KLING & FREITAG CON SEQUENZA User Manual
K&F CON:SEQUENZA+
User's Manual
Important Informationen,
Please Read Before Use!
KLING & FREITAG GmbH
Junkersstraße 14
D-30179 Hannover
TEL +49 (0) 511 96 99 70
FAX +49 (0) 511 67 37 94
www.kling-freitag.de
Version 1.1.
Released: 30.09.2013
User’s Guide K&F CON:SEQUENZA+
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to CON:SEQUENZA+ 4
1.1 Software Overview ...................................................................................................................4
1.2 System Requirements ...............................................................................................................4
1.3 How to Install ..........................................................................................................................5
1.4 User Interface ..........................................................................................................................6
1.5 Program Conventions ..............................................................................................................8
1.6 Shortcut List .......................................................................................................................... 10
2. Venue Definition and Line Arrays 12
2.1 Project Properties ................................................................................................................... 12
2.2 Top View ............................................................................................................................... 13
2.3 Side View .............................................................................................................................. 16
2.4 Adding Audience Zones ......................................................................................................... 17
2.5 Editing Audience Zones .......................................................................................................... 19
2.6 Copying Areas between Zones ............................................................................................... 24
2.7 Saving Projects ....................................................................................................................... 25
2.8 Loading Projects .................................................................................................................... 26
2.9 Importing System Definitions .................................................................................................. 26
2.10 Adding Line Arrays................................................................................................................. 26
2.11 Editing Line Arrays ................................................................................................................. 27
2.12 Auto Splay ............................................................................................................................. 28
2.13 Copying Setups between Similar Line Arrays ........................................................................... 30
2.14 Regular Loudspeakers ............................................................................................................ 31
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3. Mapping and Calculation Results 32
3.1 Mapping Toolbar ................................................................................................................... 32
3.2 Calculations Background ........................................................................................................ 32
3.3 Mapping Options ................................................................................................................... 33
3.4 Levels .................................................................................................................................... 35
3.5 Distribution Graph ................................................................................................................. 35
3.6 Adding Receivers ................................................................................................................... 36
3.7 Frequency Response ............................................................................................................... 37
3.8 Sound Source Groups ............................................................................................................ 38
3.9 Audience Area Groups ........................................................................................................... 40
3.10 Exporting Pictures .................................................................................................................. 41
3.11 Creating Reports .................................................................................................................... 42
4. Options 43
4.1 View ..................................................................................................................................... 43
4.2 Grid and Snap ....................................................................................................................... 44
4.3 Environment .......................................................................................................................... 44
5. Advanced Features 46
5.1 Setting Layout Pictures ........................................................................................................... 46
5.2 Adding Section Planes ............................................................................................................ 47
5.3 Filter ...................................................................................................................................... 49
5.4 Filter Settings for Line Arrays .................................................................................................. 50
5.5 Time Response ....................................................................................................................... 51
5.6 Moving the Origin.................................................................................................................. 52
5.7 Noise Settings ........................................................................................................................ 52
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1
1 Introduction to CON:SEQUENZA+
11
1.1 Software Overview
CON:SEQUENZA+ is a three-dimensional acoustic simulation software for the configuration and
modeling of Kling & Freitag line array systems and K&F loudspeakers. The software is free to
download on http://www.kling-freitag.de.
In CON:SEQUENZA+, each line array or loudspeaker is described by a system definition which
contains the mechanical, electronic and acoustic properties of the loudspeaker system. These
system definitions are stored in a GLL file which can be updated.
This software takes a large step forward towards more realistic modeling of complex sound
systems by including the following major features:
• 3D modeling of direct sound, displayed in horizontal and vertical cutting planes.
• Use multiple K&F line array systems and K&F loudspeakers in a single project.
• Virtual equalizer for tuning a line array in the simulation.
• Full frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
• Static Analysis based on BGV C1 and DIN 18800.
