Vorsis VP8 Plus Installation and operating instructions
Table of Contents
Page
3 Introducing VP8 Plus
3 Hardware Installation
4 Installation and setup using the front panel
4 Navigating to the “Presets” dialog
5 Navigating to the “Modes” dialog
6 Navigating to the “Input” dialog
7 Navigating to the “Output” dialog
7 The FM Mode Output Menu
8 The AM Mode Output Menu
9 The FM-HD Mode Output Menu
10 The AM-HD Mode Output Menu
11 The AAC/MP3 >48K Mode Output Menu
12 The AAC/MP3 <48K Mode Output Menu
13 Network options
14 Finding the VP8’s software versions
15 Introducing GUI Lite
17 GUI Lite Installation on the host Windows®PC
17 Setting/resetting the VP8’s TCP/IP address
18 Device configuration-connecting to the VP8 processor
21 Setting the input source and adjusting audio levels
22 Setting the output type and adjusting audio levels
23 Taking Presets
24 Tuning audio processing – an introduction
25 Why not just one knob?
28 How the six “Tweakers” work
28 About the “AGC Depth” Tweaker
28 About the “Compression” Tweaker
29 About the “Density” Tweaker
29 About the “Loudness” Tweaker
29 About the “MF/HF Equalization” Tweaker
31 About the “LF/Warm Equalization” Tweaker
32 Some GUI Lite Caveats
33 Comparing Legacy versus GUI Lite presets
34 The two other pages of GUI Lite
37 Additional Notes on VP-8 GUI Network Connectivity
38 Locking/Unlocking the VP8 Front Panel
39 Contacting Vorsis Technical Support
40 Notes
41 GUI Pro – How to obtain “Full Control” of the VP8
2
Introducing VP8 Plus
VP8 Plus is a collection of deep enhancements to the Vorsis VP8
product that are included in Version 3.3.0 software. The three
essential parts of v3.3.0 software and how it is different from the
previous release, v2.4.1 are:
- New front panel setup and configuration capability. No need to have
a PC handy for installation and setup;
- Improved processing functions that improve audio consistency,
clarity, and overall loudness while lowering distortion;
- A new simplified graphical user interface (GUI) software program,
GUI Lite, which morphs the VP8’s more than 230 controls into just six.
Any VP8 in the field can be upgraded to Version 3.3.0 by a simple to
perform software update. A new front panel acrylic equipped with the
“Plus” moniker may be ordered by contacting Vorsis Technical Support.
Hardware Installation
Please see the VP8 manual located on the product CD shipped with the
VP8 for detailed instructions on installing the product in your facility.
The manual is supplied in PDF format for ease of viewing and printing.
The VP8 is shipped from the factory with a default IP address of
192.168.1.198. Please follow the steps below noting that if the VP8’s
default IP address of 192.168.1.198 will work on your network you
should skip to step 11.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Due to the normal settling time of the BS-412 Multiplex Power
Algorithm (currently used in certain countries in Europe) the VP8
may not reach its final loudness for about one minute after power
up, regardless of whether or not the BS-412 algorithm is engaged.
A future software update will remedy this issue.
3
Installation and Setup using the Front Panel
VP8 Plus is equipped with new front panel menu navigation functions
to permit installation and configuration without needing a computer.
The menu is navigated by the rotary encoder knob and illuminated “V”
button. The items in the list are arranged in tree form in order to make
navigation simple and logical. The menu is structured so that the
Preset selection item is always at the top of the tree. Logically the
navigation list is as follows:
- PRESETS
- MODE
- INPUT
- OUTPUT
- NETWORK
- VERSION
- ACCESS
An item called “<<MENU” or “EXIT” is always present at the end of a
list to enable backing out of the currently selected item by one level.
The “Output” menu item radically changes as the VP8 mode is changed
due to large differences in the controls present in the various operating
modes. In the following pages the front panel navigation will be
examined in more detail.
NOTE: Please use the detail shown in the following sections to
determine where the appropriate setup controls will be for your
particular VP8 operating mode and installation type.
