RCF HDL6-A Users Manual

OWNER MANUAL

HDL 6-A

HDL 12-AS

ACTIVE
LINE ARRAY MODULE

ACTIVE SUBWOOFER
ARRAY MODULE

INTRODUCTION

The demands of modern sound reinforcement systems are higher than ever before. Besides pure performance - high sound
pressure levels, constant directivity and sound quality other aspects are important for rental and production companies such
as reduced weight and ease of use to optimize transport and rigging time.
HDL 6-A is changing the concept of large format arrays, providing primary performances to an extended market of
professional users.

GENERAL
SAFETY
INSTRUCTION
AND WARNINGS

IMPORTANT NOTE

Before connecting using or rigging the system, please read this
instruction manual carefully and keep it on hand for future reference.
The manual is to be considered an integral part of the product
and must accompany the system when it changes ownership as a
reference for correct installation and use as well as for the safety
precautions. RCF S.p.A. will not assume any responsibility for the
incorrect installation and/or use of the product.

WARNING

• To prevent the risk of fire or electric shock, never expose
this equipment to rain or humidity.

• The system TT+ line arrays should be rigged and flown by
professional riggers or trained personnel under professional riggers’
supervision.

• Before rigging the system carefully read this manual.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

1. All the precautions, in particular the safety ones, must be read with special attention, as they provide important information.

2. Power supply from mains

The mains voltage is sufficiently high to involve a risk of electrocution; install and connect this product before plugging it in.
Before powering up, make sure that all the connections have been made correctly and the voltage of your mains corresponds to
the voltage shown on the rating plate on the unit, if not, please contact your RCF dealer.
The metallic parts of the unit are earthed through the power cable. An apparatus with CLASS I construction shall be connected
to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection.
Protect the power cable from damage; make sure it is positioned in a way that it cannot be stepped on or crushed by objects.
To prevent the risk of electric shock, never open this product: there are no parts inside that the user needs to access.

3. Make sure that no objects or liquids can get into this product, as this may cause a short circuit.
This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing. No objects filled with liquid, such as vases, shall be placed on this
apparatus. No naked sources (such as lighted candles) should be placed on this apparatus.

4. Never attempt to carry out any operations, modifications or repairs that are not expressly described in this manual.
Contact your authorized service centre or qualified personnel should any of the following occur:

- the product does not function (or functions in an anomalous way).

- The power cable has been damaged.

- Objects or liquids have got in the unit.

- The product has been subject to a heavy impact.

5. If this product is not used for a long period, disconnect the power cable.

6. If this product begins emitting any strange odours or smoke, switch it off immediately and disconnect the power cable.

7. Do not connect this product to any equipment or accessories not foreseen.

For suspended installation, only use the dedicated anchoring points and do not try to hang this product by using elements that
are unsuitable or not specific for this purpose. Also check the suitability of the support surface to which the product is anchored

(wall, ceiling, structure, etc.), and the components used for attachment (screw anchors, screws, brackets not supplied by RCF
etc.), which must guarantee the security of the system / installation over time, also considering, for example, the mechanical
vibrations normally generated by transducers.
To prevent the risk of falling equipment, do not stack multiple units of this product unless this possibility is specified in the user
manual.

8. RCF S.p.A. strongly recommends this product is only installed by professional qualified installers (or specialised firms) who
can ensure correct installation and certify it according to the regulations in force.
The ent

ire audio system must comply with the current standards and regulations regarding electrical systems.

9. Supports and trolleys.
The equipment should be only used on trolleys or supports, where necessary, that are recommended by the manufacturer. The
equipment / support / trolley assembly must be moved with extreme caution. Sudden stops, excessive pushing force and uneven
floors may cause the assembly to overturn.

10. There are numerous mechanical and electrical factors to be considered when installing a professional audio system (in
addition to those which are strictly acoustic, such as sound pressure, angles of coverage, frequency response, etc.).

11. Hearing loss.
Exposure to high sound levels can cause permanent hearing loss. The acoustic pressure level that leads to hearing loss is
different from person to person and depends on the duration of exposure. To prevent potentially dangerous exposure to high
levels of acoustic pressure, anyone who is exposed to these levels should use adequate protection devices. When a transducer
capable of producing high sound levels is being used, it is therefore necessary to wear ear plugs or protective earphones. See
the manual technical specifications to know the maximum sound pressure level.

To prevent the occurrence of noise on line signal cables, use screened cables only and avoid putting them close to:

- Equipment that produces high-intensity electromagnetic fields.

- Power cables

- Loudspeaker lines.

OPERATING PRECAUTIONS

- Place this product far from any heat sources and always ensure an adequate air circulation around it.

- Do not overload this product for a long time.

- Never force the control elements (keys, knobs, etc.).

