Audio.TST August 2007 USB Adapter & Upgrade Options for AP analyzers

Created 01 Aug 2007

Notes from the Test Bench

By Bruce Hofer, Chairman & Co-Founder, Audio Precision

Hello addressee_placeholder

I just got back from an exciting trip serving as a guest lecturer in a PhD level course given at the Technical University of Denmark in Lyngby, near Copenhagen. The course was titled “Switch-Mode Audio Power Amplifiers”, and it was developed by Professor Michael Andersen to cover recent advances in their design and characterization.

My contribution was to spend an afternoon discussing and demonstrating how to make various performance measurements on these types of devices using our new APx Series of multichannel analyzers. Some 28 students were enrolled from all around the world including the US, Japan, and many countries within Europe making this a truly international event.      

So now it's back to the bench for a couple of weeks before I am off again to Amsterdam for the IBC tradeshow followed by some customer visits. Hopefully we'll see some of you there (Booth 8.410 in the Audio & Radio Hall).

Bruce.

 

Output: Tech tips and new applications from AP

AP2700 v3.30 and ATS v1.6 now available

Engineering released the new control software for 2700 Series & ATS-2 on August 15 and it's now available for download. AP strongly recommends that all users running any earlier version of AP2700 or ATS software update to get the benefit of new features and bug fixes.

The new AP2700 v3.30 will open any .at2c or .at27 file and the new ATS v1.60 will open any .ats2 file, so you can use custom tests and macros created in earlier versions of AP2700 or ATS software seamlessly. You'll also be able to use the new APIB-USB adapter, and enjoy more flexible access on PCs with non-administrator accounts.

Download now at ap.com/software

USB-APIB Adapter

The USB adapter starts shipping September 10. Customers who have already ordered should be receiving their adapter in the next few weeks. Also, starting September 10, all new 2700 Series and ATS-2 analyzers will ship standard with the USB interface.

As a reminder, the USB Adapter works with any System Two Cascade, Cascade Plus, 2700 Series and ATS-2 instruments running the latest software, but it will not work with System One or System Two (see next article about upgrading your System Two to a USB-compatible model).

The new USB-APIB Adapter. Shipping Sept 10.

Sound Advice: Audio Test Q&A

Many AP analyzers have upgradeable components that can significantly improve the performance of the unit without incurring the cost of a totally new instrument. AP's Service Manager Jim Duncan takes a look at the various upgrade options for each of our product families. Your local sales partner will be able to help with specific questions and pricing/ orders.

Upgrades Options to Audio Precision Instruments

System Two Instrument Models 2022, 2222, & 2322 The System Two instrument family was introduced by Audio Precision more than ten years ago. The System Two model 2322 has standard Analog Performance specifications and standard AES Digital Signal Generator & Analyzer with Sample Rate limitations of 48K.

The System Two hardware will not accept the installation of the Dolby Option (OPT-2711) that adds the Dolby Encoding to the AES Digital Signal. It is also unable to run any software later than APWin v2.24, and is thus unable to use the new APIB-USB adapter (which requires AP2700 v3.30).

• New life can be given to the System Two instrument models 2022 (Analog Only), 2322 (Analog with DSP and AES signal analysis), and 2222 (Analog with DSP Analysis) by upgrading the internal instrument modules to the new 2700 Series instrument modules with High Performance Analog, High Performance AES Digital Signal Generator and Analyzer (maximum Sample Rate of 192K).
• After the upgrade, the unit is considered to be a 2700 Series model 2722-192K.
• You also have the option of installing the Dolby Digital Generator Option (Option 2711), GPIB interface Option, or Pre-analyzer Low Pass Filter Option (Option S-AES17).

All upgrades must be performed at the Audio Precision Factory.

System Two Cascade Instrument Models 2422 & 2522 The System Two Cascade instrument family was introduced by Audio Precision ten years ago. The System Two instrument model 2522 has standard Analog Performance specifications and standard Performance specifications AES Digital Signal Generator & Analyzer with Sample Rate limitations of 48K.

• New life can be given to the System Two instrument models 2422 (Analog with DSP Analysis), and 2522 (Analog with DSP and AES signal analysis) by upgrading the internal instrument modules to the 2700 Series instrument modules with High Performance Analog, and High Performance AES Digital Signal Generator and Analyzer (maximum Sample Rate of 192K).
• After the upgrade, the unit is considered to be a 2700 Series model 2722-192K.
• The Dolby Digital Generator Option (Option 2711), GPIB interface Option, Pre-analyzer Low Pass Filter Option (Option S-AES17) can be installed in upgraded AP2700 instruments.

