Category: GlobalTuningTool

The Global Tuning Tool (GTT) is a software tool developed by Harman International, a leading audio and electronics company. The tool is designed to help audio engineers to create audio post-processing pipelines and tune audio the systems to get the best audio performance.

This is a windows-based tool that is part of the Harman AudioworX product suite. The Global Tuning Tool includes a comprehensive set of core audio functions, a powerful signal flow designer, tuning tool, and the framework for processing the entire audio signal path, enabling easy integration of both HARMAN and 3^rd party technologies.

Key Features of Global Tuning Tool

• Real-Time Analysis: The software provides real-time analysis of audio system performance, allowing engineers to quickly tune the system as per requirement.
• System Optimization: The Global Tuning Tool uses advanced algorithms to optimize the audio system performance, based on the specific acoustics of the venue and the desired sound quality.
• Intuitive User Interface: The Global Tuning Tool features an intuitive user interface, with easy-to-use tools and visualizations, making it easier for engineers to make adjustments and optimize the sound system performance.
• Preset Management: The software includes a library of preset configurations for different types of venues and events, making it easier for engineers to get started and save time during the tuning process.
• Signal Flow Designer: The software allows users to drag and drop audio processing modules such as volume, limiter, filters, and mixers onto a virtual canvas, and then connect the input/output pins of modules to create a signal flow diagram. The signal flow diagram provides a visual representation of the path that an audio signal takes through a system, including where it is processed, amplified, and mixed with other signals.

Relative Topics

• Workspace Overview
• Configurations
• Operations
• Create a New Project
• Create Signal Flow
• Designing Custom Panel
• Working with Parameter Set

GTT allows you to tune the audio object memory by setting values using Parameters Set and measuring the audio experience.

The Parameter Sets show the tuning data of all the set of objects used in the signal flow design. These sets can be easily maintained, exported, and shared with others. Additionally, the Parameter Sets allow you to save the progress of the tuning of the audio objects at every milestone point. As a result, you can return to any level and start fine-tuning the device.

Relative Topics

• Parameter Set Overview
• Configuring Parameter Set Data
• Apply Delta in Parameter Sets
• Retrieve and Verify Parameter Sets
• Importing and Exporting Set File
• Preset Comparison
• Parameter Sets Explorer Color scheme
• Switch between Multiple Parameter Sets
• Saving and Loading Set File
• Search in Parameter Sets
• Create a Parameter Set in GTT

The Panel Designer comprises of various features, that offer you a thoughtfully designed, clean, and easy-to-use workspace. Using Panel Designer, you can quickly create a custom panel with all the elements you need and link the panel with a desired audio object. Let us have a look at some of the components of the Panel Designer workspace.

1. Panel Designer Ribbon: The Panel Designer ribbon contains tools for designing and editing the custom panel. The ribbon is divided into the following groups: Tools, Current Panel, Controls, Clipboard, Editing, Layout, and Parameters.
   The Panel Designer ribbon contains tool for designing and editing the custom panel.
   
   The Panel Designer ribbon comprises the following group.
2. Panels View: The Panels view in Panel Designer displays all the custom panels and allows you to create, delete and import the custom panels. In addition, you can access the Venue Explorer to view available Device(s), Applications, and Parameter Sets.
3. Custom Panel Properties View: The Properties view displays the properties of each component used to design the custom Panel and also allows you to customize the Panel to meet your needs. The Properties view is displayed on the right-hand side of the screen.
4. Designer Workspace: You can use various tools available in the Toolbox to create a custom panel in the Designer workspace.
5. Editor Windows: In the Properties view you can customize the Panel using various editour windows. These editour windows are mapped with corresponding properties.

This section provides detailed instructions on configuring device panel features. Below are the topics covered under the section.

Related Topics

• Configure State Variable
• Configure Default Control-Ids
• Configure Preset Controller
• Link Window
• Configure Controller
• Launch MIPS Profiling
• Launch Memory Profiling
• Editing Memory Latency
• Configure Streaming and Polling
• Configure File controller
• Configure Control IDS
• Custom Device Usage
• Multi-xAF Library Support
• Configure External Endpoints

The Help tab provides quick access to information on AudioworX which include GTT and other modules, as well as detailed descriptions of its features and functionalities.

• Keyboard Shortcuts: A link to keyboard shortcuts for RTA module that can be used to perform various actions quickly and efficiently.
• Release Notes: A summary of changes, improvements, and bug fixes included in recent software updates.
• View Help: Explore AudioworX and how to use the AudioworX and its modules to fine-tune audio signal and many more.

Clicking on any of the options within the Help tab will redirect you to a dedicated documentation page that provides detailed information on the selected topic.

When GTT project is open, press the F1 key on your keyboard to open AudioworX documentation page.

When the “Load Slot” command is sent to the device, the device can respond with the following options.

Option 1

1. Slot loading in progress > Slot can be loaded > Loading in progress
2. Slot loaded successfully.

Two responses one after the other.

Option 2

1. Slot loading in progress > Slot can be loaded > Loading in progress >
2. Slot loading failed.

Single Error response – Slot loading failed.

In the first two cases, between the first response and the second response, you will be blocked from taking any action in GTT.
The following progress dialogue box will be displayed.

If the second reply is not received within 15 seconds, GTT will unblock itself and report an error.

If a set of files and slot map files are already available on the device.

1. Click on the column header of the slot and select the slot, which has to be loaded to the device. Selected Slot Id is displayed in a text box under the DSP commands section.
2. Click on the Load Slot button.

   By default, the first valid slot in the table is loaded. If the device is offline, it will be automatically connected to it.

   

The GTT sends a slot load request to the device and waits for a response. If the device is successfully loaded into the slot, a success message is displayed on the screen.
An error message will be displayed on the screen if the device has failed to load into the slot.

