An introduction to
Introduction to EAW Resolution™
Resolution is proprietary EAW software created to aid end users in the proper prediction and
application of EAW loudspeaker products.
Its intuitive work surface and exceptional modeling accuracy is based largely on the fact that the
engine driving it is derived directly from EAW’s internal usage only software F-Chart.
F-Chart is the software responsible for not only modeling EAW loudspeaker designs but also to dene
the algorithms used in the proprietary acoustic correction signal processing known as “Focusing”. For
this reason, the accuracy of the Resolution software is unrivaled as the end user is using the same
calculations used to develop the loudspeakers in the rst place.
Resolution is not limited to just line array systems. The software has the capacity to also implement
subwoofers and standard trapezoidal enclosures from EAW. The long-term goal of the software
designers is to have a program that can calculate as many EAW products as is necessary to aid the end
user in creating the best sounding systems possible.
The Work Surface: Venue Tab, Array Tab and Mapping Area
The Venue tab is where the work begins.
It is the area in which you will build the room that will house your loudspeaker array design.
The default view for Resolution is a section but a plan view can also be selected to see horizontal
coverage and interaction between adjacent loudspeakers or arrays.
Once the venue has been designed the user can now click over to the Array Tab work area.
This is where you will select and place the desired loudspeakers within your room model.
You have the option of manually entering all of the necessary data, using the software’s very powerful
“Array Assistant” or use a combination of both to achieve the perfect balance of what the computer
calculates and what you see as the perfect design.
The “Array Pane” is where the virtual arrays will be presented.
This is your opportunity to visualize the arrays shape and to also review the mechanical data required
to install a system that is both accurate in its deployment and also safe in its capacity.
The power of Resolution is realized in the SPL “mapping area”.
This is where hundreds of calculations are performed by the software and the results of all your hard
work are displayed.
Not only can you view the arrays individually or combined in the mapping area, you can also see these
arrays displayed in both section and plan views for nite array adjustment.
Windows Toolbar Menus
The toolbar across the top of the work area holds many valuable options that will aid you in setup and
execution of the software. While many of the menus are common in software programs, some include
Resolution-specic options.
File Menu
New – Creates a new Resolution design le
Open – Allows you to open a previously stored design le
Save – Allows the user to quickly save a design le (best when you already have the design stored
under a unique name)
Save As – Opens the option to save the design le with a unique name and in a unique location on
your PC
Import – This is where the user may import an EASE le into the software.
Export EASE File – This feature will create a “single-balloon” le that can be imported into the
EASE software which is excellent for speeding up the modeling process. Instead of calculating each
individual loudspeaker in the design, EASE receives a le that is already pre-calculated by Resolution
and hence only needs to process a single entity!
Create PDF – This will create a PDF of all pertinent data in the current design. This is handy for riggers
and stagehands in system assembly
Create CSV – Creates an “Excel” spreadsheet with all pertinent data of the design.
Recent Files – Remembers the last design les you were working on for quick reload.
Exit – Exits the Resolution program
Edit Menu
The “Edit” menu is very small.
This is where you can Undo or Redo previous keystrokes.
Undo - If you dislike what you just did to the perfect design you can “Undo” the move.
Redo - If you decide that you liked it after-all you can redo the move again with “Redo”
View Menu
The “View” menu has many options that are extremely helpful to the operator of the software.
Aiming Lines – This will toggle on or o green lines that extend from each individual loudspeaker in
the array to the point where it impacts a surface. The aiming lines extend perpendicular to the face of
each enclosure but do not dene the absolute coverage. They are a visual reference for the user to see
where each enclosure is projecting.
Aiming Coverage Lines – This will toggle on or o two red lines that dene the usable upper and
lower extremities of the arrays coverage. The aiming coverage lines can be used as the upper limit
of focus in venues where back wall reections or noise levels o-site are a concern. It represents the
soft edges of the systems coverage. If the user is required to obtain maximum throw and SPL to the
back of the venue, the green aiming line of the top enclosure of the array should be used as the top of
coverage. This will have the side-eect of some wasted energy above the coverage area and some loss
of coverage down front so take this into account when designing.
SPL – This toggles on or o the entire SPL routine in Resolution. It may seem obvious that the SPL
routine is why you are using the software to begin with but this option allows you to turn it o while
you are in the process of building both the venue and the intended arrays saving valuable RAM
energy. The number crunching that takes place in the routine can be intense!
SPL Map – Toggles on or o the SPL mapping feature. The surfaces themselves will continue to plot
the SPL for the design but the overall vertical and horizontal map will be bypassed. Again, this is a
time-saving and RAM-saving feature.
Contour Lines – In each design, it is possible to show vertical and horizontal isocontours dened in
various stages of SPL loss. These plots will overlay on the SPL map and are useful to clarify the shape of
the coverage and how well it matches the audience geometry. The contours can be viewed even when
the SPL mapping has been toggled o.
Frequency Response – Once frequency / SPL points have been dened (more on this later), the
frequency response at each location can be viewed. This feature, like all features in Resolution, works
in an anechoic environment and does not include any reective data. Consider each of the points as
virtual measurement mics giving accurate SPL and equalization data.
