Lawo AG z4 User manual
Copyright
All rights reserved. Permission to reprint or electronically reproduce any document or graphic in
whole or in part for any reason is expressly prohibited, unless prior written consent is obtained
from the Lawo AG.
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guaranteed that all product names, products, trademarks, requisitions, regulations, guidelines,
specifications and norms are free from trade mark rights of third parties.
All entries in this document have been thoroughly checked; however no guarantee for correctness
can be given. Lawo AG cannot be held responsible for any misleading or incorrect information
provided throughout this manual.
Lawo AG reserves the right to change specifications at any time without notice.
© Lawo AG, 2002, 2003
Contents
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Contents
CONTENTS 3
PREFACE 5
Manual Structure 5
Typographical Markers 6
Conventions of the Notes 7
WARNING NOTES 8
INTRODUCTION: THE Z4 MIXING CONSOLE 11
Features of the z4 mixing console 11
Components of the z4 mixing console 12
z4 base unit 12
z4 control unit 12
System block diagramme 12
CONTROL ELEMENTS – WHAT IS WHERE? 13
Control unit 13
OPERATING CONCEPT 17
Basic operating concept 17
Sequence of the operational steps 17
Colours of the buttons 18
Working with sources 20
Assigning sources to a channel strip 20
Setting the 2-channel mode 22
Working with summing buses 24
Summing bus assignment 24
Pre- / Post Fader Mix 26
DIRECT OUT: 27
Working with monitor functions 28
Monitor assignment
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Assigning user buttons for monitoring 30
Audio control 32
Performing audio control settings 32
Parameter table - scheme 33
Parameter table 34
Working with operator management 35
Operator: log-in with PIN number 35
Operator: log-out 37
Loading of presets 38
Storing of presets 39
Loading of snapshots 40
Fast-loading of snapshots 41
Storing of snapshots 41
Contents
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Reset to default settings 43
Working with talkback 44
How to use the talkback button 44
Working with telephone hybrids 45
How to take a phone-call 45
Finishing a phone-call 46
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE 47
Maintenance by the user 47
Reading out the software information 47
Defective modules 48
Cleaning the operating surface 48
Maintenance by the Lawo AG 48
GLOSSARY 50
Warning Notes
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Preface
This manual is subdivided into individual, self-contained chapters
that can be studied independently from each other.
Basically, every chapter is structured in a general introduction
which is followed by topics that include description or instruction
sequences.
Parallel descriptions or interrelations between the described
elements or functions are cross-referenced.
Manual Structure
The manual structure is explained by the following brief
descriptions of the individual chapters’ contents.
Chapter 1 Warning Notices
Includes general warnings about the handling of low-voltage
devices and first aid in case of electric shock.
Chapter 2 Introduction about the z4
Offers a brief overview over the features and the components as
well as a block diagram that illustrates the system structure.
Chapter 3 Remote Control Unit - What is where?
Explains buttons and rotary controls of the remote control unit
Chapter 4 Operating Concept
Describes the operating elements and gives instructions for
operation.
Chapter 5 Maintenance and Service
Shows how to obtain system information and how maintenance
and cleaning is carried out.
Chapter 6 Accessories
Lists accessories.
Chapter 7 Glossary
Lists the used technical terms.
Warning Notes
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Typographical Markers
For easy handling and orientation with this manual at hand you
will find here some explanations about the most important
typographical markers.
Chapter
The headlines are marked by bold and large font. The headlines
structure the topics to guarantee fast orientation.
1. Instruction
The instructions are listed with numbers. These numbers serve
for showing you the reasonable sequence of actions. This way
you have always an overview over the complete instruction
sequence.
Result
The results are written in italic letters. They inform about
intermediate as well as final results to give you the chance to
identify errors at an early stage.
Marginal Note
The marginal note serves as eye-catcher. Next to the marginal
note you will find useful tips, notes or warnings. About warnings
you will learn more in the paragraph conventions.
Marginal Note
Warning Notes
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Conventions of the Notes
This symbol is followed by useful tips!
This symbol signifies that something is pointed out to you. Notes
include useful suggestions or cross-references to records not
included in this document.
This symbol appears when something must be observed strongly.
Not observing the warnings can cause heavy damages of the
device and perilous bodily injuries. Please absolutely observe
notes with this symbol.
Tip
Note
Caution
Warning Notes
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Warning Notes
Attention:
Read all notes with this “attention” symbol before
installing the device. Observe all these notes during
installation. Please observe also all other operation and
application notes.
