Table of Contents
Related Manuals for miniDSP BALANCED 2X4
Summary of Contents for miniDSP BALANCED 2X4
- Page 1 ALANCED OUT BOXED AUDIO PROCESSOR ALANCED OUT AUDIO PROCESSOR BARE BOARD User Manual miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice...
- Page 2 23-12-2010 V1.3 Input/Output sensitivity tables 23-03-2011 V1.4 miniUSB 5 pin connector 25-08-2011 V2.1 New version combining Balanced 2x4 15 April 2015 with kit board. V2.2 New DC power connector 20 April 2015 V2.3 Updated photo, new 2x4 Advanced 15 May 2015...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Disclaimer/Warning ............................5 Warranty Terms ............................... 6 A Note on this Manual ............................. 6 Product Overview ............................7 The miniDSP concept ..........................7 Choosing the right miniDSP ........................8 Choosing a plugin ..........................9 1.3.1 Two-way crossover plugins ......................9 1.3.2 Four-way crossover plugins ...................... - Page 4 Bypass/reset............................46 Volume control........................... 47 Master/Slave master clock selection ....................48 Additional Information ..........................49 Specifications ............................. 49 Troubleshooting ..........................50 Obtaining support ..........................51 miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice...
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Page 5: Important Information
Please read the following information before use. In case of any questions, please contact miniDSP via the support portal at minidsp.desk.com. YSTEM EQUIREMENTS To configure the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or Balanced Kit, you will require a Windows PC or Apple Mac OS X computer with the following minimum specification: Windows ... -
Page 6: Warranty Terms
Finally, note that the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or Balanced Kit is a very flexible device, and many of the questions we receive at the tech support department are already answered in this user manual and in the online application notes on the miniDSP.com website. -
Page 7: Product Overview
Hardware unit In this case, the hardware unit is the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or miniDSP Balanced Kit. It has two analog inputs and four analog outputs. The internal processor converts the analog input signal to digital form, processes it according to the instructions from the plugin, and then converts it to analog again for the outputs. -
Page 8: Choosing The Right Minidsp
The miniDSP Balanced 2x4 is a self-contained “miniDSP in a box”: The miniDSP Balanced Kit consists of just the circuit board without the external chassis. The board can be integrated into any build that requires the addition of flexible yet cost-effective audio processing. -
Page 9: Choosing A Plugin
A two-way crossover splits the audio frequency band into two. Typically, this is used to feed high frequencies to tweeters and low frequencies to woofers. A single miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or miniDSP Balanced Kit is used for stereo, as shown in this diagram (protection capacitors on the tweeters are optional but generally... -
Page 10: Four-Way Crossover Plugins
Frequency bands can overlap if needed, as all crossover filters are independently specified. Two miniDSP Balanced 2x4 units or miniDSP Balanced Kits are needed for stereo, as shown in this diagram (a protection capacitor on each tweeter is optional but generally recommended):... -
Page 11: Non-Crossover Plugins
Mono subwoofer from stereo signal, and high passed speakers In this configuration, the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or Balanced Kit is used to generate a single mono subwoofer feed from a stereo signal, as well as to high-pass the main speakers. The connection diagram is shown as... - Page 12 2 to outputs 3 and 4: One to four subwoofers from stereo signal If the miniDSP is used only for subwoofer control/EQ, up to four separate subwoofer signals, each with different delay and EQ, can be generated from a stereo signal:...
- Page 13 More advanced subwoofer applications There may be cases where you need more features than provided by the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 and miniDSP Balanced Kit – for example, higher signal levels, longer delays, or more output channels. In that case, please see...
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Page 14: The Minidsp Workflow
AMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE PLUGIN Before connecting your computer to the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or Balanced Kit board, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the user interface presented by the plugin. When it starts, you will see the plugin screen as shown below. - Page 15 Click on each of the blocks in the block diagram to see what the controls are. At this time, the plugin is still in offline mode, so any changes you make will not be downloaded into the miniDSP hardware.
