Continued development of the Italian company’s patented WFIR filter design results in even greater EQ resolution, while other updates extend the unit’s capabilities, compatibility and control options.
As Outline’s extraordinary, patented Newton continues to rewrite the rulebook for advanced sound system signal processing, the latest updates to the Dashboard application (software v1.9.4 and firmware v0.97) include enhancements to the functionality of WFIR filters, the addition of GPIO port control and extended compatibility for the latest Apple Mac computers.
Of particular interest to companies who already deploy Newton on some of the world’s largest festivals is the further development of its unique WFIR (Warped Finite Impulse Response) filters, using Outline’s new Equalisation Coefficient Synthesis Algorithm (EQ-CSA) which accelerates the group EQ speed functionality significantly and also extends the filter resolution.
These enhancements apply not only within a single Newton but also when several units are networked together, whilst retaining all the outstanding performance and surgical precision for which the unique WFIR filters are recognised. This new level of multi-unit control delivers an unprecedented level of audio equalisation options that can be simultaneously deployed across multiple festival stages - at present, no other audio processor approaches this degree of user control.
Major international providers including Rat Sound, Gabisom, Adlib, Britannia Row, Capital Sound and others already rely on Newton for core system control in complex multi-stage festival situations and its latest refinements will be great news for their sound engineers and system techs.
Compatibility with Apple Mac computers has also been further developed by Outline’s engineers, as Big Sur and Monterey operating systems are now supported. Additionally, Dashboard is now fully compatible with latest-generation Macs using the M1 chip.
The update also introduces the option of using Newton’s GPIO capability to manage some internal functions for safety and evacuation purposes.
Rat Sound of Camarillo, California have been enthusiastic Newton owners for some time and their work includes such legendary festivals as Coachella and Stagecoach. The company's Jon Monson comments, “We love our Outline Newtons at Rat Sound!”
“They are an integral element of our large sound system and festival deployments. The Mac-based interface is clear and intuitive and the multitude of I/O options is key as we use analog, AES, Dante, and Madi in our setups.”
“Now the Outline team has also implemented a GPIO function to the software and with this we have been able to implement a complete emergency override for every festival stage from a remote, central location. Over the last few years it has become increasingly important to offer these kinds of safety enhancements to our festival customers, and the Newton has allowed us to make this happen.”
It’s fair to say that the hottest product in global system processing for the last couple of years has been Outline’s extraordinary NEWTON, the world’s most advanced multi-source audio processor.
NEWTON has re-written the rulebook by combining digital signal synchronisation, all-new filter technology, multi-format audio signal routing and standards conversion within a compact chassis and combining it with intuitive computer control platforms. So far, so good – but it’s about to get even better with this new release (v.95 firmware / v.1.9 software), available via the App Store.
This new feature represents the quickest and easiest way for users to integrate Smaart ® measurement data into their Newton units and to plot it within the Outline Dashboard software environment. This new compatibility will provide a faster, simpler and more accurate method of system tuning for Smaart ® users.
“Outline has done an outstanding job of utilizing the Smaart API to integrate Smaart measurement data within the latest release of their Dashboard control software. This integration really highlights Outline’s commitment to providing their customers with powerful, forward-thinking professional audio tools and we are thrilled to see Newton/Dashboard added to the ever-growing list of Smaart API enabled products."
While the Smaart ® API integration is dedicated to those environments in which Smaart ® is being used, the new ‘Direct Transfer’ feature provides an alternative way to send data to any third-party measurement software or system. Both pre and post-EQ measurements (related to the same channel’s DSP) are sampled and the resultant data can be used with independent measurement software or systems through the hardware outputs.
A new ‘Group Overview’ feature allows users to see how changes to parameters made on a group basis affect individual channels. Each channel can be a member of up to four separate groups simultaneously and this new feature provides detailed information to the operator in a very simple and intuitive view.
The operator can now choose between two different threshold sensibilities (High and Low) for Dante failover implementation.
A new feature that provides an easy and intuitive way to interact with Outline Dashboard software through a VNC or TeamViewer using iPad or any tablet PC.