Velodyne Digital DrivePLUSSeries - Manual (Page 24)

OPTIMIZATION INTRODUCTION
This part of this manual first explains the optimization methods and nomenclature. To help you choose a method, this section then describes
the capabilities of each method as well as the time each optimization requires to complete. Next, to help you choose how to perform your
selected optimization method, this part describes the optimization software interfaces available, including the Window Setup Program and
your TV screen.
To help you understand the parameters you can optimize, this section then discusses each how each parameter affects the subwoofer’s bass
output. Finally, this part recommends the basic methodology for performing Manual-EQ optimization.
OPTIMIZATION METHODS
The Digital Drive PLUS subwoofer offers the Place & Play, Self-EQ, Auto-EQ PLUS and Manual-EQ optimization methods. EQ is a shorthand way
to refer to all the subwoofer’s parameters that can be changed to equalize how the subwoofer sounds throughout its frequency range. You
choose what is right for you although Velodyne recommends Auto-EQ PLUS as it automatically gives you great sounding bass in about 5 minutes
(not including setup time) and doesn’t require you to install and use the Velodyne-authored Windows Setup Program on your Windows
computer or the TV-screen interface to manually modify the bass frequency response.
Place & Play
Place & Play setup doesn’t require the use of the supplied microphone. You can get great sounding bass from the factory-default EQ settings
with the ability to use the default preset EQ settings for different audio genres.
Self-EQ
Self-EQ is the simplest and fastest way to optimize the bass response from your subwoofer for your room. Self-EQ adjusts the levels of eight
parametric EQs only. Unlike Auto-EQ and Manual EQ, which use the sweep tone on the enclosed CD and can adjust all settings on the
subwoofer, Self-EQ uses a sweep tone generated from the subwoofer itself which is picked up using the calibrated microphone. Self-EQ
smoothes the frequency response of the subwoofer from 15 to 120 Hz and leaves the settings for volume, crossover, slope and phase
unchanged.
Auto-EQ PLUS (Recommended)
Auto-EQ PLUS is recommended by Velodyne. Auto-EQ PLUS is the most advanced way to automatically optimize the bass response from your
subwoofer and audio system. During the Auto-EQ PLUS process, the Auto-EQ PLUS digital signal processing algorithm uses a calibrated
microphone and the Auto-EQ PLUS sweep tone (found on the enclosed CD) played through your system to optimize the low frequency output
response. The Auto-EQ PLUS system first automatically mutes the subwoofer to determine the low frequency response (<200 Hz) of the
speakers in your audio system. After finding this response, the subwoofer unmutes itself and matches its output to the satellites while
maintaining a smooth blend with the satellite’s low frequency output. Auto-EQ PLUS then adjusts the output level, the frequency response,
the crossover filter parameters, and the output phase, but only adjusts the parametric filters for level.
Manual-EQ
Manual-EQ is the most customized way to optimize the bass response from your subwoofer. The Auto-EQ PLUS optimizes in a manner that
sounds great for many people. However, we at Velodyne understand that everyone has unique listening preferences and that there are
thousands and thousands of receiver, processor, speaker and room combinations. Hence, the Digital Drive PLUS subwoofers and the
Auto-EQ PLUS system are designed to support custom EQ settings through the Manual-EQ process. We recommend you start your
Manual-EQ optimization with the settings from the Auto-EQ PLUS optimization as a starting point for you to further tune the Digital Drive PLUS
subwoofer to your preference. You can optimize the subwoofer for the preset levels, crossover filter parameters, and phase as well as the
full parametric filter parameters.
Manual-EQ also uses the Auto-EQ sweep tone played through your system, but also requires you to use the Velodyne-authored Windows
Setup Program on your Windows computer or the TV-screen interface to manually modify the bass frequency response.
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Digital Drive PLUS User’s Manual PART THREE — OPTIMIZE