Drag Net

Drag Net build 4.2.1 is the latest version (August 2005). The 4.2 version contains features and fixes from previous versions, and includes all of the firmware files needed to bring your units up to date. Version 4.2 saves configurations as a single file.

General Description

Drag Net is a Windows-based software application used to configure, control and monitor the RPM 88, RPM 44, RPM 22, RPM 2, RPM 2m and RPM 26z Programmable Multiprocessor family of fully-configurable DSP-based products. Drag Net features an intuitive Drag and Drop style user interface, with standard 10Base-T Ethernet connectivity for PC to RPM communication.

30-Second Tutorial

Spend Time Designing Systems, Not Learning Software -- that's the Drag Net motto.

Drag Net was developed with the system designer in mind, and features an intuitive, WYSIWYG user interface. Six windows comprise the standard Drag Net interface: Project, Palette, Device Configuration, Resource, Preset, and Metering.

An offline 'Storage' configuration is created by dragging processing blocks (compressors, EQs, delays, etc.) from the Palette window to the Device Configuration window and wiring them together. Double-click or right-click on processing blocks to view and adjust their properties, then Drag and Drop the blocks from the Device Configuration window into the Preset window for quick and easy preset creation. Get accurate, real time DSP usage, delay block usage, and propagation delay statistics from the Resource window as you develop your configuration. Save the configuration to your hard drive, and it automatically appears in the Project window's Storage folder. Signal metering options abound, including a dedicated Metering window showing analog and digital signal values for all inputs and outputs, in a familiar meter bridge format.

Let's Go Live

Once the Storage configuration is established and saved to your hard drive, it's time to go online and talk to a real, live, number crunching RPM unit. In the Project window, Drag and Drop (hmm--recurring theme?) your configuration from the Storage folder to one of the devices listed in the Live folder and prepare to be amazed -- or at least mildly impressed. In short order, the entire configuration, including all Preset information, is downloaded to the RPM unit. You're up and running, adjusting parameters in real time, tuning your system and tweaking presets. Try doing that with a rack of analog processing gear.

Click to enlarge

Minimum System Configuration

• Pentium 2 PC (266 MHz)
• Super VGA monitor (with screen resolution set to at least 800 x 600, small fonts setting, 256 colors)
• 30 MB Available Disk Space
• 128 MB RAM
• Windows 98(SE), 2000, XP, or Vista
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or higher
• 10Base-T capable Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC)

Recommended System Configuration

• Pentium 4 PC (1.5 GHz or higher)
• Super VGA monitor (1280 x 1024 screen resolution, small fonts setting, 16-bit color or higher)
• 30 MB Available Disk Space
• 512 MB RAM
• Windows XP or Vista
• 10Base-T capable Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC)

Stardraw Control

The RPM series can now be controlled via the Stardraw Control software package. Control screens can easily and inexpensively be created to access any function or value of a RPM unit.

Here is a demo using Stardraw to control a RPM 88.

RPM Family Comparison