PRESETS
The first menu item in the list is PRESETS which allows scrolling
through the list of mode-specific factory (and/or user) presets stored
on the VP8 hardware. Once a preset is decided upon, pressing either
the knob or the lighted “V” pushbutton will select that preset to be
active. The active preset will be display in the front panel
alphanumeric display and will scroll if the name is longer then eight
characters. The VP8 will respond with “TAKEN” when the preset is
loaded and running.
4
MODE(s)
The VP8 is equipped with six completely different operating modes:
AM
FM-HD
AM-HD
AAC/MP3 >48k
FM
AAC/MP3 <48k
MODE
•FM, complete with stereo generator.
•AM, complete with asymmetrical limiting and selectable
lowpass filters and analog transmitter equalization.
•FM-HD, with codec-optimized pre-processing.
•AM-HD, with codec-optimized pre-processing.
•AAC/MP3 > 48k (specialized processing for codecs utilizing
greater than 48 kHz bitrates).
•AAC/MP3 < 48k (specialized processing for codecs utilizing
less than 48 kHz bitrates).
NOTE: THE VP8 OUTPUTS WILL MUTE WHILE CHANGING MODES!
When a new operating mode is being loaded into the VP8’s memory
the audio outputs will go silent and will remain silent until the new
algorithm is loaded.
This is intentional behavior that prevents clicks, pops and other
disturbing audio discontinuities from appearing at the VP8 outputs
while the new mode’s processing algorithms being loaded into the
DSPs and started up.
5
INPUT
The INPUT menu item allows the appropriate audio input type to be
selected whether Analog or Digital and also allows independent input
gain adjustments to be made for each of the two input types.
DIGITAL
ANALOG GAIN
INPUT SOURCE
DIGITAL GAIN
ANALOG
We strongly recommend that peak input audio levels are never set so
that they peak higher than about -12dBFS as shown on either the GUI
or the VP8’s front panel meters.
This is caution is necessary to allow appropriate headroom for the
processing algorithms when they are presented with material that has
been highly compressed and possibly also clipped during the mastering
process. Such material can achieve far higher peak levels after the
first stage of signal processing (in any modern audio processor, not
just Vorsis!) and those signals may not have enough headroom to
avoid clipping within the processor if the input level was already too
high.
Said another way, if you hear mysterious distortion or what sounds
like clipping on very loudly mastered material it’s a good idea to check
the input levels to the VP8 to ensure they are not spending any
significant time at levels of -12dBFS and above. GUI Lite has a “Ref”
indicator on its input level meter at the -12dBFS calibration mark as a
convenient reminder.
6
OUTPUT
The output menu tree is tailored to the current VP8 operating mode,
with the most complex being the FM and AM modes due to their
specialized processing requirements. The output menu trees for each
of the six modes follows along with the corresponding GUI Lite output
menu below it for comparison
L/R DE-EMPH
TX 1 LEVEL dB
OUT MODE MPX
TX 2
SCA 1 LEVEL dB
PREDELAY
INPUT
SCA 2 LEVEL dB
TX 2 LEVEL dB
DIGITAL INPUT
DIGITAL LEVEL dB
ANALOGOUT
ANALOGLEVEL dB
SCA 1
75uS
ANALOGINPUT
OUT
TX 1
PILOTINJ %
50uS
FLAT
DIGOUT
OUTPUT
(FM) L/R
SCA 2
DE-EMPH
HEADPHONE SOURCE
IN
PRE-EMPH
PILOT
ANALOG
FM Mode
7
AM Mode
IN
M/S
4.5kHz
PRE-EMPH
6.5kHz
DIGOUT
ANALOG1
MONO
INPUT
ANALOG2
DIGITAL INPUTFULL
POSMOD
OUT MODE
NRSC
HEADPHONE SOURCE
5.0kHz
6K CCIR
DE-EMPH
OUTPUT
(AM)
LEVEL dB
ANALOGINPUT
PHASE
PREDELAY
LEVEL dB
5.5kHz
B-WIDTH FLAT
ANALOGOUT
STEREO
10kHz NRSC
7.5kHz
DIGITAL LEVEL dB
100-150%
OUT
PHASE
AM Mode Output Controls
8
FM-HD Mode
L/R Swap
HEADPHONE SOURCE
OUTPUT
(FM-HD)
PHASE
ANALOG INPUT
DIGOUT
LEVEL dB ANALOGINPUT
DIGITAL INPUT
PREDELAY
ANALOGOUT
