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Martin Audio MLA, User Manual

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Martin Audio MLA User Manual Download Page 15

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

MLA System

  

USER GUIDE

   

MLA System 

User Guide V2.1

 

 

 

15

 

 

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Introduction 

MLA and MLA Compact are the first products utilising a revolutionary Multicellular approach to sound distribution in large 

venues. The MLA system prioritises the coherence and balance of sound where it arrives at the audience areas ignoring the 

sound emitted from the array. Incorporating Martin Audio’s superb acoustic design the system makes it possible to achieve a 

phenomenally even distribution of sound to each and every audience member and to ensure minimum sound leakage into areas 

where it is not wanted, something that no other system can offer. 

 

About This Manual 

This manual explains in detail the individual components that comprise a complete system which may be MLA, MLA Compact, 

MLA Mini or even a combination of all three. System wiring and rigging is explained and the two key software packages are 

covered. It is not however the intention for this manual to be the sole tutorial medium for those wishing to use the system. Each 

system sale is accompanied by an extensive three day training course which covers using the system including a day spent hands-

on setting up and de-rigging a system. There is a growing band of trained technicians who have completed the course. In no 

circumstances should a system be used without a trained MLA technician present, this manual is intended as a reference for 

those who have completed the course NOT as a replacement for it.   

 

 

Zac Brown Tour, Chicago 2010 

Summary of Contents for MLA

Page 1: ...User Guide Multi cellular Loudspeaker Array MLA ...

Page 2: ...sign 22 Low Frequency 22 Mid Range 23 High Frequency 25 FIR Crossovers 27 Amplifier Module 28 Connections 29 Mains 30 Audio network 31 Block Diagram 32 Essential Maintenance 33 Tools Required 33 Replacing the amplifier module 33 Replacing a low frequency driver 33 Replacing a mid driver 33 Replacing a compression Driver 34 Replacing a Diaphragm 34 Specifications 34 Acoustical 34 Drivers 34 Rated P...

Page 3: ...37 High Frequency 37 Connections 38 Mains 38 Audio network 39 Essential Maintenance 40 Tools Required 40 Replacing the amplifier module 40 Replacing a mid driver 40 Replacing a compression Driver 40 Replacing a Diaphragm 40 Specifications 41 Acoustical 41 Drivers 41 Rated Power 2 41 Dispersion 41 Crossover Frequencies 41 Audio input 41 Network 41 Amplifier Module 41 Power Supply 41 General 42 Acce...

Page 4: ...Essential Maintenance 58 Tools Required 58 Replacing the amplifier module 58 Replacing a driver 58 Specification 59 Acoustical 59 Drivers 59 Rated Power 2 59 Dispersion 59 Audio input 59 Network 59 Amplifier Module 59 Power Supply 59 General 59 Accessories 60 Notes 60 MLA Compact 61 Mechanical Design 62 Rigging 62 Acoustic Design 64 Low Frequency 64 Mid Range 66 High Frequency 67 FIR Crossovers 68...

Page 5: ...r 74 Replacing a compression Driver 74 Replacing a Diaphragm 74 Specifications 75 Acoustical 75 Drivers 75 Rated Power 2 75 Dispersion 75 Crossover Frequencies 75 Audio input 75 Network 75 Amplifier Module 75 Power Supply 75 General 76 Accessories 76 Notes 76 DSX DSX F 77 Mechanical Design 77 Flying Upgrade 78 Rigging 78 Acoustic Design 80 Amplifier module 80 Connections 80 Mains 81 Audio network ...

Page 6: ... Internal Processing 84 Network 84 Amplifier Module 84 Power Supply 84 General 84 Accessories 85 Notes 85 Merlin 86 Introduction 86 Features 86 Front Panel Functions 86 Rear Panel Functions 88 Connections 88 Mains 88 Ethernet 88 U Net 88 Audio Inputs 89 Audio Outputs 89 USB 89 Processing Functions 89 Menu Tree 91 Main 91 Inputs 91 Outputs 91 System Setup 92 Network Settings 92 Specifications 94 ...

Page 7: ... Connect Power to the U Hub 102 Connect all input and Network cables 102 IP Selection 102 IP Reset 102 Accessories 103 Cables 103 Adaptors 104 Audio U Net Splitter 104 Tablet PC 105 Software 105 Display 2 1 105 Vu Net 105 Xirrus WiFi Monitor 106 Files Utilities 106 Power Settings bat file 106 Matlab Components 106 Java Runtime 106 Martin Audio Software Backup 106 Network Information 106 Picostatio...

Page 8: ...Mk2 Slave Rack 114 MLA FoH Rack 116 MLA Flying Grid 118 Calibration 118 Battery Replacement 121 MLA Compact Flying Grid 123 Calibration 123 MLA to MLA Compact Transition Grid 124 Mains Distro High Voltage 125 Distro Mk1 125 Distro Mk2 125 Mains Distro Low Voltage 126 Flightcases 127 Merlin Distro Rack 127 Mk1 High Voltage Rack Case 127 Mk2 High Voltage Rack Case 127 Mk3 High Voltage Rack Case 127 ...

Page 9: ...MLA Compact Twin Case 136 Front of House Case 137 Cabling 138 Mains 138 16A extension 138 30m Tourmate multicore 138 12 Way Breakout loom 138 6 way breakout loom 139 Network 140 Adaptors 141 Audio 142 Looming Cables 142 Cabinet Links 142 Array Looms 143 Display v2 1 145 Introduction 145 Numerical Optimisation 145 Index Plots 146 Application menu 157 Getting Started 158 Add an Array 159 Slice Tab 1...

Page 10: ...ab 177 Splay Angles 177 Current Acoustic Output 177 Coverage Current Best Optimised Output 178 Calculation 179 Array Diagram 180 Optimisation 180 Optimisation Progress 181 Run the optimisation 181 Rig Tab 184 MLA 184 Ground Stacking 188 MLA Compact 190 MLA Mini 193 Flown system 193 Ground Stacking 196 Pole Mount 198 EQ Tab 202 Air Absorption 202 Goals 202 Optimise EQ s 204 View the SPL 205 Individ...

Page 11: ...ool bar 225 Project Workspace 227 Working Offline 232 Adding Merlin MLA MLD and MLX 232 Adding MLA Compact DSX 233 Adding MLA Mini 234 Adding DD12 237 Adding PSX 237 Arranging the Array components 237 Device Discovery 241 Device Discovery MLA Mini 248 On line operation 259 Right Click menu 261 Renaming 262 PEQs 262 Loading Snapshots 262 Defining Zones 263 Synchronize 265 Delete 265 MLA MLD Compact...

Page 12: ...ini 292 MLA Mini Cell check 292 Assigning Zones in MLA Mini 293 MLA Mini PEQ 296 MLA Mini Ganging 298 Array Ganging 298 Zone Ganging 299 DD12 300 Overview 306 EQ 309 Zones 313 Noise Gate 314 PSX 315 Overview 321 EQ 325 Zones 330 Noise Gate 331 Merlin 332 Gain Mute Limiters 332 Routing 333 Input Channels 335 Output Channels 339 Delay 340 Delay Link 342 Ganging 344 Whole Input Output Ganging 344 Cro...

Page 13: ...the Array 376 Firmware Updates 379 Get Firmware Updates 379 Starting a Firmware Update 381 MLA MLD Conversion Tool 385 MLA Pick Load spreadsheet 388 Ground Stacking 391 MLA Compact Pick Load Spreadsheet 394 Ground Stacking 396 System Wiring 398 Mains 398 U Net 399 Ethernet 399 Audio 400 Rigging MLA 401 Safety First 401 Manpower 401 Wiring and rigging 401 Rigging the system standard flown system 40...

Page 14: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 14 MLA Flown under MLX 432 Ground Stacked MLA arrays 434 Rigging MLA Compact 439 Ground Stacking MLA Compact 449 ...

Page 15: ...ual This manual explains in detail the individual components that comprise a complete system which may be MLA MLA Compact MLA Mini or even a combination of all three System wiring and rigging is explained and the two key software packages are covered It is not however the intention for this manual to be the sole tutorial medium for those wishing to use the system Each system sale is accompanied by...

Page 16: ...hen the apparatus has been damaged in any way such as 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 dropped Do not remove covers CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN Do not remove any protective earth or signal cable shield connections Merlin Read ...

Page 17: ...ngdom EMC EMISSION EN55103 1 1998 EMC IMMUNITY EN55103 2 1996 This is a class A product In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interferences in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures Unpacking the Units After unpacking the unit please check it carefully for any damage If any is found immediately notify the carrier concerned you the consignee must instigate an...

Page 18: ...gh speed data applications Mains connection is via a 16A Ceeform connector A comprehensive mains distribution system is supplied as part of the MLA system Each of the six channels of DSP comprises extensive processing optimised for the driver s under control this includes delay parametric EQ High and low pass filters IIR all pass filters FIR low pass filter and EQ gain phase and limiting In additi...

Page 19: ...s weather cowl protecting the amplifier module from either excessive sunlight or precipitation the system can be used outdoors without any additional weatherproofing for the arrays Rigging MLA s rigging has been derived from the highly successful rigging system employed on Martin Audio s line array system This has proved to be popular quick and above all safe Rigging MLA will be instantly familiar...

Page 20: ... the central button must again be depressed so the pin can be pushed into position It is important to check that the central button does not remain depressed once you have put it in place as this would indicate that the pin has not been pushed all the way into position and the ball bearings at the end of the pin have not been able to pop out and lock the pin in place If the pin is not locked the a...

Page 21: ...hole which ensures that the bar and pin are flush with the cabinet sides thus avoiding damage in transit The rear bracket also has a parked position with the pin in a central hole which retains the linking bar when in transit One issue with previous Martin Audio rigging system was the difficulty experienced flicking the rear linking bar out of its parked position This problem has been solved with ...

Page 22: ... off axis In contrast to systems which utilise direct radiators for the lows and mids MLA s all horn design ensures that lows and mids are able to keep up with the very high efficiency HF section MLA deliberately avoids the use of coaxial co entrant or cross firing midrange HF driver arrangements which introduce acoustic discontinuities that affect the on and off axis frequency response of both mi...

Page 23: ...ort concentrated on the vertical performance of arrays the horizontal dispersion can sometimes suffer particularly in designs that use coaxial co entrant or cross firing midrange arrangements MLA has completely separate mid and HF horns and the horizontal off axis response tracks the on axis response exactly Martin Audio has 30 years experience developing cone driven midrange horns and this experi...

Page 24: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 24 Another feature of MLA s midrange horn is the HiBlade device which modifies the wave propagation in the horn throat ...

Page 25: ...tion replaces the more traditionally used large format compression driver and has less distortion as well as having a much more extended HF response US Patent 6950530 High Frequency MLA s HF section utilises 3 x 1 25mm exit neodymium compression drivers which feed separate diffraction slot horns for true 90 horizontal constant directivity In the vertical plane MLA makes significant advances over p...

Page 26: ...ve shown that slightly curved wavefronts deliver much more consistent SPL s to the audience in real world use where the array is curved BEM models of a conventional horn show that the waveform expands as its travels down the horn to produce a convex vertical wavefront which would generally be too curved for an ideal array element Placing a kite shaped wedge part way down the horn introduces a conc...

Page 27: ...mid and high frequency sections are combined by a crossover Up to now Linkwitz Riley 4th order filters have been the industry standard With traditional filters like these overlap at crossover can result in a non symmetrical horizontal polar pattern if the devices being crossed over are side by side In the theoretical opposite extreme a brick wall filter would completely eliminate overlap and the p...

Page 28: ...ntained section This may be removed by unscrewing the rear panel which also holds the weather cowl in place Once unscrewed the module is quickly disconnected using the pair of Neutrik NL8 connectors which connect the amplifier outputs to the drive units This means that field replacement of the module is quick and easy in the unlikely event of a module failure Each MLA is fitted with a 6 channel am...

Page 29: ... cooling arrangement where air is forced over the amplifiers heatsinks through a metal tunnel employs an IP rated fan with intelligent drive for quiet operation when the system is used at lower powers Connections The amplifier and network module housed in the rear of the cabinet is protected by a weatherproof canvas cowl This vital accessory has two functions In the event of poor weather it will k...

Page 30: ...s The MLA mains inlet is located on the rear of the cabinet and is a standard 16A Male 230V single phase IP44 rated Ceeform inlet connector A comprehensive mains distribution system is supplied with the MLA systems which features female outlets rated at IP67 ...

Page 31: ...input and female link 3 pin XLR for balanced analogue or AES EBU digital input signals Input type is selected via the Vu Net software The Neutrik XLR s are fitted with a hinged cover for protection when not in use Two 8 pin ODU rugged latching push pull style data connectors are provided for the U Net network connection The two ports are available so that the network connections can be daisy chain...

Page 32: ... from the input which may be derived from analogue AES EBU digital or digital from the U Net network through to the drivers All signal routing and monitoring is done via VU Net The input signal is first selected between back panel the 3 pin XLR or U Net If Back Panel is selected there is then a further choice of either analogue AES Left or AES Right as AES EBU is a stereo feed If U Net is selected...

Page 33: ...remove the module Fitting the replacement is a reversal of the removal Offer the module to the cabinet and connect the NL8s making sure they have made a positive latch Before proceeding and further you may wish to re connect to the array to make sure that everything is connected and working perfectly see details later in this guide Replace the rain cowl assembly and all screws Reconnect all connec...

Page 34: ...um magnet compression drivers horn loaded Rated Power 2 LF 800W AES 3200W peak MF 400W AES 1600W peak HF 150W AES 600W peak Dispersion 6dB 90 horizontal 10dB 120 horizontal 7 5 vertical Crossover Frequencies 320Hz 8th order Linkwitz Riley 4 kHz Vanishing Point FIR filters Audio input CONNECTORS Female XLR input male XLR link output ANALOGUE INPUT IMPEDANCE 20kΩ balanced to ground MAXIMUM ANALOGUE ...

Page 35: ...k HEX perforated steel FITTINGS Proprietary rigging system Bar handles on each side Protective Rubber side cheeks incorporating skids Wheel board Transit cover Weather Protection Cowl IP RATING IP 24 DIMENSIONS inc wheelboard W 1136mm x H 372mm 376mm x D 675mm 825mm W 44 7in x H 14 6in 14 8in x D 26 5in 32 4in WEIGHT ex wheelboard 87 5kg 193lbs Accessories Flying frame including clinometer Ground ...

Page 36: ... MLA and obviously has exactly the same width so it can be rigged with MLA The cabinet is slightly taller at 454mm 17 9 to allow for the greater vertical coverage The same rugged 18mm ply construction with PU weather proof finish and black powder coated steel rigging is employed as MLA Rigging The rigging on the MLD is designed to complement the MLA The front rigging brackets operate in exactly th...

Page 37: ... and 139dB peak Measured in half space at 1metre with a tone burst signal then referred back to open 4π space to match the MLA providing excellent low frequency coherence The drivers are front loaded onto a hyperbolic horn with the rear chamber also reflex loaded to achieve extended low frequency response below the cut off of the horn The low frequency response of the MLD matches the MLA reaching ...

Page 38: ...e cowl flat the straps are again used to pull the supporting triangles down left and right Mains The mains inlet to the MLD in common with all larger format MLA series enclosures is a 16A male 230V Ceeform inlet connector As the MLD is always going to be at the bottom of an array and will always be at 13 75 to the MLA cabinet above it in an array which may already have a steep curve the mains inle...

Page 39: ...data connectors are provided for the U Net network connection The two ports are available so that the network connections can be daisy chained between other MLA cabinets or U Net equipped devices Either connector can be used as input or link A single green LED indicates power and two bi colour LED s indicate U Net network integrity Green indicates that the network is stable and red indicates an er...

Page 40: ... to stage are supplied as part of an MLA system Audio wiring is the industry standard for balanced connections Pin 1 Ground or shield Pin 2 Hot in phase Pin 3 Cold out of phase The signal source used to feed the MLA array must have line drive capabilities suitable for driving the combined load of the entire array AES EBU output connections are identical to analogue but cable used must be a dedicat...

Page 41: ...20 vertical Crossover Frequencies 320Hz 8th order Linkwitz Riley 4 kHz Vanishing Point FIR filters Audio input CONNECTORS Female XLR input male XLR link output ANALOGUE INPUT IMPEDANCE 20kΩ balanced to ground MAXIMUM ANALOGUE INPUT LEVEL 6 15Vrms 18dBu over voltage protected NOMINAL SYSTEM GAIN 28 5dB AES EBU IMPEDANCE 110Ohms balanced Receive and transmit termination Network CONNECTORS 2x IP68 ra...

Page 42: ...kids Wheel board Transit cover Weather Protection Cowl IP RATING IP 24 DIMENSIONS inc wheelboard W 1136mm x H 454mm 458mm x D 680mm 840mm W 44 7in x H 17 9in 18in x D 26 8in 33 1in WEIGHT ex wheelboard 91 5kg 201lbs Accessories Flying frame including clinometer Ground stacking bar Flying Pin Mains distribution system Tour grade network interconnects Merlin Controller Unet Hub Notes 1 Measured on a...

