Xilica Audio Design XA Series User manual

XASeries
LoudspeakerManagementSystem
UserManual
XILICA Audio Design

XA Series User's manual - Page 2
Important Safety Instructions
1. READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS
All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated.
2. KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS
The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
3. HEED ALL WARNINGS
All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
4. FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS
All operating and use of instructions should be followed.
5. DO NOT USE THIS APPARATUS NEAR WATER
Do not use the product near water. For example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink,
or laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, and the like.
6. CLEAN ONLY WITH DRY CLOTH
Unplug the unit from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol
cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
7. DO NOT BLOCK ANY VENTILATION OPENINGS
Slots and openings in the cabinet back or bottom are provided for ventilation, to ensure
reliable operation of the limit and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not
be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by placing the product on
a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface. This product should never be placed near or over a
radiator or heat source. This product should not be placed in a built-in installation such
as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided or the manufacture's
instructions have been adhered to.
8. DO NOT INSTALL NEAR ANY HEAT SOURCES

XA Series User's manual - Page 3
This Product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, stoves, or
other products (including amplifiers) that produces heat.
9. DO NOT DEFEAT THE SAFETY PURPOSE OF THE POLARIZED OR GROUNDING-TYPE
PLUG
A Polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has
two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prongs are provided
for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. PROTECT THE POWER CORD FROM BEING WALKED ON OR PINCHED
PARTICULARLY AT PLUGS, CONVENIENCE RECEPTACLES, AND THE POINT WHERE
THEY EXIT FROM THE APPARATUS.
11. ONLY USE ATTACHMENTS/ACCESSORIES SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
12. USE ONLY WITH CART, STAND, TRIPOD, BRACKET, OR TABLE SPECIFIED BY THE
MANUFACTURER, OR SOLD WITH THE APPARATUS. WHEN A CART IS USED, USE
CAUTION WHEN MOVING THE CART/APPARATUS TO AVOID INJURY FROM TIP-OVER.
Do not place this unit on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The unit may
fall, causing serious injury to someone, and serious damage to the appliance. A unit and
cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven
surfaces may cause the product and cart combination to overturn.
13. UNPLUG THIS APPARATUS DURING LIGHTNING STORMS OR WHEN UNUSED FOR
LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
For added protection for this unit during a lightning storm, or when it is left unattended
and unused for long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the
antenna or cable system. This will prevent damage to the unit due to lightning and power
line surges.
14. REFER ALL SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. SERVICING IS
REQUIRED WHEN THE APPARATUS HAS BEEN DAMAGED IN ANYWAY, SUCH AS WHEN
THE POWER SUPPLY CORD OR PLUG IS DAMAGED, LIQUID HAS BEEN SPILLED OR
OBJECTS HAVE FALLEN INTO THE APPARATUS, THE APPARATUS HAS BEEN
EXPOSED TO RAIN OR MOISTURE, DOES NOT OPERATE NORMALLY, OR HAS BEEN
FROPPED.
15. WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE
THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
16. APPARATUS SHALL NOT BE EXPOSED TO DRIPPING OR SPLASHING AND NO
OBJECTS FILLED WITH LIQUIDS, SUCH AS VASES, SHALL BE PLACED ON THE
APPARATUS.

XA Series User's manual - Page 4
Table of Contents
Table of Contents....................................................................4
1.0 Introduction ....................................................................5
2.0 Features ..........................................................................6
3.0 Front Panel Functions ...................................................7
4.0 Rear Panel Functions.....................................................9
5.0 Powering Up the Device ..............................................10
6.0 Operating the Channel Menus ....................................11
7.0 Operating the System Menus......................................18
8.0 Quick Reference...........................................................23
9.0 PC Control Software ....................................................24
10.0 Specifications...............................................................25
11.0 Warranty........................................................................27

