Focal FOCAL MANAGER User manual

FOCAL MANAGER
USER MANUAL
Français page 15
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Summary
Introduction
Compatibility
FOCAL MANAGER (VERSION PC/MAC)
• Warning
• Hardware connections
• Installation
• Programme architecture
A - "Manager" menu
• "Initialisation" sub-menu
• "Equalizer" sub-menu
• "Individual levels" sub-menu
• "Master level" sub-menu
• "Delays" sub-menu
• "Sweetspot" sub-menu
• "Preset" sub-menu
B - "Pre erences" sub-menu o the "Edit" menu
• "levels" tab
• "Graph" tab
• "EQ Group tab"
• "Password" tab
• "Last Setting" tab
• "Misc" tab
C - "Utilities" sub-menu o the "Edit" menu
To sum up: the 3 steps or upgrading the DSP irmware o your system
FOCAL MANAGER - PDA (PALM OS)
• Hardware connections
• Compatibility
• So tware installation
• Programme architecture
• Programme limitation
• Using a PDA with computer visualisation
FOCAL MANAGER
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Introduction
The "Focal Manager" software is intended to control the entire set of parameters of your Focal Digital Monitoring System.
efore going through this manual please make sure you are well aware of how your sytem operates and more especially of the
use of the various connectors and switches located on the rear panel of your speakers.
Compatibility
The various versions of this software are compatible with PC and Mac computer platforms, as well as Palm-like Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA). Versions for Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, Windows 98... XP are virtually identical, only the Palm version is somewhat
lighter; it will still allow to control an entire 5.1 system.
This instructions manual has therefore been divided into two sections : "Focal Manager" for PC/Mac and "Focal Manager"
for PDA.
Warning
The screens snapshots that illustrate this manual have been taken out of a Mac OS X computer. They might look slighty different
when the programme is run under Windows or Mac OS 9, but this is only a matter of display or positioning of the various menus
within the programme.
Hardware connections
Communication between your PC/Mac computer and the speaker selected as the "Master" of your stereo or 5.1 system is
achieved through a standard RS232 serial cord. In case your computer is only equipped with a US port, we advise you that
off-the-shelf US -to-serial adaptors are available (i.e. see www.keyspan.com).
Installation
No particular installation procedure is required before running the programme. Simply copy the suitable executable file (i.e. in
accordance with your environment) from the CD-ROM to your hard disk, at an appropriate location.
FOCAL MANAGER
PC/MAC VERSION
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Figure 1
Figure 2
Programme architecture
"Focal Manager" is built around three main menus:
A - "Manager" menu ( ig. 1)
• "Initialisation" sub-menu ( ig. 2)
The "Initialisation"is first in the "Manager" pull-down menu.
When you install your system, one of the first things to do after having
established the connection between the loudspeakers and the computer
(cf product User Manual) is to initialise the various speakers comprising this
system by indicating the software programme that the left speaker is serial
number "xxxxxx", right speaker is serial number "yyyyyyy" and so on so forth.
This will allow "Focal Manager" to effectively differentiate each speaker and
make sure that only commands intended to it will be executed.
In order to initialise each one of the system’s speaker or channel it is required
to enter the last 6 numerical digits of the serial number displayed at the back
of each loudspeaker. Ticking a channel box will automically make appear a
field where a serial number is to be typed. Only the subwoofer, due to its very
specific nature, does not require initialising.
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Clicking on "Edit" (fig.3) (on the left hand side under the graph) will make appear a new window (fig.4) allowing to enter the
equalisation parameters to be applied, using the appropriate data fields.
The displayed settings will be effective after clicking the "Send" button. The achieved equalisation curve will then appear on the
graph, and the various parameters sent to the speaker be summed up in the table located underneath the graph area (fig. 3).
As soon as a datum is edited, the corresponding field appears with a green background colour, making it easier to spot.
The background turns back to white again after clicking "Send".
A "Bypass" button allows easy A/ comparison, i.e. with or without EQ.
To link together the EQ parameters of several channels, select the "EQ group" within the "Preferences" sub-menu.
The equalisation parameters used in "Focal Manager" for the different channels of the system are pretty much standard.
There are two "shelving" (top and bottom end) filters with adjustable frequency, three parametric EQ with adjustable frequency
and Q, to which can be added either 12d /octave hi-pass and lo-pass filters, or a 24d /octave hi-pass. Switching from 12 to
24d /octave is done by clicking the "24" (or "12") box.
Due to its very nature the subwoofer channel is handled slightly differently.
As opposed to the other channels its equalisation facilities comprise, either a low-pass and a hi-pass filter, both 12 d /octave,
or a single, 24 d /octave low-pass filter.
