X-Treme Audio XTDP User Manual

XTDP CONTROLLERS

XTDP CONTROLLERS

Owner’s manual

1/13

XTDP CONTROLLERS

XTDP CONTROLLERS

Owner’s manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Important Safety Information

1.1 Regulatory Compliance

1.2 Special thanks

1.3 Unpacking the X-Treme XTDP controllers

2. Introduction and Key Features

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Key features

3. Front Panel

3.1 Input Signal Indicators

3.2 Preset Store and Recall

3.3 Parameter Knobs

3.4 Output Signal / Limiter Indication

3.5 Mute Buttons and Status LEDs

3.6 Secure Button

3.7 Text display

3.8 Channell Select Buttons

3.9 Edit Parameter Select Buttons

4. Rear Panel

4.1 Power Inlet

4.2 XT-NET Port

4.3 Audio Input Connectors

4.4 Audio Output Connectors

4.5 Expansion Port and Serial Comms Port

5. Operations

5.1 Starting up

5.2 Selecting a Factory Preset

5.3 Parameters

5.4 Navigation

5.5 Presets

5.6 Preset Recall

5.7 Preset Store

6. DSP Processing layout

6.1 Stereo / Mono Formats

7. DSP processing

7.1 Input Channels

7.2 Output Channels

8. Utilities

9. EQ and Filter Response Graphs

10. Technical Specifications

11. Factory Presets

1. Important Safety Information

Please read carefully and keep the following instructions and safety
information. Heed all warnings and follow all instructions.

• Do not remove covers. There are no user serviceable parts in­side, please refer servicing to qualified service personnel.

• This equipment must be ventilated.

• Protect the power cable from being treaded on or pulled, par­ticularly by the plugs and the I/O points of connection to the
apparatus.

•

Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer

• Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in
any way, such as the power supply cable or plug is damaged,
liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus,
the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not
operate normally, or has been dropped.

1.1 Regulatory Compliance

This product complies with both the EMC Directive (89/336/EEC)
and the Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC) as issued by the Com­mission of the European Union. Compliance with these directives
imply conformity with the following European standards:

• EN60065 Product safety

• EN55103-1 Electromagnetic Interference (Emission)

• EN55103-2 Electromagnetic Susceptibility (Immunity)

This product is intended for operation in the E2 (commercial & light
industrial) and E3 (urban outdoors) Electromagnetic Environments.

1.2 Special thanks

Thank you for choosing a loudspeaker management system
X-Treme Digital Processor (XTDP) for your applications. Please
spare a little time to study the contents of this manual, so that you
obtain the best possible performance from this unit. All X-Treme
products are carefully engineered for world-class performance and
reliability. If you would like further information about this or any oth­er X-Treme product, please contact us. We will be pleased to help
you in any way we can.

1.3 Unpacking the X-Treme XTDP controllers

After unpacking the unit please check carefully for damage. If dam­age is found, please notify the carrier concerned at once. You, the
consignee, must instigate any claim. Please retain all packaging in
case of future re-shipment.

2. Introduction and Key Features

2.1 Introduction

The loudspeaker management systems X-Treme XTDP24 and
XTDP26 represent the current state-of-the-art. Taking advantages

of the latest advances in analogue to digital conversion and digital
signal processing technologies the units achieve performance lev­els that have only recently been made possible.

.

2/13

Owner’s manual

2.2 Key Features

• Minimal signal path design

• Sonically superb ADC / DAC combination thanks to a carefully
matched pairing of the best devices from Burr Brown and Wolfson

• Newly released family of Analog Devices SHARC DSP

• Extended bandwidth; 96kHz sampling frequency provides for a
nominally flat response to 40kHz.

• Parameter knob and LCD provide rapid, user-friendly control

3. Front Panel

3.1 Input Signal Indicators

A set of three pairs of LEDs indicate signal present, +4dBu and input
clip for each channel. The signal present LEDs operate at approxi­mately –40 dBu, giving a useful indication of even relatively low input
signal levels. The +4 dBu LEDs are intended to show nominal oper­ating level and can also be useful for setting system gain structure.
Clip LEDs warn the user of input overload and operate at +19 dBu.

3.2 Preset Store and Recall

These controls provide access to the 45 presets stored within the
device. Pressing the store button allows the user to name a preset
and choose which memory location it will be held in. Pressing the
store button again completes the process. The Recall function op­erates in a similar way, pressing the recall button allows the user to
select which preset they require, pressing the button for a second
time, then confirming, recalls the new DSP settings. Note that pre­sets cannot be stored or recalled when Secure mode is activated.

