The miniDSP Device Console

The miniDSP Device Console ("DC") is the new configuration and control software for miniDSP audio processors. It replaces the earlier "plugin" control software. In contrast to the earlier software, Device Console provides:

• A single software program to control all miniDSP processors
• Over-the-air (OTA) self-updates
• Detection and installation of firmware upgrades for your processor
• Purchase and activation of Dirac Live upgrades (where applicable)

Info

The earliest version of Device Console that supports the Flex HT is 1.1.15. Please be sure that you install and use this version or later.

Note

Some changes were made to channel labels and bass management in Device Console version 1.1.16. To avoid confusion, we recommend that you reset and rebuild all presets when updating to Device Console version 1.1.16.

Tip

Note that configuration of the miniDSP Flex HT with Device Console requires a USB connection.

A Wi-DG connected to the USB port of the Flex HT can, however, be used to provide a Wi-Fi to USB bridge compatible with Device Console (but not with Dirac Live). See Configuration over the network and the Wi-DG User Manual (PDF).

Finding connected devices

The Discover Devices screen displays devices connected to your computer, or which have a network-accessible control interface.

Finding network-connected devices

The miniDSP Flex HT can be controlled by miniDSP Device Console over the network by using a miniDSP Wi-DG network to USB bridge.

Info

Note that network control is for miniDSP Device Console only – Dirac Live calibration can not be performed over the network.

If you have a Wi-DG on your network and connected to a Flex HT, it should appear in the list of connected devices. If not, confirm that you have updated the firmware on your Wi-DG to the latest version.

You can also connect to a device by manually entering the IP address of the Wi-DG (IPv4 only). To do so, click on the blue "+" button at the lower right of the window, enter the address and click Connect:

Connecting to a device

To connect to a device for editing and control, click on its name. DC will update to display the device-specific sidebar on the left and the signal processing control interface in the main area on the right.

The displayed signal processing parameters are selected by the row of tabs along the top. Each tab is described later in this manual.

When you are done, click DISCONNECT.

Using template devices

The Template Devices screen displays the complete list of devices supported by Device Console. This can be used to explore features of a processor that you do not have, or to edit your processor settings when you are not able to connect to it.

To edit a template device, click on it.

A template device "mirrors" the real device, so that you can edit your settings while not connected. That is, while you are editing the real device, the current preset is copied to the corresponding template device whenever you change presets and when you disconnect. You can then edit those settings in the template device.

Tip

While editing a template device, the level meters will display a "dummy" signal. To turn off the level meters while editing a template device, click the Mute button in the left sidebar.

Note that not all features will be visible when editing a template device, and not all visible features will function. For example, you cannot purchase a Dirac Live upgrade in a template device, as you must be connected to the actual physical device that the upgrade is for.

When you are done editing in the template device, click FINISH.

When you connect to your real device again, Device Console detects that you have edited the template and asks you if you want to use the settings from the edited template. Or, you can discard the changes you made in the template and revert to the settings that your device had the last time you were connected to it. This is done on a preset-by-preset basis:

Info

You will see a similar dialog if you edit the settings of your device using a different computer or the older "plugin" user interface (the latter is not recommended once you have migrated to the miniDSP Device Console).

Info

If you have more than one device of the same type, only one of them can be edited using the template device. If you have more than one device of the same type or need to edit your devices from more than one computer, you will need to manage your presets by exporting them to and importing them from files. See Importing and Exporting.

Settings

These settings are for Device Console itself (and not any connected processor).

The Modes selection sets the DC to display with a light theme, a dark theme, or with the same theme as your operating system (Windows or macOS). If you choose the System option, you may need to quit Device Console and restart it for the change to take effect.

The Install USB Audio Driver feature installs the latest version of the miniDSP UAC2 audio driver. It appears on Windows only. See Installation for more information.

The Create Program Snapshot feature is used to help miniDSP support diagnose issues you may be having with your unit. See Obtaining Support.

Device controls

The following sections apply when Device Console is connected to a processor, or when editing a template device.

Volume and mute

To change the volume from within Device Console, drag the slider:

To mute the Flex HT, press the mute button:

Tip

While the cursor is over the volume slider, use the mouse scroll wheel to adjust volume.

Using Dirac Live

Info

This section applies only if Dirac Live is activated on your Flex HT. If it is not, you will see an option here to purchase an upgrade instead of the Start Calibration and Dirac On/Off buttons.

To start Dirac Live calibration, click on the START CALIBRATION button. The Device Console will disconnect and the Dirac Live application will start.

Dirac Live room correction can be turned on and off with the DIRAC ON/DIRAC OFF button. The front panel knob and the remote control can also be used to turn Dirac Live on and off.

The miniDSP Flex HT supports multiple zones. To use Dirac Live, these must be set up prior to starting a Dirac Live calibration (even if you have only one zone). See Dirac Live channel configuration.

