Wheatstone FM-25 User manual

Digital auDio Processor
FM - 25
600 Industrial Drive, New Bern, North Carolina 28562 (tel [phone] / fax [phone] )
Technical
Manual

Technical
Manual
Wheatstone Corporation
May 2015
Digital auDio Processor
FM - 25

600 Industrial Drive
New Bern, North Carolina 28562
tel [phone] / fax [phone]
Wheatstone Digital Augio Processor Technical Manual
©2015 Wheatstone Corporation. All Rights Reserved
FM-25 / May 2015
Ultra-HigH resolUtion Processing
ORSIS
No part of this manual may be copied, sold or re-printed without express written
consent of Wheatstone Corporation. All images and text are the property of
Wheatstone Corporation and are included as an aide to installation and operation
of the product by the intended owner.
All images and described features contained within this manual are subject to
change based on product improvement. Please feel free to contact technical support
at 252-638-7000 or at [email protected] should you have any questions.

Read Me!
FM-25 / June 2015
Attention!Attention!
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance
Notice:
Radio Frequency Notice
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and,
if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment
in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the
user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment,
this product may cause radio interference, in which case,
the user may be required to take appropriate measures.
This equipment must be installed and wired properly in order to assure
compliance with FCC regulations.
Caution! Any modications not expressly approved in writing by
Wheatstone could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.

IntroductIon - 1
FM-25 / May 2015
The History of Wheatstone Audio Processors
Introduced in 2005, the Vorsis product line evolved from Wheatstone’s return to
its original roots in audio processing. Having designed and integrated analog and
then, later, complex digital audio processing into our radio and television consoles
and control surfaces, Wheatstone was perfectly poised to address the challenges of
combining very high audio quality with competitive on air loudness.
Wheatstone audio processors are built to the same exacting standards as all
Wheatstone products. Research and development, manufacturing, testing, and qual‑
ity control for the line of audio processors are all accomplished within Wheatstone’s
large state‑of‑the‑art facility located in New Bern, North Carolina. Keeping everything
under one roof allows Wheatstone to have control over every facet of production
and ensures that our costumers receive products of the highest possible quality and
reliability. Staying true to “Made in the USA,” Wheatstone does not utilize offshore
manufacturing.
A dozen experts with deep experience in Digital Signal Processing, broadcast
audio and other engineering disciplines comprise our design team. Led by audio
processing expert and broadcast engineering veteran Jeff Keith, the team combines
their talents to design and build audio processors that achieve the highest standards
of on‑air sound quality.
In its short history Wheatstone Processing has already invented many new and
unique audio processing algorithms – algorithms that push audio processor performance
to new and higher levels. Wheatstone was the rst to develop an intelligent, “program
density aware” AGC (2007 - Sweet Spot Technology, or SST). We were also the rst
to employ the science of human psychoacoustics in the design of a multiband limiter
(2005, our acclaimed and patented 31‑band limiter). In addition, our well‑regarded
Bass Management systems solve the bass intermodulation problems that plague other
brands of audio processors when pushed for competitive loudness.
Each Wheatstone Processing product comes with its ownWindows®software‑based
intuitive Graphical User Interface for control of the processor. Carefully tuned factory
presets ensure that our audio processors can be placed into use quickly and easily in
any size market with a minimum of effort.
ORSIS
Ultra-HigH resolUtion Processing

page Contents – 1
FM-25 / May 2015
CONTENTS
FM-25 Technical Manual
Chapter 1 - General Information
Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................1-2
FM-25 Feature Overview ...............................................................1-3
Rack Mounting...............................................................................1-3
FM-25 Installation Tips ...............................................................................................1-5
Grounding...............................................................................................................1-5
Surge Protection.....................................................................................................1-5
UPS/Power Conditioning........................................................................................1-5
Analog Audio Input Connections ............................................................................1-5
Analog Audio Output Connections .........................................................................1-6
Digital Audio/baseband192 Connections................................................................1-6
Where to Install the FM-25 .........................................................................................1-7
Digital STL..............................................................................................................1-7
Analog Left/Right STL ............................................................................................1-8
Composite Analog STL...........................................................................................1-8
Analog Phone Lines ...............................................................................................1-8
Where Should Pre-Emphasis Go? .........................................................................1-9
Ratings Encoders ...................................................................................................1-9
AC Power Considerations ............................................................1-9
Rear Panel Connections ..............................................................1-10
Audio Inputs...............................................................................................................1-10
Analog In ................................................................................................................1-11
AES In ....................................................................................................................1-11
SCA In ....................................................................................................................1-11
FM Audio Outputs......................................................................................................1-11
Analog Out..............................................................................................................1-11
AES/baseband192 Out...........................................................................................1-11
TX Out ....................................................................................................................1-12
Headphone Monitoring ..............................................................................................1-12
Network Connection ..................................................................................................1-12
Ethernet RJ-45 .......................................................................................................1-12
Typical Straight-Through Cable..............................................................................1-12
Typical Crossover Cable ........................................................................................1-13
Processing Presets....................................................................................................1-14
FM-25 Input/Output Connections Drawing ................................................................1-15