Array Pane – Toggles on or o the Array Pane within the design work area (allowing more visual space
for the other two panes)
Venue Pane - Toggles on or o the Venue Pane within the design work area (allowing more visual
space for the other two panes)
Property Pane - Toggles on or o the Property Pane within the design work area (allowing more visual
space for the other two panes)
Insert Menu
The “Insert” dropdown menu provides to simple functions:
Array – This will automatically launch the Array Assistant feature within the software providing the
user with an extremely fast and accurate way of placing arrays.
Floor – This will place a new oor within the model. Be advised that this is a “new” oor and not an
addition to a currently implemented oor already placed within the model.
Options Menu
Like the View menu, the Options menu has many powerful features that enhance the experience of
using the Resolution software.
Automatically Check for Updates – By selecting this feature, Resolution will periodically check for
new, revised versions of the software when connected to the internet. The user will be prompted
when there is a newer version and you will have the option to install or not install the newer version
Temperature And Humidity – This opens up a congurable box that allows
the user to include the current temperature and humidity into the design using
EAW’s very powerful air-loss calculations. These values will vary the overall
outcome of the mapping so be certain that the values are correct.
Without Air Absorption – By default, Resolution plots its SPL mapping data with the inclusion of air
loss. This is only practical as sound is always aected by air over distance. However, if one should want
to see the dierence that air loss is making on the design, the feature can be disabled by toggling it o
here.
SPL Interpolation – This allows the user to set the resolution of the SPL mapping. Three choices are
oered from fastest to best. Fastest takes less time to calculate but provides plots that are more coarse.
These are ok for rough calculations but should not be relied upon for the nal design review. Normal
provides better resolution of the mapping but is still somewhat coarse. Best is the option of choice for
obtaining extremely accurate mapping. The trade-o being that it takes longer to crunch the numbers
than the other two options.
Side View Contour Lines – When the option to see contour lines has been selected, the user will have
three choices as to how these contours will be viewed in the section.
Top View Contour Lines - When the option to see contour lines has been selected, the user will have
three options as to how these contours will be viewed in the plan.
Design Factor – This is the most important feature within Resolution and every care should be
taken that it is set accurately. This feature modies the limits of the mechanical rigging and there
are four options available (5:1, 8:1, 10:1, 12:1). The design factor that you decide to use should match
the acceptable level of safety in your particular country. In the United States, a 5:1 design factor is
generally considered to be acceptable but other countries such as Germany are much higher at 10 and
even 12:1! Using higher ratios in the design factor will limit the number of enclosures one can hang in
an array and also limit the tilt both up and down that one can achieve. The option opens a dialogue
box that reviews the safety considerations one should be aware of before altering the design factor.
SI Units – Selects the Metric option for entering all data in Resolution
US Units – Selects the Imperial option for entering all data in Resolution
Cartesian Venue Measurements – Used when measurements are based on known points of
intersection in width, height and length. Recommended when working from scale drawings and for
venues where heights of objects are known relative to one another.
Polar Venue Measurements – Used when measurements are based on height and distance of the
starting point of an object where an objects length and angle (if known) to an end point are known.
Recommended for measurements made in a venue where relative measurements are unknown but
start and end points of individual objects are.
Laser Venue Measurements – Measurements are relative to a single point in a venue dened as
a beginning and end point of an object in angle and distance from the same point of observation.
Recommended when a laser range nder and inclinometer are used together to collect data.
Max SPL – SPL is measured as a maximum loudness for any given frequency.
Flat SPL – SPL is measured as the highest loudness level where all frequencies can be sustained at the
same output level
Tools Menu
Under Tools, you will nd the following:
Inventory Manager – A helpful tool that allows you to tailor the
software to match your existing equipment roster. By selecting or
deselecting from the inventory menu, the software will omit products
which you do not own. Any products highlighted in blue in the
inventory manager list are hyperlinks to the EAW website for product
pdf’s (requires internet hookup). The version number of the product
in Resolution is to the far right. Clicking on the version number will
open a box detailing “release notes” for that particular product. To add
or remove a product from Resolution, check or uncheck the circle to
the left of the Inventory Manager menu. All products remain within the
software but do not show themselves in any menus.
Auto-adjust SPL Range – Allows the user to match the SPL mapping to the capabilities of the
products being displayed on-screen.
Check For Updates – By default, the Resolution software will check automatically for updates to
the software if the computer is connected to the internet. The user can also command for a check of
recent software updates by clicking on this feature.
Keyboard Shortcuts – Allows the user to dene up
to three dierent keyboard shortcuts per feature.
Click on the + symbol to the right of the shortcut
display and follow the prompt to insert your own
personal shortcut preferences. By clicking on the
shortcut box for each action, you may also change
the keystroke combination for that particular
shortcut or remove the shortcut altogether and
start over. At the bottom right of the display, you
can click the button “restore to defaults” to erase all
custom keyboard shortcuts and return the feature
back to original.
Help Menu
Two brief choices under the Help menu:
Help – Opens the user help les for the software as a PDF le. This le can then be easily printed out
and kept for future reference.
About – Displays the version of Resolution that you are currently running.
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