Introduction
Soundweb London devices can be controlled with any combination of wall controllers, GPIO, third party controllers, iOS apps, and Audio Architect control panels. Audio Architect control panels include: default control panels, device panels, room panels, and custom panels.
Audio Architect control panels can only be operated “live" when Audio Architect software is installed on a computer connected to the device network. The software must be launched and a Venue file must be opened. Audio Architect should then be brought into an “online" state by entering Run Venue Mode.
If Audio Architect control panels are chosen as a method of control then the software can be brought online manually or automatically.
Going online manually is achieved with the following steps:
1) Connect the computer to the device network
2) Launch Audio Architect
3) Open Venue file
4) Click “Go Online"
5) Proceed through the Workflow until Run Venue Mode is reached
6) Launch required control panel
Going online automatically is achieved with following steps:
1) Connect the computer to the device network
2) Launch Audio Architect
3) Open Venue File
Audio Architect is brought online and control panel is launched automatically.
Going online manually requires a number of steps and the operator needs to be familiar with the software interface and functions. Going online automatically requires fewer steps and little interaction is required by the operator. This guide will outline the configuration required to make Audio Architect go online automatically using the feature called Access Control. This feature will not be explained in its entirety but will be configured to create a typical scenario encountered by the majority of users.
About Access Control
Access Control is intended to provide password security for the Venue file and HiQnet devices. It is also intended to define access to specific functions for different users. Access Control prevents unauthorised users from opening the file in Audio Architect. It also prevents users from making any changes to the HiQnet devices. The device name, HiQnet Node Address, IP settings and firmware cannot be changed using Audio Architect or NetSetter. In addition, Access Control prevents devices from being loaded with a Configuration from another Venue file. Each Venue file has an Admin user by default. The Admin user has full access to all views, control panels and functions. Additional users can be created and their access to views, control panels and functions can be defined. Users can then log in and log out with their passwords at any time. In addition, Access Control can also define how Audio Architect starts for each user when a Venue file is opened.
Configuring Access Control
In this example, Access Control will be configured to do the following:
1) Log in with the “Operator" user automatically
2) Hide the Audio Architect interface
3) Launch the “Levels and Sources" custom control panel
4) Go online automatically
The Venue file comprises a BLU-100 processor, EC-4BV wall controllers and an iOS device running the Motion Control app. A custom control panel has been created which provides level and source selection for the computer operators.
Click on “Access Control" in the Offline Design tab. The Ribbon will display the Access Control modes.
In the User Setup mode, click on “New Password" to enter the Admin user password. This password will be required to open the Venue file when logged in as the Admin user. This is also the password required to unlock the HiQnet devices if required. The Admin password must be kept safe. If the password is forgotten then it will not be possible to log in as the Admin user to edit the Venue file.
Click on “Add User" in the ribbon and enter the name “Operator" for the user.
Click on “New Password" and enter a password for the user. If a password is not required then this step can be skipped. It is not obligatory for a user to employ a password. If no password is assigned to a user then the password field in the Login window should be left blank. Any matched devices on the network will become Locked once the new Admin user password is entered.
Change to Custom Panels mode and select “Operate" in the drop-down box under the Operator user.
This gives the user permission to view and operate the Levels and Sources custom control panel.
Change to User Setup mode and select “Levels and Sources" in the Startup panel drop-down box under the Operator user.
This will configure Audio Architect to launch the “Levels and Sources" custom control panel when the Venue file is opened and when the user Operator logs in.
In the User Setup Mode, tick the box that corresponds to the Auto log in option under the user Operator user.
This will configure Audio Architect to log in as the Operator user automatically without being prompted by the Login window.
Change to the Application Functions mode and ensure that all tick boxes under the Operator user are not ticked.
This will configure the Operator user with no access to Ribbon Functions and Venue Functions.
The Operator user will not be allowed to perform any functions and the Audio Architect application interface will not be displayed.
Change to the Run Venue Mode and select “Auto Load and Receive" in the What to do in Synchronize Venue Mode option under the Operator user.
This will configure Audio Architect to attempt to go online automatically and reach Run Venue Mode when the Operator user is logged in automatically.
Go online.
This will ensure that all devices are matched, loaded with their Configurations and Access Control password has been set on the devices.
Save the Venue file.
In operation
When the Venue file is opened, Audio Architect will perform the following actions:
- Log into the Operator user automatically
- Launch the Levels and Sources custom control panel
- Discover the devices on the network
- Attempt to go online automatically and reach Run Venue Mode
- Synchronise the custom control panel
- Log out icon will appear in the Windows taskbar
Important information
All the DSP devices in the Venue MUST be discovered on the device network BEFORE Audio Architect enters Run Venue Mode when Access Control is configured as described above. Control panels will not synchronise and operate if a DSP device becomes present on the device network AFTER entering Run Venue Mode.