Polarity can be inverted, if appropriate, by ticking the corresponding box.
In case the digital input of the subwoofer is used, 2 tick boxes allow to choose its operation mode.
When option 5.1 is ticked, the digital input is assumed to be fed from a LFE channel as per the 5.1 mutichannel scheme, and as
such no processing (i.e. crossover or filtering) is necessary.
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Figure 4
FOCAL MANAGER
PC/MAC VERSION
Figure 3
• "Equalizer "sub-menu ( ig. 3)
This window allows to display graphs of the various equalisation curves that
have been achieved, as well as a table reflecting accurately all parameters
values, for each speaker or channel of the system.
To display the equalisation curve applied to one loudspeaker, tick the
corresponding channel inside the "Channels" box. y default Left and Right
will be selected.
It is possible tu customise the graph by going into the "Preferences" sub-menu
and selecting the "Graph" tab.
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The other option "2.1" is suitable for a stereo system + subwoofer; in that case the subwoofer will be fed by the mono sum of the
left and right input channels, -6d .
Generally in the latter configuration one will use a hi-pass filter (either 12 or 24dB/octave) on the left and right speakers, in
combination with a low-pass on the subwoofer, 12 or 24d /octave, and invert the subwoofer polarity if appropriate.
Underneath is an example (fig. 5) to illustrate the EQ/crossover settings used for a 2.1 situation, with a crossover point set at
100Hz, 24d /octave, normal subwoofer polarity.
• "Individual levels" sub-menu ( ig. 6)
As can be seen this window allows individual level adjustment of each
channel within a system, whether it is 5.1 or 2.1.
Clicking "Send" is required after any change to the faders positions,
for them to become effective.
On the other hand, ticking/unticking the "Mute" and "Solo" boxes available
for each channels will have immediate effect.
The faders range is adjustable (see "Preferences", "Levels" tab, "other levels").
• "Master level" sub-menu ( ig. 7)
This window is for setting the system Master level.
The fader range can be adjusted (see "Preference", "Levels" tab,
"Master level").
A general "Mute" is available.
The "Mono" function is reserved for a stereo or 2.1 system, and operates
only when using the digital inputs. The mono signal is obtained by
summation of both channels (L+R – 6dB).
It is worth bearing in mind that in this window data changes are
immediately passed on to the speakers.
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
FOCAL MANAGER
PC/MAC VERSION
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• "Delays" sub-menu ( ig. 8)
In a 5.1 or 2.1 system, it is essential that the sound radiated by each speaker
reaches the listener at the same time: the "Delays" window can easlily
manage this.
One just has to enter the time delays (in milliseconds) to be applied to the
different loudspeakers. Given the speed of sound, "Focal Manager" will
automatically translate those values into equivalent distances, in metres
and feet.
The picture (fig. 8) shows the example of an 0.85ms delay intended to
compensate for the fact that the "Center" speaker is located 29 centimetres
(0.95 feet) closer than the left and right ones, with respect to the listener.
In a multi-speaker system, one will always have to take the most remote
speaker as reference, then calculate the time delay appropriate for each
one of the other speakers.
• "Sweet spot" sub-menu
The unique "Sweet spot" function allows optimising the sound at the listener
position according to his location relative to the speakers.
This function actually achieves a precise phase alignment between the various
drive units of a loudspeaker according to the listener’s position, therefore
giving the best possible "imaging".
There are 2 different cases:
- The one of a stereo system (fig. 9)
- And that of a 5.1 system (including a Center speaker- fig. 10)
Remark: this software being shared by several models of loudspeakers, the
user must not be puzzled if the "Focal Manager" windows do not show the
correct shape of his cabinets.
In both cases clicking the "Edit" button will call a window including data fields
for various parameters; namely, the distance between the L/R speakers and the
listener, the height of his ears relative to the tweeters, the spacing between the
left and right speakers, the distance between the "Center" speaker and
the listener…
oth pictures are explicit enough in explaining which parameter is expected in
each data field.
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Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
FOCAL MANAGER
PC/MAC VERSION
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In case of SM8’s used landscape and with no inward angle to point in the
listener’s direction, from the "sweet spot" point of view this configuration is
equivalent to swapping horizontal and vertical axis. As a result:
- "distance" is not affected
- the "height" parameter becomes equal to half the distance between
left and right speakers (from tweeter to tweeter)
- “L/R spacing” equals 0.
The larger the inward angle the more the "height" value should be decreased
to compensate for this angle. Eventually, if the speakers were perfectly angled
(equal distance between the 2 transducers relative to the listener), the "height"
parameter should be equal to zero.
