Menus and Settings

The RTC provides a hierarchical menu system for accessing device settings, base station configuration, system information, and advanced functions. Open the menu with a long-press on the touchscreen or encoder button from most screens. On a few screens, a long press leaves that screen instead. See Display and Navigation.

Menu Navigation

You can navigate the menu using either the touchscreen or the rotary encoder:

• Swipe up/down or rotate the encoder to move between menu items
• Tap or press the encoder button to activate the selected item
• The menu wraps around: scrolling past the last item returns to the first
• The menu always opens at the top item, even when you return from a sub-screen

Menu Structure

Main Menu (long-press to open)
├── System Info
├── Settings
├── Base Info              (only when connected)
├── Base Settings          (only when connected)
├── Advanced >
│   ├── Update Firmware
│   ├── Repair Firmware
│   ├── Update Base        (WVC; SSA 4.8.0+; WTH 4.9.0+)
│   ├── Pair WVC               (only when connected, fw 2.0.0+)
│   ├── Channel Groups         (only when connected, fw 2.0.0+)
│   ├── Pair Knob              (only when connected, fw 3.1.1+)
│   ├── Smart Home             (only when connected, fw 3.9.0+)
│   ├── Forget Base → Confirm Forget / Cancel
│   ├── Factory Reset → Confirm Reset / Cancel
│   └── Back
└── Close

Each menu item displays an icon for easier identification. "Advanced" displays with a ">" indicator to show it opens a sub-menu. The Advanced menu runs from the everyday actions at the top down to the two that clear your data at the bottom. "Forget Base" and "Factory Reset" each require a confirmation step: selecting one opens a confirmation screen where you must choose "Confirm Forget" or "Confirm Reset" to proceed.

Navigating Settings Screens

All settings screens (Settings, Base Info, Base Settings, and System Info) share the same consistent layout and navigation:

• The screen title stays fixed at the top with a separator line below it. Tap the title to go back.
• Swipe up/down, drag vertically, or rotate the encoder to move between items. All items are selectable, including read-only information fields.
• Swipe right from any settings screen to go back to the menu.
• Tap or press the encoder button to activate the focused item. This toggles a switch, enters edit mode on a slider, cycles an option, or navigates to a sub-screen.
• A scroll indicator arc on the right edge shows your position in long lists.
• Editable items display a chevron indicator (›) to distinguish them from read-only fields. The base station Name in Base Info shows a pencil icon instead, when you can change it.
• When editing a slider value, rotate the encoder to adjust, then press the encoder button to confirm.

Settings

Device-level settings for the RTC itself.

Setting	Type	Options / Range	Description
Brightness	Slider	10-100%	Display brightness level
Volume Units	Toggle	dB / %	How volume is displayed on the main screen
Volume Mode	Option	Normal / Vibration Guard / Locked	Controls how the encoder changes volume. Normal (default): turning the encoder changes volume as usual. Vibration Guard: requires a deliberate run of turns in the same direction before volume starts changing, so heavy bass or vibration in a loud install cannot change the volume on its own. Once you are deliberately turning, the encoder tracks normally; if you stop for about three-quarters of a second it re-arms so a fresh deliberate turn is needed to start changing again. At a Volume Speed of 1x, the first step after it engages is gentle. Then it speeds up if you keep turning. Locked: turning the encoder does not change volume until you switch back to Normal or Vibration Guard. A double press still mutes every group. See Muting Every Group.
Volume Speed	Slider	1x-10x	How far each click of the encoder moves the volume. At 1x (default), one click is one step. At 5x, one click is five steps. Fast turns still speed up on top of this. Menus are not affected.
Direction	Toggle	Clockwise / CCW	Reverses what each turn of the encoder does. Clockwise is the default. With CCW, turning clockwise does what turning counter-clockwise did before. This applies to menus and volume alike.
Playback	Toggle	On / Off	Adds the Playback screen to the main screen views. It has previous, play/pause and next buttons. They control the phone connected to your base station over Bluetooth. Default Off. Only shown when your WVC base station has firmware 4.11.0 or newer on both of its processors. See Display and Navigation.
Temp Units	Toggle	°F / °C	Temperature display units (only visible when connected to a PRO base station)
Min/Max	Toggle	All-Time / Window	Controls the Min/Max readouts on the Voltage and Temperature graph screens. All-Time shows the lowest and highest values observed since the RTC was powered on. Window shows the lowest and highest values currently visible in the graph's rolling window.
Channel View	Toggle	Combined / Single	How the Equalizer and Oscilloscope display channels. Combined (default) shows all channels in one screen. Single gives each channel its own Equalizer and Oscilloscope screen and you tap the canvas to advance to the next channel. See Display and Navigation for details.
Auto Swap	Toggle	On / Off	Automatically cycles between display views (PRO only)
Swap Time	Slider	1-60s	How long each view is shown before switching (child of Auto Swap)
O-Scope	Toggle	Show / Hide	Include Oscilloscope in the auto-swap cycle (child of Auto Swap)
Equalizer	Toggle	Show / Hide	Include Equalizer in the auto-swap cycle (child of Auto Swap)
Temperature	Toggle	Show / Hide	Include Temperature graph in the auto-swap cycle (child of Auto Swap)
Enable High Speed	Toggle	On / Off	Asks the connected base station to send data over the faster wireless mode instead of the long-range one. It is a request, not a command: the base station speeds the link up only when the RTC is close enough and its own firmware supports it. When it does, the Equalizer and Oscilloscope views refresh several times faster. When the setting is off, the link stays in the long-range mode, which reaches furthest. Takes effect within about ten to twelve seconds, with no restart. Default On. See High Speed Link.
WiFi	Navigation	(sub-menu)	Opens the WiFi settings screen for managing saved OTA update networks
Colors	Navigation	(sub-menu)	Opens the Colors menu: pick a built-in theme, design your own gradient, or override individual element colors

