3355 - InAVate Oct12 Edn_Layout 1 21/09/2012 10:33 Page 66

P E E R R E V I E W | Audio test and measurement

NTi XL2 Analyzer
Reviewed by Terry Nelson,
Studio Equipment

Visual limit indication of
exceeding sound levels
Flexible user interface

he XL2 Analyzer combines a sound level

what the response is all over the room.

meter, an acoustic analyser and an audio

There’s also now an application,

analyser. It is suitable for numerous

developed with Meyer Sound, specificallyTapplications

for cinema environments and is an extension of the

including

livesound,

installed sound, PA hire and cinemas aswell as education and training.

integral X-Curve function and Spectral Limits pack. Ivery much look forward to using it.

Studio Equipment provides conception, planning,
installation and supervision services for acoustical

got a very good internal filing system for capturing
measurements, which can then be transferred to a

What do you like about it?

design and audio systems for film, broadcast andcomputer for further processing. A voice recorder is also
included for making comments in the field at the time

recording studios, as well as sound reinforcement

The XL2 is a great step forward in terms of display andinstallations for theatres and concert halls.

features. It is basically an excellent, all-round,troubleshooting test tool. There’s a vast amount ofof measurement.

What would you change?

What do you use
the product for?

power housed within just one handheld unit.
The user interfaces are intuitive and easy to use.

When the product first came out there were someAnyone who is used to a basic menu system on afunctions, that had been available on the NTi’s old

The short answer is everything! It’s an integral part ofcomputer will find their way around the XL2 in 30

Acoustilyzer, AL1, that could not be accessed on the

my measurement and test process and I use it on every

seconds. The interface is also very flexible. It’s fairly

XL2. But that quickly changed as the company added

project. It always goes with me and it’s my first call forstandard to have a customisable interface on this kind

updates and upgrades.

test. I can’t always take all test and measurement toolsof tool but the XL2 takes those options much further.

There are features you need to be careful of. Forwith me so it’s easier to take a computer for control

I think the main advantage of having an XL2 in yourexample, if you are doing electrical measurements, likefunctions and the XL2 coupled with a MD-PRO

toolbox is that you can walk around with it. This is

amplifier power or test measurements (Scope function),

Minirator for measurements. Sometimes I will also takeespecially useful when using the sound level meter for

you need to be aware of what you are looking at. So, in

a DR2 Digirator for set-up, measurement andhealth and safety purposes. If you are limited to aterms of level compensation you might think you aretroubleshooting functions.

maximum sound pressure level at the PA, you can takelooking at a millivolt when in fact you could be looking

The functions I use the most are the sound levela measurement where the SPL is loudest for theat a lot more.

meter, spectrum analyser, measurement for signal levels

audience and one at the FOH (KSET function). The XL2

About the only extra function that comes to mind

and STI. It’s useful for live sound applications and withcalculates the offset and displays the sound pressure

would be measurement of digital signals (as with thea whole selection of filters and standard weighting

level at the loudest point. This is extremely handy if you

Digilyzer) but you can only pack so much into a small

curves it’s great for permanent installations where you

are in a large field or festival area where the FOH could

space!

have to comply with local regulations. I also have thebe 30m, 50m, or an even further distance away fromSpectral Limits and Extended Acoustic Pack options

the stage. Levels are logged to provide backup in the

installed to cover all eventualities and would strongly

case of litigation.

recommend these to users.

In use?

NTi regularly releases new applications and firmware

NTi have been supporting IBC, the annual broadcast

A lot of the work I do is within screening rooms, film

updates to upgrade and expand functionality. One

and media convention held in Amsterdam, with test

mix stages and (sometimes) cinemas. In theseexample is the added ability to display the output of

equipment for about five years now. This year we usedenvironments I can dial in what is known as the X-Curvethe XL2 on a video monitor, which is good for classroom

the XL2 for setting up audio systems in all of theand walk around the auditorium with pink noise

situations where you are instructing students. You canconference rooms as well as the auditorium for the IBC

blasting away and it will provide a fast indication as toeasily display data on a video projector or monitor. It’s

Big Screen digital cinema.

66 | October 2012www.inAVateonthenet.net