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This equipment must be installed and wired properly in order to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Caution! Any modifications not expressly approved in writing by Wheatstone could void the user's authority to operate this equipment. FM-25 / June 2015...
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– algorithms that push audio processor performance to new and higher levels. Wheatstone was the first to develop an intelligent, “program density aware” AGC (2007 - Sweet Spot Technology, or SST). We were also the first to employ the science of human psychoacoustics in the design of a multiband limiter (2005, our acclaimed and patented 31‑band limiter).
Surge Protection .....................1-5 UPS/Power Conditioning ..................1-5 Analog Audio Input Connections ................1-5 Analog Audio Output Connections .................1-6 Digital Audio/baseband192 Connections ..............1-6 Where to Install the FM-25 ..................1-7 Digital STL ......................1-7 Analog Left/Right STL ....................1-8 Composite Analog STL ...................1-8 Analog Phone Lines ....................1-8 Where Should Pre-Emphasis Go? .................1-9...
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Connecting Directly Without a LAN ................3-5 The FM-25 and Internet Security Concerns ...............3-6 About DHCP and the FM-25 ..................3-6 The FM-25 Network Protocols and Ports Used ............3-6 Using the FM-25 GUI ..............3-7 Dynamic Displays Region ...................3-8 Frequency-Domain Graph ..................3-8 Managing the Blue Dots - Tutorial ................3-8...
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MPX Outputs ......................3-26 System Menu ......................3-27 Input/Output Settings Change With Preset ............3-27 Metering Data Over TCP/IP ................3-28 System Status ....................3-28 Remote Login .....................3-28 Front Panel ......................3-29 GUI Access ......................3-30 GUI Lock ......................3-30 page Contents – 3 FM-25 / May 2015...
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Audio Terms and Wheatstone Processing ..............A-9 Thump/Rumble/Bottom ....................A-9 Punch/Boom/Tubby/Warm ..................A-10 Mud .........................A-10 Honk ........................A-10 Whack ........................A-10 Fuzzy/Tinny ......................A-11 Sibilance .........................A-11 Treble/Bright/Open ....................A-11 Finally ........................A-12 Appendix C WheatNet-IP Configuration ............A-14 Adding FM-25 to The WheatNet-IP System ..............A-14 page Contents – 4 FM-25 / May 2015...
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Surge Protection .....................1-5 UPS/Power Conditioning ..................1-5 Analog Audio Input Connections................1-5 Analog Audio Output Connections .................1-6 Digital Audio/baseband192 Connections ...............1-6 Where to Install the FM-25 ..................1-7 Digital STL ......................1-7 Analog Left/Right STL ....................1-8 Composite Analog STL ..................1-8 Analog Phone Lines ....................1-8 Where Should Pre-Emphasis Go? ................1-9...
Wheatstone, incorporates several new ones, and delivers that “sought after” sound no matter what the market size. Like other Wheatstone processors, the FM‑25 has been carefully designed to not have a fixed sound of its own – the end user can use the FM‑25’s vast pallet of tools to create any desired on‑air sound.
New Bern, North Carolina, USA. This large, state‑of‑the‑art facility affords complete control over product quality during every step of the design and manufacturing process. In order to maintain the high product quality that Wheatstone has been known for, no offshore manufacturing is utilized.
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FM‑25 and devices imm ediately above and/or below it. WARNING! With very few exceptions, the FM-25 chassis DOES NOT need to be opened in the field. Please be advised that the FM-25 contains high voltage power supply circuits operating at voltages well above AC line input.
“‑”(Lo) wire to the FM‑25’s “Lo” input (XLR pin 3). If the cable’s shield is used (recommended) connect it at the FM‑25 end only (XLR pin 1) to prevent AC ground loops. page 1 – 5 FM-25 / May 2015...
Foil shielding is recommended for permanent installations, and a cable with foil shield plus an overall braid should be used in applications where frequent flexing of cables might occur. page 1 – 6 FM-25 / May 2015...
With the advent of Wheatstone’s baseband192 technology, the promise of an all digital airchain that is as loud as its analog composite sibling is now a reality. Users now have the option of deploying the FM‑25 and other Wheatstone processors using traditional analog or MPX over AES with a compatible exciter.
Discrete left/right analog “phone line” STL’s are not recommended because of the inability of most Telco service providers to meet the flat frequency response and phase matching requirements. Furthermore, in many countries wideband analog circuits have page 1 – 8 FM-25 / May 2015...
To summarize: the best location overall for the audio processor is always at the transmitter. Ratings Encoders Field experience has been that Wheatstone audio processors favorably pass the data watermarking scheme used in the rating service technology, regardless of the aggressiveness of the processing being performed.
G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N Rear Panel Connections The image below shows the rear panel of the FM‑25 and the location of various connectors associated with an installation: FM-25 Rear Panel Connections (left to right) CONNECTOR TYPE FUNCTION & NOTES...
Pin 1 XLR SH – AES FM / BASEBAND192 OUT SH Pin 2 XLR HI – AES FM / BASEBAND192 OUT HI Pin 3 XLR LO – AES FM / BASEBAND192 OUT LO page 1 – 11 FM-25 / May 2015...
It is important to remember this concept! The FM-25’s preset behavior is purposely designed to make preset changes as unobtrusive as possible and therefore parameter changes are not instantaneous, but gracefully take place over a matter of seconds.
PIN 1 - SCA IN HI - CENTER PIN PIN 1 - AES IN SH PIN 2 - SCA IN SH - SHELL PIN 2 - AES IN HI PIN 3 - AES IN LO FM-25 Input/Output Connections page 1 - 15 FM-25 / May 2015...
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EQ ..........................2-6 Save .........................2-6 A Note About The Front Panel Sound Adjustments ..........2-6 Output ........................2-7 Network ........................2-8 Changing The Network Settings ................2-8 Leading Zeroes ......................2-8 Default IP Address ....................2-8 Vesions ........................2-8 Access ........................2-9 page 2 – 1 FM-25 / May 2015...
Pushing the knob “takes” an option, while the “W” (WheatNet‑IP) button backs out of a submenu to the main menu. page 2 – 2 FM-25 / May 2015...
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• Access – Allows you to set a password to lock out the front panel. The front panel has a screen saver which activates after a few minutes of inactivity on the front panel controls. page 2 – 3 FM-25 / May 2015...
The first option is input source. To select the input source, highlight “input src” and push the knob in. Turn the knob to select the option you wish to place on air. page 2 – 4 FM-25 / May 2015...
Because of the advanced algorithms of the FM‑25, the tradeoff between loud and clean is much easier than in older analog designs or even inadequate or primitive digital processor designs page 2 – 5 FM-25 / May 2015...
The next empty user preset slot will appear with the option of naming your new preset (the FM-25 has 80 preset slots, the first 20 of which are used for factory presets). You can use the new slot, or turn the knob and select a different empty slot OR overwrite a previously saved user preset (factory presets CANNOT be overwritten).
User presets, adjusted and saved with the GUI software, cannot be modified from the front panel. Any preset may be selected, but only genuine Wheatstone factory presets can be modified using the sound controls on the front panel.
Just turn the knob to highlight the address you want to change (IP Address, Subnet or Gateway… the MAC Address is not adjustable. It is a fixed address unique to the particular FM-25). Once you have selected an address to edit, push in the knob and the first set of numbers in that field will flash.
A message will tell you if the password is correct or incorrect. It is important that you REMEMBER your password. Only numerical characters can be used in password creation. If you lose your password, please contact Wheatstone Technical Support at +1‑252‑638‑7000 Monday thru Friday (except major US holidays) from 8:30am to 5:30pm Eastern time.
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Connecting Directly Without a LAN ................3-5 The FM-25 and Internet Security Concerns ...............3-6 About DHCP and the FM-25 ..................3-6 The FM-25 Network Protocols and Ports Used ............3-6 Using the FM-25 GUI ..............3-7 Dynamic Displays Region ...................3-8 Frequency-Domain Graph ..................3-8 Managing the Blue Dots - Tutorial ................3-8...
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System Status ....................3-28 Remote Login .....................3-28 Front Panel ......................3-29 GUI Access ......................3-30 GUI Lock ......................3-30 Side Bar Region ......................3-31 Preset ........................3-31 Library ........................3-31 Locking Presets ....................3-32 How to View Preset Changes ................3-32 page 3 – 2 FM-25 / May 2015...
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Device ........................3-34 Current Preset ......................3-34 Notes on Online and Offline Working ..............3-35 Accessing Menu Options ...................3-36 File Menu Items ......................3-36 Hardware Menu Items ....................3-36 FM-25 Hardware Update ..................3-36 Preset Menu Items ....................3-38 page 3 – 3 FM-25 / May 2015...
The FM‑25 GUI allows you to adjust the processor and see, in real time, how it is reacting to the audio being processed. All Wheatstone GUI’s have been carefully designed so that no adjustment is more than two mouse clicks away.
As mentioned previously the FM‑25 has auto‑sensing, Auto‑MDIX Ethernet ports. NOTE: The controlling PC and the FM‑25’s network settings must be configured to place them both on the same subnet! page 3 – 5 FM-25 / May 2015...
Subnet and for the Gateway usually suffice for all but the most complex situations. The FM-25 Network Protocols and Ports Used The FM‑25 uses both TCP and UDP protocols to communicate with the remote GUI.
The GUI may be positioned on the host computer’s screen by left‑clicking and holding the “Wheatstone” logo and dragging the GUI to the desired position. In normal “Windows” fashion, the GUI may be minimized on the desktop (taken off the screen) and/or closed by way of the familiar controls at the extreme top right.
The scale of the vertical axis changes according to its context. Managing the Blue Dots – Tutorial We’ve worked very hard on the design of the Wheatstone graphical user interface to make it intuitive, friendly, and easy to navigate and interpret, in spite of how many controls the user has access to.
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Proportional Drag – Allows the dragging of adjustment dots to create slopes anchored if desired to a single orange set point. Flat Drag – Allows the dragging of dots together in a “flat” orientation. page 3 – 9 FM-25 / May 2015...
A small green indicator at the left end of each button indicates if any signal processing within that block is active. Left‑clicking a button opens the associated control panel to gain access to the controls for that block of signal‑processing page 3 – 10 FM-25 / May 2015...
Analog indicator is green if there is a signal present on both left and right channels and it is higher than ‑24dBu. The AES indicator turns green when there is a valid AES signal present at the digital input and it is above ‑42dBFS. page 3 – 11 FM-25 / May 2015...
Ordinarily, human voice looks like the waveform below. Notice how the width and amplitude of the upper and lower signal peaks are different? This is “asymmetry,” and it makes the processing of voice waveforms more difficult. Human voice before Phase Rotator algorithm page 3 – 12 FM-25 / May 2015...
Internet connectivity allows processors in even the most remote locations to be easily adjusted via a remote GUI. In most cases, the need for the processor to be at the studio “… so it can be accessed…” is a thing of the past. page 3 – 14 FM-25 / May 2015...
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STL to prevent overshoot. Again, if you feel the need to use a pre‑processor in either of these situations, adjustments to the FM‑25 should be made in concert with the suggestions above. page 3 – 15 FM-25 / May 2015...
AGC and the iAGC/Leveler in the FM‑25. RTZ Enable When enabled, the iAGC slowly returns to ‑12dB of gain reduction when audio falls below the gate threshold. page 3 – 16 FM-25 / May 2015...
Stereo Enhance Stereo enhancement is achieved by raising the L‑R level at the output of the dual band processor. The boost/cut range is ‑3dB to +3dB. page 3 – 17 FM-25 / May 2015...
The Attack control determines how quickly the leveler will respond to upward level changes in the audio. The control range is 50ms to 500ms. A setting of 300ms corresponds well to our perception of average loudness and is therefore a very good starting point. page 3 – 18 FM-25 / May 2015...
