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Smyth Research Realiser A16 Manual

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Realiser A16 Manual
Mathew Kane
Manual v0.91 for A16 firmware v1.02
8/29/19
The Realiser A16 is defined by its firmware, which is updated from time to time with refinements and new features.
Likewise the manual is updated to conform with new firmware, and to provide additional information.
Current firmware and the current manual are available on the Smyth Research website at:
Please check regularly for firmware and manual updates and keep both current. There may be significant differences between the
operation described here and that for other firmware versions.
www.smyth-research.com/downloads

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  • Page 1 Manual v0.91 for A16 firmware v1.02 8/29/19 The Realiser A16 is defined by its firmware, which is updated from time to time with refinements and new features. Likewise the manual is updated to conform with new firmware, and to provide additional information.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    2.2.3 PRIRs Unpacking and parts assembly 2.3.1 Unpacking Part Names and Functions 2.4.1 Front panel of the Realiser A16-2U 2.4.2 Rear panel of the Realiser A16-2U 2.4.3 Realiser A16 Remote control 2.4.4 Head-tracker: Head-top and IR Reference Set-top Quick start...
  • Page 3 Settings PRIR Sound Rooms 5.1.1 PRIR room 1 loc 5.1.2 PRIR room 1 desc 5.1.3 PRIR room 1 speaker setup Headphones 5.2.1 SVS Bass System 5.3.1 Assign solo buttons 5.3.2 HT Settings 5.3.3 Measurement Settings 5.3.4 Volume settings 5.3.5 LCD off timer 5.3.6 Default HDMI input 5.3.7...
  • Page 4 7.2.8 Legacy Dolby decode 7.2.9 Legacy DTS decode 7.2.10 Dolby night mode 7.2.11 DTS night mode 7.2.12 Dolby Surround 7.2.13 DTS Neural:X Load and Activate presets for User A and User B Audio Meters 7.4.1 Elements of the Speaker Map display for any preset (Figure 7-11) 7.4.2 Controls associated with the Speaker Map display Measuring a new PRIR in a sound room using the synchronous (ALL) method...
  • Page 5 Appendix E: Testing the binaural microphones using HP-B output Appendix F: The Async mode for measuring a PRIR Appendix G: Updating the Realiser A16 firmware Appendix H: Updating the Factory-PRIR and Factory-HPEQ files Appendix I: Updating the Head-top head-tracking firmware...
  • Page 6 Appendix J: Bass Management Atmos / DTS:X AV bass management ON (HDMI, Coaxial) (HP DB disabled) Atmos / DTS:X AV bass management OFF (HDMI, Coaxial) (HP DB disabled) Atmos / DTS:X AV bass management ON (HDMI, Coaxial) (HP DB enabled) Atmos / DTS:X AV bass management OFF (HDMI, Coaxial) (HP DB enabled) PCM ‘Direct’...

  • Page 7: Safety

    1 Safety IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS READ BEFORE OPERATING EQUIPMENT • Read these instructions. • Keep these instructions. • Heed all warnings. • Follow all instructions. • Do not use this apparatus near water. • Clean only with a dry cloth. •...
  • Page 8 device/s to rain or moisture. • Never place objects containing liquid (e.g. vases or drinking glasses) on the equipment. Liquids in the equipment could cause a short circuit. • Lay all connection cables so that they do not present a trip hazard. •...
  • Page 9 volume after putting on the headphone. Do not set the volume too high, because you could permanently damage your hearing. Over time you may adapt to a high volume of sound but it can still cause hearing damage. • Connecting and disconnecting cables, choosing menu items, and any adjustments should be done at a low volume setting and with the headphones off your head, to avoid sounds that could cause hearing damage.

  • Page 10: Firmware Update

    1. STEP 1. The new firmware for the Realiser A16 is uploaded through the micro-SD card slot on the front panel. First, obtain a micro-SD card (commonly 8 or 16 GB) and ensure it is formatted as FAT32. Second, create a ‘Realiser’ folder in the root directory and copy the firmware file FIRMA001.SVS into the Realiser folder.
  • Page 11 Confirm the A16 firmware revision is the version that has been downloaded from the A16 website. The APM runs the Dolby Atmos decoder and this firmware revision should show 2.2.5 Jul 2019. STEP 7. The firmware update is now complete. Repeatedly press the BACK key to return to the Home Page menu. 10 | P a g e...

  • Page 12: Introduction

    2.1.2 The Solution: Realiser A16 The Realiser A16 allows users to measure up to 16 virtual loudspeakers in any spatial position around the user, in any room, and create virtual listening rooms in almost any format from these measurements. Head-tracking is enabled by default, and methods are included to equalise stereo headphones and in-ear monitors for an individual.

  • Page 13: Realiser A16 Operational Overview

    Listening Rooms Listening Room #1 Listening Room #3 are constructed from one or more PRIRs Presets contain three Listening Rooms and run on a DSP Figure 2-1 Operational flow of the Realiser A16 12 | P a g e...
  • Page 14 Figure 2-2 Operational overview of the Realiser A16 with audio input from an HDMI source. Audio can also be sourced from stereo and multichannel analogue inputs, digitally via SPDIF, or from a computer via USB 2.0. 13 | P a g e...

