Designing in Fulcrum One

To start adding items to a new project in Fulcrum One, make sure you've selected the Design workspace using the tab at the top of the window.

Adding a 3D venue model

We'll start our new project by importing a 3D model of the room into the software. Start by selecting the Modeling toolbox by clicking the tab on the left side of the screen. If your project is empty, you will be prompted to import a model. If not, you can always click the + beside the Objects list to add a new model to your project.

At this time, Fulcrum One supports the loading of 3D models from the Sketchup application using a ".skp" file or generic 3D CAD models using a DXF file. See the support article "Creating Venue Models" for more information and tips on creating models compatible with Fulcrum One and "Import and Export Formats" for more information on file formats.

The Add Object dialog boxes are shown below for both Sketchup and DXF files. Select the desired import format and then click the Choose File button to select a file from your computer to use. Using this dialog, you can rename the model, create links to new or existing layers in your file, and map materials from the file into the model. For DXF files, you can also select the file measurement units as well as elect to convert polylines to faces. For now, we will leave these options as default.

Once you confirm all options, the model file will be shown in the Design window.

Note that Objects (representations of a 3D model) may be moved or rotated as they are placed. However, we recommend following Fulcrum One's modeling standards for ease of use if possible.

Navigating the model

Mouse and keyboard combinations

The 3D world inside One can be easily navigated with a few simple mouse and keyboard combinations.

3D Gizmo control

The 3D world can also be easily navigated by clicking, dragging or selecting points on the 3D Gizmo display in the bottom left corner of the viewport.

Selecting and editing items

Individual items, like models, surfaces or loudspeaker can be easily selected using the left mouse button inside the model viewport. When selecting an item, click the Properties toolbox on the right to see controls available to edit that item. Note that some items (such as loudspeakers) also have a context menu available providing other options, accessible by right clicking the item in the 3D view.

Adding loudspeakers

You can add loudspeakers to your model by selecting the loudspeakers toolbox on the left side of the window and clicking the + button. Click the Loudspeaker drop down option to add a single loudspeaker to your project. This opens the Speaker Library window.

You can choose loudspeakers from the families listed in this window, then select the variant or horn pattern you wish to use in your model. If a specific loudspeaker family has not been downloaded, a icon will appear. You can then either:

1. Click the icon beside the loudspeaker to download the modeling data for that loudspeaker alone, or
2. Click the icon at the top of the window to download all loudspeaker data available. Note this may take an extended amount of time but can be helpful, especially if you might be using the program away from a reliable internet connection.

Positioning and aiming

One the loudspeaker has been selected, it will be added to your model at the model origin. At this point, there are multiple ways to position and aim the loudspeaker in your model. First, select the loudspeaker by clicking it in either the 3D viewport or by selecting it in the Speakers toolbox list. The Properties toolbox will now show the physical position and orientation of the loudspeaker, which can be directly edited.

In addition to the properties box, a selected loudspeaker has handles in the 3D view allowing it to be interactively moved around the model. Note that, if the speaker is Locked using the control, these handles will not be available to prevent accidental movements.

Accelerated positioning and aiming

Loudspeakers can be directly positioned on surfaces by clicking the button in the Properties toolbox and then clicking on a surface in the model.

Similarly, loudspeakers can be quickly aimed at a specific point by clicking the button in the Properties toolbox and then clicking on a target surface in the model.

Duplication, mirroring and other controls

A context menu is available for loudspeakers by right-clicking the loudspeaker in the 3D view or in the toolbox list. This allows you to easily duplicate a loudspeaker while keeping all settings and properties in place. In addition, you can duplicate a loudspeaker and invert its X or Y coordinates, which can greatly speed the creation of symmetrical pairs of loudspeakers. Other controls are also available in the context menu for accelerating the design process.

Group assignment

For ease of modeling and control of larger systems, Fulcrum One allows the use of Groups to organize the control of various speakers in one location. Create groups using the Toolbox on the right side of the screen. Groups can have individual mute, solo and equalization settings, and groups can be overlaid, meaning a loudspeaker can be a part of multiple groups at one time.