3.3 Parameter Knobs

Three velocity sensitive parameter knobs are used to adjust param­eters shown on the display. Up to three parameters at a time are
displayed on the screen. The parameter name is shown above the
parameter value in each of the three screen sections. The parameter
knobs have a fixed association with the screen sections; the right­most parameter knob adjusts the rightmost parameter and so on.

3.4 Output Signal / Limiter Indication

Two LEDs are provided for each output channel. These show the
signal level related to the limiter threshold. The yellow LED will light
up when the signal is 6 dB below the threshold, while the red warn­ing LED will light up when the limiter threshold is reached.

3.6 Secure Button

A momentary button is fitted behind the rear panel, between the
output XLR and the RS232 port. When activated, this will disable
all the front panel controls so they cannot affect the signal path,
making the unit secure against tampering. When in secure mode,
the indicators still operate normally.
Note that the communications port is still active in Secure mode.

3.7 Text Display

Preset, channel, parameter and status information is shown on the
2 x 24 character text display. In most screens the currently selected
channel is displayed on the upper line and the edit parameter on
the lower line. To simplify the display and enhance safety, some
parameters or parameter pages are omitted when not relevant.

3.8 Channel Select Buttons

The currently selected channel is displayed on the top left hand
corner of the LCD. Pressing the channel buttons scrolls through
the available input and output channels and finally through the util­ity functions and back to the default screen. If operating a stereo
linked preset, the channel name will indicate the channel pairing.
For example ‘A+B’ means both input A and B parameters. The
name of the output will be shown briefly at the top of the display
when stepping onto an output.

3.9 Edit Parameters Select Buttons

The currently selected edit parameter page is displayed on the bot­tom left corner of the LCD. Pressing the edit select buttons moves
through the available parameters for the current input or output.

3.5 Mute Buttons and Status LEDs

Each output has a Mute button and associated mute status LED.
Pressing the button turns the mute on and off.
Note that the mute buttons do not function when the Secure mode
is activated.

3/13

4. Rear Panel

XTDP CONTROLLERS

4.1 Power Inlet

The X-Treme XTDP units should be connected to a suitable mains
electricity supply using the cable supplied. The processor has a
switch mode power supply that is capable of operating with a no­minal mains voltage of 85V to 240V, 50/60Hz without re-configu­ration.

4.2 XT-NET Port

This is the port - with RJ45 connection - for the remote controlling
of a network with many other devices (XT-NET); everything is done
from only one external PC using the software Network Contoller.

4.3 Audio Input Connectors

All audio connections are fully balanced and wired pin-1 ground,
pin-2 hot & pin-3 cold. The two inputs have pin-1 connected di­rectly to the chassis and supply the signal processing chains. If an
unbalanced source is used, a connection should be made betwe­en the pin-3 ‘cold’ signal and the ground connection of the unba­lanced source.

4.4 Audio Output Connectors

The processed outputs are impedance balanced, and wired pin-1
ground, pin-2 hot and pin-3 cold. An unbalanced input may be
driven by connecting pin-3 ‘cold’ signal to the ground connection
of the unbalanced destination input. Note that output pin-1’s are
ground lifted at audio frequencies but connected to ground at RF
for good EMC performance. The intention being that the amplifiers
the processor is driving should be responsible for the grounding of
their input cable shields.

4.5 Expansion Port and Serial Comms Port

X-Treme XTDP controllers may be controlled - one by one - entirely
from another device, typically a Personal Computer, running an ap­plication that is compliant with the ObCom standard: the Network
Controller. Connection will normally be made to the controller via
this serial port connector (RS232). This port is also used for upda­ting the firmware in the unit. Note that the communications port
is NOT disabled when the front panel is made secure using the
Secure button.

4/13

Owner’s manual

5. Operations

5.1 Starting up

The unit will energise as soon as power is applied to the IEC inlet;
there is no power switch. During the start up process the firmware
application model and version numbers are displayed and the out­puts are muted until the unit has completed its internal checks.
Once the start-up routines are complete, the unit is ready to pass
the audio signal. The DSP signal path will be restored to the same
settings as when it was last powered down.

