Cedar dns2000 User manual

DNS2000
Dialogue noise suppressor
CEDAR Audio Limited
www.cedaraudio.com
Manual v1.7 – 31 October 2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction.................................................................................... 1
System requirements....................................................................... 2
Safety instructions........................................................................... 3
Assumed knowledge ........................................................................ 4
Contact information ......................................................................... 5
Setting up the DNS2000 hardware..................................................... 7
Installing the DNS Control System –Mac ............................................ 8
Installing the DNS Control System –PC.............................................. 9
DNS Control System .......................................................................12
Hardware indicators........................................................................15
Use ..............................................................................................16
Suppressing traffic noise and other ambient sound..............................18
Suppressing tape hiss .....................................................................20
Suppressing excessive reverberation.................................................21
Specifications.................................................................................22
EMC regulations .............................................................................23
Licence and Limited Warranty ..........................................................24

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- 1 -
INTRODUCTION
In 2000, CEDAR Audio launched the DNS1000 dynamic noise suppressor. This was a stand-
alone, desktop-format unit designed specifically for film production, dubbing, outside broadcast
(remote) and studio noise suppression.
The format of the DNS1000 was ideal for replacing analogue units that had been in use for
many years, and for use in situations where rapid setup and processing was required ‘on the
fly’. However, it did not offer automation, nor could it be linked to a digital audio workstation
other than by its audio connectors. So we designed the DNS2000…
The DNS2000 is a combination of a rackmount unit that provides audio I/O and nearly
200MFLOPS of processing power, plus control system software for your Pro Tools (Mac or PC)
host system. You can apply it equally to recorded signals and to live signals at the point of
recording or transmission.
With just a single USB control connection between the DNS2000 hardware and the host, the
DNS2000 is very simple and quick to install. Once you have loaded the DNS Control System
software (and, if using the DNS2000 with a PC, the hardware driver) you can control all aspects
of its operation from within Pro Tools, and automate all its operating parameters. Quality, speed
and simplicity are paramount considerations in the DNS2000 design, and its features include the
following:
Near zero latency
The DNS2000 has a group delay of less than 10 samples (typically less than 1/200th of a frame)
so there is no loss of lip-sync when using it.
Connectivity
The DNS2000 can be used with both Pro Tools (Mac) and Pro Tools (PC) systems.
Flexibility
The DNS2000 will handle a wide range of noise suppression requirements.
Speed and ease of use
The DNS2000 offers a carefully designed user-interface that maximises speed of use.
Audio interfaces
The DNS2000 incorporates a 24-bit digital audio interface conforming to both AES/EBU and
SPDIF standards.
Universal power supply
Its universal power supply means that a DNS2000 will work anywhere in the world.
Powerful processor
A 40-bit floating point DSP processor delivers up to 198MFLOPS so that the DNS2000 will handle
the most complex processing requirements.

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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Macintosh OS X users:
The DNS2000 should be used with Pro Tools version 8or later. Any Macintosh with a free USB
port running Mac OS X 10.5.x or later and Pro Tools will support the DNS Control System and
DNS2000 processor unit.
DNS2000 firmware
To run the DNS2000 software under OS X, the DNS2000 hardware will require version 6
firmware (or higher). Units originally shipped with firmware versions 3, 4 or 5 for use with V1 or
V2 software must be upgraded. Once you have installed the Control System, the firmware
upgrader will appear at:
Applications/CEDAR/DNS2000FirmwareUpgrader
Run this programme and then follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade the firmware.
PC users:
The DNS2000 should be used with Pro Tools version 8or later. Any PC with a free USB port
running Windows XP, Vista or 7 and a suitable version of Pro Tools will support the DNS Control
System and DNS2000 processor unit.
DNS2000 firmware
To run the DNS2000 software under Windows, the DNS2000 hardware will require version 6
firmware (or higher). Units originally with firmware versions 3, 4 or 5 for use with V1 or V2
software must be upgraded. Once you have installed the DNS Control System, the firmware
upgrader will appear in your Start menu as:
All Programs/CEDAR Audio Ltd/Pro Tools/DNS2000/DNS2000 Firmware
Upgrader
Run this programme and then follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade the firmware.

