Axon Synapse DBD18 User manual

Committed.
DBD18
Quad speed Dolby E decoder
Installation and Operation manual

Lange Wagenstraat 55
NL-5126 BB Gilze
The Netherlands
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Web: www.axon.tv
TECHNICAL MANUAL
DBD18

1
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR
ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS
APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE
● ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before cleaning any component. The product
frame (SFR18 or SFR04) must be terminated with three-conductor AC mains power cord that includes an
earth ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must always be used.
● NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning components.
● NEVER operate this product if any cover is removed.
● NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid.
● NEVER pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit.
● NEVER block airflow through ventilation slots.
● NEVER bypass any fuse.
● NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified.
● NEVER attempt to repair this product. If a problem occurs, contact your local Axon distributor.
● NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures.
● NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.
Warranty: Axon warrants their products according to the warranty policy as described in the general terms.
That means that Axon Digital Design BV can only warrant the products as long as the serial numbers are not
removed.
Copyright © 2001 – 2012 AXON Digital Design B.V.
Date created: 23-11-2010
Date last revised: 29-03-2012
Axon, the Axon logo and Synapse are trademarks of Axon Digital Design B.V.
This product complies with the requirements of the product family standards for audio, video, audio-visual
entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use as mentioned below.
EN60950
EN55103-1: 1996
EN55103-2: 1996
Safety
Emission
Immunity
Axon Digital Design DBD18
Tested To Comply
With FCC Standards
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.

2
Table of Contents
Introduction to Synapse 4
An Introduction to Synapse 4
Local Control Panel 4
Remote Control Capabilities 4
Unpacking and Placement 5
Unpacking 5
Placing the card 5
A Quick Start 6
When Powering-up 6
Changing settings and parameters 6
Front Panel Control 6
Example of changing parameters using front panel control 7
Axon Cortex Software 8
Menu Structure Example 8
The DBD18 card 9
Introduction 9
Features 9
Applications 9
Block schematic 10
Settings Menu 11
Introduction 11
SRC 11
Lock-Mode 11
Decoderinput 11
Dolby_E_in 12
Ch_E_in 12
Dolby_PCM_backup 12
Ch_backup 12
Sel_Ch1 ~ Sel_Ch16 13
Ch_1 ~ Ch_16 13
Gain-CH_1 ~ Gain-CH_16 13
Phase-CH_1 ~ Phase-CH_16 13
Stereo-CH_1/2 ~ Stereo-CH15/16 13
Delay-CH_1/2 ~ Delay-CH_15/16 13
Override 17/24 14
Override 25/32 14
Slot1/2 ~ Slot31/32 14
Status Menu 15
Introduction 15
Lock_status 15
AES_Input_1 ~ 15
AES_Input_4 15
Ch_1_Val ~ Ch_16_Val 15
Decoder_In 15
Backup_In 15
Events Menu 16
Introduction 16
What is the Goal of an event? 16
Events 16
Announcements 16
Audio-Data 16
Reference 16
What information is available in an event? 16
The Message String 16
The Tag 17
Defining Tags 17
The Priority 17
The Address 17
LED Indication 18
Error LED 18
Input_1 LED 18
Input_2 LED 18

3
Input_3 LED 18
Input_4 LED 18
Reference LED 18
Data Error LED 18
Connection LED 18
Block Schematic 19
Connector Panels 20
GPI pinning 20
Appendix 1 21
Quad speed ADD-ON bus 21
Scope 21
Features 21
Example 22
Multiplexing 24

4
1 Introduction to Synapse
An Introduction to
Synapse Synapse is a modular system designed for the broadcast industry.
High density, intuitive operation and high quality processing are
key features of this system. Synapse offers a full range of converters
and processing modules. Please visit the AXON Digital Design
Website at www.axon.tv to obtain the latest information on our new
products and updates.
Local Control
Panel The local control panel gives access to all adjustable parameters and
provides status information for any of the cards in the Synapse
frame, incl
uding the Synapse rack controller. The local control
panel is also used to back-up and restore card settings. Please refer
to the RRC18, RRC10, RRC04, RRS18 and RRS04 manuals for a
detailed description of the local control panel, the way to set-up
remote c
ontrol over IP and for frame related settings and status
information.
Remote Control
Capabilities
The remote control options are explained in the rack controller
(RRC18/RRC10/RRC04/RRS18/RRS04
) manual. The method of
connection to a computer using Ether
net is described in the
RRC/RRS manual.
!
CHECK-OUT: “AXON CORTEX” SOFTWARE WILL
INCREASE SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY OF ONE OR
MORE SYNAPSE FRAMES
Although not required to use Cortex with a Synapse frame, you are
strongly advised to use a remote personal computer or
laptop PC
with Synapse Cortex installed, as this increases the ease of use and
understanding of the modules.

