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BSS Audio FPC900r User Manual

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  • Page 1 FPC900r User Manual...
  • Page 2 VARICURVE S Y S T E M V2.0 11 August 1997 This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the following European Standards for Electromagnetic Compatibility: Emission Specification: EN55013 (1990) (Associated equipment) Immunity Specification: EN50082/1 (1992) (RF Immunity, Fast Transients and ESD) Mains Disturbance: EN61000/3/2...

  • Page 3: Quick Start - Quick Reference

    Quick Reference Quick Start - Quick Reference Check the Mains Voltage setting on the rear of the 900i Interface Unit and install into a rack. Connect the mains to the 900i and check that the unit powers up. All the front panel leds will flash on and off momentarily. Switch off 900i mains power.

  • Page 4: Please Read This! - Using This Manual

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Using This Manual Please Read This! - Using This Manual This manual has been written to make the understanding and operation of the FPC-900 Remote as easy as possible. Because the FPC-900 is a relatively sophisticated software product, we have included several ways to find the information you require in this manual, some of which are new.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Contents Contents Quick Start - Quick Reference Please Read This! - Using This Manual Table of Contents Quick Reference Index "Refer to:" "Section 3.0 Basic Controls" Contents Introduction Installation Unpacking Mechanical Requirements Mains Power Voltage Setting Safety Earthing AC Power Fusing Data Connections and Midi Internal Battery Varicurve controls...
  • Page 6 VARICURVE S Y S T E M Contents STORE Naming Programs INDEX in Store mode RECALL INDEX in Recall mode. Recalling Between Devices COMPARE RECALL in Compare mode INDEX in Compare mode WARNING! Utilities Menu UTILS Action of Utilities MORE sub-menu 10.0 Grouping - GROUP and ALL 10.1...

  • Page 7: Introduction

    Introduction 17.0 Controlling Omnidrive Devices 18.0 Controlling Delay Devices 19.0 Warranty Information 20.0 Appendix 20.1 Transient Suppressor Replacement 20.2 Microphone stand adapter 20.3 FPC-900 Midi Implementation 20.4 Frequency Weighting Characteristics Index User notes Introduction The FPC-900 is a portable, wireless remote controller for the FCS-926 and FCS-920 Varicurve Equaliser units and the FDS-388 Omnidrive PA controller.

  • Page 8: Installation

    Installation Installation 2.1 Unpacking As part of BSS Audio’s policy of quality control, this product is carefully checked before packing to ensure flawless appearance and that it reaches you in first class condition. After unpacking the two units, please inspect them for any physical damage.

  • Page 9: Mains Power

    Before connecting the FPC-900i interface to an AC power source, 2.3 Mains Power check that the voltage selector switch on the side panel is correctly set. If a change is necessary then ensure that the mains fuse is changed for one of the correct current rating Refer to Section 2.6 'Installation' - AC Power and Fusing.

  • Page 10: Voltage Setting

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Voltage Setting Safety Earthing AC Power Fusing 2.4 Voltage Setting The mains voltage selector switch provides a simple external adjust- ment to allow operation on all international AC power standards. Newer units are supplied with 115/230V selector switches. The allow- able ranges for the supply voltage are: 90VAC up to 132VAC on the 120V or 115V position and 190VAC up to 264VAC on the 240V or 230V position.

  • Page 11: Data Connections And Midi

    Data Connections Midi 2.7 Data Quick Reference Connections and Connect MIDI Outs to MIDI Ins in a daisy chain back Midi to the Interface. Set FCS-926s and FCS-920s to different MIDI channels, and set FCS-926s to MIDI XMIT THRU. Connect the Remote - Interface umbilical then execute UTILS/XFER/DUMP ALLDEV to REMOTE.
  • Page 12 VARICURVE S Y S T E M Data Connections Midi Since the remote stores within it all data concerned with each Varicurve unit, it is first essential to dump all data from the Varicurves to the remote. Data for Omnidrives is only stored in the Omnidrive itself.