If a slot does not exist in the table but is present on the device, it is also possible to load it. In this case, the user can manually enter the slot ID and click on the “Load slot” button.

When the “Maintain Folder Structure” option is checked, then all the set files will be generated within a folder named after the Presets Group name, using the format “Presets Group name_SetNamePresetIds”. This applies when performing operations such as Export Set Files, Export All Files, and Export Slot. On the other hand, if this option is unchecked, all the set files will be stored in the chosen path directly.

So for above Preset Group (Set Group 1) and sets (Set 1[0], Set2[1]) below folders and file will be created under selected path.

Maintain Folder Structure flag will be persisted while exporting/importing projects and reopening the preset controller window.

You can export Preset Configuration using following methods:

• Export Slot Map: To save the flash files of the slot map in the selected path.
• Export Set Files: To save all the set files of the map in the selected path.
• Export All Files: To save all the set files of the map along with the flash file in the selected path.

Right-click or click on “Export Options” to select the type of export.

To export a slot map set files all files should contain at least one valid slot, otherwise the options Export Slot Map, Export Set Files, Export All Files, and Export Slot will be disabled.

Exporting human readable flash file: The exported flash file is useful in the event any slot got accidentally deleted. You can reconfigured Preset Controller values using the slot map table details mentioned the exported flash file.

Once you have configured all parameters of the Preset Controllers , it is recommended that you export the flash file.

Steps to export human readable flash file:

1. Open Preset Controller, add and configure the slots.
2. Click on the Configure and enable or disable “Ramp Setting”.
   
3. Click on Export Slot Map or Export All Files, browse the desire location, enter the file name, and click Save.
   
   This action creates two files, one human-readable CSV file and another flash file at the specified path.
   The name of the CSV file is determined by the name of the flash file, which is the original file.
   Example: The flash file name in the example below is Map.flash, so the readable CSV created file name is Map.flashr.
   
4. Open the CSV file to see the slot details.
   In the below image, the Ramp Setting details for “1: Core 0” column is “0:0 Disabled 1:0 Enabled 1:1 Enabled”, which is “Core Id : Instance ID : State” .
   
   The below image explains the “Ramp Setting” configuration for “0:0 Enabled 0:1 Enabled 0:1 Disabled” in the GTT.
   Similarly, all ramp settings detail will be exported in this format.
   

The Preset Controller allows you to configure a “Custom Action” option. Choosing this option opens a dedicated configuration window where you can define custom actions, as shown in the below image.

In Preset controller, there is an option to configure what actions have to be performed when a slot is loaded.  Currently this feature supports the following actions.

• Custom xTP command
• Custom xTP command (External)
• Set master control pin
• Set Audio object processing state
• Set control pin refresh.

These custom actions can be configured at different stages of slot load.  There are 4 stage that can be configured as listed below.

1. Before slot load
2. After fade out but before preset load
3. After preset load but before fade in
4. After slot load

Steps to configure custom actions:

1. On the Custom action configuration window, click Add to add an action that you can configure.
2. Once the action is added, select the “Stage” from the drop-down options.
   
3. Similarly, select the “Action” from the drop-down actions.
   
4. Click on Configure to configure the Action.
   

The data configuration option depend on the type of “Action” you choose from the drop-down. Below are the configurations for each supported action type.

Custom xTP command		This action sends an xTP message of your choice into the device (as if it received it from GTT). The commands which go to the core may send a response to the network after processing.  These responses may not cause a GTT update depending on the command.  The same limitation applies to read commands, for example reading a control value won’t cause GTT to update the value in the explorer. You can select a xTP command from the drop-down. If the command is not available (perhaps in that case you are using a custom command), you can enter command Id in the text box.  Then you can enter the command data in the box provided. This window lets you enter data in hexadecimal format. As you enter the data, the count at the bottom keeps track of the characters, helping you ensure the correct length. To prevent mistakes, the system checks if the data is valid when you click “OK.” For your reference, the window also shows the current slot, stage, and specific action you are configuring. The system automatically generates a clear description to help you understand the configured custom action.
Custom xTP command (External)		This sends a command from the system to the extrenal device or any connected tool from the context of the xTP Interpreter. You can select a xTP command from the drop-down. If the command is not available, you can enter command Id in the text box.  Then you can enter the command data in the box provided. This window lets you enter data in hexadecimal format. As you enter the data, the count at the bottom keeps track of the characters, helping you ensure the correct length. To prevent mistakes, the system checks if the data is valid when you click “OK.” For your reference, the window also shows the current slot, stage, and specific action you are configuring. The system automatically generates a clear description to help you understand the configured custom action.
Set master control pin		This is equivalent to sending the control and value from GTT or from any other xTP source. This window appears when you choose “Set master control pin” as the action in the main custom action configuration window. It will list the control pins configured in the signal flow.  You can select a control pin and enter value for the control pin. Click “Ok” to save the configuration.The system automatically generates a clear description to help you understand the configured custom action.
Set Audio object processing state (beta)		Sets the selected audio object to the chosen state. This window appears when you choose “Set audio object processing state” as the action in the main custom action configuration window. This window will show where you can configure the processing state of the audio object. Once the values are selected, Click “Ok” to save the processing state information. The system automatically generates a clear description to help you understand the configured custom action.
Set control pin refresh		Select the action -> Set control pin refresh in the action dropdown. When the slot is loaded, select the control pin that needs to be refreshed. This data will be sent to device as part of slot map. When the slot with this data is loaded, the configured custom action will be executed on the set control pin.

Once all the slots are configured with set of actions, the custom action window will appear as per below image.  You can override the default descriptions yourself after you configure the action.

The custom action data configured will be saved only when “Save and close” button is clicked in main custom action window.