Merlin QUICKBUILD User Guide
QuickBUILD
QuickMAP Creation Software
Users Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION
An Overview of the ISP-100 Hardware
Introduction to the ISP-100 MAPTool Software
SECTION 2 – INSTALLATION
Computer Requirements for running MAPTool
Installing MAPTool on Your Computer
SECTION 3 – ISP-100 DSP ARCHITECTURE
ISP-100 Input/Output Capabilities
DSP “Processing Engine” I/O Interconnect
SECTION 4 – BUILDING A QuickMAP
The Device Menu
Monitoring DSP Resource Meters
Selecting and Placing Inputs (Gain)
Selecting and Placing Outputs (Dithe r)
Selecting and Placing Processing Devices
Editing Device Parameters
1. Filter Tool Parameters
2. Crossover Parameters
3. Delay Parameters
4. Compressor, Limiter, and Gate Side Chain Parameters
5. Renaming Devices
Moving Devices
Deleting Devices
Wiring Devices
Choosing a Line Style
Wiring the Selector (Router) Device
Wiring the Combiner (Mixer) Device
Meter Dialog Window
Naming Outputs
DSP Resource Errors
Wiring Errors
Delay Compensation
Saving and Opening .qms Files
SECTION 5 – Documenting Your System
Defining System Description
Printing System Block Diagram
Printing System Resources and Device Usage
SECTION 6 – Advanced Design
(Under Construction)
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SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION
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An Overview of the ISP-100
The ISP-100 is the first in a line of high quality signal processing products from
Telex Communication’s Merlin division. Merlin represents a continued
commitment to understanding and meeting our customers needs through the
development of innovative and intuitive solutions.
The ISP-100 is designed with flexibility in mind, providing a powerful tool that
allows you to adapt to ever-changing markets and applications. The utmost in
quality is also a prime directive in the design and manufacture of this, as well as
all future products from Merlin. A versatile platform, utilizing the latest in DSP
technology, allows Merlin to quickly adapt to new market demands and
continually changing improvements and advancements in the semiconductor
industry.
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A series of pre-defined, signal path topologies, called QuickMaps are offered,
which enable the designer to quickly define the system’s processing structure.
This approach allows for a continuation of new processing solutions and/or
variations, providing “market specific” templates to help minimize your design
time, and increase your profit. The introduction of the QuickBUILD design
software offers the designer or installer the ability to create custom mappings in a
matter of minutes.
Since this single rack space unit can replace a multitude of traditional analog
components, time and money savings are realized in reduced labor costs for wire
harnessing, rack size and assembly, and minimized failure due to connection
solder joints. As a result of this consolidation of processing, overall system
performance and audio integrity is greatly increased.
An ergonomically designed software interface called VUE-IT provides graphic
control panels with the “conventional” look of signal processors, as well as an
advanced and easy to use filter tool, which graphically displays the configuration
of your filter block settings.
One of the most impressive and unique features of the ISP-100 is the
configurable input/output (I/O). This feature allows the designer or installer to
select between analog input or output modules, and/or a digital input/output
combination module. These modules are two channel units and can be
intermixed between analog and digital, providing a variety of I/O combinations.
The ISP-100 supports a maximum of 4 inputs, with a maximum of eight outputs,
thus offering combinations like 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 4x4, 4x6, or, 2 in digital x 8 out
analog, and so on. The current series of QuickMaps support most of these I/O
configurations, with more on the drawing board to be released soon.
Because of our commitment to providing the utmost in audio quality, the
dynamic range of the ISP-100 rivals anything currently on the market. The Audio
Precision 2, the testing standard for digital audio equipment, resolves signals
down to –125 dBFS; at this level the ISP-100 is still performing exceptionally.
Propagation time is minimized in the ISP-100. No more than two milliseconds of
delay is introduced from any analog input to analog output
The ISP-100 is flexible. A General Purpose Interface (GPI) allows multip le
system configurations to be selected without the need of a PC to control the unit.
This is accomplished through user-supplied contact closures. This interface
allows users to change system settings directly and/or scroll through various
settings.
full processing.
with
Introduction to the ISP-100 QuickBUILD Design Software
The Merlin ISP-100 QuickBUILD design software is a companion to the ISP100 VUE-IT setup and control software. This software allows a system
designer or installer the ability to create application specific, custom QuickMAPs
in a short period of time. These “mappings”, or audio topologies, can be created
from scratch, or, existing QuickMAPs can be loaded and then modified if you only
require a variation of a previously built map. Modifying existing maps can
obviously save a great deal of time.
