Wheatstone FM-55 User manual

Digital auDio Processor
FM - 55
600 Industrial Drive, New Bern, North Carolina 28562 (tel [phone] / fax [phone] )
Technical
Manual

Technical
Manual
Wheatstone Corporation
August 2014
Digital auDio Processor
FM - 55

600 Industrial Drive
New Bern, North Carolina 28562
tel [phone] / fax [phone]
Wheatstone Digital Augio Processor Technical Manual
©2014 Wheatstone Corporation
FM-55 / Aug 2014
Ultra-HigH resolUtion Processing
ORSIS

Read Me!
FM-55 / Sep 2014
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 inter-
ference 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-55 / Aug 2014
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 perfor‑
mance 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 mul‑
tiband limiter (2005, our acclaimed 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-55 / Aug 2014
CONTENTS
FM-55 Technical Manual
Chapter 1 - General Information
Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................1-2
FM-55 Feature Overview ...............................................................1-3
Rack Mounting...............................................................................1-3
FM-55 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-55 .........................................................................................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
General Purpose Interface (GPIO)............................................................................1-14
GPIO RJ-45............................................................................................................1-15
Processing Presets....................................................................................................1-15
FM-55 Input/Output Connections Drawing ................................................................1-17

page Contents – 2
FM-55 / Aug 2014
CONTENTS
Meters.............................................................................................2-2
Input Level Meters......................................................................................................2-2
AGC Meters................................................................................................................2-2
Limiter Meters.............................................................................................................2-3
Output Meters.............................................................................................................2-3
OLED Display.................................................................................2-3
Headphone.................................................................................................................2-5
Source Selection .....................................................................................................2-5
Headphone Volume.................................................................................................2-5
Presets .......................................................................................................................2-5
Input............................................................................................................................2-5
Input Source ............................................................................................................2-5
Input Gain Adjustment.............................................................................................2-6
Pre-Emphasis.............................................................................................................2-6
Sound .........................................................................................................................2-6
Texture ....................................................................................................................2-6
EQ ...........................................................................................................................2-7
Save ........................................................................................................................2-7
A Note About The Front Panel Sound Adjustments ................................................2-7
Output.........................................................................................................................2-8
Network ......................................................................................................................2-9
Changing The Network Settings .............................................................................2-9
Leading Zeroes........................................................................................................2-9
Default IP Address...................................................................................................2-9
Vesions.......................................................................................................................2-9
Access.......................................................................................................................2-10
Getting Started...............................................................................3-4
Connecting With the GUI ..............................................................3-5
Configuring the GUI ......................................................................3-5
Connecting Directly Without a LAN ............................................................................3-5
The FM-55 and Internet Security Concerns ...............................................................3-6
About DHCP and the FM-55.......................................................................................3-6
The FM-55 Network Protocols and Ports Used ..........................................................3-6
Using the FM-55 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
Input Failsafe......................................................................................................3-12
Analog Input Gain...............................................................................................3-12
Digital Input Gain................................................................................................3-12
L/R Balance........................................................................................................3-12
Phase Rotator.....................................................................................................3-12
Chapter 2 - FM-55 Front Panel
Chapter 3 - FM-55 PC GUI