XA Series User's manual - Page 5
1.0 Introduction
The XA series is a digital loudspeaker management system designed for
the touring or fixed sound installation markets. The absolute latest in
available technology is utilized with 40-bit floating point processors and high
performance 24-bit Analog Converters. The high-bit DSP prevents noise
and distortion induced by truncation errors of the commonly used 24-bit
fixed-point devices. A complete set of parameters include I/O levels, delay,
polarity, 8 bands of EQ per channel, multiple crossover selections and full
function limiters. Precise frequency control is achieved with its 1 Hz
resolution. Inputs and outputs can be routed in multiple configurations to
meet any requirement. The XA series can be controlled or configured in real
time on the front panel or with the intuitive PC XConsole GUI accessed via
the RS-232, USB or Ethernet interface. Software upgrade for CPU and DSP
via PC keeps the device current with newly developed algorithms and
functions once available. Multiple setup storage and system security
complete this professional package.
Shipped contents:
- XA Unit
- User Manual
- XConsole Software
- Power Cord

XA Series User's manual - Page 6
2.0 Features
> 2 Inputs and 4 Outputs with flexible routing
> 40-bit floating point DSP
> 96kHz Sampling Rate
> High Performance 24-bit A/D Converters
> 1 Hz Frequency Resolution
> 8 Equalizers (Magnitude or Phase) for each Input and Output
> Multiple Crossover types with Full Function Limiters
> Precise Level, Polarity and Delay
> CPU and DSP upgrade via PC
> Individual Channel Buttons with Linking capability
> 2-Line x 16 Character Backlit LCD Display
> Full 5-segment LED’s on every Input and Output
> Storage of up to 30 Preset Setups
> Security Lock
> USB and RS232 Interface for PC Control and Configuration

XA Series User's manual - Page 7
3.0 Front Panel Functions
1. USB – a standard Type B USB connector. Device driver from the
provided software CD must be installed prior to usage.
2. RS232 – a standard female DB9 socket. A straight through cable is
required for PC connection.
3. Mute (Channel Menu) Buttons – Mute or un-mute input and output
channels. When an input channel is muted, a red LED will come on for
indication.
When the <<Menu or Menu>> key is held down, the Mute Buttons
selects the corresponding channel for the LCD menu display and is
acknowledged by a green LED below the button. The last modified menu
will be displayed on the LCD. Multiple channels can be linked or
unlinked by pushing the desired channels. This eases programming for
same parameters across multiple channels. Multiple Inputs can be linked
together and multiple outputs can be linked together. Inputs and Outputs
are linked separately.
4. Channel Menu LED –Indicates the activated channels for data
modification.
5. Peak Level LED –Indicates the current peak level of the Signal:
5 7
8
6
2
1
4
3

XA Series User's manual - Page 8
Signal, -12dB, -6dB, -3dB, Over/Limit. The Input Limit LED references to
the device's maximum headroom. The Output Limit LED references to
the threshold of the output limiter.
6. LCD –Shows all the necessary information to control the unit.
7. Menu Buttons – There are 6 menu keys: <<Menu (Menu Down),
Menu>> (Menu Up), <<Cursor (Cursor Down), Cursor>> (Cursor Up),
Enter/Sys, Exit. The functions of each key is explained below:
<<Menu: Go to previous menu screen. Holding this button
down while pressing Mute key will go to the specify
channel menu.
Menu>>: Go to next menu screen. Holding this button down
while pressing Mute key will go to the specify
channel menu.
<<Cursor: Go to previous cursor in the menu screen.
Cursor>>: Go to next cursor in the menu screen.
Enter/Sys: Enter is used only in the System Menu to proceed
with selected actions.
Sys enters the System Menu from the main menu.
Exit: Exit to the Main Menu.
8. Rotary Thumb Wheel – Changes parameter data values. The wheel
has travel velocity sensing which ease large incremental data
modifications. For modifying delay and frequency (1 Hz resolution),
pressing the Enter/Sys key simultaneously will increment/decrement the
data value by 100X.

