Cloud Z4MK4 Operating and maintenance instructions

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Z4MK4/Z8MK4 Zone Mixers
General Description
The Cloud Z4MK4 and Z8MK4 are multi-zone, rack-mounting (3U)
audio mixers. They combine simple control of background music
with versatile microphone paging for up to eight separate areas.They
are suitable for use in many types of premises, including pubs, bars,
clubs, shops, ofces, hotels, etc.
Both models have six stereo line inputs – four balanced and two
unbalanced - and three microphone inputs, one of which is congured
specically for use with paging mics. The Z4MK4 has four separate
mono zone outputs, and the Z8MK4 eight; apart from the number of
supported zones, the models are identical.The front panel provides
separate controls for music source selection, music level and two
mic levels in each zone. EQ cards suitable for various popular makes
and models of installed sound loudspeakers may be tted to any or
all outputs.
The Z4MK4 and Z8MK4 are directly compatible with Cloud PM Series
paging microphones via the Cloud Digital Paging Interface, which
requires a single Cat 5 cable for connection. The interface allows
a second mixer to be cascaded, permitting up to 16 zones to be
addressed. The paging mic input can alternatively be congured to
suit most OEM paging systems, zone selection for paging being via
short-to-ground access connections.Each zone may be independently
congured for music ducking, triggered either by the access port or
VOX control.The ducking feature has selectable release times.The
paging mic has priority over the other mic inputs (Mic 1 and Mic
2). Paging mic level to each zone is set with a recessed front panel
preset control.
When Mic1 and/or Mic 2 are in use, music ducking can also be
enabled on a per-zone basis.Additionally, Line input 6 may be set to
have priority over any other selected music source in any zone, to
facilitate connection of a digital sound store, juke-box, emergency
message system or similar source.
Music level only,or music level and source selection may be controlled
remotely in each zone if wished, using standard Cloud RL-1 Series or
RSL-6 Series remote control plates. Each zone section of the Z4MK4
and Z8MK4 is also provided with a multi-purpose Facility Port. The
main purpose of this port is to connect optional LM-2 remote input
plates, which allow mic and/or line level sources located in the zone
– such as local mics, DJ consoles, laptops, MP3 player docks, etc. - to
be routed to the zone’s audio system.Various options are available to
congure the priorities that sources connected via the Facility Port
have relative to the unit’s primary sources.The Facility Port can also
be used as a general purpose, balanced, line level, auxiliary zone input.
• Provides exible music, paging and announcement facilities in
four (Z4MK4) or eight (Z8MK4) zones
• Front panel user controls for music source, music level and
Mic 1/Mic 2 level in each zone
• Four balanced and two unbalanced stereo line inputs with
individual gain trim controls
• Two general-purpose balanced mic inputs – 15 V phantom
power available on either or both
• Cloud Digital Paging Interface allows direct connection of
PM Series paging mics with a single Cat 5 cable; additional units
may be cascaded
• Separate balanced paging mic input – 15 V phantom power
available
• Contact-closure access port for paging zone selection
• 100 Hz hi-pass lter on all mic inputs
• Sensitivity and HF/LF EQ adjustment for each mic input (rear
panel)
• Four (Z4MK4) or eight (Z8MK4) electronically-balanced mono
zone outputs
• HF/LF music EQ adjustment on each zone output
• Congurable music-under-mic ducking, per zone
• Zone 1 has selectable LINE 6 priority with choice of release
times
• Music Mute control input (N/O or N/C) for interface to
emergency system
• Compatible with standard Cloud remote control panels: RL-1
Series (music level) and RSL-6 Series (music level and source
selection), per-zone
• Congurable, per-zone Facility Port for optional remote
mic/line (LM-2 Series) input plates
• Facility Port can act as balanced aux input to each zone
• Optional EQ cards for various installation loudspeakers
• 3U 19” rack-mounting units
Z4MK4 Zone Mixer
Z8MK4 Zone Mixer
482.6 mm
19”
132.5 mm (3U)
51/5”
All Cloud products are exclusively designed in the UK.
