Configuring and Comissioning the ANS within the PAVA SCT TOOL (VIPEDIA-12)

Configuration Example

The following example, is based on the ANS being set to the Low Range:

Target Maximum SPL Broadcast is measured at 95dB.
Minimum SPL Broadcast is measured at 65dB.
Background ANL (Ambient Noise Level) is measured at 47dB.
Signal to noise ratio required which is usually 10dB.

1. Calculate the Maximum ANS Threshold by subtracting the required signal-to-noise ratio (10 dB) from the maximum required SPL (95dB):

95dB − 10dB = 85dB

2. 85db will define max threshold setting in the SCT Noise Control.

This means once ambient noise exceeds 85db threshold the system will output max pre defined level of 95dB

3. The lowest measured ambient noise level of 47dB will define the min level threshold in the SCT Noise Control which in this case would be 55db as the lowest configurable value.

This means when the ambient noise level exceeds 55dB the ANS will reduce attenuation on the output level thus increasing the broadcast value

4. As the min ANS threshold is 55db the ANS switch will be set to the Lo and the corresponding setting in the Noise Control of the SCT will also need to match.

The Low LED on the front panel of the ANS should illuminate indicating the switch is in the correct position.

Up to twelve ANS sensors may be used to control a single zone or group of zones. However, ANS sensors which control the same zone must be connected to the same I/O Unit.
Additionally one ANS sensor may control more than one zone, for instance if it is positioned at the junction of two zones.
If multiple sensors are used in a single PA zone, then at any one time the system will raise the broadcast volume under the control of the sensor reporting the highest level of ambient noise.

Configuration and Commissioning

It is assumed that the commissioning engineer:

Has the appropriate SCT configuration file containing ANS settings
Has the following:

Maximum broadcast Sound Pressure Level (MAX BROADCAST in dBA)
Minimum broadcast Sound Pressure Level (MIN BROADCAST in dBA)
Broadcast signal to ambient noise ratio (SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO or S/N in dB)

Commissioning Procedure

Device Settings

Placement of range switch on ANS

All current ANS products provide for a maximum of 30dB of ambient noise measurement range. In addition, this range may be adjusted to either of the following settings:

HI 65-95dBA
LO 55-85dBA

Depending upon the required Min ANS and Max ANS setting, the correct range needs to be set via an internal switch on the ANS device.

LEDs on the unit front panel indicate the HI or LO setting.
LED brightness varies inversely to noise level, providing confirmation of operation.
Refer to the relevant ANS Product Manual for further details.

Maximum Broadcast Level

Disable Ambient Noise Compensation in the area(s) to be commissioned. This can be achieved by either of the following methods:

Power down all related Ambient Noise Sensors via their rack mounted fused terminals.2
Disable Ambient Noise Control in the Vipedia/Integra Outputs configuration.

Measure and set the maximum Sound Pressure Level via all required inputs to the area to be commissioned.

ANS - Vipedia-12 On-board GPIO Configuration

This menu is accessed via System > PA/VA Cluster > Rack Node > VIPEDIA (or INTEGRA) > GPIO > On Board.
Multiple ANS devices may be configured for single Outputs and single ANS devices may be configured for multiple Outputs as in the example below. This is done via the “Options” button for each ANS.
It is recommended the description includes the intended zones for future readability.
You can have up to 4 ANS on the same zone, all of which need to be on the same GPIO device.
Keep track of the selected zones as required.

System Configuration Tool screen showing “Onboard” ANS configuration Example

ANS - Vipedia-12 BMB Configuration

Ensure that all connected ANS devices are configured for the correct audio outputs.

This menu is accessed via System > PA/VA Cluster > Rack Node > VIPEDIA (or INTEGRA) > GPIO > BMB. You can add BMB by right clicking on GPIO.
Multiple ANS devices may be configured for single Outputs and single ANS devices may be configured for multiple Outputs as in the example below. This is done via the “Options” button for each ANS.
It is recommended the description includes the intended zones for future readability.
You can have up to 4 ANS on the same zone, all of which need to be on the same GPIO device.
This can be in the “Volt-Free Contacts”, “Volt-Driven Contacts” or “Digital Outputs” tab depending on system requirements.
Keep track of the selected zones as required.

System Configuration Tool screen showing “BMB” ANS configuration Example

ANS - Vipedia-12 Noise Control Configuration

The ANS compensation may be set to “Not configured”, “Low” or “High”, do this for each output for each Vipedia/Integra to which you have assigned ANS outputs in the previous steps.