CON:SEQUENZA+ is intuitive and easy-to-use with its three-dimensional coordinates and many
useful features. It can be considered a tool for both the end user, who needs to set up the sound
system for a show, as well as for the R&D engineer, who is interested in the acoustic qualities of
the array design. CON:SEQUENZA+ is the optimal tool for easy and quick prediction of the sound
system performance in a given venue.
For more information, including the latest news and updates, visit http://kling-freitag.de.
1.2 System Requirements
1.2.1 Minimum software requirements
• Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista or 7.
• Acrobat Reader 5.0 (or later).
• Microsoft .NET Framework v 4.0 , which can be downloaded here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/
1.2.2 Minimum hardware requirements
• 1 GB RAM (2 GB or more recommended, especially for Vista and 7)
• 990 x 600 display resolution (1024 x 768 or higher recommended display resolution)
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• 1.5 GHz processor speed or higher (multiple cores are supported and recommended)
1.3 How to Install
To install CON:SEQUENZA+, unpack the ZIP file and double click on the executable named
“setup”. This will launch the setup utility that will install the program in a few easy steps. Note
that for the installation you will need administrator rights on your computer. By default it will be
installed to this new location:
After the installation has completed successfully you can launch CON:SEQUENZA+ using the
desktop icon or the Windows Start menu.
The software can be found in the CON:SEQUENZA+ folder. If you should experience problems with
CON:SEQUENZA+ at any time later, try starting the software with its default settings. This option is
available as a command from the Windows Start menu.
1.3.1 Initial Setup of the Program
CON:SEQUENZA+ has two language options: English and German. Normally the first time
CON:SEQUENZA+ is run it will detect the language of your operating system and use it
automatically. If you wish to change the default language, press F9 for the Options window and
switch to the Environment page. Then select the desired language from the Language drop-down
list at the very top. (See §4.3)
The installation package of CON:SEQUENZA+ includes the K&F line array series Sequenza and a
number of K&F loudspeakers. But if there are new or updated system definition files, that is, GLL
or DLL files, you may want to add them to your local database in order to make them available in
CON:SEQUENZA+. To do that press Ctrl+I or select Import System Definition File from the Edit
menu. A file dialog will open which allows you to select the GLL file of interest. Note that the
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program will make a full copy of this file so you don’t have to worry about removing it from the
original location after the import. (See §2.9)
1.4 User Interface
The software GUI is subdivided into 4 screen areas:
• Left: Project Properties (§2.1) and Object Properties, used for editing Line Arrays (§2.11)
and Loudspeakers (§2.14), Audience Zones (§2.5), Receivers (§3.6) and Section Planes
(§5.2).
• Top: Top View (§2.2), horizontal coverage. This allows selecting, entering and modifying
Audience Zones, Receivers, Line Arrays, Loudspeakers and Section Planes in the X-Ydomain.
• Bottom: Side View (§2.3), vertical coverage. This allows entering and modifying Audience
Areas for the selected Zone or changing the aiming and position of the selected Line Array
system. Additional tabs can be used to select Frequency Response (§3.7), Levels (§3.4) and
Distribution (§3.5). In the Extended mode, Time Response (§5.5), source Filter and Global
Filter (§5.3) are also available. For information on how to activate the Extended mode, see
§4.3.
• Right: Rigging view.
Generally, objects are added and selected in the Top View. Their properties can be viewed and
modified in the Properties Window as well as in the Side View. The Object Properties window
displays the properties of the selected object or, if no object is selected, a list of the objects in the
project. You can select an object directly from the list, and then see its properties with the Show
Properties button, or go back to the list with the Show Object List button.
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At the top of the main window you can find the menu bar, a panel displaying the Mapping
Toolbar (§3.1).
At the bottom is the status bar. On its left side readouts for mouse position are shown as you
navigate maps and graphs of many windows (see §1.5 for more). On its right side you find the
input voltage for the selected Sound Source (§3.2), error and warning count relative to Sound
Sources (§2.11) and Audience Zones (§2.5), and an icon showing the status of system definitions
(it should be green, if there is no error; red otherwise). Clicking on the errors and warnings you
can open a window listing them in detail; clicking on the system definitions status icon you can
restart scan or open Environment options (§4.3).
