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)
If you have not used Device Console with your SHD Power before, you will need to perform a one-time migration procedure. See Migrating to DC.
Finding connected devices¶
The Discover Devices screen displays devices connected to your computer, or which have a network-accessible control interface.
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For network control, the miniDSP SHD Power requires that a miniDSP Wi-DG be connected to its USB port. Note that network control is for miniDSP Device Console only – Dirac Live calibration can not be performed over the network.
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If your device is connected to a Wi-DG but is not visible here, confirm that you have updated the firmware on your Wi-DG to the latest version.
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 signal processing area is divided into sections for the input channels and output channels. There is a control strip for each channel. The output channel strips also contain the signal routing matrix.
If this is the first time you have used Device Console with your miniDSP SHD Power, Device Console will check for an existing preset that was created with the older SHD "plugin" user interface. If found, Device Console will automatically import it. This is done on a preset-by-preset basis.
When you are done, click DISCONNECT.
Tip
Once you have switched to miniDSP Device Console, don't use the older SHD "plugin" user interface to connect to the miniDSP SHD Power any more.
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.
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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.
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:
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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).
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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 SHD Power, press the mute button:
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While the cursor is over the volume slider, use the mouse scroll wheel to adjust volume.
Using Dirac Live¶
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This section applies only if Dirac Live is activated on your SHD Power. If it is not, you will see an option here to purchase an upgrade instead of the Start Calibration and Dirac On/Off buttons.
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The miniDSP SHD Power implements stereo Dirac Live correction. That is, there are two channels of Dirac Live correction. After stereo Dirac Live correction, the audio signal is routed to the four output channels for processing such as parametric EQ and crossovers.
To start Dirac Live calibration, click on the START CALIBRATION button. The Device Console will disconnect and the Dirac Live application will start.
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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 SHD Power.
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Dirac Live calibration can not be performed over the network, so the START CALIBRATION button will be visible only if the SHD Power is connected to the computer by USB.
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.
Input sources¶
To select the input source, drop down the selector menu and select the desired input:
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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:
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You cannot disable the currently-selected input.
Using presets¶
The miniDSP SHD Power has four onboard presets, each of which contains all of the settings for audio processing.
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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 SHD Power:
- The values that you have set up for that preset using Device Console are loaded into the DSP working memory, and
- The Dirac Live filters that you exported to the SHD Power 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.
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The preset name is displayed in the Device Console only. The front panel of the SHD Power 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 SHD Power, the preset will also be sent to the SHD Power.
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.
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It is not possible to load a preset from the SHD Power 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.
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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.
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You do not need to use these buttons in normal operation. They are there in case your SHD Power has issues or miniDSP Support instructs you to refresh the firmware.
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:
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The minimum setting of "1" does not turn the display fully off, but to the minimum supported brightness level.