Architectural Media Systems Training

Information / FAQ for existing HiQnet London Architect and

HiQnet System Architect users – June 2013

Architectural Media Systems is Harman’s premier installed sound system solution that incorporates:

• BSS Audio Soundweb London signal processors

• Crown DCi Series amplifiers

• HiQnet Audio Architect software application

When these three items are combined, the result is a uniquely powerful and flexible system, worthy of its

own special name: Architectural Media Systems. With the entire system configurable in one single,

incredibly streamlined software application on the Harman HiQnet network, Architectural Media Systems

delivers an end-user focused solution, designed to work together.

Audio Architect is a new software application which Harman released in 2013. Harman developed Audio

Architect as a direct response to customer requests to use just one software application instead of the two

previously existing software applications – London Architect and System Architect. As a result, Audio

Architect is now Harman’s single installed sound software application. It includes support for all current

installed sound products from Harman – from microphone all the way through to loudspeaker, now including

the Soundweb London distributed DSP backbone. Stated simply:

Audio Architect = System Architect + London Architect

Audio Architect represents the future of installed sound software from Harman.

The availability of Audio Architect does have an impact on Harman’s previous installed sound software

applications (London Architect and System Architect) and their associated training courses, however.

 

 

How Audio Architect will affect previous software applications

London Architect has been used to configure, control, and monitor Soundweb London devices since 2004.

At some point over the forthcoming year, when all its feature set has been moved across into Audio

Architect, London Architect will become a legacy software application, receiving maintenance updates

only but no new features. The Level 1 training course—which is based on London Architect and which

has existed since 2009—will therefore soon be discontinued and replaced with the new Architectural

Media Systems Intermediate DSP course. Similarly the Level 2 training course—which is also based on

London Architect and which has also existed since 2009—will soon be discontinued and replaced with

the new Architectural Media Systems Advanced DSP course.

System Architect is a Harman software application, initially released in 2005. As of the availability of

Audio Architect, System Architect immediately becomes a legacy software application, receiving

maintenance updates only but no new features. System Architect was used to configure, control, and

monitor all HiQnet devices from Harman EXCEPT for Soundweb London. This separation of core distributed

DSP from the end-point devices has often forced installers to use two separate software applications to

successfully complete a job – a limitation which Audio Architect resolves. The System Architect

Training Course is also immediately discontinued, and is replaced with the new Architectural Media

Systems Introductory course.

 

 

New Architectural Media Systems training programs

Architectural Media Systems Introductory training

Introductory is a new training course centered on how Audio Architect is used to configure an overall

Architectural Media Systems audio system. It introduces the Crown DCi Series amplifiers and Soundweb

London. This course has no prerequisites. The course is itself a prerequisite for ALL other Architectural

Media Systems courses, however.

Any student who has attended the Introductory course is eligible to attempt the Introductory Exam.

A student who passes the Introductory Exam will be Introductory certified. Students who are

Introductory certified will be given an official certificate.

The curriculum of Introductory is roughly equivalent to the curriculum of the now-discontinued System

Architect Training Course. As such, certain individuals will qualify to essentially ‘skip’ Introductory by

instead taking a quick conversion course, called System Architect Conversion Course. Any student who

qualifies for and completes the System Architect Conversion Course is eligible to attempt the

Introductory Exam.

 

 

Architectural Media Systems Intermediate DSP training

Intermediate DSP is a new training course centered on the basics of Soundweb London devices, and how

they are configured, controlled and monitored within Audio Architect. The Introductory course is a

prerequisite for this course. And this course is itself a prerequisite for the Advanced DSP course.

Any student who has attended the Intermediate DSP course is eligible to attempt the Intermediate DSP

Exam.

A student who passes the Intermediate DSP Exam will be Intermediate DSP certified. Students who

are Intermediate DSP certified will be given an official certificate.

The curriculum of Intermediate DSP is roughly equivalent to the curriculum of the soon-to-be-discontinued

Level 1 course. As such, certain individuals will qualify to essentially ‘skip’ Intermediate DSP by instead

taking a quick conversion course, called Level 1 Conversion Course. Any student who qualifies for and

completes the Level 1 Conversion Course is eligible to attempt the Intermediate DSP Exam.