  • Page 15: Unpacking And Parts Assembly

    The Realiser A16 package contains the items below. Main processor components: 1. Realiser A16 processor (either the 2U 19” rack-mountable version or the HS version) 2. Power Supply (input 100-240V AC, 50/60 Hz, output 12V DC @ 3A) * 3. IR remote control Set-top head-tracking components: 4.
  • Page 16 2.3.1.1 Unpacking: Main processor components Figure 2-3: Realiser A16 processor (either a 2U (left) or HS (right) version) Figure 2-4 Universal power supply (100-240V, 50/60Hz) Figure 2-5 Remote control (IR) 15 | P a g e...
  • Page 17 2.3.1.2 Unpacking: Set-top head-tracking components Figure 2-6: Set-top IR reference for head-tracking Figure 2-7: Set-top cable (3.5mm plug to 3.5mm plug, 4-pole) Figure 2-8: Set-top extension cable (3.5mm socket to 3.5mm plug, 4-pole) 16 | P a g e...
  • Page 18 2.3.1.3 Unpacking: In-ear measurement microphone components Figure 2-9: Lanyard (for supporting microphones during measurements) Figure 2-10: Microphone cable support clip (connects to the lanyard and provides strain relief to the microphones when inserted in the ear canals) Figure 2-11: In-ear measurement microphones (one pair) 17 | P a g e...
  • Page 19 Unpacking: In-ear measurement microphone components (cont.) Figure 2-12: Ear foam (seals the microphones when inserted in the ear canal – 4 pairs in 3 sizes) Figure 2-13: Grounding wrist-strap (used during microphone measurements to reduce body-induced hum) Figure 2-14: Head-band 18 | P a g e...
  • Page 20 2.3.1.4 Unpacking: Head-top head-tracking components Figure 2-15: Head-top head-tracking device Figure 2-16: Clip for mounting the head-top device (connects to the headphone head-band) Figure 2-17: Rubber bands (3 sizes) (connects the clip to a headphone head-band) 19 | P a g e...
  • Page 21 Unpacking: Head-top head-tracking components (cont.) Figure 2-18: Head-top cable (2.5mm plug (RA) to 2.5mm plug, 4-pole Figure 2-19: Head-top extension cable (2.5mm socket to 2.5mm plug, 4 pole) Figure 2-20: Cable clips to connect the head-top cable to the headphone cable (3 sizes for circular headphone cables, 2 sizes for flat headphone cables) 20 | P a g e...
  • Page 22 2.3.1.5 Unpacking: Optional accessories Figure 2-21: 19” rack-mount ears (for the 2U version of the Realiser A16) 21 | P a g e...

  • Page 23: Part Names And Functions

    VOL knob for User A headphone output – a digital gain control for the headphone A output. This knob also operates as a momentary push switch. NOTE: The Realiser A16-HS front panel has the same elements listed above, in a vertical and horizontal orientation. 22 |...

  • Page 24: Rear Panel Of The Realiser A16-2U

    Tactile Out – line-level low-frequency output signals for connection to seat-shakers or stereo subwoofers (2 x RCA sockets) Stereo In – analogue line-level stereo audio inputs (2 x RCA sockets) NOTE: The Realiser A16-HS rear panel has the same elements listed above, in a vertical and horizontal orientation. 23 |...

  • Page 25: Realiser A16 Remote Control

    2.4.3 Realiser A16 Remote control Power ON/OFF CAL / SPK / HP (only used for PRIR and HPEQ measurements) Solo/mute individual speakers (re-configurable) Engage ALL speakers (switch OFF SOLO mode / Engage SVS Headphone mode toggle MUTE mode ON/OFF) (SVS headphone icon key)

  • Page 26: Head-Tracker: Head-Top And Ir Reference Set-Top

    2.4.4 Head-tracker: Head-top and IR Reference Set-top 2.4.4.1 Head-Top Figure 2-2-25: The Head-Tracker Head-Top connected to a pair of headphones. 25 | P a g e...
  • Page 27 Figure 2-26: The Headphone and head-tracker head-top connected to the Realiser via the ports in the front panel. 26 | P a g e...
  • Page 28 2.4.4.2 IR Reference Set-top Figure 2-27: Set-Top powered up Figure 2-28: Set-Top connected to the Realiser via the Set-top port on the rear panel. 27 | P a g e...
  • Page 29 2.4.4.3 Binaural microphones Figure 2-29: The binaural microphones used to create a PRIR. 28 | P a g e...
  • Page 30 Figure 2-30: Binaural Microphone in ear Figure 2-31: Binaural Microphones in use. Figure 2-32: The Microphones connected to the Realiser Figure 2-34: The wrist strap connected to ground. Figure 2-33: The wrist strap worn during a binaural reading. 29 | P a g e...

  • Page 31: Quick Start

    Quick start 1. Connect an BD or DVD player (or other HDMI source) to HDMI Input 1 and a TV monitor to the HDMI Out 2. Connect the 12V DC power supply to the A16. 3. Power up the A16, using the remote control if necessary. The A16 will initially display a splash screen, then show presets loading, and finally display a preset Speaker Map for User A.

  • Page 32: Initial Power Up

    3 Initial power up Power On Sequence During power up the A16 goes through a sequence of hardware and firmware tests that are shown on the LCD display. The sequence for a successful power up is: 1. Splash screen display 2.

  • Page 33: Displaying The Speaker Map For User A Preset

    This removes the white or red boxes surrounding individual speaker icons from the display. The SOLO and MUTE modes can also be activated during normal listening modes. The TEST, MUTE and SOLO modes are useful diagnostic tools for checking the normal operational modes of the Realiser A16. 32 |...
  • Page 34 Figure 3-3 Test Mode: using an internally generated musical loop to listen to all the virtual speakers. Figure 3-4 Solo Mode: listening to individual virtual speakers. The soloed speaker is outlined in white. The Centre speaker is currently being soloed. Figure 3-5 Mute mode: listening to groups of virtual speakers.

  • Page 35: Menu Navigation

    The Home Page is the root menu for the A16 and gives access to all functions and configuration pages of the A16 (Figure 4-1). The Home Page can be accessed from any other menu using the BACK key repeatedly. Figure 4-1: The Realiser A16 home page. Navigating the menus, selecting options and changing values with the remote control 4.2.1 Menu option selection:...

  • Page 36: Moving Between Menu Levels Using The Enter And Back Keys

    4.2.2.2 Graphical values: Use the ADJ+ or ADJ- keys to toggle a switch ON or OFF Figure 4-5: Value selector using an on/off toggle button 4.2.2.3 Text entry values: 1. Use the ENTER key to create a text-entry cursor in the value select box.