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Page 16: Go Into Online Mode
The following dialog will appear: Click on the Restore to Default button. This is essential the first time you connect to the miniDSP, as it ensures that the miniDSP hardware unit contains an internal set of data that it understands. (Subsequently, you will generally use the Synchronize button.) -
Page 17: Perform Initial Configuration
ET AUDIO UP AND RUNNING With the initial configuration done and now that you are familiar with the various controls, it’s time to connect the miniDSP into your system. Before doing so, remove power from the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or Balanced Kit board. -
Page 18: Reconnect To The Plugin
Reconnect to the plugin With the connected equipment still turned off, apply power to the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or Balanced Kit. Reconnect the USB cable if you have removed it. Then click on the Connect & Synchronize button again. This time, be sure to select the Synchronize option from the dialog box: The miniDSP is now in online mode again. -
Page 19: Continue To Operate Offline
If you do not wish to have these changes downloaded to the miniDSP hardware unit (for example, you are just fiddling around in the user interface), then make sure that you have saved the configuration to a file before making any changes. -
Page 20: Installation And Connectivity
User Downloads section of the miniDSP website. This link is visible from the dropdown menu at the top right of the website page. You will need to be logged into the site with the account you created when purchasing: Download the plugin (or plugins) that you purchased from the... -
Page 21: Mac Os X
Latest version of Adobe Air To install the miniDSP software, open the Mac folder of the download, and double-click on the MiniDSP_[plugin_name].dmg file to open it in a new window. Then double-click on the Install MiniDSP- [plugin_name].app installer program. Once installation is complete, the plugin user interface will automatically start. -
Page 22: Hardware Connectivity And Configuration
The miniDSP Balanced 2x4 and Balanced Kit require that 12V DC power be supplied. Power is always required, as the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 and Balanced Kit cannot be powered from the USB bus. The 12V DC supply must be able to supply a minimum of 150 mA. -
Page 23: Connecting Usb
A USB connection to your computer is needed to go into online mode. Simply connect the supplied USB cable from a free USB port on your computer to the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or Balanced Kit board. (In the case of the kit, see also connectivity.) - Page 24 Connections are made with bare wire ends into the push-in Phoenix terminal blocks. First remove the terminal blocks from the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or Balanced Kit board. Connect individual wires from a shielded pair cable to each set of screw terminals.
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Page 25: Wiring Tips
Note the connection scheme shown in the diagram (and explained on the previous page): the cable shield must be connected to the ‘−’ terminal on the miniDSP input, whereas on the output side, the ‘−’ is not connected. -
Page 26: Input Sensitivity
3.2.5 Input sensitivity The miniDSP Balanced 2x4 and Balanced Kit board have onboard jumpers to select their input sensitivity. (For the Balanced 2x4, the enclosure will need to be opened to access the jumpers.) 1.8V position The maximum input signal voltage allowed before clipping the A/D convertor is 1.8 Volts RMS, for either unbalanced or balanced input. -
Page 27: Plugin Architecture And Features
If the plugin is in offline mode, the configuration settings will be downloaded to the miniDSP hardware unit the next time it is put into online mode (provided that the Synchronize option is selected from the dialog box). - Page 28 If the plugin is in online mode, the defaults settings will be downloaded immediately to the miniDSP hardware unit. If the plugin is in offline mode, the default settings will be downloaded to the miniDSP hardware unit the next time it is put into online mode.
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Page 29: Input Selection, Level, And Metering
Most plugins have two input control blocks. The 4-way plugins, 4Way Advanced and 4Way GEQ, have a single input control block, and an additional control to choose which input to use. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... -
Page 30: Output Level, Delay, And Metering
Mutes that output channel. This is helpful when testing and refining your configuration. (For example, mute the tweeter to test the woofer, and vice versa.) miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... - Page 31 The Rear/center channel plugin has an additional delay block that applies to both output channels. A delay of up to 27 ms can be set: miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice...
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Page 32: Graphic Eq
Reset Clicking the Reset button resets all sliders to 0 dB. Link channels If selected, the slider positions are applied to both audio channels. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... -
Page 33: Parametric Eq
A peaking filter with 6 dB boost, centered at 2 kHz A high-shelf filter with 6 dB cut (gain set to a negative value), centered at 10 kHz miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... - Page 34 This button selects a file exported from Room EQ Wizard’s automatic equalization function. For more information, see the app note Auto-EQ tuning with REW and the section Custom biquad programming. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice...