Page 43: ...ement the MLA end cheeks and to add additional protection Black nylon skids on the base locate easily into routed slots on the top of the cabinet to give a positive lock aiding stability of ground stacked systems Whilst there is no escaping the considerable weight of the MLX every possible measure has been taken to make the sub as manageable as possible It is supplied with a wheelboard and as the ...

Page 44: ...its location on the U Net network to ensure complete compatibility when an MLX is used rear facing there is also an illuminated logo on the rear of the enclosure the choice of which badge lights is made in Vu Net Rigging MLX rigging is a derivative of the MLA rigging system As there is no requirement for multiple angles each rigging bar on all four corners at the bottom of the cabinet are relative...

Page 45: ...vice a very low latency DSP system and a dedicated high efficiency transducer The amplifier is PFC Power Factor Corrected equipped making it immune from fluctuations in mains voltage and is capable of delivering up to 8 500W This drives the dedicated iPal 18 neodymium magnet 3 400W rated woofers The output from the drivers is monitored by the differential pressure sensor both in front and behind t...

Page 46: ...ossible The pressure sensor was developed to provide this vital link in the chain IPAL used zero latency DSP to control the signal applied to the amplifier with input from the DPC system Low latency is vital since corrections to the output signal have to be made in real time not several milliseconds after an event The DSP in the IPAL system was developed with an innovative architecture that achiev...

Page 47: ...ace behind the ventilation panel and connector lid removal is a simple case of unscrewing the fixing screws and disconnecting the two Neutrik NL4 s which connect the drivers and LED s to the module the Neutrik p pin XLR which connects the iPal pressure sensor and the Cat 5 cable that links to the iPal data port Field replacement therefore is very quick and easy in the unlikely event of a module fa...

Page 48: ... cables There is an exit space in the middle of the cabinet at the bottom to allow the cables to be neatly run into the cabinet with the cover closed Mains The MLX mains inlet is located on the right of the amplifier module a standard 16A Male 230V single phase IP44 rated Ceeform inlet connector A comprehensive mains distribution system is supplied with the MLA systems which features female outlet...

Page 49: ...o the right It features a male input and female link 3 pin XLR for balanced analogue or AES EBU digital input signals Input type is selected via the Vu Net software The Neutrik XLR s are fitted with a hinged cover for protection when not in use Two 8 pin ODU rugged latching push pull style data connectors are provided for the U Net network connection The two ports are available so that the network...

Page 50: ...the event of a break in cable or disconnected connector Ready made tour grade network cables in a variety of lengths from short inter cabinet patching to long front of house to stage are supplied as part of an MLA system Analogue inputs should be connected with a good quality 3 pin Male XLR wired to good quality twin screened cable this is particularly important if the feed is a long length of cab...

Page 51: ...ect a PC to the module As mentioned the iPal port is RS485 so you will need an RS485 adaptor to connect between your PC and the module There are a large number of these available from computer spares stockist however Martin Audio recommend the EasySync ES U 3001 M available on line directly from EasySync http www easysync ltd com product 542 es u 3001 m html This versatile USB adaptor can be confi...

Page 52: ...e cabinet mounted RJ45 port All MLX should have been modified to fit the socket but if this hasn t happened it will be necessary to remove the amplifier module to access the RJ45 port on the module itself On your PC Unzip the file FirmwareUpdater_1 1 37_Setup zip From the unzipped folder run FirmwareUpdater_1 1 37_Setup exe to load the iPal update software onto your PC Make certain that the USB to...

Page 53: ...t the COM port that your computer has used for the USB to RS485 convertor This can be checked via Windows Control Panel Hardware and Sound Device Manager Select the MLX Module that is connected using the check box and use the next arrow to update the firmware ...

Page 54: ...LA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 54 You will see the Progress bar showing the update taking place Next install Power Control Manager PowerControlManager_2 3 1_Setup exe and run the program ...

Page 55: ...g previously found to run the Firmware update application To find the connected MLX click the On line box at the bottom of the window and select Overwrite PC settings Click Find amplifiers The MLX will be loaded into the application and will be visible in the Network panel on the left of the window Double click on the amplifier symbol to open the MLX DSP ...

Page 56: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 56 Click on the Load button and navigate to the file MLX_A02 pow in the un zipped upgrade folder The preset will load into the DSP ...

Page 57: ...he XLR and two NL4 s are reconnected Using a known audio reference source please no MP3 or fruit based products pass audio through the MLX to confirm operation It is recommended that a reference MLX cabinet is also present to compare acoustic output using the Mk1 Human Ear not supplied by Martin Audio Check LED lights on upgraded MLX cabinets with power connected If either LED lights connect the M...

Page 58: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 58 Essential Maintenance Coming Soon Tools Required Coming Soon Replacing the amplifier module Coming Soon Replacing a driver Coming Soon ...

Page 59: ...rated 8 way quick release type PROTOCOL U Net Amplifier Module TYPE Single channel switch mode fixed frequency PEAK OUTPUT POWER 8 5000W AVERAGE EFFICIENCY 85 COOLING 2 x temperature controlled internal fans 1 x low speed internal blower 1 x temperature controlled external fan MAXIMUM AMBIENT TEMPERATURE 45 C 113 F for full output Power Supply TYPE Switch mode fixed frequency with PFC AC INPUT OPE...

Page 60: ...lbs Accessories Flying frame including clinometer Flying Pin Mains distribution system Tour grade network interconnects Merlin Controller Unet Hub Notes 1 Measured on axis in open 4 space at 4 metres then referred to 1 metre 2 AES Standard ANSI S4 26 1984 3 Measured in half space at 1 metre with a tone burst signal then referred back to open 4 space 4 Calculated from 4m 2 83v sensitivity referred ...

Page 61: ...lay 2 1 system design and VU Net network control software applications outstanding levels of consistent high quality audio can be distributed to every point throughout the audience in a venue The MLA Compact has audio inputs that can be either standard balanced analogue or AES EBU digital A parallel connection is available to daisy chain between cabinets The MLA Compact features network control vi...

Page 62: ... are powder coated steel and as with the MLA series the cabinets are finished with decorative protective rubber end cheeks Rigging MLA Compact Rigging is a simplified version of the array style rigging employed on Martin Audio line arrays and the MLA system As with these systems the rigging is a fixed front system with angles between cabinets adjustable from 0 5 to 10 by using the rear rigging bra...

Page 63: ...et at each side The cabinets are joined using machined quick release pins There are an identical design to the MLA pins but a smaller size These have spring loaded ball bearings at the end of the pin which protrude beyond the outer diameter of the pin thus locking them in place To release them the central button is depressed whilst pulling the pin clear using the wide flange This is best done with...

Page 64: ...ishing for such a small box MLA Compact deliberately avoids the use of coaxial co entrant or cross firing midrange HF driver arrangements which introduce acoustic discontinuities that affect the on and off axis frequency response of both mid and HF sections The MLA Compact s mid and HF horns are completely separate a key factor in its ability to produce consistent horizontal constant directivity c...

Page 65: ...ble source arrangement significantly improves the directivity control of the LF section maintaining the 100 degree system beamwidth down to 250Hz and reducing mid bass output at the sides and rear of the array The LF drivers themselves are very high excursion with vented poles to reduce power compression and virtually eliminate turbulent air noise ...

Page 66: ...ff axis response tracks the on axis response exactly Martin Audio has over 30 years experience developing cone driven midrange horns and this experience together with BEM optimised horn geometry has been put to good use in the design of MLA Compact s mid and HF sections The mid horn utilises 2 5 125mm 1 5 38mm voice coil neodymium drivers to produce 109dB 1m 2 83V a big gain on the typical efficie...

Page 67: ...ls High Frequency MLA Compact s HF section utilises 4 0 7 19mm exit neodymium compression drivers which feed separate horns for true 100 horizontal constant directivity In the vertical plane MLA Compact makes significant advances over previous thinking by adopting new criteria for vertical wavefront curvature ...

Page 68: ...avefront With wedge curvature is ideally optimised FIR Crossovers Like all three way systems MLA Compact s low mid and high frequency sections are combined by a crossover Up to now Linkwitz Riley 4th order filters have been the industry standard With traditional filters like these overlap at crossover can result in a non symmetrical horizontal polar pattern if the devices being crossed over are si...

Page 69: ...e is quick and easy in the unlikely event of a module failure Each MLA Compact is fitted with a 5 channel amplifier module Its Class D circuitry delivers a total of 2 1kW continuous and 4 2kW peak output whilst producing significantly less heat than a linear output stage design All channels share the same circuit topology and are driven from the same power supply This configuration effectively sha...

Page 70: ...iet operation when the system is used at lower powers Connections The amplifier and network module housed in the rear of the cabinet is protected by a weatherproof canvas cowl This vital accessory has two functions In the event of poor weather it will keep all electrical connections dry In the event of very hot weather it acts as a sun shade to keep direct sunlight off the amplifier cooling system...

Page 71: ...a drawstring neck in which the amplifier mains inlet is housed Once the connection has been made with the incoming Ceeform from the mains distribution system the drawstring is pulled around the mains cable and is held tightly secure with a spring loaded button press release catch The MLA Compact has a universal PSU suitable for direct connection to virtually any mains voltage anywhere in the world...

Page 72: ...a break in cable or disconnected connector Ready made tour grade network cables in a variety of lengths from short inter cabinet patching to long front of house to stage are supplied as part of an MLA system Analogue inputs should be connected with a good quality 3 pin Male XLR wired to good quality twin screened cable this is particularly important if the feed is a long length of cable from front...

Page 73: ...o each of the five cells where further parametric EQ an IIR all pass filter high and low pass filters FIR filters delay gain phase and limiting The parameters for this extensive processing are created using Display 2 1 and uploaded to the system via the U Net network using Vu Net software Finally each cell has an amplifier tailored to the requirements of the driver s being driven This adds 38dB of...

Page 74: ...s ensure that the module powers up the fan will briefly run at full speed and the red power LED will light Connect U Net cables to the two ports and ensure that both U Net LEDs light green Connect audio input and if required output connections You will need to upload the correct settings to the array if the system is in use at the time please see the section in the Vu Net chapter for detailed inst...

Page 75: ...horizontal 10 vertical Crossover Frequencies 400Hz 8th order Linkwitz Riley 4 25 kHz Vanishing Point FIR filters Audio input CONNECTORS Female XLR input male XLR link output ANALOGUE INPUT IMPEDANCE 20kΩ balanced to ground MAXIMUM ANALOGUE INPUT LEVEL 6 15Vrms 18dBu over voltage protected NOMINAL SYSTEM GAIN 22dB AES EBU IMPEDANCE 110 Ohms balanced Receive and transmit termination Network CONNECTO...

Page 76: ...porating skids Weather Protection Cowl IP RATING IP 25 DIMENSIONS W 788mm x H 280mm x D 500mm W 31in x H 11in x D 19 7in WEIGHT ex wheelboard 49 5kg 109lbs Accessories Flightcase for two enclosures Flying frame including clinometer Ground stacking bar Flying Pin Mains distribution system Tour grade network interconnects Merlin Controller U Net Hub Notes 1 Measured on axis in open 4 space at 4 metr...

Page 77: ... or back in the shop Every possible measure has been taken to make the sub as manageable as possible It is supplied with heavy duty castors fitted to the rear of the cabinet for transportation Each side of the MLX has a strong bar handle running almost the full depth of the cabinet making it easy for four crew to lift the cabinet with two at each side A rugged canvas cover is supplied which has an...

Page 78: ...olted and attached to the wheelboard which may then be used on with the front or the rear of the cabinet so it may travel face down or face up entirely your choice Finally a new canvas cover is supplied which is slightly larger than the DSX cover so it will fit the greater width resulting from the end cheeks This cover is fitted with a strong timber insert to protect the upper surface of the cabin...

Page 79: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 79 The rigging bar hinges up and is secured in its stored position with a flying pin ...

Page 80: ... Sonically the DSX is a perfect balance of low frequency extension and punch Amplifier module The DSX uses a self contained amplifier module which contains the network and audio interface as well as the amplifier that drivers the sub The module is retained in the rear of the enclosure behind a protective hinged panel and may quickly and easily be removed for replacement in the unlikely event of a ...

Page 81: ...inlet connector A comprehensive mains distribution system is supplied with the MLA systems which features female outlets rated at IP67 The DSX has a universal PSU suitable for direct connection to virtually any mains voltage anywhere in the world It is supplied fitted with a 16A Ceeform single phase mains inlet If you are not using the Martin Audio MLA distribution system a matching ...

Page 82: ...s fitted with 8 way push pull latching connectors compatible with ODU Series K Robust Cat 5 cable should be used such as Neutrik Etherflex or Belden 1305A this will ensure reliable network connections of up to 125 metres between network ports U Net protocol uses a redundant ring fault tolerance so connections daisy chain between all units in the network going from port 1 on the first unit to port ...

Page 83: ...nnections are identical to analogue but cable used must be a dedicated 110Ω low capacitance digital cable such as Belden 1800F or 1696A Essential Maintenance Coming Soon Tools Required Coming Soon Replacing the amplifier module Coming Soon Replacing a driver Coming Soon ...

Page 84: ...lving filters Up to 48dB Oct HPF and LPF Up to 1 second delay Network CONNECTORS 2x IP68 rated 8 way quick release type PROTOCOL U Net Amplifier Module TYPE Single channel switch mode fixed frequency PEAK OUTPUT POWER 6000W AVERAGE EFFICIENCY 85 COOLING 2 x temperature controlled internal fans 1 x low speed internal blower 1 x temperature controlled external fan MAXIMUM AMBIENT TEMPERATURE 45 C 11...

Page 85: ...060mm x H 595mm x D 834mm 1027mm with vent flap open W 41 7in x H 23 4in x D 32 8in 40 4in DSX F W 1125mm x H 595mm x D 847mm 1027mm with vent flap open W 44 3in x H 23 4in x D 33 5in 40 4in WEIGHT DSX 122 2kg 269lbs DSX F 147 6Kg 325lbs excluding wheelboard Accessories Flying frame including clinometer DSX F Flying Pin DSX F Mains distribution system Tour grade network interconnects Merlin Contro...

Page 86: ...miter The crossover filters offer slopes of up to 48dB Octave with a comprehensive selection of responses available The Merlin has four inputs and ten outputs each of which may be configured as analogue or AES EBU Features Superb audio quality Analogue Devices SHARCTM based DSP platform effective 64 bit precision arithmetic signal processing coupled with 24 bit ultra low noise AD DA conversion ens...

Page 87: ...with the Q velocity sensitive encoder GAIN Where a selected parameter has a gain component such as a parametric equaliser the level is adjusted with the GAIN velocity sensitive encoder AES Mode The in and out AES indicators illuminate when with the inputs or outputs have been switched to accept AES EBU inputs instead of analogue PC Two indicators show the activity of the Ethernet port on the rear ...

Page 88: ... AES is two channel Inputs 1 4 Input connections are available on four electronically balanced female XLR s When AES EBU inputs are selected via the on screen menu inputs are on 1 and 3 2 and 4 are no longer used Connections Mains The Merlin has a universal PSU suitable for direct connection to any mains voltage anywhere in the world It is supplied fitted with a standard UK 13A mains plug For othe...

Page 89: ...either wiring ground to pin 3 and signal to pin 2 or ground to pin 1 and 3 and signal to pin 2 AES EBU input connections are identical to analogue but cable used must be a dedicated 110Ω low capacitance digital cable such as Belden 1800F or 1696A Audio Outputs Analogue outputs should be connected with a good quality 3 pin Female XLR wired to similarly good quality twin screened cable this is parti...

Page 90: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 90 The diagram below shows the processing path for each of the ten outputs which follow the routing matrix ...

Page 91: ...panel navigation buttons Inputs This diagram shows the input menu accessed by pressing the Input menu button buttons below the bargraph meters for each of the four input channels Outputs This diagram shows the output menu also accessed by pressing the Output menu button buttons below the bargraph meters for each of the ten output channels ...

Page 92: ...er standard Ethernet hub that supports DHCP The other method of operation is Static IP where the IP address for all items on the network is set by the user within a given range This has a couple of advantages first the switch or hub does not rely on DHCP support to assign IP addresses so can be a little more reliable and secondly the Ethernet network can be shared with other devices as long as eac...

Page 93: ...ny of the three control knobs Freq Q or Gain to adjust the number then using the Right button shift to the next range and adjust Continue until the IP is in the same range as your PC but not exactly the same for example 10 10 10 33 Press Enter to return to the Network Settings submenu Press Enter again to check that the settings are correct Three presses of the Back button will return you to the m...

Page 94: ...igh and Low pass on all outputs Butterworth Bessel and Linkwitz Riley types 3 12 18 24 48dB Octave slopes Equalisation 8 parametric filters on every input output Gain 40dB to 15dB Bandwidth Q 0 4 to 128 Frequency 20 32KHz Hi Lo shelving Q 0 4 to 1 0 20Hz 32KHz 256 tap FIR filter on up to six outputs Limiter Look ahead clip and peak limiter on each output Threshold 10dBu to 22dBu Attack 0 3 90ms Re...