High Speed Link

The RTC and your base station can talk in one of two wireless modes. Long Range mode reaches the furthest. High Speed mode carries more data, which makes the Equalizer and Oscilloscope views refresh several times faster.

The setting is On by default. Leaving it on costs nothing at a distance, because the base station only speeds the link up when the signal is strong enough to carry it, and drops back to Long Range on its own when it is not.

Turning it on is a request, not a command. The base station makes the final decision and speeds the link up only when the RTC is close enough to it and its own firmware supports the faster mode. With the setting off, the link stays in Long Range mode whatever the conditions.

There is no restart. The change takes effect within about ten to twelve seconds, and the LR / HS label beside the signal-strength meter shows which mode is actually in use. See Display and Navigation.

Colors

Customize the colors used on the main display, the audio visualizers, and the system status icons. Your choices are saved automatically and survive reboots and firmware updates.

Item	Description
Theme Gradient	Edit the two-color gradient that drives the volume groups, channel views, voltage, and temperature probes. Tap Start or End to open the color picker.
Presets	A list of 16 ready-made themes. LF Audio is the default. Tap one to apply it instantly: the preset defines every color and any previous Advanced Color overrides are cleared. The active theme has a bright white border around its swatch.
Advanced Colors	Override any single element's color individually. A single Left Channel / Right Channel pair drives the channel colors across every Channel view (Equalizer, Oscilloscope, Waterfall, and Hi-Res Equalizer), so changing them updates all four views at once. The list only shows rows that apply to your setup: Left Channel, Right Channel, and Temp rows are hidden when your base station doesn't support those views, and Group 2 / 3 / 4 rows are hidden when your unit has fewer groups. If you've renamed your voltage or temperature probes from the LF Audio AuralSync app (firmware 3.10.0+), your custom names appear here in place of Voltage / Temp 1 / Temp 2 / Temp 3, so you can pick the color for the named probe directly. Overridden items show a bright white border around the swatch.
Reset All Colors	Restores the default LF Audio palette and clears every individual override. Asks for confirmation.

Available presets

All 16 presets ship on every RTC. They define both the main theme gradient and every per-element color in one tap:

Preset	Style
LF Audio	The default LF Audio brand palette
Sunset	Hot pink to gold
Ocean	Cyan to deep blue
Inferno	Gold to deep red
Mono Pink	Soft single-hue pink
Forest	Green to teal
Neon	High-saturation neon brights
Plasma	Purple to magenta
Lava	Orange to dark red
Ice	Cool white to pale blue
Apex	Lime to racing green
Bass	Hot pink to deep purple
Crimson	Rich red palette
Royal	Sky blue to deep royal indigo
Mint	Soft green to mint
Vapor	Vaporwave pinks and cyans

Using the color picker

The picker shows a 2D color wheel with a value slider beneath it.