- Do not use solvents, alcohol, benzene or other volatile substances for cleaning the external parts of this product.

CAUTION
To prevent electric shock hazard, do not connect to mains power supply while grille is removed

GENERAL OPERATING PRECAUTIONS

• Do not obstruct the ventilation grilles of the unit. Situate this product far from any heat sources and always ensure
adequate air circulation around the ventilation grilles.

• Do not overload this product for extended periods of time.

• Never force the control elements (keys, knobs, etc. ).

• Do not use solvents, alcohol, benzene or other volatile substances for cleaning the external parts of this product.

THE HDL 6-A

The HDL 6-A is a true active high power ready to use touring system for small to medium size events, indoors and
outdoors. Equipped with 2 x 6” woofers, and a 1.7” drivers, it offers excellent playback quality and high sound pressure
levels with a built in 1400W powerful digital amplifier that delivers superior SPL, while reducing energy requirement.

Each component, from the power supply to the input board with DSP, to the output stages to woofers and drivers, has
been consistently and specially developed by RCF’s experienced engineering teams for, with all components carefully
matched to each other.
This complete integration of all components allows not only superior performance and maximum operational reliability,
but also provides users easy handling and plug & play comfort.

Besides this important fact, active speakers offer valuable advantages: while passive speakers often need long cable
runs, the energy loss due to the cable resistance is a huge factor. This effect is not seen in powered speakers where the
amplifier is just a couple of centimeters away from the transducer.
Using advanced neodymium magnets and a groundbreaking new housing constructed from lightweight plywood and
polypropylene, it has a remarkably low weight for easy handling and flying.

The HDL 6-A is the ideal choice when line array performance is needed and a fast and easy set-up a must. The system
features state-of-the-art RCF transducers; the high-powered 1.7” voice coil compression driver mounted on a precise
100° x 10° waveguide delivers vocal clarity with high definition and an incredible dynamic.

THE HDL 12-AS

The HDL 12-AS is the companion subwoofer for HDL 6-A. Housing a 12” woofer, the HDL 12-AS, is a very compact
active sub enclosure and features a 1400 W powerful digital amplifier. It is the ideal complement to create flown HDL
6-A clusters with outstanding performance. Thanks to its compact size it can easily be carried and is very quick and easy
to start using the built-in digital stereo crossover (DSP) with adjustable crossover frequency to connect the line array
module.
It features a built-in digital stereo crossover (DSP) with adjustable crossover frequency to connect the HDL 6-A line array
module or a satellite.
The integrated mechanics are both fast and reliable. The heavy-duty front grille is power coated. A special transparent-to­sound foam backing inside helps the further protection of the transducers from dust.

POWER REQUIREMENTS AND SET-UP

• The system is designed to operate in hostile and demanding situations. Nevertheless it is important to take extremely
care of the AC power supply and set up a proper power distribution.

• The system is designed to be GROUNDED. Always use a grounded connection.

• PowerCon appliance coupler is a AC mains power disconnection device and must be readily accessible during and after
the installation.

WARNING

CURRENT

The following are the long term and peak current
requirement for each HDL 6-A/HDL12-AS module:

The total current requirement is obtained multiplying the single current requirement by the number of modules. To obtain the best
performances make sure that the total burst current requirement of the system doesn’t create a significant voltage drop on the cables.

VOLTAGE LONG TERM

230 Volt 3.15 A
115 Volt 6.3 A

GROUNDING

Make sure that all the system is properly grounded. All the grounding points shall be connected to the same ground node.
This will improve reducing hums in the audio system.

AC CABLES DAISY CHAINS

POWERCON IN

Each HDL 6-A/HDL12-AS module is provided with a Powercon outlet
to daisy chain other modules. The maximum number of modules that is
possible to daisy chain is:

230 VOLT: 6 modules total
115 VOLT: 3 modules total

POWERCON OUT

A superior number of modules in daisy chain will exceed the
Powercon connector maximum ratings and create a potentially
dangerous situation.

WARNING - RISK OF FIRE

POWERING FROM THREE PHASE

When the system is powered from a three phase power distribution it is very important to keep a good balance in the
load of each phase of the AC power. It is very important to include subwoofers and satellites in power distribution
calculation: both subwoofers and satellites shall be distributed between the three phases.

GENERAL RIGGING WARNINGS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

RIGGING

• Suspending loads should be done with extreme caution.

THE SYSTEM

RCF has developed a complete procedure
to set up and hang an HDL 6-A line
array system starting from software data,
enclosures, rigging, accessories, cables,
until the final installation.

• When deploying a system always wear protective helmets and footwear.

• Never allow people to pass under the system during the installation
process.

• Never leave the system unattended during the installation process.

• Never install the system over areas of public access.

• Never attach other loads to the array system.

• Never climb the system during or after the installation.

