Reference Manual
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Table Of Contents Welcome!...................................................................................................... 3 About the ProLinear DSP.................................................4 DSP Control................................................................................................ 4 PC Integration............................................................................................. 4 Key features of the ProLinear DSP......................................................
Table Of Contents Mechanical ................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 6: Troubleshooting.......................................................... 41 Appendix ........................................................................................... 43 Preset and User Programs ......................................................................... 43 Index ..............................................................................
Introduction Welcome! Thank you for making the Alesis ProLinear DSP a part of your studio. Since 1984, we've been designing and building creative tools for the audio community. We believe in our products, because we've heard the results that creative people like you have achieved with them. One of Alesis' goals is to make high-quality studio equipment available to everyone, and this Reference Manual is an important part of that.
Introduction About the ProLinear DSP The ProLinear DSP is a powered two-way speaker that offers the following features: • Increased bass frequency range with more accurate response • Increased Sound Pressure Level (SPL) capacity • Lower distortion • Smoother frequency response • Single Speaker Configuration – there’s no difference between left and right cabinets, so place them in either location DSP Control The ProLinear DSP’s Integrated DSP Module controls the equalization and output level of the speaker
Introduction How to Use This Manual This manual is divided into the following sections describing the various functions and applications for the ProLinear DSP. While it's a good idea to read through the entire manual once carefully, those having general knowledge about studio equipment should use the Table of Contents or the Index to look up specific functions. Chapter 1: Getting Started.
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1 Getting Started A Tour of the Rear Panel Input Level XLR/TRS Audio Input Serial Input (from other speaker or computer) Serial Output (to another speaker) IEC Power Connector Power Switch The rear panel of the ProLinear DSP contains the following: • • • • • Input Level control—to adjust the strength of the signal coming into the speaker. This allows all types of audio sources to be used, from stand-alone CD players to professional mixers.
1 Getting Started Connecting the ProLinear DSP The ProLinear DSP has two primary back-panel connector types: • • A combination XLR and 1/4" TRS balanced input for connection to a mixer or any other line-level output source Two 9-pin RS-232 jacks, one female and the other male, for connection to a PC and/or another speaker. MIXER, ETC.
Getting Started 1 Connecting the ProLinear DSP to a PC Attach the male end of a standard 9-pin, PC serial cable to the Data Link “in” port on the back of the ProLinear DSP. Attach the other end to one of the serial ports on your computer. In order for the ProLinear DSP to communicate properly with your PC, the software on the included CD-ROM must be installed and then the set to the proper communication channel. Instructions on installing the software begin in the next section.
1 Getting Started Installation procedure 10 • Insert the included CD-ROM. It should start itself, but it’s possible you may have to double-click on the setup.exe filename located on the CD-ROM. This will bring up the ProLinear DSP Install Wizard. • Click the Next button to continue. This will bring up the License Agreement window. Read the license agreement and click Yes to accept the terms.
Getting Started • • • 1 After the licensing agreement, you need to enter the user information. It is possible to specify whether the software may be used by anyone who uses the computer, or just you. When finished, click the Next button to continue. The next step in the installation process is to select a location for installation. Although the software suggests a default location, you can specify another location by clicking the Browse button.
1 12 Getting Started • The Select Program Folder window provides you the option of specifying the Program Group in which the Alesis ProLinear DSP icons will be available. Again, the software suggests an appropriate group. If you wish to use an existing group, simply browse the list and select it with your mouse. Otherwise, type in a new Program Group name. Once you are satisfied, click the Next button to continue.
2 Operations The Front Panel The ProLinear DSP front panel contains a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and six buttons that serve different functions within each mode of operation. Program/Value Up Volume/Parameter Up Page Save/Band LCD FREQ kHz BAND Program/Value Down Volume/Parameter Down The ProLinear DSP Front Panel The display shows different combinations of text and numbers depending on the parameter being edited.
