Apogee BIG BEN User manual

192 kHz Master Digital Clock
For years audio professionals have been requesting
that Apogee make their legendary clocking technology
available in a stand-alone master clock. We have
responded not only by making it available but by making
it revolutionary. Apogee’s BIG BEN is already astonishing
users with it’s ability to bring amazing clarity and quality to
your recordings while providing flexibility and features like no
other clock before.
A Cure for the Jitters – Apogee’s new “C777” Clock
At the heart of any word clock regeneration is a phase lock
loop (PLL). The PLL is a combination of analog and digital
elements without the ability to dynamically adapt to the
nature of the external clocks. In other words, the better the
clock performance, the less flexibility it has. And conversely,
the more flexibility there is in a PLL, the less effective it is at
jitter reduction. Apogee’s new C777 is built to address these
inadequacies. The C777 utilizes an entirely digital process
that Apogee has developed using the most advanced Direct
Digital Synthesis (DDS) technology available along with DSP
based digital filtering. The result is the most aggressive jitter
reduction ever. With the flexibility and stability provided the
C777, Big Ben is able to re-clock devices with excessive
jitter and function as if it were the master clock. The
ultimate in flexibility combined with unprecedented levels
of performance make the C777 unequaled in the world of
clocking.
Added Flexibility with Format Conversion
Not that you would expect it from a master clock, BIG BEN
gives you the option of real-time format conversion. Use BIG
BEN’s intuitive digital display to go from S/PDIF to AES, AES
to ADAT, ADAT to S/PDIF, etc.
X-Video Expansion Card for Video-Sync Generation
The multi-standard X-Video card will allow BIG BEN to
function as a master video sync generator, outputting a
composite video black-burst (including color burst for PAL
and NTSC color). When functioning as a master video sync
generator BIG BEN can perform as a clock slave to the
video-board and generate digital audio clocks based on the
video standard selected. Alternatively, the X-Video card can
function as a Slave video sync generator. In this mode the
output video will be a regeneration of the input video. The X-
Video card will maintain the color-phase and field information
through “Genlocking”, while simultaneously stripping the
original signal from its pixel information.
Intelligent Clocking with Apogee’s
“Adaptive Loop Filtering” (ALF)
ALF maximizes BIG BEN’s clocking ability with an intelligent
low pass filter. Because the C777 has made all incoming
signals into data (1’s and 0’s) BIG BEN is able to dynamically
compensate for excessive jitter and even improve already
acceptable clock signals to levels unattainable until now.
No matter what your input looks like, ALF can adapt and
overcome all obstacles to create a stable, reliable, low jitter
clock source.
“SureLock”... Your Drop out Defense
So, BIG BEN is masterfully handling external clock signals
and all of their anomalies and you’ve got your jitters
under control. What if BIG BEN encounters the ultimate
disturbance in clocking, a dropped signal? Not to worry, with
“SureLock” BIG BEN will compensate by remaining locked
on the last relevant frequency sent by the delinquent device.
When the signal resumes, BIG BEN will gradually, and
smoothly re-synchronize without interruption.
Termination Issues... A Thing of the Past
Very often in an elaborate audio chain word clock signals are
improperly terminated. BIG BEN will chime in with a visual
indication of over or under termination on it’s digital display
for each word clock output, allowing you to troubleshoot
more quickly and get back to business.
APOGEE DIGITAL • Santa Monica, CA • www.apogeedigital.com • 310 915.1000
The World’s Most Revolutionary Studio Clock
BIG BEN with Apogee’s C777 clocking technology will synchronize and revolutionize
your studio and make an obvious difference that you can hear.
It’s About Time...

Rear Panel
BIG BEN Features & Specifications
AES, S/PDIF, optical I/O - word clock/video in - 6 word clock outs
Realtime format conversion between all digital formats
Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) using Apogee’s C777 clock technology up to 192kHz
Adaptive Loop Filtering (ALF) to optimize clock performance and minimize jitter
Optional X-Video expansion card to provide master video sync generator (X-Video card)
Three stage termination sensing for each word clock output
For more info: 310 915.1000
www.apogeedigital.com/bigben
Due to on-going development Apogee reserves the right to change all information and specifications without notice.
APOGEE DIGITAL • Santa Monica, CA • www.apogeedigital.com • 310 915.1000
© 2004 Apogee Electronics Corporation. All trademarks herein are property of their respective holders.
Doc: BIGBEN_DS, APR/04 • PRINTED IN USA
Inputs:
• 2 x AES-EBU on XLR 44.1k-192k single-wide and
88.2 k–192k double-wide.
• S/PDIF optical on TOS-LINK 44.1-48k
• S/PDIF coaxial on RCA 44.1-192k
• ADAT 44.1-48k
• ADAT/SMUX II for 88.2-96k
• ADAT/SMUX IV for 176.4-192k
• Word Clock BNC 44.1 –192k
• Video
• Optional video sync (X-Video card)
Outputs:
• 2 x AES-EBU on XLR single or double wide 44.1-192k
• S/PDIF coaxial 44.1-192k
• S/PDIF optical on TOS-LINK 44.1-48k
• 6 x BNC Word Clock 44.1-192k (of which 2 can output 256fs at
low sample rates)
• ADAT
• SMUX II
• SMUX IV
• Optional video sync (X-Video card)
Specs:
• Sample rates: 44.1/48-88.2-96-176-192 . All +/- 10%
• Video: PAL/NTSC/60Hz
• “SuperClock” (256fs)
• Pull up/down 0.1% and 4% from any sample rate
• Apogee s new Ultra Low Jitter C777 clock
• Three stage termination indicator (under/correct/over) on each
Word Clock output:
• “SureLock” technology for drop out prevention
• 4 digit numeric true sample rate indication
• Universal power: 15 W 90-250 VAC 50-60 HZ