XA Series User's manual - Page 9
4.0 Rear Panel Functions
1. Main Power – Connects via a standard IEC socket. A compatible power
cord is supplied with the unit. The voltage input is 90-240VAC, 50-60Hz.
2. Main Fuse – T2.5A-250V. Slow blow type.
3. Power switch – Controls power On/Off.
4. Analog Inputs and Outputs – Separate 3-pin connectors are provided
for each audio input and output. The device's output stage employs the
balanced impedance topology. All I/O connectors have pin 1 as ground
(shield), pin 2 as + and pin 3 as -.
1,2,3 5

XA Series User's manual - Page 10
5.0 Powering Up the Device
•After powering up the unit, the following initialization screen is displayed
on the LCD:
•The initialization process takes several seconds and during that period
the unit boots and displays the device model and firmware version.
•After the initialization process is finished the XA displays its main screen:
•The screen shows the current program number and program name
assigned to the unit. If the program number ends with *, it means that no
program is assigned, the last data before previous power down is
recalled instead.
•Now the XA is ready to operate.
** XILICA XA **
X
A
-2040
v
9.00B
** XILICA XA **
P01*

XA Series User's manual - Page 11
6.0 Operating the Channel Menus
Channel Linking – While holding down the <<Menu or Menu>>, more than
1 channel from the same group (Input or Output group) can be selected to
link the channels together. The green LEDs below the Mute buttons are lit
for the linked channels. Any modification of the data for the selected
channel will be applied to the linked channels as well. To cancel the linking,
simply deselect the desired channel while the <<Menu or Menu>> key is
still pressed, or just press the Exit key to deselect all channels.
6.1 Input/Output Signal
LEVEL:
The level (or gain) ranges from -40.00dB to +15.00dB in 0.25dB steps.
POL:
The polarity (or phase) can be normal (+) or inverted (-).
I1:______ Signal
LEVEL:0.00dB
I1:______ Signal
POL:+

XA Series User's manual - Page 12
DELAY:
The maximum delay permitted is 90ms, in steps of approximately 10ms. It
can be displayed in ms, ft or m. The time unit of the delay is set in the
System Menu. Please refer to page 21 for more details.
6.2 Input/Output Equalizer
EQ#:
Each input channel has 8 bands of equalization. This control selects one of
the 8 available bands.
BYPASS:
This control will un-bypass (Off) or bypass (On) the currently selected band.
TYPE:
The 5 types of EQ that can be used are: parametric (PEQ), low shelf (LO-
SHF), high shelf (HI-SHF), 1st degree all-pass (AP-1), and 2nd degree all-
pass (AP-2).
FREQ:
The EQ center frequency ranges from 20Hz to 30kHz in either 1Hz steps or
1/36 octave steps. The frequency steps can be selected in the System
Menu. Please refer to page 21 for more details.
I1:______ Signal
DELAY:000.000ms
I1:______ EQ1
EQ#:1
I1:______ EQ1
TYPE:PEQ
I1:______ EQ1
FREQ:1000Hz
I1:______ EQ1
BYPASS:Off

XA Series User's manual - Page 13
BW:
The EQ bandwidth ranges from 0.02 to 3.61 octaves in steps of 0.01 octave.
The equivalent Q value is automatically shown besides the octave value.
For 1st degree all-pass (AP-1) filter, the bandwidth will sets the phase shift
at the centre frequency. This phase shift is gradually changed from 180
degrees above the centre frequency to the specified value.
LEVEL:
The EQ level (or gain) ranges from -30.00dB to +15.00dB in 0.25dB steps.
I1:______ EQ1
LEVEL:0.00dB
I1:______ EQ1
BW:0.33 Q=4.36 I1:______ EQ1
DEG:15.5 de
g

XA Series User's manual - Page 14
6.3 Input/Output Crossover
TYPL:
The 3 available filter types for the low frequency crossover point (high pass)
are: Butterworth, Linkwitz Riley or Bessel.
FRQL:
The filter cut-off frequency for the low frequency crossover point (high pass)
ranges from 20 to 30kHz in either 1Hz steps or 1/36 octave steps. The
frequency steps can be selected in the System Menu. Please refer to
page 21 for more details.
SLPL:
The filter slope for low frequency crossover point (high pass) ranges from 6
to 48dB/octave. The available slopes are 12, 24, 36 or 48 dB/octave.
TYPH:
The 3 available filter types for the high frequency crossover point (low pass)
are: Butterworth, Linkwitz Riley or Bessel.
O1:______ XOver
TYPL:Off
O1:______ XOver
FRQL:1000Hz
O1:______ XOver
SLPL:24dB
O1:______ XOver
TYPH:Off

