Tutorial 1: Install Forecaster HD (Win XP, Vista, 7, 8) Download Forecaster HD (FHD) from Community s website http://www.communitypro.com/productlist/135-forecaster-ceiling-system-software
Open Setup.exe and follow the setup wizard
Open FHD from the desktop shortcut Choose your language
Change units or language as needed
Tutorial 2: Introduce the interface List view of audience areas and loudspeakers Parameters for Loudspeaker Automatic Arrangement. See Tutorial 4 Status bar 3D View of audience areas and loudspeakers
Axis Label Loudspeaker -6dB coverage circle on audience area Loudspeaker Audience area Zoom in/out X,Y,Z coordinates X: red; Y: green; Z: blue Control horizontal view angle Control vertical view angle
In the XY View, click anywhere on the audience area Status bar will show the cursor location and its SPL
Click Tab to switch views Loudspeaker List Audience Area List
FHD only calculates coverage for the Audience Area, not the room. FHD allows multiple audience areas, but they all need to have the same Y-axis value (green). X-Left/Right Columns (red) define each area s length. Aisles (blank space) between two Audience Areas can be included as needed. Z-left/right Columns (blue) define are the listener s ear height: Sitting audience: 4ft; Standing audience: 5.5ft.
Tutorial 3: Example A Elem. School Gymnasium Example Parameters: Width =100 ; Length=120 ; Standing Ear height=5 ; Ceiling Height =29 => loudspeaker Height 28. Use R.5COAX99.
1. Click Calculate SPL 2. Click Calculate 3. Click the arrow to show the distribution graph
Color legend Total loudspeaker quantity The mapping results in very uniform coverage, but what if a lower quantity is needed?
Move the slider to change the loudspeaker array density. Possible results will be: Medium Density: 20 loudspeakers; Low Density: 9 loudspeakers
Select any two loudspeakers => Right click => select Show Distance
You can also change the layout pattern to get different designs. Higher density is NOT absolutely better than lower density. Select the amount of density based on the sound coverage uniformity goals of the project.
How to decide the overlap density and other parameters? Be sure that the SPL is sufficient to overcome noise conditions. Keep the maximum SPL high enough to allow dynamic range (crest factor). Refer to SPL specifications determined by the consultant. Follow SPL standards required by law. Consider safe listening levels such as OSHA regulations. Maintain coverage uniformity as needed for the application. Coordinate the design layout with physical limits of the venue. Does the design meet the customer s budget goal?
At last, save the project file or export a report for future reference.
Tutorial 4: Auto Arrangement Parameters Loudspeaker Height: The vertical distance from the loudspeaker to the (x-y plane). Please note that the loudspeaker height is not relative to the floor below the loudspeaker. For example, in this room, loudspeaker height is 16 for all areas, not 14. The raised floor levels will be defined in the Audience Area height (Z-left, Z-right).
Minimum Perimeter Distance: In order to minimize wall reflections, avoid placing the ceiling loudspeaker too close to the wall. Set the minimum distance from the loudspeaker to the audience area perimeter. Note that the audience area perimeter may or may not be the same as the room s perimeter depending on the project s coverage needs. For example, this audience area is 5 away from the wall. To be sure each loudspeaker is at least 8 away from the wall, then input 3. 5
Loudspeaker Model: choose the appropriate loudspeaker model from Community s product library. Often, it s worth experimenting with various models to compare results. Input Power/Attenuation: Input power is associated with attenuation. For example, the maximum input power for the D8 is 120 Watts. If the attenuation is set to -3dB, the input power (Watts) automatically changes to half of the maximum input power, which is 60 watts. Auto Arrange From: Choose the frequency range for auto arrangement between 400Hz to 10,000Hz. FHD calculates the average -6dB coverage angle based on the frequency range you choose. For example, the default setting ranges from 1,000Hz to 4,000Hz for the purpose of evaluating a key range of the human voice. If high frequency uniformity were a higher priority for a music system, perhaps, then the range can be adjusted accordingly. To make a broadband evaluation, simply increase the total range.
Coverage Angle Options: Choose from Use Nominal Coverage Angle, Use 90 Deg. Coverage Angle and Listening Plane -6dB Angle. Use 90 deg. Coverage Angle : Restricts the -6dB coverage angle to 90 degrees for any loudspeaker model. Listening Plane -6dB Angle, calculates the effective coverage angle based on the -6dB down point on the Listening Plane. This feature provides more reasonable design when ultra-wide dispersion loudspeakers are used in venues which require good speech intelligibility. Rotate 90 deg.: Rotates the loudspeaker 90 degrees on the horizontal (X, Y) plane. Use this option for loudspeakers that do not have conical coverage patterns (i.e. R.5-94, V1296) Layout Pattern: FHD provides 5 different layout patterns. In some cases, a certain pattern will create overlaps that maximize uniformity. Experiment with patterns to compare the mapping, distribution graph, and loudspeaker quantity.
