miniDSP C-DSP 6X8 User Manual

C-DSP 6X8

6-IN 8-OUT IN-CAR AUDIO PROCESSOR

User Manual

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 1

Revision

Description

Date

V0.1

Preliminary version

28 August 2015

V1.0

First release

9 September 2015

Revision history

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 2

CONTENTS

Important Information ......................................................................................................................................... 5

System Requirements ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Disclaimer/Warning ......................................................................................................................................... 5

Warranty Terms ............................................................................................................................................... 6

FCC Class B Statement...................................................................................................................................... 6

CE Mark Statement .......................................................................................................................................... 6

A note on this manual ...................................................................................................................................... 6

1 Product Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 7

1.1 Sample usage ....................................................................................................................................... 7

1.2 The miniDSP concept ............................................................................................................................ 8

1.3 Plugin feature summary ....................................................................................................................... 8

2 The miniDSP workflow................................................................................................................................... 9

3 Installation and setup .................................................................................................................................. 11

3.1 Software installation .......................................................................................................................... 11

3.1.1 Windows .................................................................................................................................... 11

3.1.2 Mac OS X .................................................................................................................................... 12

3.2 Hardware connectivity ....................................................................................................................... 13

3.2.1 Analog inputs .............................................................................................................................. 13

3.2.2 Digital input ................................................................................................................................ 14

3.2.3 Analog outputs ........................................................................................................................... 14

3.2.4 DC power .................................................................................................................................... 15

3.2.5 Remote ....................................................................................................................................... 16

3.2.6 USB ............................................................................................................................................. 16

3.3 Synchronizing with the processor ....................................................................................................... 17

4 Configuring the processor............................................................................................................................ 18

4.1 Input tab ............................................................................................................................................ 19

4.2 Routing tab......................................................................................................................................... 20

4.3 Output tab ......................................................................................................................................... 20

4.3.1 Channel strip layout .................................................................................................................... 21

4.3.2 Channel label .............................................................................................................................. 21

4.3.3 Gain control and level monitoring ............................................................................................... 21

4.3.4 Crossover.................................................................................................................................... 22

4.3.5 Parametric EQ............................................................................................................................. 24

4.3.6 Time delay .................................................................................................................................. 26

4.3.7 Invert and mute .......................................................................................................................... 26

4.4 Custom biquad programming ............................................................................................................. 27

4.4.1 What’s a “biquad? ...................................................................................................................... 27

4.4.2 Using custom biquad programming ............................................................................................ 27

4.4.3 Biquad design software............................................................................................................... 29

4.5 Working with configurations .............................................................................................................. 30

4.5.1 Online and offline mode ............................................................................................................. 30

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 3

4.5.2 Selecting a configuration ............................................................................................................ 30

4.5.3 Saving and loading configurations ............................................................................................... 31

4.5.4 Loading configurations from microSD card .................................................................................. 31

4.5.5 Restoring to defaults................................................................................................................... 32

4.6 Keyboard shortcuts ............................................................................................................................ 32

5 Using the C-DSP 6x8 .................................................................................................................................... 33

5.1 Status indicators ................................................................................................................................. 33

5.2 Controls ............................................................................................................................................. 33

5.3 Infrared remote control ...................................................................................................................... 34

6 Additional information ................................................................................................................................ 35

6.1 Specifications ..................................................................................................................................... 35

6.2 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................................. 36

6.3 MCU firmware update ........................................................................................................................ 37

6.4 Obtaining support .............................................................................................................................. 37

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 4

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please read the following information before use. In case of any questions, please contact miniDSP via the support portal at minidsp.desk.com.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

To configure the miniDSP audio processor, you will require a Windows PC or Apple Mac OS X computer with the following minimum specification:

Windows

 PC with 1GHz or higher processor clock speed. Intel® Pentium®/Celeron® family, or AMD K6®/AMD

Athlon®/AMD Duron® family, or compatible processor recommended.

 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher  Keyboard and mouse or compatible pointing device  USB 2.0 port  Microsoft• ® Windows® Vista® SP1/ XP pro SP2/Win7/Win8.1  Microsoft• ® .NET framework v3.5 or later  Adobe AIR environment (latest version)  Adobe Flash player (latest version)

Mac OS X

 Intel-based Mac with 1 GHz or higher processor clock speed  512 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher  Keyboard and mouse or compatible pointing device  USB 2.0 port  Mac OS X 10.4 or higher  Adobe AIR environment (latest version)  Adobe Flash player (latest version)

DISCLAIMER/WARNING

miniDSP cannot be held responsible for any damage that may result from the improper use of this product or incorrect configuration of its settings. As with any other product, we recommend that you carefully read this manual and other technical notes to ensure that you fully understand how to operate this product. The miniDSP audio processor is a powerful tool, and misuse or misconfiguration, such as incorrectly set gains or excessive boost, can produce signals that may damage your audio system.

