Loading FIR filters and Loudspeaker Settings into Marani processors

This page describes how to load a complete loudspeaker preset directly from FIR Designer M via DTP into Marani MIR FI series and MIR A series processors. DTP works over a network (both hardwired and WiFi).

The following examples show a 2-way loudspeaker preset and use a Marani MIR480A processor. (Any preset from 1-way to 6-way can be used.)

 

Marani MIR480A Processor

Connect the processor to the same local network as the computer running FIR Designer M and turn the processor on.

Optionally, start the Marani MEQ control software. (This is not needed when working with FIR Designer M but it can be useful for confirming the settings in the processor.)

 

FIR Designer M

Marani processors run at 96 kHz. In FIR Designer M, ensure that all channels are set to 96 kHz.

FIR Designer M channel sample rates for Marani.

 

… and on the “Channels” “IIR Filters” tab, ensure the IIR filter mode is set to “Marani”.

FIR Designer M IIR filters tab set to Marani.

 

Marani processors also require that FIR filters have a sample rate of 48 kHz. On the “Channels” “Export” tab, go to “FIR Setup” and ensure “FIR output sample rate” is checked and the sample rate is set to 48 kHz.

FIR Designer M Export FIR output sample rate.

 

On the System “Export” tab, press the Marani icon.

FIR Designer M System Export Marani DTP button.

 

The Marani DTP dialog window appears. After 5 seconds, any available Marani processors appear in a drop-down list.

Select the processor from the drop-down (if more than one) and press “Connect”.

FIR Designer M Marani DTP window connect to processor.

 

The processor’s IP address and name appear to the right of the “Connect” button. For each FIR Designer M output channel:

  • select which processor “Device Channel” to use; here input to processor channel “A” and outputs to processor channels 1 and 2,
  • under “PEQ Setup”, select “XOVER-IIR” + FIR + 4 PEQ” for each output channel.

FIR Designer M Marani DTP window channel and PEQ setup.

 

Press “Push All Settings”. After a short time, the “Connection status” will update to confirm the data transfer.

FIR Designer M Marani DTP window push all settings.

 

Confirming in MEQ

In MEQ, open the processor and look at the routing view. Connections between input A and outputs 1 and 2 have been created. Any previous connections, between these and all other input and output channels, have been removed.

MEQ input to output routing.

 

The following pictures shows channel 1 – LF and channel 2 – HF.

MEQ output channel 1 LF.

MEQ output channel 2 HF.

Specifically regarding settings:

  • FIR Designer M “PEQ Setup” ➞ Marani “OUT MODE”
    • This sets the allowable combination of crossovers, FIR filters and IIR PEQ filters.
  • FIR Designer M’s IIR tab
    • 1 x HP filter ➞ Marani “HIGH PASS FILTER”
    • 1 x LP filter ➞ Marani “LOW PASS FILTER”
    • Bell filters ➞ Marani “EQUALIZER” filters. (Maximum number depends on the Marani “OUT MODE”.)
  • FIR Filter
    • Maximum 512 taps or coefficients ➞ Marani FIR filter
    • FIR Designer M “Filter Delay” setting ➞ Marani “FIR” Latency
  • FIR Designer M Gain/Polarity/Delay tab
    • Gain ➞ Marani “GAIN”
    • Polarity ➞ Marani “POLARITY” “INV”
    • Delay + FIR Alignment Delay ➞ Marani “DELAY”

FIR Designer M system summary with delay

Marani MEQ output delay

 

That’s it! The processor is set!

 

More on FIR filter Alignment Delay

FIR Designer M uses each channel’s FIR “Filter delay” setting as time=0 for time aligning FIR filter responses. When all channels have the same FIR “Filter delay” setting (in milliseconds), only the channel delay (from FIR Designer M’s “Gain/Polarity/Delay” tab) is passed to the Marani processor output channel’s DELAY setting.

However when all channels do not have the same “Filter delay”, additional delay is necessary to ensure correct FIR filter time alignment across channels, and to ensure the correct loudspeaker preset behaviour.

The following FIR Designer M System Export tab shows an example where the FIR filter delay is different across channels and FIR alignment delay is necessary.

FIR Designer M system export alignment delay

 

The “FIR Alignment Delay” is added to the GPD tab delay and the total is sent to the DELAY setting is each Marani processor output channel. Here is channel 1.

MEQ output delay with alignment delay.

 

Input EQ

FIR Designer M supports IIR filters on input – that is, filters before the crossover. To use IIR filters at the input location, check the “Input” checkbox on specific filters in the IIR filters tab table.

FIR Designer M input FIR filters

When pushing a preset, these filters are set in the chosen Marani input channel; here channel A.

Marani MEQ input channel filters.