After six months beta testing and refinement, Harman Professional has released its JBL HiQnet Performance Manager sound reinforcement system design software.
JBL HiQnet Performance Manager v1.0 is an application-specific iteration of the Harman HiQnet System Architect configuration and control software application for audio system integration, specialised for touring and live performance venue sound reinforcement systems.
‘JBL HiQnet Performance Manager is the product of considerable research, a comprehensive engineering and design effort and equally committed beta program that included 60 audio professionals drawn from the tour and theatrical communities ‘ says Harman System Development and Integration Group Market Manager, Adam Holladay. ‘As a result of this introduction, our customers in the marketplace can deploy an easy-to-use yet eminently powerful tool that allows them to be more effective and efficient at designing high-performing, consistent sound systems for an array of applications.’
‘Performance Manager is an integral part of Harman Professional’s turnkey system solution for the recently-released JBL Professional VTX Series and provides an ideal simulation and control environment that allows system engineers to fully leverage the power of VTX and Crown Audio VRack, adds Paul Bauman, Senior Manager for Tour Sound, JBL Professional. ‘The workflow approach is consistent with what has been taught throughout VerTec training for the past six years and there is an exciting roadmap ahead for additional product and optimisation integration into Performance Manager.’
Performance Manager workflow forms the foundation of the software with an appropriately-tailored user interface for each stage. Users begin by loading templates of the speaker arrays used in the system, and then run Line Array Calculator II for each array as part of the initial sound design task of determining how many and which type of loudspeakers are required to cover a given venue. For each array, Performance Manager loads the passive VerTec or powered VerTec DrivePack DPDA line array configuration into the main application workspace – the first of many automated design processes native to the software application. Loudspeakers can also be manually loaded into the templates if desired.
Once the user defines the required amplifier parameters for the passive loudspeakers within the arrays, Performance Manager loads the correct number of Crown Audio VRack or other user-determined amplifier racks into the audio system. The software then associates the amplifier outputs with the band-pass crossover inputs for the selected array and programs the amplifiers with the correct JBL preset data, as well as gain shading and JBL Line Array Control Panel equalization parameters that are determined in JBL’s Line Array Calculator II as part of the modeling process to optimise sound level and frequency response over the defined audience geometry.
Representations of the bandpass inputs for each loudspeaker section are overlaid onto the arrays, enabling the user to easily visualize the array configuration, whether JBL DrivePack-powered or driven by external Crown power amplifiers. Performance Manager software also significantly simplifies system-networking configuration – the user can simply drag and drop devices discovered on the network onto the pre-configured devices within the Performance Manager workspace to synchronise all addressing and parameter values.
In addition, the Performance Manager graphic interface provides embedded control panels for array calibration, time alignment and system EQ which use input section digital signal processing resources available in either Crown I-Tech HD (and legacy I-Tech) power amplifiers or JBL DrivePack-powered loudspeakers with DPDA digital audio input modules. Input attenuation, EQ, delay settings and bandpass controls are all readily accessible directly within the main application workspace along with flexible grouping and comprehensive solo/mute functionality for system testing.
Once system tuning is complete, Performance Manager’s Show Mode display is optimised for the actual performance, offering appropriate adjustment control ballistics for equalisation and dedicated monitoring interfaces for levels, speaker loads, thermal conditions and AC power requirements. The workspace for all stages of Performance Manager’s workflow has a common design motif, with monitoring functions overlaid on top of the same loudspeaker band-pass representations within the workspace.
JBL HiQnet Performance Manager v1.0 is available for $399 per license at. Volume discounts are available. An in-depth series of online training videos can also be viewed.
See also:JBL HiQnet Performance Manager beta release
