Delivering an unprecedented sound management solution to the portable PA market, Crown Audio has introduced HiQnet Band Manager software. The free-of-charge application provides a sleek function-driven interface designed to simplify system setup and management while enabling audio professionals, musicians, and engineers to configure and control a rack of Crown XTi series amplifiers.
Band Manager unlocks all loudspeaker processing capabilities of the XTi Series. Once it automatically discovers up to eight USB-connected XTi amplifiers, represented in a virtual rack, all the setup required is to load each amplifier with the JBL-provided speaker tunings and set which amplifiers are driving front-of-house. Band Manager makes smart use of browser-style navigation and the 'Home' screen displays monitor strips for each amplifier in the rack and front-of-house EQ and level control. EQ for stage monitors and all other processing is accessible on an individual amplifier basis. Upon starting Band Manager, all amplifier settings are transferred from the connected devices but they can also be saved to disk for quick recall if the rack is used often in multiple venues.
Band Manager is a cut-down version of its parent software, HiQnet System Architect, a much larger application which provides full-system control of over 70 professional audio devices from across the entire Harman Pro group, including the XTi Series. Anyone who has already used System Architect with the XTi will instantly be familiar with the amplifier control layout since Band Manager makes use of the same software plug in. Directly tailoring Band Manager to the needs of portable PA market enables far quicker configuration of a rack of XTi amplifiers by bringing only the essential tools into direct focus. For those who need the more advanced control, any rack configurations saved within Band Manager can be opened in System Architect. By using the plug in concept, Band Manager is all ready to control other future portable PA HiQnet devices.
Commenting on the introduction of Band Manager, Andy Flint, Crown marketing manager for portable PA stated, "Band Manager provides users with a simple and intuitive interface capable of unlocking the vast array of system setup and management tools included in the XTi product line's integrated processing. This is another excellent example of Harman's experience and dedication to the portable PA market."
While Band Manager is being introduced to operate in conjunction with Crown XTi amplifiers it is planned to take control of other complimentary Harman HiQnet products in the near future. “As a group, we envision Band Manager being used to manage an entire portable PA sound system all the way from microphone to speaker. When introducing software control, making the management of a potentially complex audio system as simple as possible is the most important goal. It is no longer enough to just provide the user with the highest quality equipment, you need to offer great, user-friendly tools to open its potential as well,” added Flint.