Page 95: ...s supporting a simple to use redundant loop With U Hub an MLA Series system with onboard U NET can be seamlessly integrated into a TCP IP network and controlled via VU NET software When used in conjunction with the Martin Audio DX4 0 networked system controller U Hub can connect audio and network to an MLA Series system with a single cable via a Dante digital audio network U Net Connections The U ...

Page 96: ...to allow continuous communication Audio connections are combined with the network feeds Audio input 1 is connected to a pair of spare connections in the U Net port 1 ODU This would usually be used as the send to the first array A return from the array would be connected to the first link in connection Audio 2 is combined with the second ODU in the linked pair allowing audio to be fed to a second a...

Page 97: ... in a standard 3 pin XLR The XLR is connected to the audio input The audio is daisy chained between cabinets using standard audio link cables When the final network cable is routed back to the U Hub it is terminated using the first of the link pairs The link pairs link the network connections first two twisted pairs but NOT the audio meaning that the link out can be used to route a completely inde...

Page 98: ...n 1 of the XLR connectors is internally connected to the chassis The shield of the input cable should always be connected Pin 1 of the XLR to ensure that EMC performance and regulations are met Using unbalanced connections Please note that the use of unbalanced connections is not recommended however when connecting the U Hub to an unbalanced audio source the signal conductor should be connected to...

Page 99: ...to your Ethernet network There are two front panel mounted U Net ports for connection to the U Net enabled devices in your system These use ODU connectors to the LEMO high speed data series pattern Wiring configuration is as follows The two pairs of linked ODU connectors are wired as shown in the block diagram Pins 1 2 3 6 are linked together pins 4 and 5 on the link out connectors have the audio ...

Page 100: ...Net LED will illuminate green when a good connection is made to a U Net enabled device connected to port 1 5 U Net Connections Six ODU connectors provide U Net connectivity consisting of Port 1 port 2 and two linked pairs Port 1 and the Out connection of each linked pair also carry audio routed from the input connectors on the rear panel 6 U Net Status The U Net LED will illuminate green when a go...

Page 101: ...50 60Hz without re configuration The IEC connector should be compatible with the retention clip so it can be secured with the clip to ensure the connector cannot accidentally disconnect 2 Main Fuse This should be fitted with an anti surge T fuse rated at 1 amp 3 Ethernet Neutrik Ethercon allowing an ethernet connection using wither a standard CAT5E connector or an Ethercon cable 4 Analogue AES EBU...

Page 102: ... by using the IP Reset switch on the front panel Press and hold the switch for approximately 3 seconds and the U Hub will be set to Static IP with an address of 169 254 19 71 The default address gives you the flexibility to connect to the U Hub without having to adjust your PC LAN settings if the PC is in dynamic mode it will self assign a link local address in the 169 254 xxx xxx domain If your n...

Page 103: ... Hub to the first subwoofer where the racks are in close proximity to the subs 15m PWA00063 General purpose cable often used to link from a U Hub to the first subwoofer in an array 35m PWA00040 Most commonly used as part of an array loom to go from a rack up to a flown array and back and as cross stage Ethernet links 50m PWA00077 Extra long Array looms 75m PWA00052 Supplied on a cable drum used fo...

Page 104: ... low cost CAT5E cable which would be a more cost effective solution for installed systems PWA00056 This is a 10m CAT5E cable terminated one end in an ODU connector and the other in an RJ45 connector As above this offers a cost effective solution for certain applications Audio U Net Splitter The U Hub audio integration features will allow audio and network signals to be fed to an array using a sing...

Page 105: ...latest version of Display 2 1 is installed This is the application used to create a show project drawing a 2D slice of the venue positioning your array and specifying the audience plane s and other areas that you do not wish to cover including those which you particularly want to keep at the lowest level possible defined as Hard Avoid Goals are set for the required spl contour from the start of th...

Page 106: ...leted in a reasonable time frame usually no more than around ten minutes for a complex venue and frequently much quicker Java Runtime Java is used for Vu Net as it doesn t require the high level computational processing but is used to provide an ergonomic and comprehensive application offering every possible element of control required to run an audio system Martin Audio Software Backup A shortcut...

Page 107: ...button 7 Click on the System tab Under Configuration Management click the browse button and find the file called MLA WAP Config v1 8 Click the upload button and then Apply The WAP has now been configured Disconnect the newly configured WAP and then connect the PicoStation that will be the DHCP server Follow the above steps but at point 7 upload the file called MLA DHCP Config v1 The DHCP server ha...

Page 108: ... and the computer from the switch wait 10 seconds for your computer to lose its network connection and then reconnect both 8 Load the Ubiquiti Discovery tool scan for the connected Picostation Once found double click on the Picostation select the IP address which should now be 10 10 10 2 and click the Web UI button 9 The logon screen is then displayed in your web browser Login using the following ...

Page 109: ...or Pen Only HD 300 NIT Wide Viewing IPS Panel Direct Bonded Gorilla Glass 1366 x 768 I O Input Output Ports 1 x Mini Display port w audio 1 x VGA 2 x USB 3 0 1 x Always on USB 2 0 1 x 4 in 1 SD Card Reader SD SDHC SDXC MMC slot 1 x Express Card 54mm 1 x Smart Card Reader Wi Fi Intel Centrino Wireless N 2200 2x2 BGN Dimensions 305 0mm x 228 7mm x 270 31 3mm 12 x 9 x 1 06 1 23 ...

Page 110: ... port of the Pakedge Ethernet switch another port is connected to the connector designated for use with the WAP Note that the PoE adds 48V to the connection do not connect any other Ethernet devices to this connector as damage could occur The first 5 ports of the Switch are directly connected to the Ethernet outputs on the patch panel for connection to slave racks or a cable connection to the tabl...

Page 111: ...ured by the top pair of rack bolts This slides out to access all network and wi fi components which are secured to the tray which also features a dedicated 4 way mains board so power to all network products is via a single inlet The patch panel wiring loom has been modified to allow the tray to easily slide in and out with all connections now fed through a bulk umbilical down one side which is dre...

Page 112: ...nt is the addition of the Patton Copper link extender This resolves the problem of providing a hard wired Ethernet connection to Front of House from stage given the limitations of standard Ethernet protocol Ethernet is transmitted over simple twisted pair over distances of up to 1 500m 5 500ft As the connection only requires a simple twisted pair it will work perfectly well via standard microphone...

Page 113: ... PoE and goes to a dedicated antenna connector on the patch panel This also has 48V present so should not be connected to other Ethernet devices The Copper Link adaptor uses one of the Switch ports and feeds the patch panel copper link adaptor XLR This is still an Ethernet connection so is colour coded red but is differentiated from the standard Ethernet connections by virtue of using an XLR and n...

Page 114: ...same patch panel as the Master rack but all but one Ethernet ports are blanked off leaving a single connection which goes directly to the Merlin Ethernet port The 1U space where the Ethernet switch would be on a Master rack is fitted with a blank panel Mk2 Slave Rack The New version of the Slave rack whilst housing identical components has a dedicated patch panel as the new Master panel is such a ...

Page 115: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 115 ...

Page 116: ...mise the reliability of the wi fi connection when walking the venue to check coverage The second Ethernet port is brought out on a Neutrik Ethercon connector to allow an easy cable connection to the Tablet PC using a standard Cat 5e patch cable The other use for the rack is to house the WAP The assembly is built around a 4U slide out draw The left side of the internal draw is sectioned off and has...

Page 117: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 117 ...

Page 118: ... will not get accurate results We recommend re calibrating the inclinometer system annually to ensure consistent accuracy which is crucial to ensuring that an array covers the area you intend A large MLA system could comfortably cover distances of over 150m and an inaccuracy of a fraction of a degree could make a difference of 20 to 30m at the furthest point of the coverage The Flying grids are su...

Page 119: ...ensor and reader are a matched pair If this is not possible calibrating a replacement reader for example you should label them after the calibration procedure so they are always used together in future With the flying grid flat place the test inclinometer on the grid in the centre and switch on Ideally it should show the grid at 0 if the floor is flat It is not vital that it is totally flat so don...

Page 120: ...eference level Next raise the rear of the flying grid until the reference level reads approximately 45 a downward tilt is shown as negative an upward tilt is positive Take extreme caution handling the flying grid it weighs close to 80Kg and injury could easily occur if it is dropped Never attempt to lift it on your own or without mechanical assistance and always ensure that it is adequately suppor...

Page 121: ...style battery always use an alkaline replacement from a reputable manufacturer such as Duracell Maxell Energiser et cetera The battery is accessed by opening the reader case completely there is no dedicated battery compartment The case separates into two halves dividing down the middle The case clips together there are no screws to remove The best tool to use is a medium around 5mm flat blade scre...

Page 122: ...tery out pull the clip off the terminals clip the new battery onto the battery lead and replace it in the upper half of the case The bottom is fitted back on and clips into place Turn the reader on to check the new battery has been fitted correctly and is working ok ...

Page 123: ...racy which is crucial to ensuring that an array covers the area you intend A large MLA Compact system could comfortably cover distances of up to 150m and an inaccuracy of a fraction of a degree could make a difference of 20 to 30m at the furthest point of the coverage The Flying grids are supplied flightcased in pairs with the following accessories 1x CAR00040 MLA Compact Flying Frame Flightcase 2...

Page 124: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 124 MLA to MLA Compact Transition Grid Coming Soon ...

Page 125: ... in the lighting industry and is as follows Circuit Number Phase Live Neutral Earth 1 7 P1 Pin 1 Pin 2 Pin 13 2 8 P1 Pin 3 Pin 4 Pin 14 3 9 P2 Pin 5 Pin 6 Pin 15 4 10 P2 Pin 7 Pin 8 Pin 16 5 11 P3 Pin 9 Pin 10 Pin 17 6 12 P3 Pin 11 Pin 12 Pin 18 The Distro also has four 13A outlets on the rear to power the control electronics within the Master and Slave racks These are fed individually from circui...

Page 126: ...ased rack The distro takes up 12U of rack space in the flightcase leaving 4U free for the Merlin and network products It has a capacity that matches a high voltage system with two distros installed in a rack Mains inlet is via 200A Camlok connectors with parallel outlets immediately above each connection There are fused indicator lights for each of the three phases Above the inlet panel is the fir...

Page 127: ...in the case The front lid is held in place with four side mounted butterfly catches the rear is closed There are two flip handles on the side to ease handling The flightcase moves on a wheelboard with four 4 blue wheel casters the front pair are braked types The flightcase is fabricated from laminated ply with a distinctive black textured laminate All aluminium extrusions and steel fittings butter...

Page 128: ...ed versions to improve the overall quality of the finished case Low Voltage Rack Case The low voltage rack case has remained unchanged since its introduction and is a 15U floating rack flightcase into which the mains distro is permanently built leaving a 4U space at the top for the Merlin and network products It is constructed from black laminated ply and has always used natural silver extrusions ...

Page 129: ...e tray dividers to ensure that cables stay in their designated sections The interior of the trunk is permanently divided with a slight offset so the right hand space is slightly larger to house array looms Both ends have a hinged flap to allow cable access with the lid down There are lift out trays in both halves of the case which have movable dividers to allow cable storage to your own specificat...

Page 130: ...e all fittings have been upgraded and switched to natural silver finish The hinged flap has been completely removed from the left hand end and there is a simple opening at the right hand end with no flap which is deeper than the previous version to allow cable access with the lift out tray in place ...

Page 131: ... removed to expose the top of the two grids so the grids can be easily attached to a hoist whilst still in the flightcase minimising the manual handling required Each side of the case is also removable to enable easy access to the grids The grids are positioned in the centre of the case each side of a central divide They are held in place with a pin and clip through the upper most flying point sec...

Page 132: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 132 Mk3 Grid Case As with all cases in the range the MLA Grid case has been upgraded with more rugged fittings all of which are natural silver finish ...

Page 133: ...clinometer readers in cut out foam sections and all additional hardware The grids are lifted into each side where timber locators hold them securely in place Foam inserts in the top of the lid add further stability once the lid is fitted The lid is secured with two butterfly catches each side and there are two flip handles at each end for lifting and guiding the case As with all other cases it is ...

Page 134: ...t out tray in which the PC Disto and adaptor barrel are held in cut out block foam Under the tray is another foam layer with cut outs for all other parts and cables The lid is hinged down one side and secured with two small butterfly catches A single flip handle is fitted for transportation The exterior if finished in black textured laminate with black extrusions and fittings with the MLA logo sil...

Page 135: ...fi system which includes a front of house rack This meant that the case wasn t required to carry quite so many parts so has been scaled down so it is smaller and more tour bus friendly It now just holds the tablet PC power supply Leica Disto D8 and the adapter barrel As with all other cases the hardware has been switched to natural silver finish ...

Page 136: ...ing bracket The wheelboard has a pair of butterfly latches at each end and bumpers along the sides to allow the flightcase lid to locate securely The lid is trapezoidal to allow front back packing in a truck to maximise the number that will fit across the width There are a pair of flip handles at each end to assist in removing and replacing the lid The lid also has shaped timer sections at each en...

Page 137: ...the tablet PC It is a very straightforward case with rack fittings attached to the inside of the flightcase The front and rear lids are removable with a butterfly catch at each side and there are a pair of flip handles on the side to assist lifting with the case up on end As a new flightcase to the range it is manufactured from textured black laminated ply with high grade fittings and extrusion in...

Page 138: ...sed on the popular Socapex pattern but is rated at IP67 when mated so if suitable for use outdoors in all weather The cable has 18 cores each 2 5mm and has a tough flexible outer sheath Other lengths are available to special order The Tourmate is used to connect a Master or Slave rack to an array 12 Way Breakout loom ASF12003 is a six circuit 12 way breakout loom to interface between one of the To...

Page 139: ...ade 6 way breakout loom ASF12006 is a six channel breakout loom with six cable outlets of equal length intended for ground stacked systems The inlet is a Tourmate 19 pin female connector and six cables one per circuit exit directly from the Tourmate via a waterproof gland All six cables are 3 core 2 5mm toughened rubber cable terminated with an IP67 rated 16A Ceeform female connector to connect to...

Page 140: ...nnector chosen was a Lemo K Series pattern 8 pin connector manufactured by ODU This is specially designed for high speed data is extremely rugged and rated at IP67 It is also very quick and easy to connect and disconnect with a very positive latch Lemo style connectors have been used very successfully in the touring industry with radio microphone transmitter packs as the most obvious example so th...

Page 141: ...an be used as the Ethernet connection to Front of House from the Master rack PWA00041 This is a 120m cable 390ft that is available as an optional accessory it is not supplied with any standard systems It may be used for U Net connections where exceptionally long cable runs are required It is the longest run that U Net supports so cannot be joined to make it longer or via the parallel link connecti...

Page 142: ... inclinometer and mains cables PWA00057 Whilst not strictly an audio cable this cable has identical specification to the 35m audio cable PWA00058 but is fitted with Neutrik NC3XX HD series which are fitted with a waterproof rubber sealing jacket Rated at IP67 when mated with the equivalent cassis connector this series are specifically designed for outdoor use and are supplied for use connecting to...

Page 143: ...icore an optical or coaxial digital console feed and a mains run to power front of house These will often be loomed together to speed set up and breakdown Similar techniques can be used with the cables which need to reach from the Master and Slave racks up to flown arrays Cable lengths and exactly how the cables are loomed needs careful planning The diagram bellows shows a typical array loom at ea...

Page 144: ...es Feet 6 2 04 6 8 1 57 5 1 8 2 1 21 3 11 6 8 2 78 9 1 5 2 14 7 4 2 43 7 11 7 12 4 26 13 11 3 28 10 9 6 3 64 11 11 16 5 73 18 9 6 4 42 14 6 8 4 86 15 11 3 20 7 19 23 7 5 55 18 2 5 10 6 07 19 11 24 8 65 28 4 5 6 67 21 10 6 12 7 28 23 10 6 Length of array based on a dead hang with all angles at 0 5 in the case of MLA and MLA compact or 0 for MLX and DSX Array will of course get shorter as intercabin...

Page 145: ...d and instead will focus on those which get you closer to the desired result gradually honing all parameters until it reaches a result which is a close as possible to the specifications that the technician has requested This method allows phenomenal accuracy in a highly realistic and practical length of time The accuracy of the resulting design hinges on the computer model which predicts how the a...

Page 146: ...very band of EQ frequency bandwidth and gain phase and FIR filters for every one of the cells of every cabinet This is why a powerful PC is required and the EQ optimisation can take up to fifteen minutes or so for a large array in a complex arena Even the most powerful PC available today couldn t try every possible combination in a reasonable time scale so complex algorithms are used so that when ...

Page 147: ...ries of dots These are spaced closer together in the audience region where we need the most detail Ideally we would like to be able to view the frequency response at each of these dots so each becomes a sort of virtual measurement mic The normal way to present a graph of frequency response is of course for the horizontal x axis to be frequency usually from 20Hz to 20KHz and for the vertical y axis...

Page 148: ...ve placed our cursor which gives us the facility to obtain a standard frequency response graph Continuing up the axis going further back in the venue we find a dashed black line which is a reference point which we also determine The solid white line is where the audience coverage finishes Just above this is the back wall and then up to the number 200 is the venue ceiling and the last section of th...

