Compiling the system

Once you have completed the system design, the next step is to compile the system. Compiling is the process whereby MediaMatrix automatically "builds" the system. All devices and wiring are placed onto DSP chips within the system and the "wiring" of the system takes place at this point. Once compiled, the system can pass audio, and is ready to use. Also, if you are designing a system without MediaMatrix hardware, you can use the compile function to test your design before buying hardware, to see that it works, and to determine how much hardware you will need (see "Tools | Options | Sound Engine" to set up MediaMatrix to run with no hardware).

To compile a system, you must first choose the sample rate for your system, which can be found in the main menu bar, under "File | Compile Options". A higher sample rate (such as 48 kHz) will require more DSP resources than a lower one (such as 32 kHz). See Compile Options for more information on the choices available prior to compiling. Once you have selected your compile options, select File from the menu bar and then select Compile. The system will now begin compiling.

During this process MediaMatrix generates the DSP code to create the configuration in the design. It allocates the algorithms to the individual processors, downloads the code to the processors and starts the system.

During the Compile process a compile window appears on the screen. This display provides information on the compile process taking place. Information provided includes: sample rate, the number of unconnected primitives being pruned (these are not placed into the system since they are not wired and would use up cycles unnecessarily), the number of inputs and outputs, the number of primitives placed, the number of Audio Links used, the number of Virtual Connections used, the delay range of the outputs, the number of boards required to run the system, the number of breakout boxes required, any warnings such as insufficient hardware and the elapsed time to compile the configuration. By selecting the More or the Less button you can set the Compile Results Dialog Box to either only provide the most important information (Less) or complete information (More). The dialog box remembers it's last state when you close it, and it returns to that state when it is displayed again. The dialog also contains a Help button which brings up the on-line help topic explaining its operation. Select OK to close this window.

If the compile fails due to an error, the offending device and all of its parent objects are painted with a blue crosshatch pattern. This includes algorithms in feedback loops and unrecognized or obsolete algorithms. These crosshatched blocks assist you in finding the problem.

Please note that as new versions of the software become available, and as devices become enhanced, the amount of system resources required may change. This means that if you design a system now, using the current version of software and current devices and install the system next year using a newer version of MediaMatrix software and/or new devices, you may need more MediaMatrix boards than originally reported in the compile results dialog box.

If you are designing a system using CobraNet and CAB's, you must compile your system at 48 kHz.

There are occasions where the system you designed is so large, that it will not fit in the amount of available hardware you have purchased, or it may actually exceed the design limits of MediaMatrix (8 DSP boards, and a maximum of 256 DAB (Intercell Net) channels. Should this occur, it has been our experience that the system can still be built, but one needs to think about alternate systems designs that will meet your needs, but fit within the available hardware.