base audio I/O configuration (2-Channel 3-Way, 3-Channel 2-Way, or Mono) is displayed. The I/O mode selection does not prevent you
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from sending the signal from either input (or the mono sum of the signal from both inputs) to any combination of the six outputs however the DSC260 regards these as separate operating modes. This is also a quick way to set a number of parameters so it’s a good idea to start with the configuration that most closely approximates how you will be using the 260. Just below the I/O configuration is a check box to turn on the Stereo Link feature. To the right are three text fields where you can set delay times independently for each of the two input channels and for the mono sum of both inputs. The center of the dialog box is devoted to a table consisting of six rows of identical controls — one row for each output channel. At the left of the table in the column labeled Output, the channel number and the name assigned to each output channel is displayed. The first column of actual controls is a set of list boxes that allow you to select the input Source for each channel (in A, In B, or In A+B). Next comes the Delay time for each output (specified in milliseconds).
The next two columns control the 3 dB down frequencies for each output’s highpass and lowpass crossover filters (labeled Lo Freq and Hi Freq respectively). If the word “Out” appears in any of these fields, it means that filter is not currently assigned on the corresponding channel. You can turn on an unassigned crossover filter using the spinner buttons to the right of the input field or by typing in a value (in Hertz) and pressing the Enter key on your keyboard. To de-assign any of these filters, simply type “Out” in the corresponding field and press Enter or click the Apply button. The next two columns to the right (Lo Shape and Hi Shape) are list boxes for selecting the type and slope for the crossover filters. Again, the available options are a Butterworth (But) filter with a slope of 12, 18, 24 or 48 dB/octave or a Linkwitz-Riley (L-R) filter with 12, 24 or 48 dB/octave slope. The Polarity for each output channel is set in the next column to the right. The options are normal (Norm) or inverted (Inv). The next two columns, second and third from the right, set the limiter (Limit) threshold in dBu, and the output Gain (in dB) for each channel. The column of check boxes on the far right sets the Mute for each output (checked = muted). The Close button at the bottom of the window below the control table closes the dialog box. Please note that this does not a cancel any changes you have made to the controller settings. Config opens the JBL DSC260 Configuration dialog box (see page 3 for more information). The Apply button is used to send changes entered by typing values into text fields.
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