Audient ASP510 Surround Sound Controller - Manual (Page 8)

Operation Manual
Installation
8 ©audient 5/2001
CONFIGURING YOUR
INSTALLATION
OVERVIEW
The ASP510 has been designed to allow
maximum flexibility in system
configuration without compromising
either ease of installation or use.
It is important to recognise that the
ASP510 can provide comprehensive
management of both monitoring and
record functions in a Surround
environment.
The provision of multiple Surround and
Stereo inputs as well as dedicated Encoder/
Decoder inserts and comprehensive
console interfacing make it easy to
configure the system to suit your
requirements.
A block system diagram of the ASP510 is
provided at the end of this manua. Example
configurations are also included as a guide
to the ways that the ASP510 can be
integrated into a range of Surround
systems.
For more detailed general guidance on
working in Surround Sound formats,
Dolby Laboratories (www.dolby.com) and
S u r r o u n d - A s s o c i a t e s
(www.surroundassociates.com) have
many useful guides and publications.
OPTIMISING LEVELS
To ensure the best overall system
performance it is important to optimise
operating levels.
Generally , interfaces between the ASP510
and recorders, encoders and decoders will
be at a nominal level of +4dBu.
Care should be taken in planning the gain
structure of the power amplifiers however.
Typically, power amplifiers require only
around +10dBu for full output. The
maximum output of the ASP510 is
+24dBu. If you are using a stand-alone
crossover or loudspeaker management
system it is sensible to optimise the level
at this point. However if the ASP510 is
driving a power amplifier directly it may
be advisable to attenuate the input to the
power amplifier using the rotary controls
on the amplifier if these are provided or
else by a fixed (~10dB) pad at the
amplifiers input.
Note that the monitor trim levels on the
front face of the ASP510 Surround
Processor rack are not intended for the
purpose of providing overall attenuation
of the monitor outputs.
In setting the power amplifier gains it is
important to consider the operating
position of the ASP510 Volume control.
The law of this control has been carefully
developed to give optimum resolution
between the 12.00 o’clock and 5.00
o’clock (fully clockwise) positions. A
normal operating position in this range is
suggested with use of the DIM control
when a lower level range is required.
ROOM SET-UP
It is not within the scope of this manual to
deal in detail with room and monitor
calibration. The sources noted opposite
have useful sections on this topic however.
Monitor calibration is achieved using the
built-in Pink Noise generator and the
preset level controls on the front panel of
the ASP510 Surround Processor rack unit.
These are detented in the centre position
at unity gain and provide a total range of
+/- 10dB.
The internal Pink Noise generator is set so
that the level at the speaker outputs will
be 0dBu with the ASP510 main volume
control fully clock-wise and the speaker
trims in their centre detent positions.
When entering set-up mode by activating
the Pink Noise generator all speaker cuts
are automatically selected to prevent
possibly damaging sound pressure levels
being generated. The speakers can be
unmuted as required by depressing the
relevant cut button.
Normally calibration will be carried out in
‘REFERENCE’ mode and details of how to
set this and on using the Pink Noise
generator are to be found in ‘Functions
and Controls’ later in this manual.