• Touch the wheel to pick the color directly. Angle sets the hue, distance from the center sets how vivid it is.
• Drag the slider at the bottom to adjust brightness.
• Rotate the encoder to scroll the hue around the wheel.
• Tap the screen (anywhere outside the wheel/slider) or press the encoder to save the color.
• Swipe right or long-press to cancel without saving.

While you adjust, the main display previews the change live behind the picker.

Base Info

Information about the connected base station. Values update automatically while this screen is open. On a WVC base station, you can also rename it here. See Name below.

Field	Description
Model	Base station model (e.g., WVC-PRO, WVC-PRO 6, WVC-LITE)
Hardware	Base station hardware version
Daughtercard HW	Daughtercard hardware version (WVC-PRO 6 only)
CPU1 FW	Main processor firmware version
CPU2 FW	Secondary processor firmware version
CPU3 FW	Daughtercard firmware version (WVC-PRO 6 only)
Built	Base station manufacture date
Uptime	Time since the base station was last powered on
Name	The base station's name. If it shows a pencil icon, select it to rename the base station. See the tip below.
UUID	Unique device identifier
BT Pin	Bluetooth pairing PIN
Home Mode	Home Mode WiFi state: "Off", "Connecting...", "Connected", "Reconnecting...", or "Failed" (only shown when connected to base station firmware 3.9.0 or newer)
Home Name	Name of the smart home this base station is commissioned to via Matter (only shown when commissioned)

Base Settings

Configuration options for the connected base station. Changes are sent to the base station immediately when you adjust a value. Some settings have child options that appear or hide based on the parent value.

IDS Mode (Intelligent Drive System)

Controls how the system responds to abnormal voltage or temperature conditions. For full details on what each mode does (including recovery behavior), see the Intelligent Drive System (IDS) article.

WVC-PRO options:

Option	Behavior
Off	IDS disabled
Mute	Sets volume to 0 when triggered. Volume stays at 0 after the condition clears, so turn it back up manually.
Rem Off	Drops the Remote Out signal when triggered, turning off any amplifier wired through it. Remote Out is restored automatically about 1 second after the condition clears.
Mute+Rem	Both sets volume to 0 and drops Remote Out. Remote Out auto-restores; volume must be turned back up manually.
Limit Vol	Gradually reduces volume by about 2% per second while triggered. Volume stays at the reduced level after the condition clears, so turn it back up manually.

WVC-LITE options: Off, Mute, Limit Vol

When IDS Mode is set to anything other than Off, these child settings appear:

• Min Voltage (slider, 6.0V-18.0V, step 0.1V): the voltage threshold below which IDS triggers. Most 12V car audio systems operate between 12.0V-14.4V; a typical safe threshold is 11.0V-11.5V. The on-device WVC-PRO 6 UI and the AuralSync app extend this slider to 22.0V.
• Max Temp: the temperature threshold above which IDS triggers (PRO only). The slider range and units match your selected Temp Units: 80-240 °F in 5 °F steps when Fahrenheit is selected, or 27-116 °C in 3 °C steps when Celsius is selected. A typical safe threshold for car amplifiers is around 150-160 °F (65-70 °C).

Competition Mode

Controls audio behavior during competition (e.g., SPL contests).

Option	Behavior
Off	Normal operation
Mute	Mutes all audio output
Limit Vol	Limits maximum volume level

Remember Vol

When enabled, the base station saves the current volume level and restores it after a power cycle. When this is turned on:

• Max Startup Vol (slider, 0-100%, step 1%): caps the volume level at startup to prevent the system from powering on at full volume. Only available on base station firmware 3.5.0 or newer.

RCA Gain

Toggles RCA output gain on or off. When on, you can boost the signal from 0 dB to +31.5 dB in 0.5 dB steps. Each time you turn it on, the RTC shows a warning screen first. Select Enable Gain to turn it on, or Cancel to leave it off.

On base station firmware 2.0.0 or newer, each channel gets its own gain row. Right after the RTC connects, it can show one Gain Level slider for a few seconds, until it has read the base station's channel layout. This is true even with a single base station, which shows as Unit 1. Each base station has a heading (for example "Unit 1: WVC-PRO"), and its channel rows read "Chan 1 gain", "Chan 2 gain", and so on. The current calculated output voltage for that channel is shown in a small preview next to the row (for example, 1.78v out), so you can dial each channel to a target voltage individually. On base station firmware older than 2.0.0, one Gain Level slider sets the gain instead.

Important: Gain can drive the RCA outputs to voltages that exceed the rated input of most car amplifiers and can permanently damage equipment if set incorrectly. For the full safety warning, the gain calculator, the boost curves at different source voltages, the safe enable procedure (DMM measurement, power-down ordering, etc.), and the liability disclaimer, see RCA Gain. Do not enable this feature without reading that article.

Volume Curve

Selects the volume curve profile that determines how the volume knob position maps to output level. A live visualization of the selected curve is shown below the selector.

Curve	Behavior
Natural	Logarithmic response. Most volume change at the low end, feels natural to the ear
Linear	Even response: equal volume change per step across the full range
Audio Taper	Steep response. Most of the volume range is concentrated in the upper portion of the knob
S-Curve	Smooth start and finish: gradual changes at both ends, moderate changes in the middle
Competition	Very steep: minimal volume until near the top of the range, then rapid increase

Volume Floor

Sets the quietest level the system will output at any volume setting above zero, so the lowest usable volume stays controllable instead of dropping away to near-silence. Turn Volume Floor on and a Floor Level control appears indented below it, adjustable from -95.5 dB to -20 dB in 0.5 dB steps. The first time you switch it on, it starts at -40 dB.

Zero always mutes, regardless of the floor. The floor is stored on the base station and applies on top of whichever Volume Curve you have selected. The curve graph above shows the shape of the selected curve itself and does not redraw when you change the floor. For the full explanation and how to choose a level, see Attenuation Profiles.

Clip Detection

Sets how readily the CLIP pills on the Channel views light up. Choose Off, Low, Medium or High. Off turns clip detection off. Low through High are more and more sensitive. The setting is stored on the base station. For what each level catches, see Clip Detection.

Voltage Drift

A calibration offset applied to the voltage reading (range: -5.0V to +5.0V, step 0.01V). Use this if the displayed voltage does not match a known-accurate voltmeter reading.

Live Voltage (read-only)

At the bottom of Base Settings, a live Voltage row shows the current vehicle voltage as the base station is reading it right now, updating about every 2 seconds. This is the same number you would see on the Voltage view, surfaced here so you can verify the Voltage Drift calibration result without leaving the settings screen.

Advanced Menu

The Advanced sub-menu contains firmware update tools, mesh configuration, and the actions that clear your pairing or your settings. Select "Advanced" from the main menu to enter this sub-menu, and select "Back" to return.

Update Firmware

Starts an over-the-air firmware update for the RTC itself. It installs a firmware version newer than the one already on the device; if you are already on the latest version, it reports that you are up to date and stops. When connected to a base station, the update uses the base station's WiFi credentials. When not connected, the RTC tries cached base WiFi, then saved custom networks, then opens a WiFi discovery wizard if needed. See Firmware Updates for the full workflow.

Repair Firmware

Reinstalls the latest published firmware even when the RTC is already up to date, which Update Firmware will not do. Use it to repair an installation that was interrupted or is misbehaving, or when LF Audio support asks you to.

If a newer firmware version has been published since, Repair Firmware installs that newest version, exactly as Update Firmware would. It uses the same WiFi networks, status messages, and progress display as a normal update. See Firmware Updates.

Update Base

Sends a firmware update request to the connected base station. The base station will then download and install its own update. See Firmware Updates for details.

If your system is a mesh with more than one base station, this row reads Update All Bases: a single selection updates every base station in the mesh, not just the one the RTC is connected to.

Pair WVC

Use Pair WVC to add another WVC base station to your system. Then the RTC controls both base stations together. Your primary base station is the one your RTC is already connected to.

First, get the new base station ready:

• A new base station needs nothing. It is ready as soon as it has power, and its front light flashes.
• A base station that was used before must be reset. Hold its reset button for about 3 seconds. This erases that base station's settings and pairings.