  • Page 37: Accessing The Preset Speaker Map Page

    Accessing the Preset Speaker Map page 4.4.1 The PA and PB key If the presets for User A and User B have been successfully loaded and activated, the Speaker Map of the active preset for each user can be displayed using the PA or PB keys on the remote control. The display for User A has a blue background for the preset number, while User B has a green background.

  • Page 38: Settings

    5 Settings The Settings menu (Figure 5-2) is accessed from the Home Page menu (Figure 5-1), and is used to set or view configuration data that seldom changes. Figure 5-1: Settings option in the Home Page menu Figure 5-2: Settings menu PRIR Sound Rooms This option configures the A16 for measuring PRIRs.

  • Page 39: Prir Room 1 Desc

    For example, if a virtual speaker is labelled as Lh (Left height) it can be seen from Appendix B: Table 4 that this name is not used in any Dolby Atmos configuration that can be rendered by the Realiser A16. Therefore, a virtual speaker labelled as Lh in any PRIR file will not be matched to a decoded audio output channel when listening to any Dolby Atmos encoded bitstream.

  • Page 40: Headphones

    5.1.3.8 UF and FF UF refers to Up-Firing speakers designed to imitate Height or Top speakers by reflecting sound from the ceiling. The speaker name should match the spatial direction of the reflected sound – for example a speaker labelled Ltf (Left top front) and described as UF indicates that the reflected sound from this speaker appears to come from the Left top front position of the ceiling.

  • Page 41: System

    System System settings are parameters that may need to be changed for different listening arrangements and conditions (Figure 5-9). Figure 5-9: System Menu 5.3.1 Assign solo buttons During test procedures individual speakers, both real and virtual, can be soloed using a number of keys on the remote control. This menu allows the user to change the assignment using the ADJ+ and ADJ- keys on the remote (Figure 5-10).
  • Page 42 Figure 5-11: HT Settings menu 5.3.2.1 Stabilisation Stabilisation refers to the method of correcting for long-term drift of the inertial tracking element in the head-tracker. If NONE is selected then the inertial tracking operates without any reference to the magnetic or optical elements. Drift compensation acts to pull the current inertial heading to zero degrees, and can be set to either FAST or SLOW.

  • Page 43: Measurement Settings

    5.3.3 Measurement Settings This option sets parameters that may need to be changed during a PRIR or HPEQ measurement (Figure 5-12). Figure 5-12: Measurement settings menu 5.3.3.1 Max sweep Vol Sets the maximum volume of the sine wave sweeps output from the Multichannel Line Outputs during the PRIR measurement. This will over-ride the value set in the Max Vol line option of the System menu (Home Page menu: Settings menu: System menu).

  • Page 44: Lcd Off Timer

    Figure 5-13 Volume settings menu 5.3.4.1 Max Vol A & Max Vol B These set the maximum headphone output volume for User A and User B. 5.3.4.2 HPB->A This option, when enabled, allows the headphone output for User B to be switched almost instantaneously to the headphone output of User A.

  • Page 45: Full Factory Restore

    5.3.6.1 Source All non-HDMI audio sources are listed, and each can be given a different assignment. 5.3.6.2 HDMI input Each source should be allocated an HDMI input. The default assignment is HDMI 1. 5.3.6.3 Audio bypass When enabled, this switches the HDMI audio signal as well as the HDMI video signal. 5.3.7 Full factory restore When enabled, this will restore the A16 to the factory default settings.

  • Page 46: Updates/About

    When set ON the unit will scan the SD card and the internal permanent memory for any new firmware revisions that may have been downloaded previously, and will update each programmable part if a newer version is detected. NOTE: Full details for updating the A16 with new firmware are given in Appendix G: Updating the Realiser A16 Firmware. 5.6.2 Generate log file This generates a small 1 kbyte file and writes it to the Realiser folder of an SD-card.
  • Page 47 Figure 5-18: Restore factory setup menu: Warning message 46 | P a g e...

  • Page 48: File Management

    6 File Management Files menu On the Home Page menu, the file menu is accessed through the Files option. Home Page menu: Files menu Figure 6-1 File menu showing the number of PRIR and HPEQ files in each location. Memory locations Permanent internal storage for PRIR and HPEQ files.

  • Page 49: Location

    Figure 6-2 Selecting a PRIR file from permanent storage. 6.3.1 Location This is the name of the room where the PRIR was measured. If a photograph of the room is attached to the PRIR it can be viewed using the ENTER key. Figure 6-4 Image of the room in which the Figure 6-3 Image of the room in which the PRIR was measured.

  • Page 50: Hpeq Files Menu

    HPEQ files menu Home Page menu: Files menu: HPEQ files menu The HPEQ files menus for all four memory locations are similar, but differ in the options for moving or deleting the files. Figure 6-7: HPEQ files menu 6.4.1 Phones, Subject, Time Information relating to the HPEQ measurement to assist in identifying a particular HPEQ file.
  • Page 51 Figure 6-9: Deleting a HPEQ file from Figure 6-10: Copying a HPEQ file from permanent memory permanent memory to an external SD-card 50 | P a g e...

  • Page 52: Configuring A Preset For Svs Headphone Or Av Mode

    The Home Page Menu is the starting point for navigation through the menus, and provides access to all functions and features of the Realiser A16. NOTE: User A and User B run on separate DSP processors and therefore the presets for A and B must be configured, loaded and activated independently.

  • Page 53: The Preset Menu

    The Preset Menu The Preset configuration menu for User A is spread over two pages (Figure 7-3 and Figure 7-2), while the configuration menu for user B has fewer options and is contained within one page (Figure 7-4). Presets allow individual users to choose their preferred listening room for different audio bitstreams, and allows the configuration of these listening rooms to be modified.

  • Page 54: Set The Svs Rendering Mode

    7.2.2 Set the SVS Rendering Mode The Mode selector for the Preset is currently fixed to SVS Movie mode. Other modes may be available in future firmware versions. 7.2.3 Verify the User The User name is informational only. It is selected in the previous menu (Home Menu page) by hovering the cursor over the preset option and using ADJ+ and ADJ- buttons to select a user.

