Arcam AV8 PReamp Processor E-2 - Manual (Page 24)

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Surround modes
INTRODUCTION
Your AV8 processor provides all the key decoding and processing
modes for analogue and digital signals.
MODES FOR DIGITAL SOURCES
Digital recordings are usually encoded to include information about
their format type. The AV8 automatically detects the relevant format
in a digital signal, such as Dolby Digital or DTS, and switches in the
appropriate decoding.
Sometimes additional material at either the beginning or the end of the
main movie may only be in a two-channel format, rather than 5.1 for
the main movie. Your AV8 automatically chooses the correct decoding
of the soundtrack as necessary.
MODES FOR ANALOGUE SOURCES
Analogue recordings do not contain information about their encoding
formats, so the desired decoding mode – such as Dolby Pro Logic
– needs to be selected manually.
MODE MEMORY
The AV8 has a comprehensive memory that allows it to store different
settings for each source button. The text below applies to all inputs
except DVD-A.
Dolby Digital or DTS audio data (sometimes collectively referred to as
‘bitstream’ sources) can be output in three mix modes, selected using
the
MODE button:
 Surround (e.g., five main channels plus a subwoofer for a 5.1
source)
 Stereo Downmix
 Mono Downmix
The AV8 will remember which mix mode was last used with a bitstream
source. See ‘Multichannel Source Modes’ for more information.
Two-channel audio, regardless of whether it is analogue or digital PCM
(e.g., the digital output from a CD player) can also be output in three
mix modes, selected using the
MODE button:
 Surround (e.g., Dolby Pro Logic II Movie, Neo:6 Music, etc.)
 Stereo (or Effects)
 Mono
The AV8 will remember which mix mode was last used with a two-
channel source, and if Surround, which particular surround mode. See
‘Two Channel Source Modes’ for more information. If an effect mode
has been applied whilst in Stereo, this will also be remembered. See
‘DSP Effects Modes’ for more information.
A special situation occurs with a bitstream (Dolby Digital or DTS) 2.0
or 2.1 source. They can be output in the following three mix modes:
 Surround (using Dolby Pro Logic II Movie mode)
 Stereo
 Mono Downmix
There is a link between the mix modes for multichannel bitstream (e.g.,
5.1) and two-channel bitstream (2.0 or 2.1) sources. If a 5.1 source
is played in Surround mix mode, the AV8 will remember this for all
bitstream sources (e.g., DTS-ES Matrix, Dolby Digital 3.0, etc.) and
use the maximum number of speakers the signal is encoded for. As a
result, when a 2.0 or 2.1 bitstream is played the Surround mix mode
is recalled and the AV8 enters Dolby Pro Logic II Movie mode to try
to recreate the surround environment from what may be a Pro Logic
encoded source.
If you would rather listen to a 2.0 or 2.1 bitstream in ordinary stereo
(with or without a subwoofer), press
MODE to cycle through to the
Stereo mix mode (e.g., Dolby Digital 2/0.0 on the display). However, if
the source becomes a multichannel bitstream (e.g., 5.1) again, the AV8
will recall Stereo mix mode and therefore output a Stereo Downmix
of the multichannel signal. Full surround output can be re-achieved by
pressing
MODE to cycle through to the surround mode encoded on
the disc.
If at any point THX post-processing is applied to a source (either
analogue or digital), it is applied globally to that source button
regardless of digital input format (Dolby Digital or DTS), analogue or
digital two-channel surround mode (e.g., Neo:6 Music) or downmixing
modes. The only exceptions where THX post-processing is not applied
are in the Effects modes and Direct mode.
TWO-CHANNEL SOURCE MODES
The following decoding and surround modes are available;
Mono
Stereo
Pro Logic II Movie
Pro Logic II Music
Pro Logic Emulation
Neo:6 Cinema
Neo:6 Music
These modes are available with two-channel analogue and two-channel
PCM digital sources.
NOTE: A Dolby Digital 2.0 source may only be decoded as Mono,
Stereo or Pro Logic II Movie.
Mono: The AV8 will combine the left and right audio channels from
a stereo signal to produce a mono signal. This can be of benefit when
playing older audio recordings or VCR tapes, especially mono LP
records.
Analogue Stereo: In this mode the AV8 works as a conventional high
quality audio pre-amplifier. If the subwoofer is enabled in Stereo mode,
some processing of the signal will be carried out. For ultimate sound
quality with analogue sources, select the Stereo Direct function.
Digital Stereo: Decodes two-channel digital signals such as PCM
signals from sources such as CDs and some DVDs.
Dolby Pro Logic II: There are two different modes available in
Pro Logic II; Movie and Music modes. Due to the different recording
methods used for movies and music, use the right decoding mode for
your source material for best results.
 Movie Mode: Movies are mixed and monitored in a calibrated
multichannel environment. Movie mode is a fixed mode designed
to reproduce a similar end result when listening using a home
cinema system.
 Music Mode: Stereo music is not designed for surround
processing, although good surround effects can be obtained
through the right processing. As the optimum processing varies
according to the recording, Music mode allows user adjustment
of the processing characteristics. Information about adjusting the
Music mode by using ‘Dimension’ and ‘Centre Width’ controls
can be found in the ‘Main Menu Screen 2’ section.
Dolby Pro Logic Emulation: This mode should only be used when
the source material is encoded as Dolby Pro Logic. Pro Logic processing
on straight stereo sources can sound muffled and compressed, and is
not recommended.