JBL Professional by HARMAN today announced the immediate availability of the new JBL HiQnet Performance Manager™ 2.1 software update, offering powerful new tools for measuring and tuning live sound reinforcement systems. Performance Manager version 2.1 integrates Rational Acoustics’ world-renowned Smaart® acoustic testing and measurement software directly into the Performance Manager workflow, providing audio technicians and engineers with unprecedented access to measurement information—all delivered over the network in real-time.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Rational Acoustics to integrate industry-leading Smaart technology directly within our software platform, which now includes extremely powerful measurement integration for seamless measuring and tuning operations,” said George Georgallis, Product Manager, Tour Sound Systems, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “With version 2.1, real-time frequency and phase response measurements are displayed and controlled within Performance Manager, allowing engineers to measure and adjust system parameters from one screen. This simplifies and accelerates the system optimization process while eliminating opportunities for errors”
Smaart acoustic testing and measurement software is the most straightforward and widely used software for real-time sound system measurement, optimization and control. The dual-channel, FFT-based software enables engineers to diagnose and solve problems quickly by viewing the frequency content of signals and measure the response of electrical and electro-acoustic systems in detail. Mix engineers can use Smaart to identify tones or frequencies of interest and help with tasks like feedback suppression and channel equalization. System engineers can use Smaart to accelerate and streamline the process of setting up and aligning JBL speaker systems in a performance environment.
“JBL Professional by HARMAN has taken great advantage of the Smaart API to provide an elegant, easy-to-use interface for controlling and viewing Smaart measurement data within the new Performance Manager 2.1,” said John Aldrich, Director of Technical Services, Rational Acoustics. “This integration underscores the shared commitment between both companies of providing comprehensive and powerful software toolkits for today’s audio technicians and engineers.”
In addition to Smaart software integration, Performance Manager 2.1 features an entirely new Go-Online mode that offers more intuitive options for system synchronization and management of online devices. A new Line Array Control Panel makes using the Line Array Calculator, a key tool for system configuration, more intuitive and easier to use. In addition, features have been added to Select Input Source mode to make managing and monitoring AES audio distribution a simpler operation. Finally, a number of bug fixes and key performance enhancements improve on the user experience, speed and ease of use.
Additional new features in Performance Manager 2.1 include:
- Support for new JBL CSX F35 loudspeakers
- New presets for JBL VTX M Series monitor speakers based on Device File R1.1
- New Go Online mode offers intuitive options for system synchronization and device management
- Improved support for JBL VTX F-Series speakers
- New Line Array Control Panel for easy line array calibration
- New amplification options
- New options in Run Show mode
- New options in Set Inputs mode
- Performance and memory use optimizations
- New error reporting tool
- Several significant bug fixes