2.5 seconds and 6 seconds. Neither the Compressor or iAGC have any user adjustable attack and release times. Those adjustments are computed automatically and change depending on source material and the settings of the leveler. page 3 – 19 FM-25 / May 2015...
Drives the level into the five band limiter. It’s important to remember that the FM‑25 needs only a few dB of limiting to be loud yet amazingly clean! The drive control is +/‑ 12dB with 0dB being default. page 3 – 20 FM-25 / May 2015...
Similar to bass and treble controls, except that these controls add an intelligent amount of low and high frequency information that is well controlled so that you cannot “drive it off the road”. page 3 – 21 FM-25 / May 2015...
Faster release times will yield a louder sound while slower times will yield a smoother sound at the expense of some loudness loss. page 3 – 22 FM-25 / May 2015...
The FM‑25’s Stereo Generator is equipped with a special algorithm called the Automatic Multipath Limiter. This algorithm operates in the sum/difference domain and automatically controls the amount of difference channel (L‑R) amplitude as a function of the instantaneous sum channel (L+R) amplitude. page 3 – 23 FM-25 / May 2015...
94kHz before being digitized at 192kHz. The SCA Level sets the SCA injection level and can be set to OFF, or to levels between ‑80.0dB and +10.0dB and in 0.05dB steps. page 3 – 24 FM-25 / May 2015...
AES signal, you needed to use the stereo generator in the exciter to complete the airchain. With the bandwidth available in Wheatstone audio processors and on the input of compatible exciters, it is now possible to interface a COMPOSITE signal over AES between the processor and the exciter.
3.5V P‑P. The MPX #2 Output has the option to be switched to a pilot reference mode for RDS generators or any other source that would need this reference. Check the Pilot Only option to engage this feature. page 3 – 26 FM-25 / May 2015...
When this box is checked, the following control settings are recalled whenever a preset is recalled: From INPUT Menu: • Analog Input Gain Wheatstone recommends that the Input/ • Digital Input Gain Output Settings Change With Presets option • Left/Right Balance...
When access is restricted, only the System tab will be allowed to be viewed. If you try and access another tab, you will be prompted to input the proper password that covers the functions in that tab. page 3 – 28 FM-25 / May 2015...
No Password Required option and then clicking Ok. Note that the hardware may also be unlocked by other, much less convenient means. Please contact the factory for the procedure if it become necessary. page 3 – 29 FM-25 / May 2015...
PC, prohibiting access until it has been unlocked with the proper access code. If the access code has been lost or forgotten you need to contact our technical support at (252) 638‑7000 or email us at: techsupport@wheatstone.com. page 3 – 30...
PC and vice versa. Note that when preset are moved this way, it is copies of presets, not the presets themselves which are moved. The original preset always stays where it was stored last. page 3 – 31 FM-25 / May 2015...
The headphones may be driven by a number of selected points inside the signal processing chain as follows: Input: Output of the audio input selector, analog or AES. FM Out: FM output of the processing chain. page 3 – 33 FM-25 / May 2015...
F M - 2 5 G U I Title Bar Region Along the top edge of the FM‑25 GUI screen (in line with the Wheatstone FM25 product label to the left, and the Windows About, Minimize, and Exit icons to the right) are indicators and controls for the management of devices and presets.
• Offline – the double‑clicked preset brings that preset onto the main control and display screen for perusa l/editing. Any data entry / control which involves activity within the main graph will still operate upon the preset, but not on the FM‑25’s audio. page 3 – 35 FM-25 / May 2015...
Sub menu choices include: Devices... – Opens the Devices dialog box. Allows the creation, editing, selection, and deleting of Wheatstone processors connected to your system. On‑Line Mode... – Toggles between ONLINE and OFFLINE modes. This is the state the GUI will assume the next time it is started.
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The FM‑25 is extremely easy to update when new firmware becomes available from Wheatstone. The update file is a “.RBN” which is packaged with a new GUI. Before performing updates to the FM‑25 make sure an auxiliary processor is available for when FM‑25 needs to be rebooted after the upgrade as there will be approximately...