DIGITAL LEVEL dB
FM-HD Mode Output Controls
9
AM-HD Mode
DIGITAL INPUT
HEADPHONE SOURCE
ANALOGOUT
DIGITAL LEVEL dB
ANALOGINPUTOUTPUT
(AM-HD)
INPUT
ANALOG LEVEL dB
L/R Swap
PREDELAY
DIGOUT PHASE
AM Mode Output Controls
10
AAC/MP3 > 48kHz Mode
L/R Swap ANALOGOUT
PHASE
DIGOUT
INPUT
DIGITAL INPUT
DIGITAL LEVEL dB
ANALOGINPUT
HEADPHONE SOURCE
PREDELAY
OUTPUT
( >48K ) ANALOG LEVEL dB
AAC/MP3 > 48kHz Mode Output Controls
11
AAC/MP3 < 48kHz Mode
PREDELAY
HEADPHONE SOURCE
OUTPUT
( <48K ) ANALOGINPUT
DIGOUT DIGITAL INPUT
ANALOGOUT
DIGITAL LEVEL dB
INPUT
ANALOG LEVEL dB
PHASE
L/R Swap
AAC/MP3 < 48kHz Mode
12
NETWORK
After the Output options the Network Configuration is next in the list.
EDIT
NETWORK SUBNETMASK
IP ADDRESS
GATEWAY
MAC ADDRESS
All of the parameters in the Network list can be edited except for the
MAC address. A MAC address is a fixed hardware identification that is
intended to be specific to and different for each networked device. As
is the case with most network gear, a Vorsis product’s MAC address
cannot be changed in the field.
13
VERSION
HW: x.x.x
SW: x.x.x
DSP:x.x.x
VERSION
The version dialog displays the currently loaded versions of operating
system, FPGA image, and DSP code, noting that these are displayed
values only and cannot be changed without actually changing the
version(s) that the VP8 is running, i.e., updating it to a new version.
ACCESS
OLD:
NEW:
LOCK
CHANGE?
UNLOCK N
Y
EDIT
ACCESS
The Access item allows the front panel security features of the VP8 to
be customized. A front panel password may restrict access to the front
panel controls and can be set or changed when necessary to keep
curious fingers out of the adjustments.
It is not possible to lock the front panel without first setting a
password for it. Likewise, if the front panel has been locked it cannot
be accessed without first entering the valid password.
14
Introducing (
drum roll please
)… Vorsis GUI Lite!
Version 3.x for VP8 Plus adds a brand new adjustment tool to the
Vorsis arsenal called simply, GUI Lite. GUI Lite is our new simplified
user interface whose under-the-hood intelligence distills the VP8’s
more than 230 processing adjustments down to just six very easy to
use controls. Finding the perfect sound has never been quicker or
easier!
The GUI Lite tool is designed for those who would rather change the
sound of our Factory presets without hundreds of tweakable
parameters staring back at them.
Adjust Sound Tab
VP8 GUI Lite – ‘Adjust Sound’
GUI Lite has only three basic pages hosting controls that an end user
might need for installing the processor and adjusting its sound.
- The first page of GUI Lite is called “Adjust Sound” and is solely
dedicated to making refinements to our Factory preset’s default sound.
15
- The second page of GUI Lite is the “Calibrate Input/Output” page and
hosts the Input and Output Calibrations, Headphone Monitor Source,
Input Audio Source and Audio Failover behavior selectors.
- The third and last page of GUI Lite is the “Configuration” page,
hosting controls for selecting the processor mode, configuring the GUI
to communicate with the host Vorsis audio processor and
programming the Scheduler.
Note that for user convenience we’ve repeated the appearance of
some of the controls across various pages noting that the Input,
Output and processing-related metering are always visible on all three
pages.
“Adjust Sound” “Calibrate In/Out”
“Configuration”
16
Installing the GUI Lite Software
The GUI Lite software is provided to permit access to VP8 sound
processing controls not accessible via the front panel. To install the
GUI Lite software insert the Vorsis VP-8 software CD into a Windows
computer and:
- Click Start
- Then click Run
- Then click Browse
- Browse the “My Computer” device tree to locate the CDROM device
and then double click it.