  • Page 55: Pcm Audio Management

    7.2.6.1 Filter Select the required inverse filter; autoEQ, flatEQ, manLOUD or manSPKR (if available). All available filters within the HPEQ file are shown in the Content line. AutoEQ will always be available as a filter option. 7.2.6.2 Select Finally, use the ENTER key to select this HPEQ inverse filter into the preset. The display will automatically revert back to the preset configuration page.

  • Page 56: Legacy Dts Decode

    7.2.9 Legacy DTS decode When set ON, this disables the DTS:X decoder from outputting signals to any height loudspeakers, real or virtual. This is intended for users who have a legacy speaker layout, such as stereo, 5.1ch or 7.1ch, and who do not have any height speakers. When set OFF, this instructs the DTS:X decoder to operate normally.

  • Page 57: Audio Meters

    The background colour around the Preset number indicates that the preset is either for User A (blue) or User B (green). In the graphic panel each speaker icon also displays the decoded signal level for that speaker, whether in AV loudspeaker mode or SVS headphone mode.

  • Page 58: Controls Associated With The Speaker Map Display

    1. Preset number and User A/B 7. Room name & (Format) 8. Subject name & Volume 2. User Name 9. Listening Mode 3. SVS Movie / AV mode 4. Audio source 5. Bitstream format 10. Speaker map i. Active speaker ID 6.
  • Page 59 Figure 7-15: Muting the headphone output for Figure 7-14: Line output volume in AV User A using the MUTE key on the remote loudspeaker mode 7.4.2.3 Mute outputs Muting the audio output is toggled ON and OFF by the MUTE keys on the remote control (Figure 7-14). The headphone outputs for User A and User B can be muted independently using the MUTE-A and MUTE-B keys.
  • Page 60 NOTE: If the head-tracking values do not change as the headphones are moved it means that the headtracking is either not plugged in or is not working correctly. NOTE: Headtracking is only active if presets for user A and user B are loaded and active. 7.4.2.6 SOLO Mode: solo individual speakers in SVS Movie (headphone) or AV (loudspeaker) modes Whilst in the Speaker Map display individual loudspeakers can be soloed, using the individual speaker keys and the alpha- numeric keys on the remote to solo individual speakers.
  • Page 61 Figure 7-19: Soloing the Centre virtual speaker over headphones while listening to a looped jingle in Test mode 7.4.2.9 Increment or decrement the Preset Number While in the Speaker Map display the preset number for user A or B can be changed using the ADJ+ and ADJ- keys to increment or decrement through the list of 16 presets allocated to the currrent named user.
  • Page 62 Figure 7-21: HP B to A mode: allows an A/B Figure 7-20: Reverting back to the normal comparison to be made between two presets listening mode using the LEFT arrow key 7.4.2.11 A/B demo mode When enabled, and while in the Speaker Map display, the decoded audio signals can be switched from the SVS Headphone (Figure 7-23) to AV line outputs (Figure 7-22), using the tilt of the Head-top as the A/B switch.

  • Page 63: Measuring A New Prir In A Sound Room Using The Synchronous (All) Method

    8 Measuring a new PRIR in a sound room using the synchronous (ALL) method There are two methods for measuring PRIRs – the Synchronous (ALL) method and the Asynchronous (ASYNC) method. Choosing which method to use will often depend on how easily the A16 can be connected to loudspeaker amplifiers in the listening room that is being measured.

  • Page 64: Edit The Prir Room 1 Location (Loc)

    For example, if a virtual speaker is labelled as Lh (Left height) it can be seen from Table 1 Appendix A, that this name is not used in any Dolby Atmos listening mode that the Realiser A16 is capable of rendering. Therefore a virtual speaker labelled as Lh in any PRIR file cannot be matched to a speaker in any configuration of a Dolby Atmos Listening Room, and can only be matched in an appropriately configured DTS:X or PCM Listening Room.

  • Page 65: Configure The Measurement Settings

    8.1.3.3 Azi The azimuth angle of the loudspeaker with respect to the listening position. Negative angles are used for left side loudspeakers, positive for right side speakers. This is an approximate angle used to describe the azimuth position of the speaker. It is not used in the SVS virtualisation algorithm.

  • Page 66: Connect The A16 To The Loudspeakers In The Sound Room

    8.1.4.4 Auto save When enabled the PRIR and HPEQ measurements are automatically saved to the SD-card. 8.1.4.5 Voice-Tone rel gain Adjusts the volume of the voice prompts relative to the sine sweeps during the PRIR measurements. 8.1.4.6 Mic Type Switches the binaural microphone recording circuit so as to compensate for the differing frequency response characteristics of the A8 and A16 microphones.

  • Page 67: Set The Loudspeakers To Be Calibrated

    8.2.1.3 Phones Select a headphone from the list of names set in the Settings: Headphones menu using the ADJ+ and ADJ- keys. 8.2.2 Set the loudspeakers to be calibrated 1. Move to the Calibrate speakers (CAL) menu (Figure 8-6). Move to: Home Page menu: Apps menu: Calibrate speakers (CAL) menu: Figure 8-6: Calibrate speakers (CAL) menu Figure 8-7: Speaker select menu 2.

  • Page 68: Configure And Run The Prir Measurement Routine

    to the listener, i.e. left and right surround, the microphone in the ear facing the loudspeaker will record a higher signal than the microphone in the ear facing away from the loudspeaker (Figure 8-9). The calibration routine tries to ensure that at least one of the microphones signals is recording a good (green) level by changing the level of gain for each loudspeaker being calibrated.

  • Page 69: Subject And Room Names

    Figure 8-10: PRIR measurement (SPK) menu Figure 8-11: Speaker select menu 8.3.1 Subject and Room names These names are set in the previous (Apps) menu. 8.3.2 Select the loudspeakers to be measured The Speaker select menu (Figure 8-11) displays the speakers that have just been calibrated, and also shows the gain level that has been applied to the calibration signal in order to get a reasonable recording level from the binaural microphones.
  • Page 70 8.3.3.1 Look-azi Look-azi is the azimuth, or rotational, angle of the head. Zero degrees is considered to be looking dead-centre. If Look-azi is enabled, the angular span of the look-angle and the number of look-angles must be set. The angular span can be set from 10 degrees to 60 degrees, and the number of look-angles can be set from 0 to 11.

