Audio Precision has announced the APx500 Flex audio analyser, enabling the use of APx audio measurement software with ASIO-capable third-party audio interfaces or soundcards.
The APx500 Flex audio analyser is Audio Precision’s APx500 measurement software operating independently of an AP hardware analyser, with licensing controlled by an APx500 Flex Key. With the introduction of APx500 Flex, manufacturers can cost-effectively deploy the measurement capabilities, flexibility and quality of APx software to their production lines.
In lieu of a purpose-built analyser, Flex can be paired with ASIO-capable third-party audio interfaces to create a cost-effective solution for a variety of acoustic and electrical test applications. Measurement scenarios where hardware performance requirements are secondary to test system price – such as production line test of speakers, headphones and microphones – are candidates for Flex. APx500 Flex allows users to leverage test development done in the R&D cycle through the ability to import project and template files developed for AP hardware analysers, thereby reducing test development time and maintaining consistency in test methodology across the organization. APx500 Flex also makes for a powerful, portable audio measurement system for application engineers and QA technicians on the go.
APx500 Flex is introduced in conjunction with the release of APx500 v5.0.2, which provides improved ASIO support, including the calibration of inputs and outputs in V, Pa and FS, automatic or manual delay compensation for compliant ASIO interfaces, and support for generator trigger, and acoustic and impedance measurements.
APx500 Flex continues the APx Series’ tradition of flexibility and configurability. In its base configuration, Flex is configured for two channels and includes a core set of fundamental measurements and functionality: File Analysis, Sequence Mode, Input Signal Monitors (including FFT Monitor), Level & Gain, THD+N, Loudspeaker Product Test (including Rub & Buzz), Stepped Frequency Sweep, Pass/Fail, and Signal Acquisition measurement. Configuration options for four or eight channels are also available, along with a trio of Flex Packs that each offer different groups of more advanced measurements. Perceptual audio measurements – including ABC-MRT and POLQA – can likewise be used with Flex. Finally, for the user that needs the base configuration plus just one more measurement, APx500 Flex has an à la carte menu of measurements from which to choose.
Any ASIO-enabled audio interface should suffice with APx500 Flex. However, AP has verified the compatibility of three different audio interfaces – the RME Fireface UC, Lynx Aurora (n), and Lynx E22 – and configuration templates for these devices are included in APx500 software v5.0.2. Each of these verified compatible interfaces offer quality analogue I/O (<90dB THD+N, 192kHz SR) and stable drivers with consistent delay.
APx500 Flex paired with an ASIO-capable audio interface is a suitable test system for applications where cost sensitivity intersects lower performance requirements (eg. ~90dB THD+N and <10Vrms maximum input level). For more demanding applications, where ‘demanding’ can include challenging performance specifications, calibrated hardware, high-reliability requirements, digital I/O options such as PDM, and hardware-dependent measurements like jitter.
‘Delivering configurability and flexibility, both in hardware and software, to our customers has been core theme of our APx Series analysers since their introduction,’ stated Audio Precision CEO, Mike Flaherty. ‘The APx500 Flex audio analyser demonstrates that mindset is alive and well as we bring the power and versatility of our measurement software to price-sensitive applications around the globe.’
The APx500 Flex audio analyser is available now, with the two-channel base configuration retailing for US$3,000. Release 5.0.2 is also available for download by APx B Series or Legacy analyser users with a valid 5.0 license and is compatible with all analysers in the APx500 Series (Note: an APx KeyBox is required to run v5.0 on Legacy APx analysers). As with all other new APx analysers, APx500 Flex ships with version 5.0 software and one year of software maintenance, effectively licensing that Flex Key for APx version 6.0 when it is released, as well as any minor releases that occur between versions 5.0 and 6.0.
More: www.ap.com