- 3 -
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read these instructions, and follow them.
Water and moisture
The DNS2000 rackmount processor must not be exposed to rain or moisture. Furthermore, if
the DNS2000 is brought directly from a cold environment into a warm one, moisture may
condense inside it. This, in itself, will not cause damage, but may cause electrical shorting. This
could damage the DNS2000, and even cause danger to life. Always allow the DNS2000 to reach
ambient temperatures naturally before connecting the mains power.
Mounting and ventilation
You should place the DNS2000 on a flat, stable surface or mount it in a standard 19” equipment
rack. Use the supplied rubber feet to avoid scratching the surface, or the rackmounting
accessories, as appropriate. Do not subject the DNS2000 to strong sunlight, excessive dust,
mechanical vibration or periodic shocks. The unit is not susceptible to excessive heat build-up,
but should be installed away from heat sources such as radiators and audio devices that
produce large amounts of heat.
Power sources
The DNS2000 features a universal power supply that will work safely on any mains supply in the
range 85V to 260V, 50Hz or 60Hz AC only. The unit should always be grounded (earthed), and
you should route power cables so that they will not be walked on or pinched.
Connections
Turn off the power to all equipment before making any connections.
Cleaning
Clean the DNS2000 only with a dry cloth. Never use abrasive pads or liquid cleaners such as
alcohol or benzene.
Damage requiring service
The DNS2000 contains no user-serviceable parts and should on no account be opened or
dismantled by unauthorised personnel. It should be returned to qualified service agents when it
has been exposed to liquids, when it fails to function correctly, when it has been dropped, or
when the case is damaged.

- 4 -
ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE
This manual assumes that you are fully conversant with your Mac or PC system(s), and that you
know how to operate Pro Tools. It will refer to operations that are common to these products,
but will not attempt to explain them.
Troubleshooting Non-CEDAR Components
If you encounter problems with your Macintosh®, OSX®, your PC, Microsoft Windows®, or Pro
Tools®, please refer to the relevant manuals, or contact the dealer that supplied these to you.
Unless appointed independently as authorised dealers for the following products, CEDAR Audio’s
dealers will not attempt to provide technical support for:
Macintosh computers
Mac OSX
PCs of any description
Microsoft Windows
Digidesign hardware
Digidesign software

- 5 -
CONTACT INFORMATION
Headquarters
Address:
CEDAR Audio Ltd, 20 Home End, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5BS, UK
Telephone and Fax:
T: [phone] F: [phone]
Email:
[email protected]
USA Office
Address:
CEDAR Audio USA, 43 Deerfield Road, Portland, ME 04101-1805, USA
Telephone and Fax:
T: [phone] F: [phone]
Email:
[email protected]
German Office
Address:
CEDAR Deutschland, Görlitzer Str. 3, D-49525 Lengerich, Deutschland
Telephone and Fax:
T: [phone] F: [phone]
Email:
[e-mail]
Web
English language:
www.cedaraudio.com
German language:
www.cedaraudio.de
Worldwide Dealer List
For an up-to-date dealer list, please visit www.cedaraudio.com, and click on ‘Contact Us’
followed by ‘Worldwide Dealer List’.