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Page 35: Crossover
Filters can be set at any frequency, or even disabled completely. This allows maximum flexibility in matching your crossover to the acoustic characteristics of the loudspeaker drivers that you are using. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... - Page 36 Bypass Clicking on the Bypass button disables that high pass or low pass filter. (All other crossover filters are still operational unless individually bypassed.) miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice...
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Page 37: Compressor
The optimum settings may need to be tuned by ear. For more information, see the Wikipedia article Dynamic range compression. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... -
Page 38: High Pass And Low Pass Filters
For example, in the above screenshot, input 1 is mixed fully to output 1, not at all to output 2, and partially into outputs 3 and 4. Input 2 is not mixed to output 1, mixed fully to output 2, and mixed partially to outputs 3 and 4. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com... -
Page 39: Mono/Stereo Mode
Up and Down arrow keys to adjust the gain in 0.1 dB increments. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... -
Page 40: Custom Biquad Programming
For example, you can create hybrid crossovers with more than one cutoff frequency, create crossover filter types beyond those provided in the easy-to-use “basic”... - Page 41 After pasting in the biquad coefficients, click on the Process button for them to take effect. For a cut-and-paste example of the biquad format, click on the Help button and then the Crossover Input Format button. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice...
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Page 42: The Plugin Calculator
Active Crossover Designer (ACD) by Charlie Laub performs the complete set of functions for active crossover design and generates biquad coefficients as its output. Download it here (requires Microsoft Excel): http://audio.claub.net/software/ACD/ACD.html miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... -
Page 43: Kit Documentation
OCUMENTATION The miniDSP Balanced Kit is a bare circuit board that can be incorporated into your own chassis and combined with other electronics components. This section documents the supported connectivity and configuration of the kit board. 5.1 B OARD LAYOUT AND FEATURES This diagram shows the key features of the board. -
Page 44: Power
5.2 P OWER The miniDSP Balanced Kit cannot be powered from USB, and must have a 12 VDC power supply connected. 5.2.1 Standalone mode In standalone mode, when the miniDSP Balanced board is used without a miniDIGI or miniAMP, 12 VDC power... -
Page 45: Expansion Header And I2S Connectivity
For more information, please read the I2S technical note available in the download section of our website. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... -
Page 46: Usb Connectivity
Although this is a standard connector, you should nonetheless confirm the pin-out with the manufacturer, or you could easily cause damage to your computer or miniDSP kit. In most cases, pins 4 and 5 can be identified by a black wire, but once again, DO check the manufacturer’s spec of the connector to prevent any short-circuits. -
Page 47: Volume Control
A single potentiometer can be connected to multiple miniDSP kit boards. This allows master volume control of eight or more output channels. This diagram illustrates the wiring for master volume control of multiple boards: Finally, to enable the master volume control, use the Enable button in the System settings tab of the plugin user interface. -
Page 48: Master/Slave Master Clock Selection
Board used with miniDIGI, or with miniDIGI+miniAMP Set jumper to Slave. Board used with USB interface and direct I2S connection Set jumper to Slave. miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... -
Page 49: Additional Information
Keyhole mounts allows installation of enclosure on walls or under tables Strong aluminum casing for installation in tough environments Dimensions (H x W x D) 41.5 x 146 x 105.5 mm miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice... -
Page 50: Troubleshooting
6.2 T ROUBLESHOOTING The following table lists the most common causes of issues with the miniDSP Balanced 2x4 or Balanced Kit. If following this table does not provide a solution, see Obtaining Support below. Item# Symptoms Troubleshooting recommendation Confirm that you downloaded and installed the required... -
Page 51: Obtaining Support
6.3 O BTAINING SUPPORT 1. Check the forums on miniDSP.com to see if this issue has already been raised and a solution or solutions provided. 2. Contact miniDSP via the support portal at minidsp.desk.com with: a. The specific product you are having an issue with.
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