page Contents – 2
FM-25 / May 2015
CONTENTS
Meters.............................................................................................2-2
OLED Display.................................................................................2-2
Headphone.................................................................................................................2-4
Source Selection .....................................................................................................2-4
Headphone Volume.................................................................................................2-4
Presets .......................................................................................................................2-4
Input............................................................................................................................2-4
Input Source ............................................................................................................2-4
Input Gain Adjustment.............................................................................................2-5
Pre-Emphasis.............................................................................................................2-5
Sound .........................................................................................................................2-5
Texture ....................................................................................................................2-5
EQ ...........................................................................................................................2-6
Save ........................................................................................................................2-6
A Note About The Front Panel Sound Adjustments ................................................2-6
Output.........................................................................................................................2-7
Network ......................................................................................................................2-8
Changing The Network Settings .............................................................................2-8
Leading Zeroes........................................................................................................2-8
Default IP Address...................................................................................................2-8
Vesions.......................................................................................................................2-8
Access........................................................................................................................2-9
Getting Started...............................................................................3-4
Connecting With the GUI ..............................................................3-5
Configuring the GUI ......................................................................3-5
Connecting Directly Without a LAN ............................................................................3-5
The FM-25 and Internet Security Concerns ...............................................................3-6
About DHCP and the FM-25.......................................................................................3-6
The FM-25 Network Protocols and Ports Used ..........................................................3-6
Using the FM-25 GUI .....................................................................3-7
Dynamic Displays Region...........................................................................................3-8
Frequency-Domain Graph.......................................................................................3-8
Managing the Blue Dots - Tutorial...........................................................................3-8
Control Area Region..................................................................................................3-10
Input Menu..............................................................................................................3-11
Input Source .......................................................................................................3-11
Input Signal Presence ........................................................................................3-11
Analog Input Gain...............................................................................................3-12
Digital Input Gain................................................................................................3-12
L/R Balance........................................................................................................3-12
Phase Rotator.....................................................................................................3-12
HPF - High Pass Filter........................................................................................3-13
Metering..............................................................................................................3-13
Chapter 2 - FM-25 Front Panel
Chapter 3 - FM-25 PC GUI

page Contents – 3
FM-25 / May 2015
CONTENTS
Multiband AGC Menu .............................................................................................3-14
A Word About Outboard Processors and Rreeveettbb.......................................3-16
Multibang AGC Controls.....................................................................................3-16
MB Compressor..............................................................................................3-16
MB Leveller.....................................................................................................3-16
iAGC...............................................................................................................3-16
RTZ Enable ....................................................................................................3-16
AGC Drive ......................................................................................................3-17
Gate Delay......................................................................................................3-17
Gate Mode......................................................................................................3-17
Gate Threshold...............................................................................................3-17
Bass G/R Offset..............................................................................................3-17
Stereo Enchance............................................................................................3-17
Multiband AGC Dynamic Displays Menu............................................................3-18
Threshold........................................................................................................3-18
Attack..............................................................................................................3-18
Release ..........................................................................................................3-19
FM Limiter Menu.....................................................................................................3-20
EQ, Limiter and Clippers Controls......................................................................3-20
Pre-Emphasis.................................................................................................3-20
Limiter Drive ...................................................................................................3-20
Bass Enchance...............................................................................................3-21
Enable ............................................................................................................3-21
Clipper Drive...................................................................................................3-21
EQ LF/HF Shelf ..............................................................................................3-21
Limiters and Clippers Dynamic Displays Menu ..................................................3-22
Threshold........................................................................................................3-22
Attack..............................................................................................................3-22
Release ..........................................................................................................3-22
Stereo Generator Menu..........................................................................................3-23
Mode...................................................................................................................3-23
Composite Clipper Drive.....................................................................................3-23
Pilot Injection ......................................................................................................3-23
Multipath Limiter ................................................................................................3-23
SCA Level...........................................................................................................3-24
Analog Output ....................................................................................................3-25
De-Emphasis..................................................................................................3-25
PreDelay.........................................................................................................3-25
Digital Output .....................................................................................................3-25
Baseband192 and AES Modes ......................................................................3-25
De-Emphasis..................................................................................................3-26
Sample Rate...................................................................................................3-26
MPX Outputs ......................................................................................................3-26
System Menu..........................................................................................................3-27
Input/Output Settings Change With Preset.........................................................3-27
Metering Data Over TCP/IP................................................................................3-28
System Status ....................................................................................................3-28
Remote Login .....................................................................................................3-28
Front Panel.........................................................................................................3-29
GUI Access.........................................................................................................3-30
GUI Lock.............................................................................................................3-30

