Ashly Audio has provided the world with numerous signal processors since 1974, and in the modern era, the company's offerings have become increasingly sophisticated. The NE Series of processors is comprised of devices that are essentially matrix mixers with digital signal processing available. There are three models available-the ne4400, with four inputs and four outputs, the ne4800, with four inputs and eight outputs, and the ne8800, with eight inputs and eight outputs.
Matrix mixer/processors like this are eminently useful to churches that need to direct a group of signals to an array of destinations-typically to feed the outputs of the main sanctuary mixer to in-ceiling speakers around the facility, for instance in green rooms or cry rooms. Microphone inputs also facilitate public address and paging, in addition to the system's signal routing and processing function. While the systems can be controlled by a computer via Ethernet, Ashly makes in-wall remote controls available that grant control of the system to untrained end-users as well. I evaluated an ne8800, and discovered it to be a powerful and useful system.
What You See, What You Get
The front panel of the ne8800 features an LED to indicate power, and an LED display to indicate whether the system is clocked internally, by word clock, AES/EBU, or by the network. LEDs also indicate whether the system is operating at a 48 kHz or 96 kHz, and indicate if data is being sent or received via Ethernet by the unit.
Multiple input options exist, and LEDs on the front panel indicate which type of input is engaged. Five-segment LED meters show levels for each input channel, and similarly, there are five-segment LED meters to indicate the levels of each output channel. Each input and output channel also has a push-button mute switch, which glows green when the channel is active, red when the channel is muted, and orange when the push-to-talk button on that channel's mic is pressed to mute the mic. I'm really impressed with these from an aesthetic perspective-they look very sharp.
The top half of the ne8800's rear panel is comprised of knock-out panels that can be replaced with optional inputs and outputs. High-quality mic preamplifiers are available for inputs five through eight, and mics with push-to-talk functionality can be configured to mute and unmute, and also to engage duckers that are side-chained from the microphones.
Eight AES/EBU inputs and outputs are available as an option, and a slot is available to accommodate a CobraNet or EtherSound network audio card. The lower half of the rear panel is comprised of the system's standard input and output connections, which are all of the Euroblock variety. From left to right, there are four line-level inputs, eight line-level outputs, eight channels of 5V digital logic I/O and eight channels of 5V remote control I/O.
Above the logic and remote connections are an RS-232 port, a remote data port, and word clock input and output BNC connectors. This is the first time I've ever seen word clock available in this type of processor/mixer, and it's a very welcome inclusion. A push-button determines loop or termination operation of word clock. On the far right side of the rear panel are an RJ-45 Ethernet port, an IEC power inlet, and the system's power switch.
The NE Series processors offer a nice array of digital signal processing, including dynamics (brickwall limiter, compressor, ducker, and gate); gain (with or without VCA, remote gain); EQ (1/3-octave graphic, two-, four,- six-, and 10-band parametric, and feedback suppression); crossover (four-way, three-way, two-way, HPF, and LPF); delay, and "tools" (audio meter, signal generator).
The included Protea software grants the user control over all these functions via graphical user interface. The dynamics processors are represented by the expected input vs. output graphic, along with threshold, ratio, attack, and release controls. The EQs offer a nice logarithmic display showing the overall effect of the boosting and cutting. The crossovers offer Bessel, Butterworth, and Linkwitz-Riley filters ranging from 12-48 dB/octave in steepness. The delays and metering are very straightforward, and the signal generator offers pink and white noise, along with a sine wave from 20 Hz to 12,000 Hz. Virtually all DSP functions can be linked across multiple channels. The GUI makes routing and matrix mixing very easy, and inputs and outputs can be named by the user. A meter shows how much available DSP is being used in each of four blocks (each assigned to four input or four output channels).
The unit offers eight assignable 12V digital logic I/O ports, along with eight DC level control ports that can be assigned to input or output levels. The unit can be controlled by a computer via Ethernet, RS-232, or a remote data port, which provides a connection to Ashly's WR-5 or RD-8C remote controls. The WR-5 is a programmable zone controller with six push-buttons to choose parameters, two "up/down" data entry push-buttons, and a two-digit LED display. These can be programmed to control numerous aspects of the central unit's operation, and up to four can be powered directly by the central unit. More can be used with the addition of an RPS-18 remote power supply, and these controllers fit in a standard electrical box.
The RD-8C is an eight-fader, one-master mixer-style controller that can be used to control levels in the system, and the WR-1 remote level control is a simple standard electrical box controller with two potentiometers. These controls are all easily connected and configured to accommodate the control needs of the church.
Wrap-up
The Ashly NE Series processors are nicely appointed, reasonably priced ($3,230 for the ne8800) and easy to use. As a matter of fact, that was the stand-out attribute for me-the ease-of-use. It was easy for me to connect the processor in terms of audio I/O and logic, but more importantly, it works in a plug-and-play fashion with the computer.
I literally plugged the device into the Ethernet port of my computer after having installed and launched the Protea software, and the device simply appeared on my computer display, immediately granting me control over the unit. If I had multiple units, they would all appear.
This simplicity has not been the case with other such network devices with which I've spent time. The typical process of setting up network routing and configuration is not necessary here-plug it in and it just works. This is a big thing for me-I don't like to wrestle with network configuration if I don't have to. This device saves me a lot of time. In addition, the DSP sounds great, and the matrix mixing and signal-routing capabilities are very useful. I can definitely recommend the Ashly NE Series to any church that needs matrix-mixing, DSP, and signal-routing functionality.