 

 

Architectural Media Systems Advanced DSP training

Advanced DSP is a new training course centered on advanced aspects of Soundweb London devices

within Audio Architect. The Introductory course and the Intermediate DSP course are prerequisites for

this course.

Any student who has attended the Advanced DSP course is eligible to attempt the Advanced DSP Exam.

A student who passes the Advanced DSP Exam will be Advanced DSP certified. Students who are

Advanced DSP certified will be given an official certificate.

The curriculum of Advanced DSP is roughly equivalent to the curriculum of the soon-to-be-discontinued

Level 2 course. As such, certain individuals will qualify to essentially ‘skip’ Advanced DSP by instead

taking a quick conversion course, called Level 2 Conversion Course. Any student who qualifies for and

completes the Level 2 Conversion Course is eligible to attempt the Advanced DSP Exam.

 

 

Information for existing System Architect certified students

Previous students who have attended the System Architect Training Course are System Architect

certified. Since this course did not have an associated exam, attendance implied certification. Students

who are System Architect certified possess an official System Architect Training Course certificate,

which is formatted exactly as follows:

The System Architect Conversion Course is a special course available ONLY to students who are

System Architect certified. For these students, it offers a quicker path to becoming Introductory

certified.

 

 

Information for existing London Architect Level 1 certified students

Unlike the System Architect Training Course, this course has an associated exam. Therefore, simply

attending Level 1 DOES NOT imply certification. Any student who has attended Level 1 is eligible to

attempt the Level 1 Exam. Only students who have passed the Level 1 Exam are considered to be Level 1

certified. Students who are Level 1 certified possess an official Level 1 certificate which is formatted

exactly as follows:

The Level 1 Conversion Course is a special course available ONLY to students who are Level 1 certified.

For these students, it offers a quicker path to becoming Intermediate DSP certified.

 

 

Information for existing London Architect Level 2 certified students

Unlike the System Architect Training Course, this course has an associated exam. Therefore, simply

attending Level 2 DOES NOT imply certification. Any student who has attended Level 2 is eligible to

attempt the Level 2 Exam. Only students who have passed the Level 2 Exam are considered to be Level 2

certified. Students who are Level 2 certified possess an official Level 2 certificate which is formatted

exactly as follows:

The Level 2 Conversion Course is a special course available ONLY to students who are Level 2 certified.

For these students, it offers a quicker path to becoming Advanced DSP certified.

 

 

Training FAQ

Q: I’m a visual thinker. Can you show me a diagram which summarizes how all these training courses relate to one another?

A: See the diagram below. Please note that we offer quick conversion courses for students who are already System

Architect certified, Level 1 certified or Level 2 certified.

Q: I attended Level 1 in the past. I have a certificate, but it’s formatted differently than the Level 1 certificate example

shown in this document. Am I Level 1 certified?

A: No. You’re only Level 1 certified if you possess a certificate which is formatted exactly like the one shown. Most likely,

the ’certificate’ you possess is technically considered a ‘note of attendance,’ which some instructors elect to distribute to

all students at the end of a class. Notes of attendance are unofficial documents and do not prove anything beyond your

physical presence at a training course. Pass the Level 1 Exam, and you’ll be Level 1 certified. If you’ve forgotten how

to access the Level 1 Exam, please contact your instructor and he / she will refresh your memory.

 

 

Q: I attended Level 2 in the past. I have a certificate, but it’s formatted differently than the Level 2 certificate example

shown in this document. Am I Level 2 certified?

A: No. You’re only Level 2 certified if you possess a certificate which is formatted exactly like the one shown. Again, your

‘certificate’ is probably just a ‘note of attendance.’ Pass the Level 2 Exam, and you’ll be Level 2 certified. If you’ve

forgotten how to access the Level 2 Exam, please contact your instructor and he / she will refresh your memory.

Q: I attended a London Architect-based Soundweb London training course in the past, but it wasn’t called Level 1 or

Level 2. Does my attendance to that course qualify me for anything?

A: Unfortunately, no. The event you attended was probably a special event operating outside the realm of BSS Audio’s

official training and certification system.

Q: I’m System Architect certified. How do I become Introductory certified?

A: Do either of the following:

Option 1: Attend the Introductory course and pass the Introductory Exam afterwards.

Option 2: Complete the System Architect Conversion Course, and pass the Introductory Exam afterwards. This

option is much quicker.

Q: I’m System Architect certified and also Level 1 certified. How do I become Intermediate DSP certified?

A: First, do either of the following:

Option 1: Attend the Introductory course and pass the Introductory Exam afterwards.

Option 2: Complete the System Architect Conversion Course, and pass the Introductory Exam

afterwards. This option is much quicker.

Then, do either of the following:

Option 1: Attend the Intermediate DSP course and pass the Intermediate DSP Exam afterwards.

Option 2: Complete the Level 1 Conversion Course and pass the Intermediate DSP Exam afterwards.

This option is much quicker.

 

 

Q: I’m System Architect certified and also Level 1 certified and also Level 2 certified. How do I become Advanced

DSP certified?

A: First, do either of the following:

Option 1: Attend the Introductory course and pass the Introductory Exam afterwards

Option 2: Complete the System Architect Conversion Course, and pass the Introductory Exam

afterwards. This option is much quicker.

Then, do either of the following:

Option 1: Attend the Intermediate DSP course and pass the Intermediate DSP Exam afterwards.

Option 2: Complete the Level 1 Conversion Course and pass the Intermediate DSP Exam afterwards.

This option is much quicker.

Then, do either of the following:

Option 1: Attend the Advanced DSP course and pass the Advanced DSP Exam afterwards.

Option 2: Complete the Level 2 Conversion Course and pass the Advanced DSP Exam afterwards. This

option is much quicker.

Q: I’m Level 1 certified, but I’m NOT System Architect certified. How do I become Intermediate DSP certified?

A: First, you need to become Introductory certified by attending the Introductory course and passing the Introductory

Exam afterwards.

Then, do either of the following:

Option 1: Attend the Intermediate DSP course and pass the Intermediate DSP Exam afterwards.

Option 2: Complete the Level 1 Conversion Course and pass the Intermediate DSP Exam afterwards.

This option is much quicker.

 

 

Q: I’m Level 1 certified and also Level 2 certified, but I’m NOT System Architect certified. How do I become

Advanced DSP certified?

A: First, you need to become Introductory certified by attending the Introductory course and passing the Introductory

Exam afterwards.

Then, do either of the following:

Option 1: Attend the Intermediate DSP course and pass the Intermediate DSP Exam afterwards.

Option 2: Complete the Level 1 Conversion Course and pass the Intermediate DSP Exam afterwards.

This option is much quicker.

Then, do either of the following:

Option 1: Attend the Advanced DSP course and pass the Advanced DSP Exam afterwards.

Option 2: Complete the Level 2 Conversion Course and pass the Advanced DSP Exam afterwards. This

option is much quicker.

Q: Am I eligible to skip the Introductory course and take the System Architect Conversion Course instead?

A: If you’re at least System Architect certified (i.e. you attended a System Architect Training Course in the past) then

yes. Otherwise, no.

Q: How do I access the System Architect Conversion Course?

A: If you’re eligible according to the criteria listed directly above, please email archimedia@harman.com for information.

Q: Am I eligible to skip the Intermediate DSP course and take the Level 1 Conversion Course instead?

A: If you’re at least Level 1 certified and Introductory certified, then yes. Otherwise, no.

 

 

Q: How do I access the Level 1 Conversion Course?

A: If you’re eligible according to the criteria listed directly above, you will receive these directions upon passing the

Introductory Exam.

Q: Am I eligible to skip the Advanced DSP course and take the Level 2 Conversion Course instead?

A: If you’re at least Level 2 certified and Introductory certified and Intermediate DSP certified, then yes. Otherwise,

no.

Q: How do I access the Level 2 Conversion Course?

A: If you’re eligible according to the criteria listed directly above, you will receive these directions upon passing the

Intermediate DSP Exam.