2 Operations Operational Overview The ProLinear DSP offers three methods of control: • • • the front panel buttons and LCD the PC software the Input Level control on the rear panel Through these controls the following functions are managed: • Volume • Parametric EQ • • Frequency Gain Q Speaker ID/Channel assignment Input Level monitoring Volume Volume is controlled in two ways: by the rear panel Input Level control and by the Gain Trim parameter accessed from the front panel (see the Program Mode
Operations 2 Speaker ID/Channel assignment This parameter allows you to assign the speaker to a particular Channel. If all speakers are on separate Channels, a PC can control them independently. If two or more speakers share a Channel, they constitute a “group” of speakers and can be controlled simultaneously with a single command. Input Level monitoring This feature allows the user to monitor the input level to the Integrated DSP Module in real-time.
2 Operations Program Up There are two buttons that are used in selecting a new Program: • • Program Up advances to the next Program. It also changes the Program of any other speaker on the same Channel. Program Down selects the previous Program Down Program. It also changes the Program of any other speaker on the same Channel. Pressing the Program Up and Program Down buttons at the same time while in Program mode will take the unit back to Preset Program 1.
Operations 2 Channel Mode What are Channels? When two or more ProLinear DSP speakers are connected through their serial ports, it is possible to control them independently or as a group (or as several groups). This is achieved by assigning each speaker to one of the sixteen available Channels. A Channel is an Identification Number (ID) that uniquely identifies a speaker or a group of speakers, so that sending commands to one Channel modifies only the speakers that are set to that Channel.
2 Operations Edit Mode Edit mode is at the core of the ProLinear DSP’s features. This is what allows you to adjust the EQ curve parameters such as Frequency, Gain, and Q. After you have created the EQ curve you want, these settings can then be saved to one of the eight User Program locations. How it works When you select a Program, a copy of that Program is made into a temporary location called the “Edit buffer.” This is where the edits actually take place.
Operations Editing an EQ Curve Once you are in Edit mode, there are three EQ parameters available. Use the Parameter Up/Down buttons to select the one you want to edit, and then use the Value Up/Down buttons to make an adjustment: • Frequency—select a value between 20Hz and 20Khz. • Gain—select a value between -12dB and +6.0dB. 2 After you make an edit to a Program, you must save those changes to one of the User Program locations.
2 Operations Save Mode Program Up Exit Save Mode Save mode allows you to preserve the changes you have made to the EQ curve by saving it to one of the eight User Program locations. To enter Save mode, press the Save button. The Program number will begin to flash. From this point: • • • 20 The Value Up/Down buttons select the User Program location into which the edited Program will be saved. Pressing the Page button will exit Save mode without saving the Program and take the speaker to Program mode.
Operations 2 Input Level Mode The ProLinear DSP has an extremely useful feature called Input Level mode that can help you optimize the speaker’s performance. This mode allows you to measure the level of the incoming signal, which in turn makes it possible to adjust the rear panel Input Level control to its ideal position. In addition to allowing you to achieve maximum signal integrity for an individual speaker, Input Level mode can also be used: 1.
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3 Using the Software The ProLinear DSP Windows application lets you easily control and configure your ProLinear DSP speakers through a standard 9-pin RS-232 serial connection. You can then apply these settings to one of eight available user-defined programs. Overview There are two main levels of control in the PC software: the Channel level and the Program level.
3 Using the Software Navigating the Software The features of the software are accessed in three ways: • The pull-down menu at the top of the main window, which gives access to the housekeeping features common to most Windows applications, such as file saving and opening, plus cut/copy/paste of EQ settings, and pull-down access to most of the features found elsewhere in the main window. Also found here are configuration options and an extensive Help file.
Using the Software 3 The Program Edit window The EQ tab is divided into four areas: • The Curve space, the green area showing a graphic representation of the combined effects of the EQ settings for each Band. Each of the colored dots corresponds to one of the Bands, and is used to edit the Frequency and Gain of its Band. • The Controls, with four columns of knobs and sliders, one for each Band, which can be used in the same way the hardware of a physical equalizer would.