XA Series User's manual - Page 15
FRQH:
The filter cut-off frequency for the high frequency crossover point (low pass)
ranges from 20 to 30kHz in either 1Hz steps or 1/36 octave steps. The
frequency steps can be selected in the System Menu. Please refer to
page 21 for more details.
SLPH:
The filter slope for high frequency crossover point (low pass) ranges from 6
to 48dB/octave. If the selected filter type is Linkwitz Riley, the available
slopes are 12, 24, 36 or 48 dB/octave.
Filter
configuration Low crossover point High crossover point
None FTRL Off FTRH Off
Highpass FTRL not Off FTRH Off
FRQL
Lowpass FTRL Off FTRH not Off
FRQH
Bandpass FTRL not Off FTRH not Off
FRQL FRQH
O1:______ XOver
FRQH:1000Hz
O1:______ XOver
SLPH:24dB

XA Series User's manual - Page 16
6.4 Input/Output Channel Name
NAME:
A 6 characters name can be assigned to each channel.
6.5 Output Limiter
THRESH:
The limiter threshold ranges from -20 to +20dBu in 0.5dB steps.
ATTACK:
The limiter attack time ranges from 0.3 to 1ms in 0.1ms steps, then ranges
from 1 to 100ms in 1ms steps.
RELEASE:
The limiter release time can be set at 2X, 4X, 8X, 16X or 32X the attack
time.
O1:______ Limit
THRESH:+20.0dB
O1:______ Limit
ATTACK:10ms
O1:______ Limit
RELEASE:8XAtck
I1:______ Name
NAME:______

XA Series User's manual - Page 17
6.6 Output Source
IN1-2:
This sets the input channel source for the current output channel. It can be
used to mix the input source (in dB) or disable it (Off). If more than one
input sources are enabled, they will be added together as the source for the
current output channel.
O1:______ Source
IN1:Off O1:______ Source IN2:-14.00

XA Series User's manual - Page 18
7.0 Operating the System Menus
The System Menus allow the user to control and change parameters that
are related to the system behavior and general operation. It can be
accessed by pressing the Sys key in the main menu (when no Input/Output
or System Menu is activated). All System Menus require pressing the Enter
key to confirm and save the settings.
7.1 Preset Recall
The XA has a built in non-volatile memory that can store up to 30 different
preset setups.
P:
This control selects which program to recall from the non-volatile memory.
The program name is displayed to the right of the program no.
7.2 Preset Store
The XA has a built in non-volatile memory that can store up to 30 different
preset setups. A program can be stored using this menu. The old program
with the same program number will be replaced. Once the program is
stored in the flash memory, it can be recalled at a later time, even after
power down.
P:
This control selects which preset location in the non-volatile memory to be
saved.
SYSTEM Recall
P:1 ____________
SYSTEM Store
P:1

XA Series User's manual - Page 19
NAM:
A descriptive name of up to 12 characters can be assigned to each program.
7.3 Copy Channels
Copy Channels from the source to the target. When the Source and Targets
are both Inputs and Outputs, all audio parameters will be copied. When one
of the Source or the Target is an input while the other is an output, only the
Level, Polarity, Delay, EQ, Crossover, and Channel Name are copied.
SOURCE:
This is the channel to be copied from.
TARGET:
This is the channel to be copied to.
7.4 General Settings
FREQ MODE:
This changes the frequency control mode for EQ and crossover filters. It
can be 36 steps/octave or All Frequencies (1 Hz resolution).
SYSTEM Store
NAM:____________
SYSTEM Copy
SOURCE:In1
SYSTEM Copy
TARGET:In2
SYSTEM Generl
FREQ MODE:All

XA Series User's manual - Page 20
DELAY UNIT:
This sets the time unit for input and output delay to ms, ft, or m.
7.5 Communication Settings
NOTE: User must power cycle the unit for this settings to take effect.
DEVICE ID:
This control assigns a device ID from 1 to 16 to the unit. This ID is only
useful when a network of more than 1 device is used. In normal operation
the device ID is 1.
BAUD RATE:
The sets the baud rate of the serial communication. XConsole uses a baud
rate of 115200, it should be left unchanged for most users.
SYSTEM Generl
DELAY UNIT:ms
SYSTEM Comm
BAUD RATE:115200
SYSTEM Comm
DEVICE ID:1