All upgrades must be performed at the Audio Precision Factory.

System Two Cascade Plus Instrument Models 2122, 2622, & 2722 The System Two Cascade Plus instrument family was introduced by Audio Precision about five years ago. The System Two instrument model 2722 has High Performance Analog specifications and Sample Rate limitations of 96K for the AES Digital Signal Generator & Analyzer.

• The System Two instrument models 2122 (Analog Only), 2622 (Analog with DSP Analysis), & 2722 (Analog with DSP Analysis and AES Signal Analysis) can be upgraded to the 2700 Series instrument model 2722-192K with the High Performance AES Digital Signal Generator & Analyzer (maximum Sample Rate of 192K).
• The Dolby Digital Generator Option (Option 2711), GPIB interface Option, Pre-analyzer Low Pass Filter Option (Option S-AES17) can be installed in upgraded 2700 Series instruments.

All upgrades must be performed at the Audio Precision Factory.

2700 Series Instrument Models 2702 & 2712 The 2700 Series instrument family is the flagship offering from Audio Precision. It has the best performance of any audio analyzer in the world.

• The 2700 Series instrument models 2702 (Analog Only) and 2712 (Analog with DSP Analysis) can be upgraded to the instrument model 2722-192K (analog plus DSP analysis and AES Signal Generation and Signal analysis).
• The Dolby Digital Generator Option (Option 2711), the GPIB interface Control Option, and the Pre-analyzer Filter (Option S-AES17) can be installed in the upgraded instruments.

All upgrades must be performed at the Audio Precision Factory .

ATS-1 ATS-1 is one of AP's self-contained audio analyzers.

ATS-1 Access

• The ATS-1 Access (Analog Signal Generation and Analysis) instrument can be upgraded to the ATS-1 Dual Domain instrument by adding the AES Digital Signal Generation & Analysis.
• The Inter-modulation Signal Generation and Analysis Option (IMD) can be installed in the ATS-1 Access or Dual Domain instrument.

ATS-1 Dual Domain

• The Inter-modulation Signal Generation and Analysis Option (IMD) can be installed in the ATS-1 Dual Domain (Analog Signal Generation & Analysis plus AES Digital Signal Generation & Analysis) instrument.

All upgrades must be performed at the Audio Precision Factory.

ATS-2 For economy reasons, many of the ATS-2 instruments were purchased with just the Standard Analog to Digital Converter installed.

• The ATS-2 High Performance Analog to Digital Converter Option can be installed to add enhanced High Resolution Analog to Digital measurements and FFT measurements.
• The General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) control option can be installed to allow GPIB control of the ATS-2 instrument.
• All upgrades must be performed at the Audio Precision Factory.

Upgrades can be performed at the Audio Precision Factory or authorized AP Service Center.

APx Series The APX-585 has a standard configuration of eight channels of signal generation and eight channels of signal measurement.

• The APX-585 can be upgraded to add an additional eight channels of signal measurement that will create a total number of sixteen measurement Channels.
• This upgrade changes the instrument model from an APX-585 to an APX-586.

All upgrades must be performed at the Audio Precision Factory.

Upgrades for the following instruments are no longer available

• Portable One (instrument serial numbers 10,000 to 20,000)
• Portable One Plus (instrument serial numbers 10,000 to 30,000
• Portable One Access (all instrument serial numbers)
• Portable One Dual Domain (all instrument serial numbers)
• ATS-1 (instrument serial numbers 10,000 to 20,000)
• System One instruments (all serial numbers)

 

Test Results: AP News & Events

Competition: Test Bench of the Year This is the last chance to submit your photo for the first annual Test Bench of the Year. Entries accepted through September 25.

Remember, winners in each category will get their photos posted, overall winner gets an iPod nano. Points for prominent AP gear !

Categories

• Best set up bench
• Most cables and coffee cups
• Proudest owner / biggest grin on an engineer

http://ap.com/news/test_bench.htm

Send images to audio.tst@ap.com, please specify if you want your company name posted with the photo or not.

Events

• IBC Amsterdam -- September  7-11 Booth 8.410 Visit the show website
• 123rd AES Convention New York-- October 5-8 Booth 230 Visit the show website

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