:: Factory Direct ::
THE USER EXPERIENCE
Part of the design mandate was to
enhance the user experience with the
i-Tech hd, specifically the tour sound
user. This was largely a continuation of
the strategy of integrating existing and
proven technologies from across the
harman brand lines. for instance, the
hiQnet System architect software was
implemented but with a unique user
interface for the hd amplifier. System
architect includes context-sensitive,
alphanumeric keypads that pop up
automatically with relevant parameter
units when a value or text entry box
is selected with a stylus. The hiQnet
protocol stack also implements a new
object group hierarchy for improved
customer programming, and controls
grouped in functional blocks for easier/
better custom controls.
The goal was to allow users to monitor
parameters like load impedance, driver
shorts, problems with the aC mains
and other issues directly from the unit
itself, both for that unit specifically and
globally for an entire rack or set of racks.
The point is to have visibility all the way
through the signal path, with full control over the amplifiers from the front of
house
position with just a
laptop or a tablet and using a familiar
browser navigation interface.
We added a USb port to the front
panel of the i-Tech hd, which really
underscores its intended touring application. Users can accurately configure
entire racks by inserting a flash drive
and pressing the load button. a USb
solution can scale from a full repro-gramming to just adding some additional presets to an amplifier. in one of
the first outings for the hd, the engineer changed the settings in the field
using files emailed to his blackberry.
he simply connected his blackberry
to the amplifier with a USb cable and
loaded the settings.
finally, we added mechanical design
The heart of the OMNIDRIVEHD processor with the connectors for CobraNet,
AES and analog inputs.
improvements to help support the hd’s
touring mission. These include: gold
and redundant connector systems with
redundant pathways for both audio and
control signals.
CONCLUSION
The i-Tech hd Series amplifier is
as much a signal processor as it is an
amplifier, in several senses. its level
of onboard processing is an order of
magnitude beyond what you’d typically find in a touring amplifier, and
we’ve seen this trend for integrated
amplifiers growing in popularity in the
industry. but that level of dSP for the
most part represents what can be done
with innovative engineering and new
developments in hardware that take
performance and refinement to the next
level. as the entire pro audio universe
moves further into the territory that
the original i-Tech created, The i-Tech
hd amplifier represents the next step
in that evolution.
brian divine is Director, Installed
Sound/Touring for Crown. He can be
reached at brian.divine@harman.com.
An employee assembles an I-Tech HD amplifier.
