Audient ASP 510 User manual

5.1 SURROUND SOUND
MONITOR CONTROLLER
audient.com
User Manual V1.0

Introduction Safety Warnings
Thank you for selecting the ASP510 surround sound monitor controller.
We have designed this equipment to provide you with the best possible tool
to deal with today’s demanding requirements.
We have taken a great deal of pride and care in the manufacture of this
equipment so that it will provide consistent and reliable performance.
Please take a little time to study the contents of this manual so that you can
be sure of getting the best performance from this equipment.
Please read all of these instructions and
save them for later reference before
attempting to connect the ASP510 to the
AC power source. To prevent electrical
shock and fire hazard follow all the
warnings and instructions marked on the
ASP510 Surround Processor rack unit.
• This unit is connected via its power
cord to the mains safety earth.
NEVER OPERATE THE UNIT WITH THIS
EARTH CONNECTION REMOVED
• Check that the correct operating
voltage has been set for your AC
mains supply
• Check that the fuse fitted is the
correct type for the mains voltage
selected
• Always replace fuse with the correct
type.
The ASP510 Surround Processor rack
unit features an external mains voltage
selector.
Switched to the 230v position the unit
will operate without performance
degradation from 210v to 250v. In the
115v setting it will accept from 105v to
125v. Do not attempt to operate the unit
outside the ranges defined above.
For 100v operation please contact your
dealer.
!WARNING !
TO REDUCE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO
RAIN OR MOISTURE.
PLEASE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE
PERSONNEL.

Unpacking & Installation Audio Connections
Free Female Connector
Free Male Connector
The ASP510 Controller has been
designed and developed to provide
highly robust system integration
interfaces, allowing worry-free system
hook-up under the most demanding
situations.
Inputs and outputs are implemented
using advanced electronically balanced
or ground sensing topologies and
are fitted with extensive RFI rejection
networks.
Pin Conventions
Signal interfaces are provided on 25
pin D Sub type connectors with 4-40
screw thread jack posts. Wiring is in
accordance with the DA88 convention.
Pin allocations are shown in detail on the
next page.
Important : When preparing your
D-SUB interface cables please note
that the maximum shell size that can be
accommodated is 18 x 60mm.
To unbalance the outputs of the ASP510
the -ve Pin should be connected to its
adjacent 0v pin at the output of the
ASP510 Surround Processing rack
unit. Similarly, inputs from unbalanced
sources should be connected via
twin screened cables with the -ve Pin
connection tied to the screen at the
unbalanced source.
In order to maintain optimum EMC
performance it is important that screens
are properly connected at both ends of
cable runs.
In this way the electromagnetic shield
provided by the equipment chassis and
the cable screens will be optimised to
reject interference. It is recommended
that only high quality braided screen
cables are used to avoid compromising
EMC performance.
Mechanical Installation
The ASP510 consists of two units, a
1u rack mount processor and a small
remote control, which would normally be
sited on the main mixing console control
surface or on the desk top adjacent to a
DAW.
The ASP510 rack processor is fan cooled
and care should be taken not to obstruct
the unit’s ventilation holes. Adequate air
flow must be provided within rack cases
to prevent the unit from overheating.
The front panel of the ASP510 Remote
Control features a rugged under-surface
printed polycarbonate overlay. Exposure
to direct sunlight for extended periods
should be avoided as this can have a
detrimental eect on the overlay panel.
Your ASP510 Controller has been
carefully and meticulously tested and
inspected before dispatch.
Please check for any signs of transit
damage. If any signs of mishandling are
found please notify the carrier and your
dealer immediately.
Your ASP510 Controller packing should
contain an ASP510 Surround Processor
rack unit, an ASP510 Remote Control,
a mains power cord, and a CAT5
interconnecting cable, along with this
manual.
Fuses
Please note that the fuse ratings for the
two voltage ranges are dierent. 20mm
T250mA for the 230v setting and 20mm
T500mA for the 115v setting.
Always replace fuses with the same type.
The mains fuse is very unlikely to fail
under normal use and caution should be
exercised if a failure should occur. Check
the mains voltage setting, condition of
the mains cord and integrity of the mains
supply before replacing the fuse.