  • Page 71: Set The Measurement Mode

    8.3.4 Set the measurement mode Move to: Home Page menu: Apps menu: PRIR measurement (SPK) menu (Figure 8-10) 8.3.4.1 All mode In ALL mode the A16 is connected directly to the loudspeakers during the PRIR measurement, the sine sweeps are generated internally by the A16 and output to each loudspeaker in turn, and the binaural microphones are recorded directly by the A16.
  • Page 72 Figure 8-14: SPK menu showing the speaker map of the PRIR to be measured During the measurement procedure the Look [0.0 0.0] angles will change to indicate the current look angle (or head orientation) the subject should adopt. An example of the sequence of audible test signals is given in Figure 8-15. NOTE: Ensure that the binaural microphones are correctly inserted in each ear canal (left mic in the left ear) and that the subject is in the sweet spot of the room facing towards the centre speaker.

  • Page 73: Saving The Prir Measurement

    Figure 8-17: End of the PRIR measurement showing a white border around each measured speaker. 8.3.7 Saving the PRIR measurement To save the PRIR measurement press the ENTER key The current PRIR measurement is always saved to the first slot of the PRIR recycle buffer, and other older measurements in the recycle buffer are shuffled up one slot - the measurement stored in slot 16 is overwritten and lost.

  • Page 74: Measuring Personalised Headphone Eq Filters

    9 Measuring personalised headphone EQ filters Headphone EQ filters are used to try to flatten the frequency response of headphones when placed over a listener’s ears. Because individual’s have different ear shapes and ear canals they need individualised headphone EQ filters. Up to four different EQ filters can be created within a single HPEQ file, and any one of these four filters can be selected within a preset configuration.

  • Page 75: Configure The Hpeq Options

    Configure the HPEQ options 9.3.1 Set the Subject name and Headphone name Move to: Home Page menu: Apps menu (Figure 9-1) Figure 9-1: Apps menu 9.3.1.1 Select a Subject name This name is selected from the list created in the Users Menu (Home Page menu: Settings menu: Users menu). 9.3.1.2 Select the Phones name This name is selected from the list created in the Headphones Menu (Home Page menu: Settings menu: Headphones menu).
  • Page 76 Figure 9-3 Automatic EQ measurement (autoEQ). An initial calibration routine will send short sine sweeps, at increasing volumes, from the left and right drivers of the headphones in order to find an adequate microphone level. Immediately following the calibration, the measurement routine begins, and a long sine sweep is output first from the left headphone driver (Figure 9-4) and then from the right headphone driver (Figure 9-5).

  • Page 77: Saving The Hpeq Measurement

    Saving the HPEQ measurement At the end of the automatic headphone EQ procedure the user is prompted to either save the measured HPEQ fie, or to repeat the measurement (Figure 9-6). The HPEQ filter is saved to the first slot of the HPEQ recycle buffer, and older measurements are shuffled up one slot.

  • Page 78: Manual Hpeq Adjustment Using An External Loudspeaker As Reference

    9.5.2.1 Subject, Phones These names are set in the previous menu. 9.5.2.2 Man EQ Start, Curve, Man EQ HPEQ, Man EQ PRIR and Man EQ Spkr These options are not relevant and are ignored for the flatEQ measurement procedure. 9.5.2.3 HP (run) Set to Generate flat response (flatEQ) and press the ENTER command to generate the filter and HPEQ file.
  • Page 79 9.6.1.7 HP (run) Set to Compare to speaker (manSPKR) mode and use the ENTER command to move to the multiband EQ page, Figure 9-10. Figure 9-10 Multiband EQ page for manual EQ using an external loudspeaker. This page displays two multiband EQ graphs, for the left and right headphone outputs, and also some information relating to the measurement being conducted.

  • Page 80: Manual Hpeq Adjustment Using An Equal Loudness Curve

    Manual HPEQ adjustment using an equal loudness curve. 9.7.1 Set the HPEQ measurement options Move to: Home Page menu: Apps menu: Headphone EQ (HP) menu (Figure 9-12) Figure 9-12 Configuration of the HPEQ menu options for manual EQ using the equal loudness technique.
  • Page 81 Figure 9-13 Manual EQ changes to a flatEQ filter, using equal loudness sub-band noise signals. NOTE: The objective is to remove any peaks or troughs between the sub-bands, using Band 1 as the reference level. NOTE: The CANCEL key will remove ALL changes and create a flat filter. NOTE: SAVE the filter back to the HPEQ file using the HP key.

  • Page 82: Configuring A Listening Room From One Or More Prirs

    10 Configuring a Listening Room from one or more PRIRs Listening rooms are configured to reflect the varying loudspeaker setups of different audio decoding formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and other formats. The individual loudspeakers that make up these formats are matched to personalised room impulse response (PRIR) data that contain virtualised versions of the same loudspeakers.

  • Page 83: Set The Listening Mode

    10.2.3 Set the Listening Mode Use the ADJ+ and ADJ- keys to adjust the listening mode to the preferred format. Dolby Atmos formats have an additional option for Dolby Enabled speakers which should be set correctly for AV listening if used. The listening mode defines the number and arrangement of speakers for a particular listening room configuration.

  • Page 84: Select Virtual Speakers For A Listening Mode From A Prir File

    Select virtual speakers for a Listening Mode from a PRIR file Virtual speakers are the key component of SVS headphone rendering, and essentially recreate over headphones the experience of listening to reference loudspeakers. To select virtual speakers for a particular listening mode, move the selection box to any reference speaker (Figure 10-10) and press the ENTER command key.

