Pioneer VSA-AX10Ai User Manual

AUDIO/VIDEO MULTI-CHANNEL
AMPLIFIER

VSA-AX10Ai

Advanced MCACC
PC Display Application Software

About this manual

These are the Operating Instructions for the PC Display
Application Software, which displays on your PC the listening
room reverberation frequency characteristics measured by the
Advanced MCACC function of your VSA-AX10Ai.
It explains everything you need to know to use the application,
from installation to troubleshooting. You will need to operate the
amplifier to use this application, so please refer also to the
Operating Instructions supplied with the amplifier.

Operating Instructions

About the Advanced MCACC Application

The Advanced MCACC application software allows you to view graphs of the reverb characteristics of your
listening environment on a PC. It works in the same way as “Reverb View” in the amplifier’s “Acoustic Cal
EQ Professional” function (see page 58 in the amplifier’s Operating Instructions), but the graphs are more
attractive and easier to understand by using a PC.

Requirements for using the application on your PC

• Operating system must be Microsoft Windows® XP, Windows® 2000, Windows® Millennium Edition,
Windows® 98 Second Edition, or Windows® NT 4.0 (Service pack 6).

• CPU must be at least Pentium 3 / 300MHz or AMD K6 / 300MHz (or equivalent) with at least 128MB
of memory, and your monitor must be able to display a minimum resolution of 800x600.

• An RS-232C port connector is necessary for graphical output. Refer to the PC’s operating
instructions and/or the PC manufacturer for more information on making the proper port settings.

Microsoft Windows® XP, Windows® 2000, Windows® Millennium Edition, Windows® 98 Second Edition, and
Windows® NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, Inc.

Main features of the application

1. Displays 3D graphs of the reverb frequency characteristics of your room.

Acoustic calibration by MCACC made on the amplifier itself is not reflected in these graphs.

2. Allows you to view graphs in a number of different formats.

3. Allows you to save the measured reverb characteristics data on your PC.

4. Allows you to make memos about the conditions in your room when you made the measurements.

5. Allows you to print graphs.

Things you can accomplish with this application

1. Advanced EQ Setup, which you can do with the Manual Pro function of the amplifier (see page 58

in the amplifier’s Operating Instructions), allows you to choose the optimum time period for auto EQ
setup. You can use the graphs displayed by the application as a guide in choosing the best time
period for your room.
For details, see

2. Skewed reverb frequency characteristics in your listening room can prevent you from enjoying an

accurate sound field. The graphs displayed by this application are a powerful tool because they
allow you to check these reverb frequency characteristics at a glance. You can also check the
effectiveness of steps that you take to improve the acoustics of your listening room, for example
installing sound absorbent material.
For details, see

How to Interpret the Graphs

How to Interpret the Graphs

(page 13).

(page 13).

2

Installing the Application

Install this application on your PC by using the downloaded installer.

You will find the installer in the folder that you specified when you downloaded the application.

1 Double click the “PioneerAdvancedMCACC_e_ver_*_*.exe” file .

The number after “ver” in the filename is the version number of the installer.

2 Click “Next.”

3 Click “Yes” (if you agree to the terms of the License Agreement).

The destination selection screen of the installer appears.

ContinueContinue

Troubleshooting

If an error occurs when you double click and you are unable to proceed with the installation.

3

Installing the Application (Continued)

4 Click “Next.”

The application is installed in the indicated folder, and a shortcut icon is created on the desktop. To
select a different folder to install the application, click “Browse.”

5 Click “Finish.”

The installation is complete. You exit automatically from the installer.

4

Operations on the Amplifier and Cable Connections

To display reverberation characteristics measured with the amplifier on your PC, you need to connect the
amplifier to the PC.

1 Connect the amplifier to your PC with a RS-232C cable.

Caution

Before making or changing connections, switch off the power and disconnect the power cord from
the power outlet. Plugging in components should be the last connection you make with your system.

RS-232CRS-232C

AUDIO/VIDEO MULTI-CHANNEL RECEIVER

VSX-59TXi

LISTENING MODE SELECTOR

VIDEO AUDIO

VIDEO

DVR/VCR1 VCR2 VCR3 CD TUNER PHONO

TURN/PUSH

CD-R/

MULTI CH

TAPE1/MD

INPUT

MASTER VOLUME

VSA-AX10Ai

Female-female
cross cable

PC

Note

• The type of cable to use is a female-female cross cable. Different manufacturers use different names
to refer to this type of cable. Sometimes it is called an “interlink” cable, and sometimes it is called a
“reverse” cable.

Pin-out diagram of RS-232C cable to connect amplifier and PC

2
3
4
5
6
7
8

2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Dsub 9-pin female Dsub 9-pin female Dsub 9-pin female Dsub 9-pin female

2
3
4
5
6
7
8

3
2
6
5
4
8
7

ContinueContinue

5

Operations on the Amplifier and Cable Connections (Continued)

2 On the amplifier, select “Acoustic Cal EQ Professional” then “Manual Pro.” and

measure the reverberation characteristics of your room.

(For details, see pages 58 and 82 of the amplifier’s Operating Instructions.)
Reverberation characteristics can also be measured with “Auto Pro.”, but it takes longer than with
“Manual Pro.” because all steps up to EQ Setup are done automatically.

3 In the on-screen display, select “PC Output”.

The message “Operate a PC” appears and the amplifier enters transmission standby mode. It is ready
to send data to your PC.

2.4. Acoustic Cal EQ Pro.
Manual Pro.

[ Reverb Measurement ]

[ Reverb View ]

_

[ PC Output ]

[ Advanced EQ Setup ]

[Return]

2.4. Acoustic Cal EQ Pro.
PC Output

Operate a PC

[Return]

This completes the preparations for sending the measurement data to your PC.
(To send the data, proceed to the next section

Application Operations

.)

Notes

• The amplifier temporarily keeps the measured reverberation frequency data in its internal memory while
waiting to send the data to the PC. The data is erased from memory when you switch the amplifier off.

• “PC Output” does not appear in the on-screen display when the amplifier does not have any
reverberation frequency data to send to the PC.

6

Application Operations

This section explains operations that you do in the application, from receiving measurement data to
displaying graphs and saving the data.

Receiving measurement data

1 Double click the application shortcut icon on the PC desktop.

You can also start the application by selecting “Program” = “Pioneer Corporation” = “Advanced
MCACC” from the “Start” menu.
The application starts.

2 Select “Receive” under “File” on the menu bar.

3 Select the number of the COM port to which the RS-232 cable is connected and

click “OK.”

If you do not know which COM port number to select, try selecting each port in turn, beginning with
“COM1.”

COM port selection box

Data transmission starts. (It should finish in about 10 seconds.)

When reception finishes, graphs of the received data appear.

Note

Refer the operating instructions of your PC for more information about COM port settings.

Troubleshooting

If an error occurs when you select “Receive” and no data is sent.

ContinueContinue

7

Application Operations (Continued)

Graph displays (names and functions of parts)

When data is received, the first display to appear shows graphs for all channels (ALL display).
This section explains the parts shown in ALL display and individual display.

ALL display

1

2

Individual display (Example: Front L channel)

3

4

8

5

9
10

11

6
7

ContinueContinue

8