Page 149: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 149 This section of the index plot corresponds to the first portion of the audience plane up to the reference point ...

Page 150: ... User Guide V2 1 150 This is the section from the reference point to the back of the audience area The strong band of red indicated the front of the balcony which is getting a great deal of direct sound prior to optimising the system ...

Page 151: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 151 This is the narrow section corresponding to the rear wall ...

Page 152: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 152 This is the response on the ceiling ...

Page 153: ...n also take a look at the actual frequency response on a conventional graph at any specific point on the plot to better understand what we are looking at Just to re emphasis these plots are prior to any system optimisation they show the response of an array flown with all angles at 0 5 ...

Page 154: ... on stage response for example has little or no high frequency it is not even registering anything above around 2 5KHz on the index plot it is an even band of blue in this region The response at the reference position is reasonably flat in the low frequencies gradually tapering off as the frequencies increase On the index plot we see a block of orange which gradually fades through yellow green and...

Page 155: ...to demonstrate how close the system can get to the perfect coverage here is the same venue with an array consisting of 16 MLA plus 1 MLD optimised to obtain a front to back differential of 0dB exactly the same spl everywhere The audience target has been given maximum priority ignoring non audience and hard avoid areas ...

Page 156: ...ons whilst superb at rejecting sound behind the array on stage if used for a balcony front for example it relies on the array being physically positioned exactly as it is depicted in the software to a fraction of a degree not easy to achieve with standard electric hoists plus if the array is not directly in front of the balcony the hard avoid region which will form an arc from the array may miss t...

Page 157: ... The file menu offers three options first you can load an existing project to continue working on something you have already created Next you can save the current project and finally you can start a new project Note that until you have actually started on a project and saved it the create new project option will have no effect The Add menu prompts you to add the details of your Multicellular array...

Page 158: ...e display of the coordinate number for each node on the drawing This might be useful for a very complex drawing where the numbers would clutter the view but for the vast majority of projects this should be left on Splay Auto Use Splay will instantly apply to optimised angles to the array model With this disabled you can review the array shape before applying the angles to the project In most cases...

Page 159: ...ing MLA Mini Select MLA Mini None has very limited use perhaps for silent discos Next you need to select your method of deployment which will in turn determine a number of other factors in how the design process operates The options for MLA and MLA Compact are flown or stack and for MLA Mini flown with sub ground stacked ground stacked on sub and pole mount Next you need to select the total number...

Page 160: ... System User Guide V2 1 160 And ground stack up to six For MLA Mini there are more variations for a flown system with the MSX ground stacked or rack mount amplifier modules you can fly from 2 to 16 in increments of one cabinet ...

Page 161: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 161 When flying with subs the maximum is 12 MLA Mini For ground stacked systems either on the floor or on top of the MSX the maximum is 8 cabinets ...

Page 162: ...ering the same venue and array properties but to give the array a different name that is appropriate to the optimisation that you are attempting Once you have entered the array details the dashboard will change the array details section will turn green and the design process tabs will appear You will notice on the right hand side the Rename box This gives you the opportunity to rename your array S...

Page 163: ...ther option is to import a Shell from an existing D2 file this is extremely useful when creating designs for venues in which you have already deployed a multicellular system and still have the designs It is also very useful when you wish to try several optimisations in a project as we will see later To load a Shell simply click on the Load button navigate to the file containing the shell you wish ...

Page 164: ...sly worth doing if you are working on a notebook PC or Tablet PC As you can see most of the controls are greyed out and remain so until you have drawn the venue slice To do this click on the Shell icon and move your mouse over to the drawing grid A starting node is added at the zero point on the x axis but at 1 8 metres on the y axis to represent the back of a stage that is 1 8 metres high this ca...

Page 165: ... opportunity to add nodes if you missed any out in your initial pass Click on the button and move your cursor over the drawing as you move over the dashed lines between nodes you will see a small green circle appear When you have the circle in the desired position single click and a new node is added and the numbering shifts to accommodate the new node If necessary you can use the move node button...

Page 166: ... to site The best method is to use a laser measure such as the Leica Disto D510 which is supplied as part of full MLA and MLA Compact systems and is available from Martin Audio as an optional accessory The Distos have been in widespread use for accurately measuring venues for line array software so most technicians are familiar with their operation and accuracy The D510 is one of the most advanced...

Page 167: ...etres deep with the flying points 0 5 metres off stage All points were entered very quickly and using the method described above the first 4 nodes were corrected Enable Survey was then selected and the array flying point node 4 was selected We want to measure to node 8 at the bottom of the front of the balcony so we click on the distance figure for that node You can now enter the distance figure t...

Page 168: ...g hardware and the lower trim from the lowest point on the array so effectively the maximum and minimum rigging positions The On Ground option is available for any array that has been specified as a ground stack This will ignore the figure for the height and lock the array to the lowest point on the slice according to where the x position is specified If for example the stage is 5 metres deep and ...

Page 169: ...rt or finish points correct it is easy to adjust them by using the Move Coverage Marker buttons either the green one for the start position or the red one for the stop position Just click on either of the buttons and move the cursor to the correct position the triangle marker will move for whichever point you are adjusting without disturbing the other When you have the point in the correct new pos...

Page 170: ...to react to the venue In the example above the audience area includes the stalls the wall at the back of the stalls under the balcony the front of the balcony and the balcony itself Clearly this is not correct and we need to change some of these planes At this stage we have to make a decision on where our priorities lie There is a temptation to make all areas other than the genuine audience planes...

Page 171: ...ds to be adjusted individually to do this click on the required plane property first and then select the line you wish to change For example on our example we want to make the balcony from hard avoid and under the balcony non audience As it s the top button let s do the non audience first Click on the Non audience button and then hover over the planes as you hover over each line you will see the f...

Page 172: ...e Seating is 0 8 If you have a particularly unusual audience very tall standing or perhaps very low seats you can use the Custom offset to define the offset height in metres You will often encounter venues where you have a non uniform offset for example a room with a seated balcony but standing downstairs in the stalls In these instances you need to un check the Uniform Offset button and define th...

Page 173: ... standing audience downstairs and a seated upstairs Air Absorption Compensation Display 2 1 can compensate for the effects of air absorption which can have a very significant effect on the upper frequency bands The compensation is added in this section on the Coverage page The fader bar adjusts the amount of compensation from zero to a maximum level This is best used for higher amounts where weath...

Page 174: ...d as the front then you simply type 0 in both the start and stop delta positions and the system will give you exactly that It can even make it louder at the back than the front if that is what you want The start and finish deltas are referenced to the yellow triangle which nominally is placed in the middle of the audience region when you enter the coverage area in the venue slice You have the oppo...

Page 175: ...nce point in the centre this is unquestionably a very good place to start and works very well unless you have a very large array or need to try something slightly unusual it is advisable to stock with these settings As mentioned setting the start and stop delta is simply a case of entering the required figure in dB As with entering hard avoid regions it is prudent to be mindful of how hard your DS...

Page 176: ...ible to the targets that you have specified If you select 85dB you stand a better chance of achieving the system goals as it gives the option to allow great cancellation or gain shading to reduce levels in areas closer to the array thus making the coverage as even as possible and potentially closer to your SPL deltas If however you need as much SPL as possible and have set your SPL deltas to allow...

Page 177: ...culation Array Diagram Optimisation and Optimisation Progress Splay Angles This shows a list of all cabinets in the array and initially this will show all angles between cabinets at the default of 0 5 There is a drop down arrow next to each cabinet allowing you to manually select a cabinet angle We will discuss this option later At the bottom of the list is a rest button which will return all angl...

Page 178: ...s NOT the furthest points of the coverage which will be 3 25 beyond the upper line and 3 25 lower than the bottom line for MLA or 10 lower if MLD are used at the bottom of the array For MLA Compact and MLA Mini it will be 5 higher and 5 lower The lines are not intended to show the vertical coverage just where the array is actually mechanically pointing by default When you start the optimisation pr...

Page 179: ...per and lower cabinets again showing where the acoustic centres are pointing Calculation The Calculation section shows the physical orientation of the overall array From here the number of boxes is defined and can be changed if for any reason the initial array size was incorrect You have the option to change the number of cabinets You can however only change the number to a quantity that is approp...

Page 180: ...y diagram shows a representation of the array and most importantly for flown arrays shows the lower trim point the distance from the lowest point on the array to the ground The diagram will adjust in real time when the optimisation is taking place and the lower trim will change accordingly In most instances the lower trim at the start will be lower than when the optimisation is complete This is be...

Page 181: ...ver accept the angles it has calculated at any stage or even enter your own angles manually and the Equalisation optimisation will work from these angles albeit with a slight compromise on the system performance Whilst some array angles may look strange to those used to working with conventional line arrays always trust the software Multicellular systems are NOT line arrays so don t try and use th...

Page 182: ...he bottom of the list it will display Finished If you have de selected the Auto Use Splay option in preferences a new button will appear on the bottom right of the window If we click on Use the angles calculated will be imposed onto the Splay Angles list With the Auto Use Splay enabled we will see the calculated angles immediately applied to the array Here we see a before and after ...

Page 183: ...ay optimisation results wherever possible always trust the software but there will always be a few venues where there are physical limitations on exactly how you can deploy the system Likewise with the enclosure quantities and orientation Most common is perhaps array height it is very common for flying points to end up lower than you have originally been told It is vital to make any changes in Dis...

Page 184: ...vidually starting with MLA MLA The left hand section shows the system flown by default using the flying frame from a single point There are a number of important sections to the screen First is the array diagram showing a scale picture of the flown array accurately displaying the physical deployment of the array This is useful so you can quickly see if there are any mechanical issues with the arra...

Page 185: ...cross with dotted lines shows the centre of gravity of the array Next is a list of the splay angles This gives you all the information you need to set the intercabinet angles when you are flying the system There is a thumbnail diagram of the entire venue which will update as you make changes to the rigging Note that the examples shown are for an array which is possible to fly If the optimisation c...

Page 186: ...e reduce the number of cabinets or switch to a two point hang The final section shows the mounting option and results The first option for mounting determines how the array is to be deployed Using the Mounting drop down For MLA there are only two options flown or ground stacked Ground stack is only available for an array of six boxes or less if the array is larger than six you will see this messag...

Page 187: ...d Here we have the results for a single point hang of three MSX and twelve MLA Mini This shows the total mass of the array including the flying frame to be 974Kg Note that the Rig tool does not yet show imperial measurements even if Metric is un checked in preferences It shows that the optimisation specified an upwards tilt a down tilt will be signified with a minus number of 6 7 by using the Near...

Page 188: ...re The Loading box displays the total array mass including the flying grid and cables and weather the flying system meets BGVC1 If you select the 2 Point option the Aiming changes to simply show the required aim and the Bottom cabinet angle as you can adjust the array tilt by raising and lowering front or rear hoists The loading section will also change to show how the total array mass is distribu...

Page 189: ...rray diagram will update accordingly On Ground refers to the lowest point on the venue slice available for the horizontal front to back position for the array If for example the array is placed on a stage selecting On Ground will result in a Lower trim equal to the stage For either option the results section will also update showing the total array mass and the required ground stack bar and number...

Page 190: ... cabinet cannot be easily or safely reached a system stacked on top of several subs or a high piece of staging for example In the above example the nearest aim matches what is achievable with the ground stack bar in the appropriate hole therefore the Design Aim is automatically green If this was not the case there would be exactly the same option available as with a flown system of using the neare...

Page 191: ... for arrays that require an up tilt As the example above shows the Aiming panel shows which type of bar Rather than specifying which hole in the bar is shows the bar angle as the bar itself has a label with shows which holes to use to achieve the desired angle Once again where there is a difference in the design aim to that which can be achieved with the ground stack bar the design aim is shown in...

Page 192: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 192 Here we see a ground stack array which has an up tilt The aiming panel looks similar but is specifying the short ground stack bar ...

Page 193: ... appears like this If we look first at the Mounting panel we have a number of options First we have the Mounting drop down which gives us the option of flown stacked or pole mount Availability of these modes is dependent on the number of boxes Flown can be the full complement of 16 ground stacked up to 8 and pole mount up to 4 As the array in the example has 12 enclosures we cannot select stacked ...

Page 194: ...l not appear Here is the system above with flown subs As with MLA and MLA Compact systems you can select 1 or 2 point hangs the difference is that even with the maximum flown MLA Mini either 16 alone or 12 with 3 MSX they will still be within BGVC1 limits from a single point 2 point does of course give you the flexibility of trimming the array angle by fine adjustment of one or other hoists As wit...

Page 195: ...ng the appropriate hole in the flying grid and the angle between the MSX and the MLA Mini which is set using the rear rigging bracket on the MLA Mini Transition frame There are three positions the angle will be shown in the aiming panel The example above is zero degrees but Display will attempt to keep the MSX subs as close to horizontal as possible so will add the additional tilt that may be requ...

Page 196: ...ith MLA Mini is in the Mounting Options We now have the option to stack on top of the subs This option will add the MSX subs below the array a single sub for 1 to 4 cabinets and two MSX for 5 to 8 cabinets This will naturally change the height of the array so you will see this window to prompt you to recalculate splay angles in the splay Tab ...

Page 197: ... MLA and MLA Compact ground stacked systems if the array is not already locked to the ground using the option in the Slice tab you can select it here As this may change the array height you will see the same pop up window prompting you to re calculate splay angles The Aiming panel is virtually identical to the MLA Compact ...

Page 198: ...sure the long bar is used as in the above example for array which require an up tilt the short bar is used Also in common with MLA Compact the ground stack bars are labelled with the angles that they can produce so that is shown in the Aiming panel rather than which particular holes in the bar and cabinet to use Pole Mount The final option for rigging is pole mount available for two to four MLA Mi...

Page 199: ...rd pole so the first job is to correct the height to something that is usable in the real world This is provide for pole mount deployment by the Fix Height button Clicking this will lower the array again showing the warning pop up that the array height will change The array is now at a sensible height above the MSX ...

Page 200: ...s the array angle The Universal bracket allows for a tilt from 0 to 18 18 down if the optimisation has created an angle greater than 18 the angle will be displayed in red with the option to Use Nearest By clicking Use Nearest the angle will revert to 18 the array diagram will update and the design aim will update and turn green The same applies in the unlikely event of the optimisation arriving at...

Page 201: ...2 1 201 Clicking on Use Nearest will change the Bottom angle to zero and update the diagram and Design Aim Once you have finished with the Rig Tool click Done to close the window so you can advance to the Equalisation optimisation using the EQ tab ...

Page 202: ...ions our audience target the spill into non audience areas and spill onto areas defined as hard avoid This is the EQ Window The Current EQ section shows the system response that we saw when we had finished the splay optimisation The blank windows to the right will show the Optimised response as the optimisation is taking place Air Absorption The Environment window allows you to activate the air ab...

Page 203: ...0 5dB Hard Avoid also has an on check box and a blue importance slider The default Goal is 30dB lower than the audience level for any plane selected as hard avoid The importance sliders allow you to set the relative importance of each of the three goals two if you have one of the goals switched off If you have two switched off the fader for the remaining function will automatically go to 100 and w...

Page 204: ...x plot as well as showing plots for the response in the audience and non audience areas As we have given the audience a high priority we can see the individual measurement points previously wildly varied starting to cluster much closer together We have requested a start to finish differential of 3dB and the spread of magnitude certainly looks close to 6dB The non audience plot shows that the respo...

Page 205: ...nd we can look at the result in more detail View the SPL The final tab is the SPL View which gives us the opportunity to view the optimised result in more detail Here is our test venue On the top left we see our coverage slice the bottom right is the index plot and the top right shows the frequency where our cursor is placed on the index plot which will show green when the curser is over an audien...

Page 206: ...ight low frequency lift which we would expect as the lower the frequency the more difficult it is to optimise the response form around 600Hz and above is extremely flat Let s take a look at the results in other positions Here we see the response right at the back of the balcony which is still quite astonishingly flat We can be very satisfied that we have achieved an extremely good even coverage fo...

Page 207: ...on is effective there is the expected low frequency roll off but the mid top response is incredibly consistent Individual Graph Windows Many of the graphical views produced in Display 2 can be opened in an independent floating Window and the file saved as a file This includes the following views Coverage Tab Venue Diagram Target Coverage Diagram Splay Tab Current Acoustic Output Graph Array Diagra...

Page 208: ...g a new figure as they are referred to this obviously has little use within Display 2 Next you have the option for opening a file this would be used for opening a figure you have saved previously The save function allows you to store the current figure in a file location of your choice Navigate to a suitable location the name will default to a highlighted untitled prompting you to give it an appro...

Page 209: ...ve the mouse forward you will gradually zoom in move the mouse backward you will zoom out The Pan icon allows you to click and drag the graph to a new position useful for examining areas of the graph once it has been enlarged using the zoom command The Rotate 3D command is extremely powerful for certain types of graph In particular an Index plot quite literally has an extra dimension when viewed u...