Audio Architect will remain in Synchronise Venue Mode for 60 seconds if any device in the Venue is not present on the device network. Audio Architect will enter Run Venue Mode after 60 seconds even if all the devices in the Venue have not been discovered.
The operator must go offline and back online if Audio Architect has entered Run Venue Mode and has not synchronised with a device. The Operator user must close the Audio Architect application and then re-launch it.
Access Control - Useful information
A user can log out by clicking the yellow padlock icon in the taskbar. This icon will appear when Access Control/Application Functions/Access Audio Architect is unticked.
A user can also log out using the key combination: CONTROL + L
Log out button on custom panel
This can be convenient if the user in unable to log out using the Windows taskbar icon or key combination.
Insert a Button into the custom panel.
Left click the Button to select it.
Change to the System Functions tab in the Properties.
Click on System Functions button and the System Function Editor will appear.
Select Logout in the drop down box,
Click OK.
Close Application button on custom panel
This can be convenient if the user wishes to close Audio Architect. (Requires File Menu under Access Control Ribbon Functions selections) The Operator user must close Audio Architect and re-launch the Venue file if Audio Architect entered Run Venue Mode before the DSP devices were discovered on the device network. It is not possible to close Audio Architect when Access Control is configured as described above because the Operator user does not have access to the Exit function in the File menu.
Insert a Button into the custom panel.
Left click the Button to select it.
Change to the System Functions tab in the Properties.
Click on System Functions button and the System Function Editor will appear.
Select Close Application in the drop down box.
Click OK.
Online indicator on custom panel
This can be useful to confirm that the DSP devices are present on the device network. The System Indicator will be lit when the device is discovered by Audio Architect. The System Indicator can take the form of an LED or a text display.
Insert an LED-System Indicator into the custom panel.
Left click the System Indicator to select it.
Change to the State Indication tab in the Properties.
Click on the On State Logic button and the Indication Configuration window will appear.
Tick the box next to the DSP device in section Selected Device for State Logic.
Tick the box for “online" in the section State Logic Setup Conditions.
Click OK.
Access Control – Application Functions
Ribbon Functions
File Menu – Allows access to the functions in the File menu (Open, Save, Exit)
Define Venue Mode – Allows access to Define Venue Mode and associated functions (add or remove or modify Rooms/Floors/Buildings)
Add Devices Mode – Allows access to Add Devices Mode and associated functions (add or remove Devices)
Route Audio Mode – Allows access to Route Audio mode and associated functions (route audio channels to Devices, access to Dante Matrix)
Associate Amplifier Mode – Allows access to Associate Amplifier Mode and associated functions (associate audio channels to Rooms)
Configure Monitoring Mode – Allows access to Configure Monitoring Mode and associated functions (configure amplifier monitoring)
Go Online/Offline – Allows user to go online or offline (going offline is permitted only if user has access to offline modes)
Match Devices Mode – Allows access to Match Devices Mode and associated functions (match/detach devices)
Venue Presets – Allows user to launch the Venue Preset editor from the Online Operate ribbon
Parameter Presets – Allows access to the Parameter Preset editor from the Online Operate ribbon
Scheduler – Allows user to launch the Scheduler editor from the Online Operate ribbon
Logic Rules – Allows user to launch the Logic Rules Wizard from the Online Operate ribbon
Event Log – Allows user to launch the Event Log Viewer from the Event Log icon
NetSetter - Allows user to launch NetSetter from the Online Operate ribbon
Firmware Update – Allows user to launch the Firmware Update window from the Online Operate ribbon
New Custom/Master Panel – Allows user to create a new Custom Panel or Master Panel from the Online Operate ribbon
Readdress/Rename Devices – allows user to change the name and address of devices from the Room View while offline
Simulate venue – Allows access to Simulate Venue Mode and associated functions
Venue Functions
Edit Devices – Allows user to open a device's configuration, open processing objects and operate default control panels while online. Allows user to open and modify a device's configuration, open processing objects and operate default control panels while offline.
Access Audio Architect – Makes the Audio Architect interface visible to the user when ticked. Makes the interface invisible and inaccessible to the user when unticked.
Access Control – Run Venue Mode
What to do in Synchronise Venue Mode:
Load, Send or Receive – Allows user to load configurations, send parameters and receive parameters in Synchronise Venue Mode by clicking the L, S or R icons. Audio Architect will enter Run Venue Mode automatically if loading or synchronising is not required. Note that L, S or R icons will only be visible when the Audio Architect interface is visible.
Receive Only (safe) - Allows user to receive parameters in Synchronise Venue Mode by clicking the R icon. Audio Architect will enter Run Venue Mode automatically if loading or synchronising is not required. Note that L, S or R icons will only be visible when the Audio Architect interface is visible.
Auto Load and Receive - This option will synchronise with the devices by receiving parameters automatically. The Configurations will be loaded automatically if one or more devices require it.