Note that you can move windows by grabbing their title bar or tab caption. You can also change
their size relative to the other windows. Use the command View | Reset Layout to return to the
original settings. Use the Store and Restore commands in the View menu to create and recall your
own window layouts.
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1.5 Program Conventions
1.5.1 Definition of Terms
There are four major types of objects in CON:SEQUENZA+:
• Audience Zones (§2.4): Audience Zones are two-dimensional shapes roughly circumscribing
the audience in one direction when looking from the stage. They contain one or more
Audience Areas (§2.5). An Audience Area is always part of a Zone; it is defined by starting
and ending points and is stretched out over the width of the Zone: this is the actual area
where the audience is located.
• Sound Source: Based on the related system definition (GLL), a Sound Source consists of one
or multiple point sources each of which is considered the origin of a sound wave.
Technically, a Sound Source can be one of two types, either a K&F Line Array (§2.10) or a
K&F Loudspeaker (§2.14). Depending on the properties of the Sound Source, the respective
GUI elements may be different.
• Receiver (§3.6): A Receiver is a representative point for detailed acoustic analysis, such as
with respect to the local time or frequency response. This item has no acoustic relevance.
• Section Plane: A Section Plane is a user-defined, virtual surface that can be added to the
project in order to view mapping data in an arbitrary vertical cutting plane (see §5.2). Like
the Receiver, this item is purely virtual and has no effect on the computational results.
A Project is the set of all objects as defined before combined with the settings associated with the
project such as regarding height limits or noise levels. Projects can be loaded from and saved to
files with the extension .cs+.
1.5.2 Coordinate System
The main coordinate system in CON:SEQUENZA+ uses XYZ coordinates. The origin marker is
displayed by default in the Top View (but can be hidden, see §4.1) and can be moved to another
location (§5.6). XYZ coordinates are used in the Object Properties window to indicate the position
of all objects. The current mouse location in Top View, Side View and Rigging windows is shown
in the status bar, along with the SPL value at that point, if an active Sound Source exists. For all
other windows that display a plot you can also see current mouse coordinates in the status bar.
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Another important coordinate system is DZ coordinates, used in Side View, Rigging and Levels
windows. The DZ origin marker can be optionally hidden in Side View as well. While Z still refers to
the elevation from the ground, D is relative to the position of the object whose section is displayed
in Side View, and reflects the distance, along the object’s main axis, from its reference point: the
location for Sound Sources (§2.10, §2.14) and Receivers (§3.6), the front center point for
Audience Zones (§2.4), or the starting point for Section Planes (§5.2). You can see how relative D
values relate to XY coordinates in the status bar, while you move your mouse over Side View,
Rigging and Levels windows.
The difference between positive and negative D values is given by a simple convention: in short,
Sound Sources are expected to be radiating from left to right in Side View, and the audience is
expected to face from right to left. For this reason, the Side View relative to Sound Sources is
always showing them pointing right, while relative to Receivers, Audience Zones and Section
Planes it shows them pointing left. If you have any doubt when using Audience Zones or Section
Planes, refer to the yellow arrow appearing in the middle of those objects when they are selected,
and pointing to their front center point (for Audience Zones) or starting point (for Section Planes):
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this is the same arrow that appears in the Side View, pointing left, and these two arrows are
oriented in the same direction.
1.6 Shortcut List
Here is a list of all keyboard shortcuts available in CON:SEQUENZA+, for quick reference.
