SysTune supports up to 8 input channels simultaneously at up to 192 kHz sample rate. It can operate in a dual-channel FFT mode, meaning that one input channel receives a reference signal (mixing console output for example) to which the other input channels are compared. SysTune can also output its own signal (sweeps, pink noise or user selected files) and use this as the reference. Switching between each of the input channels is accomplished easily by clicking on its channel button. These are located just above the mini-meter for each channel. The mini-meters are very convenient to tell at a glance which channels are receiving good signal level. If an overload (clip) of the A/D converter occurs the meter turns red. After the overload passes the outline of the mini-meter stays red until it is reset.
There is a multi-channel mode which allows two or more inputs to be averaged in real-time and the result displayed. This feature can be very useful to spatially average the sound system response using multiple microphones in different locations.
It is also possible to display the spectrum or spectrogram of the input signal. The spectrogram can be particularly useful during a live performance to help pin point feedback frequencies. Most of the programs I have seen display the spectrogram with time on the horizontal axis and frequency on the vertical axis. SysTune does this as well. However, it also allows for the axes orientation to be switched. This places frequency on the horizontal axis to coincide with display of most other frequency vs. magnitude graphs (Figure 3).
IR Stability is also a correlation of the input and output of the system under test. However, it does not directly relate the input to the output as coherence does. Instead it is a differential function that quantifies the similarity of the last two measurements. It is also given as a percentage from 0% to 100% as is coherence. Because IR Stability only looks at the most recent two FFT measurement blocks it can give a fast indication of changes in the data which occur very quickly.
Since SysTune calculates an IR in real-time, it can also calculate a couple of metrics in real-time which are derived from the IR; Reverb Time (RT) and Speech Transmission Index (STI). STI is a measure of how well a system under test transmits human speech so that it can be intelligible to a listener. SysTune will display either RT or MTI (Modulation Transfer Index) and STI as measured in real-time. It will display a curve and give the values at one octave data point intervals from 125 Hz to 8 kHz. A broadband value for STI is also given. It should be noted that while SysTune implements the calculation of STI per the IEC 60268-16 standard, it does not include correction factors for signal masking and noise levels. This can be done, however, by saving a measurement in SysTune and opening it in EASERA for more detailed analysis.
The capability of performing IR measurements in real-time can be used in concert with the dual-channel FFT mode to measure the IR, RT and STI of a venue with a full audience present, but without the use of sweeps or noise test stimuli. This can even be done for a purely acoustical performance without the use of a sound reinforcement system! An actor or soloist may be fitted with a microphone to capture their performance at a relatively close distance. This will serve as the reference signal in SysTune. Several measurement microphones may be placed in the room. SysTune can then perform all of the measurements of which it is capable. One potential deficiency with this method is that the source for the reference signal (actor/soloist) may not sufficiently excite the system under test at all frequencies of interest. This will result in low coherence values at these frequencies.
SysTune is also capable of measuring, displaying and saving SPL and Leq histograms. Weighting functions (A, B and C) can be applied to the SPL measurements. These can have a Slow (1 s), Fast (125 ms) or Impulse (35 ms) time constant applied during the measurement. The averaging time for Leq can be set by the user. This capability can be useful for doing noise studies over extended periods of time. Noise Criteria (NC) can also be calculated and displayed from a measurement of the ambient noise present.
We have briefly touched on some of the more common functions and uses for EASERA SysTune. There are many more features to this piece of software that can make it a valuable tool to the electro-acoustical practitioner. A free demo version of the program can be downloaded from www.easerasystune.com/. ch
b1e95dc632