As a general guideline, you should perform the initial configuration of the miniDSP audio processor before enabling audio through any connected output device or amplification. Doing so will help ensure that the software is correctly configured.

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 5

Finally, note that the miniDSP audio processor is a very flexible device, and many of the questions we receive at the tech support department are already answered in this user manual and in the online application notes on the miniDSP.com website. So please take the time to carefully read this user manual and the online technical support. Thanks for your understanding!

WARRANTY TERMS

miniDSP Ltd warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the invoice date. Our warranty does not cover failure of the product due to incorrect connection or installation, improper or undocumented use, unauthorized servicing, modification or alteration of the unit in any way, or any usage outside of that recommended in this manual. If in doubt, contact miniDSP prior to use.

FCC CLASS B STATEMENT

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

 This device may not cause harmful interference.  This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired

operation.

Warning: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.  Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.  Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.  Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Notice: Shielded interface cable must be used in order to comply with emission limits.

Notice: Changes or modification not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the

user’s authority to operate the equipment.

CE MARK STATEMENT

The C-DSP 6x8 has passed the test performed according to European Standard EN 55022 Class B.

A NOTE ON THIS MANUAL

This User Manual is designed for reading in both print and on the computer. If printing the manual, please print double-sided. The embedded page size is 8 ½” x 11”. Printing on A4 paper will result in a slightly reduced size.

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 6

1 PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Thank you for choosing the miniDSP C-DSP 6x8 audio processor. The miniDSP C-DSP 6x8 is a powerful and flexible digital audio processor specifically designed for in-car audio systems. It features:

 Isolated power supply designed for in-car use  Stereo digital S/PDIF input (RCA connector)  Four analog input channels, by terminal block (8 VRMS) or RCA connector (4 VRMS)  Eight analog output channels (RCA)  Volume control by external wired remote or infrared remote  Advanced audio tuning on every channel:

o Parametric EQ (peaking/high shelf/low shelf) o Butterworth and Linkwitz-Riley crossovers up to 48 dB/octave o Individual time delay and level adjustment o Advanced biquad programming for an unlimited range of filters and crossover types

 Matrix mixer for flexible channel assignment and configuration  Real-time configuration of all processing parameters  Four on-board presets, selectable by external wired remote or infrared remote

1.1 SAMPLE USAGE

The C-DSP 6x8 typically connects to a head unit with four output channels, and directly drives power amplifiers for multiple loudspeakers or drivers. Because of its flexible internal routing, the C-DSP 6x8 can be used in a variety of situations involving a mix of passive speakers, active speakers, and subwoofers.

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 7

C-DSP 6x8 plugin

Number of digital input channels1

Number of analog input channels

Number of analog output channels

Digital input sample rate

44.1 to 192 kHz

Internal sample rate

48 kHz

Number of PEQ bands per block

Crossover order

6 to 48 dB/octave

Compressor block

Maximum per-channel time delay

15 ms

1.2 THE MINIDSP CONCEPT

The miniDSP concept is “one hardware unit + one software plugin = audio processing solution.” This concept

leverages the inherent flexibility of DSP (digital signal processing) to deliver a range of flexible but cost-effective solutions.

Hardware unit

In this case, the hardware unit is the miniDSP C-DSP 6x8.

Software plugin

The software plugin is installed on your PC or Mac, and determines the processing that the DSP

will perform. It provides a friendly user interface, and downloads instructions into the miniDSP hardware unit that tell it how to process the audio signal.

Other platforms

miniDSP makes many other boxed and kit hardware units with analog, stereo digital, and

multichannel digital (HDMI) connections. Some units feature inbuilt Class D amplification. See the full range of miniDSP products.

1.3 PLUGIN FEATURE SUMMARY

The table below summarizes the key features of the C-DSP 6x8 plugin:

*1 two channels = single stereo digital signal

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 8

2 THE MINIDSP WORKFLOW

We strongly recommend taking a methodical approach to your new miniDSP audio processor. Remember that the audio processor is a powerful tool, and incorrect settings can potentially cause damage to your system. Please follow the steps below carefully.

1. Download and install the plugin

When your order ships, your ordered plugin will be available from the User Downloads section

of the miniDSP website. Download and install your plugin, as described in Software installation on page 11.

2. Familiarize yourself with the plugin

Before connecting your computer to the processor, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the user

interface presented by the plugin. Click on and explore each of the tabs (Input, Routing, and Output). For more information, see Configuring the processor starting on page 18.