Studio Connections
5.1 Play A 5.1 Play B Surround Bus
Inputs
Decoder Encoder Speakers Console Interface Stereo Re-
cord/Play
5.1 Record A
5.1 Re- cord B
Type Electronically
Balanced Female D-sub
Electronically Balanced Female D-sub
Electronically Balanced Female D-sub
Electronically Balanced Female D-sub
Ground Sensing O/Ps, Electroni- cally Balanced Male D-sub Inputs
Ground Sensing Male D-sub
Audio - Electronically Balanced Logic - Opto Isolated Female D-Sub
Electronically Balanced Female D-sub
Electronically Balanced Male D-sub
Electron- ically Balanced male D-sub
1Left Left Left Left Left Left Control Room Input
Left
Stereo A Play left
Left Left
2Right Right Right Right Right Right Control Room input
right
Stereo A Play right
Right Right
3Centre Centre Centre Centre Centre Centre Guide Track input
left
Stereo B Play left
Centre Centre
4LFE LFE LFE LFE LFE LFE Guide Track input
right
Stereo B Play right
LFE LFE
5Left Surround Left Surround Left Surround Left Surround Left Surround Left
Surround
Romote Dim Sense Stereo A
Record Left
Left Sur- round
Left Surround
6Right Surround Right Surround Right Surround Right Surround Right Surround Right
Surround
Remote Solo Sense Stereo A
Record Right
Right Surround
Right Surround
7Not Used Not Used Stereo Bus Left Encoded Out-
put Left (Lt)
Encoded Input Left (Lt)
Left Alt Remote Talkback
Sense
Stereo B Record
Not Used Not Used
8Not Used Not Used Stereo Bus
Right
Encoded Out- put Right (Rt)
Encoded Input Right (Rt)
Right Alt Remote Bypass Stereo B Re-
cord Right
Not Used Not Used
Control Interfaces
The ASP510 allows various logic control
signals from the host mixing console
to be interfaced to allow continued
operation of console solos etc. These
connections are detailed on the next
page and are made via AC/DC floating
opto-isolators that will successfully detect
any positive or negative going control
voltage between 2v and 24v.
Console solo and talkback systems dier
widely and the relevant manufacturer
should be consulted for details of suitable
ways of deriving logic output signals
interfacing to the ASP510.
Remote Control Connection
The ASP510 Surround Processor rack unit
is connected to its remote control via a
standard CAT5 data cable which plugs
into the REMOTE socket on each unit. A
5m cable is supplied with the unit but any
non-reversed CAT5 FTP (shielded twisted
pair) cable may be used.
The maximum recommended length of
cable is 20m.
When you first turn on your ASP510 it will
load the following default set-up:
• Monitor Format: 5.1
• Alternate Speakers: OFF
• Stereo Record Source: Bus
• Monitor Source: Surround Record
• Encoder/Decoder: Out
• Guide: O
• Ref: O
• Reference Level: -10dB
• Volume: Fully Counter Clockwise
• Dim: On
• Dim Level: -20dB
• Cut: Cut
• Mode: Cut
• Speakers: On
• Monitor Trims: 0dB
To restore these defaults hold down the
bypass button until it flashes and then
release it.

Configuration Room Setup
30 °30 °
110 ° 110 °
Sweet
Spot
Use an SPL meter placed directly in the
centre of the 5 full range monitors and
ensure that all 5 monitors are
outputting the same dB level, making
adjustments to the output trims where
necessary to maintain equal volume
level across all monitors.
Placement of the monitors is also
important. The diagram below shows
the standard placement for Surround
Sound speaker setups:
It is not within the scope of this manual
to give detailed information regarding
room and monitor calibration. However,
further information can be found on the
web or feel free to contact our support
team ([e-mail]) with any
questions and they’ll be happy to help.
Calibration of Your Monitors
To ensure the best overall system
performance it is important to optimise
operating levels.
The ASP510 can output a maximum
level of +24dBU to monitors using the
volume trims on the front of the unit,
however most power amplifiers and
active monitors will use lower levels.
When setting the mains of the monitors
or power amplifiers it is important to
consider the operating position of the
ASP510 Volume control. The law of this
control has been carefully developed to
give optimum resolution between the
12.00 o’clock and 5.00 o’clock positions.
A normal operating position in this range
is suggested with use of the DIM control
when a lower level range is required.
It is recommended to calibrate the
monitors to ensure that they are
outputting at the correct volume. This
can be done using the built in Pink Noise
generator. To turn on the Pink Noise
generator, hold down both the CUT and
DIM buttons simultaneously until they
flash and then release them. All monitors
are now cut but can be unmuted
individually for alignment.
The ASP510 has been designed to
allow maximum flexibility in system
configuration without compromising
either ease of installation or use.
It is important to recognise that the
ASP510 can provide comprehensive
management of both monitoring
and record functions in a Surround
environment.
The provision of multiple Surround and
Stereo inputs as well as dedicated
Encoder/ Decoder inserts and
comprehensive console interfacing
make it easy to configure the
system to suit your requirements.
A block system diagram of the ASP510
is provided at the end of this manual
to show the relationship between the
various input and output options.
Furthermore, example configurations
can be found on our website as a guide
to the ways that the ASP510 can be
integrated into a range of Surround
systems.
For more detailed general guidance on
working in Surround Sound formats,
Dolby Laboratories (www.dolby.com)
and Surround-Associates (www.
surroundassociates.com) have many
useful guides and publications.

