Lynx ARK 20 Series User manual

ARK
Valencia, Spain - www.lynxproaudio.com
USER MANUAL
V.11.02
20 series
ARK
ARK 20xx processor
Loading DSP Program

INDEX
1.-INTRODUCTION.
ARK Description.....................................................5
Description of theARK's frontpanel ..................................6
Description of the ARK's back panel.................................7
2.-SETUPANDCONNECTION
Connectors and connections............................................8
ARK dimensions ..........................................................8
3.-FUNCTIONALDESCRIPTION.
Block diagrams ........................................................9
4.-OPERATINGINSTRUCTIONS.
Operatingprocedures.......................................................11
Displayandencoder .........................................................12
Program menus ............................................................13
- Open Preset .......................................................13
- Input Gain ......................................................14
- Input Polarity ...............................................14
- Input Delay .................................................15
- Output Route ..................................................15
- Output Gain ....................................................16
- Output Polarity ...............................................16
- Output Delay ...............................................17
- Firmware ..................................................17
5.- SPECIFICATIONS. .........................................................................18
6.- TROUBLESHOOTING. ..........................................................19
7.- GUARANTEE. ........................................................................................20

WELCOME
Justcontactthenewgeneration ofdigitalprocessorsARK,designedandmanufacturedbyLynx
ProAudio S.L.
Beforeworking withthe processorwe recommendthat youread thismanual, initspagesyou will
find instructionsfor use,programming examplesand practical advice that will beof greathelp.Also
considerreading theSoftware manual,available separatelyandeasilydownloadablefromtheLYNX
web www.lynxproaudio.com.
Forthe maximumoptimization ofany soundsystemafirst classdigital processorwith different
processing optionsis required.Thus ARK processors become a working tool of greatvalue, providing
theuser withthebestsolutions inthe marketwith thehighest level of accuracyand ahost offeaturesfor
theprofessional.
We hopethatasa user youwillbecompletely satisfied.We aresure thattheARK processorwill
meetyourexpectationsand makeiteasierforyouto get the mostout ofyour system.

4
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS-
The CE mark of theprocessor shows that it is verified and tested to accomplish the
EuropeanNormsandInternationalNormsaboutElectromagneticCompatibilityandElectricalSafety.
RadiatedEmissions : EN55013-1(1996)
RFImmunity: EN55103-2(1996)
ElecticalSafety: EN60065(1993)
IEC65(1985)andemendation1,2and3
Thisproductalsomeetsthespecificationsof the followingsafetydirectives:
LowVoltageDirective 73/23/EEC
EMCDirective89/336/EEC
ProductDevelopedandManufacturedintheEuropeanUnion.
Thesymbolsshown above areinternationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazardswith
electricalproducts.Thelightningflashwitharrowpointinanequilateraltrianglemeansthattherearedangerous
voltagespresentwithintheunit.Theexclamationpointinanequilateraltriangleindicatesthatisnecessary
forthe user to refer to theowner's manual.
Warning:
Do notexpose theprocessor to humidity and dust.
Do not take off the top cover.
Do not handle internal elements to avoid electrical shock.
Use only power cords in good condition.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
PRECAUCION
RIESGO DE SHOCK ELECTRICO
NO ABRIR
Unpacking the ARK.-
Beforeunpackingyournewprocessor,verifythattheboxdoesnotshowanydamageordeformation.
Ifthishappens,pleaseclaimthedamagetoyourfordwarder.Onceunpackedandverifieditscorrectoperation,
keepthe original box incase you need toship it back to your provider.

5
INTRODUCTION
1.-INTRODUCTION
ARK-20 seriesoffers theuser a perfect tool for processing, with three processor models
available (ARK-2024,ARK-2026,ARK-2048) withtwo or fourinputsandeightoutputs.
ARK-20 seriesprocessors offer a RMScompressor/limiter usedto adjust thesoundlevel of
thetransducer, keepingtheoriginal dynamicswhilerespectingtheoriginal transition, gettingabetter
acoustic result. This Dynamic minimizesdistortion levels and providesprotection for all acoustic and
electronic componentsof the system.
With fixed latency of 0.6 msARK processorsoffer one of the lower latencieson the market.All
ARKmodelsoffer 120 dB dynamicrange andAD-DAconverter CirrusLogic high-performance24-bit
and 96 KHz. Theinternal DSP processor workswith double precision floatingpoint, reaching a56-bit
internal resolution, oneof the highest resolutionsavailabletodayonthe market. This allowsthe useof
high-precisionfilterswith verylowdistortionandprovidinga quality andunsurpassed soundclarity.
In the security section, different levelsof accessrestrictionsareincluded. That canbe
managed by aglobal password and a presetpassword, with the choice to select which processing
functions can be modified ornot. The front panel canalsobe blocked, denyingany access.
For theavailableARKcontrol software,werecommend readingthesoftware manual.The
control softwareforARK processors is designed toprovide theuser with fast andintuitive access to
eachprocessarea, facilitatingtheprogrammingof the processorfroma computer. Thesoftware
manual isadocument availablein thedownloadssectionof thewebsite www.lynxproaudio.com

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ARK20'sfrontpaneldescription-
1.- POWER SUPPLY INDICATION.
Indicates that the processor is switched on.
2.- LCD DISPLAY.
24 characters LCD Display. Shows the menus, funtion information, and various user editable
parameters.
3.- ENCODER.
Enconder with pushbutton from which we can modify move into the menu
4.- SIGNAL, LIMITATION AND CLIP LEDS.
INTRODUCTION
1452 3
5.- USB.
USB connection from the frontal to set parameters or update the firmware via ARK software.

7
ARK20 Back panel description.-
06.- AUDIO INPUTS.
Analog: Balanced signal via female XLR connectors.
07.- AUDIO OUTPUTS.
Analog: Balanced signal via male XLR connectors.
8.- ETHERNET CONNECTOR (OPTIONAL).
Ethercon RJ45 professional connector for a secure connection.
9.- POWER ON SWITCH.
10.- IEC MAINPOWER CONNECTOR .
The power cord is supplied together with the processor. The ARK includes a precise switching power
supply. It withstands power supply from 85 to 264 volts and is continuously self-regulating providing a
perfect functioning even with poorly regulated voltages.
11.- FUSE HOLDER.
1A fuse. (Always replace with equivalent fuses)
INTRODUCTION
76 8
910
11

8
SETUP
482
45
225
1
3
2
2
3
1
INPUTS
1.- GROUND
2.- SIGNAL (+)
3.- SIGNAL (-)
OUTPUTS
1.- GROUND
2.- SIGNAL (+)
3.- SIGNAL (-)
XLRSOCKETCONECTORES
OVERHEADXLRCONNECTORS
To be conected to the processor input
3 Sig. (-)
1Ground
2 Sig. (+)
To be conected to the processor output
2Sig. (+)
3Sig. (-)
1Ground
ARK dimensions (in mm).
2.-SETUPANDCONNECTION
Connectorsandconnections.

9
GAIN: Gain control. Gain adjusting in inputs to adapt/fit the signal level sent from the mixing
console and in the outputs to adjust the level supplied to each amplifier and to equalize the
sensitivity in each way.
GEQ:ARK-20offersforeachinputa29-bandgraphicequalizerwithtwochoicesofQ,theclassical
andaspecialalgorithm, whichadaptstheQ intermsof howaretheotherfilters,togetasmoother
responseand more optimal acoustics.
GAIN
3.-FUNCTIONALDESCRIPTION
ARK-20 Process Diagram.
FourfloatingpointDSPs(DigitalSignalProcessors)with 56bitsofinternalresolutionareincluded
intheARKprocessor.Allthiscalculatingpowerisusedinthesignalprocessingalgorithmswhichcontrol
all theprocess: input delays,globalequalisation,crossoverfilters,individual equalisationforeachway,
output delays, protections and dynamic control and independent noise gate per output. All of these
algorithms have been developed to provide the best precision and the lowest round-off noise in the
calculations.Thisway,thebestsoundfidelityandtransparencyfreeofnoiseisachieved.Thewideinternal
range(56bit)allowstheuseofhigh-precisionfilterswithverylowdistortion.CirrusLogicconverters24-bit
and120dBdynamicrangeassuresacleansoundwithoutdistortionandbackgroundnoise makestheARK-
20 one of the processors in the market with the best technical characteristics.
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
Oncetheanaloginputsignalisconvertedintoa digitalone,theprocessinginsidetheARKDSPs
is as follows:
OUTPUTS
OUTPUT1
DELAY
INPUT A
CROSSOVER
INPUT D
DELAY
GAIN DELAY
29 Band
GEQ
29 Band
GEQ
A
D
A
:
D
ROUTER
INPUTS
GAIN
GAIN
OUTPUT8
PEQ RMS
DYNAMIC
DELAY
CROSSOVER
A
:
D
ROUTER GAIN
PEQ RMS
DYNAMIC
29 Band
GEQ

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DELAY: Configurabledelay. IntheinputsA-Bupto54msec, for covering adistanceupto18m It
is mainly useful when working with important PA equipment covering a large distance with
reinforcement blocs. It allows20msec at outputs, whichcorrespondto 7 metersapproximately.
Thanksto that function, it is possible to rectify the cabinet’sposition (alignment) in a multi-way
equipment andavoid cancellingproblemsduetophasecancellationeffects.
PEQ: Output equalisation. There are 9filters completely configurable per output. These filters
can be parametric,6dB/oct. and12dB/oct. lowfrequenciesShelving(with or withoutQ),6dB/oct.
and 12dB/oct. high frequency Shelving (with or without Q), 12 dB/oct. highpass and lowpass,
bandpass, reject band and first and second order Allpass filters. Its aim is to provide a final
equalisation oneachway of the equipment.
CROSSOVER: Bandsseparatingfilters. Different filtersareavailable:Linkwitz-Riley,Butterworth
and Bessel up to 48 dB/oct. It is also possible to put them in By-pass without affecting the
correspondingwayto havefull bandwithoutput.
DYNAMIC: Dynamic section. The ARK-20 offers a sophisticated RMS compressor-limiter on
each output. Limiters and compressors are C.R.I. type (Continuous Increment Ratio) for low
distortion.
Usinga RMSdetector for a high-quality compression. Thesystem will reachitsmaximum
powergraduallyandthesoundisperfectlycrispandclearatalltimes,avoidingtheusualproblems
of normal limiters.Also available is a noise gate that will respond with the same timing as the
RMSdynamicsand youcan select different thresholdsof noise toremove.
On theARK front canseewhen aviaislimiting becauseLIMIT LED lights.
CROSSOVER
DELAY
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
PEQ
RMS
DYNAMIC