  • Page 85: Select All Matching Speakers

    CAUTION: If there is a mis-match in names between the Reference and Virtual names, the A16 will not display the mis- matched speaker in the Speaker Map display if this Listening Room is used for a preset. Furthermore, the mis-matched speaker will not rendered to SVS headphones, nor will it be output to the line outputs in the AV mode.

  • Page 86: Normalise Speaker Volumes

    Figure 10-19 All matched speakers in a Figure 10-18 All matched speakers in a 7.1.4ch listening room (page 1). 7.1.4ch listening room (page 2). Figure 10-17 All matched speakers in a Figure 10-16 Speaker map information for the 7.1.4ch listening room (page 3). currently running preset.

  • Page 87: Set Bass Management / Tactile Outputs / Stereo Mixdown Outputs

    Set Bass Management / Tactile outputs / Stereo mixdown outputs Move to: Home Page menu: Listening Rooms menu: Atmos or DTS:X or PCM rooms menu: Manage Bass/Reverb/Tactile menu This menu sets listening room parameters related to bass management, reverberation control, the generation of tactile outputs for an external ‘butt-kicker’...

  • Page 88: Bass Management For Pcm Listening Rooms

    3. Bass management using Direct Bass mode that by-passes the virtual sub-woofer speaker. For AV loudspeaker listening of PCM input signals the Realiser A16 does NOT include options for bass management. It is assumed that bass management will occur after the audio signals are output from the A16.

  • Page 89: Limit Reverb

    10.4.4.1 hp LFE +10dB If set ON, the LFE input signal is boosted by 10dB. On movie soundtracks the LFE is normally reduced by 10dB during production, and the signal is then boosted by 10dB in the movie theatres. 10.4.4.2 hp SW volume Allows the gain of the sub-woofer virtual speaker to be amplified or reduced in the range +12dB to -30dB.

  • Page 90: Stereo (Mixdown)

    10.4.7 Stereo (mixdown) If set ON, a full-band, non-virtualised, stereo headphone signal may be derived from all available input channels. The gain of this headphone signal can also be adjusted. In order to specify which channels are used to create the full-bandwidth headphone signal use the ENTER command to move to the Stereo Mixdown menu (Figure 10-27).

  • Page 91: Appendix A: Listening Rooms Loudspeaker Configurations

    11 Appendix A: Listening rooms loudspeaker configurations Dolby Atmos Listening Rooms loudspeaker configurations Line Output Channel Number Mode 2.0.2m Ltm Rtm 2.1.2m Ltm Rtm 2.2.2m 3.0.2m Ltm Rtm 3.1.2m Ltm Rtm 3.2.2m Ltm Rtm 4.0.2m Ltm Rtm 4.1.2m Ltm Rtm 4.2.2m Ltm Rtm 5.0.2m...
  • Page 92 7.1.4 7.2.4 7.0.6 Ltm Rtm 7.1.6 Ltm Rtm 7.2.6 Ltm Rtm 9.0.2m Ltm Rtm 9.1.2m Ltm Rtm 9.2.2m Ltm Rtm SW2 9.0.4 9.1.4 9.2.4 9.0.6 Ltm Rtm 9.1.6 Ltm Rtm Table 1 Supported loudspeaker configurations for Dolby Atmos listening rooms. 91 | P a g e...

  • Page 93: Dts:x Listening Rooms Loudspeaker Configurations

    DTS:X listening rooms loudspeaker configurations Line Output Channel Number Mode 5.0.2f 5.1.2f 5.2.2f 5.0.2m Ltm Rtm 5.1.2m Ltm Rtm 5.2.2m Ltm Rtm 5.0.2h 5.1.2h 5.2.2h 5.0.4t 5.1.4t 5.2.4t 5.0.4h 5.1.4h 5.2.4h 7.0.2f 7.1.2f 7.2.2f 7.0.2m Ltm Rtm 7.1.2m Ltm Rtm 7.2.2m Ltm Rtm 7.0.2h...
  • Page 94 9.1.2m Ltm Rtm 9.2.2m Ltm Rtm SW2 9.0.2h 9.1.2h 9.2.2h Table 2: Supported loudspeaker configurations for DTS:X listening rooms. 93 | P a g e...

  • Page 95: Pcm Listening Rooms Loudspeaker Configurations

    PCM listening rooms loudspeaker configurations Line Output Channel Number Mode 2.2.2t 2.2.2h 3.2.2t 3.2.2h 4.2.2t 4.2.2h 4.2.4t 4.2.4h 5.2.2t 5.2.2h 5.2.4t 5.2.4h 5.2.6t Ltm Rtm 7.2.2t 7.2.2h 7.2.4t 7.2.4h 7.2.6t Ltm Rtm 9.2.2t 9.2.4t 9.1.6t Ltm Rtm Custom#1 Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any...

  • Page 96: Appendix B: Loudspeaker Names And Labels

    12 Appendix B: Loudspeaker names and labels Loudspeaker names and labels with default azimuth and elevation angles Label Name Azimuth Elevation Atmos DTS:X PCM Custom Left Right Centre Subwoofer Left surround -100 Right surround Left back -120 Right back Left side surround Right side surround Centre rear Subwoofer 2...
  • Page 97 Left height wide Right height wide Lhs1 Left height side 1 -110 Rhs1 Right height side 2 -110 Left back ground -120 Right back ground Table 4: Loudspeaker names, labels and ID numbers Notes 1. The azimuth and elevation angles are default values – the angles can be changed to match a physical loudspeaker layout during a PRIR measurement.

  • Page 98: Graphical Representation Of Loudspeakers In The Speaker Map Display Of The A16

    Graphical representation of loudspeakers in the Speaker Map display of the A16 Lhs1 Rhs1 Lrs1 Rrs1 Lrs2 Rrs2 Ear level Height Overhead Ground Subwoofers Figure 12-1: Graphical presentation of loudspeakers and their ID numbers on the Realiser A16 Speaker Map display 97 | P a g e...

