ASHLY 3.6SP [12/16] Interconnect features

Operating Manual - PROTEA™ 4.8SP and 3.6SP System Processors

5. INTERCONNECT FEATURES

5.1 Audio Connections

All Protea audio connections use three pin XLR jacks, with pin 2 (+), pin 3 (-), and pin 1(G). Inputs and outputs are

electronically precision balanced. If an unbalanced signal is fed to an input, the signal should be on the (+) connection (pin 2)

and pin 3 must be tied to ground, or signicant signal loss will result. In other words, never oat pin 2 or pin 3. It is strongly

recommended that balanced signals be used whenever possible.

A Note About Input Signal Levels:

There are no analog gain trim adjustments on the Protea SP unit, therefore all the processing (including gain) is done

in the digital domain. As a consequence of this design philosophy, it is important to feed the Protea processor with the proper

nominal signal level to achieve good signal to noise performance as well as headroom before clipping. This unit is designed to

clip at signal levels above +20dBu (7.75Vrms), which places the noise oor lower than -92dBu. The optimum input signal level

which should be fed into the Protea processor is 0dBu = .775Vrms. This input level will allow 20dB of headroom while giving

a nominal signal that is >92dB above the noise oor.

5.2 USB Connection

There are two USB ports on the SP unit, one on the front and one on the back panel. They both serve

the same function, but a front panel USB connection will always override the back panel USB port if both are

being used simultaneously. A six foot USB-A to USB-B cable is provided with every Protea SP unit to connect

to a computer running Ashly Protea NE software.

5.3 RS-232 Data Connections

Several third party controllers use RS-232 for control of other devices which may include the Protea

SP processors. For detailed information regarding the implementation of RS-232 control, contact the Ashly

service department. Note: Protea NE software will not work with a 4.8SP or 3.6SP processor using RS-232.

The computer connection must use a USB port.

6. PROTEA NE SOFTWARE

Loading the software

Ashly Protea NE software is included on a CD with each unit. Check the Ashly web site at www.ashly.com to verify

that you are installing the latest software release. Autorun will launch the application<ProteaSystemSoftwareNE> to install the

Protea software.

Connect the SP processor

The control connection is made using a standard USB-A to USB-B cable, provided by Ashly with each unit.

Identify the processor in software

Once the software is loaded to the computer and the data connection has been made to the 4.8SP or 3.6SP, all installed

NE software compatible Ashly products will be automatically detected and shown in the active device listing on the left side

of the Protea NE software startup canvas. Note: In the event of multiple processors of the same model on the network, the user

can nd a single physical unit by right clicking over the unit’s name in the drop down menu, and then click <Identify>, which

will ash the Com LED on that unit’s face panel for two seconds.

The software scans for active devices on power-up, but the user can manually scan at any time as well with <Scan For

Devices> at the bottom of the network device listing. All Ashly devices continuously broadcast their availability to the software.

All currently connected and active products are highlighted in green, while units which may be or have been formerly installed

but are currently off-line or unavailable show up in red. Individual products can be dragged onto the project canvas to simulate

physical rack installation groups, but editing each product can be done from either the product list or the image on the canvas.