System Configuration ~ Processing
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Introducing an appropriate amount of delay to the forward-mounted driver(s)
re-establishes the acoustical alignment necessary for proper sound imaging in a
room. The same principle of introducing delay applies to separate speaker
enclosures located various distances from the listening area.
Other types of delay to consider when establishing delay parameters are
delays which occur naturally as a result of processing operations within the
XAP 800. Propagation delay is an example. This delay is caused by operations
such as the conversion of the signal between analog and digital formats.
When you are finished making changes in the Delay window, click Close to
return to the Processor window.
Gain
Gain establishes the gain level for this channel. Select a level between -65 and 20dB.
If you select any level below -60dB, the signal will be muted. The
Process
meter,
when enabled, shows the signal level when a signal is present.
Min/Max limits
Use the yellow and blue upper and lower limit arrows on the Gain scale to create
minimum and maximum gain level limits. These limits only apply when using relative
gain commands; absolute gain commands can exceed the min and max limits.
Min/Max limits apply to all serially connected control devices and prevent users from
adjusting levels beyond the min/max levels, provided relative gain commands are
used.
Optimizing process gain structure
How you adjust the processing gain directly affects sound quality. The optimal gain
setting is one which is adjusted as high as possible above the noise floor without
introducing clipping. Clipping can cause distortion which can damage amplifiers and
loudspeakers.
To adjust the processing gain level properly, place a signal on the output at
the maximum level it will generate. Adjust the gain until the peak level of the
input, as shown on the Process meter, just begins to enter the red (clipping) zone,
then reduce the gain slightly until peaks no longer climb into the red zone. This
setting will ensure that the XAP 800 maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio without
clipping the signal.
Figure 3.57. Process
gain adjust and meter