Rotel RSP-976 REC Button Zone Button, CH Input, PRO Logic Button, Stereo Button, DSP Button

RSP-976Surround Sound Processor

The input source buttons can also be used (in conjunction with the REC button described in the next section) to select an analog input source signal to be available at the outputs for record- ing. Additionally, the input source buttons can be used with the ZONE button to select an analog input source for ZONE 2.

REC Button

ZONE Button

The RSP-976 can record from any analog source input to a VCR or other recorder con- nected to the VIDEO 1, 2 or 3 outputs or the TAPE outputs, even while you are listening to a different input source. To select an input source for recording, press the REC button on the front panel (or the equivalent ZONE button on the remote). Then, press one of the INPUT SOURCE buttons within 5 seconds to select the signal you wish to record. After making your selec- tion (or if more than five seconds passes), the input source buttons return to their normal function, selecting a listening source.

Remember, this selection is independent of the listening source. While recording, you may still select a different source (for example, the CD input) for listening. The record selection appears in the display to the right of the lis- tening selection.

NOTE: The RECORD function requires analog signals. If you use a digital connection from a CD player or DVD for listening, you should also connect an analog signal for recording.

5.1CH Input

EXT IN

The 5.1 CH button (or the EXT IN button on the remote) overrides all other inputs (both analog and digital) and connects an external digital adaptor to the RSP-976’s outputs. This provides an upgrade path to future software standards. When activated, the RSP-976’s digi- tal processing is bypassed. An indicator ap- pears in the front panel display.

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Surround Sound Controls

The RSP-976 decodes Dolby® Pro Logic®, Dolby Digital®, and DTS® surround sound source material as well as providing several DSP am- bience simulations for music.

Dolby Digital and DTS decoding of digital signals is automatic. When a digital signal en- coded with either of these is detected, the RSP-976 activates the proper decoding. In most cases, the RSP-976 will also recognize a digital signal encoded with Dolby Pro Logic for pro- cessing. Additionally, you can configure a de- fault surround mode for each input using the ON-SCREEN DISPLAY menu system.

Four buttons allow manual control of the sur- round sound/ambience settings, overriding any configured default setting or auto-sensing. There are no right or wrong settings. Just because a mode is labelled 2 CHANNEL does not mean that you must use this mode every time you play a stereo CD. You may prefer one of the other surround modes.

As a general rule, we recommend using PRO LOGIC mode for all sources labeled Dolby Pro Logic. Beyond that, use whatever settings sound best to you in your room with your system.

PRO LOGIC Button

This setting decodes Dolby Pro Logic encoded surround sound material, whether it be a music CD, videotape, videodisc, stereo TV broad- cast, or radio broadcast. It also can be used to create additional ambience in 2-channel mu- sical source material. Front, center, and rear speakers are activated. An indicator lights in the front panel display when the PRO LOGIC button is pressed.

NOTE: Leaving the RSP-976 in PRO LOGIC mode offers satisfactory performance and con- venience for many source materials. It pro- vides automatic decoding of analog surround sound material and automatic selection of digital processing when a Dolby Digital or DTS source is played.

3 STEREO Button

This mode provides proper playback of Dolby Pro Logic material on systems that have front and center speakers, but lack rear surround speakers. It adds the rear channel signals to the front speakers for a larger, more ambient sound than conventional stereo. An indicator lights in the front panel display to show that this mode has been activated.

DSP Button

This button activates digital synthesis of four ambience modes (MUSIC 1, MUSIC 2, MU- SIC 3, and MUSIC 4) which simulate progres- sively larger acoustic environments and are used to recreate ambience when listening to music sources and/or other sources that lack surround sound encoding.

These four modes vary the amount of delay used for the rear surround signals. Experiment to find a setting which is most pleasing.

Press the button to activate the DSP mode. Each press of the button will step forward to the next mode in the following order: MUSIC 1 > MUSIC 2 > MUSIC 3 > MUSIC 4. An indica- tor lights in the front panel display when DSP mode has been activated.

NOTE: As a general rule, the DSP modes pro- vide more exaggerated ambience effects than the PRO LOGIC mode. Experiment with the more spectacular DSP modes for particular recordings or effects.

2CH Button

This button activates conventional 2-speaker stereo mode with no surround sound or other processing. This is “pure” stereo, using the front left and front right speakers (with or without subwoofer), with no surround channels and no center channel.

When used with Dolby Digital or DTS source material, the 2CH button engages a downmix feature, combining all of the channels and sending them to the front speakers. The spa- tial effects of surround sound are lost, but all of the information on the original recording are preserved.

NOTE: 2CH mode allows you to hear 2-chan- nel stereo recordings in their original format.