Rane ECS RaneWare User Manual

Page 12

RW Manual-12

Prog Sig Release

One can think of this parameter as either the longest

distance or delay time between a speaker and a Mic in the
room, or think of

Program Signal Release as the room

reverb time (sort of) — although, extremely few conference
rooms are statistically reverberant spaces.

Since you don’t want Mics to Gate On due to loudspeaker

audio, the

Program Signal Release time is adjustable to

allow the loudspeaker audio to decay in the room before ECS
releases the Program Status indicator. A larger room may
require a greater

Program Signal Release time.

Typical default value:

0.35 seconds or more.

Near Sig Offset

This helps prevent a single talker from Gating mulitple

Mics. It also helps determine which Port has the current audio
source.

The first Mic that Gates On (audio detected above the

Mic

Threshold) illuminates the Mic Signal indicator. This causes
the

Near Signal Offset value to be added to all other Mics’

Threshold Levels.

For example, when the chairman talks, his Mic Gates On

causing a Mic status signal. Immediately, the

Threshold Level

of all Mics except the chairman Mic is adjusted by the

Near

Signal Offset. Let’s use a Near Signal Offset of 20 dB.
Thus, if the other Mics are set to a

Threshold Level of

-25 dB, when the chairman talks, all other Mics’ Threshold
Levels are forced to -5 dB (-25 plus 20). This helps prevent
Mics that are near the chairman’s Mic from Gating On. This
improves the signal-to-noise and improves Echo Canceller
performance.

Independently, if any Port Signal is detected, the

Near

Signal Offset is also added to the Threshold Level of all
other Ports. This is solely for accurate status indication where
one wants to know which Port contains audio — i.e., for
multipoint videoconferencing.

Typical default value:

18 dB or more.

Prog Sig Offset

This is the big cheese of ECS. When Program (Port 1

Output) audio is detected, the Program Signal indicator lights.
Immediately, the

Program Signal Offset is added to all Mic

Threshold Levels so the loudspeakers don’t Gate Mics On.

If Mics Gate On due to audio from the loud speakers, the

Echo Canceller will have difficulties in its adaptation and
may return echo, so this is important.

For example, with a

Program Signal Offset of 20 dB —

when the far-end talks (via a video codec), Program audio
will be present in the room loudspeakers. If the Mics are set
to a

Threshold Level of -25 dB, when the far-end talks, all

Mic

Threshold Levels are forced to -5 dB (-25 plus 20).

To verify if Mics are inadvertently Gating On due to

playing an audio source, watch the Mic Signal and Program
Signal Status indicators in RaneWare or look at the ECB 62e
front panel MCS (MiC Signal) and PGS (ProGram Signal)
Status LEDs. Neither Mic Signal indicators should be on
when no one talks at a mic.

During setup, if you find

Program Signal Offset must be

set above

24 dB (i.e., 25 or 28…) to avoid Mics Gating On

when no one talks at a Mic and an audio source is playing into
the room, one of three things should be investigated:
1. The first thing to verify is the power amplifier level. You

may need to reduce its level.

2. Check the Mic and loudspeaker placement. Verify that the

Mics are not placed too close to loudspeakers, and that the
Mics are not pointing toward loudspeakers.

3. Verify that Mic Levels and Mic Thresholds are set prop-

erly. Improper settings will cause Mic Gating problems.