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Live from the tradeshow floor
By Bruce Hofer, Chairman & Co-Founder, Audio Precision
After an extremely positive AES convention in San Francisco last week, we are now at the Electronica tradeshow in Munich, Germany.
Electronica is big…really BIG…with over 12 halls of almost anything that relates to the electronics industry: semiconductors, passive components, power supplies, fans, display devices, LEDs, and of course test and measurement equipment. Indeed our particular hall (which is about 3 times the size of the entire San Francisco AES exhibition) is devoted entirely to test and measurement!
I like this show because of the broad range of applications that people are asking us about, many of them outside traditional audio. And there’s some truly creative problem solving going on. I had a conversation with an aerospace engineer looking at one of our audio analyzers to measure vibrations down to 0.1 Hz as air flows over a new wing design. Another company wanted to make SPL measurements inside their line of bathtubs and saunas. Still another company is working on concrete loudspeaker enclosures (one can never have enough mass, I guess). The 1 MHz, one million point FFT capability of our APx525 family has also attracted a lot of attention.
We've also introduced a new multitone measurement for the APx family here at the show that can make up to 19 measurements in under two seconds: ideal for high speed production test. Read below for the press release or contact your local partner for a demo.
Bruce
PRESS RELEASE FROM ELECTRONICA
AUDIO PRECISION BREAKS AUDIO PRODUCTION TEST SPEED BARRIER
APx500 v2.7 Makes 19 Audio Measurements In 1.2 Seconds
ELECTRONICA TRADE FAIR, MUNICH, November 11, 2010: Audio Precision, the recognised standard in audio test and measurement, today broke audio production test speed records with a new multitone analyser that returns 19 key audio measurements in 1.2 seconds. The multitone analyser is available in the upcoming release of APx500 v2.7.
This milestone of performing comprehensive audio test in less than two seconds means that production line managers no longer have to choose between high speed or high quality when specifying their audio test equipment. They will be able to achieve reliable, consistent results with a minimum number of test stations, ensuring lower defect rates at a lower cost per unit.
“Being the recognised industry standard, AP analysers are used in production around the world. Companies trust our results for their accuracy and reliability,” says Dave Schmoldt, President of Audio Precision. “Now we offer that reliability in 1.2 seconds, on an analyser that starts at $6200 in the US. It’s very easy to demonstrate the return on investment for any size production line.”
The new APx multitone analyser measurement returns the following results in graphic or tabular data form: TD+N Level (total harmonic distortion and intermodulation distortion plus noise), TD+N Ratio, TD+N Spectrum, Noise RMS Level, Noise Density Spectrum, Signal to Noise Ratio, Level, Relative Level, Total RMS Level, RMS Level (single frequency), Maximum Level (single frequency), Level Deviation, Gain, DC Level, Crosstalk (spectrum), Crosstalk (single frequency), Phase (spectrum), Phase (single frequency), Frequency Shift, and FFT Spectrum. Speeds of 1.2 seconds are attainable using the APx API (application programming interface), the typical implementation on an automated production line. When the APx graphic UI is controlling the APx, speeds are closer to 2.5 seconds for 19 results.
The new APx500 v2.7 software powers all APx analysers, including the new APx515 production test audio analyser, the APx525 high performance audio analyser, and the APx585 multichannel audio analyser.
Price and availability
APx500 v2.7 is a free update for all APx users. It will be available for download in mid-December, 2010 from /download/apx. Analyser prices start at $6200 in the US and under £4000 in the UK for the APx515.
About Audio Precision
Audio Precision is the recognised standard in audio test. Since 1984, AP has offered high performance audio analyser instruments and applications to help engineers worldwide design and manufacture all types of consumer, professional, and industrial audio products. For more information, visit http://ap.com.
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