  • Page 99: Graphical Representation Of Speaker Positions: Loudspeaker Names And Id Numbers

    Graphical representation of speaker positions: loudspeaker names and ID numbers Cg - 21 SW - 4 SW2 - 12 C - 3 Rsc - 38 Lg - 19 Lsc - 37 Rg - 20 Rc - 18 Lc - 17 R - 2 L - 1 Ch - 22...

  • Page 100: Appendix C: Calibrating The Magnetic Sensor In The Head-Top Device

    13 Appendix C: Calibrating the magnetic sensor in the head-top device Home Page menu: Apps menu: Calibrate head tracker menu: The A16 head-tracker has three motion detecting sensors, inertial, magnetic and optical. The inertial sensor operates continuously but it can be also be stabilised, in a narrow central window, by either the magnetic or optical sensors. If the magnetic sensor is chosen for stabilisation it is recommended that the magnetic sensor be calibrated in the headphone listening location in the room, mounted correctly on the headphones, and ideally in the same ‘head-space’.
  • Page 101 If set to MED the calibration routine will be less accurate but will take a shorter time to complete. If set to LOW the calibration routine will be more accurate but will take a longer time to complete. Magnetic error type Can be set to HARD or HARD+SOFT If set to HARD the calibration will be less accurate but will take a shorter time to complete.

  • Page 102: Appendix D: Setting Up The Head-Tracker

    14 Appendix D: Setting up the head-tracker The head-tracker consists of two parts: 1. A HEAD-TOP part (Figure 14-2) that is mounted on top of a pair of headphones, and is connected to one of the two HT ports on the front panel of the A16. The head-top has three tracking sensors, inertial magnetic and optical, and from these is calculated a head-tracking angle that is transmitted back to the A16.
  • Page 103 Disadvantages of optical stabilisation 1. Needs the set-top to be connected and in a centrally visible location at the zero-degree mark – often on top of the video monitor. 2. The set-top IR source may be visually distracting 3. The optical sensor in the head-top can be fooled by stray IR sources of light – both inside and outside the stabilisation window.
  • Page 104 2. Mount the head-top into the clip, with the black IR optical window facing forwards (Figure 14-6). Figure 14-1: Connecting the 90-degree connector of the HT Figure 14-2: Mounting the head-top to the clip, front window cable to the head-top device facing forwards 3.
  • Page 105 While the head-top is stationary and its internal head-tracking program is running correctly the LED will periodically flash RED (once every 10 seconds approximately). This indicates that the inertial sensor is being calibrated to the surrounding ambient temperature. While the head-top is moving the inertial calibration is switched off and the LED will not flash RED periodically but remain GREEN.
  • Page 106 2. Navigate to the HT Settings menu Move to: Home page menu: Settings menu: System menu: HT Settings menu: Stabilisation option 3. Set the stabilisation mode to OPTICAL – see section GGGG for details of other headtracking options. 4. Point the front face of the connected head-top device towards the set-top. The set-top should quickly indicate a zero- degree heading.

  • Page 107: Appendix E: Testing The Binaural Microphones Using Hp-B Output

    15 Appendix E: Testing the binaural microphones using HP-B output Testing the binaural microphones Step 1. Navigate to the Listen to microphones on HPB menu option and press ENTER Move to: Home Page menu: Apps menu: Listen to microphones on HPB option This option displays the microphone level test window.

  • Page 108: Appendix F: The Async Mode For Measuring A Prir

    16 Appendix F: The Async mode for measuring a PRIR To be added …. 107 | P a g e...

  • Page 109: Appendix G: Updating The Realiser A16 Firmware

    6. If an update is required please begin with step 1. STEP 1. The new firmware for the Realiser A16 is uploaded through the micro-SD card slot on the front panel. First, obtain a micro-SD card (commonly 8 or 16 GB) and ensure it is formatted as FAT32. Second, create a ‘realiser’ folder in the root directory and copy the firmware file FIRMA001.SVS into the realiser folder.
  • Page 110 Figure 17-2 Updates/About menu page showing the current A16 firmware revision number and date. STEP 7. The firmware update is now complete. Repeatedly press the BACK key to return to the Home Page menu. 109 | P a g e...

  • Page 111: Appendix H: Updating The Factory-Prir And Factory-Hpeq Files

    18 Appendix H: Updating the Factory-PRIR and Factory-HPEQ files Factory-PRIR / HPEQ update procedure PRIR FACT#x.SVS and HPEQ FACT#x.SVS These files hold PRIR and HPEQ measurements that are uploaded directly to the factory-default memory location within the A16. There are four slots in memory for factory-default PRIR and HPEQ files, and these files cannot be erased by the user. Two factory PRIR files and one factory HPEQ file have been pre-loaded.

  • Page 112: Appendix I: Updating The Head-Top Head-Tracking Firmware

    19 Appendix I: Updating the A16 Head tracker Rev 1.09 Aug 06 2019 Updating the Head Tracker The HT firmware updater programs a head tracker firmware file (FIRMHT01.SVS), held internal to the A16, into the head tracker via the HT cable. This internal firmware file is normally loaded to the A16 as part of a general A16 firmware update and as such is invisible to the user.
  • Page 113 Typical operating steps Step 1) Connect the head tracker to the A16 and turn the A16 on. The LED atop the head tracker will initially turn RED and will blink RED every second if stationary. Step 2) Keeping the head tracker stationary, wait until the blinking led turns GREEN. This may take a few minutes. Step 3) Once blinking GREEN the head tracker is ready for use.
  • Page 114 As with the ‘none’ stabilisation head tracker mode, in the ‘optical’ stabilisation mode the gyroscope heading can be reset to zero using the momentary switch atop the head tracker. However, if the head tracker heading is inside the azimuth stabilisation window, the gyroscope azimuth angle will automatically adapt to the optical heading within fractions of a second following the reset.
  • Page 115 The magnetic azimuth tracking used in the A16 head trackers are susceptible to false tracking under certain conditions. Since the compass uses to earth’s magnetic field to calculate the heading any distortion of this field will introduce tracking errors. Dynamic and magneto-planar headphones are the obvious source of field distortion due to the presence of magnetic material in their driver construction, as well as nearby unshielded loudspeakers.