Then:

1. Open Advanced and select Pair WVC.
2. Select Start. The screen shows Scanning and says "Hold the reset button on your secondary WVC for 3 seconds." That is the reset for a base station that was used before. A new base station does not need it. To cancel, tap the screen.
3. The RTC lists the devices it finds. Pick the new WVC Base Station. A High Precision Voltmeter is never listed here.
4. Wait. The RTC asks your primary base station to add the new one. Then it checks that it really did.

While it joins, the screen may show Searching. It may also say "Press the button on your LF Audio device 3 times until the light flashes." That message is for a first pairing. During Pair WVC, do not press any button. Just wait. If the list shows again, pick the new WVC Base Station again.

Caution: On a base station that was used before, do not press its button three times. That starts a different pairing mode, for knobs and displays. Then Pair WVC shows Reset Needed. Reset it instead, as above.

When it is done, the RTC shows one of these screens.

Connected. The new base station is now part of your system. The screen says "Connected to" and the new base station's model. Then it asks "Would you like to link another WVC?" Select Yes to add one more. Select No to finish.

Update Needed. The screen says "This base station needs new firmware first. Update it, then try again." Select Retry first. This screen also shows when the RTC could not read the new base station. If it shows again, the new base station's firmware is too old to join. Update it (see WVC Firmware Updates). Then select Retry.

Not Compatible. The screen says "This device cannot join your system. Pick a WVC base station." You picked a device that is not a WVC base station, such as an SSA Analyzer or a Temperature Hub. Select Retry. Then pick the WVC Base Station in the list.

Already Linked. The screen says "That is your primary base station. Put the new base station in pairing mode." You picked the base station your RTC is already connected to. It is in the list because its own pairing mode is on. That mode ends when a knob or display finishes pairing with it, or when the base station restarts. Look at your primary base station's front light. If it is still flashing, press its button three times, quickly, to turn pairing mode off. Do not hold the button. If the light has stopped flashing, pairing mode is already off, so do not press it. Then get the new base station ready (see above) and select Retry.

Reset Needed. The screen says "This base station is not ready to link. Hold its reset button for 3 seconds, then try again." The base station you picked was used before and is not ready to join. Hold its reset button for about 3 seconds. This erases that base station's settings and pairings. Then select Retry.

Not Added. The screen says "The new base station was not added. Check that your primary base station is on, then try again." Make sure your primary base station has power. Select Retry. If the new base station is not in the list, reset it again: hold its reset button for about 3 seconds.

On Update Needed, Not Compatible, Already Linked and Reset Needed, nothing was changed on either base station.

Once you select Start, every way out of Pair WVC restarts the RTC. That includes No, Cancel, a long press, or leaving the screen part way. The RTC shows "Restarting" and then reconnects to your primary base station. This takes a few seconds.

To check that it worked, open Channel Groups. Each base station in your system shows as its own unit, like "Unit 2: WVC-PRO".

Channel Groups

Opens a screen where you put channels into volume groups. A group turns several channels up or down together. For example, put the front and rear speakers in one group, and give the subwoofer its own group.

The screen shows every group, up to 23:

• Channel Groups at the top sets how many groups you have.
• Each Group row can be Standalone, or Relative to another group. The choices read "Relative to 2" and so on, or "Rel to" and the group's name if you named it.
• Each base station shows as its own unit, like "Unit 1: WVC-PRO". Pick a group for each of its channels. With only one group, the channel rows cannot be changed, so set Channel Groups to 2 or more first.

Your changes save to the base station when you leave the screen. It does not matter how you leave: swipe right, tap the title, select Back, or long-press. You can set up groups and move channels with the encoder alone. Renaming a group needs the touchscreen (see below).

• The RTC must be connected to the base station when you leave. If it is not, your changes are not saved.
• If a warning or an update takes over the screen while you edit, your changes are not saved. Open Channel Groups and make them again.
• A group with no channels in it is removed when you save.
• With a lot of groups, long names may be cut a little shorter so they all fit.
• If the screen shows "Updating...", select Back and open it again.

To rename a group, select its Group Name row (for example Group 1 Name). Then:

• Turn the encoder, or swipe up or down, to pick a letter.
• Press the encoder or tap to add that letter.
• Tap Delete or swipe left to remove the last letter.
• Tap Done or swipe right to save the name.