Enter the Min ANS and Max ANS values into each output for each Vipedia/Integra to which you have assigned ANS outputs in the previous steps. The following ANS parameters are configurable per output:

Min ANS:
- This is the minimum threshold value of the ambient noise in the zone (in dBA). This is used to limit the range over which the gain may be reduced. When the ambient noise reaches or is below this value, the VIPEDIA-12/INTEGRA applies the maximum reduction to the output gain. Therefore, this has the minimum gain, and a lower ambient noise will not reduce the broadcast volume further.
Max ANS
- This is the maximum threshold value of ambient noise in the zone (in dBA). When the ambient noise reaches or exceeds this value, the VIPEDIA-12/INTEGRA applies the full configured output gain for the zone.

This will require repeating for each Vipedia/Integra in your system.

System Configuration Tool Screen Showing “Noise Control” ANS Configuration Example

ANS - Vipedia-12 Audio Input Configuration

This menu is accessed via the following:

System > PA/VA Cluster > Rack Node > VIPEDIA (or INTEGRA) > Audio Inputs > Audio Input X > Input Device (e.g. MPS01 G0 AN Microphone)

To determine how a device connected to an audio input is affected by ANS configuration, one of three "ANS" settings are available:

Enabled - Affected by the ANS
Not configured - Not affected by the ANS (Any inputs that are not ANS enabled will always broadcast at maximum broadcast level (e.g. Fire Microphones)
Tolerant - This function allows the system to continue sampling ambient noise levels while the input is routed. (This option is generally only used for low-level audio that is broadcasting for long periods, e.g. background music sources.)

Care must be taken to ensure that broadcast levels from these sources are always below the ANS Min value. Failure to adhere will create system instability causing levels to rise to maximum unduly.

System Configuration Tool screen showing “Inputs” ANS configuration Example

Selectable routes on microphone buttons also require ANS to be set to Enabled/Tolerant/None.

System Configuration Tool screen showing “Inputs” ANS configuration Example

Testing

Verifying ANS Faults Status

Ensure that no ANS faults are indicated on the Vipedia/V2000 front panel. Possible causes of fault indication are:
- Fuse failure (fuse located at PA rack DIN rail terminals)
- Field cabling misconnection
- ANS device failure

Misconnected or faulty ANS devices will indicate an “ANALOGUE I/P” status at the Vipedia/Integra Faults display.
Faults are referenced by the address of the BMB02 device i.e. (REM00) and the analogue input channel on that device (AIN01 for contact input 1).
An example fault may read REM01/AIN01 ANALOGUE I/P on the front panel fault display of the Vipedia/Integra.
Version 5 of the System Configuration Tool will allow you to see active faults on the system via the “Active Vipedia Faults” button in the file transfer tool. Earlier versions of the tool do not have this feature.

Version 5 File Transfer Tool – Vipedia Active faults Status with Example ANS Fault

Verifying ANS Locations

Disconnect the related ANS power feed by removing the DIN rail fuse at the PA rack.
Check that the fault indicated on the Vipedia/Integra is for the expected channel.
Locate the ANS device and check that both LED indicators are extinguished.
Ensure that the fault description and ANS location above agree with the system design

Verifying Set-up and Performance

Notes

Verifying performance of an ambient noise compensation system is, by its very nature, difficult to achieve with any accuracy. Changes in real ambient noise levels across multiple sensors can easily go unnoticed and adversely affect results.
The tests described below verify operation at the minimum and maximum ends of the control range only. These tests require the use of a portable pink noise source and a Sound Pressure Level Meter. The noise source usually comprises a self-powered loudspeaker (portable speaker) mounted on a pole with a pink noise signal generator attached.

Verification Steps

Power down or disable all ANS devices then broadcast a pink noise signal through the system, using an external generator connected through a spare input. Adjust the level to achieve the maximum broadcast SPL previously defined.
Remove the pink noise route, reconnect all ANS devices and clear all faults.
Ensure that the ambient noise level measured at all ANS devices serving the area under test is less than the ANS Min level configured by a margin of at least 2dB.
Remake the pink noise route, and check that the broadcast SPL has reduced to the maximum broadcast SPL minus the control range.
Remove the pink noise route and apply a pink noise source to one ANS device under test. Ensure that the SPL measured at the face of the ANS device is greater than the ANS Max value configured by a margin of at least 2dB.
Remake the pink noise route and check that the broadcast SPL has increased to the maximum broadcast SPL set up in 1 above.
Remove the pink noise route and repeat tests 2 to 6 for all ANS devices serving the area under test

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