FM‑25. This can be done by removing and restoring power or by sending the reboot command from the GUI. After the FM‑25 reboots the new RBN code will be running on the motherboard. If you have any questions about an update, feel free to contact Wheatstone Technical Support at techsupport@wheatstone.com. Presets Menu Items The Presets menu tree may be accessed by right clicking anywhere on the main FM‑25 Control Panel.
Input Gain Adjustment Ranges Gain Range +/-12dB Gain Adjustment Resolution.: 0.5dB Gain Calibration: A gain control setting of 0.0 aligns an external 0dBFS signal with the FM-25’s 0dBFS internal reference Input Failsafe Type: Automatic Analog Fail Cause: Audio level below -42dBFS (fixed)
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Multiband Threshold: +/-6dB relative to Drive Multiband Attack: 10ms to 50ms (this is not a misprint) Multiband Release: 3ms to 300ms (this is not a misprint) Bass: +/-6dB @50Hz Treble: +/-6dB @10kHz page A – 4 FM-25 / May 2015...
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De-emphasize, pre-delay, AES3 or baseband192 Maximum Output Level: 0dBFS Sample Rate: 44.1 or 48kHz user selectable Signal to Noise Ratio: >80dB Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.02% 20Hz to 15kHz page A – 5 FM-25 / May 2015 FM-25 / Jan 2018...
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The FM-25’s advanced preset management system allows the creation, storing, and recall of 80 presets within the FM-25 itself and an unlimited number may be stored on the Windows PC hosting the GUI. In addition to processing parameters, all System parameters are stored within presets allowing the preservation of the complete processing “environment.”...
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A P P E N D I C E S Appendix B Contents Interpreting Common Audio Processing Terms ......A-8 Background ........................A-8 Audio Terms and Wheatstone Processing ..............A-9 Thump/Rumble/Bottom ...................A-9 Punch/Boom/Tubby/Warm ..................A-10 Mud ........................A-10 Honk ........................A-10 Whack ........................A-10 Fuzzy/Tinny ......................A-11 Sibilance .........................A-11 Treble/Bright/Open ....................A-11...
“thump” you want will be the “thump” you get and not “tubby.” Please note that some of the controls mentioned on the following pages may not be available on the FM-25. The discussion is generic to a wide variety of Wheatstone pro- cessor models.
Many times such systems even have their own complex bass enhancement features. The FM-25 is equipped with a very specialized bass clipper system. This system is an intelligent clipper that samples the bass frequency relationship between bands 1 and 2 and is able to make changes to the audio based on user settings in the five band section as well as the five band limiter.
Leveller or Compressor release times in Band 3. Another trick is to slow down the attack time of the Band 3 leveller which will allow the Band 3 compressor to be more active. This will enhance “whack.” page A – 10 FM-25 / May 2015...
“esses.” When excessive sibilance is an issue and there is no microphone processor to control it, lowering the FM-25’s Band 4 to Band 5 crossover setting and/or using a slightly faster attack time on the Band 5 Leveller/Compressor can help.
Fortunately the FM-25 is much more forgiving in this regard and most users have an easier time being loud with the FM-25 while still being quite clean and open. Operating the Leveller...
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A P P E N D I C E S Appendix C Contents WheatNet-IP Configuration ............A-14 Adding FM-25 to The WheatNet-IP System ..............A-14 page A – 13 FM-25 / May 2015...
WheatNet-IP Configuration Along with Digital AES3 and Analog inputs FM‑25 is also equipped with WheatNet‑IP (WNIP), the Audio Over Internet Protocol (AoIP) used in our Wheatstone BLADE and IP audio network control surface environment. WheatNet‑IP permits FM‑25’s input audio and its output to be carried over the same standard CAT5 Ethernet cable as that used for remotely controlling FM‑25.
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WheatNet‑IP BLADE3 Audio Over IP Network manual. Assistance in configuring FM‑25 for WheatNet‑IP may be obtained by giving us a call at 252‑638‑7000 or by emailing techsupport@wheatstone.com. page A – 15 FM-25 / May 2015 FM-25 / Apr 2016...
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