Attention:
Check the device and the accessories with regard to
transport damages.
A device damaged mechanically or by the intrusion of
liquids must not be connected to the mains supply or
must be disconnected from it immediately by pulling the
power plug.
Attention:
The device must be grounded.
If the device is not operated with a mains power supply
unit please use only such line cords with three-leads as
provided with the delivered product.
Attention:
By removing parts of the casing, shields, etc., live parts
are laid open. Therefore you must strictly observe the
following safety instructions:
•Manipulations inside the device must be carried out
by qualified service personell only under observance
of the applicable regulations.
•Inside the device are no user-servicable parts.
Attention:
Before removing parts of the casing the device must be
switched off and disconnected from the mains supply in
any case.
•Before opening the device the power supply
capacitor must be discharged with a suitable
resistor.
•Components that carry heavy electrical loads like
power transistors and resistors should not be
touched until cooled off to avoid burns.
Warning Notes
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Attention:
Servicing unprotected and operating devices can be
carried out only by instructed qualified personnel at their
own risk. The following instructions must be observed:
•Never touch bare wires or circuitry
•Use insulated tools only
•Do not touch metal semi-conductor casings as they
can bear high voltages.
Attention:
First Aid (in case of electric shock):
•Separate the person as quickly as possible from the
electric power source:
oSwitch off the equipment
oUnplug or disconnect the mains cable
oPush the person away from the power source by using
dry insulating material (such as wood or plastic)
Attention:
If the person is unconscious:
•Check the pulse
Reanimate the person if respiration is poor.
•Lay the body down and turn it to one side (recovery
position), call for a doctor immediately.
After having sustained an electric shock, always consult a
doctor.
Attention:
Do not touch the person or his/her clothing before power is
turned off, otherwise you stand the risk of sustaining an electric
shock as well!
Preface
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Introduction: the z4 mixing console
The Lawo z4 meets all those demands for which a „regular
mixing console“ is too complicated or expensive on the one hand
and, on the other hand, the audio workstation cannot substitute
for the mixing console. Small productions within an editorial
environment with telephone interviews and discussion rounds,
dubbing and feature mixes are thus some of the most important
applications. This makes the z4 mixer a tool for editor’s
workplaces, copy- and dubbing studios, news studios, ENG vans
and can be used as substitution mixer.
Features of the z4 mixing console
For these applications, the z4 provides the following essential
features:
•Intuitive operation
Uncomplicated production of interviews, telephone
recordings or small features
•Compact built
Ideally suited for mobile productions in small OB/ENG
vans
•Simple installation
With few components and simple cabling
•Integrative concept
Intelligent integration in a modern broadcast
infrastructure
•Network capable
Control commands can be sent and received via internet
•Professional
High-quality and robust design guarantees reliable
operation day after day
Introduction: the z4 mixing console
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Components of the z4 mixing console
Fundamentally, the system for one of the mentioned applications
consists of one z4 base unit and a z4 control unit that are
connected by the provided RJ45 cable. A mains cable is also
included in the delivery. The z4 mixer is configured via an
external PC using the provided setup software.
z4 base unit
The z4 base unit is a 19’’/1RU unit and includes all
physical inputs and outputs. In the device and thus
included in delivery are beside the DSP board for signal
processing also two input plug-in modules that can be
mounted in a combination of the required of inputs.
z4 control unit
The z4 control unit consists of four channel strips and a
central section. They serve for assigning supplied sources
for processing to the control surface, and for operating
the functions monitoring selection and talkback as well as
volume for headset and monitor loudspeakers. A two-line
LCD display serves for displaying sources and
parameters. An optional interface for a memory stick
allows for direct data transfer.
The installation of the devices is explained in the system
manual.
System block diagramme
Note
Control elements – what is where?
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Control elements – what is where?
All control elements are positioned on the control unit of the z4
mixer. Thus the user is directly provided with all functions.
Control unit
All four channel strips are designed identically. Thus, you can
assign any of the supplied sources to any of the channel strips.
Each channel strip includes a channel (PFL) button for listen
functions and for accessing the channel. Only after a channel is
taken into access is it possible to carry out assignments and
parameter settings by using the rotary control. With the setup
button block, the control unit allows for a quick access to
sources, summing buses, monitoring functions, audio control
and presets. Generated configurations can be saved and recalled
with several presets in the base device or by way of the optional
memory stick.
Audio control section (grey area)
•The 16-digit LED level display follows the four bus
monitoring buttons or can be fix assigned to one of the
four buses via the setup software.
