Inserting speakers

Use the Speaker tool to insert individual speakers that are not part of an array. Manually-inserted speakers can be placed as single speakers, or as several speakers arranged in a column. A variety of supports and labeling options are available.

● For Insert by Symbol mode, click Speaker Symbol on the Tool bar to select a resource from the Resource Selector.

● For Insert by Catalog mode, click Catalog Item on the Tool bar to select a speaker with preset data from the catalog.

● To create a custom speaker, click Preferences to open the object properties dialog box and specify the tool’s default parameters; set the Source to Catalog and Type to Generic, and then enter the parameters. The speaker can be saved to the catalog from the Object Info palette after placement.

Depending on the insertion method used, some parameters are automatically populated and disabled, and others can be edited later from the Object Info palette.

Parameter	Description
Source	Select whether the speaker is a symbol from the resource library or an item from the catalog
Type	If Source is set to Catalog, select a speaker from the default speaker data available in the library file; alternatively, select <Generic> to create a speaker with custom data and then save the speaker as a custom speaker in the catalog. After placement, select Import from the Object Info palette Type list to import predefined speaker data only (such as width and weight) from a library or another file containing speakers. The Import Speaker Type dialog box opens, to select the file and type. A symbol is not imported from the file; only data is added. The Import Speaker Type dialog box accesses data in the default speaker and bumper libraries.
Select Symbol	If Source is set to Symbol, click to select a symbol from the Resource Selector
Ceiling speaker	Indicates that the speaker is a circular, ceiling-mounted speaker
Brand	Specifies the speaker manufacturer
Model	Specifies the manufacturer’s information
Front Width/Height	Indicates the width and height of the front face of the speaker
Back Width/Height	Indicates the width and height of the back face of the speaker; the back face cannot be larger than the front face
Depth	Specifies the speaker depth
Grill Diameter	For ceiling speakers, enter the grill diameter
Cutout Diameter	For ceiling speakers, enter the diameter of the speaker housing
Height	For ceiling speakers, specifies the speaker height
Flip orientation	Rotates the speaker 90° to place the speaker on its side
Tilt Reference	When the speaker is in an array, sets the reference for tilting the speaker to either the front or back face
Weight	Specifies the speaker’s weight
Custom Color	Specifies the color of the speaker
Constant voltage	Indicates that this is a speaker system that uses constant-voltage, high-impedance speakers and amplifiers. Enter the transformer Tap Settings. Constant voltage is typically 25 or 70 volts but could be higher.
Self-powered	Indicates whether the speaker uses an internal or remote amplifier
Minimum Wattage	Enter the minimum required wattage to operate the speaker, for power consumption calculations and reporting
RMS Wattage	Specifies the average power applied to the speaker
Peak Wattage	Indicates the maximum power that can be applied to the speaker
Impedance (ohms)	Specifies the speaker’s impedance
Asymmetrical horizontal dispersion(s)	Allows asymmetrical coverage to be defined, with different left and right dispersion angles
Expand dispersion features	When selected, allows you to enter range values and dispersion area information for up to three ranges; deselect to enter only Overall information for the speaker
Range 1/2/3	Enter notes for three dispersion ranges, such as a frequency range, key frequency, or crossover point. When Expand Dispersion Features is deselected, the range is automatically set to Overall and only one set of values can be entered.
Horiz. Dispersion Full	When dispersion is symmetrical, enter the horizontal dispersion angle, from 0 to 180°; for asymmetrical dispersions, the total dispersion (left + right) is displayed
Horiz. Dispersion Left	When dispersion is asymmetrical, enter the left dispersion angle, from 0 to 90°
Horiz. Dispersion Right	When dispersion is asymmetrical, enter the right dispersion angle, from 0 to 90°
Vert. Dispersion	Enter the vertical dispersion angle, from 0 to 180°
Throw Distance	Sets the throw distance reference for the dispersion lines
Save Type to Catalog (Object Info palette only)	Saves the current speaker configuration as a new speaker type; enter the name of the speaker type. This custom speaker can then be selected from the Type list.
Delete Type from Catalog (Object Info palette only)	Removes the speaker currently selected in Type from the catalog; the current parameters remain as set, and the type becomes <Generic>
Listening Height	Sets the listening height reference for the dispersion lines. Listening height must be less than the speaker’s elevation (Z value).
Override dispersions (V) with array angle	Calculates the dispersion based on the parent array’s Angle Relative to Preceding value for the speaker set on the Array tab, rather than the individual speaker’s vertical dispersion angles