5
2 Unpacking and Placement
Unpacking The Axon Synapse card must be unpacked in an anti-static
environment. Care must be taken NOT to touch components on the
card – always handle the card carefully by the edges. The card must
be stored and shipped in anti-static packaging. Ensuring that these
precautions are followed will prevent premature failure from
components mounted on the board.
Placing the card
The Synapse card can be placed vertically in an SFR18 frame or
horizontally in an SFR04 and SFR08 frame. Locate the two guide
slots to be used, slide in the mounted circuit board, and push it
firmly to locate the connectors.
Correct insertion of card is essential as a card that is not located
properly may show valid indicators, but does not function correctly.
NOTE: On power up all LED’s will light for a few seconds, this is
the time it takes to initialise the card.
Note: When at start-up the Dolby version number does not match
the expected version number the card will reprogram the Dolby
board automatically. In the identity of the card (see Cortex classic
view, or front panel) the item feature set will be set to PROG.
In this case all LEDs are blinking except the input and reference
LEDs, these will indicate the file-number which is uploading (as a
sort of progress bar). Please in this case do NOT turn off the power
or pull out the card but wait for the card to return in normal mode
(no more blinking LEDs).

6
3 A Quick Start
When Powering-
up On powering up the Synapse frame, the card set will use basic data
and default initialisation settings. All LED’s will light during this
process. After initialisation, several LED’s will remain lit – the
exact number and configuration is dependant upon the number of
inputs connected and the status of the inputs.
Changing settings
and parameters The front panel controls or the Axon Cortex can be used to change
settings. An overview of the settings can be found in chapter 5, 6
and 7 of this manual.
Front Panel
Control Front Panel Display and Cursor
Settings are displayed and changed as follows;
Use the cursor ‘arrows’ on the front panel to select the menu and
parameter to be displayed and/or changed.
Press ►
To go forward through the menu structure.
Press ◄
To go back through the menu structure.
Press ▲
To move up within a menu or increase the value of
a parameter.
Press ▼
To move down through a menu or decrease the
value of a parameter.
NOTE: Whilst editing a setting, pressing ► twice will reset the
value to its default.
[No Alarms]

7
Example of
changing
parameters using
front panel control
With the display as shown below
Pressing the ► selects the SFS10 in frame slot 01.
The display changes to indicate that the SFS10 has been selected. In
this example the Settings menu item is indicated.
Pressing the ► selects the menu item shown, in this example
Settings.
(Pressing ▲ or ▼ will change to a different menu eg Status,
Events).
The display changes to indicate that the SFS10 Settings menu
item SDI-Format has been selected and shows that it current
setting is Auto.
Pressing the ► selects the settings item shown, in this example
SDI-Format.
(Pressing ▲ or ▼ will change to a different setting, eg Mode,
H-Delay).
The display changes to indicate that the SFS10 Edit Setting
menu item SDI-Format has been selected.
To edit the setting of the menu item press ▲ or ▼.
All menu items can be monitored and/or chan
ged in this way.
Changing a setting has an immediate effect.
RRC18 [Select Card]
>S01=SFS10
SFS10 [Select Menu]
>Settings
SFS10 [Settings]
>SDI-Format=Auto
SFS10 Edit Setting]
SDI-Format>Auto

8
Axon Cortex
Software
Axon Cortex can be used to change the settings of Synapse modules
from a PC, either locally or remotely. The software enables
communication based on TCP/IP between the Setup PC and
Synapse frames/modules.
Each Synapse frame is addressed through its rack controller’s
unique IP address, giving access to each module, its menus and
adjustment items. Axon Cortex has access to data contained within
the Synapse module and displays it on a GUI. The software has an
intuitive structure following that of the module that it is controlling.
For operation of Axon Cortex, please refer to the Cortex help files.
Menu Structure
Example
Slot
Module
Item
Parameter
Setting
▲
▲
S02
Identity
▲
▲
S01
SFS10
►
Set-
tings
►
Standard_dig
►
Auto
▼
▼
▼
▼
S00
RRC18
Status
Mode
625
▼
▼
▼
Events
Ref-Input
525
▼
H-Delay
▼
▼
NOTE: Further information about Front Panel Control and Axon
Cortex can be obtained from the RRC and RRS operational manuals
and the Cortex help files.

