User manual SPL MMC2

Multichannel Mastering Console MMC 2 Sources Stereo Input A Stereo Input B Solo to Center Speaker Management Monitors L C R LS RS LFE L t/o R t/o LFE to L/C/R Stereo A Dim Dim 1 -10 dB Stereo Return A Stereo Return B Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Stereo B Dim 2 -20 dB M-CH. Input A M-CH. Input B Mono L/R Stereo Operation Mono LS/RS M-CH. Operation Mono Lt/o/Rt/o M-CH. A Dim 3 -30 dB M-CH. Return A M-CH. Return B M-CH. B Mute M-CH. Return C M-CH. Return D MMC 2 Multichannel Mastering Console Insert On Return On Insert Return 1 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 2 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 1 Master Fader -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 2 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 L 3 Trim On R 4 Trim On L 3 Trim On R 4 Trim On -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 C 5 Trim On LFE 6 Trim On C 5 Trim On LFE 6 Trim On -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 LS 7 Trim On RS 8 Trim On LS 7 Trim On RS 8 Trim On -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 Monitor Level -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 Lt/o Trim On Rt/o Input Trim On Lt/o Model 2486 Trim On Rt/o Output Trim On Manual Multichannel Mastering Console MMC 2, Model 2486 Manual Version 1, 10/2005 R & D: Wolfgang Neumann Manual The information in this document has been carefully verified and is assumed to be correct. However Sound Performance Lab (SPL) reserves the right to modify the product described in this manual at any time. Changes without notice. This document is the property of SPL and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner, in part or full without the authorization of SPL. Limitations of Liability: In no event will SPL be liable for any damages, including loss of data, lost profits, cost of cover or other special, incidental, consequential or indirect damages arising from the use of the unit, however caused and on any theory of liability. This limitation will apply even if SPL or an authorized dealer has been adviced of the possibility of such damage. Sound Performance Lab SPL electronics GmbH P.O. Box 12 27, D- 41368 Niederkruechten, Germany Phone +49 2163 983 40, Fax +49 2163 983 420 Email: info@soundperformancelab.com, Internet: www.soundperformancelab.com © 2005 SPL electronics GmbH All rights reserved. Technical specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice. 2 Contents Fade In ................................................................................................ Signal Flow .......................................................................................... Front Panel .......................................................................................... Control Elements ................................................................................ Sources, Input Trims ........................................................................... Insert/Return, Speaker Management, Monitors .................................. 4 5 6 7 7 8 Monitor Level ...................................................................................... Option: MasterBay ............................................................................. Rear Panel, XLR Wiring, Metering Out .................................................. 9 10 11 Measurements .................................................................................... 12-18 Specifications, Power Supply .............................................................. Warranty ............................................................................................. 19 20 Installation/Security Advices Before you operate the unit, first check carefully whether the local voltage setting corresponds to the setting on the external transformer! Before switching on external transformer and MMC 2, the MMC 2 must be connected to the external transformer with the supplied multicore lead. Pay attention to a secure connection. The MMC 2 and the external transformer should be situated away from heat sources and direct sunlight. MMc 2 and transformer need sufficient air circulation. Avoid installation in environments exposed to vibrations, dust, heat, cold, moisture or electrical and magnetic fields. Do not install the unit in proximity to power amplifiers or digital processors. You may consider placing it near other analog gear. Such placement can prevent interference from Word Clock, MIDI, etc. · Do not open the case. You may risk severe electric shock and may damage your equipment. · Leave repairs and maintenance to a qualified service technician. Should any objects fall inside the case, unplug the power supply and contact a qualified technician. · To avoid electric shock or fire hazards do not expose the unit to rain or dampness. · In case of lightning unplug the power supply. · Never force a switch or knob. · Use a lint-free cloth for cleaning. Avoid any cleaning agents as they may damage the finish, use an acid-free cleaning oil instead. · Support the back of the unit when it is being mounted. 