Names can be up to 10 characters. The encoder cannot save a name: a long press leaves without saving. Group names appear above each zone's volume reading on the main screen.

Pair Knob

Opens a wizard for adding another RTC or knob controller to the mesh network. Use this when you want multiple controllers (for example, one in the driver's area and one in the passenger area) that can both control the same system.

1. Select Start. The base station goes into pairing mode, and its light blinks.
2. On Base Station Ready, select Next.
3. On Power On Knob, power on the new knob. Factory reset it from its own Advanced menu. Then select Next.
4. On Waiting, wait for the new knob to show its main screen. Then select Done.
5. On Complete, tap the screen or press the encoder to close the wizard.

The RTC cannot see the new knob join, so you tell it with Done. If you select Cancel instead, the Cancelled screen opens. Tap the screen or press the encoder. Then power cycle the base station to end its pairing mode.

Smart Home

Opens the Smart Home screen, showing the base station's Home Mode WiFi connection state and Matter smart home pairing state. From this screen you can:

• Turn Home Mode on or off: Home Mode connects your base station to your home WiFi network so it can be controlled by smart home apps.
• Retry the WiFi connection if it failed.
• Decommission the base station from your smart home: removes it from Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple Home.
• Re-pair: when the base station is in a Matter state that allows re-commissioning, this action decommissions the current pairing and starts fresh so you can add the base station back. Re-pair is only offered when the on-device Smart Home screen detects that state, not on every Matter state.

Each action opens a confirmation screen first. Destructive actions (Disable, Decommission, Re-pair) default to Cancel so you have to explicitly confirm. After confirming, a waiting spinner is shown while the base station applies the change.

When Home Mode WiFi fails to connect, an Issue row appears at the top of the Smart Home screen with a short reason: Set WiFi in app, Network not found, Wrong password, Connection timed out, or Unknown. Use this to decide whether to retry from the RTC or fix the WiFi credentials in the LF Audio AuralSync app first.

When the base station is awaiting Matter commissioning, a Pairing Code row appears showing the 11-digit Matter pairing code. Enter this code in your smart-home app (Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple Home) when it prompts you for a numeric pairing code. The code is regenerated each time you start the commissioning flow.

WiFi Settings (sub-screen)

The WiFi entry in the Settings menu opens a sub-screen for managing the networks the RTC uses for over-the-air updates:

• Base WiFi shows the network saved from your base station. It appears only when one is saved. Select Clear Base WiFi to clear it, for example if you change the base station's WiFi network.
• Saved Networks lists your saved networks, with the most recent at the top. To remove one, select it.
• Removing a network or clearing Base WiFi asks you first. Select Confirm to go ahead, or Cancel to keep it.
• Add Network scans for WiFi networks and opens the Select Network list. Pick a network, or select Enter Manually. If the network needs a password, type it on the character-wheel keyboard. The RTC then joins that network and starts a firmware update.

See Firmware Updates for how each of these networks is used during an update.

Forget Base

Clears the stored pairing and restarts the RTC, bringing back the Getting Started Wizard so you can pair a different base station. Your display preferences, units, color theme, and saved WiFi networks are all kept.

Selecting Forget Base opens a confirmation screen. You must choose "Confirm Forget" to proceed.

This is the action to use whenever you replace a base station or move the RTC to another system. See Forget Base vs Factory Reset below.

Factory Reset

Clears your saved settings and pairing information, then restarts the RTC. After a factory reset, the RTC will show the Getting Started Wizard to pair with a base station as if it were brand new.

Selecting Factory Reset opens a confirmation screen. You must choose "Confirm Reset" to proceed; this prevents accidental resets.

Forget Base vs Factory Reset

Both actions clear the stored pairing, so both send you back to the pairing wizard. The difference is what else they take with them:

• Forget Base clears only the stored pairing. Your display preferences, units, color theme, and saved WiFi networks are kept. Use this to pair a different base station.
• Factory Reset also clears your display preferences and color theme, along with the cached base station WiFi credentials. Your brightness setting and your manually saved WiFi networks are kept. Use this for a clean start or before reselling the unit.

For a routine re-pair, Forget Base is the one you want.