  • Page 13: Fsk

    2.8 FSK An FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) communications channel is included for operation over long microphone cables, or over a standard musicians wireless link. One-way data transmission is then possible, although the user may notice that the lower data rate results in slower reaction of the devices to commands issued by the remote.

  • Page 14: Internal Battery

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Internal Battery 2.9 Internal Battery Quick Reference Connect the umbilical between the remote and interface so that the charger can keep the battery charged. Any flashing LEDs on the interface indicate charge to go. All four LEDs light when fully charged. Keep the display brightness lower when working remotely via FSK, and always re-charge immediately after.
  • Page 15 Internal Battery ily. The unit will remain energised for approximately 30 seconds after which it will switch off automatically, unless a control is moved, which starts the timer for another 30 seconds. As time progresses, the battery meter will gradually empty, until ulti- mately, unless the user recharges the battery, the meter will empty, soon after which the display brightness will automatically dim to con- serve power, and ultimately the unit will switch itself off so that suffi-...

  • Page 16: Varicurve Controls

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Basic Controls NUMERIC KEYS The NUMERIC KEYS have two independent modes, switching automatically as required by the current mode of the Remote. 1 As ‘Channel keys’ to select a device or several devices for display and editing. Refer to Section 4.0 ‘Selecting a Device’, Section 4.3 ‘SOLO’...
  • Page 17 SOLO SOLO allows the user to listen to individual devices or audio channels. Several channels can be selected to be heard simultaneously - all unselected devices and audio channels are muted. Refer to Section 4.3 ‘Selecting a Device’ - SOLO EVENT The EVENT system allows the user to trigger combinations of program changes across all linked Midi devices with a single command.
  • Page 18 VARICURVE S Y S T E M Basic Controls ON/CHECK When the Remote is connected to the Rack Interface (FPC-900i) through the umbilical cable it should be turned on and off at the Rack Interface unit using the Mains switch. When the Remote is powered by its internal battery it will go into ‘sleep’...
  • Page 19 RTA (Real Time Analyser) Pressing RTA will scroll the display upwards to show a menu of RTA control items. Refer to Section 11.0 ‘RTA (Real Time Analyser)’ CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS These two controls allow the user to adjust the contrast and brightness of the display to suit viewing conditions.

  • Page 20: Varicurve Display

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Varicurve Display 3.1 Varicurve Display DEVICE NAME User-defined name for each of the 16 available devices. Refer to Section 4.2 'Selecting a device' - INDEX. This box will display "--GROUP--" when Group mode is selected. LAST TRIGGERED This is the name and number of the last triggered Event.
  • Page 21 BATTERY This box gives a graphical representation of the battery charge available if the remote is being operated using its internal battery. See Section 2.9 'Installation' - Internal Battery. dB SCALE This vertical scale displays the cut and boost values for the equalisation contour across the centre of the screen.

  • Page 22: Omnidrive Display

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Omnidrive Display 3.2 Omnidrive Display DEVICE NAME User-defined name for each of the 16 available devices. Refer to Section 4.2 'Selecting a device' - INDEX. This box will display "--GROUP--" when Group mode is selected. LAST TRIGGERED This is the name and number of the last triggered Event.
  • Page 23 DELAY This box displays the band delay value, or values, for the currently selected device. Refer to Section 17.0 'Controlling Omnidrive Devices'. MAIN DELAY This box displays the main delay value, or values, for the currently selected device. Refer to Section 17.0 'Controlling Omnidrive Devices'.

  • Page 24: Remote Connections

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Remote Connections 3.3 Remote Connections PCMCIA2 Smart The front panel PCMCIA2 card slot allows the storage of data from the remote onto memory cards of any size from 256k to 2Mbyte. Card Slot Refer to Section 16.0 'Smart Card' Remote Interface This 5 pin female XLR connector is used for the umbilical cable...

  • Page 25: Interface Controls And Connections

    Interface Controls and Connections 3.4 Interface Controls and Connections PINK NOISE OUTPUT The FPC-900i pink noise output can be turned on and off from the remote. Press UTILS and select MORE or press RTA. The menu item named PINK will turn the noise output on and off. The pink noise output level is approximately +1dBu.