page Contents – 3
FM-55 / Aug 2014
CONTENTS
HPF - High Pass Filter........................................................................................3-13
Metering..............................................................................................................3-13
Equalizer Menu.......................................................................................................3-14
Manipulating Equalization Curves via Mouse ....................................................3-15
EQ Enable ..........................................................................................................3-15
Multiband Leveller Menu ........................................................................................3-16
A Word About Outboard Processors and Rreeveettbb.......................................3-16
iAGC Controls.....................................................................................................3-18
Gate Threshold...............................................................................................3-18
iAGC Attack....................................................................................................3-18
iAGC Release.................................................................................................3-18
RTZ Enable ....................................................................................................3-18
RTZ Down ......................................................................................................3-18
RTZ Up...........................................................................................................3-18
Multiband Leveller Controls................................................................................3-18
AGC Drive ......................................................................................................3-18
Gate Delay......................................................................................................3-18
Leveller Gate Mode ........................................................................................3-19
Leveller Gate Threshold .................................................................................3-19
Crossover Frequencies ..................................................................................3-19
Band Coupling and Key Band ........................................................................3-19
Multiband Leveller Dynamic Displays Menu.......................................................3-20
Threshold........................................................................................................3-22
Leveller Attack................................................................................................3-22
Leveller Release.............................................................................................3-22
Density............................................................................................................3-22
Compressor Attack.........................................................................................3-22
Compressor Release......................................................................................3-23
Ratio ...............................................................................................................3-23
AGC Mix .........................................................................................................3-23
Stereo Enhance..............................................................................................3-23
MB Limiter Menu ....................................................................................................3-25
Limiter and Clippers Controls .............................................................................3-25
Enable Limiters...............................................................................................3-25
Multiband Limiter Drive...................................................................................3-25
Limiter Knee ...................................................................................................3-26
Bass Clipper Threshold ..................................................................................3-26
Enable ............................................................................................................3-26
Bass Style 2....................................................................................................3-26
Main Clipper Drive..........................................................................................3-26
Pre-Emphasis.................................................................................................3-26
FM Diversity Delay .........................................................................................3-27
Limiters and Clippers Dynamic Displays Menu ..................................................3-27
Threshold........................................................................................................3-28
Attack..............................................................................................................3-28
Release ..........................................................................................................3-28
Stereo Generator Menu..........................................................................................3-29
Mode...................................................................................................................3-29
Test Oscillator.....................................................................................................3-29
MPX Output Configuration..................................................................................3-30
Composite Clipper Drive.................................................................................3-30
BS412 MPX Power Controller ........................................................................3-30

page Contents – 4
FM-55 / Aug 2014
CONTENTS
Pilot Injection ..................................................................................................3-30
Pilot Phase .....................................................................................................3-30
MPX Output ...................................................................................................3-31
Multipath Limiter ............................................................................................3-31
Using the Multipath Limiter With Stereo Enhancement .................................3-32
Analog L/R Output .............................................................................................3-32
Analog L/R Output Level ................................................................................3-32
De-Emphasis..................................................................................................3-32
PreDelay.........................................................................................................3-33
Digital Output .....................................................................................................3-33
Digital Output Level ........................................................................................3-33
Baseband192 and AES Modes ......................................................................3-33
De-Emphasis.................................................................................................3-33a
PreDelay........................................................................................................3-33a
Sample Rate..................................................................................................3-33a
SCA Inputs ....................................................................................................3-33a
System Menu..........................................................................................................3-34
Input/Output Settings Change With Preset.........................................................3-34
Metering Data Over TCP/IP................................................................................3-35
System Status ....................................................................................................3-35
Security...............................................................................................................3-35
Remote Login .................................................................................................3-35
Front Panel.....................................................................................................3-36
GUI Access.....................................................................................................3-37
GUI Lock.........................................................................................................3-37
Side Bar Region ........................................................................................................3-38
Preset .....................................................................................................................3-38
Library.....................................................................................................................3-38
Locking Presets..................................................................................................3-39
How to View Preset Changes.............................................................................3-39
Save .......................................................................................................................3-40
Quick Save (QSave)...............................................................................................3-40
Devices...................................................................................................................3-41
Headphone Source.................................................................................................3-41
Headphone Control ................................................................................................3-41
Title Bar Region.........................................................................................................3-42
Status .....................................................................................................................3-42
Device.....................................................................................................................3-42
Current Preset ........................................................................................................3-42
Notes on Online and Offline Working .....................................................................3-43
Accessing Menu Options...........................................................................................3-44
File Menu Items......................................................................................................3-44
Hardware Menu Items ............................................................................................3-44
FM-55 Hardware Update....................................................................................3-44
Preset Menu Items .................................................................................................3-46
FM-55 / July 2015

page Contents – 5
FM-55 / Aug 2014
CONTENTS
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-55 to The WheatNet-IP System ..............................................................A-14
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendices
Appendix A