Page 210: ... any point of the graph and see a value for both x and y positions You can continue to click on new positions on the graph to obtain readings for as long as the Data Cursor button is selected Insert Colorbar adds a reference bar to the graph Insert Legend is a function to add a key to the graph but this has not been adopted in Display 2 1 ...

Page 211: ...t MLA Mini to be used as side hangs so will name them Sides Once you have entered the name click on Add and a new tab will be created You can now go through the same design process defining the 2D slice array position audience planes and optimisation coefficients exactly as we did for the main array we can return to edit the main array at any time by clicking on the tab As mentioned previously we ...

Page 212: ...2P files of your optimisation which can be uploaded into the system via Vu Net Exporting D2P Files First we will look at Exporting D2P files of your EQ Optimisations Click the Export to VUNET button You will see the export window open The First step is to create a file into which the D2P optimisations will be loaded The Export Root defaults to your PC C drive but it is good practice to save your f...

Page 213: ...ation process If you have all the required arrays present you can select them for export using the check box on the left By default this will be all completed arrays but if there are some which were unsuccessful attempts you can un check them so they cannot accidentally get used Click Export and a line of text in green appears at the bottom of the window showing the export process taking place Onc...

Page 214: ...osition the model according to its position within the venue With this un checked the model will not have any location parameters specified it will essentially be free floating Finally if you intend to import the DXF into EASE you need to click the Rotate for EASE option to ensure that the model will be correctly orientated which used with EASE When you are happy with your choice of parameters cli...

Page 215: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 215 ...

Page 216: ... is checked and updated Vu Net is supplied ready installed on the Lenovo tablet PC supplied with MLA and MLA Compact systems It is an optional method of control for full use of MLA Mini and DD12 Menus Before we look at the design process that is used with a system it is worth taking a look at the file structure which we will refer back to throughout the chapter When you run Vu Net you will see the...

Page 217: ...r all related files for a given event Once you have selected an appropriate name and file location click finish and a new project will be created You will notice that the top left of the main window has your project name and a number of options on the toolbar are now available Window components The window has a number of distinct sections with their own function Menu and Toolbar ...

Page 218: ...thout closing and reopening the application Save is the standard Windows function to save the project if it is the first time you have saved the project a window will appear giving you the opportunity to give the project a name and to choose a convenient file locations As with Display 2 1 it is sensible practice to save the file in a folder dedicated to a specific event All subsequent Saves will o...

Page 219: ...alculations The first option is labelled Calculations and allows you to select the venue temperature in steps of 5 This is used when the option is selected in the Merlin Controller to read delay figures as a distance as opposed to time The temperature adjustment calculates the delay time according to the speed of sound at that temperature Select the desired temperature using the drop down box or a...

Page 220: ... the Help menu is displayed By default the help window is displayed in a dedicated help browser but you can select it to open in your default Internet Browser Context help which responds dynamically to objects selected can be displayed as a window on the application or as an Infopop Help includes a sub menu for accessing help from remote infocenters This is not currently operational and will be a ...

Page 221: ...ndow which will search only for IP addresses within the range of values between the two entered which should be separated with a comma This could be used if you have two systems running on the same Ethernet network and need to control them independently Only devices with their IP address set to within the filter range will be found and the system will work completely independently as if there were...

Page 222: ...es window is User interface This allows customisation of certain functions within the application Increment Values These allow the default increment values for both Gain and Delay to be changed as required The default for Gain is 0 5dB but the options are for increments of 0 1 0 2 0 25 0 5 or 1dB For delay the default is 25ms the options are 0 1 0 2 0 25 0 5 or 1ms EQ Graph controls how the variou...

Page 223: ...isations into the arrays Firmware Update Wizard is used to check and upload the latest firmware into the system components MLA MLD Conversion Tool is used to convert the amplifier modules used in MLA and MLD cabinets from one type to another Mechanically and electrically these are identical they simply need a firmware conversion so the system is aware of what type of enclosure they are powering An...

Page 224: ...nks and clicking on them will take you directly to the respective website if your PC is connected to the internet The window can be closed in one of three ways 1 Click on Start using the software 2 Click on the x in the Welcome box in the top left of the window 3 Click on the drop down arrow in the top right of the window and select close Any of these will close the welcome screen to reveal the pr...

Page 225: ...n as a closed loop will go off to the first cabinet in the array and back from the last cabinet Depending on the layout of your system diagram this may mean that network cables are crossing over looking a little messy This tool reverses the two network nodes in the diagram to try and neaten the diagram Note that it is only adjusting the graphic representation it is not making any electrical change...

Page 226: ...ion see later in this guide for details The zoom function Allows you to adjust the system diagram size to suit the complexity of the system on your PC display The and buttons will decrease or increase the zoom in increments of 25 Alternatively you can use the drop down box to select either 10 25 50 100 125 150 200 300 400 600 or 800 Particularly useful are Page which will zoom to the maximum size ...

Page 227: ... up giving you a selection of options As you can see once you are disconnected from the system you are unable to make any changes to the project this is to ensure compatibility and accurate synchronisation when you reconnect You have the option to reconnect straight from the window or can close the project with or without saving Finally you can minimise the project This is particularly useful if y...

Page 228: ...work and is used for all configuration changes and system monitoring The palette on the left is used to manually enter system components when working off line in normal use Device Discovery is used to find all connected components If you need to maximise the workspace the palette can be minimised by clicking on the white triangle in the top left corner of the palette ...

Page 229: ...turn the windows to their previous state On the right side of the window are two further windows The first is a project overview window showing the open project The window can be maximised detached or closed by clicking on the white arrow in the top right corner The project icon can be expanded if they have a small arrow to the left a project that doesn t yet have any components added or discovere...

Page 230: ...y of the selected options can be detached as a floating window maximised or closed by clicking on the white arrow If all options in the window are closed the project window will fill the space if that is also closed the Project window will fill the space The Properties window will show the properties for any element selected in the System diagram The example above shows the properties for a Merlin...

Page 231: ...gives the option to display or hide any of the properties in a particular category by clicking on the small arrow leaving just the category heading The third icon displays advanced properties for the selected element The final icon will reset any modified properties to their default values The Outline window displays a miniature thumbnail of the system diagram for whichever project is selected The...

Page 232: ...over night Vu Net will be able to detect that every cabinet has been turned back on and the status of all parameters of every DSP We will show how to introduce all available elements into a project off line but will cover Device Discovery and on line operation in a later chapter Adding Merlin MLA MLD and MLX Adding any devices to a System diagram is a simple case of clicking on the required item i...

Page 233: ...higher than 24 Vu Net will enter a 24 box array MLX is added in the same way you will see the same window requesting the total quantity of cabinets Here is a six box array of MLX note that in off line mode sub arrays are always entered a single column of cabinets as if flown Device Discovery of an on line system gives you the option to specify ground stacked and draw the array exactly as it has be...

Page 234: ...identify the cabinet even when facing backward In on line mode you can select front or rear badge during the Device Discovery process but off line you can specify rear facing when adding the array the idea being you would add all front facing cabinets as one array and all rear facing as a second You will have noticed the F on each cabinet on the MLX array if you select rear facing for the DSX you ...

Page 235: ... 6 Ground Stack next to MSX MSX vertical stack allows ground stack arrays with the MLA Mini stacked directly onto the ground perhaps at the front of a stage for example using the flying grid and the ground stack base plate Two systems eight MLA Mini can be used in this configuration The MSX would be placed to one side of the MLA Mini array stacked on top of each other when two are used with eight ...

Page 236: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 236 Next a systems with MSX ground stacked horizontally and MLA Mini flown Finally a single system with the MLA Mini pole mounted ...

Page 237: ...gram looking tidy Selecting elements can be done in a variety of ways The most obvious is a single mouse click the selected object will show the small black squares in the four corners around it A subsequent click anywhere else will de select the object as will click on a second object The selected element can also be changed using the left right up and down arrow keys the object selected will jum...

Page 238: ...y default the last one added to the selection This will have the familiar black squares in the corners all other selected items will have white squares You can change the primary element by a further Shift Click on an object Deselecting all objects is done in the same way as a single item by clicking anywhere on the work surface The icons on the tool bar offer quick and easy alignment of multiple ...

Page 239: ...vertical plane The third button applies only to the Merlin When a system is discovered on line all U Net connections are shown from the Merlin to all arrays The U Net ports on the Merlin are on the top and bottom of the Merlin icon in most cases this allows Vu Net to draw the system connections neatly as in the above example but they may be instances where the position of the arrays and complexity...

Page 240: ...verse U Net ports button and the port position is reversed in the system diagram hopefully making the network connections look neater Note this button reverses the port positions in the system diagram ONLY It does NOT make and electrical changes to the two U Net ports it is purely and simply a graphical change ...

Page 241: ...ms with large arrays of many cabinets There are a couple of other windows that may appear at this stage as well as discovering all devices on the network and identifying their type and IP address Vu Net also checks their Firmware to ensure it matches the latest version stored in its internal Firmware database If it detects an older Firmware version you will see the following window For more detail...

Page 242: ...te an individual window with the IP address shown at the top All devices connected to that U Net loop will be listed grouped by type Next press the Run Wizard button and an individual Wizard will run for all categories the first will be MLA MLD or MLA Compact If you have more than one array of each type of cabinet on the same U Net loop you have the opportunity to divide them into two or more arra...

Page 243: ... cabinets can be dragged and dropped to the correct positions or array If you only have one array it is still worth flashing all LED s to see the look on the faces of the lighting technicians when they see LED lighting over which they have no control Next click the BY ONE button This will flash the LEDs in sequence from top to bottom As the U Net network is bi directional it is entirely possible t...

Page 244: ... for an audience 30 meters or so up in the air Next you will see the following window for any connected MLX or DSX By default the Arrangement will be displayed as Flown therefore the No of columns field will show 1 If you click on Flown it will toggle to Ground Stacked and if this is how your subs are deployed you can select the number of columns to reflect in Vu Net exactly how they are positione...

Page 245: ...ide arrays it is essential to ensure that they are correct so delay and other parameters applied are directed to the correct cabinet At this stage you can also change the LED badge to flash on the rear They are configured for the front LED by default signified by the F on the thumbnails Double click directly on the badge and you will see the F become a B to signify the back LED This will flash ins...

Page 246: ...nt will not synchronise correctly on the first pass in which case there will be a Red Fail in the Result column for that device If this occurs wait until the rest of the synchronisation is finished and click on the Synchronise button for that device in the extreme right column The device will attempt a further synchronisation which should result in a success and a green OK A complete successful sy...

Page 247: ...Net so you have a completely accurate picture of exactly how the system is configured on your tablet PC You can click Finish and a further Finish on the Device Discovery Report window Repeat the procedure for all connected Merlins which will all have their own U Net ring of elements Once this is completed the Vu Net workspace will appear as shown ...

Page 248: ...the Speaker cable loom going to the lowest cabinet the opposite is true for ground stacked systems where the speaker loom comes from below with the longest NL4 reaching the upper most cabinet Here is a small MLA Mini system with a pair of MSX Subs and 8 MLA Mini We have connected via the USB connection on one of the MSX and the two are linked together with U Net cables If we click on Run Wizard we...

Page 249: ...wo arrays each comprising of a single MSX and 4 MLA Mini Click Next and the next window is where we select the desired deployment This shows the two MLA Mini array which are deployed in the fault methods of Flown in front of MSX The drop down box shows all other options ...

Page 250: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 250 For a larger system the options will change for example as the maximum for pole mount is 4 cabinets 8 or more in an array will remove this option ...

Page 251: ... option for stacking the MSX either horizontally or vertically Selecting the various modes will change the array thumbnails accordingly and also importantly shows how the arrays should be cabled This is particularly important as flown systems are cabled the opposite way to ground stacked with the longest NL4 cable reaching down to the lowest cabinet For example Flown will appear like so ...

Page 252: ...r Guide V2 1 252 Ground stacked on MSX which is available for up to 8 cabinets appears like this not the cable which unlike flown has the longer NL4s running up to the top cabinet Pole mounted only available for four cabinets adds a pole ...

Page 253: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 253 There are two options to use Mini as front fills either as four single cabinets or two pairs Finally you can ground stack the Mini next to the MSX ...

Page 254: ...y cabinet in an array useful for identifying which array is which where two or more are in use and BY ONE which will flash all MSX in an array sequentially so you can check that they are in the correct order If they are not they can be drag and dropped into the correct positions until the Vu Net flashing sequence matches the real world cabinets Clicking on one MSX will grey out all others until it...

Page 255: ...t sequence is corrected you can proceed by clicking next and synchronising the system Once complete the arrays will appear on the System Diagram window with the thumbnail representing how you have selected the system deployment Here is an eight box system flown from MSX ...

Page 256: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 256 This is a flown system with the MSX flown behind the Mini Eight mini ground stacked on their MSX ...

Page 257: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 257 Eight flown Mini with ground stacked MSX stacked vertically and horizontally Similarly ground stacked with MSX in both horizontal and vertical modes ...

Page 258: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 258 ...

Page 259: ...nd connected speakers are on line In the right hand corner we have selected network status and we now see all connected elements showing as Online We now have the facility to Disconnect from the system whenever necessary at the end of the night when a show is finished for example Click on the DISCONNECT button You will see the Disconnecting System Window appear Next you will see the following mess...

Page 260: ...will restore the connection to the system If the project has been saved when re opened you will be prompted to re connect immediately As you can see the System diagram detects and draws all network connections Note that Ethernet connections from PC to Merlins are shown as a line regardless of whether it is a hard wired cable copper link or wireless connection The Unet ports on individual devices a...

Page 261: ...e is a break in the network connection every device will still remain on line as the A cabinet off line will appear in red at the position in the array The network is monitored in real time so as soon as any network or cabinet issues have been resolved the connections and cabinets will return to the regular colour scheme Right Click menu ...

Page 262: ...rtners for use with other systems It is loaded using the Load function Select All will select all components in the system design The keyboard shortcut for this is Ctrl A Renaming Rename allows you to give the array or Merlin a name to suit the event and location if desired Function key F2 is a shortcut to this option Once selected you will see the following window Type the required name which can...

Page 263: ...m this menu any array can be divided into up to six zones which can all be equalised and have their gain trimmed independently Perhaps the most common use for this is to zone an MLD independently from the rest of the array as there is often a requirement for the near filed coverage to have quite different equalisation As an example we will take a twelve cabinet array and divide it into three zones...

Page 264: ...e have restored the total to 12 so the total is shown green once again If we need to reduce zones at any time they can be deleted by clicking the delete button Note that this will reduce the quantity of zones by one but will also reset the numbers in each zone All zones will have a single cabinet up to the top zone which will have the balance of cabinets required to equal the total in the array We...

Page 265: ...e item or items and pressing the Delete Key MLA MLD Compact Arrays MLA MLD and MLA Compact arrays are almost identical when controlled and monitored via Vu Net with the only significant difference being that MLA Compact has five cells to MLA and MLD s six This chapter will predominantly refer to arrays comprising MLA with MLD where the same functionality is available for MLA Compact All difference...

Page 266: ...cabinets it is pre fader so if the level is clipping it is an indication that you need to attenuate the signal upstream of the array at the mixing console for example The Master level as with the zone faders can be adjusted in four ways either dragging and dropping the fader knob to the required level clicking just above or below the fader knob which will increment or decrease the gain in steps sp...

Page 267: ...be adjusted completely independently The zones also have a Mute button which will instantly mute a zone A further click will un mute the zone All zone mute buttons will also turn red to show they are all muted The Mute buttons can be freely changed whilst in normal mode during set up for example but when in Show Mode you will be prompted to confirm a mute function to avoid accidentally muting some...

Page 268: ...th a house PEQ file all inputs are reset to analogue Alternatively you can change the input mode manually and all cabinets will match if for example you are running the system with an analogue feed and have one cabinet showing AES select AES from the input selection see below then select analogue to change all cabinets back to analogue inputs This indication is particularly useful if you have had ...

Page 269: ...inal section on the System overview is the Input selection This is divided into three sections the first selects the source from either the rear panel XLR input or via U Net Note that digital audio over U Net is not yet supported so this option should NOT be selected When this option is active the second section is used to select the Unet source from one of the Merlins discovered on the network On...

Page 270: ...he array diagram brings up a new diagnostics screen which enables testing of individual cells an extremely useful tool for checking an array over either just before it is flown or back in the shop when a system is checked over Note that this function is not available when in Show Mode This is how the window appears the array diagram is still visible on the right but it is now also shown on the lef...

Page 271: ...cabinet In CELLS mode you can mute and unmute individual cells by clicking on them Or an entire cabinet can be muted by clicking on the button to the right of each enclosure regardless of which mode you have selected This is how an entire muted enclosure is shown Pressing the Mute Array button Will mute every cell in the array ...

Page 272: ...s no need to wait until front of house has been set up or any other part of the system each array can be tested individually the only additional equipment that is required is a simple signal generator which can even be an app on a smart phone When the system has been tested and the signal source disconnected or switched off the system can be un muted by a further click on the MUTE ARRAY button In ...

Page 273: ...hecked if it is unchecked the cabinets will revert to the standard mute function and the AMPS OFF flags will disappear Also on the test page is the array noise gate control Each amplifier module has an internal noise gate set to keep the amplifier and DSP noise floor as inaudible as possible By default it is enabled but it is possible that with very low levels of program material the gate operatio...

Page 274: ...s are threshold of 84 Depth 10 and Hold time of 5000 for MLA and MLD and 67 10 and 5000 for MLA Compact These can be restored at any time by clicking the Restore Defaults button To return to the main window click on the HIDE button in the bottom left If you have any muted output channels muted not disabled you will see the following window This ensures that you do not suddenly unmute all output ch...

Page 275: ...pass filtering These parameters which are created in your Display 2 1 project are uploaded to a completely separate section within the cabinet DSP They cannot be accessed manually The PEQ section can be compared to the grab EQ in a conventional system which is commonly a third octave graphic equaliser at front of house and is used for subtle adjustment once a system has been configured in the syst...

Page 276: ...recise adjustment most commonly used with the MLD which often requires a different equalisation to the rest of the array Clicking on the zone number brings up the PEQ page for that zone If the array has not been divided into zones there will just be one button with a number 1 essentially the entire array is a single zone The graphic view of the equalisation is a relatively standard frequency respo...

Page 277: ...bring up the following window There are also other functions available by right clicking elsewhere in the graph window i e not when the cursor is over one of the filter rectangles This is the window that appears The first option is to display all graphs which displays the response of every filter band in grey The active selected band remains coloured red with the overall response still blue Next i...

Page 278: ...the individual band you have selected turning the BYPASS button and the filter button red BYPASS ALL bypasses every band FLAT will instantly change the gain to 0dB Next is a Filter type Click on this and the drop down shows the options for each filter band The default is Peak a standard parametric EQ the other options are 2nd order Low Shelf and 2nd order High Shelf Below are the three principal f...

Page 279: ...nally values can be directly typed into the value windows The response graph will adjust according to the new values and vice versa adjustments in the graph window will be reflected in the fader positions and values in the properties panel The High pass filter only has a single fader for the corner frequency This may be adjusted in exactly the same way as the faders for the PEQ s The Type drop dow...

Page 280: ...the system is being operated If adjustments are being made with a tablet PC in tablet mode with a stylus whilst walking around a venue certain options may be easier to use than if you were sitting at a desk with a mouse plugged in to the PC Array Zone Ganging MLA Systems have a highly versatile set of ganging options to help make system set up consistent across arrays or zones This is the ganging ...

Page 281: ...ers in an entire array and is activated by clicking on the Array description in the Array Ganging column Array ganging has the option of excluding the Lowpass filter equalisation or gain from ganging That is the purpose of the small white boxes above each Clicking in any of the boxes will exclude that parameter from the ganged array This array has PEQ excluded from all arrays and gain from the two...

Page 282: ...main left and right arrays we simply click on one of the squares to select a gang group let s say group one which is red Then click on the Array name boxes they are now all ganged Note that as the entire array is ganged all zones are also ganged We have however excluded the PEQ therefore in the Zone Filter section the PEQ s are not red If we click on the tab for one of the side hangs the ganging t...

Page 283: ...the gain Zone Ganging It is also possible to independently gang zones in the arrays note that array ganging over rides this function so you will need to un gang any arrays in which you would like to gang zones You have the option to select any of the ten gang groups there are a further ten gangs available for zones which are completely independent from the array gangs We will however use a differe...

Page 284: ...ng is not possible on arrays or zones that are already ganged In this example we will gang only the high pass filter on all four arrays of the previous system example With the ganging tab for one array selected click on the parameter we wish to gang in the X Array Filter Ganging section If there is already an upper level gang array or zone in use you will see the following window You will need to ...

Page 285: ...to the project system diagram and double click on the array you wish to include Select the ganging tab for the array and click on the same parameter in the X Array Filter Ganging section and click on Add Filter You will now see both the array you have just added and the first array in the list of arrays If you select the wrong parameter you can click on remove filter to exclude the array You can r...

Page 286: ...been used but not on any of the parameters that are already in an X Array group Once again you have ten independent gangs to choose from completely unaffected by any of the groups used to gang other arrays or zones As few as two zones or all six if that is how many zones are present Note that this example is VERY extreme MLX DSX Arrays MLX and DSX share many similar features to MLA MLD and MLA Com...

Page 287: ...al to other cabinets and sub arrays can be zoned in exactly the same way giving independent gain and mute on the Overview page Sub arrays when zoned are referred to as blocks rather than zones The array thumbnail is almost identical to the MLA MLD and MLA Compact just with a single LED level meter to reflect the single cell The temperature readout will always show 1 and display the temperature of ...

Page 288: ...m Both subs have exactly the same LED Array Mute delay and input routing as for MLA MLD and MLA Compact There is however the significant difference of there being no snapshot name as subs do not have snapshot capability and there is an additional button SHOW OUTPUT which replaces the double click on the other products to bring up additional features Clicking this button brings up the following win...

Page 289: ...r If you click on OK all gain and delays will be restored to zero any inverted outputs will be re inverted and any muted outputs will be un muted Subs also have the facility to turn off any troublesome amplifiers by checking the Mute Output Stage box Then clicking the Mute button on any sub you wish to turn off As with other cabinets there is a noise gate which has the Threshold and Hold Time avai...

Page 290: ...t with a low pass filter replacing the high pass as you might expect There are also ten PEQ filters at your disposal each with exactly the same functionality and control The low pass filter in common with the high pass in the MLA MLD and Compact can be either Bessel Butterworth or Linkwitz Riley with slopes from 6dB per octave up to 48dB per octave The frequency can range from 50Hz up to 500Hz ...

Page 291: ...irtually identical fashion to MLA MLD and Compact either by entire array Zones blocks X Array filters or individual zone filters Ganging can be very useful for Cardioid arrays but it is important to remember that delays and polarity are NOT ganged they must be individually modified in the array output page ...

Page 292: ... The difference is that un assigned zones have the gain read out above the mute button greyed out If you attempt to adjust gain or mute an un assigned zone you will see the following window There is the same LED badge option up to 993ms of delay and the standard input select from either the back panel or U Net not presently implemented and back panel input can be either Analogue AES3 Left or AES3 ...

Page 293: ... cell will mute all others which speeds up the testing process as you no longer need to manually re mute the last cell you listened to As with the other cabinets the array noise gate is accessible but in MLA Mini there is only the option to Enable or Disable the gate When you have completed any testing click on the HIDE button Which will un mute all cells and return you to the main array window As...

Page 294: ...ill keep the MSX assigned to zone 1 the top four MLA Mini to zone 2 the next two to zone 3 and the final two to zone 4 First click on the Zone 1 label You will notice All components that are already part of the zone will turn red Click the Zone 1 button a second time and the two MSX will return to the normal view Click on Zone 2 and you will see all of the MLA Mini turn blue ...

Page 295: ...2 1 295 Now click on Zone 3 and there will not be any illuminated cabinets Next click on boxes five and six these will turn green This indicates that these cabinets are now part of zone three Finally click on Zone 4 and then the final two MLA Mini ...

Page 296: ... If we click again on zone four the solid block of colour disappears leaving just the coloured outline to show which boxes are members of which zone The array is now fully zoned as we wanted it MLA Mini PEQ The MLA Mini Zone PEQ window appears like this ...

Page 297: ...is always the MSX sub so the EQ bands available are slightly different There is a high pass filter low pass filter and three bands of PEQ all of which may be adjusted in the same way as the PEQ in all other array types grabbing the points on the graph adjusting the controls in the EQ panel on the right or directly entering the required values in the windows at the bottom of the EQ panel Zones 2 to...

Page 298: ...with the Mini divided into two The first option is to choose either Array Ganging or Zone ganging note that you can only employ one type of ganging they cannot reside together in the same array There are 10 independent groups available for both types of ganging these are selected by the Group buttons along the top of the window and can be identified when in use by their colour red for Group 1 blue...

Page 299: ...G button If you have already used array ganging you will see the following window As previously mentioned Array and Zone ganging cannot reside together so if you are happy to clear any previously ganged arrays click Yes Zones are ganged in exactly the same way by first selecting a group and then clicking on the required zone Ganging can run across the zones of all arrays or just across some In thi...

Page 300: ...via a full U Net network to a Merlin or directly via USB The Device discovery will show all connected cabinets As there are no array related options with the DD12 the Run Wizard merely synchronises with all connected cabinets so the software reflects the settings in the devices A system connected via USB will appear like this A system connected via Merlin like this ...

Page 301: ...t in identifying each DD12 which is very useful when multiple units are deployed There are a number of functions available by right clicking on a cabinet icon Open functions in exactly the same way as double clicking on the cabinet icon and opens the DD12 overview screen to allow detailed control and monitoring Rename as with any other device allows the cabinet to be given a name of up to 50 chara...

Page 302: ...hile audio is running through the system and will be completely inaudible This way specific snapshots can be uploaded ready to be recalled when required This includes uploading to the currently selected snapshot there will still be no audible effect you will need to recall the same snapshot for the changes to take effect If Load in Background is not checked the DD12 will automatically revert to th...

Page 303: ...e of the already stored Presets The Preset window appears Click on the required preset and you will see a Window asking you to confirm your selection If you clicked on a preset accidentally or change your mind you can click on Cancel otherwise select OK You will see the following window ...

Page 304: ...ected prest will be highlighted in green Save Preset allows you to store the current configuration including all settings that you may have modified It brings up a similar window showing all User Locations Click on your required location and select Save this brings up this window ...

Page 305: ... will repeat the synchronisation process that occurs during Device Discovery and is used if a network error such as a network cable disconnection has caused the device and Vu Net to no longer be synchronised Delete removes the selected DD12 You will be prompted with the following Window to confirm the delete If you selected Delete accidentally or have changed your mind click No otherwise click Yes...

Page 306: ...der or values can be scrolled up or down using the up down buttons The increments that the up down buttons will step is determined in the Preferences section by default it will be 0 25dB The mute button will mute the cabinet irrespective of the position of the gain fader and will turn red when active There is comprehensive metering available The bargraph to the left of the fader shows input level ...

Page 307: ... field or scrolled up and down using the arrow buttons These increase or decrease the delay in increments of 10µs The Input allows the connection mode to be changed from the default which is Analogue to AES EBU taking its feed from either AES left or AES right This can either be done individually for each DD12 or globally using the Input switch at the bottom of the DD12 overview Window A global ch...

Page 308: ...will bring up the Prest Menu with the currently active Preset shown highlighted in green Clicking on a new Preset will prompt you to confirm your selection Clicking OK will confirm the selection and the preset will load The Preset select window can be closed The currently active Preset is displayed on the Preset button Polarity will invert the phase of the cabinet A confirmation window will appear...

Page 309: ...12 Overview window Pressing the play arrow will make the LEDs of all DD12s illuminate in sequence cycling round continually until you click on the stop button Note that the global LED switches will overwrite any LEDs which have been activated on an individual DD12 The back and forward buttons allow manual cycling of all cabinet LEDs each click will extinguish the currently illuminated LED and ligh...

Page 310: ...is is frequency in Hertz from 20Hz to 20KHz the vertical axis is gain from 18dB up to 18dB Colour coding is also used on the graph to represent the various modes First there are two traces one red and the other blue The red trace is the response of the band that is currently selected the blue trace is the overall response of the entire PEQ Each small rectangle represents the position of each of th...

Page 311: ...he BYPASS button and the filter button red BYPASS ALL bypasses every band FLAT will instantly change the gain to 0dB Next is a Filter type Click on this and the drop down shows the options for each filter band The default is Peak a standard parametric EQ the other options are 2nd order Low Shelf and 2nd order High Shelf Below are the three principal faders for adjusting the filter parameters ...

Page 312: ...ped into the value windows The response graph will adjust according to the new values and vice versa adjustments in the graph window will be reflected in the fader positions and values in the properties panel The High pass filter only has a single fader for the corner frequency This may be adjusted in exactly the same way as the faders for the PEQ s The Type drop down offers three types of filter ...

Page 313: ... were sitting at a desk with a mouse plugged in to the PC Zones DD12 has a unique method for zone selection Any cabinet can be a member of any or none of the ten zones available which are labelled A to J To select a zone click on the Zone button at the top of the Overview page Click on the desired zone and it will be displayed on the zone button The zones are colour coded to make it instantly obvi...

Page 314: ...oise gate that is applied globally to all DD12 s in the project This is controlled using the section at the bottom of the overview window Once enabled the Threshold Depth and Hold Time can be adjusted either by manually typing a value or using the up down arrows to scroll though values The default values are Threshold at 67dB Depth of 10dB and Hold time of 5000ms ...

Page 315: ...ce regardless of whether they are connected via a full U Net network to a Merlin or directly via USB The Device discovery will show all connected cabinets As there are no array related options with the PSX the Run Wizard merely synchronises with all connected cabinets so the software reflects the settings in the devices ...

Page 316: ...ch PSX icon in the overview screen features a Martin Audio logo Double clicking on this will illuminate the LED on the cabinet front grille to assist in identifying each PSX which is very useful when multiple units are deployed There are a number of functions available by right clicking on a cabinet icon ...

Page 317: ...allows importing of a preset previously saved as a file Clicking on Select allows you to browse to the file location where preset files have been stored This could be a specific preset for a regular venue or type of program material Target Snapshot determines which of the User Snapshot locations the file will be stored to Load in background when checked allows you to select a snapshot location and...

Page 318: ... as a file for future use The default choice is to export the current setting You have the option to give the Preset a dedicated name and then to browse to a suitable file location and give the file and easily remembered name If you select Export stored preset you can select any of the presets factory or user stored in the PSX and save them to file Note that you will see Factory Presets 1 2 3 but ...

Page 319: ... preset and you will see a Window asking you to confirm your selection If you clicked on a preset accidentally or change your mind you can click on Cancel otherwise select OK You will see the following window After which your newly selected prest will be highlighted in green ...

Page 320: ...allows you to store the current configuration including all settings that you may have modified It brings up a similar window showing all User Locations Click on your required location and select Save this brings up this window Type in your desired name and click OK ...

Page 321: ...onisation process that occurs during Device Discovery and is used if a network error such as a network cable disconnection has caused the device and Vu Net to no longer be synchronised Delete removes the selected PSX You will be prompted with the following Window to confirm the delete If you selected Delete accidentally or have changed your mind click No otherwise click Yes and the PSX will be rem...

Page 322: ...er has a range of 15 to 40dB Precise values can be entered by typing directly in the box below the fader or values can be scrolled up or down using the up down buttons The increments that the up down buttons will step is determined in the Preferences section by default it will be 0 25dB The mute button will mute the cabinet irrespective of the position of the gain fader and will turn red when acti...

Page 323: ...y available is 1 second Values can either be typed directly into the Delay field or scrolled up and down using the arrow buttons These increase or decrease the delay in increments of 10µs Polarity can be inverted independently for the sub and main outs A confirmation window will appear On clicking OK the phase will be inverted and the Polarity button will turn blue The Preset button acts in the sa...

Page 324: ...n the Preset button The Input allows the connection mode to be changed from the default which is Analogue to AES EBU taking its feed from either AES left or AES right or a split mode which feeds AES Left to the Sub and AES Right to the Main out thus allowing individual control from two sends This can either be done individually for each PSX or globally using the Input switch at the bottom of the P...

Page 325: ... play arrow will make the LEDs of all PSXs illuminate in sequence cycling round continually until you click on the stop button Note that the global LED switches will overwrite any LEDs which have been activated on an individual PSX The back and forward buttons allow manual cycling of all cabinet LEDs each click will extinguish the currently illuminated LED and light the LED on the next or previous...

Page 326: ... if the cabinet is part of a zone and the preset in use The window has three sections the buttons along the top the graphic display window and the controls on the right of the window First we will look at the buttons along the top First there are ten parametric EQ buttons plus the high pass filter for both EQ windows and low pass filter for the Sub EQ ...

Page 327: ...st there are two traces one red and the other blue The red trace is the response of the band that is currently selected the blue trace is the overall response of the entire PEQ Each small rectangle represents the position of each of the ten bands plus the high pass For all of the EQ bands the position on the horizontal represents the EQ centre frequency the vertical position is the cut or boost ap...

Page 328: ...he BYPASS button and the filter button red BYPASS ALL bypasses every band FLAT will instantly change the gain to 0dB Next is a Filter type Click on this and the drop down shows the options for each filter band The default is Peak a standard parametric EQ the other options are 2nd order Low Shelf and 2nd order High Shelf Below are the three principal faders for adjusting the filter parameters ...

Page 329: ...to 48dB per octave The high pass for the main out is 48dB per octave Linkwitz Riley only To summarise there are four ways to adjust filter parameters 1 Click and drag on the graph 2 Click and drag the properties faders 3 Use the up down value buttons in the properties section 4 Directly type values into the value boxes Whilst this might seem over versatility it is intended to offer several options...

Page 330: ... the top of the Overview page Click on the desired zone and it will be displayed on the zone button The zones are colour coded to make it instantly obvious which cabinets are on the same zones Colours are as follows A is red B is blue C is green D is magenta E is cyan F is yellow G is dark green H is purple I is orange J is black All functions on cabinets in the same zone will be duplicated regard...

