FOCAL FOCAL MANAGER V4.1 User Manual

FOCAL MANAGER V 4.1

(MAC / PC VERSION) ADDENDUM JUNE 2005

Very Important

Releases 3 and 4.1 of Focal Manager are not compatible. Before starting
FM V4.1 please discard release 3, or save it -together with its associated file
“FMPref.txt”- in a folder different from the one you are intending to place the
new release FM V 4.1.

This also means that all presets created under FM V3 are incompatible with
release 4.1 and will therefore have to be rewritten.

In order to take advantage of all the new facilities of your new release
FM V4.1, you must also upgrade the DSP firmware of all the speakers of your
system to release 4. To do so please refer to the DSP upgrade procedure as
described (page 11 and 12) of the Focal Manager User Manual. These new
firmwares are available for download for each of our existing models on our
website : www.focal-fr.com.

What is new in release 4.1?

I/ Importing / exporting presets

• FM V4.1 includes a new menu called “Preset”.

• FM V4.1 automatically creates -at the same level as the application- a folder
called “FMPresets” (fig. 1). This folder contains all presets created by the
application. To import a particular preset simply place the corresponding file
inside this folder; it will be then possible to load it using the “Load Preset”
sub-menu from the new “Preset” menu (fig. 2). To export or save your presets
simply copy the corresponding files.

II/ New start-up window

Figure 1

Figure 2

Each time the program starts up a window will appear (fig. 3) giving you 3
different options (except at “basic level” use where settings at startup will be as
recorded when the program was last closed -see User Manual about the use of

passwords):

1 - Load settings as in force when last exiting Focal Manager.
2 - Load a particular preset from the “FMPresets” folder.
3 - Restart from scatch, i.e. reset all speakers of your system to their default

“factory” settings. Please note that this will not affect the parameters of the
“preference” menu, for instance the initialization of your system.

Figure 3

FOCAL MANAGER V 4.1

(MAC/PC VERSION) ADDENDUM JUNE 2005

III/ New “Preference” menu

The “Preference” menu has been reorganized, some tabs have been removed
or modified, others are new.

• New “Setup” tab (fig. 4).
Previously called “Misc”, this tab now encompasses -on top of its previous
functionalities- all parameters allowing the system initilization, and describing
the exact state of the audio configuration. As such it does replace the
“Initialization” sub-menu as used to exist in Focal Manager release 3.

• New “Keyboard shortcut” tab (fig. 5).
To be able to avoid any possible conflict with other applications running
concurrently with Focal Manager, FM V4 now allows to define the keys
associated with shortcuts for functions such as “Mute” or “Master Volume”.
To do so simply check box “Change” displayed in front of the command to
be executed and press the desired key.
It is now also possible to choose the increment value (0.5 to 5 dB) of the
increase / decrease “Master Volume” function.

Warning: It is now also possible to increase or decrease the “Master Volume”
by sliding the mouse upwards or downwards upon the corresponding window
while keeping “Alt” key depressed.

Figure 4

IV/ New “Focal Manager” Menu

The “Focal Manager” menu has been reorganized. As seen previously the
“Initialisation” sub-menu has been removed, and replaced by the “Setup” tab
from the “Preference” menu.

• New “Diagnostic” sub-menu (fig. 6).
This sub-menu provides a facility to check out that your system has been
properly wired up and plugged in, and that the initialization has been
successfully completed. Even in the absence of an audio source the
“Diagnostic” command will allow you to make sure that all speakers respond
to the controls you are sending and therefore that the MIDI links are ok.
Checking the “On” box instructs all speakers of your system to generate a
tone (using an internal tone generator). You can check that each channel is
working and respond to commands by using the “Solo” functions.

Figure 5

Figure 6

FOCAL MANAGER V3

ADDENDUM TO THE USER MANUAL

NEW IN MAC/PC VERSION

1/ New "Manager" Menu (fig. 1)

In FM version 3, two new sub-menus have been added and the order of the
sub-menus has been modified :

A/ "Audio Input" sub-menu (fig. 2)

This new sub-menu allows to select among 2 possible audio input modes :
"Automatic" and "Analog only"

• In the former, "Automatic" (default mode), either the analog or the digital
input can be used. If both are connected the digital signal is always given
priority over the analog signal.

• The latter mode called "Analog only" always uses the incoming analog signal.
If the digital input is also fed it will only be used as an external clock to the
internal converters.

In this new window, the option to increase the speaker sensitivity by 6 dB is
offered - only when using the analog signal - by checking the dedicated box.
WARNING: this option should be used carefully bearing in mind that it
increases the risk of overdrive / overflow that could result in serious distortion.

Figure 1

B/ "Reset to factory settings " sub-menu (fig. 3)

As its name suggests this sub-menu offers the user the possibility to reset all
speaker parameters to their initial, factory set, default values. Please note this
does not include the master volume, which will remain unchanged, nor the
channel allocation (so no need to run the initialisation procedure again).

Using this facility may be recommended at start-up, after installing your system
(initialisation of the various loudspeakers), or whenever there can be a doubt
about the current settings.

2/ New "Mute" and "Unmute" key operated commands

With "Focal Manager" V.3 it is now possible to "Mute" or "Unmute" from the
keyboard using the space bar. This requires at least one window of the software
to be open, with the exception of the "Presets" window.

The space bar of your keyboard will act as a "Mute" / "Unmute" toggle switch,
and in turn make the "Master level" window appear on the screen.

This new facility is very convenient in normal use, but also in the event of
a warning tone being emitted after a loudspeaker has detected failed data
transmission. However when large data streams are being sent - e.g. a "preset" -
the effect of pressing the space bar will be delayed up until completion of data
transmission over the serial port: please be aware that it may take some time.

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5