  • Page 26: Mains Power

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Interface Controls and Connections CHARGE LEDS These leds indicate the percentage charge in the Remote battery when the remote is connected using the multicore umbilical cable. SIGNAL and PEAK These leds indicate the signal level of the audio signal on the FSK data input from either the front or rear panel connectors.

  • Page 27: Selecting A Device

    Selecting a Device Numeric Keys Selecting a Device Quick Reference Press a Device key to select an individual device or channel. Press both Device keys on the selected device to change a device from Dual to Stereo, or from Stereo back to Dual. 4.1 Device Keys The 16 pairs of Device keys on the left hand side of the Remote are used to select between the devices connected to the system.

  • Page 28: Index

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M INDEX SOLO 4.2 INDEX Pressing the INDEX key displays a directory of all the device numbers. Each entry corresponds to a Midi channel. The entry displays the type of device connected to the Midi channel, which mode it is in and its user defined name or names.

  • Page 29: Selecting And Adjusting Filters

    Selecting and Adjusting Filters Using the Speed Strip Status Bar Boxes Selecting and Adjusting Filters Quick Reference Select a filter to adjust by pressing the Speed Strip. Adjust the filter using the Frequency, Width and Boost/Cut knobs. Press and hold FLAT to clear an equalisation curve. 5.1 Using the The speed strip is a linear controller used in conjunction with the filter graphics and text menus displayed on the lcd screen.

  • Page 30: Eq Display

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M EQ Display Speed Strip Selection Filter Adjustment 5.3 EQ Display The current equalisation curve shown on the display should be thought of as being in a scratchpad or working area. A curve can be recalled from a program memory and then adjusted in the working area without altering the stored program memory.

  • Page 31: Make-Up Gain

    Make-up Gain FLAT EQ Bypass 5.6 Make-up gain Note that the Gain of the current device is not adjusted automatically and so may need to be altered by the user if large amounts of cut or boost are applied. Refer to Section 9.2 ‘Utilities’ - Gain. 5.7 FLAT The FLAT key can be used to temporarily flatten the current equalisation curve for comparison purposes, or to permanently clear it...

  • Page 32: Scrolling The Display

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Examining with View Scrolling the Display 5.10 Scrolling the The display can be scrolled up or down to see the peaks or troughs of any heavily boosted curves. The View cursor can be used in display conjunction with the scrolled display to read off the values of peaks that would normally be off the screen.

  • Page 33: Store

    STORE STORE Quick Reference Press STORE. Turn the Parameter control to select a program number. Enter a name, if required, using the numeric keys. Press STORE a second time to complete the Store function. There are 50 program memories available in each Varicurve device, all of which are available at the FPC-900 Remote.

  • Page 34: Naming Programs

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Naming Programs INDEX in Store Mode Turn the Parameter control to choose a program number to Store to. Programs 1 to 50 are device programs. Programs R1 to R12 are intended for Room Curves. 6.1 Naming A new name can be entered using the Device keys.

  • Page 35: Recall

    RECALL INDEX in Recall Mode Recalling Between Devices RECALL Quick Reference Press RECALL. Turn the Parameter control to select a program number. Press RECALL a second time to load the EQ into the current device. RECALL is used to load any of the 50 stored programs within a Varicurve device into the current program and filter hardware.

  • Page 36: Compare

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M COMPARE RECALL in Compare Mode COMPARE Quick Reference Press COMPARE. Turn the Parameter control to listen to each of the available programs. Press RECALL to load an EQ into the current device or press COMPARE again or touch the Speed Strip to escape.

  • Page 37: Index In Compare Mode

    INDEX in Compare Mode A full list of the programs already Stored in the device is available by 8.2 INDEX in pressing INDEX after the first press of COMPARE. Adjusting the source Compare mode program number with Index on will move the cursor within the index. Locked programs are indicated with a key symbol.