•A correlation display informs about the phase difference
between the two stereo channels.
•With the setup buttons you reach the following functions:
saving and recalling presets, assigning monitor sources,
gain control for talkback and headsets, source selection,
bus assignments, controlling DSP functions
(filter/EQ/dynamics), reading out firmware
•Monitor selection bus 1 - 4
•Four user buttons
•The talkback button is used for direct talkback
•Rotary control for setting the volume of the monitor
loudspeakers
•Rotary control for setting the volume of the headsets
Control elements – what is where?
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Channel strips
•A two-line eight-digit display is attributed to each
channel. In the default mode the bottom line shows the
source names and the top line displays the group names.
•The four channel rotary controls set gain and pan/bal and
also perform the source assignments, the parameter
settings and the bus assignments.
•The four PFL buttons activate and deactivate the pre-
listen of the channel strip or perform special functions
•The four channel faders set the gain reduction.
Control elements – what is where?
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Operating concept
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Operating concept
The operating concept of the z4 system has the aim to generate
small productions as well as interviews telephone productions or
small features in high quality easily, fast and reliably.
This aim was achieved by a concept that allows to use the
comprehensive functionality with a small number of operating
elements arranged in a clear design for intuitive operation.
Basic operating concept
All steps of operation that are explained here are based on the
requirement that the z4 mixer has been already configured. For
information about the configuration please consult the system
manual or ask your administrator.
Sequence of the operational steps
Before explaining the individual operational steps in detail we
give you here only the sequence of these steps with a simple
explanation. This way you obtain an overview which is at the
same time a check list for your use to find out at which position
of your way you stand.
1. Assign a source
The source signal is now assigned to a channel strip and
accessible for you.
2. Carry out a summing bus assignment
The source signal is now prepared for a mix.
3. Process the signal with the functions of the audio control
(gain, panorama/balance, phase, high-pass filter,
equalizer, dynamics unit)
The signal is now edited.
4. Use the monitoring functions (PFL, bus buttons, user
buttons, headset, talkback)
The result of the signal processing can now be checked.
5. Save your setups
This way you accumulate settings you can recall anytime.
Operating concept
Basic operating concept
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Colours of the buttons
Apart from the setup buttons that show green when active, all
other buttons take on different colours according to their
functions.
Channel buttons show:
•Dark yellow
PFL function or hybrid
•Blinking dark yellow
Incoming phone-call via a hybrid
•Bright yellow
A PFL function or a hybrid connection is performed in the
channel
•Blinking bright yellow
Call on the hybrid is still active
•Bright green
Start has been carried out; pressing again triggers “Stop”
•Not (light is out)
Buttons have mute function
•Bright red
Mute is performed
•Blinking green
Channel-select function in the setup mode is performed
•Blinking green and yellow
An input of the z4 was selected that is assigned to a
matrix cross-connect
•Blinking bright yellow
Control of external matrix
Operating concept
Basic operating concept
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User buttons show:
•Not (light is out)
Monitor function assigned
•Bright green
Monitor function is performed
•Blinking bright green
Prepared for the Talk-to-Hybrid function
•Blinking yellow
Buttons are being configured
Bus buttons show:
•Not (light is out)
Monitor function assigned
•Bright green
Monitor function is performed
•Dark yellow
Assigned with a function other than monitor function
•Blinking yellow
Buttons are being configured
Setup buttons show:
•Usually not
•Bright green
The assigned function is performed
Operating concept
Working with sources
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Working with sources
The basic configuration pre-assigns the channel strips with the
first four digital sources/signals. When you want to assign
another signal to the channel strip please follow the instructions
below.
The z4 differentiates between 2-channel sources (underscore
under L or R) and stereo sources (underscore under C or without
underscore). Double-mono sources are treated like stereo
sources. When an input is set for a 2-channel source, every
channel (L, R) can be selected separately as source for the z4
mixer and is treated as double-mono signal in the mix. When a
stereo source is set only this source exists per input.
Assigning sources to a channel strip
1. Press the button “SRCE”
The button shows green. The mode for source selection is set.
2. Press the channel (PFL) button of that channel for which
you want to change the source
The channel button blinks green.
The display of the respective channel strip shows the source
mode (STEREO, LEFT, RIGHT) in the top line and the source
name in the bottom line the default setting is STEREO.
3. Select a source by rotating the channel rotary control.
USER
SRCE
DSP
PFL
MODE
PFL
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