Tutorial 1: Install Forecaster HD (Win XP, Vista, 7, 8)

Tutorial 1: Install Forecaster HD (Win XP, Vista, 7, 8)
Download Forecaster HD (FHD) from Community’s website
http://www.communitypro.com/productlist/135-forecaster-ceiling-system-software
Open Setup.exe and
follow the setup wizard
Open FHD from
the desktop shortcut
Choose your language
Change units or language as needed
Tutorial 2: Introduce the interface
List view of audience areas and loudspeakers
Parameters for
Loudspeaker
Automatic
Arrangement.
See Tutorial 4
Status bar
3D View of audience areas and loudspeakers
Axis Label
Loudspeaker -6dB
coverage circle on
audience area
Loudspeaker
Audience area
Zoom in/out
X,Y,Z coordinates
X: red; Y: green; Z: blue
Control horizontal
view angle
Control vertical
view angle
In the XY View, click anywhere on the audience area
Status bar will show the cursor location and its SPL
Click “Tab” to
switch views
Loudspeaker List
Audience Area List
• FHD only calculates coverage for the Audience Area, not the room.
• FHD allows multiple audience areas, but they all need to have the
same Y-axis value (green).
• X-Left/Right Columns (red) define each area’s length. Aisles (blank
space) between two Audience Areas can be included as needed.
• Z-left/right Columns (blue) define are the listener’s ear height:
Sitting audience: 4ft;
Standing audience: 5.5ft.
Tutorial 3: Example A – Elem. School Gymnasium
Example Parameters: Width =100’; Length=120’; Standing Ear height=5’ ; Ceiling
Height =29’ => loudspeaker Height 28’. Use R.5COAX99.
1. Click
Calculate SPL
2. Click Calculate
3. Click the arrow to show the distribution graph
Color legend
Total loudspeaker quantity
The mapping results in very uniform coverage, but what if a lower quantity is needed?
Move the slider to change the loudspeaker array density.
Possible results will be: Medium Density: 20 loudspeakers; Low Density: 9
loudspeakers
Select any two loudspeakers => Right click => select “Show Distance”
You can also change the layout pattern to get different designs.
Higher density is NOT absolutely better than lower density. Select the amount of density
based on the sound coverage uniformity goals of the project.
How to decide the overlap density and other parameters?
• Be sure that the SPL is sufficient to overcome noise conditions.
• Keep the maximum SPL high enough to allow dynamic range
(crest factor).
• Refer to SPL specifications determined by the consultant.
• Follow SPL standards required by law.
• Consider safe listening levels such as OSHA regulations.
• Maintain coverage uniformity as needed for the application.
• Coordinate the design layout with physical limits of the venue.
• Does the design meet the customer’s budget goal?
At last, save the project file or export a report for future reference.
Tutorial 4: Auto Arrangement Parameters
Loudspeaker Height: The vertical distance from the loudspeaker
to the (x-y plane). Please note that the loudspeaker height is
not relative to the floor below the loudspeaker.
For example, in this room, loudspeaker height is 16’ for all
areas, not 14’.
The raised floor levels will be defined in the Audience Area
height (Z-left, Z-right).
Minimum Perimeter Distance: In order to minimize wall reflections,
avoid placing the ceiling loudspeaker too close to the wall. Set the
minimum distance from the loudspeaker to the audience area
perimeter. Note that the audience area perimeter may or may not be
the same as the room’s perimeter depending on the project’s
coverage needs.
For example, this audience area is 5’ away from the wall. To be sure
each loudspeaker is at least 8’ away from the wall, then input 3’.
5’
Loudspeaker Model: choose the appropriate loudspeaker model
from Community’s product library. Often, it’s worth experimenting
with various models to compare results.
Input Power/Attenuation: Input power is associated with
attenuation. For example, the maximum input power for the D8 is
120 Watts. If the attenuation is set to -3dB, the input power (Watts)
automatically changes to half of the maximum input power, which is
60 watts.
Auto Arrange From: Choose the frequency range for auto
arrangement between 400Hz to 10,000Hz. FHD calculates the
average -6dB coverage angle based on the frequency range you
choose. For example, the default setting ranges from 1,000Hz to
4,000Hz for the purpose of evaluating a key range of the human
voice. If high frequency uniformity were a higher priority for a music
system, perhaps, then the range can be adjusted accordingly. To make
a broadband evaluation, simply increase the total range.
Coverage Angle Options: Choose from “Use Nominal Coverage
Angle”, “Use 90 Deg. Coverage Angle” and “Listening Plane -6dB
Angle”.
• “Use 90 deg. Coverage Angle”: Restricts the -6dB coverage
angle to 90 degrees for any loudspeaker model.
• “Listening Plane -6dB Angle”, calculates the effective
coverage angle based on the -6dB down point on the
Listening Plane. This feature provides more reasonable design
when ultra-wide dispersion loudspeakers are used in venues
which require good speech intelligibility.
