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Operating Manual - nX, nXe, and nXp Power Amplifiers
[Add Item>Control Objects]
- Stand-alone control objects can be added to the canvas and linked to control specific device
functions. They include Level Fader, Signal LED, Level Meter, Preset Button, Standby Button, Mute Button, Logic Out Button,
and Source Select Button.
[Add Item>Display Objects]
- Text and image files can be added to the canvas.
9.1g Options Menu
[Options>Auto Add Online Devices]
- When this is checked On, all network devices appear on the canvas whenever the soft
-
ware is launched or when the networked is scanned for devices.
[Options>Display Grid]
- Turns on or off the project canvas grid
[Options>Auto-Close Preset Recall Messages]
-
Any device that recalls a preset will trigger a message that appears on the canvas.
If this is checked On, those messages will go away automatically, otherwise they will stay on the display until closed by the user.
9.1h Flash Programmer Menu
[Flash Programmer>Launch Flash Programmer]
- This is used to update the firmware on any networked Ashly device. All
available firmware update files can be downloaded from the Ashly website.
[Flash Programmer >Launch WR-5 Flash Programmer]
- WR-5 firmware must be updated through its hosting device, since
WR-5 remote controls are not themselves networked. Download the new WR-5 firmware, select the host device, and follow
the instructions.
9.1i Load Analysis Menu
- Load Analysis is a software tool used to visualize the swept AC impedance of a given loudspeaker,
and to test the integrity of a potentially damaged loudspeaker or connection. Load impedance analysis works by formulation of
speaker output measurements taken when a user defined swept sine wave input is applied to one amplifier channel by software.
Currently, the only Ashly amplifiers with load analysis are NE two-channel (dsp) and nXp.
Loudspeakers are specified with a nominal impedance rating, 8 Ohms for example. This is an average rating, the actual imped
-
ance across it's frequency range can vary substantially above or below 8 Ohms
due to inductance, resonance, and other proper-
ties which affect impedance. Lower impedance, even within a narrow frequency range, can increase the amount of amplifier
current delivered to the speaker. This can present a problem when wiring multiple speakers in parallel, as the combined speaker
impedance may become so low that it causes the amplifier to go into overcurrent protection mode and shut down. The way to
avoid this is to pay attention to the lowest
measured
impedance rather than the nominal impedance rating for a given speaker
load, and make sure the amplifier is rated to drive that load.
A second function of load analysis is for troubleshooting loudspeakers. When loudspeakers are damaged by overheated voice
coils, torn cones or surrounds, mechanical damage from being dropped, or have corroded connections, they can exhibit different
load impedance characteristics than when new. An initial load impedance analysis can be performed when the system is first
installed and the results saved to disk for reference. Future load impedance tests can be compared to the original reference data
and issue a pass/fail rating based on a user-defined percentage of similarity to the original data. Load anaylsis can thus help
determine if loudspeakers are damaged or disconnected, and can be administered from a remote network location.
Keep in mind that this test is a real time audible event, so be certain that all test parameters, particularly volume (sweep level)
and frequency range (sweep start/sweep stop), are suited for the speakers under test, and that the venue is ready for a brief
period of test tones at potentially significant volume. Note: During the test, all audio DSP processing in the amplifier is stopped.
