Parasound Halo C1 Controller manual Programming Aux Channels 9, Mix Levels

30ADJUSTMENTS, MENUS, AND SETUP continued

Programming Aux Channels 9 and 10

Each of these two channels has independently adjustable high-pass and low-pass filters and provision for deriving content from any or all of the other eight channels, mixed in any proportion you like. They are programmed from this menu:

Aux	channel setup
Ch	9 config	setup
—level		0.0dB
—delay		0.0ms
Ch	10 config	setup
—level		0.0dB
—delay		0.0ms

Exit

Level adjusts the channel’s level relative to other channels, for proper sonic balance. It is adjustable from –15 to +15 dB, in 0.5-dB increments. When these channels are used for special effects, it’s usually a good idea to keep their levels low. Because these extra channels can be used in so many ways, it is impossible to prescribe specific level settings; we suggest starting at the lowest possible level, gradually rais- ing it until the extra channel becomes barely audible, then cutting the level back by a fraction of a decibel.

Delay can be used simply to synchronize the arrival time of the programmed channel’s sound with that of the other channels. But it can also be used for special effects, such as adding ambience. It is adjustable from 0.0 to 80.0 milliseconds, in incre- ments of 0.5 ms. We suggest you first try increasing the delay by 0.1 ms for each foot (or per

0.3meter) of distance from the speaker to your listening position, then try slight variations. Setting the delay a bit shorter than the measured distance calls for may make the sound of this channel more dominant; lengthening the delay may make it less so. If the delay varies by more than 30 ms from the delay settings based on distance, the channel’s sound will not blend seam- lessly with the other channels. Aux channel setup

Ch 9 (or 10) Config Setup brings up this submenu:

Ch 9 configuration
Filter	1	type	Lowpass
Filter	1	freq	80 Hz
Filter	2	type	None
Filter	2	freq	—

Mix levels

Exit

Filter type can be “None,” “Lowpass,” or “Highpass.”

Filter freq can be set in 5-Hz increments. The high-pass filter, commonly used to keep bass out of small speakers, can be set from 20 Hz to 1 kHz. The low-pass can be set from 20 Hz to 18 kHz. The factory default setting for both filters is 80 Hz, recommended (but not mandatory) for use with THX, THX Ultra, and THX Ultra2 speakers and sub- woofers. If you want bandpass filtering for special effects, select both high- and low-pass filters.

Mix Levels

Ch 9 mix levels
Left		10
Center		50
Right		10
Right	surround	—5
Back		0
Left	surround	—5
LFE		0

Exit

Mix Level sets the percentage and polarity (“phase”) of the new channel’s content that comes from each of the other 7.1 channels, in 1% increments. The settings shown here indicate that channel 9 is set to include 10% of each main channel’s signal, 50% of the center-channel signal, and 5% of each surround-channel signal. The minus signs on the surround-channel mix listings indicate that these signals are mixed in with their polarity reversed. Reversing the polarity of some of the “donor” channels can give you interesting spatial effects, especially when combined with a bit more delay than called for by the distance from you to the Channel 9 and Channel 10 speakers.

The mix percentages need not add up to 100%. If the mix for an Aux channel was Left 25%, Center 100%, and Right 25%, that channel would be receiving as high a center-channel signal level as the center channel itself does, plus a bit of the left and right channels, and the center would be 2/3 of the total signal.

Suggested mix levels for these applications can be found in “Technically Speaking,” on page 61.