  • Page 116: Appendix J: Connections

    A number of different devices can be connected by using one of the 4 HDMI input on the back panel of the Realiser. A list of Devices that are compatible with the Realiser A16 are listed below: • DVD Players with HDMI output •...
  • Page 117 • Other Smart TV sticks with HDMI output. • HDMI Output on a computer. These devices can be then connected to a monitor via the HDMI output port on the rear panel. This allows the Realiser to connect 4 different devices via HDMI to a monitor or TV via a single HDMI port. Amazon Fire TV 4K Xbox One S Computer...

  • Page 118: Appendix J: Bass Management

    21 Appendix J: Bass Management Atmos / DTS:X AV bass management ON (HDMI, Coaxial) (HP DB disabled) In this scenario the bass management of the decoded Atmos/DTS:X channels is enabled, and the bass managed low-frequency signal is passed to the virtual sub-woofer for SVS headphone rendering, or to a real sub-woofer for AV loudspeaker listening. Parameters: 1: hp/av LFE +10dB (set ON or OFF) 2.

  • Page 119: Atmos / Dts:x Av Bass Management Off (Hdmi, Coaxial) (Hp Db Disabled)

    Atmos / DTS:X AV bass management OFF (HDMI, Coaxial) (HP DB disabled) In this scenario the bass management of the decoded Atmos/DTS:X channels is disabled, and the decoded LFE channel is passed to the virtual sub-woofer speaker for headphone rendering, or to a real sub-woofer for loudspeaker listening. Parameters: 1: hp/av LFE +10dB (set ON or OFF) 2: hp/av SW volume (set from +12dB to -30dB) 3: hp/av BM (set OFF)

  • Page 120: Atmos / Dts:x Av Bass Management On (Hdmi, Coaxial) (Hp Db Enabled)

    Atmos / DTS:X AV bass management ON (HDMI, Coaxial) (HP DB enabled) In this scenario the bass management of the decoded Atmos/DTS:X channels is enabled, but the virtual sub-woofer speaker is NOT used for bass management for SVS headphone rendering. Instead the bass managed low frequency part of the signal, including the decoded LFE channel, is sent directly to the headphones.

  • Page 121: Atmos / Dts:x Av Bass Management Off (Hdmi, Coaxial) (Hp Db Enabled)

    Atmos / DTS:X AV bass management OFF (HDMI, Coaxial) (HP DB enabled) In this scenario the bass management of the decoded Atmos/DTS:X channels is disabled, and the virtual sub-woofer speaker is NOT used for bass management. Instead the bass managed part of the signal, including the decoded LFE channel, is output directly to the headphones.

  • Page 122: Pcm 'Direct' Bass Management (Usb, Line)

    PCM ‘Direct’ bass management (USB, Line) In this scenario the virtual sub-woofer speaker is NOT used for bass management. The bass managed part of the signal is output directly to the headphones. NOTE: For PCM listening rooms there is NO bass management for AV loudspeaker outputs. The AV line output signals are output immediately after the SOLO/MUTE function.

  • Page 123: Pcm 'Virtual' Bass Management (Usb, Line)

    PCM ‘Virtual’ bass management (USB, Line) In this scenario the bass managed part of the signal is passed through to the virtual sub-woofer speaker for headphone rendering. The AV line output signals are output immediately after the SOLO/MUTE function. NOTE: For PCM listening rooms there is NO bass management for AV loudspeaker outputs. The AV line output signals are output immediately after the SOLO/MUTE function.

  • Page 124: Pcm Bass Management 'Off

    PCM bass management ‘OFF’ In this scenario bass management is disabled, and the LFE channel is passed to the virtual sub-woofer speaker for headphone rendering. NOTE: For PCM listening rooms there is NO bass management for AV loudspeaker outputs. The AV line output signals are output immediately after the SOLO/MUTE function.

  • Page 125: Appendix K: Tactile Management (All Inputs)

    NOTE: When enabled, the tactile signal is output from the Tactile Out phono connectors on the back panel of the Realiser A16. Figure 22-3 Generation of the Tactile Output signal.

  • Page 126: Appendix L: Stereo Mix-Down

    23 Appendix L: Stereo mix-down STEREO is a non-virtualised mixdown of all the channels to a stereo headphone output. When stereo mixdown is enabled the speaker key on the remote control is used to switch the headphone output between the SVS virtualised signal and the non- virtualised stereo mixdown signal.

  • Page 127: Appendix M: Manual Headphone Eq

    24 Appendix M: Manual Headphone EQ Manual headphone EQ using an external loudspeaker as reference Figure 24-1 Manual headphone EQ using an external loudspeaker as reference. Manual headphone EQ using an equal loudness curve Figure 24-2 Manual headphone EQ using an equal loudness curve. 126 | P a g e...

  • Page 128: Appendix N: Tri-Volume Headphone Output

    25 Appendix N: Tri-volume headphone output Move to: Home Page menu: Settings menu: System menu: Volume settings menu: Tri-vol The Tri-vol option, when enabled, allows the headphone volume to be switched quickly between three volume levels, using the rocker button on the remote control. Tri-volume only operates on the User A headphone output. It does not affect User B headphone output or the volume of the line outputs.

  • Page 129: Appendix O: Diagnostic Displays

    26 Appendix O: Diagnostic displays Audio source diagnostics The audio source diagnostics screen is activated from the Home Page menu using the ENTER command while selecting the Audio Source option. Press the BACK key to return to the Home Page menu. Figure 26-2 Activating the audio source Figure 26-1 Audio source diagnostics screen.

  • Page 130: Audio Input And Output Levels

    Figure 26-5 Multichannel line output Figure 26-4 Listening mode diagnostics for diagnostics. User A Audio input and output levels The Audio Meters display is accessible from the Home Page menu, and shows the levels of the source audio signals at the input of the SVS headphone rendering DSP for either User A or User B.

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