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When building a system in QuickBUILD, you will be placing blocks on your
screen that represent the various processing devices available. These are
representations only, and do not contain device control objects. You will not be
able to make control changes until you are running your design in the VUEIT software. Since the purpose of this software is to simply design an “audio
map”, this should not present any problems.
The QuickBUILD software is a 32 bit application and can only be run on
Windows 95 or higher operating system. This software is designed to run
independent of the ISP-100 hardware, allowing system designs to be created
prior to receiving hardware. We do however suggest that you test any new
mappings by downloading them into to the ISP-100 hardware prior to installation
for assurance that there are no errors in the QuickBUILD design. The
QuickBUILD software will alert you of possible DSP resource errors during the
design phase, but we feel that testing the hardware is a prudent safety
precaution.
An additional net result of the development of this software was a more efficient
use of DSP resources, allowing for additional processing capabilities. Added to
the exceptional features of the ISP-100 har dware, we feel that this combination
will provide you with a powerful and flexible tool to cost-effectively solve many of
your installation needs.
It will be very important to understand the DSP input/output architecture of the
ISP-100 in order to fully utilize DSP resources. Please read the subsequent
section called DSP “Processing Engine” I/O Interconnect.
SECTION 2 – QuickBUILD SOFTWARE
INSTALLATION
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Minimum Computer Requirements for Running QuickBUILD
An IBM
running Microsoft Windows 95 (or higher) operator system.
8 MB of ram.
5 MB of available hard drive space.
3.5 high-density disk drive.
Monitor resolution of 640x480, 256 colors.
A mouse or other pointing device supported by Windows.
Communications port with 16550 UART recommended. (Required for VUE-
IT software only. Not necessary for QuickBUILD by itself.)
compatible computer with an 80486 DX2 66 (or higher) processor,
Installing QuickBUILD on Your Computer
As previously mentioned, QuickBUILD is a 32 bit application and can only
be run on a Windows
Close all programs before installing QuickBUILD software.
Insert the QuickBUILD installation disk in your 3.5-inch floppy drive.
From the Windows
Select Run from the Start menu.
Type A:\setup.exe.
Click the “OK” button.
Follow the QuickBUILD software installation instructions as they appear on
the screen.
95 (or higher) operating system.
95 desktop, click Start.
SECTION 3 – ISP-100 DSP ARCHITECTURE
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ISP-100 Input/Output Capabilities
As mentioned previously, one of the most impressive and unique features of the
ISP-100 is the configurable input/output (I/O). This feature allows the designer or
installer to select between analog input or output modules, and/or digital
input/output combinati on modul es to accommodate specific applicati on ne eds
without having to pay for unused I/O. These modules are two channel units and
can be intermixed between analog and digital, providing a variety of I/O
combinations. When using analog modules, the ISP-100 supports a maximum of
4 inputs (MIM modules), with a maximum of eight outputs (MOM modules), thus
offering combinations like 2x2, 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 4x4, and 4x6. If an MDM-1 digital
module is installed in slot 2, a 4x8 I/O configuration can be achieved.
Here is a look at the I/O module bays of the ISP-100. It will be helpful to have a
“mental picture” of the I/O structure of the ISP-100 when designing systems in
QuickBUILD.
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SLOT 5
INPUTS/OUTPUTS
SLOT 1SLOT 2SLOT 3SLOT 4
1a 1b2a 2b3a 3b4a 4b5a 5b
Figure 1.
SLOT 1 – Input only (MIM or MDM)
SLOT 2 – Input and/or Output (MIM, MOM, or MDM)
SLOT 3 – Output Only (MOM or MDM)
SLOT 4 – Output Only (MOM or MDM)
SLOT 5 – Output Only (MOM or MDM)
ANALOG AND DIGITAL I/O SLOT CONFIGURATIONS:
2 X 2 Input= SLOT 1 Output= SLOT 5. 2 X 4 Input= SLOT1 Output= SLOT 3, 5.
2 X 6 Input= SLOT 1 Output= SLOTS 3, 4, 5. 2 X 8 Input= SLOT1 Output= SLOTS 2, 3, 4, 5.
4 X 6 Input= SLOTS 1,2 Output= SLOTS 3,4,5.
DIGITAL I/O CARD – SLOT 2 CONFIGURATION:
4 X 8 Input= SLOTS 1,2* Output= SLOTS 3,4,5.
*MDM-1 DIGITAL CARD
Understanding this I/O structure will also be helpful when specifying or ordering
ISP-100 hardware.