5.2 Selecting a Factory Preset

The X-Treme XTDP controllers may have, on request, a library of
Factory Presets designed to suit a range of applications. Factory
Presets contain some parameters that are fixed and hidden from
view; the remainder of the DSP parameters are available for user
manipulation. The number and type of hidden parameters is de­pendant on the Factory Preset. To recall a Factory Preset for a par­ticular speaker or full system, press Recall and use the left hand
parameter knob A to scroll through the available Factory Preset
locations (as indicated by a box symbol after the preset number).
Once the appropriate preset has been selected press Recall again,
at which point you will be asked to confirm the action by pressing
Recall for the third time. This is to guard against accidental recall of
presets.

5.3 Parameters

Many of the processing elements in each input and output path have
features that may be controlled by the user, such as gain, frequency
or limiter threshold. We call these adjustable features parameters.

Pressing the edit navigation buttons gives access to the various pages
of parameters available for each channel. The currently selected page
is shown in the bottom left hand corner of the display (this is omitted
on some pages where the function is obvious). The screen shows up
to three parameters for a given part of the processing functions on a
given channel. The edit buttons allow you to scroll, in either direction,
through the different processing pages for a given channel. When you
go past the last page, you will be returned to the default page. The
Channel buttons allow you to scroll, in either direction, through the in­put and output channels, whilst trying to maintain the currently viewed
processing block. If the channel you scroll to does not have the cur­rently viewed processing block, the next one will be shown instead.
Note: when the unit powers-up, the settings will be the same as those
when the unit was last switched off.

5.5 Presets

The devices contain a total of 45 user and factory presets. The user can-
not overwrite the basic mono or stereo Preset programs.

5.6 Preset Recall

To select an existing preset, press the
tor above it illuminates. Turn parameter knob A until the required
preset number is shown on the display. Factory presets are indi­cated by a box symbol appearing after the preset number. Press
the

Recall

button again to activate the preset. Pressing any other

button will cancel the operation.

Recall

button so the indica-

A parameter may be adjusted when it is displayed by turning one of
the three-parameter knobs (see par. 3.3).
Each of the three-parameter knobs is associated with a zone on
the display. Adjusting the leftmost parameter knob will change the
value of the parameter showing in the leftmost zone of the dis­play and so on. Turn a knob clockwise to increase the value of
a parameter, or anti-clockwise to decrease it. The knobs are
velocity sensitive, so turning a knob rapidly will cause the ac­tion to ‘accelerate’, so the value changes more rapidly. In the
factory presets that are stored in the controllers (or delivered by
X-Treme Audio) somo parameters might be hidden.

5.4 Navigation

The DSP parameters are organized by channel. The currently se­lected channel is shown in the top left hand corner of the display.
You can navigate between the channels by pressing the channel
buttons. Pressing the channel buttons will scroll through the chan­nels, utilities and back to the default screen. When using a Preset
that is stereo linked, the channel selection will reflect this. For ex­ample ‘1&4’ indicates outputs 1 and 4. When navigating onto an
output channel, the usage of the output, as defined in the Preset,
will be shown briefly at the top of the screen.

5.7 Preset Store

To store the current preset in a user location, press the Preset Store
Button so the indicator above it illuminates. Turn the first parameter
knob until the required Preset location number is show on the dis­play. A Preset name of up to 12 characters in length can be entered
using parameter knobs B and C. Pressing the Store Button again
completes the process and stores the preset. As with Preset Re­call, pressing any other button cancels the operation.

The user can overwrite non-protected presets only; if an attempt is
made to save a preset in a location already occupied by a Factory
Preset a ‘LOCKED PRESET’ message is displayed.

5/13

XTDP CONTROLLERS

6. DSP Processing layout

6.1 Stereo / Mono Formats

There is only one standard layout of the processing blocks, but
flexible routing and control linking allows this layout to be adapted
to a wide variety of applications.
There are two formats: Mono or Stereo. With the Mono format, all
outputs have unique parameter settings, and all outputs are iden­tical in terms of processing functions and routing capability. This is
the most flexible format.
Stereo format pairs the inputs and outputs for stereo operation, the
parameters of each member of the pair being identical. The routing
of inputs to outputs is fixed. This format is intended for symmetrical
stereo operation, eliminating the need to make identical parameter
adjustments for each channel.

The channel pairing is:

• Left and Right Inputs

• Outputs 1 (routed from A input) and 3 (routed from B input) for
XTDP24 [1 and 4 for XTDP26]

• Outputs 2 (routed from A input) and 4 (routed from B input) for
XTDP24 [2 and 5 for XTDP26]

• Outputs 3 (routed from A input) and 6 (routed from B input)
[XTDP26 only].

