dCS 904 User Manual

Manual for Software Version 1.5x and 1.36

dCS Ltd

June 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On

XLRs carry either DSD 4 format or P3D format, as

 

 

set by he DSD menu item. In P3D format, where

 

 

 

DSD to be packed into 3 AES3 links, the 4th XLR

 

 

 

output carries a PCM encoded signal for metering

 

 

 

purposes, to allow DSD to be recorded on existing

 

 

 

8 track 24 bit PCM recording machines, at a lower

 

 

 

than normal level

 

This XLR control function is separate from DSD mode for safety reasons. Because DSD into a PCM device can cause full scale noise, with a very high high frequency content that can damage speakers, this feature has to be explicitly turned on.

If it is turned on, and DSD mode is turned on, the unit outputs DSD packed into AES3 data streams in the appropriate manner. Contact dCS for further details

If DSD is packed into AES3 links (DSD 4 or P3D), the dCS 904 sets the Non Audio flag in the AES3 message, so that a DAC further downstream will mute if it cannot accept the format, but beware:

IMPORTANT! if the Non Audio flag is stripped by the recorder, a DAC could accept DSD data as AES3 PCM and will output potentially damaging full scale noise.

DSD O

This page selects the output format of the SDIF connectors – SDIF-2 or SDIF-3. SDIF-3 is only valid for DSD:

SDIF2

The BNCs output SDIF-2 formatted DSD in ADC

 

mode

On

The BNCs output SDIF-3 (embedded clock) in

 

ADC mode.

Definitions of these formats are available from the SONY Corporation.

Tone

This accesses a test generator, whose level and frequency can be adjusted. Pressing Set enters a submenu, which accesses the following functions:

Level

The output level, in dB0. It can be changed in

 

0.1dB steps using the

Up

and

Down

buttons.

Freq

The output frequency,

in

 

kHz.

It can be changed

 

below 1 kHz in 10 Hz steps, or above 1 kHz in

 

100 Hz steps by using the

Up

and

Down

buttons.

On/Off

Toggles whether the generator

is on or off.

Up

Allows the menu to be re-entered to set other

 

functions. Alternatively, if left, the menu will just

 

time out keeping the last settings.

At power up, the generator is set to Off, 1 kHz and –18dB0as a safety measure. When in use, if the generator is turned Off, the unit remembers the last frequency and level setting.

The generator frequency can be set to much finer (32 bit) resolution using the RS-232 control. See section “RS-232 Remote Control Interface” on page 53 for more details.

Manual part no: DOC135904 iss 2B2

Page 21

135904ma2b2.pdf file available from website

Contact dCS on + 44 1799 531 999

email to: more@dcsltd.co.uk

(inside the UK replace + 44 with 0)

web site: www.dcsltd.co.uk