Meridian America Meridian 518 manual Overview as Mastering Processor Type

Overview of 518 12

Overview as Mastering Processor (Type 2)

	Recorder
Mixer	ADC
	518	Recorder
	DAT
	Using 518 as a Mastering Processor

The 518 is closely related to the highly respected Meridian 618 Mastering

Processor; in fact 518 uses identical DSP to the 618 in this mode.

The Meridian 618 has been used for over three years by some of the world's most experienced recording engineers and there is a long and growing list of superior CDs that have used 618 in their production. See page 4.

A mastering processor is used during recording, editing and transfer processes. In the course of making a CD for example, the music may pass through 518 two, three or four times.

The diagram shows 518 between a recorder – which may be DAT, reel– reel, CDR, MO or hard disk – and a source which may be also a recorder or an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC).

The Mastering processor provides these important functions at each stage:

∙de-jittering

∙matching wordlengths output to input

∙translating between consumer and professional serial interface modes

∙stripping subcode and some flags

∙level-shifting to optimise dynamic range

∙fading during edits

∙multiple re-dithering options

∙DSP application of pre-emphasis or de-emphasis

∙RS232 control

Overview as Multimedia Processor (Type 2)

			CDR
	Computer		DAT
Mixer	ADC	518	Computer
	CD/DAT		Speaker

Using 518 as a Multimedia Processor

The Multimedia application of 518 is somewhat similar to the Mastering

Processor just described.

Inevitably a PC is a very unfriendly place for high-quality sound for a number of reasons. The nature of the electrical environment, the block (i.e. 'jerky') access of hard-disc data and severe electrical noise combine to seriously limit the jitter performance of digital audio functions and the analogue performance of sound cards.

The principle benefits of using 518 in multimedia systems are:

518 User Guide