Main window (always active):
F1 Help; opens this User’s Guide
F4 Show Object Properties or Object List
F9 Options (see Chapter 4)
F10 Scale to Fit (both Top View and Side View)
F11 Select Previous Object
F12 Select Next Object
Ctrl+N New Project
Ctrl+O Open Project (§2.8)
Ctrl+S Save Project (§2.7)
Ctrl+Shift+S Save Project As (§2.7)
Ctrl+Z Undo
Ctrl+Y Redo
Ctrl+Alt+L Add Sound Source (§2.10, §2.14)
Ctrl+I Import System Definition (§2.9)
Ctrl+T Change System (when a Sound Source is selected)
Ctrl+Shift+J J-Array setup (when a Line Array is selected, see §2.11)
Ctrl+Shift+L Lined setup (when a Line Array is selected, see §2.11)
Ctrl+Shift+C Curved setup (when a Line Array is selected, see §2.11)
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Ctrl+Shift+A Auto Splay (when a Line Array is selected, see §2.12)
Ctrl+F1 …
F12
Activate a stored layout: individual layout names and shortcuts can be seen in
the View menu (§1.4)
Ctrl+Alt+C The automatic mapping color legend is by default optimized for Top View: use
this shortcut to switch optimization between Top View and Side View
Top View (§2.2):
Ctrl+C Copy selected object
Ctrl+V Paste copied object
Ctrl+Shift+C Copy Areas (for Audience Zones, see §2.6), Copy Setup (for Sound Sources, see
§2.13)
Ctrl+Shift+V Paste Areas (for Audience Zones, see §2.6), Paste Setup (for Sound Sources, see
§2.13)
Del Delete selected object
Modifier keys (to be held while performing a mouse action):
Shift Measure distance (when dragging between two points in Top View or Side View)
Alt Ignore snapping in Top View and Side View (see §4.2 about snap settings)
Ctrl Free the Receiver currently being edited, ignore auto-anchoring (§3.6)
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2 Venue Definition and Line Arrays
This section gives a brief introduction into the main features you need to know in order to model a
small project with CON:SEQUENZA+. We will explain how to enter a simple venue and then add a
Sequenza line array system to it. More advanced topics will be covered in the subsequent chapters.
The next chapters will guide you through the main steps of editing a project. Whenever you make
a mistake, you can revert any modification to the project, or recover a reverted modification, with
the menu items Edit | Undo (Ctrl+Z) and Edit | Redo (Ctrl+Y).
In this chapter and in the following ones you will find some yellow frames along the way, just
like this one. These contain simple examples to help you learn how to use CON:SEQUENZA+.
You can choose to create your own project, or to work on this tutorial project and learn as
you progress.
2.1 Project Properties
The Project Properties window is located on the left side of the main window. It contains basic
information about the project (title, company, author, notes) as well as some settings that are
relevant for calculations (temperature, air pressure, humidity).
From here you can also access the Project Settings window, where you can edit ear height values
for Audience Areas. Three values are available: Sitting, Standing and Custom. When editing
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Audience Zones, you will be able to choose one of these values for each Area (§2.5). In the Project
Settings window you can also define default project-wide height limits for Sound Sources. When
editing a Source you can choose whether to apply project limits or to define individual limits
(§2.11).
When working in Extended mode, you can access the Noise Settings from a button within the
Project Properties window as well (§5.7). See §4.3 to learn how to activate Extended mode.
2.2 Top View
The Top View displays a plan of the venue, and contains all objects in the project: Audience Zones,
Sound Sources, Receivers and Section Planes. To select an object, click on it with the left mouse
button; to move it, just drag it around the window. In addition, objects have either aiming lines
(Sound Sources and Receivers) or yellow handles (Audience Zones, Section Planes) to rotate them
and resize them with a simple mouse drag.
The Top View toolbar is located on the top left corner of this window. It includes the following
buttons:
Zoom in
Fit the zoom to the project
Zoom out
Add Layout Picture (§5.1)
Add Audience Zone (Rectangle) (§2.4)
Add Audience Zone (Circular Sector) (§2.4)
Add Audience Zone (Annular Sector) (§2.4)
Add Audience Zone (Trapezoid) (§2.4)
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Add Audience Zone (Right-Angled Trapezoid) (§2.4)
Add Sound Source (§2.10, §2.14)
Add Section Plane (§5.2)
Add Receiver (§3.6)
To add an object, first click on the button in the toolbar corresponding to the desired object. Then
move the mouse to the desired location in the drawing, click the left button and drag with your
mouse until you are satisfied with the size and orientation of the object. If you click without
dragging, the object will be centered on mouse location and take on the default size and
orientation, which you can then modify later.
