Marani DPA-880T User manual

DPA-880T
8 In - 8 Out Digital Matrix Mixer
19"
482mm
DIGITAL USB

DPA880 Digital 8x8 Conference System Matrix
User Manual
For the microphone inputs, can be selected a Phantom power Supply.
Described below are the functions of the front panel control buttons for the DPA880.
• Overview
The DPA880 on the front panel offer the possibility to select up to 6 presets, edited and uploaded
on the unit throu h the Pc Sw, thanks to 6 push buttons.
The Name of the current preset is displayed on a wide 2x24charachters LCD and the main
activities of the unit's channels are shown by 8 rows of 5 leds: Line, Microphone, Feedback,
Si nal/Clip, Limiter.
Anyone of the 6 available presets can even be recalled by a remote Wall Panel Control, allowin
also the control of the Master Output Volume.
The Wall Remote Control, actin throu h a RS485 connection, and the Remote PC control, via
USB, can operate simultaneously.
When not used for the Wall Panel Remote Control, the RS485 connection can be used for the
creation of a DPA880 network of up to 32 units, all controlled by the Ps Sw remote control.
The DPA880 is a powerful Matrix, allowin to select as input, for any of the 8 input independently,
a Line Level Input or a Microphone Input, where for the microphone input there is the possibility
to provide a 48V Phantom Power supply.
When selected a microphone Input, the unit provide the possibility to activate a Feedback
Eliminator based on a powerful “pitch shiftin ” al orithm, particularly effective for voice
applications.
Each output has as first sta e an 8x8 Matrix allowin the mix of the 8 inputs and processin the
final mix with a 5 bands Eq, with filters assi nable as Peaker or Hi/Low Shelvin , able to ran e
from -15dB up to +15dB ain; followin the 5bands Eq, a Hp and a LP filters up to 24dB/Oct
shape the output channel band's limits; a delay is also available for si nal/speakers ali nments.
The Dynamic process of each output channel is left to a powerful RMS Compressor, with variable
Ratio and to a final Peak Limiter for the complete output peak control.
Master Input Gain and Master output Level controls are available for the simultaneous level
control of the all inputs and outputs; four Switches, Sw controlled, are available for the On/Off
control of remote devices.

• Getting Started
The DPA880 can work as a stand alone unit [Stand Alone Mode], where up to 6 preset can be
recalled by directly selectin them throu h the 6 “preset” buttons available on the front panel, or
can work as completely remotely controlled unit [Remote Control Mode].
As soon as is turned ON the device will Load the currently selected preset.
Durin the Preset Loadin , the LCD screen will show the followin :
Here the unit is just checkin if Presets are available on the Eeprom.
If not, the “Init” phase can last several seconds, and the Eeprom of the unit is initialized in order
to uest later on the presets will be created by the user throu h the Pc Remote Control Sw.
If Presets are already available, then the “init” phase will be skipped and the currently selected
preset will be loaded:
The preset loadin can take approximately 14Seconds and will end with showin on the LCD the
currently runnin preset's name:
• Stand Alone Mode
When the DPA880 is operatin as stand alone unit, so runnin one of the 6 available presets,
previously created and stored within the unit with the remote control Pc Sw, the only available
control are the 6 “preset buttons”, allowin to select 1 of the 6 available presets previously stored
throu h the Pc Sw Remote Control.
The name of the currently loaded/runnin preset is displayed on the LCD screen.
In Stand Alone Mode, the “Activity” of the DPA880 in terms of runnin processes and si nal
status, per each channel, can be checked thanks to the Vu-Meterin features:
1 led for Microphone Phantom Power Supply Active
5 led for Outputs Activities:
Line Line input Selected
Mic Microphone input Selected
eedback Feedback Active (available ONLY if selected Mic Input)
Sign/Clip Turnin on Blue when present Si nal on the channel and turnin Red when
the si nal is clippin
Limit Showin the RMS Compressor or the Peak Limiter activity
DPA880
DPA880
01: Current Preset Name

• DPA880 Main Features
Maximum Delay: 380.998ms by 21us increment/decrement step, on each
Output
Parametric Equalization: 3 filters on each Input (when selected Line input or Mic without
feedback eliminator active) assi nable as Bell or Shelvin
5 filters on each Output assi nable as Bell or Shelvin
Filters: Symmetrical Bell or Hi h/Low Shelvin up to second order
Filter ain: for Bell and Shelvin the ain is ran in from -15dBu up
to +15dBu by 0.5dBu resolution steps
Center frequency: selectable with a 1/24th of octave resolution steps from
20Hz up to 20kHz
Filter Q/BW: Q/BW from 0.4/3.59 up to 10/0.0312 by 0.1 resolution steps (Q)
Each Filter of the Eq can be sin ularly “Bypassed” once set.
HPF on Outputs: from 1st order (Butterworth -6dB/Oct) up to 4th Order
(Butterworth, Linkwitz or Bessel -24dB/Oct)
LPF on Outputs: from 1st order (Butterworth -6dB/Oct) up to 4th Order
(Butterworth, Linkwitz or Bessel -24dB/Oct)
Filter’s Cuttin Frequency steps: 1/24th of octave
RMS Compressor on Outputs
Threshold: from 18dBu up to -12dBu
Attack time: Attack time from 5ms up to 200ms (1ms resolution up to
20ms, then 10ms resolution up to 100ms and 20ms res. up to
200ms)
Release time: Release time from 0.1 sec up to 3 sec (0.1sec resolution)
Ratio: 1:1 (Bypass) up to 32:1 (Limitin ), with Ratio Slope computed
on Lo Table with 0.1dB steps precision
Knee: Soft/Hard
Peak Limiter on Outputs
Threshold: from 20dBu up to -10dBu
Attack time: Attack time from 5ms up to 200ms (1ms resolution up to
20ms, then 10ms resolution up to 100ms and 20ms res. up to
200ms)
Release time: Release time from 0.1 sec up to 3 sec (0.1sec resolution)

