Speaker Selector Configuration

Description/Objective

This is an example with a Control Room Audio Solution in a nursing sim lab. In this example, there are two speakers in the sim room, however; an OWISP overhead speaker for communication and instructions, and a PSP in-wall speaker to communicate as the dummy patient. The customer is requesting a User Interface to select the speaker for their talkback audio at a moment's notice. This means we will also build a Canvas User Interface (this will be covered in another section). Before building in Canvas, it is crucial to create the Tesira configuration properly.

Physical Wiring/Line Diagram

Below is the physical wiring diagram.

Tesira Software

Connections

1. If we've completed our physical connections, open the Tesira software and start building a configuration.
2. In this configuration we'll be using the following blocks:
   • TesiraFORTE CI block
   • Peak Meter x 3
   • Uber Filter x 2
   • Level Block with 2 ports
   • Compressor with "ganged mode" and "advanced curve"
   • Matrix Mixer with 2 inputs and 5 outputs
   • Standard Mixer with 2 inputs and 2 outputs (this will become the microphone selector in Canvas)
   • Preset Button with 3 presets
3. Connect the blocks as follows:
   • Connect a peak meter to the Tesira Input block. This will help us to be sure we have the proper levels set on the preamp.
   • Connect the AEC block to the Uber Filters, then the Filters to the Level Block.
   • Connect the Level Block to the Compressor and the second Peak Meter.
   • Connect the Compressor to the Matrix Mixer.
   • Connect outputs 1 & 2 from the Matrix Mixer to the Output block and peak meter.
   • Connect output 3 from the Matrix Mixer to the Standard Mixer.
   • Connect the outputs from the Standard Mixer to the output block and the peak meter.
   • Connect outputs 4 & 5 from the Matrix Mixer to the AEC Reference.
   • Place the Preset Block(s) in a convenient place for now.

When we're complete, our file should look something like this:

Creating Presets

Open up the mixers, the preset block, and the preset manager on the left side.

1. Matrix Mixer: The sim room mic will be sent to three places; the camera, the control room speaker, and the AEC reference for the push to talk mic. The push to talk mic will be sent 3 places; the camera, the Standard Mixer, and the AEC reference for the room mic.
2. The Standard Mixer sends the push to talk audio to two places; the OWISP overhead speaker and the PSP in-wall patient speaker. Three mixer presets will be required.
3. Preset Manager: Create three presets: output 1 active and output 2 muted; output 2 active and output 1 muted, and a third with no outputs active or muted.
4. Preset Buttons: This is where the three presets are stored. This block will become the buttons available to the customer in the Canvas UI. Assign each preset to the Preset Buttons.

Creating a Canvas User Interface

In another section, we will build the corresponding Canvas UI configuration for the Speaker Selector. Click the image below:

Processing Blocks in Tesira

For further insight about the other processing blocks and settings, refer back to the first configuration example, or click the image below:

EQ and Compression

For information on EQ settings, or click the image below:

For Compression parameters, click the image below: