TC Electronic DB6 User manual

English Manual
DB6
Product DB6
Product firmware version Frame software 1.80.00
Document English Manual
Document version /date 2014-10-07

DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) a
Important safety instructions 1
Warning 2
Caution: 3
Service 3
EMC/EMI 4
For the customers in Canada: 4
About this manual 5
Getting support 6
Before you get started 7
Register your product 8
Stay up-to-date on loudness 8
Unpacking and setup 9
Package contents 10
Setup 10
Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware 11
Finding and installing TCIcon software –
Microsoft Windows 13
Finding and installing TCIcon software –
OSX 16
DB6: An introduction 18
Keeping audio transparent 19
DB6 and AC3 transmission 19
Signal path transparency check 20
Solid foundations 20
One-step loudness management 20
DB6 – Basic concepts and operation 21
Operating DB6 22
Hardware versions 22
Expanding your DB6 23
DB6 SDI: The Serial Digital Interface 23
DB6 AES 24
SDI vs. AES 24
DB6 presets 24
DB6
status indicators and ports 25
Front panel indicators 26
Front panel reset button 28
Back panel connectors 29
Setting up DB6 33
Networking basics and troubleshooting 34
Quick Setup 37
Updating DB6 software 38
Basic operation 39
Introduction 40
Basic TC Icon operation 40
Faders 41
On-screen keyboard 43
Accessing DB6 44
Operating multiple computers and/or TC
HD devices in one network 45
Scanning/rescanning a network for devices 46
Obtaining DB6 status information 47
Clock section 48
Status section 48
Setting up audio and syncing 51
I/O Setup – DB6 Single SDI and DB6
Multi SDI 52
I/O Setup – DB6 AES 55
Setting up audio dithering 57
DB6 remote control 58
Remote – Master 59
Remote – GPI 61
GP Input Calibration 66
Setting up GPO 67
Remote – SDI 67
Recalling, storing and deleting settings 71
Scenes, Routings, Engines 72
The Library concept 73
Library – Recall page 74
Library – Store page 75
Library – Delete page 77
Library – Bank page 78
Updating DB6 firmware 79
Finding and installing DB6 firmware –
Microsoft Windows 81
Finding and installing DB6 firmware – OSX 84
Icon Setup 87
Accessing the Icon Setup pages 88
Info page 88
Devices page 89
Security page 90
Joystick page 91
UI page 91
Color page 91

DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) b
Loudness Wizard 93
An introduction to the Loudness Wizard 94
An introduction to the Loudness Wizard’s
UpCon module 94
Loudness Wizard – Main page 95
Loudness Wizard – Format – Setup page 98
Loudness Wizard – Format – UpCon page 100
Loudness Wizard – Style page 101
Loudness Wizard – Weight page 103
Loudness Wizard – ALC page 105
Loudness Wizard – Limit page 107
Loudness Wizard 2 109
An introduction to aNorm 110
Requirements for activating and using LWiz2113
Activating your LWiz2 license 114
Getting started with aNorm Presets 114
LWiz2 – Reset feature 115
LWiz2 – Main page 116
LWiz2 Setup page 118
LWiz2 Format – UpCon page 120
LWiz2 Format – Weight page 121
LWiz2 Style page 123
LWiz2 aNorm – Setup page 125
LWiz2 aNorm – Trim page 126
LWiz2 aNorm – Advanced page 128
LWiz2 Butterfly page 129
LWiz2 Limit page 133
LM6 135
LM6 – Introduction 136
LM6 – Basic Use 138
LM6 – Radar Page 140
LM6 – Main page 143
LM6 – Setup page 146
LM6 – Stat(istic)s page 149
Level versus loudness 149
LM6 log files 152
Auto Logging 154
Appendix 1: Links and additional
information 158
Support resources 159
TC Electronic on… 159
TC HD resources 159
Product-related information 160
Extending your product’s capabilities with
optional licenses 160
Appendix 2: DB6 GPI/O page 161
GPIO Technical specifications 162
GPI installation 162
Technical specifications 164
DB6 Frame 165
Transmission 3G Card 166

Important safety instructions
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 1
Important safety instructions