6/13

Owner’s manual

7. DSP processing

7.1 Input Channels

Gain

• Knob A: Gain, adjustable in 0.2 dB steps from –80 dB to +20 dB

Delay

• Knob A: Delay, adjustable in variable steps from 0 to 400 ms.
The delay parameter is adjustable in fine steps at low values; the
adjustment becomes progressively coarser as the value increases.
The velocity sensitive Parameter Knobs therefore provide accurate
setting of driver offset delays (typically below 10 ms) and rapid set­ting of longer system alignment delays.

High Pass Filter

High and Low shelving filters

• Knob A: Transition Frequency, 10 Hz - 25.6 kHz in variable steps

• Knob B: Slope, 6 to 12dB / octave in 1dB steps

• Knob C: Gain, +/-15dB in 0.2dB steps

The frequency is specified as point where the filter deviates by 3dB
from the gain value.

Parametric filters

• Knob A: Centre Frequency, 10.0 Hz - 25.6 kHz in variable steps

• Knob B: Width, display selectable: Q or Oct (Bandwidth). Oct

adjustable from 0.1 to 5 octaves in variable steps, Q adjustable
from 14.2 to 0.2 in variable steps

• Knob C: Gain, +/-15 dB in 0.2 dB steps.

7.2 Output Channels

Gain and Polarity

• Knob A: Frequency, from 20.0 Hz to 25.6 kHz, in variable steps

• Knob B: High pass filter type
System high pass filtering is provided for the input signal. This is the
preferred location for high pass filtering as it affects all outputs and
can therefore improve inter-band phase relationships. Filter type is
selectable from Butterworth, Bessel, Linkwitz-Riley and Hardman.
Filter slopes of up to 4th order or 24dB / octave are provided. Not
all filter types are available in all slopes. For example 18dB / octave
Linkwitz-Riley filters do not exist. The Hardman type filter is always
described by its order as the filter becomes progressively steeper
rather than following a linear slope so a dB/octave description is
not accurate.

Parametric Equalisation

Eight sections of equalisation are provided, two shelving filters and
six fully variable parametric sections.

• Knob A: Gain, adjustable in 0.2 dB steps from –80 dB to +20 dB

• Knob B: Polarity, selectable, normal or reversed with reference to

other outputs.

Delay

• Knob A: Delay, adjustable in variable steps from 0 to 80 ms

As for input delay, velocity sensitive Parameter Knobs provide finer
adjustment at low levels and rapid selection of higher values.

7/13

XTDP CONTROLLERS

High and Low Pass Filters

• Knob A: Cut off frequency, <<out, 20.0 Hz - 25.6 kHz, out>>

• Knob B: High pass or low pass filter type
Filter type is selectable from Butterworth, Bessel, Linkwitz-Riley
and Hardman. Filter slopes of up to 8th order or 48 dB/octave are
provided. Not all filter types are available in all slopes. For example
18 dB/octave Linkwitz-Riley filters do not exist.
The Hardman type filter is always described by its order as the filter
becomes progressively steeper rather than following a linear slope
so a dB/octave description is not accurate.

Parametric Equalisation

Eight sections of equalisation are provided in a similar format to the
input channel equalisation; two shelving filters and six parametric.

A high performance, low distortion limiter is provided on each out­put. Threshold is user adjustable; all other parameters are carefully
calculated dependant on configuration to provide clean and effec­tive control of signal dynamics.

Routing

• Knob A: Output source, selectable: Input A, Input B or Sum A+B

Configures the routing from input to output. This function is only
available in mono format presets.

8. Utilities

Utility functions

Three utility functions are provided to adjust screen contrast, the
display units used for parametric equalization bandwidth and
switch between stereo and mono mode. The device automatically
adjusts for the variations in display contrast as the temperature
of the LCD changes. The screen contrast utility control sets the
base contrast of the screen and also allows optimization for a given
viewing angle. Parametric equalization width parameters can be
displayed in either ‘Q’ or bandwidth, expressed in octaves.

• Knob A: Frequency, from 10 Hz to 25.6 kHz, in variable steps

• Knob B: Slope, from 6 to 12 dB/octave, in 1 dB steps

• Knob C: Gain, +/-15 dB, in 0.2 dB steps
The frequency is specified as point where the filter deviates by 3 dB
from the gain value.

• Knob A: Centre Frequency, 10.0 Hz - 25.6 kHz, in variable steps

• Knob B: Width, display selectable: Q or BW (Bandwidth).
BW adjustable from 0.1 to 5 octaves, in variable steps and Q

adjustable from 14.2 to 0.2, in variable steps

• Knob C: Gain, +/-15 dB in 0.2 dB steps

Limiters

Care should be taken when swapping between Mono and Stereo
mode as the parameter set for the left hand channels will be copied
to the right hand side, overwriting those settings. This is not revers­ible and could represent quite a significant and potentially damag­ing change to the processing.

