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Alcons’ pro-ribbons under (digital) control
Marking a very important step forward in Alcons’ “system synergy” philosophy, the first Digital Drive Processors™ are now leaving the factory.
The DDP™ is an exchangeable signal processing device, which is complementary to the Alcons Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers. The device offers speaker-specific processing and controlling options, enabling the ALC to optimally drive all Alcons pro-ribbon speaker systems in any configuration for any application.
Placing the “2-in / 2-out” DDP™ in the front of the ALC converts the ALC from a “standard” stereo power-amp into a dedicated amplified loudspeaker controller. Due to the modular concept, Alcons users now have a choice between fixed analog and variable digital system processing.
Jeroen Fortanier, R&D engineer DSP/electronics: “The DDP has been designed to offer intuitive control and utmost reliability while preserving the sonic excellence of Alcons’ pro-ribbon based sound systems. This was not an easy task, as the extreme resolution of our pro-ribbons reveals even the smallest sonic details.”
Due to this requirement, the design was based on a 96kHz. sample rate Delta-Sigma conversion with 27-bit (stacked) word length and fixed-point internal processing, driven by a powerful 56 bit, 120 mips DSP engine.
Fortanier continues: “Another important development task was operation reliability. Although we previewed the DDP already at the 2006 Frankfurt show, we kept the 0-series production version under extensive beta-testing to assure reliability under all conditions.“
The System Drive section of the DDP™ provides system controlling and optimizing, with presets for all available Alcons systems and system configurations.
Some unique DDP™ features include:
- Intelligent Driver Guidance IDG™ processing: optimized power response through “True-RMS” intelligent power and (separate) excursion limiting guidance.
- “Von Helsing’s Filterslope Architecture”; crossover filtering is done with hybrid Bessel, Butterworth or Linkwitz Riley responses, enabling optimal speaker matching.
- CSQ™ “Constant & Symmetrical Q” algorithm offers complete filter integrity for the on-board parametric equalising.
- LimitLog™ provides real-time signal logging on signal present and dB limiting of the selected system, over the past 7.000 operating hours.
General functions include: complete Alcons systems library, input signal routing, 4-band parametric eq, delay up to 294ms, 99 user-programmable and nameable presets, preset recall/compare function, a.o.
The complete system status can be seen with a single view on the DDP™ “home-page” on the large 128x64 dots backlit LCD display.
Firmware updates are performed via the side-located USB-port; Dedicated boot-loader software makes the firmware updates efficiently Internet-downloadable, where Alcons system owners have unlimited, free updates for all current and future Alcons systems and system configurations.
The DDP is backed by Alcons’ renowned 3-year “no hassle” warranty.
For more information, please visit: www.alconsaudio.com or www.proribbontechnology.com
