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 (renamed 'speaker selector in this config), 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 for the Standard Mixer: 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: