Lectrosonics DM84 User manual

DM84
Digital Audio Processor
REFERENCE MANUAL
Rio Rancho, NM, USA
www.lectrosonics.com
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Important Safety Instructions
This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage inside the
enclosure -- voltage that may be sufficient to constitute a risk of shock.
This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to important operating and maintenance instructions in the
accompanying literature. Please read the manual.
1) Read these instructions.
2) Keep these instructions.
3) Heed all warnings.
4) Follow all instructions.
5) Do not use this apparatus near water.
6) Clean only with a dry cloth.
7) Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
8) Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including
amplifiers) that produce heat.
9) Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with
one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and third grounding prong. The wider blade or
the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electri-
cian for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10) Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the
point where they exit from the apparatus.
11) Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12) Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus.
When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13) Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged
in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been
dropped.
15) WARNING -- TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS
TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

DM84 Digital Matrix Processor
LECTROSONICS, INC.4
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in
which case the user will be required to correct the interference at this own expense.

Reference Manual
Rio Rancho, NM 5
Table of Contents
Important Safety Instructions ...............................................................................................................................................................3
Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................................................................5
General Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................................8
Digital Matrix and DANITM Bus ..............................................................................................................................................................9
DM84 Functional Block Diagram ........................................................................................................................................................10
Input Processing .................................................................................................................................................................................11
Input Gain .......................................................................................................................................................................................11
Delay ...............................................................................................................................................................................................11
Filters ..............................................................................................................................................................................................11
ADFE Filters ...................................................................................................................................................................................11
Compressor ....................................................................................................................................................................................11
Digital Matrix ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Digital Matrix Functional Block Diagram ............................................................................................................................................. 11
Automixer Cell .................................................................................................................................................................................11
Power of the Mix .............................................................................................................................................................................12
Crosspoint Gain ..............................................................................................................................................................................12
Mixing Mode ...................................................................................................................................................................................12
Output Processing ..............................................................................................................................................................................12
Output Source Select ...................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Mic/line Output Channels ................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Output Signal Processing Stages ...................................................................................................................................................13
Digital Delay ....................................................................................................................................................................................13
Filters ..............................................................................................................................................................................................13
Compressor and Limiter .................................................................................................................................................................13
Output Gain and Level Indicator .....................................................................................................................................................13
DM84 Controls and Features ..............................................................................................................................................................14
Front Panel .........................................................................................................................................................................................14
USB Port ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
MODE Switch .................................................................................................................................................................................14
Front Panel Gain Controls ...............................................................................................................................................................14
Front Panel Input/Output Indicators ................................................................................................................................................14
Rear Panel ..........................................................................................................................................................................................15
POWER Plug ..................................................................................................................................................................................15
RS-232 Port ....................................................................................................................................................................................15
USB Port ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Programmable Input and Output Ports ...........................................................................................................................................15
DANI ...............................................................................................................................................................................................15
Audio Inputs and Outputs ...............................................................................................................................................................15
Installing LecNet2™ Software and USB Driver .................................................................................................................................16
Installing LecNet2™ Software ............................................................................................................................................................16
Installing the LecNet2™ USB Driver ..................................................................................................................................................16
USB driver installation (Windows XP) .............................................................................................................................................16
First time installation .......................................................................................................................................................................16
Installating Additional DM Units (or LecNet2devices) .....................................................................................................................17
USB Driver Installation (Windows 2000) ............................................................................................................................................18
First Time Installation ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18
USB Driver Installation (Windows 2000) - Subsequent Installations ..............................................................................................18
Firmware Updates ................................................................................................................................................................................19
Using the Update Wizard ....................................................................................................................................................................19
DM84 System Setup Tabs ....................................................................................................................................................................22
Activity Tab..........................................................................................................................................................................................22
Inputs Tab .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 23
In Filters (Input Filters) Tab .................................................................................................................................................................24
In Comp (Input Compressor) Tab ........................................................................................................................................................25
In Delay (Input Delay) Tab ....................................................................................................................................................................28
Matrix Tab ..............................................................................................................................................................................................29
Out Source (Output Source) Tab .........................................................................................................................................................31
Out Delay (Output Delay) Tab ..............................................................................................................................................................32
Out Filters (Output Filters) Tab ...........................................................................................................................................................33
Out Comp/Lim (Output Compressor/Limiter) Tab .............................................................................................................................35
Outputs Tab ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Rear Panel Control Tab ........................................................................................................................................................................ 39

DM84 Digital Matrix Processor
LECTROSONICS, INC.6
DM84 Serial Interface and General Commands ................................................................................................................................44
Wildcards ............................................................................................................................................................................................44
DM84 General Commands ................................................................................................................................................................. 44
actpre (active preset) ......................................................................................................................................................................44
baud (baud rate) .............................................................................................................................................................................44
default (default settings) ..................................................................................................................................................................44
defpre (default preset) .....................................................................................................................................................................45
desc (description) ...........................................................................................................................................................................45
fpgnran (front panel control gain range)..........................................................................................................................................45
fplock (front panel control lock) .......................................................................................................................................................45
fpmten (front panel mute enable) ....................................................................................................................................................46
fppreadj (front panel control input preamp adjust) ..........................................................................................................................46
id (device id) ....................................................................................................................................................................................46
macro (macro command) ................................................................................................................................................................ 46
macroti (macro title) ........................................................................................................................................................................47
mode (Master/Slave mode) .............................................................................................................................................................47
predesc (preset description) ...........................................................................................................................................................47
premsk (default preset mask) .........................................................................................................................................................47
rank (rank in Lecnet2 chain) ...........................................................................................................................................................48
recall (recall preset) ........................................................................................................................................................................48
run (run a macro) ............................................................................................................................................................................48
serial (serial number) ......................................................................................................................................................................48
sleep (suspend macro execution) ...................................................................................................................................................48
store (store settings to preset) ........................................................................................................................................................48
version (firmware version) ...............................................................................................................................................................48
DM84 Audio Input Commands ............................................................................................................................................................49
inact (input activity) .........................................................................................................................................................................49
incl (input clipping) ..........................................................................................................................................................................49
indel (input delay) ............................................................................................................................................................................49
DM84 ADFE Commands ......................................................................................................................................................................50
adfeen (adfe enable) .......................................................................................................................................................................50
adfefil (adfe filter deployment) .........................................................................................................................................................50
ADFE Filter Numbers Mapped to Center Frequencies ...................................................................................................................50
DM84 Input Compressor Commands ................................................................................................................................................. 51
incpgn (input compressor gain) ......................................................................................................................................................51
incpmug (input compressor makeup gain) ......................................................................................................................................51
incprat (input compressor ratio) ......................................................................................................................................................51
incptc (input compressor time constant) .........................................................................................................................................51
incpthr (input compressor threshold level) ......................................................................................................................................51
DM84 Matrix Crosspoint Commands .................................................................................................................................................52
xpgn (crosspoint gain) ....................................................................................................................................................................52
xpgnst (matrix crosspoint gain step change) ..................................................................................................................................52
xpmode (crosspoint mix mode) ....................................................................................................................................................... 53
xpmt (crosspoint mute) ...................................................................................................................................................................53
xpmttog (crosspoint mute toggle)....................................................................................................................................................53
DM84 Audio Output Commands .........................................................................................................................................................54
outdel (output delay) .......................................................................................................................................................................54
outgn (output gain) .......................................................................................................................................................................... 54
outgnfp (output front panel gain) ..................................................................................................................................................... 54
outlb (output channel label) ............................................................................................................................................................55
outlv (output level) ...........................................................................................................................................................................55
outmic (output mic level) .................................................................................................................................................................55
outmt (output mute)......................................................................................................................................................................... 55
outmttog (output mute toggle) ......................................................................................................................................................... 55
outsrc (output signal source) ..........................................................................................................................................................56
DM84 Output Compressor Commands .............................................................................................................................................. 57
outcpgn (output compressor gain) ..................................................................................................................................................57
outcpmug (output compressor makeup gain) .................................................................................................................................57
outcprat (output compressor ratio) .................................................................................................................................................. 57
outcptc (output compressor time constant) ..................................................................................................................................... 57
outcpthr (output compressor threshold level) ..................................................................................................................................57
DM84 Output Limiter Commands .......................................................................................................................................................58
outlmgn (output limiter gain) ...........................................................................................................................................................58
outlmtc (output limiter time constant) .............................................................................................................................................. 58
outlmthr (output limiter threshold level) ...........................................................................................................................................58

Reference Manual
Rio Rancho, NM 7
DM84 Programmable I/O Commands .................................................................................................................................................59
prgin (programmable input state) ....................................................................................................................................................59
prgoutht (programmable output channel activity hold time) ............................................................................................................59
prgindef (programmable input definition) ........................................................................................................................................60
prginundef (programmable input un-definition) ...............................................................................................................................60
prgout (programmable output state) ...............................................................................................................................................60
prgoutiv (programmable output invert) ............................................................................................................................................60
prgoutqt (programmable output channel activity qualification time) ................................................................................................60
prgindef (programmable input definition) ........................................................................................................................................60
prgoutdef (programmable output definition) ....................................................................................................................................62
DM84 Rear Panel Control Commands ................................................................................................................................................63
rpingn (rear panel audio input gain) ................................................................................................................................................ 63
rpingnmin (rear panel audio input gain minimum) ..........................................................................................................................63
rpingnpre (rear panel audio input gain preset) ................................................................................................................................ 63
rpingnst (rear panel input gain step change) ..................................................................................................................................64
rpoutgn (rear panel audio output gain) ...........................................................................................................................................64
rpoutgnmin (rear panel audio output gain minimum) ......................................................................................................................64
rpoutgnpre (rear panel audio output gain preset) ...........................................................................................................................64
rpoutgnpre (rear panel audio output gain preset) ...........................................................................................................................64
rprest (restore rear panel settings) .................................................................................................................................................64
rpsave (save rear panel settings) ....................................................................................................................................................64
DM84 Command Grammar Rules .......................................................................................................................................................65
Macros and Macro Control ..................................................................................................................................................................66
Rear Panel Control - Hardware ........................................................................................................................................................... 66

DM84 Digital Matrix Processor
LECTROSONICS, INC.8
24 by 12+2
Automatic
Mixing
Matrix
Input #1
Processing
Input #8
Processing
Output #1
Processing
Output #4
Processing
Tone
Generator
1 kHz, 0 dBu
Pink Noise
Generator
0 dBu
24 Output Submixes
2 Expansion Submixes
26 Automixing Aux. Data
2 Expansion Signals
Automixing Control Data
24 Output Submixes
2 Expansion Submixes
26 Automixing Aux. Data
2 Expansion Signals
Automixing Control Data
DM84 Signal Flow Block Diagram
DM1624
Master
DM1624
Slave
DM1624
Slave
1
24
Outputs
DM1624 Master
with
DM1624 Slaves
DM1624
Master
DM1612
Slave
DM812
Slave
1
24
1
12
1
12
Master and
Slave Outputs
Outputs
Outputs
DM1624 Master
with
DM1612 or DM812 Slaves
12
13Master only
Outputs
DM1612
Master
DM1612
Slave
DM812
Slave
1
1
12
1
12
Outputs
Outputs
DM1612 Master
with
DM1612 or DM812 Slaves
12
Outputs
1
Outputs
12
Outputs
1Outputs
12
1(13)
12(24)
Outputs
1(13)
12(24)
General Overview
The architecture of a LecNet2 sound system is built
around a powerful digital bus structure that is common
to all DM Series components. This DANI (Digital Audio
Network Interface) bus allows an unlimited number of
inputs, 24 outputs at the master unit at the top of a
stack, with the first 12 outputs + 2 expansion bus
signals propagated back to slave units lower in the
stack. The signal at each physical output on the DM84
unit is selected from the back propagated signals
returned to it via the DANI bus. This unique structure
provides an extremely versatile platform for signal
distribution.
A single DM84 can still “see” the entire matrix, however,
there are only 8 inputs and 4 outputs on the unit.
Stacking two DM84 processors expands the physical
outputs to a 12 in/8 out structure. With three units
stacked the full 24 in/12 out structure is implemented.
Additional units can be added to provide more inputs,
but the signals available at the output of each unit are
limited to the 12+2 back propagated signals from the
DANI bus.
High clock rate DSP microchips and the latest micro-
processors are at the core of the DM84. The design is
focused on meeting the requirements of modern
applications in automatic sound systems, and and to
provide convenience and simplicity in system design
and installation.
The DM84 can be configured via LecNet2™ software, a
powerful, user friendly set of tools for setup and con-
figuration of single or multiple units. LecNet2™ offers
quick configuration and full command of the system
through a USB or RS-232 compatible interface. Once
configured, the units operate without a host computer
connected.
Each input channel includes a high quality analog
preamplifier, with digital and analog level control to
maximize signal to noise ratio and minimize distortion,
followed by a 24-bit A-D converter. Extensive digital
signal processing is provided on each input channel.
Each input channel is processed and filtered as needed
and the signal is delivered into the matrix.
The digital matrix mixer distributes each input signal to
any selected combination of outputs, with level control
at each crosspoint. Each output receives signals from
the mixing matrix, the pink noise generator or the tone
generator as needed for setup, diagnostics or operation.
Each of the 24 outputs includes extensive signal
processing to optimize the mixed signal for the intended
purpose, such as sound reinforcement, recording or
teleconferencing.
When multiple units are stacked, mixing data and the
digital audio are passed between the slave units and
the master unit through the DANI. Multiple units can be
stacked in a master/slave configuration to expand the
number of inputs to hundreds of channels.
The audio and data from all units in the stack is gath-
ered in the matrix in the master unit, which is where the
final mix signals are generated. The first 12 final mix
signals from the master are back propagated through
the DANI to each slave. (See DM Series Back Propa-
gation Diagram.) These signals are available on the
slave unit outputs 1 through 12. If a slave unit is also a
DM1624, outputs 1 through 12 are also repeated on
outputs 13 through 24. Each output channel on a slave
unit retains its own processing (filters, compressor, etc.)
even though the signal mix is the same as that channel
on the master unit. (See diagram on page 12).

