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PLM Series Operation Manual rev 1.1.3
11. Appendix
Term
Description
Parallel
Two or more e.g. inputs which are wired together so that all inputs are connected to the same source are said to be paralleled. Signal levels
will be reduced if too many inputs are paralleled; in the case of AES/EBU, this may result in a complete loss of audio.
Parameter
Any control function which can be adjusted by the user to one of several different values is termed a parameter. Input level, delay, limiter
threshold, etc., are all parameters.
Pass-through cable
See Straight network cable.
Ping
Pinging is a term coined by the IT industry to the procedure of sending a command over a network to a particular Ethernet device asking
it to confirm its identity and possibly reply with additional information. Thus an PLM on a network can be pinged from the Lake Controller;
on receipt of the ‘ping’, the hi-intensity white LED on the front panel illuminates. Reverse pinging is also possible with the PLM, whereby
instigating a ping from the PLM registers a visual ident on the Lake Controller screen.
Preset
A specific set of PLM configurations and parameters which can be saved for later recall. The PLM allows four types of Presets to be saved;
see Module Preset, Frame Preset, Subsystem Preset and System Reset.
Primary
The Primary Ethernet port on the PLM is the means of connecting the PLM to a network. See also Secondary.
PSU
Abbreviation of Power Supply Unit. The PSU in any item of electronic equipment converts the AC mains into a set of internal DC voltages
which run the electronic assemblies themselves.
RJ45
RJ45s are the industry-standard connectors for Ethernet ports.
Router
As far as networks of the type discussed in this manual are concerned, see Switch.
Secondary
The Secondary Ethernet port on the PLM can be used either as a daisy-chain output, repeating the network connection at the Primary port,
or for the connection of a separate second network for full redundancy.
Short circuit
protection
A Lab.gruppen proprietary protective circuit designed to mute a channel when a short circuit is detected at its output terminals to prevent
damage to the amplifier.
Soft Function Buttons
The eight buttons around the front panel display are called soft function buttons because their function varies depending upon which
display page is currently on-screen.
SpeakerSafe
Once activated in the Lake Controller software, SpeakerSafe constantly monitors the voltage and current at the PLM’s outputs. Using
Fingerprint data, the software then calculates parameters such as voice coil and magnet temperatures, providing the operator with real-
time performance monitoring. See LoadLibrary.
Speakon
An industrial-quality loudspeaker connector manufactured by Neutrik. 4-pole (2 speakers) and 8-pole (4 speakers) versions are fitted to
various versions of the PLM.
Star
A network topology which uses a network switch to connect to individual PLMs. Each PLM connects to one port on the switch with its own
cable, thus the network looks like a star when drawn as a diagram with the switch at the centre.
Straight network
cable
A Cat-5/6 network cable with full pin-to-pin connections is called a straight network cable. The PLM can connect to a network using either
straight or crossed network cables.
Subsystem
It is possible when working with large networked systems to store selected components of the system into a Subsystem. This is useful if
working on a tour that encompasses both large and mid-sized venues. The same core Lake Controller data can then be used for a reduced
count of PLMs or other processors.
Super Module
A Super Module is a virtual construct that can be realized within the Lake Controller, allowing a set of Modules in different Frames to be
treated as a single Module.
Switch (Ethernet)
An Ethernet switch allows several Ethernet devices to be connected to a network using a star topology. More intelligent than the earlier
hubs which they now largely replace, they route packets of data only to the units for which they are intended, and also perform other system
housekeeping and control functions.
System Preset
A class of Preset within the Lake Processing system, System Presets allow Module or Frame configurations and settings to be stored for
the entire network of PLM’s and other processors.
Tablet PC
A compact PC which uses a touchscreen instead of keyboard and mouse. The Lake Controller has been optimized for use on Tablet PCs.
Termination
AES/EBU digital audio interconnections must be correctly terminated for reliable operation. The 110 ohm terminations must be set ‘on’ at
the beginning and end of a set of daisy-chained digital audio equipment such as PLMs, and ‘off’ at any intermediate ones.
Topology
A fancy mathematical word for “arrangement” or “configuration”. The topology of a network is a means of visualizing the overall
configuration of the network.
VHF protection
VHF protection is another amplifier safety circuit developed by Lab.gruppen. The presence of continuous HF audio can easily damage
loudspeakers, so the protection circuit monitors the output this, muting the amplifier channel if necessary.
View
The information available in the front panel display’s Meter mode is split into three pages which are termed Views.
V peak
Indicates the peak voltage of an audio signal. For a sinusoidal signal, the peak voltage = 1.414 x the RMS voltage, Vrms. Not to be confused
with peak-to-peak voltage (written V pk-pk), which = V peak x 2.
Vrms
The RMS voltage of a signal. See RMS.
Wireless access point
A device used to connect an Ethernet network to another computer without cables. Think of it as a radio transmitter/receiver for data.
Wireless network
An Ethernet network where some or all cabled connections are replaced by wireless links.
Table 11.6: Glossary of Term