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- 7 -
SETTING UP THE DNS2000 HARDWARE
Unpacking
Unpack the DNS2000 carefully. Save the carton and all packing materials since you may need
them to transport the unit in the future. In addition to this manual, the DNS2000 and its
packaging, the box should contain the following:
mains connection lead and USB cable
software CD-ROM
rackmounting accessories and rubber feet
warranty registration card.
Installation Site
To maintain reliability and prolong operating life, observe the following environmental
considerations:
the temperature should be maintained between 5 and 30 Celsius
relative humidity should be in the range 30% to 80% non-condensing
strong magnetic fields should not exist nearby.
Rear Panel Connections
Audio
The DNS2000 offers two audio connection standards. It passes its signal to both outputs
irrespective of the input used. The standards are:
Digital SPDIF format
Digital AES/EBU format.
The processor will lock onto the first input that provides a valid clock. It is not affected by
channel status data and will echo any such data directly to the outputs.
USB
The USB connection allows you to control the DNS2000 hardware using your Pro Tools system.
You must connect the two using a USB cable.

- 8 -
INSTALLING THE DNS CONTROL SYSTEM –MAC
Insert the CD.
Ensure that any older versions of the plug-in (if any) are archived and removed from the
plug-in folder.
Double-click on the installer package:
CEDARStudioInstaller.mpkg
Follow the instructions offered by the installer.
Ensure that you have sufficient space on your drive.
Press the Continue button when prompted and the software will be installed. A message will
appear to tell you that the operation has been completed successfully.

- 9 -
INSTALLING THE DNS CONTROL SYSTEM –PC
You will need to install two pieces of software: the Control System, plus a driver that allows the
PC to communicate with the DNS2000 hardware.
Insert the CD.
Double-click on the installer package:
setup.exe
Follow the instructions offered by the installer.
Press the Next button when prompted and the software will be installed. A message will
appear to tell you that the operation has been completed successfully.
When the installation is complete, click on Close.
DNS2000 driver:
Before connecting and using a DNS2000 for the first time on a given PC you will need to install
the hardware driver.
Locate the appropriate driver installation software in the \Win\Driver folder on the CD
that came with your DNS2000.
If you are running a 32-bit version of Windows run the file:
CEDARUSBInstaller_x86.exe
If you are running a 64-bit version of Windows run the file:
CEDARUSBInstaller_x64.exe
Awizard will guide you through the installation.

- 10 -
When the wizard has completed installation, the following screen will appear to confirm that the
software has been successfully installed.

- 11 -
Windows Security
During the installation, the wizard will ask whether you trust software from CEDAR Audio Ltd.
(The exact message will differ according to which version of Windows you are running.)
Click on the appropriate button to proceed.
Windows XP security message
Windows 7 security message

- 12 -
DNS CONTROL SYSTEM –CONTROLS
Range Selectors
The Range Selectors concentrate the unit’s activity into the desired part of the audio spectrum.
Selecting any of these ranges concentrates all of the filters within the DNS2000’s filter bank
across that part of the audio spectrum.
Level Control
The Level Control tells the DNS2000 how much noise is present in the input.
Range
Frequencies covered
Low
20Hz -400Hz
Mid
200Hz -6kHz
High
4kHz -18kHz
Low+Mid
20Hz -6kHz
Mid+High
200Hz -18kHz
Full Range
20Hz -18kHz

- 13 -
Band Gain Controls
The DNS2000 divides a signal into a large number of well-defined bands. Sophisticated digital
filters analyse each of these bands and suppress the noise independently in each. The
innovative design of this filter bank allows you to adjust the DNS2000 using relatively few
controls.
The Band gain controls determine the maximum amount of processing that the DNS2000 will
apply in each band.
Activity Bargraphs
These offer a visual indication of the activity in each of the bands.
Device Selection
You can connect the DNS Control System to any of the following three CEDAR products:
DNS One
DNS2000
DNS3000
The drop-down list on the plug-in displays all the DNS processors that are currently available,
and it allows you to select which processing engine will be controlled by this instance of the DNS
Control System.
The DNS Network Scanner
If you have DNS3000s on the same network as the Pro Tools system
supporting your DNS2000, you can use the Scan Network option to detect
these and assign them for local use.
Status
If no processing engine is connected and/or selected, the I/O status will read No processor.
If the DNS Control System has successfully connected to a DNS2000 the following status
messages may occur:
Message
Explanation
XLR / 44.1kHz
If printed in blue, everything is working correctly. If in
orange, the sample rate is out of range.
RCA / 48.0kHz
If printed in blue, everything is working correctly. If in
orange, the sample rate is out of range.
---/-----
Unknown input status and unknown sample rate.
No lock
No valid audio signal has been detected at the input.