  • Page 38: Utilities Menu

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Utilities Menu Utilities Menu Quick Reference Press UTILS Select a menu item by pressing the speed strip directly below the required item. Turn the parameter control to adjust the item value. 9.1 UTILS You will by now have noticed the screen scrolling up to display a menu whenever the RTA or UTILS key is pressed.

  • Page 39: Action Of Utilities

    PINK Turns the interface pink noise output on and off. LOKOUT Locks out various controls on the Remote to prevent tampering. MORE Returns to the main UTILS menu. 9.2 Action of Following each menu item name is the area of the system that it ap- plies to.
  • Page 40 VARICURVE S Y S T E M Utilities Menu BYPASS (Channel) [EQ IN, EQ OUT] Bypass switches the Varicurve device in and out of circuit. With EQ IN the device is in circuit. With EQ OUT the EQ circuitry is bypassed by a relay ensuring signal flow even with the power off.

  • Page 41: More Sub-Menu

    Utilities Sub-menu XFER (Remote) Selecting XFER will access the Menu containing options linked with transfering program data through the Midi port or over the FSK link. Please refer to Section 16 - ‘Data Transfer’. VIEW (Remote) [OFF, ON] This enables the filter VIEW mode.VIEW is a contour viewer allowing the parameter control to move the cursor from one end of the display to the other.

  • Page 42: Grouping - Group And All

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Grouping GROUP 10.0 Grouping - GROUP and ALL Quick Reference Press ALL or GROUP. Use the Device Keys to enter channels into, or remove channels from the Group. Adjust the available filters in the normal way. Press UTILS to access the Group mute and gain.

  • Page 43: Group Utils

    GROUP Group UTILS screen. See fig 10.1. The Group curve is always displayed as flat on entry, representing a starting point for all the members of the group. An adjustment made to the group curve will be made to all channels that have appropriate filters available.

  • Page 44: Group All

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M 10.3 Group ALL ALL is a special case of Grouping. Pressing the ALL key will open a group containing all the available Varicurve channels connected to the system. The channels are scanned for compatible filters and a flat group curve is displayed.

  • Page 45: Rta (Real Time Analyser)

    RTA (Real Time Analyser) RTA Menu 11.0 RTA (Real Time Analyser) The FPC-900r has access to both its own internal Real Time Analyser, working on the remote RTA microphone input, and also the RTA of each Varicurve device attached to the midi system. The RTA output is displayed as 30 RTA frequency bars which can be overlaid over the EQ contour.
  • Page 46 VARICURVE S Y S T E M RTA Menu DISP (Display) [OFF, DEVRTA, INTRTA, INTSPL] This item selects the display mode for the RTA and SPL bargraph. DEVRTA will select an RTA display generated from the selected device channel. With DEVRTA selected the exact source within the device (Input, Output or Mic) is chosen in the SOURCE item detailed below.

  • Page 47: Rta Memories

    RTA Memories Storing an RTA Recalling an RTA SPL WT (Local) [OFF, A-WT, C-WT] This sets the weighting for the SPL Bargraph display and is only displayed when DISP is set to INTSPL. Refer to Appendix 18.4 - 'Frequency Weighting Characteristics' PKHOLD (Remote) [Adjust value 0.1S to 5S, OFF and INFINITY] Adjusts the hold time of the RTA peak dots.

  • Page 48: Room Curve And Add Curve

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Room Curves ROOMCV 12.0 Room Curve and Add Curve Quick Reference Room Curve will convert an RTA display of bars and convert it to an eq curve. Add Curve will add a stored eq curve to the current eq curve.

  • Page 49: Add Curve

    ADD Curve RTA pattern. If the curve is too complex for the available filters to approximate, the shape is simplified by smoothing. If the current device is in Stereo mode, the curve will be created using 6 filters and copied into both channels of the device. In Dual only the current channel is used.