9
4 The DBD18 card
Introduction
The DBD18 is a quad speed ADD-ON Dolby E decoder. The card is
designed for the use with the Synapse high efficient quad speed
multiplexing audio bus. The quad speed bus enables ADD-ON
cards to be connected with a master card and have both input and
output signals connected to this card for convenient routing and
integration.
The DBD18 receives the Dolby E from one of the 4 physical
AES/EBU inputs or any of the 16 stereo pairs that can enter the card
via the Quad speed Audio bus. The four decoded stereo AES/EBU
signals are available on its local I/O connectors or via the Internal
Synapse bus directly to the master card.
The DBD18 gets is processing clock from the Master card and will
operate fully clock synchronous with this master card.
For stand alone application we advice the DBD08 (as it can lock to
a frame connected B&B signal)
Features

Quad speed audio bus for convenient routing of ADD-ON
channels
4 physical stereo AES/EBU inputs and 32 channels bus inputs.
4 physical stereo AES/EBU outputs and 16 channels (into 32
channels) bus outputs
Dolby E decoding with automatic source selection on loss of
Dolby E signal
Metadata output
Individual offset delay per input
Individual gain control per input
Able to handle all AES/EBU input formats

Full audio channel shuffling
Applications 
Efficient Dolby processing to Quad Speed audio Master Cards.

10
Block schematic
RACK
CONTROLLER
AES/EBU OUT 1/2
ΜP
AES/EBU IN 1/2 SRC
AES/EBU IN 3/4
AES/EBU IN 5/6
AES/EBU IN 7/8
AES/EBU OUT 3/4
AES/EBU OUT 5/6
AES/EBU OUT 7/8
32 CHANNEL
SRC
SRC
SRC
32CH
IN
QUAD SPEED
MULTIPLEXING
AUDIO BUS
32CH
OUT 32CH IN
FROM MASTER
TO MASTER
TO NEXT
ADD-ON
FROM NEXT
ADD-ON
ADD-ON EMBED MULTIPLEXING
8 X 2-CHANNELS INTO 32
DBD18
INTERNAL SYNAPSE BUS
LOSS OF ‘E’
FAIL
SWITCH
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
METADATA
METADATA
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
Stereo
24x10
INPUT
MUX
DECODER
MUX
OPTIONAL RE-
INSERTING OF
PROCESSED
AUDIO

11
5 Settings Menu
Introduction The settings menu displays the current state of each DBD18 setting
and allows you to change or adjust it. Settings can be changed using
the front panel of the Synapse frame (SFR18, SFR08 or SFR04) or
with Cortex. Also the SCP08 control can be used. Please refer to
chapter 3 for information on the Synapse front panel control and
Cortex.
SYSTEM CONTROL
SRC This item switches on the Sample Rate Converter (SRC), or sets it
to transparent (Trans), in which case the sample rate of the input is
used. Trans mode is default.
Note: When using Transparent mode, make sure that the sample
rate matches the lock-mode (next setting). The rates have to be the
same.
Lock-Mode
The DBD18 can be used as an ADD_ON card (in combination with
an embedder/de-embedder card). In this case you are referred to the
setting MasterCard, which will extract the reference from the
master card. It is also possible to use an external signal to lock to. In
that case you are referred to the setting:
AES1 = Locks to the AES/EBU signal on input 1
AES4 = Locks to the AES/EBU signal on input 4
Ref1 = The B&B reference input of the rackcontroller
Ref2 = The second B&B reference input of the rack
controller (if available)
Mastercard = Locks to the ADD-ON bus input (always use
this setting when using quad speed add-on bus
functionality).
Default setting is: AES1.
Decoderinput With this setting you decide what the input of the Dolby E decoder
should be. It can be set to the assigned Dolby E_input (set with
Dolby_E_in setting), or to Auto.
In auto mode (default) the decoder automatically selects the Dolby
E input set with Dolby_E_in. If that input fails (so when no
Dolby E is detected), it will automatically switch to the input set
with Dolby_PCM_backup. This input will set to decoder outputs
1 and 2.