Functions and Controls Functions and Controls
15
4
2
3
1
54
2
3
Monitor Level Trim Controls
The Trims provide adjustment of +/-
10dB for each speaker output.
Power Indicator
Indicates that the unit is powered on.
Mains Inlet and Voltage Selector
Where a standard IEC lead can be
connected and the operating voltage of
the unit can be set.
Remote Control Port
For connection of a CAT5 cable to the
mating connector on the rear face of the
Remote unit.
Audio and Logic Connections
Allowing connection with other devices
and speakers using 25-PIN D- SUB
connectors.
Audio interfaces are either electronically
balanced or ground- sensing.
Logic interfaces are via AC/DC floating
opto-isolators.
The Surround Processor contains all of
the audio electronics for the ASP510
system. It is connected to and controlled
by the ASP510 remote unit via an RS485
link.
The rear of the unit contains the D-SUB
interfaces for up to six monitor sources,
three surround and three stereo.
Inserts are also provided for an encoder/
decoder.
The Console Interface allows the ASP510
to integrate seamlessly with the host
console Solo, Dim and Talkback logic
systems.
Provision to connect the console control
room outputs also allows these to be fed
directly to the Left and Right monitors
when working only in stereo with the
ASP510 in bypass mode.
Using the same interface a Guide or
Production track can be routed to the
monitors via the ASP510.
The six speaker outputs are each
provided with front panel level trim
controls.

Functions and Controls
1
6
12
13
23
7
4
910
11
5
8
Functions and Controls
1
5
6
7
4
2
3
The ASP510 enables the user to select
any one of 5 primary monitor formats:
5.1, LCRS, Stereo, Mono or Bypass.
A switchable 120Hz filter is provided for
the sub- bass monitor path (see page
12).
A 5.1FILM mode is also implemented
with the Left surround and Right
surround monitor channels attenuated
by 3dB.
Switching for alternate Left and Right
speakers is provided along with a Bypass
mode enabling monitoring direct from
the mixing console or DAW.
If the logic sense ports have been
connected to the host mixing console
the ASP510 will automatically detect and
action console Solo, Dim and talkback
commands.
The main Volume control operates via
high precision Digital Attenuators to
adjust the level of all speaker outputs.
Cut and Dim controls are also provided
with the Dim level being user settable.
The monitors may also be set to a user
predetermined reference level using the
REF switch - the volume control is then
bypassed.
Each of the six speaker outputs has an
individual twin mode illuminated switch.
These can be set to operate either as
Isolate or Cut switches by using the
associated mode switch.
To make system setup straight forward
the ASP510 has a built in Pink Noise
generator.
Monitor Level Trim Controls
MONITOR FORMAT is selected using
these five switches. An illuminated legend
displays the selected choice from 5.1,
LCRS, Stereo, Mono and Bypass. All of these
format selection buttons are interlocked
to automatically cancel the previous
selection except Bypass which operates
independently.
To set the 5.1 format to FILM mode hold
down the 5.1 button until it flashes and then
release. To cancel this mode hold down the
5.1 button until it stops flashing.
Bypass sets the entire ASP510 into stereo
mode connecting the console control
room outputs directly to the Left and Right
speakers.
Bypass disables all ASP510 functions other
than the Alternate speaker switching (see
below).To exit from Bypass mode push the
button again.
To restore factory default settings hold
down the Bypass button until it flashes and
then release it.
Alt Monitor Switch
ALT switches the main Left and Right
speaker outputs from the main monitors
to the Alternate (usually small near-field)
monitors.
Ref Button
The Reference button sets all monitor
levels to a user-definable reference level
independent of the volume control setting.
To set the Reference Level hold down the
REF button until it flashes, release it, set
the required level using the main Volume
Control and then push REF again to store
the setting.
Guide
Pressing this button allows a guide track
to be input directly to the main Left and
Right monitors. An associated ON legend is
illuminated when the Guide input is active.
Mode
MODE sets the six illuminated speaker
switches to act in either ISOLATE or CUT
mode.
An illuminated legend shows which mode is
active. The 120Hz low pass filter in the sub-
woofer path is activated by holding down
the illuminated SUB speaker switch until the
filter legend illuminates.
To bypass the filter push again until the
legend is extinguished.
Monitor Switches
Allows the individual outputs to be isolated
or cut depending on the mode selected
using the Mode button above.
Volume Control
Allows to control the output level to all the
monitors.