  • Page 50: Auto Eq

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M AUTO EQ A Simple Auto EQ 13.0 AUTO EQ Quick Reference Press RTA, select AUTOEQ. Select the current RTA or a mixture of the stored RTAs as the present response. Select a target response curve in Contour. Select START The Auto EQ function allows the FPC-900r remote to adjust a room equalisation curve in response to a measured RTA in the same way as...

  • Page 51: Mixed Rta Sources

    Mixed RTA Sources & Return to the RTA menu and adjust the RTGAIN item to show the frequency response of the pink noise across the analyser bars. Avoid the clipping indicator showing in the top left of the screen. BALISTics should be set to RMS and DECAY to at least 1 Second. Longer times will require more settling time.

  • Page 52: Target Room Curves

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Target Room Curves 13.3 Target Room The Contour box allows the user to select a response curve that describes the desired frequency response for the room being equalised. Curves Generally the user will stick to curve R1 which is FLAT or possibly curve R2 which has 3dB/octave roll offs at top and bottom.

  • Page 53: Event

    EVENT Event Edit Screen 14.0 EVENT Quick Reference Press EVENT to enter the Event menu. Trigger an event by pressing the Speed Strip under the appropriate event box. Step through consecutive events by selecting STEP ON and then step using the EVENT key. The Event system on the FPC-900r gives the user the ability to send a Midi program change out on each Midi channel, whether or not it is a Varicurve or Omnidrive device.
  • Page 54 VARICURVE S Y S T E M Event Edit Screen The screen lists each available device in a similar format to the device Index screen. If a device is identified by the FPC-900r, the centre column will show 920, 926 or 388. Either side of the device data are one or two device names, depending on which mode - Mono, Stereo or Dual - that the device is in.

  • Page 55: Event Select Menu

    Event Select Menu Triggering Events COPY [Select to begin copy] All the program changes linked to each device will be copied into the destination Event along with the source program name. DONE When all changes have been made to your Events, return to the Event Select menu by choosing DONE.

  • Page 56: Index With Events

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M INDEX with Events EDIT [Select to enter] Select EDIT to enter the Event Edit screen. DONE Selecting DONE will return to the main equalisation curve. 14.4 INDEX with INDEX can be pressed while in the Event Select screen to give a complete list of all the Events available from 1 to 50 along with the Events.

  • Page 57: Transfer (Xfer)

    XFER (Transfer) 15.0 Transfer (XFER) The Transfer menu is used to pass information to and from the remote and the Varicurve devices on the system. It should be used if the remote has been plugged in to a Varicurve system or device where programs are already stored and Eq already prepared.
  • Page 58 VARICURVE S Y S T E M XFER (Transfer) PROGs 1 to 50 can be transferred between REMOTE and DEVICE. A complete Varicurve DUMP can be transferred from DEVICE to the REMOTE or from ALLDEVS to the REMOTE. The user is protected to some degree by an "ARE YOU SURE"...

  • Page 59: Smart Card

    Smart Card CARD Menu 16.0 Smart Card The Smart Card socket on the front of the remote is designed to use PCMCIA2 memory cards of between 128kbyte and 2Mbyte storage capacity. Files are stored on the card in a ‘Pseudo-floppy’ format using standard DOS structures.

  • Page 60: Card Menu

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M CARD Menu Each file will be saved from the current data area of the appropriate type. Saving a curve will save the current equalisation data for the current device, saving a device will save the current device data and so on.
  • Page 61 CARD Menu DELETE [Enter Filename] Select DELETE to choose a file to delete from an SRAM card. Now turn the parameter control to select a file from the file list or type in a name using the numeric keys. Press START to complete the DELETE. The user will be prompted "ARE YOU SURE?".