Page 331: ...DD12 s in the project This is controlled using the section at the bottom of the overview window Once enabled the Threshold Depth and Hold Time can be adjusted either by manually typing a value or using the up down arrows to scroll though values The default values are Threshold at 67dB Depth of 10dB and Hold time of 5000ms ...

Page 332: ...the Merlin System Control window which by default opens on the first Gain Mute Limiter tab This has all input and output channel faders meters and mute buttons available As with the gain control on other Vu Net controlled devices there is up to 15dB of gain or 40dB of cut available on all inputs and outputs Metering is different for input and output Input shows absolute input level in dBu the uppe...

Page 333: ...k Level is the principal limiter threshold with time constants determined by the Attack and Release controls The threshold range is from 10dBu to 22dBu also in 1dB increments Attack time is in milliseconds and can be the following values 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 7 1 0 1 4 2 0 2 8 4 0 5 7 8 0 11 16 23 45 or 45ms Release is specified as a multiple of the selected attack time and can be either 2x 4x 8x 16x 32x ...

Page 334: ...option is selected From there you can also select either Analogue or AES3 inputs Note that selecting AES for either inputs or outputs changes how physical connections are made to the Merlin see the chapter on the Merlin for more details The routing matrix is shown with the inputs forming vertical columns and the outputs as horizontal lines Each node can be selected to route any input to any or all...

Page 335: ...e the inputs and outputs set to different formats analogue inputs from an analogue console and AES3 outputs to feed MLA arrays for example Note that the input and output names can be changed in the Input and Output tabs the names will then be shown in the routing window Input Channels The input and Output channel tabs are very similar to the PEQ window for MLA MLD and MLA Compact with a few notabl...

Page 336: ...y be manipulated in exactly the same way as the PEQ filters in the cabinets The filter can be grabbed and drag and dropped to select the desired frequency and gain using right click to modify Q factor The parameter section allows precise values to be typed into the value windows the faders drag and dropped or values cycled up or down using the appropriate arrows There are additional options for th...

Page 337: ...de V2 1 337 Low Shelf 2nd Order is a low shelving filter also with 15dB of gain and Q factor from 0 25 to 1 0 There are no dedicated high and low pass filters on the inputs but High pass and lowpass with variable Q are options for filter types ...

Page 338: ...erlaid with different colours for each As well as eight bands of equalisation there are buttons for delay and gain These are a shortcut directly to the tabs for those functions The other function that the Input Channel page features is the Channel name which can be edited in the box in the top right corner of the window ...

Page 339: ...annel page is almost identical to the input pages There are naturally a few differences the output channel being viewed is selected by the 10 buttons at the top of the window There are also eight filters available selected by the buttons top left but in addition there are also dedicated high and low pass filters The last three buttons are short cuts to the delay gain and limiter sections The param...

Page 340: ...y The delay window offers a sophisticated system for controlling time alignment if all systems routed via the Merlin The maximum through delay from input to output is 1 second so for example you can add 999 99ms to an output but then you will not be able to add any delay to the input and vice versa or you could have up to 500ms on the input and the same on the output It is important to note that i...

Page 341: ...cancelling any shows where the ambient temperature is 20 C ticket sales are likely to be poor The other option available is the step size selected from the box just above the units selection As well as entering an absolute value any selected delay may be stepped up or down using the UP or DOWN buttons This is particularly useful when time aligning systems by ear perhaps using an audible click the ...

Page 342: ...imultaneously by using the link function as we will see The output channels are very similar The order of the boxes is reversed The first box is the active box in which the delay for the output is entered Next comes the link drop down Then the delay display box shows the total delay allocated to that particular output The output channel name is next and finally a phase button to invert the polarit...

Page 343: ... although the individual channels A B C have nothing entered the delay display shows 15ms for all inputs In addition to this simple matched delay channels linked to others can also have a delay entered and the total delay will equal the delay entered for the master channel plus whatever delay is entered for that channel Any changes to the master delay will be tracked by any channels linked to it I...

Page 344: ...ke this There are three types of ganging available whole input and output ganging Part input and output ganging and cross device ganging which enables you to mirror the parameters programmed into one Merlin across one or more other Merlins on the same U Net network Ganging duplicates the settings on ganged channels or parameters There is no Master and Slave system parameters can be adjusted on any...

Page 345: ... 1 to channels 2 3 4 9 10 for example click on the relevant squares in the horizontal line by output channel one You can see that the red squares by the channels that have been ganged have disappeared from the vertical column and are now in the horizontal line from channel one You will see on the part ganging screen that all parameters for the ganged channels are now coloured red to indicate that ...

Page 346: ...u can see that the parameters for Outputs 5 6 are all coloured yellow and 7 8 are all orange brown Input ganging works in exactly the same way here we have ganged inputs A B and C D To clear a gang just click in the left hand column for any ganged channel and the ganging will be removed Here we have removed channels three and four from the previous gang ...

Page 347: ...ll bring up a warning window to make sure that you definitely want to clear all gangs Click Yes and all ganging is completely removed Output Part Ganging It is also possible to gang individual parameters between channels Note that you can only gang the same parameters together between channels for example some or all of the output channel high pass filters or all of Parametric EQ 2 You cannot gang...

Page 348: ... is the result We could now do the same thing for the high pass filter Now we have each pair of low pass filters ganged changing the slope or frequency of either channel will be matched by its pair we have also ganged the high pass and even though the channel colour is the same the high and low pass are NOT ganged in any way vertical columns of parameters act completely independently Part ganging ...

Page 349: ...ove there is a single green gang in PEQ 2 a purple in PEQ 4 a pale green in PEQ6 and a pale purple in PEQ 8 As there is just one of each they are clearly not ganged to anything They can be removed individually with a second click on each parameter however they can all be removed instantly by clicking on the Clear Singles button All single gangs are removed but all genuine gangs with two or more se...

Page 350: ...e open the Merlin Slave and click on the Ganging Tab we right click on the Output Whole Channel Ganging channel 1 This window appears Click on the Select Merlin drop down and select Merlin Master Now click on Select Channel and click on Output Channel 1 note that the channel order in the list is not sequential Click OK and Channel 1 is now ganged between both the Slave and Master Merlins The Gangi...

Page 351: ...ounterpart on the Merlin Master You will see that each gang is assigned a different colour so it is easy to identify that the gangs are independent The Merlin Master will also show the same ganging Input channels can be ganged across devices in exactly the same way To remove cross device ganging either right click on the input or output you wish to remove and click the Remove button If you wish to...

Page 352: ...Preset Loader which is found in the Tools menu This brings up the Preset Loader window In this example we have a small MLA system with two 6 box arrays There are a number of options available but particularly when loading the first preset into an array the first step should always be to click on Select D2P File to navigate to wherever you have saved the D2P file saved when you did your Display 2 1...

Page 353: ...ple 6 box setting is an example of this Note that the optimisation will always specify the type of cabinet in this case MLA You will be able to select any d2p file but will not be able to synchronise a file created for the wrong type of cabinet The Window will appear like this You can see that the optimisation contained within the file called 6 box test appears in the Available D2 1 presets list o...

Page 354: ... same optimisation into each array In the following example we now have side hangs also of six cabinets our d2p file is the same as the previous example and contains two optimisations We have dragged User Manual 6 MLA over to the Main left and right arrays and 6 Box alt over to the side hangs PEQ files On the left side of the Window you can see three available PEQ files Normal Rock and Orchestra S...

Page 355: ...hronising Optimisations click on the Add Custom PEQ File button and navigate to the file location where the mlap PEQ file is saved Click on the file and it will appear in the list of available PEQ files and can be dragged across in the same way as any other It is important to understand that a Custom PEQ will NOT perform the same system reset as one of the factory PEQ s so we would always recommen...

Page 356: ...e cabinet snapshot into which an optimisation will be loaded There are ten available labelled from B to K A is the default factory preset with basic box EQ which may be used whilst checking a system or in an emergency all other are available for your optimisations and once uploaded can be selected in a few seconds Select the desired location using the drop down button Load in Background is very us...

Page 357: ...formance and you can then wait for an appropriate break in a show or rehearsal to select the new snapshot Synchronise Once you have completed your selection of the available options the final step is to click on the Synchronise button to start the Preset upload You will see a series of Windows that show the process of the upload including the following The presets are loaded to each array in turn ...

Page 358: ...e loaded This step will not take place if you selected Load in Background It will repeat these steps for all arrays on the network Once finished you will see this window You can then close the Preset Loader It can be re used whenever you wish to upload new optimisations ...

Page 359: ...tire system on a single page with the ability to monitor all levels and make changes to essential functions Here we see a project with a variety of U Net enabled devices connected including an array of one MLA and an MLD a flown MLA Mini system a PSX DDD12 and a Merlin If we click on the Master Overview button A new tab is opened with a window showing all devices in operation ...

Page 360: ...onse essential features are accessible The function control is the same for all Array and speaker types The top line shows the input configuration for the array if this needs to be changed clicking on the top line takes you to the array input overview screen where you can change the input configuration If the array isn t already open it will be opened by clicking on this button On the second row i...

Page 361: ...aster Overview Window away from the gain control will close it once you have made any necessary adjustments Next to the gain is Mute clicking on this will mute the array and the button will turn red Note that when in Show Mode a pop out Window will appear to confirm that you want to mute the array Clicking on Delay opens a pop out window showing the gain figure with a series of arrows for adjustme...

Page 362: ... a new tab the tab on view will be the last tab that was in use if the Merlin has already been opened or the Gain Mute Limiters tab if it is not already open The layout of the Master Overview screen will by default show the arrays in size order This will automatically re size to ensure that all elements fit in the window Elements can be dragged and dropped to arrange the system to match the physic...

Page 363: ...hat Automatic layout has been activated As soon as you move any elements or zoom in or out the Auto Layout will disappear The Zoom in and out buttons will chance the zoom in steps of 10 up or down This can also be achieved if you have a mouse connected with a scroll wheel Zoom 1 1 restores the window to 100 regardless of whether any elements will be outside of the view ...

Page 364: ...active during set up all mutes can be used as and when required with a simple mouse click the array will mute and unmute instantly under command of the button When Show Mode is activated clicking a Mute button anywhere in the system will bring up a confirmation window The window is slightly different for a zone mute For a DD12 The Sub and main Mutes for the PSX have different mute messages And fin...

Page 365: ...ctive it always produces a prompt to verify that you wish to proceed The Output diagnostics for MLAS MLA Compact or MLA Mini is also unavailable in Show Mode Double clicking on the array thumbnail will bring up the following window If an array has the diagnostics window already open before activating Show Mode the Mute Array button and individual cell mutes for each cabinet will be unavailable you...

Page 366: ...ar of the cabinet safely See the specific section in the MLA and MLA Compact chapters for more details Reconnect the module Reconnect all connections ensure that the module powers up the fan will briefly run at full speed and the red power LED will light Connect U Net cables to the two ports and ensure that both U Net LEDs light green Connect audio input and if required output connections Discover...

Page 367: ...very Button You will see the following Window When this is finished you will see the Device Discovery report in this example there is a mixture of speakers if you are just discovering a single array you will just see a list of all cabinets in the array and nothing else other cabinets already established in the project will be ignored ...

Page 368: ...ide V2 1 368 Click on Run Wizard and you will be able to configure the cabinets into the appropriate arrays If you are discovering a single array make sure that the number in Total Number of ARRAYS is set to 1 then click Next or press Return ...

Page 369: ... has been reversed at some stage so the LEDs are running bottom to top you need to click on REVERSE ORDER It is essentially that the system knows that the array is up the right way or optimisations will be loaded into the array upside down with horrendous results You can also click on the ALL ON button to flash all cabinet LEDs in the array this is guaranteed to irritate the lighting department wh...

Page 370: ...nish or press Return the array is now ready to have the Display 2 1 optimisations restored Restore Optimisations To upload the D2 optimisations click on the Tools menu and select Preset Loader This will bring up the Preset Loader window showing all arrays on the network in this example there are two MLA arrays on the network ...

Page 371: ...ll arrays are the same size the files will automatically be loaded into the arrays the greyed out Assigned D2 1 Presets boxes will appear bright green showing that a Preset is assigned ready to be synchronised As we may not want to disturb the arrays that are working perfectly well we may want to just upload the optimisation to the new array with the module we have replaced In this case drag the o...

Page 372: ...ule as the previous example There are just a couple of further steps before you Synchronise First if the system has not had any changes to the User PEQ you can select the Load in Background option however it is likely that the system will have had some EQ changes made and in this instance it is necessary to store the PEQ for the array which is done by returning to the main project page and right c...

Page 373: ...File It will then appear together with the factory PEQ files This can be dragged across to the array with the new module in the same way as the D2P preset You can select which Snapshot the array is stored in using the drop down and finally click the Preserve array names button This will stop the Synchronisation overwriting the array name with the Preset name The Window should look something like t...

Page 374: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 374 You can now click on Synchronise and the synchronisation process will be displayed with a series of Windows ...

Page 375: ...AES3 instead of the default of Analogue When one of the factory PEQ s is loaded during the Preset Loading process the inputs of all cabinets in the array are changed to match the first cabinet This does not happen when a custom PEQ is loaded or if Load in Background is selected If therefore your array is using AES3 left or right for its input the replacement module will still be set to Analogue To...

Page 376: ...gue This will now mean that all cabinets in the array have the same setting Now use the drop down again and re select AES L or R as required The entire array will now be set with the same input Test the Array MLA and MLA Systems have a comprehensive test function available which is well worth using following a module replacement Double click on the array in the Project overview then double click o...

Page 377: ...em one at a time so you can quickly and easily hear that all are working correctly Don t be surprised if cells sound quite noticeably different this is due to the phase and eq optimisation which is how an MLA system works It relies on the cells working together to achieve the desired results so auditioned individually they can sound very strange Once you have checked all cabinets switch off the pi...

Page 378: ...ystem User Guide V2 1 378 If you haven t already switch off the pink noise source DO IT NOW A sudden burst of an entire array reproducing pink noise is not a pleasant experience The system is now fully functional and ready to use ...

Page 379: ...air therefore you should take every possible precaution before commencing a firmware update ALWAYS use a hard wired connection from your PC to the system do not rely on Wi Fi Always use your PC with its mains PSU do not rely on battery power Try and ensure that your mains supply is reliable and is not likely to fail mid update Finally the update process takes around 13 minutes per enclosure so on ...

Page 380: ...already installed firmware files This is perfectly acceptable if you have already uploaded the latest files following a message from Martin Audio that there is a new release or if you have periodically gone on line to load the latest files routinely Clicking the PROCEED WITH FIRMWARE UPGRADE USING VUNET FIRMWARE DATABASE button and the window closes and the Firmware Update process starts The final...

Page 381: ...e Selecting the Firmware Update Wizard in the Vu Net Tools menu opens the same window as the Get Firmware updates to double check that you have the latest versions Assuming that you have definitely installed the very latest versions you can click on PROCEED WITH FIRMWARE UPGRADE USING VUNET FIRMWARE DATABASE Vu Net will scan the U Net network for connected devices in the same way as a Device Disco...

Page 382: ... whether an upgrade is available In this instance a single Merlin and twelve MLA have been found and all have up to date firmware however we can still proceed with an update to show how the process works In the left hand column there is a check box to select any device which you would like to update We will do an update on the final two MLA Click next and you see the following window ...

Page 383: ... Upgrade Downgrade cell will bring up a drop down showing the version numbers Select the version you wish to use and it will appear in the final column Click on Next to start the update You will first see the following warning to ensure that every measure has been taken to ensure that the update will complete successfully Click Next and the upgrade will start A progress window will appear showing ...

Page 384: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 384 Once completed you will see the following Click OK and then click on Finish on the Update Progress Window The update is complete ...

Page 385: ...roject cannot have any devices already in the System Diagram so either delete all devices making sure you save your project first or better still start a new project Select the MLA MLD Conversion tool from the Tools menu you will see an Operation in progress window while Vu Net scans the U Net network for all connected MLA or MLD in a similar way to a Device Discovery The following Window will app...

Page 386: ...he firmware click on Upgrade you will see a window which shows the progress of the firmware conversion When the conversion is finished you will see a confirmation window Click OK and close the update progress monitor Vu Net will then re scan U Net to check all connected devices ...

Page 387: ...tem User Guide V2 1 387 You will then see the same Window as previously showing all connected devices note how the last enclosure in the list is now an MLD The window can be closed and a system discovered and used in the normal way ...

Page 388: ...mechanical deployment of the system is entered and detailed information for the loading on each point is displayed There is also a guide to ground stacking The Input tab is where all details are entered Opening the spreadsheet looks like this The first option is to choose front or rear mounting on the MLA Flying Grid All data entry is done on the cells coloured light yellow Click on the Position c...

Page 389: ...important as they add significant weight to the array which is added to the load calculations for each point The next step is to enter the angles of the grid and cabinets that comprise the array The table shows the legal angles available The actual angles need to be copied over from the Display 2 1 project including the angle of the grid The spreadsheet will display the type of cabinet depending o...