In a 5.1 configuration (fig. 11)
For a stereo configuration (fig. 12)
• "Preset"sub-menu ( ig. 13)
The "Preset" sub-menu allows the user to store one or several entire sets of
parameters, including all of them except for the Master level. For instance,
an equalisation curve simulating a typical TV set, a curve mimicking a
particular loudspeaker model, one simulating the sound of a disco system,
different "Sweet spot" settings suitable for various listening positions, various 5.1
setups, and so on...
When a "Preset" is recorded by typing a name in the field "Enter a name to
create a preset" then clicking "Add", the whole set of software parameters is
saved (including "Preferences"). The given name will then appear in the list.
Once a "Preset" has been selected, any of the 3 buttons "Load", "Rename" and
"Delete" (which are self-explanatory) can be activated.
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Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
FOCAL MANAGER
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B - "Pre erences" sub-menu o the "Edit" menu ( ig. 14)
Depending on the software variants, it is located either under the "Focal
Manager" menu (Mac OS X), or under the "Edit" menu (Windows, Mac OS 9)…
This screen (fig. 15) allows the user to customise various programme
parameters according to his own preferences.
A tick box enables to systematically display this dialog at start-up.
It includes 6 different tabs: "Levels", "Graph", "Eq Group", "Password", "Last
setting" and "Misc".
• "Levels" tab ( ig. 15)
This tab is intended to set the ranges of the various faders controlling the
system’s various levels: "Individual levels" and "Master level" of the "Manager"
menu (fig. 16, 17).
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Figure 14
Figure 15
Figure 16
Figure 17
FOCAL MANAGER
PC/MAC VERSION
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• "Graph" tab ( ig. 18)
This tab can be used to personalise the graph (fig. 19) of the "Equalizer"
sub-menu from the "Manager" menu.
A tick box is available to turn the background grid on or off, while "Max dB"
and "Min dB" parameters can be edited to change the Y scale with respect to
the desired resolution.
y setting the "Step" parameter to 1, 2 or 3d , horizontal lines will be drawn at
every corresponding value of the Y scale. This value can also be non-decimal
(e.g. 0.2 or 1.5).
• "EQ Group" tab ( ig. 20)
This tab contains three tick boxes enabling to link the various equalisations
applicable to the speakers of the stereo, 2.1 or 5.1 system, by groups of
channels, namely: left and right together, left and right plus center, or left and
right surround.
Ticking any of these boxes will affect the "Edit" window of the "Equalizer"
sub-menu from the "Manager" menu. For instance, the "EQ Group" tab as
shown above (fig. 20) will in turn modify the layout of the "EDIT" window,
as displayed on the picture below (fig. 21).
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Figure 18
Figure 19
Figure 20
Figure 21
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• "Password" tab ( ig. 22)
Knowing how to use this tab is quite important, as it allows you to password
protect the access to some parts of the programme.
Indeed, the misuse of some of the functions handled by the software can have
some damaging consequences (as an example, from the "Utilities" sub-menu it
is possible to change the content of the speakers internal ROM). One may also
wish not to see anybody being able to edit some previously set parameters or
configurations.
The programme therefore has provision for three accessibility levels; if desired
and provided that during start-up the user has defined the corresponding
passwords, only restricted parts of the programme will become accessible.
Level two (Advanced) and three (Administrator) protections are activated
by entering one password in the "Advanced" field and another in the
"Administrator" field. Please note that it is possible to define only the
"Advanced", or only the "Administrator" password. In the first case levels two and
three will be protected (by the shared "Advanced" password), whereas in the
second case only level three will be protected.
The first level, accessible to anyone, is limited to the "Master Level" sub-menu
of the "Manager" menu and its associated functions, that is Master level, Master
mute and Mono (digital in only).
Level three access only concerns the "Utilities" sub-menu from the "Edit" menu,
which is described a little further on.
Obviously, level two encompasses all the other functions.
• "Last Setting" tab ( ig. 23)
The "Last Setting" is actually a complete record of all parameters comprised in
the software, including levels, equalisation settings as well as parameters of the
"Preferences " menu.
Recording is done automatically when quitting the programme.
The "Ask this question at start-up" tick box enables to instruct the programme,
when starting up, to prompt the user for loading the last setting recorded (fig. 24).
If ticking "Yes" , "Focal Manager" will send the speakers the whole set of
parameters stored during the last programme shut-down. In this case the
speakers need to be switched on and a few seconds will be necessary to allow
for the data transmission to be completed.
For a day-to-day use of the programme, one might find convenient to have
"Yes" ticked and "Ask this question at start up" un-ticked, which would result in
automatic recall of the settings recorded at the end of the last session, without
the question being asked. This is only one possibility among others, obviously.
Figure 22
Figure 23
Figure 24
FOCAL MANAGER
PC/MAC VERSION
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