Rane ECS v2 RaneWare (RaneWare 2.1) - Manual (Page 11)

RW Manual-11
Near Signal Offset signal flow
Noise Gate activation and level
This feature is useful in multipoint conferencing when you
want the near end’s Mic audio (room noise) to be reduced at
the far-end(s). The checkbox enables this feature.
When checked, the Noise Gate Level attenuates Port 1’s
Input when the Mic Status indicator is off (i.e., no audio
detected at any Mics). This is useful in noisy room situations.
Typical default value: Off (unchecked)
Master Port Delay
This adjustable timer controls the speed at which a Port
becomes the new Master Port.
The Master Port indicates which of the ECB 62 Input
Ports most recently detected audio. This is useful in
multipoint videoconferencing when you need to know which
one of multiple locations is talking.
Query the ECB 62 for the Master Port OPSTAT parameter
to decide which video feed to switch to. (A preposition is the
wrong thing to end a sentence with.)
Typical default value: 0.35 seconds or more.
Program Signal Offset signal flow
Master Mic Delay
This adjustable timer controls the speed at which a Mic
becomes the new Master Mic.
The Master Mic indicates which Last On Mic most
recently detected audio — thus indicating “who” is talking.
There are two reasons this Smart Last On™ Master Mic
idea is patented by Rane:
#1. Unlike most auto mic mixers, Smart Last On uses the
Master Mic Delay to avoid the problem of the current talker’s
Mic Gating Off when others answer or interrupt.
For example, if the chairman is talking and someone else
sneezes, Smart Last On allows the sneeze to be heard, but the
chairman’s Mic will not Gate Off. The chairman’s Mic will
remain the Last On Mic. Other mic mixer’s “last on” may
gate the chairman’s Mic off (particularly if the chairman
pauses) and the sneeze Mic will become the Last On Mic.
This is bad because the chairman must re-gate his Mic on. All
the while, the acoustic echo canceller has been trying to re-
adapt to the quickly changing Mic gates. Also, the camera
may be switching between the sneezer and the chairman.
Smart Last On avoids this problem by forcing the sneezer
to exceed the (adjustable) Master Mic Delay time. Only then
will the chairman’s Mic Gate Off due to the sneezer’s Mic
becoming the Master Mic. Gesundheit!
#2. (Cool stuff.) Master Mic is also extremely useful in
video-follows-audio applications when you need to move the
camera position to follow “who” is talking. The
Master Mic
Delay timer can be adjusted to times beyond the time required