Page 390: ... a more accurate result as the array position entered will be real world exactly how it has been mechanically deployed For two point hanging the load for each point is displayed in both kilogrammes and pounds Finally the safety specification is flagged showing whether the rigging complies with both BGV C1 and DIN 18800 Here is an example with a fictitious 15 cabinet array with exaggerated cabinet ...

Page 391: ...ing Display does not allow direct entry of a ground stacked system it is necessary to enter the array as if it were flown which will produce a set of angles which need to be entered on the input page as before Now select the ground stack tab which appears as follows ...

Page 392: ...ut page with the actual angles with respect to the actual angle to the horizontal The crucial information is the angle of the bottom cabinet This can be used to select the appropriate holes in the ground stack bar and bottom cabinet A thumnail of the bar is shown together with a table showing the holes required to achieve the desired angle ...

Page 393: ...stem USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 393 In the example we have shown we need to achieve an angle of 2 we would therefore use hole B on the ground stack bar connected to the 1 hole on the bottom cabinet ...

Page 394: ...oads The operation is very similar to the MLA Pick Loads spreadsheet This is the input screen The first stage is identical to MLA you can select either front of rear mounting on the flying grid Unlike MLA there is no option to manually select the number of Distro break out looms this is automatically changed to two for all arrays greater than 12 enclosures ...

Page 395: ...ank in the column The cells on the right hand side display all the rigging information First is the number of cabinets and Distro breakout boxes The total weight of the array is shown The closest hole to achieve the required angle for a single point lift is displayed As with MLA this angle should be entered into Display 2 1 over writing the calculated angle and the EQ optimisation re calculated to...

Page 396: ...ect the Ground Stack Tab which appears as shown Note that the angles need to be manually entered on the Ground Stack tab they are not automatically updated from the Input page The column highlighted in yellow is where the angles arte entered and includes an input for the flying grid This will usually be zero but if there is no other option other than to place it on an angled surface avoid this if ...

Page 397: ...is is the angle that needs to be selected using one of the two ground stack bars for an upwards tilted array with positive angles the short ground stack bar is used for arrays with a downward tilt to the bottom cabinet with negative angles the long ground stack bar is used The final section on the Ground Stack tab shows the angles that can be obtained with both bars In our example we require a dow...

Page 398: ...ges For lower mains voltages the mains distro has Cam lock style inlets Audio into the system can be either standard analogue balanced signals or AES EBU digital Mains Mains is connected to the system via the Master Slave Racks The minimum configuration is a single Master Rack or even Slave Rack the maximum with a standard Master Rack is one Master and 5 slaves but as the slave racks all interconn...

Page 399: ... of link connectors to facilitate tidy wiring to and from arrays particularly where cables have been loomed together see the chapter on cabling A standard system would run the first U Net connection from Port 1 up to the first cabinet at the top of an array Short link cables or looms including audio would daisy chain down between all cabinets in the array with a cable from port 2 in the final cabi...

Page 400: ...which is the Ethernet connection to the Merlin Note also that you cannot connect several Master racks together each Master Rack has an integral DHCP device to assign IP addresses to all components therefore you can only have one Master All other racks must be configured as slaves This could still include a Master with the Ethernet switch if the DHCP support is disconnected Picostation device in th...

Page 401: ...y to fly MLA or MLA Compact systems with two people however if more crew are available it will obviously speed up the process In an ideal world one experienced and trained MLA M Tech can supervise the crew and wire the cabinets as the array is flown Two crew would be used to attach the cabinets to the grid and array Another would line up the next cabinet and remove wheel boards and finally a fourt...

Page 402: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 402 The first step is to remove the transit covers from all of the cabinets The rain cowls can be raised as the cabinets are lined up ready to be rigged ...

Page 403: ... or lower Tourmate outlet the upper and lower U Net connections can be made to the Merlin U Net outlets Note that when subs or side hangs are added to a system you may disconnect one of the array network feeds and connected it to one of the parallel link connections but while rigging a system it is good practice to connect both U Net feeds to a live node so the network wiring can be checked at all...

Page 404: ...otor hoist thus minimising the heavy lifting necessary Connect the rear hoist to the rear rigging position This is done with one of the supplied 3 25 tonne shackles first positioning the Distro hanger bracket so the bolt of the shackle goes through the fitting holes on the hanger before the rear rigging point on the flying grid If you are flying using a single motor connect to the rear point at th...

Page 405: ...oll the flightcase out of the way and lower the grid until it is just resting on the two V shaped bumpers on the front Do not allow the chain of the hoist to become too slack not only will it get in the way but keeping it taught will provide additional support for the grid to prevent it falling over when it is upright ...

Page 406: ...upport the grid as it will be completely unsupported without the chain attached Bring the first MLA up to the back of the grid still on its wheelboard The V bumpers on the grid are designed to hold the grid at precisely the right height to match up to the rigging on an MLA on its wheelboard Next remove the flying pins from the front position at each side of the grid The front is the end closest to...

Page 407: ...steel bar will swing down on each side With one person at each side of the grid remove the flying pin from the front centre stowing position on the MLA and carefully wheel the cabinet up to the grid directing the metal bar into the top flying point of the cabinet ...

Page 408: ...shed out so it protrudes from the bottom of the cabinet When the bar is fully inserted into the cabinet rigging point so that the holes line up insert the pin that you removed from the cabinet Make absolutely certain that the pin is properly engaged with the centre button out in the locked position Give the pin a firm pull to make sure it cannot come out All pins should be checked at every stage o...

Page 409: ...t Next remove the flying pin stowing the rear bracket on the MLA and swing it out of the cabinet and into position on the grid There is a small tongue on the rear bar to assist swinging it out of the stowed position Align the holes in the rear bracket with the corresponding holes in the flying grid and pin them in place ...

Page 410: ...RWARD If using a single point raise the assembly taking the same precautions Do NOT stand in front or behind the array if you have two crew they should stand either side of the array and support it while it is flown making sure they avoid trapped fingers when the motor takes the array of the ground and it swings forward If using two motors now raise the front motor until the grid and cabinet are c...

Page 411: ...with Display 2 1 and connect the rear brackets with the flying pins Next remove the flying pin from the front stowing position on the second MLA Raise the grid until the second cabinet is just off the floor As with the first cabinet and grid the cabinet will swing forward suddenly when it leaves the floor so take care to avoid injury The next stage is to swing the second cabinet up to link the fro...

Page 412: ...LA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 412 and engage the front rigging bar on the first cabinet into the hole on the second cabinet and secure with the flying pin removed from the stowing hole ...

Page 413: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 413 ...

Page 414: ...g system to the second hole in the distro hanger with another flying pin This will hang halfway down the array and will support the second break out loom using a small shackle to attach the eye bolt on the top of the connector box to the loop in the end of the steel rope Now the mains Tourmate U Net Audio and Inclinometer cables can be connected Most MLA and MLA Compact partners loom these cables ...

Page 415: ...Assuming you have connected the U Net cables to the Control rack and powered the rack you will see the cabinet power up The amp module fans will briefly come on a full speed to clear and accumulated dust the LED logo badge will illuminate for a few seconds and the power LED will light red If your network connection is OK you will see the U Net LED light green If it is flashing or red or doesn t il...

Page 416: ...enable the close loop topology For now it can be left hanging loose Connect the inclinometer cable to the inclinometer sensor on the side of the grid Connect one of the 800mm AES XLR cables and an 800mm U Net cable usually loomed together from the audio out and U Net port 2 on the top MLA cabinet down to the Audio input and U Net port 1 on the second cabinet ...

Page 417: ...binet as the second cabinet is not yet powered As you now have a couple of wheelboards you can start to neatly stack them there are routed sections in the top of each wheelboard designed to act as a castor cup to ensure that the wheelboards stack neatly and safely to take up the minimum about of space backstage ...

Page 418: ...e cables clear to position the cabinet Attach the rear rigging brackets to the holes indicated by your Display 2 1 project remove the front rigging pins lift the array until the third box is just off the floor remove the wheelboard and swing the cabinet up so the bracket from the second cabinet engages in the hole in the top of the third and insert a rigging pin ...

Page 419: ...heck that you see the cabinet power up and U Net LED s illuminate on both the first and second cabinets Add another pair of link cables from the second and third cabinets Continue to build the array in the same way always powering the cabinet before last and checking the previous network connections as you go ...

Page 420: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 420 ...

Page 421: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 421 ...

Page 422: ...you should have a good feel for how the rigging works so it shouldn t pose too much of a problem As the MLD is designed to have a steeper vertical dispersion and will always be on the bottom of a curved array it is possible that the CeeForm connector will no longer be angled down and therefore when used outdoors there is a possibility of rain water running down the mains cable and into the connect...

Page 423: ... very small indeed well below the 16A rating of the Ceeform inlet connector or RCD breakers in the mains distro particularly for the cabinets at the bottom of an array which as you might expect are not driven as hard as those at the top which are required to reach greater distances For that reason it is perfectly acceptable to use Ceeform Y splits to double the number of cabinets on a single Ceefo...

Page 424: ...ying grid after that the rigging procedure is identical The first cabinet should be wheeled into position behind the flying grid Obviously that rigging brackets will not line up directly with the flying grid while it is vertical so you will need to carefully lower it until it is at an angle sufficient to attach the rear bracket Connect the rear bracket to the holes at the back of the flying grid A...

Page 425: ...he grid on top as shown if you have something solid enough it is helpful to land the cabinet onto an object so there is clearance wither side for the rigging brackets to drop down when the pins are removed from the stowing position In this position it is relatively easy to connect the front rigging pins to the grid The array can then be flown and the rest of the array rigged in exactly the same wa...

Page 426: ...lar to the MLA and the same grid is used There is provision for flying the subs rear facing for building flown cardioid arrays The first stage is exactly the same as MLA starting with the flying grid in the vertical position wheel the first MLX up to the grid and attach the front and back rigging brackets ...

Page 427: ...y if it hits anyone when this is happening Never raise an MLX when there is someone standing in front or behind the sub crew flying the subs should stand either side and carefully steady the sub as it is flown making sure they avoid getting fingers trapped when it is moving Next wheel the second MLX up behind the first raising or lowering the flown sub until the rear lower corners are close to the...

Page 428: ... second MLX swung up and connected at the front in exactly the same way as MLA however this requires strong crew as the MLX weighs 160Kg An easier option is to fly the array until the second cabinet is just off the ground swing it forward and immediately land the array with the second cabinet horizontal so the first cabinet sits on top of the second ...

Page 429: ...would normally be flown vertically Links between cabinets are made with the 3 metre U Net and Audio cables which can be loomed together in the same way as the 80mm MLA MLD links The array can then be flown and the third cabinet attached in the same way as the second connecting each cabinet and checking network connectivity as each cabinet is attached Cardioid Flown Arrays MLX cabinets have the fac...

Page 430: ... back to make this possible Now fly the array again keeping it well above head height Now bring the next MLX over and again lower it flat under the array but facing forwards Next you need to lay a 2 5m Ceeform extension cable part number PWA00053 and two 3m link looms one facing in one direction and the second in the opposite direction all in the central channel down the middle of the top of the c...

Page 431: ...y won t move they are probably trapped under the upper cabinets Fly them out a short distance and re position the cables before bringing the array back down and trying again Once positioned link the sub front and back in the usual way and then make the connections at the front of the array to the rear facing sub which of course has its rear panel at the front of the array Raise the lower panel to ...

Page 432: ...e rear of the cabinet make it look reasonably unobtrusive once the array is rigged Any remaining cabinets can be connected in the usual way The normal ratio for a cardioid array is two forward facing to every one rear facing MLA Flown under MLX Bu using a second flying grid it is possible to assemble combination arrays with MLA flown under MLX The maximum size for a combination array is six MLX wi...

Page 433: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 433 The array can be flown so the MLA is just off the ground and swung up to connect at the front exactly as with a standard MLA array ...

Page 434: ... MLX Start with the flying grid flat on the floor or on top of an MLX It should be pinned to the MLX if used on top Wheel the first MLA in front of the grid and lower it down flat on top of the grid so it comes to rest in the horizontal Remove its wheelboard Remove the pin from the front position on the flying grid note that if you are ground stacking on top of MLX this pin will already have been ...

Page 435: ...acket into the slot on the top of the flying grid When the holes are aligned the cabinet can be pinned in place It may help align the holes by lifting the rear of the MLA slightly Now connect the MLA ground stack bars to the appropriate holes in the grid just under the rear of the MLA Raise the rear of the cabinet and pin the bar into the hole in the MLA as required to obtain the necessary angle ...

Page 436: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 436 The stack is now ready for the next cabinet ...

Page 437: ...racket of the cabinet below and can be pinning in place at the front The pins storing the rear bracket of the cabinet below should be removed the upper cabinet raised at the back and the bracket pinned in the correct hole for the desired angle Unlike a flown array you are advised not to wire the array as it is built the cabling is likely to get in the way and as the system is ground stacked it is ...

Page 438: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 438 ...

Page 439: ...nts and swinging the cabinet up to link at the front is the same however there are some significant differences Cabling and system connectivity is identical to MLA using the same Master and slave racks cable trunks and cable systems which ideally would also be built into looms to make system connection more neat and efficient MLA Compact itself is supplied in flightcases each holding a pair of Com...

Page 440: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 440 ...

Page 441: ... cabinets should be linked by their front brackets Before connecting to the flying grid check your Display 2 1 optimisation for the angle between the first two cabinets If the wheelboard has been fitted up the right way indicated by arrows routed into the bottom only the second cabinet will be attached to it the first cabinet can be pivoted upwards and the angle set between the two Remove the flyi...

Page 442: ... have to be lined up completely square to the grid or it will be impossible to line up the holes in the grid and cabinet bracket Connect the first cabinet to the flying frame first with the front bracket And then connect the rear bracket which you have already swung out ...

Page 443: ...me care and ensure that nobody is standing immediately in front or behind the array when you lift it Crew assisting with rigging the system should stand either side of the array and steady it carefully making sure they avoid getting fingers caught when it swings forward Remove the wheelboard Connections can now be made to the array If you have loomed your cables as described in the cables chapter ...

Page 444: ...tro hanger on the back of the flying grid connect the Tourmate mains cable at the other end of the array loom to the break out loom Connect the U Net cable designated for the top cabinet to U Net port 1 and the audio XLR cable to the XLR input on the first cabinet Connect the Inclinometer cable to the sensor on the grid ...

Page 445: ...in powers up and you have a U Net port 1 illuminated Check that cabinet 1 has powered up correctly and you also have the U Net port 1 LED illuminated Now prepare the next pair of Compact which will become 3rd and 4th in the array As before check the angle required between 4 4 from your Display 2 1 optimisation and set the angle using the rigging bracket on the 4th cabinet and lifting the 3rd to pi...

Page 446: ...s we have mentioned the Ceeform on the lower cabinet will make it difficult to rig the next pair of Compact Connect link cables from cabinet 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 check that they power up correctly and that you get U Net LEDs illuminating on all powered cabinets Continue to build the array in this way preparing the next pair of cabinets attaching to the rear bracket and swinging up the cabinets to lin...

Page 447: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 447 ...

Page 448: ... have connected the final Compact connect the last Ceeform connectors to all remaining cabinets and the last link then the final U Net cable that goes back up to the array loom checking for U Net connectivity both on Port 2 of the final cabinet and on the Merlin ...

Page 449: ...A Compact MLA Compact can be easily ground stacked using the standard flying grid in a similar way to its big brother MLA The first step is to prepare the flying grid At the front you will find the locating brackets which in normal flying use are in a stowed position facing forward The flying pin securing them needs to be removed The bracket is hinged on a slot so it can be pulled out rotated 90 u...

Page 450: ... tilt the long bar is used The first step is to calculate the angle of the bottom cabinet which is done from the MLA Compact Pick Loads spreadsheet which has a tab for ground stacking You enter the calculated angles from the project design in the yellow section and the angle for each cabinet with respect to the horizontal is shown in the blue panel The key figure is the angle for the bottom cabine...

Page 451: ...e and which of the Frame connection holes B Blue from 1 to 7 and finally which bracket hole in the bottom cabinet to use For example if we require a downtilt of 10 we use yellow hole 3 to connect to the 6 5 hole in the cabinet and blue hole 7 right at the end of the dog leg to connect to the flying frame Next connect the bar in place It is instinctive to connect to the frame first however when usi...

Page 452: ... USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 452 raise the rear of the cabinet and pin the bottom hole in the ground stack bar to the flying frame Now place the next cabinet on top of the first and pin it at the front ...

Page 453: ... User Guide V2 1 453 Raise the back of the cabinet and link the cabinets at the angle shown in your Display project Continue adding cabinets always connecting the front brackets first and then setting the angle and pinning at the rear ...

Page 454: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 454 ...

Page 455: ...MLA System USER GUIDE MLA System User Guide V2 1 455 The finshed 6 box ground stack system ...

Page 456: ...Ltd in the United Kingdom United States and other countries all other Martin Audio trademarks are the property of Martin Audio Ltd Martin Audio Limited Century Point Halifax Road Cressex Business Park High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP12 3SL England FOR SALES ENQUIRIES UK Telephone 44 0 1494 535312 E mail info martin audio com NORTH AMERICA Telephone 323 381 5310 ...

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