Clicking anywhere in the Top View with the right mouse button will open the context menu,
where you can perform any of the following actions:
• Add Audience Zone: inserts a new Audience Zone into the Project (Rectangle, Circular
Sector, Annular Sector, Trapezoid, Right-Angled Trapezoid), as an alternative method to
the toolbar buttons (§2.4).
• Add Sound Source: inserts a Line Array (§2.10) or a Loudspeaker (§2.14) into the Project,
as an alternative method to toolbar buttons.
• Copy (Ctrl+C): copies the selected object to the clipboard.
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• Paste (Ctrl+V): pastes any previously copied object into the Project.
• Delete (Del): removes the selected object.
• Copy Areas (Ctrl+Shift+C): when an Audience Zone is selected, stores its Audience Areas to
be subsequently applied to another Audience Zone (§2.6).
• Paste Areas (Ctrl+Shift+V): when an Audience Zone is selected, and Audience Areas have
been copied from another Zone, pastes them to the selected Zone (§2.6).
• Copy Setup (Ctrl+Shift+C): when a Sound Source is selected, stores its setup to be
subsequently applied to a compatible Source (§2.13).
• Paste Setup (Ctrl+Shift+V): when a Sound Source is selected, and a setup has been copied
from a compatible Source, applies it to the selected Source (§2.13).
Please note that copying objects, copying Audience Areas and copying Sound Source setups are
three independent functions that do not override or affect each other. However, copying objects
and copying pictures (see below) both use the Windows clipboard, and will override each other.
• Edit: performs an action affecting the selected object. You can Flip Horizontally, Flip
Vertically, Rotate Clockwise, Rotate Counterclockwise.
• Save Picture to: saves the content of the Top View as an image file (§3.10).
• Copy Picture to Clipboard: copies the content of the Top View as an image in the Windows
clipboard, to be pasted into any Windows application that supports it.
• Move Origin Here: specifies a new origin for the Project coordinates (§5.6).
• Properties (F4): when an object is selected, shows the Object Properties window for that
object if it is hidden and brings it to the top.
• Object List (F4): when no object is selected, shows the object list if it is hidden and brings it
to the top.
Note that all drawing and editing options snap by default to the displayed grid; this can be
changed in the options (§4.2). Holding the Alt key will also temporarily deactivate the snap to the
grid. Holding the Shift key before dragging with the mouse will measure any distance in length
and time delay.
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On the bottom right corner you can see a miniature map of the whole project, displaying the
portion currently being viewed: this small frame can be collapsed if you don’t need it. To the left of
it, a Mapping Progress Bar will appear whenever mapping data are being calculated. The Mapping
Legend appears by default on the right edge of the Top View whenever color mapping is active
and visible, but it can also be collapsed by clicking on the three small triangles in the upper left of
its window.
2.3 Side View
The Side View has an interface similar to the Top View, except it will not show the whole project,
but only a vertical section of it, referring in general to the selected object. The section is taken
along the central axis of the object: for Audience Zones this is the line going through the
orientation arrow displayed in the Top View, for Sound Sources and Receivers it is the aiming line,
and for Section Planes the plane itself.
To understand in which direction you are looking when an Audience Zone or a Section Plane is
selected, use the yellow arrow in the top left corner: it replicates the arrow appearing on these
two types of objects when they are selected, and points in the same direction. When a Sound
Source is selected, the Side View displays it to the left, with the aiming line oriented rightwards;
the aiming line points leftwards instead, in the case of Receivers.
You can also see the related Side View of an object which is not selected. Use the Lock symbol
in the upper right corner of the Side View window to keep the side view of an object while
manipulating another one. This is helpful, for example, when you want to adjust the location of a
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