Studio Technologies 76B 2008 - Manual (Page 5)

Model 76B/77B User Guide Issue 1, July 2008
Studio Technologies, Inc. Page 5
for Surround
Introduction
What This User Guide Covers
This User Guide is designed to assist you
when installing and using the Model 76B
Central Controller and one or more associ-
ated Model 77B Control Consoles.
Overview
As creating and distributing multi-channel
surround (5.1) and stereo (2-channel) audio
material has become a day-to-day reality,
the ability to simply and effectively monitor
these sources is imperative for recording,
post-production, and broadcast facilities.
Studio Technologies has addressed these
needs with the StudioComm for Surround
Model 76B Central Controller and Model
77B Control Console. With its digital audio
inputs, analog outputs, Dolby® E dialnorm
support, and extensive set of user resourc-
es it’s a simple task to integrate the system
into virtually any facility. The carefully
selected group of features, including
fl exible input source selection, dialnorm
display, channel downmix, channel solo,
and reference level, make the system
powerful yet simple to operate. And by
using the best of contemporary technology,
as well as following rigorous design prac-
tices, the system’s audio quality is excellent.
With the StudioComm for Surround system
any audio console, disk-based recording
system, or broadcast facility can have a
complete multi-channel monitor system. Its
unique feature set makes it especially well
suited to meet the unique needs of broad-
cast master control applications.
A StudioComm for Surround system
starts with the Model 76B Central Control-
ler. It occupies one space in a standard
19-inch rack. Two surround (5.1) and three
stereo (2-channel) audio inputs, along with
a surround (5.1) and an auxiliary stereo
(2-channel) monitor outputs, are provided.
The surround and stereo inputs are digi-
tal and compatible with AES3id sources.
These unbalanced digital signals utilize
BNC connectors and are ubiquitous in most
post-production and broadcast environ-
ments. Sample rates of up to 192 kHz and
bit depth of up to 24 are directly supported.
With the system’s dynamic range of greater
than 106 dB, there isn’t a problem ensuring
that a source’s audio quality is maintained.
The monitor outputs are analog, balanced
line-level, with a maximum signal level of
+26 dBu. They include power-up/power-
down protection circuitry to help maintain
the health of the connected loudspeaker
systems.
A source of Dolby E metadata can be
connected to the Model 76B Central Con-
troller. This RS-485/RS-422 115.2 kbit/s
serial data signal carries numerous data
elements, including one that represents
the average dialog level of an associated
audio program. This dialog normalization
or “dialnorm” value is an integral part of
many broadcast distribution systems, end-
ing up as part of consumer audio playback
systems. Hardware and software within the
Model 76B separates the dialnorm element
that relates to one of the connected sur-
round audio sources. This dialnorm level
value can be displayed on the Model 77B
Control Console, as well as being used to
automatically adjust the surround monitor
output level. This provides a unique solution
to the broadcast and post-production world,
allowing a professional environment to ac-
curately simulate an end user’s experience.
Digital audio signals are interfaced with the
Model 76B using nine BNC connectors.
Analog monitor output signal connections