Layout Orientation: This option will only affect the crisscross and hexagonal layout. FHD lines up loudspeakers along either the X or Y axis based on this setting. Overlap Density: Adjusts how much the -6dB coverage iso-lines overlap each other. More overlap yields less change in SPL throughout the audience area and generally improves intelligibility and music quality. Less overlap will lead to more hot vs. cold spots in the coverage and may degrade the clarity of the system. Fixed Spacing: Disables the overlap density. Arrange the loudspeakers by directly inserting coordinate values to restrict either the X, Y, or both values. Often, this is needed when the loudspeaker mounting must follow specific structural features such as trusses or a ceiling grid. Current loudspeaker spacing will be automatically entered into the Fixed Spacing input boxes, even if the Fixed Spacing option is not chosen.
Tutorial 5: Calculation and Graph Control Start a new project => choose D8 => then click Calculate SPL
Tutorial 5: Calculation and Graph Control Frequency band for calculation. (different from the frequency band for auto arrangement) Default title of each calculation follows the frequency range. Double click to change. Smaller patch size => more accurate but greater calculation time. Larger patch size => Faster but less accurate. Auto Patch Size => Chooses patch size that increases accuracy without excessive calculation time.
Tutorial 5: Calculation and Graph Control This changes how the data is shown, but won t create new calculation. Smaller standard deviation indicates better coverage uniformity. Hover the mouse around the graph. Coordinate of the cursor will show up.
Tutorial 6: Example B Auditorium This is a typical high school auditorium in need of a paging system. It has a partly sloped floor and a low ceiling area under the projection booth. For the sake of general paging, where source localization is not critical, a ceiling loudspeaker system will be demonstrated. Note that for theatrical productions, a very different layout would be needed based on stage localization to reinforce on-stage performances.
The width and length of each area
The length of each area Sloped floor and ceiling heights
Start a new project from the File Menu, Choose D10 and input the audience dimensions.
Uncheck In Use, then Press Enter Or Click Refresh. Area 3 will be evaluated separately later. Since the ceiling height for Area 3 (under balcony ) is 13ft not 23ft, the loudspeakers for that area will have to be arranged later.
Check the mapping of Area 1 and Area 2. Area 2 has higher levels than Area 1 (More yellow than Magenta) To make the coverage more uniform, turn down the loudspeaker input power for Area 2, but not Area 1.
1. Check Lock for Area 1. 2. Set -3dB Attenuation. Or, set the input power to 100 Watts. 3. Refresh and calculate SPL again.
Check the loudspeaker list view. Loudspeakers in Area 1: 200Watt Loudspeakers in Area 2: 100Watt
3. Under balcony area ceiling height is 13. 4. Use a smaller loudspeaker such as D6. 1. Lock both Area 1 and 2. 2. Bring Area 3 back into use.
Change the overlap density and check the mapping again. Finally, the design for this auditorium includes: (8) D10 for the Areas 1 & 2 plus (3) D6 for the Area 3.
Tutorial 7: Manual Edit and Miscellaneous Functions Auto arrangement is quick and easy, but manual editing is also sometimes necessary. For example, columns, lighting fixtures and HVAC ducts maybe conflict with the auto arranged loudspeaker locations. When it is necessary to move or remove some loudspeakers, Forecaster HD s manual mode allows users to do so.
Auto arrangement is recommended to determine the general arrangement, then switch to Manual Mode to make fine tunings. Uncheck to turn on Manual Mode. In Manual Mode, all parameters in this table are editable. In XY View, hold Control and the left mouse button to drag the loudspeaker to a new position.
Discover more options in the right-click menu, such as remove, add, group edit, etc. when the mouse pointer hovers over the table or mapping view windows. Apply changes to multiple loudspeakers at once.
Discover more functions in the File menu, such as open project, save project, export picture to file, export report, etc.
Product Data File Upgrade Utility When Community releases loudspeaker data files for new products, an updated setup.ddp file will be available for download. Save this file at any preferred location and specify its file path in Forecaster HD. Forecaster HD will automatically load the setup.ddp file when launching.