3 Fade In Moreover additional prerequisites speak for the employment of high-performance analog technology: The number of necessary AD/DA conversions should be reduced to a minimum. With the MMC 2, digital sources can be connected to a digital router, which outputs the selected source through the preferred DA converter. This ensures that the sound quality remains comparable and is not affected by converter differences. High quality analog outboard processing consistently proves itself superior to digital processing. The analog concept allows for problem-free integration of such analog processors. Monitors and power amplifiers are almost exclusively analog in design. Yet another converter at this point in the chain only degrades monitoring signal paths. Furthermore, DSD signals cannot be monitored on a digital monitoring that operates in PCM. Master Fader The MMC 2 multichannel mastering console completes the range of SPL 120 V mastering consoles. Housed in a 19"/11U rack mount chassis the MMC 2 features the same unique 120 volts rails like the MMC 1 and DMC dual-channel mastering console to achieve the optimum audio performance. The purpose of the development was the creation of mastering consoles that would be superior in audio quality to all known and foreseeable audio formats, whether analog or digital. Such consoles would provide both for an unaltered reproduction of the sonic quality of high resolution playback formats like SACD and in the process, remain a safe capital investment for many years. The MMC 2 is conceived as the center of a mastering environment to provide speaker management, sources and returns connectivity, input and output trimming, pure analog multichannel master fader and monitor level setting. As an option, the MMC 2 can be supplemented with the SPL MasterBay to provide an automated 8 x 8 channel insert routing of external processors. Digital audio formats have undergone continuous development and change and will continue to do so. With the degree of incompatibility created by the "format war" between PCM and DSD, the need for a technology that is superior in dynamic range, headroom and sound quality to either or any other such format is obvious ­ and the only solution is discrete analog technology in its most advanced implementation. Technology SPL's new SUPRA operation amplifiers are used throughout the MMC 2's design. They perform at an industry benchmark of 120 volts and their development alone took four years. The SPL SUPRA op amp achieves a signal-tonoise ratio of 116 dB with a headroom of 34 dB. The dynamic range amounts to 150 dB with a frequency bandwidth of 200 kHz. With such specifications, the MMC 2 rides comfortably beyond the requirements of either the current maximum 24 bit/192kHz PCM or 1 bit/256 fs DSD formats, while a digital technology in which the MMC 2 could become a "bottle neck" is not foreseeable. 4 Signal Flow 5 Front Panel Sources Stereo Input A Stereo Input B Solo to Center Speaker Management Monitors L C R LS RS LFE L t/o R t/o LFE to L/C/R Stereo A Dim Dim 1 -10 dB Stereo Return A Stereo Return B Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Stereo B Dim 2 -20 dB M-CH. Input A M-CH. Input B Mono L/R Stereo Operation Mono LS/RS M-CH. Operation Mono Lt/o/Rt/o M-CH. A Dim 3 -30 dB M-CH. Return A M-CH. Return B M-CH. B Mute M-CH. Return C M-CH. Return D MMC 2 Multichannel Mastering Console Insert On Return On Insert Return 1 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 2 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 1 Master Fader -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 2 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 L 3 Trim On R 4 Trim On L 3 Trim On R 4 Trim On -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 C 5 Trim On LFE 6 Trim On C 5 Trim On LFE 6 Trim On -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 LS 7 Trim On RS 8 Trim On LS 7 Trim On RS 8 Trim On -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 Monitor Level -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 Lt/o Trim On Rt/o Input Trim On Lt/o Model 2486 Trim On Rt/o Output Trim On 6 Control Elements Sources The Sources section provides selection options for several stereo and multichannel input and return sources. The returns are ideally suited to select recorders, DAW, audio players, and so on. All Input buttons allow for switching between the input monitoring mode and the output monitoring mode. Press once, the input button is permanently illuminated. The output signal after the Master Fader is monitored. Press again, the Input button flashes. The input signal after the input Phase Reverse switch is monitored. This way, you can easily compare what comes in and what goes out of the console. IMPORTANT: Selecting the return monitoring mode overrules input and output monitoring modes. NOTE: All MMC 2 buttons allow for individual labeling. Sources Stereo Input A Stereo Input B Stereo Return A Stereo Return B M-CH. Input A M-CH. Input B M-CH. Return A M-CH. Return B M-CH. Return C M-CH. Return D Input Trims An input selected in the Source section is routed to the Input Trims section. This section provides On and Phase Reverse switches, a high-grade ALPS potentiometer with 41 steps and +/-10dB gain range allows for input trimming. 