• Never expose the system to extra loads created from the wind or snow.

WARNING

• The system must be rigged in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Country where the system is used. It is
responsibility of the owner or rigger to make sure that the system is properly rigged in accordance with Country and
local laws and regulations.

• Always check that all the parts of the rigging system that are not provided from RCF are:

-appropriate for the application

-approved, certified and marked

-properly rated

-in perfect condition

• Each cabinet support the full load of the part of the system below. It is very important that each single cabinet of the
system is properly checked.

“RCF SHAPE DESIGNER” SOFTWARE AND SAFETY FACTOR

The suspension system is designed to have a proper safety factor (configuration dependent). Using the “HDL50
Shape Designer” software it is very easy to understand safety factors and limits for each specific configuration. To
better comprehend in which safety range the mechanics are working a simple introduction is needed: HDL 6-A arrays’
mechanics are built with certified UNI EN 10025 Steel. RCF prediction software calculates forces on every single
stressed part of the assembly and shows the minimum safety factor for every link. Structural steel has a stress-strain (or
equivalent Force-Deformation) curve as in the following:

The curve is characterized by two critical points: the Break Point and
the Yield Point. The tensile ultimate stress is simply the maximum stress
attained. Ultimate tensile stress is commonly used as a criterion of the
strength of the material for structural design, but it should be recognized
that other strength properties may often be more important. One of
these is certainly the Yield Strength. Stress-strain diagram of structural
steel exhibit a sharp break at a stress below the ultimate strength. At
this critical stress, the material elongates considerably with no apparent
change in stress. The stress at which this occurs is referred to as the Yield
Point. Permanent deformation may be detrimental, and the industry
adopted 0.2% plastic strain as an arbitrary limit that is considered
acceptable by all regulatory agencies. For tension and compression, the
corresponding stress at this offset strain is defined as the yield.

In our prediction software the Safety Factors are calculated considering the Maximum Stress Limit equal to the
Yield Strength, according with many international standards and rules.

The resulting Safety Factor is the minimum of all the calculated safety factors, for each link or pin.

This is where you are working with a SF=7

Depending on local safety regulations and on the situation, the
required safety factor can vary. It is responsibility of the owner or
rigger to make sure that the system is properly rigged in accordance
with Country and local laws and regulations.

The “RCF Shape Designer” software gives detailed information of the
safety factor for each specific configuration.
The results are classified in four classes:

-GREEN: SAFETY FACTOR > 7 SUGGESTED

-YELLOW 4 > SAFETY FACTOR > 7

-ORANGE 1.5 > SAFETY FACTOR > 4

-RED SAFETY FACTOR < 1.5 NEVER ADMITTED

WARNING

• The safety factor is the result of the forces acting on fly bar’s and system’s front and rear links and pins and

depends on many variables:

- number of cabinets

- fly bar angles

- angles from cabinets to cabinets. If one of the cited variables change the safety factor MUST BE recalculated using the
software before rigging the system.

• In case the fly bar is picked up from 2 motors make sure that the fly bar angle is correct. An angle different from the
angle used in the prediction software can be potentially dangerous. Never allow persons to stay or pass under the
system during the installation process.

• When the fly bar is particularly tilted or the array is very curved the centre of gravity can move out from the rear links.
In this case the front links are in compression and the rear links are supporting the total weight of the system plus the
front compression. Always check very carefully with the “HDL 6-A Shape Designer” software all this kind of situations
(even with a small number of cabinets).

System particularly tilted System very curved

PREDICTION SOFTWARE – SHAPE DESIGNER

HDL 6-A Shape Designer is a temporary software, useful for the setup of the array, for mechanics and for proper preset
suggestions.
The optimal setting of a loudspeaker array cannot ignore the basics of acoustics and the awareness that many factors
contribute to a sonic result that matches expectations. RCF provides the user with simple instruments that help the
setting of the system in an easy and reliable way.
This software will soon be replaced by a more complete software for multiple arrays and complex venue simulation with
maps and graphs of the results.
RCF recommends this software to be used for each type of HDL 6-A configuration.

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

The software was developed with Matlab 2015b and requires Matlab programming libraries. At the very first installation
user should refer to the installation package, available from the RCF website, containing the Matlab Runtime (ver. 9) or
the installation package that will download the Runtime from the web. Once the libraries are correctly installed, for all
the following version of the software the user can directly download the application without the Runtime. Two versions,
32-bit and 64-bit, are available for the download.
IMPORTANT: Matlab no longer supports Windows XP and hence HDL50-ShapeDesigner (32 bit) doesn’t work with this
OS version.
You may wait a few seconds after the double click on the installer because the software checks if Matlab Libraries are
available. After this step the installation begins. Double-click the last installer (check for the last release in the download
section of our website) and follow the next steps.