Meyer Sound announces Galileo loudspeaker management system

Designed as a complement to Meyer Sound's self-powered loudspeakers, the Galileo loudspeaker management system is a hardware/software system providing all of the facilities required to drive and align sound reinforcement systems employing multiple zones. The system consists of the Galileo 616, a six-input/16-output, 2U, fully digital matrix processor and Compass control software for operation of the Galileo 616 through a graphical environment running on a remote computer or tablet. Galileo 616 can also be controlled directly from its front panel for maximum flexibility. The Galileo system includes array compensation for M Series line array products, presets for Meyer Sound systems of all sizes and types, and digital implementations of popular features developed over years by Meyer Sound for its acclaimed analog processors, including air absorption compensation. Housed in a 2U rackmount package, the Galileo 616 processor's Ethernet connection presents a broad variety of control possibilities, such as the use of wireless laptop computers and tablets to control the device. Full bidirectional communication insures that the user is always able to instantly view current settings, whether operating the Galileo 616 from the front panel or a laptop running either the Windows or Macintosh operating system. The device's six analog inputs are on balanced XLR connectors feeding state-of-the-art A/D converters operating at 24-bit resolution and a 96 kHz sample rate. Three of the inputs can be switched to operate as standard stereo AES/EBU digital audio inputs, also capable of accepting sample rates up to 96 kHz. Digital signals entering the input at less than a 96 kHz rate are converted to 96 kHz/24-bit. Simultaneous use of analog and digital inputs is supported up to a total of six input channels. Full matrix operation allows any combination of mixing and routing from inputs to outputs. A monolithic, 1 GHz vector DSP architecture employs a direct DMA audio path to maximize processing power and guarantee fixed low-latency performance, no matter how much processing is applied. All internal processing is performed at 32-bit floating-point resolution and 96 kHz sampling rate using high-quality algorithms to implement a large assortment of processing, including up to two seconds of delay, CP-10 parametric and patent-pending TruShaping program filters, and LD-3 subwoofer crossover and atmospheric correction filters. Even when applying all available processing to every channel, Galileo 616's DSP engine retains substantial processing headroom. Composite EQ provides an approach to system equalization that yields appropriate correction with the least impact on phase response. Composite EQ combines complementary phase filters for correcting amplitude and phase artifacts from cancellation-based effects, such as low-frequency resonances, with TruShaping EQ low-order filters, which enable correction of more broadly-shaped phenomena such as buildup effects and subjective shaping while keeping phase shifts to a minimum. The 16 outputs offer equally high-quality D/A converters and share the same line driving capabilities as those of Meyer Sound's analog line driver products, allowing the Galileo 616 to easily drive Meyer Sound self-powered loudspeakers to full output even over long lines. Other features provided for optimizing the performance of Meyer Sound loudspeakers include the M Series array correction functions of the LD-3 and a library of presets for configurations of both line array and point-source array Meyer Sound products. The Galileo 616 is designed to afford a broad upgrade path for future interfacing options. The Galileo 616 will provide direct interfacing to Meyer Sound's SIM 3 audio analyzer system, such as the ability for the SIM 3 analyzer to treat the Galileo 616 as a switcher, automatically selecting source signals for the analyzer. Interfacing through popular existing or future digital audio networking systems will also be possible. Meyer Sound's Compass control software provides a graphical user interface for all of the Galileo 616 processor's functions, including a System Map, EQ editing, matrix mixing, and more. Galileo 616's all-digital design also enables Meyer Sound to give users entirely new capabilities, like Low Frequency Coverage Shaping for widening low-frequency dispersion patterns. A library of coverage-shaping presets is provided for large-scale M Series products, such as the MILO curvilinear array loudspeaker and 700-HP subwoofer.