- When the contents of the CDROM drive appear, locate the VP-8 GUI
Lite Setup_x_x_x.exe file (where x_x_x is the version number) on the
CDROM and double click it.
- Follow the on screen instructions to complete the GUI installation.
Configuring the VP-8 TCP/IP Address*
The VP8 is shipped from the factory with a default IP address of
192.168.1.198. Please follow the steps below noting that if the VP8’s
Factory default IP address of 192.168.1.198 will work on your network
you should skip to step 1 on Page18.
1. Before starting the configuration procedure, please locate and
carefully make a note of the processor’s 12-digit MAC Address located
on a label either on the top cover or the rear panel. This address will
be in the format 00:50:C2:23:xx:xx where xx:xx are the digits unique
to your processor.
2. Next, start the VP-8 GUI Lite software. Then
right click on the control area of the GUI and
select the Hardware/Assign IP Address option.
The window to the left should appear.
3. Carefully enter your processor’s MAC address
in the MAC Address field.*
* The MAC address must be carefully entered because the
GUI will “send” the IP address information to the device
that owns the MAC address entered in this step. If the
MAC address is entered incorrectly, the VP8 will never hear it causing it to remain on
its factory default IP address!
17
4. Next, enter a pet name for your VP-8, like “WABC VP8 2”, etc.
5. Then, enter the IP address that you wish this VP-8 to have, noting
that its address must be unique if the VP-8 will be communicating over
a network with other devices attached to it.
6. Next enter the desired Subnet Mask and Gateway addresses.
7. Once this is done, click the “Start” button at the bottom of the IP
address configuration box. A message similar to the one below should
appear:
8. Click OK, then remove power to
the VP-8 for a few seconds, and then
reapply it. As the VP-8 is booting up,
the “Requests” number in the IP
Address window should increment to
something other than zero (please
see the bottom of the image in the Requests figure above.
9. When the requests number increments above zero the VP-8 has
been programmed with its new IP address and is now ready for use.
Device Configuration – Connecting to the VP8
1. Now that the VP-8 has its own TCP/IP identity, we must
configure the GUI so that it can talk to the VP-8. This is done by
adding “devices” to the list of VP-8’s that the GUI knows about.
To do this:
2. Locate and click on the “Devices” button that is located along the
right side of the GUI. When this is done, the following Devices
window will pop up:
3. Next, click the “Add” button
and the Edit Device dialog
box will appear — this box is
used for adding new devices
or modifying the
configuration of existing
ones.
18
4. First, enter the same pet
name that you used when
you assigned the IP
address to the VP-8. This
step is not absolutely
necessary but it makes for
easy identification when
there are many VP8s in a
facility.
Edit Device Dialog
5. Next enter the IP address that you configured the VP-8 for in the
previous steps. It is recommended that any existing data in the
IP Address box be deleted and new IP address entered from
scratch. This ensures that no undesired blanks or spaces creep
into the address.
6. After this is done you may click “OK” on the Edit Device box.
7. Then, in the Devices dialog box, highlight (single left click) the
VP-8 device that you just added and click the “Select” button.
This step tells the GUI specifically which VP-8 you want to
connect to next.
8. Next, click on the Online/Offline button just to the left of the
Status indicator. In the Status window you may see the message
“Trying” as the GUI is handshaking with the VP-8. Once the
handshake is complete and communication protocols are locked
in the Status message should revert to “Online”.
If for some reason the GUI cannot connect with the VP-8, the “Trying”
status message will remain and will occasionally blink as the GUI
retries the establishment of a connection.
19
Under these circumstances the configuration of the GUI’s networking
parameters, those of the VP-8, and sometimes even the
interconnecting network, should be carefully examined to ensure that
the destination TCP/IP address assigned to the VP and GUI Lite
conforms to the expected networking parameters for the host network.
Unless special routing has been configured by the IT department the
controlling PC and the VP-8 must be on the same network subnet. As
an example, if the VP-8 was assigned the IP address 192.168.1.194,
then the PC’s IP address must be between the addresses 192.168.1.1
and 192.168.1.254, noting that the VP-8 and GUI PC cannot share the
same IP address.
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