3 Using the Software Editing the Program Curve There are two ways to change the equalizer settings. The first way is to click on one of the colored dots in the Curve space and drag it to the point on the graph that corresponds to the desired Frequency and Gain settings for that Band. As you move the colored dot, the graphic controls for the corresponding Band will move also, and display the numerical values for that Band’s settings. The only value that will not change with this method is the Q.
Using the Software 3 A note about HSH, LSH, and HP There are three additional settings for the Q parameter that are found below the value of 0.25: HSH, LSH, and HP. Here’s what they do: The LSH (Low Shelf) setting affects everything below the specified frequency, similar to conventional tone controls on a home stereo. For example, if Band 1 is set for Low Shelf and the frequency is set to 800Hz, everything from 800Hz on down will be boosted or cut.
3 Using the Software Saving Equalizer Settings After you have adjusted the equalizer to your satisfaction, you can save the settings in one of three ways: • The first way is to save the settings to one of the User Program locations. o At the bottom right side of the Edit Tab window is a large green number. To its right is a “rocker” switch. Click on the top or bottom of the switch to select a number from one to eight. o Click the Save to User button to save the Program to that location.
Using the Software 3 Equalizer Workspaces In addition to saving your equalizer settings in a separate file, you can also save the settings of all Channels and Programs as a Workspace. To save your Workspace: • Select the Save Workspace option from the File menu. This will bring up the Save As window. o Browse your hard drive for the location to which you want to save the settings. o Type a name into the File name box. o Click the Save button.
3 Using the Software Working with Channels A Channel is comprised of either a single speaker set to a particular Channel number or a group of speakers that are all set to the same Channel number. For a more detailed explanation of Channels, see the Channel Mode section of Chapter 2 “Operations” on page 17. Selecting a Channel There are two ways to select a channel: • The first way is to select a Channel from the dedicated pull-down menu on the main screen.
Using the Software 3 Global Controls • • The Dim button will set the Gain Trims of all speakers on all Channels to -18dB. You can also accomplish this by selecting the Dim -18dB option from the Edit Menu or pressing CTRL + D. The Save All Programs button will take all eight User Programs from the PC application and save them to every speaker on every Channel. You can also accomplish this by selecting the Save All Programs option from the Edit Menu.
3 Using the Software Changing Settings There are a number of settings that allow you to configure the PC software to your preferences. To change the application’s settings, select Options from the View menu. You will see this window: The Options window is composed of three primary tabs: Colors, Settings, and Ports. Changing the Colors The four buttons show the colors that are used in the Curve space to help you distinguish visually between the four EQ Bands.
Using the Software 3 Changing the COM Port Number We’ve provided a shortcut that allows you to change the communication port number for your ProLinear DSP speakers without having to access the Device Manager inside the Windows Control Panel. To do this, click on the Ports tab. You will see a screen that looks like this: Use the drop-down menu to select the serial port through which your ProLinear DSP speakers will communicate with the PC.
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4 Frequently Asked Questions It is impossible to design a speaker that fulfills the requirements for every situation, but hopefully the ProLinear DSP will give you a versatility approaching that. The following information will hopefully help you decide what is the best way to set up the speaker. Basic FAQs 1. Can I play the speakers through the serial port of my PC? No. The serial port is only for EQ and level control. 2.
4 Frequently Asked Questions 7. Do the speakers require a break-in period? Nearly all new speakers require a few hours of bass-heavy material at a fairly loud volume to break them in. What this does is loosen up the driver suspensions and smooth out the response. The speakers were designed and calibrated to include the effects of break-in and will sound even smoother afterward. 8. When I turn my speaker on, I get no sound for about 4 seconds. My old monitors work right away.