At this time, the plugin is still in offline mode, so any changes you make will not be downloaded

into the miniDSP hardware. Since we will reset all of the processing parameters in the next step, you can feel free to experiment at this point.

3. Reset all parameters

From the Restore menu, select the Factory Default option. This will reset all processing

parameters back to the defaults and ensure that you have a "clean slate" for the next step.

4. Perform initial configuration

Use the plugin to set up an initial audio processing configuration as intended for your

application. For example, typical things that can be done at this point are to:

 Set the labels of input and output channels  Mute unused input and output channels  Set crossover frequencies and slopes  Set up any essential equalization

5. Save configuration

At this point, save your initial configuration to a file. A configuration is the set of all audio

processing parameters. You should save your configuration to a file on a regular basis, to ensure that you do not lose your work if you inadvertently restore the miniDSP to default settings. For more information on configurations, see Working with configurations on page 30.

6. Make audio connections

With the initial configuration done and now that you are familiar with the various controls, it’s

time to connect the miniDSP C-DSP 6x8 into your system. Ensure that all power is turned off when making audio connections. See Hardware connectivity on page 13.

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 9

7. Go into online mode

Apply power to the processor. (See DC power on page 15 for more information. Leave other

equipment turned off at this stage.) Connect the USB cable to your computer, click on the Connect button, and select the Synchronize option. If all goes well, you are now in online mode, and any changes that you now make in the plugin user interface will be immediately sent to the processor.

Before proceeding, click on each Configuration preset button (Config 1, 2, etc.) to ensure that all

presets have been synchronized and/or set to defaults.

For more information, see Synchronizing with the processor on page 17.

8. Initial audio check

Power on your connected equipment, first on the input side (e.g. head unit), then on the output

side (e.g. power amps). Turn the volume on your C-DSP 6x8 down low (view the Master Volume display in the plugin while turning the knob counter-clockwise) and start playing music or a pink noise test signal. Gradually increase the volume until you hear audio quietly coming from the speakers. Verify that the plugin is performing the intended function. (For example, if implementing a two-way crossover, confirm that the tweeter is playing high frequencies, and that the woofer is playing low frequencies.)

9. Fine-tune your configuration

With your initial setup running, you can now proceed to fine-tune and optimize your system.

You will need to perform acoustic measurements and use the configuration screens to adjust processing parameters.

Be sure to save your configuration on a regular basis while working on fine-tuning it.

Configurations can be saved to different files, in order to archive different versions, or to enable auditioning of alternative configurations.

10. Continue to operate offline

With your miniDSP processor configured, you can continue to operate in offline mode—that is,

without the computer connected. To do so, simply disconnect the USB cable. The processor “remembers” the configuration last set, and will continue to operate without the computer.

Note: while in offline mode, the configuration can still be modified in the plugin interface. These

changes will not be downloaded to the processor until it is synchronized again. See Working with

configurations on page 30.

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 10

3 INSTALLATION AND SETUP

3.1 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

When your order ships, your ordered plugin (or plugins) will be available from the User Downloads section of the miniDSP website. You will need to be logged into the website with the account you created when purchasing. The User Downloads link is visible from the dropdown menu at the top right of the website page:

Navigate to the miniDSP Plug-ins section of User Downloads, then download the zip file under the heading C- DSP. Double-click on it to unzip it. Then follow the installation procedure below according to your computer type.

Note: the Adobe Air framework may need a network connection the first time the plugin is used. If the plugin does not start properly, see Troubleshooting.

3.1.1 Windows

Prior to installing the miniDSP software, download and install the following programs. You will need to accept the license agreements in order to successfully complete the installation.

 Microsoft .NET framework (version 3.5 or later)  Latest version of Adobe Flash  Latest version of Adobe Air

If you haven’t updated these recently, you should download and install the latest versions prior to running the

miniDSP install program.

To install the miniDSP software, open the Windows folder of the download and double-click on the C-DSP-

6x8.exe program. We recommend accepting the default installation settings. Once installation is complete, the C-DSP 6x8 plugin will automatically start. Since the plugin checks for a network connection when starting up, a

warning such as the following may appear. In this case, click on Allow access.

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 11

3.1.2 Mac OS X

On versions of OS X from 10.7 (Lion) and later, you will need to inform the GateKeeper program that it is OK to install and run this software. Go to System Preferences, then click on Security & Privacy and select the General tab:

1. Click on the padlock icon in the lower left corner and enter your password, in order that you can make

changes to the settings.

2. Under the text “Allow Applications downloaded from:”, click on “Anywhere.”

Then, download and install the following programs. You will need to accept the license agreements in order to successfully complete the installation:

 Latest version of Adobe Flash  Latest version of Adobe Air