Important safety instructions
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 2
The lightning flash with an arrowhead
symbol within an equilateral triangle, is
intended to alert the user to the presence
of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within
the product’s enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk
of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilat-
eral triangle is intended to alert the user to
the presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in
the literature accompanying the product.
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 dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. In-
stall in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other ap-
paratus (including amplifiers) that produce
heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the po-
larized or grounding-type plug. A polarized
plug has two blades with one wider than the
other. A grounding type plug has two blades
and a third grounding prong. The wide blade
or the third prong are provided for your safe-
ty. If the provided plug does not fit into your
outlet, consult an electrician 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 man-
ufacturer, 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 per-
sonnel. Servicing is required when the ap-
paratus 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 oper-
ate normally, or has been dropped.
Warning
►To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock,
do not expose this equipment to dripping or
splashing and ensure that no objects filled
with liquids, such as vases, are placed on the
equipment.
►Use a three wire grounding type line cord like
the one supplied with the product.
►Be advised that different operating voltages
require the use of different types of line cord
and attachment plugs.
►Check the voltage in your area and use the
correct type. See table below:
Voltage Line plug according to stan-
dard
110-125V UL817 and CSA C22.2 no 42.
220-230V CEE 7 page VII, SR section 107-2-
D1/IEC 83 page C4.
240V BS 1363 of 1984. Specification
for 13A fused plugs and switched
and unswitched socket outlets.
►This equipment should be installed near the
socket outlet and disconnection of the device
should be easily accessible.
►Do not install in a confined space.
►Do not open the unit – risk of electric shock
inside.

Important safety instructions
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 3
►Mains ground must be connected.
►Norwegian:
Apparatet må tilkoples jordet stikkontakt.
►Swedish:
Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag.
►Finnish:
Laite on liitettävä suojakoskettimilla va-
rus-tettuun pistorasiaan.
Caution:
►You are cautioned that any change or modi-
fications not expressly approved in this man-
ual could void your authority to operate this
equipment.
►To completely disconnect from AC mains,
disconnect the power supply cord from the
AC receptacle.
►The mains plug of the power supply shall re-
main readily operable.
►Danger of explosion if battery is incorrect-
ly replaced. Replace only with the same or
equivalent type.
►Ventilation should not be impeded by cover-
ing the ventilation openings with items, such
as newspapers, tablecloths, curtains, etc.
►Only used at altitude not exceeding 2000 m.
Service
►There are no user-serviceable parts inside.
►All service must be performed by qualified
personnel.

Important safety instructions
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 4
EMC/EMI
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B Digital de-
vice, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a resi-
dential installations.
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communica-
tions. However, there is no guarantee that inter-
ference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interfer-
ence to radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following
measures:
►Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
►Increase the separation between the equip-
ment and receiver.
►Connect the equipment into an outlet on a cir-
cuit different from that to which the receiver
is connected.
►Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/
TV technician for help.
The user may find the following booklet, pre-
pared by the Federal Communications Com-
mission, helpful: “How to identify and Resolve
Radio/TV interference Problems.” This booklet
is available from the US. Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC 20402, Stock No. 004-
000-0034-4.
For the customers in Canada:
This Class B Digital apparatus meets all require-
ments of the Canadian Interference-Causing
Equipment Regulations ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte
toutes les exigences du Réglement sur le maté-
riel brouilleur du Canada ICES-003.

About this manual
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 5
About this manual

About this manual
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 6
This manual will help you learn understanding
and operating the TC DB6.
To get the most from this manual, please
read it from start to finish, or you may miss
important information.
This manual is only available as a PDF download
from the TC Electronic website.
Please do not operate DB6 before you have
made all connections to external equipment as
described in “Setting up DB6” on page 33.
In the subsequent sections of the manual, we
assume that all connections are made correctly
and that you are familiar with the previous sec-
tions.
To download the most current version of this
manual, view the product warranty, and ac-
cess the growing FAQ database for this product,
please visit the web page
tcelectronic.com/support/
Getting support
If you still have questions about the product af-
ter reading this manual, please get in touch with
TC Support:
tcelectronic.com/support/

Before you get started
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 7
Before you get started

Before you get started
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 8
Register your product
Please register this product so we can inform
you about updates and other product-related
news. To register your product, please go to:
tcelectronic.com/support/
account-registration/registration/
Stay up-to-date on loudness
There are many aspects to loudness, and keep-
ing track of all of them can be a challenge. This
is why TC Electronic has created a dedicated
loudness website, where all of these aspects are
outlined, explained and discussed. This site is an
answer to the question:
“What is loudness – and why is it important?”
Visit the Loudness website at:
tcelectronic.com/loudness/

Unpacking and setup
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 9
Unpacking and setup

Unpacking and setup
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 10
Package contents
Depending on the configuration you have pur-
chased, the box should contain the following
items:
►1 DB6 unit
►2 power cables
►1 USB stick containing…
– the TC Icon software,
– the DB6 software,
– this manual in PDF format.
Setup
For basic setup information, see “Quick Setup”
on page 37.

Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 11
Software: TC Icon and
DB6 firmware

Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 12
Operating DB6 requires a TC Icon remote
(sold separately) or a computer running the
TC Icon software.
When you are working with a system involving
one or multiple DB6 units, you are interacting
with two types of software:
1. TCIcon software:
TC Icon is a software application that you in-
stall on the computer(s) which you are using
to access, configure, operate and update the
DB6 unit(s).
TC Icon software is available for Microsoft
Windows and Mac OSX operating systems.
TC Icon software is free and can be in-
stalled on multiple computers.
Downloading and installing TC Icon software
is described in this section of the DB6 manu-
al.
2. TC DB6 firmware:
DB6 firmware is the software installed on ev-
ery DB6.
Every DB6 comes pre-installed with the most
current firmware version available at the time
of production. You can download newer ver-
sions of DB6 firmware from the TC website.
Firmware updates will contain bug fixes and/
or new features.
DB6 firmware updates are free.
Use TC Icon software installed on your com-
puter (see above) to transfer firmware to your
DB6 unit(s).
Downloading and installing DB6 firmware
updates is described in “Updating DB6 firm-
ware” on page 79.
You should keep both the TC Icon software
running on your computer and the software
of your DB6 (the firmware) up to date. Using
up-to-date software versions ensures you ben-
efit from bug fixes and the latest features.

Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 13
Finding and installing TCIcon
software – Microsoft Windows
The most current version of TC Icon software for
Microsoft Windows at the time of production is
provided on the USB stick that came with your
DB6, but you may want to download the latest
version from the TC Electronic website.
You can download the latest version of the TC
Icon software for Microsoft Windows from:
tcelectronic.com/support/software/
►On this page, locate the “DB6” section.
►In this section of the support page, look for
“TC Icon software” and click the button rep-
resenting the latest version of the TC Icon
software for Microsoft Windows.
Depending on your browser type and con-
figuration, a dialog may be shown asking you
what you want to do with this file.
Choose “Save”.
The software will be downloaded to your
browser’s default download location. Usually,
this is the “Downloads” folder for your user
account.
►Go to the folder containing the ZIP file you
just downloaded.

Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 14
►Right-click the .ZIP file and choose “Extract
All…“ from the context menu.
Adialog box will allow you to specify where
the extracted files should be stored.
Accept the defaults or change the path.
►After extracting the ZIP file, you will see a
.CAB (“Cabinet”) file in Windows Explorer.
►Double-click the .CAB file.
An “Icon” application file will be shown.
►Right-click the “Icon” application file and
choose “Extract…“ from the context menu.
In the dialog box that is shown next (“Select
destination”), select a folder where you can
easily find the application – e.g., the Windows
desktop.
►Click “Extract” to extract the application to
the selected destination.
►Launch the TC Icon application that you just
extracted by double-clicking its icon.
TC Icon will try to establish connections to all
connected TCdevices on a local network, in-
cluding your DB6.
If a connection cannot be established, please
refer to “Networking basics and trouble-
shooting” on page 34.
If you experience technical problems during
software download or installation, please ask a
person with administrator privileges on this com-
puter for assistance.

Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 15
Updating TC Icon software
To update the TC Icon software on your comput-
er when a newer version is released,
►quit the TC Icon software if it currently run-
ning on your PC,
►download and extract the newer version as
described in this section and
►replace the currently installed version by
copying the newer version over it.

Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 16
Finding and installing
TCIcon software – OSX
The most current version of TC Icon software for
OSX at the time of production is provided on the
USB stick that came with your DB6, but you may
want to download the latest version from the TC
Electronic website.
You can download the latest version of the TC
Icon software for OSX from:
tcelectronic.com/support/software/
►On this page, locate the “DB6” section.
►In this section of the support page, look for
“TC Icon software” and click the button rep-
resenting the latest version of the TC Icon
software for OS X.
Depending on your browser type and con-
figuration, a dialog may be shown asking you
what you want to do with this file. Choose
“Save”.
The software will be downloaded to your
browser’s default download location. Usually,
this is the “Downloads” folder for your user
account.
►Go to the folder containing the file you just
downloaded.
►If you are seeing a .ZIP file, double-click it to
extract its contents. However, your browser
may already have extracted the contents from
the .ZIP file automatically.
►After the ZIP file has been extracted, you will
see a .DMG (“Disk Image”) file in the Finder.
►Double-click the .DMG file to mount this disk
image.
An “Icon” disk image containing an “Icon”
app will be shown.

Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware
DB6 English Manual (2014-10-07) 17
►Copy the TC Icon application from the disk
image to your hard disk by dragging it to the
“Applications” folder, or to another folder
where you can easily find it.
►You can now unmount (eject) the disk image
by right-clicking it and selecting “Eject” from
the context menu.
►Launch TC Icon by double-clicking the ap-
plication.
TC Icon will try to establish connections to all
connected TCdevices on a local network, in-
cluding your DB6.
If a connection cannot be established, please
refer to “Networking basics and trouble-
shooting” on page 34.
If you experience technical problems during
software download or installation, please ask a
person with administrator privileges on this com-
puter for assistance.
Updating TC Icon software
To update the TC Icon software on your comput-
er when a newer version is released,
►quit the TC Icon software if it currently run-
ning on your Mac,
►download and extract the newer version as
described in this section and
►replace the currently installed version by
copying the newer version over it.