Reference Manual
Rio Rancho, NM 9
Audio Submix
and Data
Forward Propagation
Audio Final Mix
and Data
Back Propagation
MASTER
SLAVE
SLAVE
Audio Submix
and Data
Forward Propagation
Audio Final Mix
and Data
Back Propagation
Automatic Mixing Matrix
DM Series
Processor
Master
DM Series
Processor
Slave
DM Series
Processor
Slave
Digital Matrix and DANITM Bus
The core of the DM Series processors consists of a
digital matrix and a digital bus called DANI (digital audio
network interface). The digital matrix is common to all
units in a system. The DANI bus interconnects the
hardware to allow access to the matrix signal flow and
transfer data required for automatic mixing functions. In
order to understand the power and functions available
with this architecture it is helpful to think of them as
entities separate from the hardware.
In this sense a DM processor is simply a hardware-
based tap into the digital matrix via the DANI bus to
interface various types of microphones and audio
equipment with the digital matrix. Thus connected, the
processors distribute audio signals and share informa-
tion about each input and output to provide a myriad of
features and functions.
When multiple DM processors are stacked, each unit
participates with the digital structure in several ways:
• Delivering audio signals from its input terminals into
the forward-propagated submix bus
• Passing back-propagated final mix signals from the
unit above it to the next unit below it
• Applying gain and signal processing to the audio
signals at its input terminals
• Delivering audio signals to its output terminals as
selected by the setup
• Applying signal processing to the signals routed to
its output terminals
• Receiving and transmitting data required for the
automatic mixing process in the matrix
The digital matrix is common to all processors in the
stack, with automatic mixing taking place at the
crosspoints in the digital matrix. The output of each
crosspoint is then available at a variety of output
terminals on various processors in the stack.
Different processor models interface with the digital
matrix in different manners. Audio signals and data are
propagated from the Slaves to the Master unit in a
stack, then the data and some of the final mix signals in
the Master are back propagated to the Slaves. This
provides additional final mix outputs at the output
terminals on the Slave units.

DM84 Digital Matrix Processor
LECTROSONICS, INC.10
SHARC is a r egistered trademark of
Analog Devices , Inc .
USB
Port
RS-232
Port
Prog I /O
Port
Micro
Contr oller
Pr og I /O C onn
DB25
LecNet 2 Conn
1/8 '' Jack
Front & Rear
USB B Conn
Contr ol Signals
8
11
12
A/D
Input Gain Control Pots
Output Volume Control Pots
8
4
8 by 24 (+ 2) Automatic Mixing Matrix
Tx
Tx
Rx
Rx
Digital
Audio
Network
Interface
(DANI)
12 + 2 Submix + Mix Control
12 + 2 Submix + Mix Control
12 + 2 Mix + Mix Control
12 + 2 Mix + Mix Control
Sync Audio Frame Sync
Quad RJ - 45 Conn
Pink Noise Generetor
1 kHz Tone Gener ator
Signal Pr ocessing D/A Out
Atten
Signal Pr ocessing D/A Out
Atten
Third Generation
SHARC ®DSP
Signal Pr ocessing D/A Out
Atten
Signal Pr ocessing D/A Out
Atten
A/D Signal Processing
A/D Signal ProcessingProg
Phan
On/ Off
Phan
On/ Off Prog
A/D Signal Processing
A/D Signal ProcessingProg
Phan
On/ Off
Phan
On/ Off Prog
A/D Signal Processing
A/D Signal ProcessingProg
Phan
On/ Off
Phan
On/ Off Prog
A/D Signal Processing
A/D Signal ProcessingProg
Phan
On/ Off
Phan
On/ Off Prog
In 5
In 6
In 7
In 8
In 4
In 3
In 2
In 1
Out 1
Out 2
Out 3
Out 4
8 input 4 output
tr i color si gnal
indicator LEDs
Off: No signal
Gr een : Si gnal pr esent
Or ange : C ompress or/ l imiter active
Red: Clipping
DM84 Functional Block Diagram