  • Page 62: Card Types

    VARICURVE S Y S T E M Card Types 16.2 Card Types The Smart Card interface requires 68pin PCMCIA2 compatible memory cards. Attribute memory is not required and is not used. 128k, 256k, 512k, 1M, 2M. Battery life varies with manufacturer. As SRAM CARDS an example Fujisoku 256k cards have an approximate life of 5.9 years, 2M cards have an approximate life of 1.1 years.
  • Page 63 Controlling Omnidrive Devices 17.0 Controlling Omnidrive Devices Quick Reference Select an Omnidrive device using the Device keys. Select the value to adjust using the Speed Strip. Adjust the value using the Parameter control. Only a few of the variables within the Omnidrive p.a. controllers can be adjusted by the FPC-900 remote.
  • Page 64 VARICURVE S Y S T E M Controlling Omnidrive Devices The variable labelled UNITS is purely an FPC-900 display variable and has no link to the Delay Units variable on the Omnidrive. The variable on the Remote is only capable of displaying feet or metres as display in the time format would require adjustment with temperature.
  • Page 65 18.0 Controlling Delay Devices Device type Change the delay units (m or ft) Output band Main delay parameters value CONNECTING Connect a TCS 803 or 804 device as a 'spur' from the MIDI THRU socket of another device on the loop. Do NOT connect anything to the MIDI OUT sockets of the 803/804 devices.
  • Page 66 VARICURVE S Y S T E M It is important to realise therefore that any settings in the TCS80X devices will be lost when first controlled by an FPC900, but changes made on the TCS80X will override the FPC900. This will ensure that events driven from the FPC900 are not immediately overwritten by the FPC900 sending the channel delay values again.

  • Page 67: Warranty Information

    19.0 Warranty Information This unit is warranted by BSS Audio to the original end user purchaser against defects in workmanship and the materials used in its manufacture for a period of one year from the date of shipment to the end user.
  • Page 68 VARICURVE S Y S T E M Transient Suppressor Replacement Spares Ordering 20.0 Appendix 20.1 Transient The primary of the mains input transformer on the 900i Interface is protected from high voltage spike interference by two voltage Suppressor dependent resistors (VDR). These provide a momentary short circuit to Replacement voltage peaks in excess of the normal voltage rating.

  • Page 69: Midi Implementation

    Midi Implementation 20.3 FPC-900 Midi V1.0 7 September 1993 Implementation FUNCTION TRANSMITTED RECOGNISED REMARKS BASIC CHANNEL Default 1-16 Memorised Changed 1-16 MODE NOTE NUMBER VELOCITY AFTER TOUCH PITCH BENDER CONTROL CHANGE NRPN LSB 98 NRPN MSB 99 Data LSB 38 Note 1 Data MSB 6 PROGRAM CHANGE...
  • Page 70 VARICURVE S Y S T E M Frequency Weighting 20.4 Frequency Weighting Characteristics A-wt Response C-wt Frequency...
  • Page 71 Index Index device polling 12 dimensions 8 A-weighting 47 DISP 50 ADD Curve 47, 48, 49 DOS 62 ADD Curve - PROG No. 49 Dual 27, 29, 38 ALL 16, 42 DUMP 58 ALLDEVS 58 AUTOEQ 33, 45, 48, 50, 51, 52 AUTOEQ - START 51 earthing 10 EDIT 56...
  • Page 72 VARICURVE S Y S T E M Index GROUP 16, 28, 42, 43 naming programs 34 GROUP ASSIGNMENT 44 notch 30 GROUP UTILS 42, 43 GROUP UTILS - GAIN 43 Omnidrive 11, 12, 63 GROUP UTILS - MUTE 43 Omnidrive - DELAY 23 grouping 42 Omnidrive - GAIN 22 Omnidrive - MAIN DELAY 23...
  • Page 73 Index RTA RECALL 47 VIEW 31, 38 RTA ROOMCV 48 voltage selector switch 9, 10 RTA SOURCE 46 voltage setting 10 RTA SPL WT weighting 47 VSCROL 32, 38 RTA STORE 47 RTGAIN 51 warranty 8 Warranty Info. 67 Shift key 28, 34 WIDTH 19, 30 SIG LED 13 wireless link 13...
  • Page 74 VARICURVE S Y S T E M User Notes...
  • Page 75 User Notes...
  • Page 76 VARICURVE S Y S T E M User Notes...
  • Page 77 User Notes...
  • Page 78 VARICURVE S Y S T E M User Notes...

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