User manual LUCID AUDIO ADDA9624

[. . . ] AD9624 & DA9624 24-Bit Converters User's Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Operator Safety Summary Fast Setup AD9624 DA9624 4 6 8 9 10 11 12 16 17 18 19 1 2 Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Product Description AD9624 Front Panel Overview AD9624 Rear Panel Overview DA9624 Front Panel Overview DA9624 Rear Panel Overview Section 5 Section 6 Using the AD9624 & the DA9624 Specifications AD9624 DA9624 Section 7 Section 8 Warranty and Service Declaration of Conformity Rev C. 00, 27 January, 2000 Lucid part number 5396240C00 Specifications subject to change without notice. Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Lucid assumes no responsibility with regard to the performance or use of these products. Under copyright laws, no part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, scanning, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission, in writing, from Lucid. Lucid 6408 216th St. [. . . ] These parallel-wired connectors deliver balanced audio signals from a 102-ohms source. The maximum output level is +25 dBu For unbal anced loads, either float the unused output pin (usually pin 3 or ring), or if you have no other choice, ground it at the DA9624. This connector accepts digital audio signals using the AES-3 connector protocol (which includes older AES/EBU signals). This connector accepts digital audio signals using the S/PDIF connector protocol. This RCA-female connector accepts digital audio signals using the S/PDIF protocol. The choice of power supply determines the proper AC mains voltage required for operation. Note There are no fuses, user accessible or not. Digital Inputs XLR-3 female TOSLINK optical Coaxial connector AC Power Input 11 USING THE AD9624 & THE DA9624 SECTION 5 This chapter discusses various aspects of the operation of each converter. For the most part, this applies to both units, but if it doesn't, we'll let you know. The obvious answer is: "More is better. " If you need more, consider: · The trouble zone for any converter is the last (lowest) one or two bits of resolution. At 24bit resolution, the amount of signal represented gets smaller, which means that if there is trouble in the lowest bits, this represents less of the overall signal. Remember that the output signal swing is fixed, so we're simply dividing the output signal into smaller and smaller pieces. Yes, in 24-bit converters, the output noise floor is also lower, and so we're actually getting two extra benefits for using a higher resolution converter. If you're mastering directly to DAT, using a 24-bit converter and letting the converter dither the result to 16-bit is superior to using the 16-bit converters in your DAT machine. For some material (especially if it has little dynamic range), you may get superior results by converting to 24-bit and throwing away the last 8 bits (truncation). If you're downloading into a digital audio workstation (DAW) directly from your mixer (and you have a 24-bit capable DAW), then it makes sense to use a high-resolution con verter. Perform all workstation tasks at 24-bit wordlength, and do the final dithering to 16bit when you record the CD master disk. When you fiddle with signals in DSP, the simple act of changing the gain can increase your wordlength. Having the extra resolution at the onset means less error when the increase in wordlength exceeds the internal capabilities of your DAW software (rounding error). · · · AD9624 Level Setting Like any A/D converter, the converter's digital output represents a fixed window that must properly frame the audio signal. Set it too low, and lose the signal peaks; set it too high and lose the low-level detail. In the 16-bit world, when that was all there was for conversion, the placement of the converter window was more critical due to the larger step size represented by each bit of the digital output. Low level details in the signal represent things like ambience and soundstage; thus they are critical details. Capturing these details faithfully means becoming more adept at either setting the window properly or fitting the signal into the window itself via dynamic range compression. [. . . ] Products once repaired under warranty will be shipped to Buyer freight prepaid by Lucid via United Parcel Service (surface) or any similar shipper, to any location designated by buyer within the Continental United States. At Buyer's request and expense Product will be returned via airfreight. Outside the continental United States, repaired or replaced products will be returned freight collect. THIS WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARISING BY LAW OR OTHERWISE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLER WITH RESPECT TO CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES) INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR USE AND OF ALL OTHER OBLIGATIONS OR LIABILITIES ON OUR PART, AND WE NEITHER ASSUME, NOR AUTHORIZE ANY OTHER PERSON TO ASSUME FOR US, ANY OTHER LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE OF THE PRODUCT. [. . . ]