7 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 8 -1 0 1 2 -2 ø Rev 3 -3 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 Lt/o Trim On Rt/o Input Trim On 7 Control Elements Insert/Return Insert On Return On Insert Return The MMC 2 offers an Insert/Return point after the Input Trims to include external processing equipment into the signal path. Speaker Management Solo to Center Monitoring LFE L t/o R t/o LFE to L/C/R L C R LS RS Monitoring functions comprise a Speaker Management section, a Monitors selection section and the Monitor Level fader. 1. Speaker Management Each loudspeaker can be activated or deactivated by a dedicated switch, and each is labeled with its respective loudspeaker position. A Solo switch is placed underneath each speaker switch. To alleviate channel comparisons, a Solo-to-Center function allows for monitoring of each channel through the center speaker. The Solo-to-Center function can only be activated if a speaker is previously switched to solo. If a surround sound mix does include separate LFE subwoofer signals, the LFE-to-L/C/R switch distributes an LFE signal (factory standard -10 dB level) to the L/C/R channels. Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Solo Mono L/R Stereo Operation Mono LS/RS M-CH. Operation Mono Lt/o/Rt/o Monitors Stereo A Dim 1 -10 dB Stereo B Dim 2 -20 dB Two Operation Mode buttons are provided to change the MMC 2 configuration from stereo to multi-channel operation. For improved operational safety and to switch off all monitoring functions other than L/R, the Stereo button must be pressed before starting a stereo mastering job. The Monitor section offers three mono functions: 1. Mono L/R, 2. Mono LS/RS (not available in stereo mode), 3. Mono L t/o / R t/0 (not available in stereo mode). 2. Monitors The Monitors section allows for selection of two stereo and two multichannel speaker sets. Three different Dim levels (-10 dB, -20 dB and -30 dB) and a Mute switch can be activated for the selected set. M-CH. A Dim 3 -30 dB M-CH. B Mute 8 Control Elements Monitor Level The Monitor Level is controlled with a custom-made eight-tiered potentiometer. The MMC 2 does not employ DACs, step ladders or VCAs for this function, and the specifications of this potentiometer are substantially better than either of these other options ever could be ­ the maximum tolerance is < 0,5 dB over the entire control range. The control range reaches from - dB to +4 dB. Monitor Level Master Fader This fader features the same potentiometer of the Monitor Level for dynamic mastering purposes and fine tuning the overall level from +10 dB to -80 dB. Each output channel must be activated by the Fader On switch in the respective Output Trim section to be controlled by the master fader. With this control's extremely fine level settings, the engineer can attain every ounce of recording headroom. The result, thanks to these controls of infinite resolution, is an unparalleled excellence in dynamic mastering. Master Fader Output Trims The Output Trims are based on the same high-quality ALPS potentiometers like in the Input section and the gain range also covers +/-10dB. Each output can be activated or deactivated separately with the ON switch, the Fader On switch routes each output to the Master Fader. 7 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 8 -1 0 1 2 -2 Fader 3 -3 On 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 8 -8 9 -9 -10 dB 10 Lt/o Trim On Rt/o Output Trim On 9 Option: Master Bay MasterBay The MMC 2 can optionally be complemented with an automated insert box called MasterBay. The MasterBay consists of an 8U insert box and a remote control panel. Up to eight 8-channel processors can be connected to the insert box, which is operated by the MasterBay remote panel. Store/ Recall Store Sequence Position Processor Selection Processor 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 1 With the MasterBay the engineer can specify up to four routings, called sequences, which can be stored and re-called. The remote panel provides a button for each of the eight external processors. Depressing these in sequence switches among choices in processor signal flow. Next to the buttons is a seven segment LED-display indicating the current position of the processors in the sequence. The mastering engineer can use this feature to compare between sequences in a varying order or to compare the same type of processors--such as in the case of an equalizer from Manufacturer A and one of Manufacturer B. Three memory banks are available which allow an active signal flow sequence to be compared instantly at a push of a button with three others (for a total of four). If the optional MasterBay is connected, the MMC 2's Insert On switch activates the MasterBay or switches it to hard-bypass. Processor Store 2 2 Processor Store 3 3 Processor 4 New Processor Recall 5 1 Processor Recall 6 2 Processor Recall 7 3 Processor 8 Bypass 10 VU OUTPUTS STEREO RETURNS Stereo L L A L L L Stereo Stereo Stereo R R A R R R Stereo Stereo L1 M-CH. L 1 M-CH. L 1 M-CH. L 1 L1 M-CH. L 1 L B M-CH. L 1 M-CH. L 1 M-CH. L 1 R 2 R 2 R1 R 2 R1 R 2 R 2 R B R 2 R 2 C 3 C 3 L2 C 3 L2 C 3 C 3 C 3 C 3 M-CH. RETURN D M-CH. METERING OUT LFE 4 LFE 4 R2 LFE 4 R2 LFE 4 LFE 4 LFE 4 LFE 4 A T A S A M A H A D A A Z X A C Y A B A F A E A L A K A J A N A R A P R3 RS 5 W U S R L F B A E N M H C J D P K T V CANADA LS 5 LS 5 L3 LS 5 L3 LS 5 LS 5