Tip

Be sure to start the Dirac Live application from within the Device Console using the START CALIBRATION button. If you open the Dirac Live application directly from your operating system, it will not be able to detect the Flex HT.

Info

Dirac Live calibration can not be performed over the network, so the START CALIBRATION button will be visible only if the Flex HT is connected to the computer by USB.

Input sources

To select the input source, drop down the selector menu and select the desired input:

Info

The input source can also be selected from the front panel or with a remote control.

The set of inputs that can be selected can be set up by clicking on the CUSTOMIZE SELECTION button. Any input source can be enabled or disabled here. This is a convenience feature so that unused inputs do not have to be cycled through when using the front panel or remote control. Use this menu to disable unused inputs:

Info

You cannot disable the currently-selected input.

Using presets

The miniDSP Flex HT has four onboard presets, each of which contains all of the settings for audio processing.

Info

Items controlled by the front panel and remote control (volume, mute, input source, Dirac Live on/off) are not stored in the presets.

Selecting a preset

Click on the desired preset number. Or if you have renamed the presets, its name.

When a preset is selected, two things happen in the Flex HT:

1. The values that you have set up for that preset using Device Console are loaded into the DSP working memory, and
2. The Dirac Live filters that you exported to the Flex HT are also loaded into the DSP working memory.

Renaming

To rename a preset, select it, then click the RENAME button. Enter the desired name, then click OK. The name can be up to 12 letters long.

Info

The preset name is displayed in the Device Console only. The front panel of the Flex HT will still display "Preset 1" through "Preset 4".

Importing and exporting

To import a preset from a file, click the IMPORT button, then navigate to a saved preset file and click Open. The preset will be loaded from the file. If Device Console is currently connected to the miniDSP Flex HT, the preset will also be sent to the Flex HT.

To export a preset to a file, click the EXPORT button. Navigate to the desired location in the file system, change the file name if desired, and click Save.

Info

It is not possible to load a preset from the Flex HT back to the Device Console. We strongly recommend always exporting your presets to files when they are complete, to ensure that you don't lose them in future.

Tip

To copy all settings from one preset to another, export the first preset to a file, select the second present, and then import the file that you just saved.

Resetting

To reset the current preset to default values, click the RESET button.

To reset all four presets to default values, click the RESET-ALL button.

Firmware updates

miniDSP Device Console will check for firmware updates when a device is connected, and notify you if one is available. To manually update the firmware, click the Refresh DSP Firmware and Refresh XMOS Firmware button.

Tip

You do not need to use these buttons in normal operation. They are there in case your Flex HT has issues or miniDSP Support instructs you to refresh the firmware.

Upgrade to Dirac Live

Dirac Live is an optional upgrade to the miniDSP Flex HT. You can purchase and activate the upgrade from within the miniDSP Device Console. There is no change to the product name when this is done and the existing configuration presets will remain intact.

Info

The Flex HT uses the same firmware whether Dirac Live is activated or not. This is different from other miniDSP products that use different firmware in each case. Please be sure to refer to the correct user manual for your device.

To purchase the Dirac Live upgrade, click on the Upgrade button in the Dirac Live section of the Device Console sidebar:

The upgrade is a two-step process: 1. purchase; 2. activate.

1. Purchase the Dirac Live upgrade

Tip

Before proceeding, double-check that your PC or Mac meets the system requirements, as the Dirac Live app has higher requirements than miniDSP Device Console and will not run if they are not met.

Click on BUY UPGRADE. A browser window will open on stripe.com. Enter your payment details and click Pay. You will be redirected to an acknowledgement screen, and also receive a receipt by email.

Info

After you press the Buy Upgrade button, miniDSP Device Console will wait for an acknowledgement from the payment system. If you decide not to proceed with the upgrade, click the back-arrow button near the top left of the purchase screen. Here is an example:

If you just close the payment window, Device Console will wait 30 minutes for the acknowledgement; in that case, quit and restart the Device Console application.

2. Activate the Dirac Live upgrade

After payment completes, return to the miniDSP Device Console window. You will see acknowledgement of successful payment:

Click OK to return to the upgrade screen:

Click on RETRIEVE KEY ONLINE to retrieve the activation key. Then click ACTIVATE to activate the upgrade on your Flex HT.

Tip

Retrieving the activation key online requires an active Internet connection. If you have a device that needs to be activated while offline, save the activation key file that was attached to the purchase acknowledgement email onto a USB stick. On the device to be activated, click LOAD FROM FILE and select the file from the USB stick.

After activating, the Flex HT will restart.

Display settings

Controls to manage the front panel display are located in the left sidebar.

Idle Timeout

Click on "Idle Timeout" to set the idle timeout to a value between 3 and 120 seconds. After this period of time, the front panel will turn off. It will turn on again on any user interaction.

Brightness

Click on "Brightness" to set the brightness of the display while it is on:

Info

The minimum setting of "1" does not turn the display fully off, but to the minimum supported brightness level.