12
INPUT CONTROL
Dolby_E_in Here you select where the Dolby E comes from: from the local
AES/EBU inputs, or from the master card via the add-on bus.
Default is local.
Ch_E_in With this setting you appoint specific channels within the input
source set with Dolby_E_in, which should contain Dolby E.
Dependant on the source, you can choose any of the following
audio pairs:
■1/2 = (AES/EBU input 1 when source is local, Add-on
bus channels 1/2 when source is master)
■3/4 = (AES/EBU input 2 when source is local, Add-on
bus channels 1/2 when source is master)
■5/6 = (AES/EBU input 3 when source is local, Add-on
bus channels 1/2 when source is master)
■7/8 = (AES/EBU input 4 when source is local, Add-
on bus channels 1/2 when source is master)
■9/10 = (only available when source is master)
■11/12 = (only available when source is master)
■13/14 = (only available when source is master)
■15/16 = (only available when source is master)
■17/18 = (only available when source is master)
■19/20 = (only available when source is master)
■21/22 = (only available when source is master)
■23/24 = (only available when source is master)
■25/26 = (only available when source is master)
■27/28 = (only available when source is master)
■29/30 = (only available when source is master)
■
31/32 = (only available when source is master)
Dolby_PCM_backup With Dolby_PCM_backup you select which source
is your
backup input for the Dolby E decoder (only used when
Decoderinput is set to auto). Can be set to local (the
physical AES/EBU inputs) or to master
(audio coming form
master card, via add-on bus). Default is local.
Ch_backup With this setting you appoint specific channels within the input
source set with Dolby_PCM_backup, which should contain
Dolby E. Dependant on the source, you can choose any of the audio
pairs listed under Ch_E_in.

13
Sel_Ch1 ~
Sel_Ch16 With these settings
you set a source for the corresponding output
channel. You can set each individual channel to source Local
(physical AES/EBU inputs), Master
(audio coming from master
card via add-on) or Decoded_E (audio coming from the Dolby
decoder).
Channels 1 till 8 are the physical AES/EBU outputs as well as
outputs towards the add-on bus and are by defau
lt set to
Decoded_E. Channel 9 till 16 are add-on bus only and by default
set to Master.
Ch_1 ~ Ch_16 With these settings
you select a specific channel within the above
selected source to put on the corresponding output channel.
Dependant on the sourc
e setting, you can select any of up to 32
channels within the source. Be default Ch_1 till Ch_16 are set to
respectively 1till 16.
PROCESS CONTROL
Gain-CH_1 ~
Gain-CH_16 With these settings you can gain (or attenuate) the individual output
channels between -60dB and +12dB. Everything below -
60dB is
muted (displayed as -999dB). Default is 0dB.
Phase-CH_1 ~
Phase-CH_16 Here you can change the phase of each individual output channel
between 0 and 180 degrees. Default is 0 degrees.
Stereo-CH_1/2 ~
Stereo-CH15/16 With these settings you can set channels 1/2 till channels 15/16 to
mono or stereo. Default is stereo.
Set to Stereo
will just pass the source channels to the specific
audio pairs. Set to mono will add up (mix) the 2 source channels
an
d puts the mixed (mono) audio on both the destination audio
channels.
Delay-CH_1/2 ~
Delay-CH_15/16
Here you can delay each audio pair between 0ms and 1300ms.
Default is 0ms.

14
IN BUS CONTROL
Override 17/24 If you want to pass processed audio from one quad speed add-on
card to the other (for instance if you want to pass decoded Dolby E
audio from this card to for instance a Loudness Control or Dolby D
encoder add-on card next to this card) you have to use this setting.
You can choose to override input channels 17/24 on the add-on bus
of the next card (right side) with output channels 1 to 8 or pass the
master-card audio. The lines and blocks that are marked red in the
following schematic are done by this setting
RACK
CONTROLLER
AES/EBU OUT 1/2
ΜP
AES/EBU IN 1/2 SRC
AES/EBU IN 3/4
AES/EBU IN 5/6
AES/EBU IN 7/8
AES/EBU OUT 3/4
AES/EBU OUT 5/6
AES/EBU OUT 7/8
32 CHANNEL
SRC
SRC
SRC
32CH
IN
QUAD SPEED
MULTIPLEXING
AUDIO BUS
32CH
OUT 32CH IN
FROM MASTER
TO MASTER
TO NEXT
ADD-ON
FROM NEXT
ADD-ON
ADD-ON EMBED MULTIPLEXING
8 X 2-CHANNELS INTO 32
DBD18
INTERNAL SYNAPSE BUS
LOSS OF ‘E’
FAIL
SWITCH
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
METADATA
METADATA
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
GAIN &
PHASE DELAY
Stereo
24x10
INPUT
MUX
DECODER
MUX
OPTIONAL RE-
INSERTING OF
PROCESSED
AUDIO
Override 25/32 With this setting you can choose whether you want to override input
channels 25/32 on the add-on bus of the next add-
on card (right
side) with output channels 9 to 16 or pass the master-card audio.
Refer to above block schematic for a visualisation of this setting.
OUT BUS CONTROL
Slot1/2 ~
Slot31/32 These menu items are to fill the Quad speed audio bus with the
appropriate outputs. You can fill any of the 16 audio pairs (32
channels in total) with the audio that is set to Out1/2, till
Out15/16. You can also switch the concerning pair to off,
making that specific audio pair empty. Default Slot1/2 till
Slot31/32 are set to respectively Out1/2 till Out31/32.