• Remote Control Mode
The DPA880 is mainly thou ht to operate with Remote Control Sw runnin on Pc.
Nevertheless, once created the desired presets for the defined applications, the unit can operate
as a Stand Alone one, as seen before or as Wall Panel Remote Control workin device.
The Remote control, when operated by the Wall Panel Remote control, is workin on the base of
the RS485 connector of the DPA880
The Pc Sw remote control, can instead operate with USB or RS485 connection.
When used the USB connection, the Pc Sw Remote Control can control/edit ONLY one unit per
time.
When used the RS485 connection, the Pc Sw Remote Control can control/edit MORE units at the
same time, connected each others in net.
A particular way of “double” Remote Control is allowed, bein possible to connect to the RS485
the Wall Panel Control and at the same time the Pc Sw Remote Control can be used if connectin
the Pc on the USB connection.
Wall Panel Remote Control Operations
The DPA880 can be controlled by a Remote Wall Panel, allowin to load one of the first 4 available
presets stored within the unit, or to increase/decrease the Main output Volume of the unit itself.
The Wall Panel Remote Control is lookin as follow
The buttons “Preset 1” to “Preset 4” are used to load one of the first 4 presets stored within the
DPA880
Once selected the desired preset, the related led will turn ON.
The buttons “Up/Down” can be used to increase/decrease the DPA880 Output Level.
A “Lock” key is available in order to “lock/unlock” the Preset and Up/Down buttons, so to inhibit
their use.
When the buttons are locked, the “unlocked” led will be Off.
The Wall Panel Remote Control has to be connected to the RS485 connector of the DPA880

PC Sw Remote Control Operations
The DPA880 can be controlled by a Remote Control Sw runnin on Pc, allowin to fully edit the all
processes available on each channel of the DPA880.
More, once created the desired confi urations and selected the desired processes, the complete
channels' set up can be stored within the DPA880 and recalled later on as preset also when the
unit is workin in Stand Alone Mode or as Wall Control Panel operatin unit.
Once launched the Pc Sw Remote Control, previously installed on Pc (for the installation it is
enou h to run the “Installation Sw” and to install also the USB driver which installation instruction
are on the CD containin the Remote Control Sw and comin with the DPA880), the followin
screen shot will appear on the Pc:
The screen above is allowin to select what kind of connection has to be used and to set the
parameters for the selected connection.
USB: the USB connection has to be selected when the DPA880 is connected to the PC throu h the
USB line.
In this case the DPA880 will be controlled as ONE ONLY unit, not bein allowed the net control of
more units when usin the USB connection.
Nevertheless, when usin the USB connection, the Pc Remote Control Sw can operate at the same
time of the Wall Panel Remote Control, there where the Wall Panel Remote Control is connected to
the RS485 connection.
In the USB mode (chosen by “checkin ” the USB button on the “Communication Port” frame),
need to assi n the proper “COM” port in order to match the COM port assi ned by the Pc to the
“USB to Serial Port” within the Device Mana er window at the “Ports (COM&LPT)” directory.
RS485: the RS485 connection has to be selected when the DPA880 is connected to the PC
throu h the RS485 line.
In this case the DPA880 will be controlled as one of a NET of chained units, bein allowed the net
control of more units when usin the RS485 connection.
When usin the Rs485 connection, the Pc Remote Control Sw cannot operate at the same time of
the Wall Panel Remote Control.
In the RS485 mode (chosen by “checkin ” the RS485 button on the “Communication Port” frame),
need to assi n the proper “COM” port in order to match the COM port assi ned by the Pc to the
“USB to Serial Port” within the Device Mana er window at the “Ports (COM&LPT)” directory.