page Contents – 4
FM-25 / May 2015
CONTENTS
Side Bar Region ........................................................................................................3-31
Preset .....................................................................................................................3-31
Library.....................................................................................................................3-31
Locking Presets..................................................................................................3-32
How to View Preset Changes.............................................................................3-32
Save .......................................................................................................................3-33
Devices...................................................................................................................3-33
Headphone Control ................................................................................................3-33
Headphone Source.................................................................................................3-33
Title Bar Region.........................................................................................................3-34
Status .....................................................................................................................3-34
Device.....................................................................................................................3-34
Current Preset ........................................................................................................3-34
Notes on Online and Offline Working .....................................................................3-35
Accessing Menu Options...........................................................................................3-36
File Menu Items......................................................................................................3-36
Hardware Menu Items ............................................................................................3-36
FM-25 Hardware Update....................................................................................3-36
Preset Menu Items .................................................................................................3-38
General Specifications..................................................................A-3
Interpreting Common Audio Processing Terms.........................A-8
Background ................................................................................................................A-8
Audio Terms and Wheatstone Processing .................................................................A-9
Thump/Rumble/Bottom............................................................................................A-9
Punch/Boom/Tubby/Warm .....................................................................................A-10
Mud.........................................................................................................................A-10
Honk .......................................................................................................................A-10
Whack.....................................................................................................................A-10
Fuzzy/Tinny ............................................................................................................A-11
Sibilance.................................................................................................................A-11
Treble/Bright/Open .................................................................................................A-11
Finally .....................................................................................................................A-12
WheatNet-IP Configuration..........................................................A-14
Adding FM-25 to The WheatNet-IP System ..............................................................A-14
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendices
Appendix A

page 1 – 1
FM-25 / May 2015
GENERAL INFORMATION
General Information
Introduction....................................................................................1-2
FM-25 Feature Overview ...............................................................1-3
Rack Mounting...............................................................................1-3
FM-25 Installation Tips...............................................................................................1-5
Grounding...............................................................................................................1-5
Surge Protection.....................................................................................................1-5
UPS/Power Conditioning .......................................................................................1-5
Analog Audio Input Connections............................................................................1-5
Analog Audio Output Connections.........................................................................1-6
Digital Audio/baseband192 Connections...............................................................1-6
Where to Install the FM-25.........................................................................................1-7
Digital STL ..............................................................................................................1-7
Analog Left/Right STL ............................................................................................1-8
Composite Analog STL ..........................................................................................1-8
Analog Phone Lines ...............................................................................................1-8
Where Should Pre-Emphasis Go?..........................................................................1-9
Ratings Encoders ...................................................................................................1-9
AC Power Considerations ............................................................1-9
Rear Panel Connections ..............................................................1-10
Audio Inputs ..............................................................................................................1-10
Analog In ................................................................................................................1-11
AES In.....................................................................................................................1-11
SCA In ....................................................................................................................1-11
FM Audio Outputs .....................................................................................................1-11
Analog Out .............................................................................................................1-11
AES/baseband192 Out...........................................................................................1-11
TX Out ....................................................................................................................1-12
Headphone Monitoring..............................................................................................1-12
Network Connection .................................................................................................1-12
Ethernet RJ-45 .......................................................................................................1-12
Typical Straight-Through Cable..............................................................................1-12
Typical Crossover Cable.........................................................................................1-13
Processing Presets....................................................................................................1-14
FM-25 Input/Output Connections Drawing...............................................................1-15
Chapter Contents