Every Cloud product is exhaustively tested for electronic performance and sonic perfection in Shefeld, England.

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Rear Panel Illustrations
Z8MK4 Rear
Z4MK4 Rear
LM-2 remote input/control plate
The usefulness of the Z4MK4 and Z8MK4 can be greatly enhanced
with the LM-2 Series of remote input/control plates. An LM-2
provides the following facilities in the remote location where
it is installed:
• a microphone to be connected to the audio system
• various types of stereo audio devices (laptops, tablets, MP3
players, DJ consoles, etc.) to be connected to the audio
system
• remote control of music source and music level
The LM-2 Series comprises a range of plates in various form
factors to suit the standard electrical back boxes in use in
the UK, USA and Germany.They are also available in different
cosmetic nishes (black and white) to suit room décor.
LM-2 plates are easily wired to the Facility Port (on the
Z4/Z8 rear panel) corresponding to the zone in which they are
installed, using screened Cat 5 cable and RJ45 connectors.This
single connection supplies the necessary DC power as well as
all audio connections.
A separate datasheet with full technical details of the LM-2
Series is available.
LM-2W
UK
1
MIC LEVEL
PRIORITY
1
2
34
5
6
4 4
5 5
1
2 2
3 3
4
56
1
2
3
67
9
10
8
7
9
10
8
67
9
8
MUSIC LEVEL
LINE INPUT
MIC INPUT
10
0
0
0
LM-2
146 mm
53/4”
85.8 mm
32/5”
LM-2AW
USA
1
MIC LEVEL
PRIORITY
1
2
34
5
6
4 4
5 5
1
2 2
3 3
4
56
1
2
3
67
9
10
8
7
9
10
8
67
9
8
MUSIC LEVEL
LINE INPUT
MIC INPUT
10
0
0
0LM-2
112.3 mm
42/5”
110.3 mm
43/8”
LM-2DW
Germany
150 mm
6”
80 mm
31/5”
MIC LEVEL
MIC
PRIORITY
1
2
34
5
6
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
2
2
9
9
9
10
10
10
3
3
3
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
4
4
4
MUSIC LEVEL
LINE INPUT
MIC INPUT
8
8
8
LM-2D

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System Example - Installation for 3 Zones
The diagram depicts a system where four possible
music (or other audio) sources are made available
to three or more zones (areas). Only three are
shown for clarity.
• Area 1 and Area 3 have remote control
plates installed: an RSL-6 (music level and
source) in Area 1 and an RL-1 (music level
only) in Area 3.These are wired to the Music
Control Ports for their respective zone
outputs.
• Areas 1 and 2 include LM-2 mic/line input
plates, wired to the Facility Ports of Zones
1 and 2 respectively.These would allow both
a microphone and a portable stereo music
source to be connected in those areas. The
LM-2 also provides music source and level
control;note that the LM-2 does not require
a second connection to the Music Control
Port to enable this.
• Area 3 has a Cloud PM series paging
microphone, which would be used to
originate voice messages to any of the other
areas. This uses the Cloud Digital Paging
Interface on the Z8MK4, which requires only
a single Cat 5 connection. The paging level
to Area 3 (if required) would be adjusted
on installation to be at a level that does not
cause feedback.
