Studio Technologies 76DA V.3.01 - Manual (Page 20)

Issue 2, April 2011 Model 76DA/77 User Guide
Page 20 Studio Technologies, Inc.
for Surround
4. Observing the SPL meter, adjust the
Model 77’s rotary level control until the
desired loudspeaker system reference
level has been reached.
5. Being careful not to disturb the posi-
tion of the rotary level control, enter the
configuration mode by pressing and
holding the configuration button locat-
ed on the Model 77’s back panel.
6. Once the configuration mode has been
entered, all the monitor outputs (digital
and analog) will mute. Press and hold
the reference level button; its associ-
ated LED will begin to flash. After five
seconds the LED will light steadily to
indicate that a “snapshot” of the new
reference level has been taken. The
Model 77’s numeric display will then
show the value of the new reference
level. The value shown will always be a
negative number as it’s always a value
less than the maximum output level.
The reference level button can now be
released.
7. To complete the process the configu-
ration mode must be exited. This is
performed by again pressing and hold-
ing the configure button for two sec-
onds. The new reference level is now
stored in the Model 76DA’s nonvolatile
memory. Only by repeating the entire
procedure can the value be changed.
Once the configuration mode has been
exited, the digital and analog monitor
outputs will again become active. Confirm
that the correct level has been stored by
pressing the reference level button. The
SPL meter should display the desired level.
If not, repeat the calibration procedure to
achieve the desired goal.
You might wonder why you have to press
and hold the reference level button for
five seconds before the selected value is
recognized. This is provided specifically so
that unauthorized users won’t accidentally
change the reference level while they ex-
periment with the configuration mode. Only
if you know the “secret” will you be able to
store a new value.
Overall Display Mode
The Model 77’s 4-digit numeric display can
be configured to display the post-fader sur-
round and stereo digital and analog moni-
tor output levels in either an attenuation
mode or an SPL mode. In the attenuation
mode the output level is shown as a reduc-
tion in level, in dB, relative to the maximum
output level. When the rotary control is
used to set the output level to its maximum
the display will show
0.0. As the rotary
control is turned in the counterclockwise
direction the display will show negative
values, reaching –70.0 before the full mute
function automatically mutes the outputs.
In the SPL mode the display can be con-
figured to allow the output level to be
presented to users in terms of the actual
sound pressure level (SPL). Used in con-
junction with the reference level in dB SPL
configuration and the stored reference
level, SPL mode allows a user to see a
visual representation of the SPL level that
is present in the listening environment.
While it takes a little more care to correctly
implement the SPL display mode, it can
offer an enhanced experience for Studio-
Comm users.
Reference Level in dB SPL
The reference level in dB SPL configu-
ration allows a specific SPL value to be
associated with the stored reference level