Show dispersion range 1/2/3	Draws the top, bottom, left, and right dispersion lines, along with a center reference line, for each of the three dispersion ranges selected for display (or the Overall range if expanded dispersion is not selected). An outline or hatch pattern representing the listening area coverage “shadow” is drawn when the throw distance and the vertical dispersion and tilt angles allow the speaker to cover the area at or below the Listening Height.
Show dispersion hatch	Displays hatch fills in the coverage shadow of each enabled dispersion range
Support	Select the support method for the speaker. The Flown-Motors and Flown-Crank Lift options are for reference only; the other options draw additional pieces such as a tripod floor stand or a yoke and clamp as needed for support.
Tripod/Stand Height	For tripod or mic stand support, sets the height of the floor stand
Tripod Angle	For tripod support, set the angle
Mounting Details	Specifies the mounting details for the speaker
Tilt Difference	Displays the tilt difference between the selected speaker and the one above it
Actual Tilt Angle	Specifies the tilt angle of the speaker, from -90 to 90°
Location	Indicates the speaker location (such as Downstage Right)
Purpose	Indicates the purpose of the speaker (such as Center Fill)
Zone	Indicates the group, area, or system for the speaker
Rack	Enter notes about the rack driving the speaker
Amplifier	Specifies the speaker’s amplifier
Drive Line	Indicates information about the drive line feeding the signal to the speaker
Cable	Indicates the cable used
Speaker ID	Indicates the speaker’s ID
Column ID	An individual speaker can optionally be part of a column of speakers or in a speaker array. This specifies the column ID. Speakers in the same column receive a stacked Column ID when Arrange Column is clicked.
Position in Column	When speakers are arranged in a column or array, indicates the speaker’s position in the stack. Position 1 is the top speaker.
Arrange Column	Provides selected speakers with a Column ID in order of their arrangement, based on their elevation (Z value); calculates tilt differences, and assigns each speaker a Position in Column number
Note	Enter miscellaneous notes such as rental source or stock number
Text Options	Opens the Text Options dialog box, to enable the display and format the text of labels; see Formatting speaker object labels
Default Text Position (Object Info palette only)	Restores text labels to their default positions
Parts Classes	Opens the Parts Classes dialog box, to specify class naming for the various portions of the speaker. This allows portions of the cabinets, grills, and other elements to be set to visible, grayed, or invisible. Different textures can be applied to the different part classes, for a highly realistic appearance. Use the standard class, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Speaker Class> to place the speaker element in the same class as the speaker object. ● Class Prefix: Specifies an optional default root class naming standard for all speaker parts; click Assign Default Classes With Prefix to begin all speaker class names with the prefix, so that they are sorted together. ● Assign Default Classes With Prefix: Sets the class names for all speaker elements to the standard, using the Class Prefix if there is one. ● Speaker elements: For each portion of the speaker, specifies the class name standard; the class names shown here are applied to the elements.
Update	Updates the object when changes have been made to the Object Info palette parameters. For example, you may need to refresh the display when toggling Class Speaker Parts on and off, when the attributes of the speaker parts have been set by class.
Load Information	A speaker is considered a point load in Braceworks calculations; if the insertion point is on a rigging object, it is considered to be a load on that structure. Load information is used for Braceworks calculations and reports (Braceworks required).
Include in Calculations (Braceworks required)	Includes the speaker in Braceworks calculations; deselect to exclude it from participating in structural calculations
Load Group Name	The load category is always Audio for speaker objects
Load ID	Enter a unique ID for the load for informational use in reports
Load Name	Identifies the object in load calculations
Total Weight	Enter the total weight of the object

Mode	Description
Insert by Symbol	Inserts a speaker symbol from the resource library; symbol resources include preset data and detailed geometry for visualization, but respond more slowly to edits such as rotating the object
Insert by Catalog	Inserts a speaker from the speaker catalog; catalog resources include preset data and a basic box of the correct size to respond quickly and efficiently to edits such as rotating the object
Speaker Symbol (Insert by Symbol mode only)	Click to select a resource from the Resource Selector
Catalog Item (Insert by Catalog mode only)	Click to select a speaker with preset data from the catalog
Alignment modes	Defines how the speaker is aligned on insertion; see The Symbol Insertion tool
Preferences	Sets the default parameters for the speaker