ZONE 5
ZONE 3
ZONE 2
ZONE 6
ZONE 8
ZONE 4
ZONE 7
ZONE 1
ZONE 5
ZONE 3
ZONE 2
ZONE 6
ZONE 8
ZONE 4
ZONE 7
ZONE 1
ZONE 5
ZONE 3
ZONE 2
ZONE 6
ZONE 8
ZONE 4
ZONE 7
ZONE 1
OUTPUTSMUSIC CONTROL PORTS
FACILTY PORTS
INPUT 1
INPUT 6
INPUT 4
INPUT 2
INPUT 3
INPUT 5
MIC 1
MIC 2
PAGING MIC
PAGING ACCESS
CDPM
CD PLAYER
PC
RADIO
TUNER
OEM PAGING
MIC SYSTEM
FREEVIEW
RECIEVER
AREA 1
AREA 2
AREA 3
POWER
AMPLIFIERS
OTHER
AREAS
PM PAGING
MICROPHONE
RSL-6
LM-2
RL-1
LM-2
L
OCAL
MICS
Z8MK4
Cat 5
Cat 5
Block Diagram - Z8MK4 (8 zones)
The simplied block diagram above illustrates the basic signal architecture of the Z8MK4. Only the routing and logic for one zone output is shown.
The architecture of the Z4MK4 is identical, the only difference being the number of zone outputs.
• An existing building-wide paging system can be connected to the “analogue”
paging mic input, and use the contact-closure access connector to page to any
zone.The Digital Paging Interface will take priority in the event of simultaneous
paging from the two systems.

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Technical Specications
Line inputs
Frequency Response 20 Hz - 20 kHz, ±0.5 dB
Distortion <0.08%, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Sensitivity 218 mV (-11.0 dBu) to 3.2 V (+12.5 dBu), +/-0.5 dBu
Input Gain Control range 20 dB (unbal inputs); 22 dB (bal inputs)
Input Impedance 47 kohms
Headroom >20 dB
Noise <-90 dB A-weighted, rel. 0 dB gain
Equalisation LF: ±10 dB @ 50 Hz HF: ±10 dB @ 10kHz
Microphone inputs
Frequency Response 100 Hz (-3 dB lter) to 20 kHz, ±0.5 dB
Gain Range 10 dB to 50 dB
Input Impedance >2 kohms (balanced)
Phantom power +12 V (internal DIP switch for selection)
Headroom >20 dB
Noise -120 dB EIN, 22 Hz to 22 kHz (ZS=150 ohms)
Equalisation LF: ±10 dB @ 100 Hz, HF: ±10 dB @ 5 kHz
Facility inputs
Input Impedance 10 kohms (bal.); pin 3:‘+’, pin 4:‘-‘
Sensitivity 0 dBu (775 mV)
Noise Gate Enabled by internal jumper
Outputs
Output Level 0 dBu (775 mV) balanced
Minimum load impedance 600 ohms
Maximum output level +20 dBu (7.75 V)
General
Power Input 85 V to 253 V AC, 47 – 63 Hz
Fuse Rating 250V – T1A H (high breaking capacity)
Fuse Type 20 mm x 5 mm 250 V
Dimensions (w x h x d) 482.6 mm x 132.5 mm (3U) x 160 mm
19” x 51/5” x 61/3”
Weight Z8MK4: 4.40 kg / 9.7lbs
Z4MK4: 3.83 kg / 8.4lbs

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Performance Graphs
Music Crosstalk
Sweep Trace Line Style Thick Data Axis Comment
1 1 Dot 1 Anlr.Ampl Left Crosstalk, Adjacent Line Inputs
2 1 Solid 1 Anlr.Ampl Left Crosstalk Between Outputs
Note that the crosstalk was not measured using bandpass techniques. It is below the noise floor
between zone outputs and between line inputs below 1kHz.
-120
+0
-110
-100
-90
-80
-70
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
d
B
u
20 20k50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k
Hz
Music Frequency Response
-3
+3
-2.5
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
-0
+0.5
+1
+1.5
+2
+2.5
d
B
u
20 20k50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k
Hz
Z4MK4/Z8MK4 Music Crosstalk Z4MK4/Z8MK4 Music Output Frequency Response
Architect’s and Engineer’s Specication
The mixer shall be available in two versions, with four or eight electronically
balanced mono outputs (zones) on rear panel multipin connectors respectively.
Unless otherwise stated, all specications which follow shall apply to both
versions, with the two versions differing only in those facilities specic to the
outputs.
The mixers shall be equipped with two unbalanced stereo music inputs on
phono sockets (RCA jacks), four balanced stereo music inputs on plug-in
screw-terminal connectors and three electronically balanced microphone
inputs on plug-in screw terminal connectors. All inputs shall be on the rear
of the mixer. One of the microphone inputs shall be congured specically to
operate with paging microphones.
The music input to each zone and the music level in the zone shall be
adjustable by front panel controls. Each zone shall also have its own front panel
microphone level controls, one per microphone input.The level control for the
paging microphone input shall be of the preset type and recessed behind the
panel. It shall be possible to control the level of the music source independently
of the microphone levels in each zone.
Each music input shall have a rear panel input gain trim control with a range of
at least 20 dB.Two-band equalisation adjustment shall be provided on the rear
panel for the music signal in each zone.Two-band equalisation adjustment shall
also be available for each microphone input; phantom power shall be available at
any or all microphone inputs when selected by internal DIP switch.
It shall be possible to connect a compatible paging microphone to the mixer
using a single Cat 5 cable; an RJ45 connector shall be provided for this purpose.
The port shall carry audio, zone selection data and power for the microphone.
A second RJ45 port shall enable a second mixer to be connected such that
microphones able to page a greater number of zones than the mixer can
support may be able to do so via the use of the second mixer.The mixer shall
be provided with a second method of paging, in the form of a control input to
activate the paging microphone input by external contact closure, and route
its signal to any or all zones, replacing the music signal while the contacts are
closed.
It shall be possible to congure the mixer to perform the following functions:
i) detection of a signal on either non-paging microphone input will automatically
reduce the music level by 30 dB, ii) detection of a signal on the paging
microphone input will automatically route the signal to all zones, iii) one line
input will automatically override all others in all zones, even if unselected.
Optional remote control panels shall be available to permit control of i) music
level in any zone; ii) music source selection and music level in any mixer channel;
it shall be possible to retrot these to the mixer at any time. The remote control
panels shall connect via a rear panel plug-in screw-terminal connector. It shall
be possible to disable either the front panel music level or the music level and
music source selection controls by moving internal jumpers.
An external control input shall be provided to allow muting of the music source
by a re alarm or other external emergency system via isolated, ‘volt-free’
contacts, and this input shall be congurable to respond to either a short or
open external circuit. Front panel LED indication of the muting action shall be
provided.
Each zone output shall be provided with an additional balanced input on a
multipin connector; this input shall route audio only to its own zone.An optional
input plate shall be available to allow the connection of external microphone
and line level audio sources at a remote location, and this plate shall connect to
the mixer via the multipin connector, which also shall supply DC power and all
necessary control interface connections.The remote input plate shall allow the
connection of one microphone and one stereo line level input, with individual
level controls for each input, and sum the inputs. Controls shall also be provided
for music source selection and music level in the zone to which it is connected.
It shall be possible to enable the mixer’s music ducking facility from the plate.
The mixer shall accept internal plug-in equaliser cards to permit use with
compatible loudspeakers. It shall be possible to t these in any or all of the
zone outputs.
The mixer shall be built in a 3U steel chassis for mounting in a standard 19” rack.
The mixer will operate from any AC mains supply voltage between 85 V and
253V.The mains supply shall be connected via a detachable IEC cable and there
shall be a front-panel LED which illuminates whenAC mains power is connected.
The mixers shall be the Cloud Z4MK4 (four output zones) and the Cloud
Z8MK4 (eight output zones); the optional remote control panels shall be the
Cloud RL- 1 Series (music level only) and the Cloud RSL-6 Series (music level
and source selection).The optional remote input plate shall be the Cloud LM-2.

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Issue_1.0
Cloud Electronics Limited
140 Staniforth Road, Shefeld, S9 3HF. England.
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Web: www.cloud.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]
Cloud Electronics USA
2065 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 200, Park City,
Utah 84060. United States of America.
Toll Free: 0855 810 0161
Web: www.cloudusa.pro E-mail: [email protected]o
E&OE