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PRELIMINARY PRODUCT INFORMATION
EASTERN ACOUSTIC WORKS
One Main Street, Whitinsville, MA 01588 • (508) 234 - 6158 • FAX (508) 234 - 8251 • BBS (800) 889-2540
EAW products are continually improved. All specifications are therefore subject to change without notice. • PUB# MX8000/11/4/94 • Printed In USA
Technical Specifications MX8000
CLOSER COUPLING OF ACTIVE ELECTRONICS
The concept of Close Coupling
™
developed by EAW Executive Vice President,
Engineering Kenton G. Forsythe is unique. EAW engineers integrate active
signal processing into the total loudspeaker system – which may often
include internal passive electrical networks and even acoustical filters that
operate simultaneously with the external processor – in order to optimize the
system’s acoustic transfer function. EAW processors do not rely on dynamic
effects to disguise limitations in the electromechanical and acoustical aspects
of the system. Therefore they do not change the loudspeaker’s tonal balance
or power response at high output levels.
The MX8000 maintains this approach, which has been proven on concert
tours and installations worldwide. It includes all the functions of previous
MX Series CCEP™ units, and adds new dimensions of signal processing
power and a new, more powerful interface that gives the system designer
and operator more information, control and flexibility. EAW engineers will
be able to acheive even better acoustic performance by integrating these
new capabilities into existing EAW loudspeaker systems as well as new
systems under development.
HYBRID ANALOG/DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Live sound reinforcement demands the highest available dyanmic range
and signal-to-noise performance. In order to achieve the highest possible
dynamic range, the MX8000 design team has opted to implement most
signal processing functions in the analog domain. The MX8000’s analog
functions include:
• A four-way crossover using asymmetrical
fourth-order filters
• RMS limiting on each frequency band to
protect drivers against thermal failure
• Peak limiting on each band to prevent
amplifier clipping
• Six bands of parametric equalization
provide for flexible system optimization
• Subwoofer cone excursion limiting
• Phase compensation for coherent
acoustic summing at crossover points
• Subwoofer OFF (three-way), ADJacent
(true four-way) and DIStant (three-way
plus subwoofer) modes.
Digital technology has been used wherever
it would not compromise the audio signal
path. Thus all of the above functions are controlled
digitally via the front panel or the two types of remote
control interface. In addition, the MX8000 includes:
• Digital delay lines on each frequency band
• Minimum delay resolution of 5.208 microseconds
allows drivers or adjacent loudspeaker systems to be time aligned
within fractions of an inch
• Maximum delay time of 341 milliseconds per band allows control of
arrival times over a wide range.
• Provide coherent signal arrival time from multiple speaker systems.
TWO REMOTE CONTROL OPTIONS
The MX8000 extends the emerging audio control network to the loud-
speaker system. Close Coupled signal processing functions as well as
output gain and other setup parameters can be controlled via the front
and rear panels, or remotely from any personal computer. The first remote
control option is an RS232 serial port. The second is a proprietary
implementation of the MediaLink network interface. The remote control
is the only user access to the digital delay settings, the individual band
gain settings and the limiter settings. This system allows a systems
engineer centralized control of multiple loudspeaker arrays.
A UNIQUELY POWERFUL MEDIALINK INTERFACE
The prerelease version of the MX8000’s graphic user interface is shown
below. The control surface can be collapsed or expanded by the user
depending on the needs of the particular application. Password protec-
tion will allow any level of access from zero (remote and front panel
controls disabled) to full adjustment of all remote addressable MX8000
parameters. Thus the interface accomodates the requirements of every
user from the minimally competent operator to the expert sound system
designer. EAW is developing this interface and the accompanying screens
as a prototype of the virtual control surface of the future.
Previous MediaLink implementations have used Lone Wolf Corporation’s
MediaLink chip for all communications and control functions. In the
MX8000, the same standard MediaLink chip handles network communi-
cations and housekeeping chores, while a second internal microproces-
sor translates the network messages into control vectors for the MX8000’s
parameter settings. The internal microprocessor also relays system and
operating status messages to the network chip. This gives the MX8000
much greater flexibility as well as signficantly enhanced data throughput
capacity.
AN ADVANCED GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE
MX8000 Close Coupled Network Processor
UNC
UNC
UNC
UNC
NAME
MUTE
HIGH FREQUENCY
MID FREQUENCY
LOW FREQUENCY
SUBWOOFER
CALIBRATION
GAIN SET
RMS LIMIT SET
PEAK LIMIT SET
SIGNAL DELAY
ADDED DELAY
METERING
RMS LIMITING
UNIT CONTROLS
SUBWOOFER CONTROLS
RMS LIMITING
RMS LIMITING
RMS LIMITING
SHOW PEAKS
RESET
SAVE/RECALL SETTING
SAVE TO MX8000
SAVE TO DISC
RECALL
POWER
PANEL LOCK
MX8000
Close Coupled
Network Processor
Unit Controls
Calibration
Gain Set
RMS Set
Peak Limit Set
Signal Delay
Metering
Subwoofer Controls
AMPLIFIER GAIN
+ 26
+ 32
+ 0 dB
+ 6 dB
SUB MODE
ADJ
DIST
OFF
NORMAL
180
°
SOURCE
MAIN
DIRECT