DSP “Processing Engine” I/O Interconnect
The ISP-100’s processing engine is comprised of three Motorola 56004 DSP
chips. There is a specific input/output interconnect between these chips that
needs to be understood before working with the QuickBUILD software. Here is
a diagram of the DSP interconnects:
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(*Slot 2 Can Be Input and/or Output)
Figure 2.
As you can see from the diagram, DSP 1 is responsible for accepting input
signals from slots 1 and 2, inputs 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b.
DSP 2 is responsible for output on slots 2 and 3, output 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b.
DSP 3 is responsible for output on slots 4 and 5, output 4a, 4b, 5a, and 5b.
The interconnects between DSP chips are labeled by TX and RX designators.
The “T” in TX stands for “Transmit” and the “R” in RX stands for Receive. Each
Motorola 56004 is capable of four inputs, or receive channels, and six outputs, or
transmit channels. They are labeled as follows:
INPUTS: OUTPUTS:
RX0L TX0L
RX0R TX0R
RX1L TX1L
RX1R TX1R
TX2L
TX2R
To simplify the diagram, only the TX designators for DSP 1 and one pair of TX
designators for DSP 2 have been labeled.
When you begin wiring devices together in QuickBUILD, the software will
automatically choose the appropriate TX and RX path for you. Occasionally you
may have to “force” a connect path and understanding these terms and
interconnect structure will be helpful. This procedure will be discussed in detail in
the Advanced Design section of this manual.
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SECTION 4 – BUILDING A QuickMAP
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Monitoring DSP Resource Meters
As described in the previous section, the ISP-100 utilizes three DSP chip s to
generate the various processing device algorithms. In the QuickBUILD
software, you will be shown a series of DSP resource meters for each of the
three chips. These meters provide a real-time estimate of DSP resource usage,
thus giving you a guideline on how many devices you can place in a given chip.
An accurate resource accounting may be requested from the “QMap
Information” report found in the “Edit” menu. Keep in mind that the DSP
resource meters are only estimates of DSP resource usage, and all designs
should be periodically monitored in the “QMap Information” report to know that
your design will “fit” within the DSP capabilities of the ISP-100. Here is what the
DSP resource meters look like:
Figure 3.
Figure 3’s meter settings represent your total resources available for all three
chips. (This is what your resource meters look like when you begin a new
QuickMAP.) X, Y, and P are DSP memory resources (measured in words), and C
represents DSP cycles. The “C” meter, or DSP cycles, will be your most
commonly watched resource. We will discuss X, Y, and P memory in more detail
in the Advanced Design section of this manual. A certain amount of resources
are necessary for the operating system to function, which accounts for the partial
usage of each meter. As a “rule of thumb”, we do not recommend that you
allow your DSP cycles to fall below 100.
When you select a device to be placed on the screen, you will be given a choice
as to which DSP chip it will reside in. As soon as the device is placed on the
screen, you will immediately see the DSP usage impact of that device. The
devices will be color-coded as to which DSP they reside in. Devices in DSP #1
will be Yellow. Devices in DSP #2 will be Green. And Devices in DSP #3 will
be Blue.
The Device Menu
You can select a device to be placed on the screen from either the Components
menu in the Menu Tool Bar. (The Component menu can also be accessed by
clicking your right mouse button while your mouse pointer is anywhere on the
white area of the screen.)
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Figure 4.
Or devices can be selected directly from the Tool Bar:
Figure 5.
As you can see in figure 5, some of the device names are truncated for space
considerations.
To select a device, simply click on the device with the left mouse button. A dialog
box will appear requesting certain information from you. Most of the time, the
dialog box will be asking which DSP you wish the device to be placed in. We will
examine the various dialog boxes for each device in the next three chapters.
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