Rotate 90 deg.: Rotates the loudspeaker 90 degrees on the horizontal
(X, Y) plane. Use this option for loudspeakers that do not have conical
coverage patterns (i.e. R.5-94, V1296)
Layout Pattern: FHD provides 5 different layout patterns. In some
cases, a certain pattern will create overlaps that maximize uniformity.
Experiment with patterns to compare the mapping, distribution
graph, and loudspeaker quantity.
Layout Orientation: This option will only affect the crisscross and
hexagonal layout. FHD lines up loudspeakers along either the X or Y
axis based on this setting.
Overlap Density: Adjusts how much the -6dB coverage iso-lines
overlap each other. More overlap yields less change in SPL
throughout the audience area and generally improves intelligibility
and music quality. Less overlap will lead to more “hot” vs. “cold”
spots in the coverage and may degrade the clarity of the system.
Fixed Spacing: Disables the overlap density. Arrange the
loudspeakers by directly inserting coordinate values to restrict either
the X, Y, or both values. Often, this is needed when the loudspeaker
mounting must follow specific structural features such as trusses or a
ceiling grid.
Current loudspeaker spacing will be automatically entered into the
Fixed Spacing input boxes, even if the Fixed Spacing option is not
chosen.
Tutorial 5: Calculation and Graph Control
Start a new project => choose D8 => then click Calculate SPL
Tutorial 5: Calculation and Graph Control
Frequency band for calculation.
(different from the frequency
band for auto arrangement)
Default title of each calculation
follows the frequency range.
Double click to change.
• Smaller patch size => more accurate but greater calculation time.
• Larger patch size => Faster but less accurate.
• Auto Patch Size => Chooses patch size that increases accuracy
without excessive calculation time.
Tutorial 5: Calculation and Graph Control
This changes how the data is shown, but won’t create new calculation.
Smaller standard deviation
indicates better coverage
uniformity.
Hover the mouse around the graph.
Coordinate of the cursor will show up.
Tutorial 6: Example B – Auditorium
This is a typical high school auditorium in need of a paging system. It has a partly
sloped floor and a low ceiling area under the projection booth. For the sake of general
paging, where source localization is not critical, a ceiling loudspeaker system will be
demonstrated. Note that for theatrical productions, a very different layout would be
needed based on stage localization to reinforce on-stage performances.
The width and length of each area
The length of each area
Sloped floor and ceiling heights
Start a new project from the File Menu,
Choose D10 and input the audience dimensions.
Uncheck
“In Use”,
then Press
“Enter” Or Click
“Refresh”.
Area 3 will be
evaluated
separately
later.
Since the ceiling height for Area 3 (under balcony ) is 13ft not 23ft, the
loudspeakers for that area will have to be arranged later.
Check the mapping of
Area 1 and Area 2.
Area 2 has higher
levels
than Area 1 (More
yellow than Magenta)
To make the coverage
more uniform, turn
down the loudspeaker
input power for Area
2, but not Area 1.
1. Check
“Lock” for
Area 1.
2. Set -3dB
Attenuation.
Or, set the
input power
to 100
Watts.
3. Refresh
and calculate
SPL again.
Check the loudspeaker list view.
Loudspeakers in Area 1: 200Watt
Loudspeakers in Area 2: 100Watt
3. Under balcony area
ceiling height is 13’.
4. Use a smaller
loudspeaker such as D6.
1. Lock both
Area 1 and 2.
2. Bring
Area 3 back
into use.
Change the overlap density and check the mapping again.
Finally, the design for this auditorium includes:
(8) D10 for the Areas 1 & 2 plus (3) D6 for the Area 3.
Tutorial 7: Manual Edit and Miscellaneous Functions
Auto arrangement is quick and easy, but manual editing is also sometimes
necessary. For example, columns, lighting fixtures and HVAC ducts maybe
conflict with the auto arranged loudspeaker locations.
When it is necessary to move or remove some loudspeakers,
Forecaster HD’s manual mode allows users to do so.
Auto arrangement is recommended to determine the general arrangement, then
switch to Manual Mode to make fine tunings.
Uncheck to turn on Manual Mode.
In Manual Mode,
all parameters in
this table are
editable.
In XY View, hold
Control and the
left mouse button
to drag the
loudspeaker to a
new position.
Discover more options in the right-click menu, such as remove, add, group edit, etc.
when the mouse pointer hovers over the table or mapping view windows.
Apply changes
to multiple
loudspeakers
at once.
Discover more functions in the File menu, such as open project, save project,
export picture to file, export report, etc.
Product Data File Upgrade Utility
When Community releases loudspeaker data files for new
products, an updated setup.ddp file will be available for download.
Save this file at any preferred location and specify its file path in
Forecaster HD.
Forecaster HD will automatically load the setup.ddp file when
launching.