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General Guidelines for Freely Configurable DSP
The DSP-4 is configured (programmed) by using the included Signal Manager software. The software must be installed
on your PC and the PC must be connected to the DSP-4 using a 9-pin serial cable and an available COM port. Once
programmed, the module can operate without any connection to the computer. Any time changes are needed to the
DSP's configuration, the RS-232 connection must be active (cable connected). Software operating instructions are
provided in the form of an in-depth Help file in the Signal Manager software.
IMPORTANT! Please read before operating the DSP-4 with your audio system.
The DSP-4 is a professional level DSP product that allows the user to produce virtually unlimited signal
processor variations and configurations. Because of the infinite configuration possibilities of digital signal
processing and the DSP-4, it is possible to create configurations that may result in unwanted signals or
uncontrollable output
Signal Manager has no way of knowing if the DSP configuration you have designed will produce the results
you intend. You can create signal loops in your configuration that may oscillate and could damage your
sound system if you apply such configurations to the DSP-4. When applying an untested configuration or
when designing or experimenting with the DSP-4, it is a very good idea to turn down the amplifier's physical
gain controls. That way, you won't damage your speakers or create very loud sounds if you apply a
configuration that doesn't do what you thought it would.
As a general rule, DO NOT CREATE SIGNAL LOOPS! Do not mix the output of a DSP object back into its
own input! There is nothing useful to achieve by doing that, you will only create an oscillator that could
damage you speakers. Also, USE THE SINE AND NOISE GENERATOR OBJECTS WITH GREAT CAUTION!
These objects produce signals that can harm your speakers. Turn down the gain. If you don't hear a signal
when you think you should, DO NOT INCREASE THE GAIN!!! If the signal isn't audible at lower levels, there
is something else wrong. Turning up the gain to full exposes you and your system to the possibility that
some loose connection somewhere will suddenly send a full-amplitude signal through your sound system.
Like all freely configurable signal processing tools, the DSP-4 will do what the configuration you design
tells it to do. This may not be what you expect it to do, so use caution.
Special Information About Saving DSP-4 Configurations
The computer which is used to create the DSP-4 signal flow configurations, and subsequently
save them to disk, should be the same computer used to modify and adjust the DSP-4 settings
in the future. Naturally, this might not always be the case. At the least, a copy of the DSP-4
configuration(s) should be saved to floppy disk, so the configuration files can be transferred to
whatever computer(s) might be used to adjust or modify the DSP-4 module settings in the future.
The reason:
The Signal Manager software works in conjunction with the DSP-4 module to create specific signal processing algorithms for filters, delays,
limiters, and the like. The algorithms are displayed on the computer screen as "configuration files", with graphical representations of each
function and parameters. The user creates a signal chain, "wiring" together blocks of functions as needed for each particular audio channel
or channels.
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