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If the DNS Control System has not connected successfully with the DNS2000 processing engine
the following status messages may occur:
Message
Explanation
No unit connected
No DNS2000 hardware has been detected.
Unknown error
Another error has occurred. Further investigation will be
required.
Generic Pro Tools Plug-in Controls
The standard Pro Tools plug-in facilities are provided. These have generic operation, and are
described in the Pro Tools documentation.
Automation
The Band Gain settings, the Level and the Range Selectors appear in the Plug-In Automation
screen and, together with the Pro Tools bypass control, may be automated in standard Pro Tools
fashion.

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HARDWARE INDICATORS
USB LEDs
Link
When lit, this indicates a valid USB connection.
Data
This flashes when Pro Tools communicates with the DNS2000 via the USB input.
Input LEDs
AES, SPDIF
The lit LED indicates which audio input is in use. If the LEDs are flashing alternately, there is no
valid audio being presented to either of the DNS2000 processor’s inputs.
Peak
These LEDs indicate the audio input level. The upper row shows the level on Channel 1, the
lower row shows the level on Channel 2. If the red ‘0’ LED lights continuously for about one
second, this indicates input clipping.
The DNS2000 is capable of applying gain to the signal, so the absence of input
clipping does not guarantee the absence of output clipping.
Off / On LEDs -Channel 1 & Channel 2
These LEDs indicate whether the channel is selected to process.
Range LEDs -Channel 1 & Channel 2
The three LEDs Low, Mid and High indicate which range(s) is/are selected for processing.
Gain LEDs -Channel 1 & Channel 2
The twelve Activity LEDs for each channel offer a visual indication of the activity in each of the
six bands controlled by the Band Gain controls.
Both LEDs off: Less than ±0.5dB activity
Cut (green) LED dim: Between 0.5dB and 3dB attenuation
Cut (green) LED bright: Greater than 3dB attenuation
Boost (red) LED dim: Between 0.5dB and 3dB gain
Boost (red) LED bright: Greater than 3dB gain
Each band controls numerous filters. Therefore, the Activity LEDs for a given band display the
overall activity in that band, and are not necessarily indicative of the action of any single filter at
that moment.

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USE
Launch the DNS Control System, which is an RTAS plug-in, in the usual fashion. Remember that
the Control System software is precisely what it claims to be: a control system. It performs no
audio processing. To process an audio stream you must route it via the DNS2000 rackmount
unit. You can do this, for example, by using an insert point within the Pro Tools mixer.
Selecting a DNS2000 Processor
You can launch the DNS Control System (DNS CS) on your Pro Tools system, but until you tell it
which processor to use, it will do nothing.
The drop-down list on the DNS Control System displays any DNS2000 units plus all other
available processors (DNS One, DNS3000) connected to your system. If there is a DNS2000
serial number shown in the list, it is available for use on your system.
OS X users:
The following error message (or similar) indicates that -perhaps because of a power failure, or
because the USB connection has been severed -there is an error communicating with the
DNS2000 processor that you have requested.
PC Users:
The following error message (or similar) indicates that -perhaps because of a power failure, or
because the USB connection has been severed -there is an error communicating with the
DNS2000 processor that you have requested.
Range Selector
With a DNS2000 unit correctly connected and recognised by the Control System, you should
identify the frequency range or ranges in which the unwanted noise lies, and select any of six
possible processing ranges by clicking on the appropriate buttons.
With practise, you will be able to identify the range by ear. Until then, you may prefer to use the
methods described in the following case studies.