When selected the RS485 connection, more DPA880 can be connected all to ether.
In order this to happen, need the all units (connected in net and up to 32) to be identified by
DIFFERENT ID number.
In order the units to have a different ID, need to pre-assi n to the all units used in net a specific
ID number.
When selected the RS485 mode, this can be done connectin one by one the units to be used in
net and assi nin to anyone of them an ID throu h the “Confi ure ID Device” button.
When a Unit is connected, pressin the “Confi ure ID Device” it is possible to enter a window
allowin to assi n to the unit the ID number.
NOTE: for avoidin problems is hi hly su ested to work with COM ports number within the 10.
If the Pc will assi n to the USB connection a COM port exceedin the number 10, please force to
assi n a port from 1 to 9.
Once selected the desired connection, pressin the “>>” button the Main Environment Window of
the Pc Sw will open:
And the DPA880 LCD will notify that the unit is controlled remotely:
If the DPA880 is operatin throu h an USB connection, then on the left vertical bar will be
displayed the only name of the connected unit.
If the DPA880 is operatin throu h a RS485 connection, then on the left vertical bar will be listed
the all names and Ids of the net connected units.
Double clickin on the Unit's name which processes/parameters have to be edited, the editin
environment of the selected unit will open.
System Lock
PC Connection

Inputs Page
From the “Input” Pa e of the editin environment, on each input can be selected the source.
This can be Microphone or Line.
When the Line Source is selected, the Input Gain can be adjusted from -127dB up to +6dB.
A Bypass button is available for any channel, allowin to “Bypass” the channel's level settin and
brin in it to 0dB.
A Master Gain can be used to Mute the all Inputs (0%) or to brin all of them to a level up to 0dB
(100%).
For each input, is possible to set the si nal Phase as “Direct” (unchecked box) or 180De .
Reversed (box checked).
A 3 bands Equalizer is ever available and can be set pressin the “Edit” button.
In a such case, the followin Eq editin window will open
EQ: from this sub-frame it is possible to set the Input Channels three available Peaker (Bell) or
variable Q Shelvin Filters.

The DPA880 allows the user to select either Bell or variable Q Shelvin Parameters and assi n
them independently usin the 3 available filters.
The selection can be done just pressin the “Peak Eq” button on top of the filters' ain sliders and
selectin one of the 3 available filters' type: Peaker, variable Q hi h Shelvin and variable Q low
Shelvin .
BELL ilter: here Center Frequency, Band Width (Q) and Gain can be adjusted.
“Center Frequency”: the selectable frequencies ran e is from 20Hz to 20kHz in steps of 1/24 of
an Octave.
“Bandwidt BW”: the selectable BW ran e is from 0.0312 Octave (Q=10) up to 3.59 Octave
(Q=0.4) in steps of 0.1 Q.
“Gain”: the selectable Gain ran e is from -12dB to +12dB in steps of 0.5 dB.
Variable Q Low Shelving ilter: here Center Frequency, Band Width (Q) (Slope) and Gain can
be adjusted.
“Center Frequency”: the selectable frequencies ran e is from 20Hz to 20kHz in steps of 1/24 of
an Octave.
“Bandwidt BW (Slope)”: the selectable BW ran e is from 0.0312 Octave (Q=10) up to 3.59
Octave (Q=0.4) in steps of 0.1 Q.
“Gain”: the selectable Gain ran e is from -12dB to +12dB in steps of 0.5 dB.
Variable Q High Shelving ilter: here Center Frequency, Band Width (Q) (Slope) and Gain can
be adjusted.
“Center Frequency”: the selectable frequencies ran e is from 20Hz to 20kHz in steps of 1/24 of
an Octave.
“Bandwidt BW (Slope)”: the selectable BW ran e is from 0.0312 Octave (Q=10) up to 3.59
Octave (Q=0.4) in steps of 0.1 Q.
“Gain”: the selectable Gain ran e is from -12dB to +12dB in steps of 0.5 dB.
Note: each sin le filter can be independently “bypassed” for an easy settin /use of them.
To “Bypass” the sin le filter, just press the “Bypass” button below the filter’s parameters.
In order to set, if necessary, more Eq of the 8 input channels in tha same way, “Input Linked”
buttons are available and, when pressed, force the all channels correspondin to the pressed
buttons to set the Eq in the same as as the one set for the currently edited channel (which has to
be one of the linked ones)
The set up of the filters and specially their frequency placement can also be done with the use of
the mouse, just activatin the “Show Cursor” function, pressin the related button on the left
bottom of the frequency response Graphic.

Once the all 3 available cursor are shown on the Frequency Response raphic, just selectin
anyone of them with the mouse's arrow and maintainin the mouse's click pressed, it is possible
to move and place the selected cursor on the desired frequency and with the desired ain.
For settin the filter's Q, still need to enter the desired value directly in the dedicated box in the
filters' editin main sub-frame.
In order to see what's the “Phase” response of the channel once set up the all filters of the EQ, it
is possible, selectin the Phase choice on the top ri ht of the Graphic window, to turn the raphic
in “Phase Response Graphic”:
When the Microphone Source is selected, on the related channel is possible to adjust the Input
level from -127dB up to 0dB.
No extra ain is allowed.
When selected microphone as input, the user can chose to select on the input itself a 3bands Eq
process on the Input si nal, or a Feedback Eliminator.
When the 3 bands Eq is selected, the Equalizer can be edited in the same way shown for the Line
Input case.