FIRNET Controller 1.0
1 Purpose
The FIRNET controller performs digitally all func-
tions required to address, control, and remote-con-
trol HK AUDIO sound reinforcement systems, that
is, speakers and amps. Featuring advanced AD and
DA converter technology and an internal sampling
rate of 96 kHz, it is a premium-quality audio signal
processing tool.
2 Quick Start Guide
Display
The LCD shows information on presets and parame-
ters. The default readout appears after the device is
powered up, and then the display indicates current
speaker selection settings and the LAN status. Once
you begin navigating adjustable parameters, it
shows values pertaining to these parameters.
Menu Keys
Menu keys (Speaker, Level, Scene, Delay/Phase
und Admin) serve to access the various parameter
sections. You can adjust the indicated parameters
and save these settings using the edit select keys
(cursors and back key) for the selected input and
output. Pressing the back key always takes you to
the next higher menu level.
Note: The device retains stored values even if a
power failure occurs or it is unplugged from the
mains supply.
Channel Mute
• Using Channel Mute Shortcuts to Mute Outputs
A/B/C/D
You can use combinations of the Admin menu key
and the four other menu keys (Speaker, Scene,
Level, Delay/Phase) to mute the FIRNET’s output
channels in A/B/C/D sequence. For example, if you
wish to mute output A, press Admin + Speaker;
to mute output D, press Admin + Delay/Phase.
Press the same combination again to reactivate the
output.
Note: Each of the output channels’ red signal LEDs
show the given output’s mute status (constant red
= MUTE).
• FIR fi lters ensure phase accuracy and strikingly
natural-sounding response.
• Top-drawer converter technology provides outstan-
ding dynamic range up to 130 dB (A/D)
• Sophisticated limiters feature an advanced design.
• 96-kHz internal sampling rate delivers highest
resolution and transparency.
• Ethernet ports serve to network devices.
• Ethersound, CobraNet, and other interfaces may
be retrofi tted.
• GPIO interface on board.
• LIPAN PC software enables remote monitoring.
3.1 FIR
FIR (Finite Impulse Response) fi ltering technology
provides total phase linearity across all components
(speakers, controllers, amps), enabling you to
equalize a sound systems’ frequency response and
phase (or group delay) separately. Thus the system
renders the different frequency ranges of a sonic
image coherently; that is, in time and faithfully.
Differences in phase response no longer cause lis-
tening fatigue, dramatically improving transparency
and three-dimensional imaging.
Unlike IIR (Infi nite Impulse Response) fi lters,
FIR fi lters do not consist of a specifi c number of
separately computed fi lter elements. Instead, they
contain a complete sampled copy, with the magni-
tude and phase function required for equalization.
The FIR fi lters in the FIRNET controller equalize all
components of the HK AUDIO sound reinforcement
systems, including the speaker chassis, speaker
enclosures, passive crossovers, power amps, and
the controller itself.
Earlier FIR controllers suffered the drawback of high
latency. The FIRNET controller for the fi rst time
exploits the benefi ts of FIR fi lters at the low latency
previously confi ned to conventional IIR controllers.
This means you can even use FIR technology for
monitoring applications, where it delivers far more
gain before feedback.
Digital IIR fi lters support the FIR fi lters at frequen-
cies below 1,000 Hz, ensuring minimum latency.
The FIRNET controller’s latency – that is, the
round-trip time the audio signal takes to fl ow the
controller and its signal processing components - is
no more than 5.8 ms. To achieve this low latency,
the IIR fi lters perform the functions of standard
crossover fi lters (Bessel, Linkwitz-Riley, and Butter-
worth), parametric equalizers, and all-pass fi lters.
3.2 State-of-the-Art Digital
Converters
The FIRNET controller sports a high-end digital
converter and audio DSPs usually found in refe-
rence-class studio gear. They deliver excellent sound
quality and dynamic response, with a dynamic range
up to 130 dB (A/D).
3.3 Sophisticated Limiters
Limiters must protect speakers without squeezing
the life out of the sonic image. All the FIRNET
controller’s outputs are equipped with peak and
RMS limiters. The peak limiters look ahead to anti-
cipate amps’ output power. In case of an eminent
overload, they attenuate this output to levels the
speaker systems are rated to handle.
The sophisticated combination of look-ahead (2-
ms) peak limiters and RMS limiters with discretely
adjusted threshold, attack, hold, and release times
ensure the system operates safely.
Note: The following adjustments must be made to
ensure limiters work properly in combination with
the LAB group FP10000 power amp:
• Voltage Peak Limiter (VPL): 150 V in Soft mode
• FP10000Q gain: 26 dB
Adjust the FIRNET’s maximum output level to
18 dBu!
3.4 Sampling rate
You can set the sampling rate to 48 kHz or 96 kHz.
3.5 Network Enabled
The FIRNET controller ships with Ethernet inter-
faces (cross-connected signal input (X) and parallel
input (II) on the back of the device), and integrates
into a LAN via TCP/IP.
3.6 Wireless Freedom
A wireless network access point enables wireless
communication at live events. You can send every
adjustment made on a laptop or tablet PC direct to
the controllers across a wireless network from any
point in the auditorium.
3 General Features
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