15
6 Status Menu
Introduction The status menu indicates the current status of each item listed
below.
Lock_status
This status item indicates whether the card is locked to the, with
setting Lock-mode selected, source. Can be (OK) or not locked
(NA)
AES_Input_1 ~
AES_Input_4
These items display the status of the 4 AES/EBU inputs. If there
is an input, this is displayed as OK. When there’s no input, it is
displays as NA.
Ch_1_Val ~
Ch_16_Val
If a valid signal is present on the corresponding audio channel,
these items indicate OK. If the signal is between –1 and 0dBFS, it
is displayed as > -1dBFS. NA indicates that no signal present.
Decoder_In
This item indicates the status of the decoder input (set with
setting Decoderinput). Can be PCM, DolbyE or NA (none of
the former 2, or no audio at all)
Backup_In This item indicates the status of the decoder back-up input (set
with setting Dolby_PCM_backup). Can be PCM, DolbyE or
NA (none of the former 2, or no audio at all)

16
7 Events Menu
Introduction An event is a special message that is g
enerated on the card
asynchronously. This means that it is not the response to a request to
the card, but a spontaneous message.
What is the Goal of
an event?
The goal of events is to inform the environment about a changing
condition on the card. A message may be broadcast to mark the change
in status. The message is volatile and cannot be retrieved from the
system after it has been broadcast. There are several means by which
the message can be filtered.
Events
The events reported by the card are as follows;
Announcements Announcements
is not an event. This item is only used for
switching the announcement of status changes on/off. 0=off, other =on
Audio-Data Audio-Data can be selected between 0 .. 255. 0= no event, 1..255 is the
priority setting.
Reference Reference can be selected between 0 .. 255. 0= no event, 1..255 is the
priority setting.
What information is
available in an
event?
The message consists of the following items;
1) A message string to show what has happened in text, for example:
“INP_LOSS”, “REF_LOSS”, “INP_RETURN”.
2) A tag that also shows what happens, but with a predefined number:
e.g. 1 (= loss of input), 2 (= loss of reference), 129(= 1+128 =
return of input). For a list of these predefined tags see the table on
the next page.
3)
A priority that marks the importance of an event. This value is
defined by the user and can have any value between 1 and 255, or
0 when disabled.
4) A slot number of the source of this event.
The Message String The message string is defined in the card and is therefore fixed. It may
be used in controlling software like Synapse Set-up to show the event.

17
The Tag The tag is also defined in the card. The tag has a fixed meaning. When
controlling or monitoring software should make decisions b
ased on
events, it is easier to use the tag instead of interpreting a string. The
first implementation is the tag controlled switch in the GPI16.
In cases where the event marks a change to fault status (e.g. 1 for Loss
of Input) the complement is marked by the tag increased by 128 (80hex)
(e.g. 129 (81hex) for Return of Input).
Defining Tags
The tags defined for the card are:
Event Menu Item
Tag
Description
Announcements
0 or NA
0 or NA
Announcement of
report and control
values
Audio-Data
01
hex
=AUDIO_ERROR
81
hex
=AUDIO_OK
Audio data error or
OK
Reference
02
hex
=REF_LOSS
82
hex
= REF_RETURN
Reference lost or
returned
The Priority The priority is a user-
defined value. The higher the priority of the
alarm, the higher this value. Setting the priori
ty to Zero disables the
announcement of this alarm. Alarms with priorities equal or higher
than the Error Threshold setting of the RRC will cause the error LED
on the Synapse rack front panel to light.
The Address Together with the message string or the tag, the slot number or address
of the card is relevant to be able to assign the event to a certain card.

18
8 LED Indication
Error LED
The error LED indicates an error if the internal logic of the
DBD18 card is not configured correctly or has a hardware failure.
Input_1 LED This LED indicated the presence of a valid AES/EBU audio
signal on input 1.
Input_2 LED
This LED indicated the presence of a valid AES/EBU audio
signal on input 2.
Input_3 LED This LED indicated the presenc
e of a valid AES/EBU audio
signal on input 3.
Input_4 LED
This LED indicated the presence of a valid AES/EBU audio
signal on input 4.
Reference LED Indicated the presence of a valid reference signal on the selected
reference input connector (ref-1 or ref-2).
Data Error LED
This LED indicates a data error.
Connection LED
This LED illuminates after the card has initialized. The LED
lights for 0.5 seconds every time a connection is made to the card.