Frequently Asked Questions 4 Voicing and EQ FAQs 1. How is the ProLinear DSP’s frequency response set at the factory? The response is set to be as flat as possible, typically +/1.5db from 50Hz to 20kHz with advanced bass compensation. They are calibrated for “open space” placement (not against a wall). However, the ProLinear DSP can be tailored to compensate for many placement and mounting scenarios. 2.
4 Frequently Asked Questions 5. Should I use the midrange attenuation Program for my own mixes? This depends entirely on your taste and the venue and objective for the recording. However, for the best recording possible, the midrange should be kept flat. This will give the truest indication of the response and of any EQ previously done to the recording. 6.
5 Specifications Inputs Nominal input level: Maximum input level: Input impedance: +4dBu (-15dBFS) +20dBu (7.0 Vrms) 10kΩ Output Sound Pressure Level (SPL): Low Frequency (LF) power: High Frequency (HF) power: Frequency response: Signal To Noise ratio: ~110db at 1 meter at max input below clipping 80 watts RMS, ~130 watts peak 40 watts RMS typical, ~130 watts peak 50hz – 20kHz +/- 1.
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6 Troubleshooting Symptoms No audio or output too low. Distorted sound. “Err” on LCD display. Cause No input audio. Solution Test with a known good input. Increase input level pot setting. Bad cables. Replace the cables. Source is turned down. Increase source level. Input level too high and is saturating the input ADC. Note: the red LCD display may not be indicating clipping for this circumstance. Turn input level control down. Low frequency gain too high.
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Appendix Preset and User Programs PRESET 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Name Flat Hi-Fi (Smile) White Cone Faux Finnish Studio Cube Boom Box BBC Dip 80 Hz High Pass USER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Name Warmth Bass Boost Bass Cut Treble Boost Treble Cut AM Radio Narrow Portable Radio The Programs in the User bank are also available on the supplied CD-ROM. Feel free to overwrite any or all of them; if you ever want them back, use the “Open Workspace” option in the File menu and navigate to the file “user1.pws” on the CD-ROM.
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Index B Break-in 36 C Cabling Requirements Channel Assignment Channels defined Clipping Connecting your ProLinear DSP Speaker to another DSP speaker Connecting Your Speakers 39 15 17 13 8 8 D Data Link 7, 8 E Edit Mode Band Frequency Gain Q 18 19 19 19 19 F FAQs Features Frequency ranges Front Panel 35 4 14 13 G Gain ranges Gain Trim Gain Trim ranges Getting Started 14 16, 38 14 8 H High Pass Filter (HPF) High Shelf How to Use This Manual 27 27 5 45
Index I Input Level Mode Input Level Monitoring Input Level Potentiometer Installing the software 15, 21 15 7 9 L LCD Display Blinking Propagation Low Shelf 13 13 27 O Operational Overview 14 P Parametric Equalizer Software Power Switch Power-up Sequence Presets Program Mode ProLinear DSP Control Introduction 14 25 7 15 43 15 4 4 Q Q value ranges 14 R Rear Panel 7 S Serial Port Configuration Software Channels Dim Settings Level Settings Program Settings Save all Programs Selecting 46 10 23 30
Index Equalizer Loading Settings Modifying Saving Settings Equalizer Workspace Navigating Program Notes Settings Activate Receiving Channel Changing Ports Software Organization Speaker ID Speaker Modeling Speaker Placement 28 26 28 29 24 31 32 32 33 23 15 38 35 T Technical Information Environmental Inputs Output Power Requirements Troubleshooting 39 39 39 39 41 V Volume 14 W Welcome 3 47
Index Alesis Contact Information Alesis, LLC Los Angeles, USA E-mail: Website: support@alesis.com http://www.alesis.com Alesis ProLinear DSP Reference Manual Copyright 2003 Alesis, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. “ProLinear DSP” is a trademark of Alesis, LLC. Specifications subject to change without notice.