Speakers may be assigned to groups from the speaker Properties toolbox when that speaker is selected. Use the list at the bottom and click the groups you wish for that speaker to join.

The speaker report

A complete Speaker Report view of all loudspeakers in the project may be obtained by clicking the icon in the Speakers toolbox.

The Speaker Report window shows the naming, position and orientation of each loudspeaker in the project. Values may be directly edited in the report view, and the Export button can be used to create a comma-separated text file ".csv" of the data for use in other programs.

Loudspeaker arrays

Loudspeaker arrays may be added with compatible products by selecting the loudspeakers toolbox on the left side of the window and clicking the + button. Click the Array drop down option to add a loudspeaker array to the project. This opens the Speaker Library window, showing only loudspeaker compatible with the array function.

Choose a compatible array loudspeaker to start the array, then choose the variant of that loudspeaker on the next page, such as the FL283T in the following example:

You will then be asked to confirm the quantity of loudspeaker boxes to add to the new array:

Array properties

Once a new array has been added to the project, you will see the array listed in the Loudspeakers list. Expanding the array in the list will show the individual "member" boxes inside that array. Note that processing, mutes and solos may be accessed for the entire array as a whole, or for each individual member to assist with design and configuration.

Open the Properties toolbox and select an array in either the Loudspeakers list or in the 3D view. The Array Properties toolbox shows controls necessary to position, aim and process the array, including:

1. Naming, positioning, and overall aiming controls (similar to that of a single loudspeaker box),
2. Aim Bumper and Splay Last controls (more below),
3. Ground Stacked option (more below),
4. Level, mute, delay and processing controls (similar to that of a single loudspeaker box),
5. Array Members list for configuration of each member box.

When an array is selected, the 3D view will show positioning controls, the centerline of each member box, and the upper and lower theoretical coverage limits for the current array configuration.

By default the Ground Stacked option is disabled, meaning the array is configured for typical suspended operation, with the first member box being the uppermost box. When Ground Stack is enabled, the array is configured for conditions where the system is "sitting" on a floor surface, with the first member box reflecting the lowest box in the array.

Aiming a line array

Fulcrum One contains some shortcuts to quickly aim and splay a line array to match the geometry of a room. Follow these basic steps to quickly aim a suspended line array (the process is similar for a ground-stacked array):

1. Add the desired number of array member boxes and position the array at the desired location in the room.
2. You must enable mapping on any audience surfaces that the array will be expected to cover along its axis. Use the control to enable model surfaces for mapping if they are not already enabled.
3. Select the array and click the Aim Bumper button. Then, click the point in the coverage area where you want to aim the topmost box of the array (typically the furthest point in the audience area). The array will tilt and align to aim at this point.

4. Next, click the Splay Last button and select the point in the coverage area where you ideally want to aim the bottom box of the line array (typically the closest point in the audience area). The array will "splay" to attempt to cover this area, and box-to-box splay angles will be adjusted in the Array Members list accordingly.

The process of aiming a ground-stacked array is similar, except that the Aim Bumper aiming typically points to the closest desired audience position, and the Splay Last aiming points to the furthest position.

Exporting data

Data can be exported from Fulcrum One in various formats to help translate your designs into other programs for display and documentation, or to include data in BIM models or drawing packages. Available export formats are present in the File -> Export submenu.

Sketchup

The current 3D world, including all placed modeling objects and loudspeakers can be exported into the Sketchup file format ".skp" using the Export -> Sketchup option. The system design can then be used in external drawing and documentation programs or included in BIM models. Measurement units are embedded and compliant with Sketchup standards such that files will open properly scaled inside the Sketchup application.

DXF

Identically to the Sketchup exporter, the current 3D world may also be exported into the DXF file format ".dxf" using the Export -> Drawing Exchange Format option. While DXF files are inherently "unitless", One produces data scaled to the following measurement standards depending on the selected Units in the global program settings for One:

Speaker report

The speaker report can be easily exported at any time using the Export -> Speaker Report option. This produces a ".csv" file, identical to that in the Speaker Report window.

Image

A ".png" image file can be exported of the current model view at any time using the Export -> Image option. This is helpful for creating slides for presentations or reports, allowing you to easily show model or mapping data.