• Knob A: Threshold, from -40 dBu to 20 dBu, in 0.2 dB steps

8/13

Owner’s manual

Butterworth

Linkwitz-Riley

Bessel

9. EQ and Filter Response Graphs

6

0

6

12

18

Magnitude, dB

24

30

36

Frequency, Hz

3

.

1001

10

1.10

4

6dB/Oct
12dB/Oct
18dB/Oct
24dB/Oct
48dB/Oct

6

0

6

12

18

Magnitude, dB

24

30

36

Frequency, Hz

3

.

1001

10

1.10

4

12dB/Oct
24dB/Oct
48dB/Oct

6

0

6

12

18

Magnitude, dB

24

30

36

12dB/Oct
24dB/Oct

Frequency, Hz

9/13

3

.

1001

10

1.10

4

XTDP CONTROLLERS

Hardman

Shelving EQ

Parametric EQ

6

0

6

12

18

Magnitude, dB

24

30

36

15

10

5

0

5

Magnitude, dB

10

15

4th Order
8th Order

Low shelf, varying Gain

High shelf, varying Slope

3

.

1001

10

Frequency, Hz

3

.

1001

10

Frequency, Hz

1.10

1.10

4

4

15

10

5

0

5

Magnitude, dB

10

15

Varying Gain

Varying Bandwidth

Frequency, Hz

10/13

3

.

1001

10

1.10

4

Owner’s manual

10. Technical Specification

General

Inputs 2

Input Impedance > 10k Ohm Electronically balanced

Maximum Input level +20dBu

Outputs 4 [XTDP24] or 6 [XTDP26]

Output Impedance <100 Ohm, ground balanced

Maximum Output Level +20 dBu into 600 Ohm load

Sample Rate 96 kHz

Bit Depth 24 bit

Frequency Response 10Hz to 40kHz, +/- 3dB (filters disabled) - 20Hz to 20kHz, +/- 0.5dB (filters disabled)

THD <0.008% typ (20Hz to 20kHz)

Dynamic Range >110dB (A weighted, 22kHz bandwidth)

Serial Comms Data 115.2kbaud, format: 8 data, 1 stop, no parity

Processing

Gain +20dB to -80dB and mute, 0.2dB steps

Output Ch. Source Input A, Input B and SUM

HP filter frequency Off, 20Hz to 25.4kHz, 1/36 octave steps

LP filter frequency 20Hz to 25.4kHz and off, 1/36 octave steps

LP / HP filter type

Delay Input 400 ms, output 80 ms

Limiter High performance limiter, adjustable threshold in 0.2dB steps, automatic time constants

EQ frequency 10Hz to 25kHz, 1/36 octave steps

EQ gain +15dB to -15dB, 0.2dB steps

EQ width 5.0 to 0.1 octaves bandwidth, 1/36 octave steps

12, 18 & 24dB/octave Bessel and Butterworth - 12, 24 and 48dB/octave Linkwitz-Riley
4th or 8th order Hardman

Connectors

Audio inputs 3 pin female XLR

Audio outputs 3 pin male XLR

Serial comms 9 Pin D female

Network comms (option) Ethercon ruggedised RJ45 (2)

Mains 3 pin IEC

Mains Power Universal switch-mode PSU, 85 to 250 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz

Consumption < 25 Watt

Dimensions 44 mm (H), 482 mm (W), 254 mm (D)

Net weight 2.7 Kg

11/13

XTDP CONTROLLERS

11. Factory Presets

Location Preset name out1 out2 out3 out4 out5 out6

1 basic stereo < 100 100 ~1k 1k > < 100 100 ~1k 1k >

2 basic mono full range full range full range full range full range full range

12/13

Contacts

www.x-tremeaudio.com

X-Treme Headquarters:

via Monti Urali, 33 - 42100 Reggio Emilia - Italy
tel. [phone]
fax [phone]

X-Treme Audio reserves the rights to change or modify products and specifications at any time without prior notice.

X-Treme and the corresponding symbols, images and registered trademarks are of exclusive property of Sound Corporation group. © 2010 Sound Corporation group. All rights reserved.

13/13

For technical support/information: [e-mail]

For general information: [e-mail]

For commercial information: [e-mail]