1
6
11
12
23
7
4
9
10
10
11
5
8
9
8
Functions and Controls Functions and Controls
12
selects the “direct” bus signal from the
console or DAW. PLAY A and PLAY B may
be any external signal, but typically the
recorder returns.
Three interlocking modes can be set
independently for the Stereo and
Surround sources but note that selecting
any Stereo source always cancels a
previously selected Surround source
and vice versa.
The Default interlock mode causes each
Stereo source to automatically cancel
any other Stereo source. The same logic
applies to the Surround sources. Two
additional modes, Lock and Gang are
provided.
To LOCK a Stereo (or Surround) source,
hold down the relevant select button
until it stops flashing. This source is now
Locked and will always be active when
any Stereo (Surround) source is selected.
Dim
Allows all monitor speakers to be
attenuated by a user-settable amount.
To set the DIM Level hold down the DIM
button until it flashes, release it, set the
required level with the main volume
control and then push DIM again to store
the setting.
Cut
Mutes all monitor outputs.
Encoder/Decoder
The Encoder/Decoder are inserted into
the monitor chain using the IN switch.
Monitor Source Switches
Three Stereo and three Surround
MONITOR SOURCES are provided. REC
To lock a second or third source simply
repeat this action. To cancel, hold down
the button until it extinguishes.
To GANG together two or more of the
Stereo (or Surround) sources, hold down
the first member of the Gang until it
flashes then release it and hold down
the second member until it too flashes
and release it. The third source can be
added to the gang in the same way. To
release members from the Gang hold
down the relevant source select until it
extinguishes and then release it.
Stereo Record Source
The source for the STEREO RECORDERs
can be selected as the Stereo BUS feed
from the console or DAW, a DOWNMIX
of the Direct Surround source or the LtRt
output of the ENCODER. Illuminated
legends show which source has been
selected.

Specifications Warranty Information
Operating Levels
Nominal levels: ......................................+4dBu
Maximum input: ...................................+24dBu
Maximum output: ................................+24dBu
Frequency Response
Any input to any output: ....................+/-0.25dB 22Hz -22kHz
THD and Noise
Any input to any output: ..................<0.003% @+4dBu, 1kHz
Noise
At speaker outputs: ........................<-92dBu 22Hz - 22kHz
Crosstalk
(Source/source): ............................>80dB 1kHz
Channel Tracking
0 to -24dB:.......................................... +/-0.25dB
Power Requirements
115/230v @ 50/60Hz (50VA)
Dimensions
Rack unit:
1U x 280mm
Remote:
Width: 230mm
Depth: 120mm
Height: 40mm
Your ASP510 Controller comes with a manufacturer’s warranty for one
year from the date of dispatch to the end user.
The warranty covers faults due to defective materials used in
manufacture and faulty workmanship only.
During this warranty period Audient will repair or at its discretion replace
the faulty unit provided it is returned carriage paid to an authorised
Audient service centre.
We will not provide warranty repair if in our opinion the fault has resulted
from unauthorised modification, misuse, negligence, act of God or
accident.
We accept a liability to repair or replace your ASP510 as described
above. We do not accept any additional liability.
This warranty does not aect any legal rights you may have against the
person who supplied this product - it is additional to those rights.

Block Diagram