Page 1 OMNIA VOCO ® Powerful, networked mic processing for your entire facility. USER’S MANUAL For part numbers: 2001-00396-000, 2001-00421-000, 2001-00422-000, 2001-00423-000 VOCO 8 Software Version 1.15 Remote Gateway Version 3.5.1...
Page 2 Notices and Cautions CAUTION: The installation and service instructions in this manual are for use by qualified personnel only. To avoid electric shock, do not perform any servicing other than that contained in the operating instructions unless you are qualified to do so.
Page 3 WARNUNG: Die Installations-und Serviceanleitung in diesem Handbuch ist für die Benutzung durch qualifiziertes Fachperson- al. Um Stromschläge zu vermeiden führen Sie keine andere Wartung durch als in dieser Betriebsanleitung aufge- führt, es sei denn Sie sind dafür qualifiziert. Überlassen Sie alle Reparaturarbeiten qualifiziertem Fachpersonal. Dieses Gerät hat eine automatische Bereichseinstellung der Netzspannung.
Page 4 USA CLASS A COMPUTING DEVICE INFORMATION TO USER. WARNING: This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio-frequency energy. If it is not installed and used as directed by this manual, it may cause interference to radio communication. This equipment complies with the limits for a class a computing device, as specified by fcc rules, part 15, subpart j, which are designed to provide reasonable protec- tion against such interference when this type of equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
Page 5 FEEDBACK We welcome feedback on any aspect of VOCO 8, or this manual. In the past, many good ideas from users have made their way into software revisions or new products. Please contact us with your comments.
Page 6 All other questions, please email inquiry@Telosalliance.com. ♦ VIA WORLD WIDE WEB: The Omnia Audio web site has a variety of information which may be useful for product selection and support. The url is www.Telosalliance.com. REGISTER YOUR PRODUCT Did you know that all Telos Alliance products come with a 5-Year Warranty? Take a moment to activate your coverage online at http://telosalliance.com/product-registration/ .
Page 7: Table Of Contents
A Letter from our CEO, Frank Foti VIII Intro This Manual (Or: I don’t have time to read this thing!) Intro The Omnia VOCO® 8 Story A few words about Livewire+/AES67 and Audio over IP Installation Front Panel Interface Remote Gateway User Account Overview “Live”...
Page 8: A Letter From Our Ceo, Frank Foti
AoIP, so that all types of broadcasters can excel in this ever-evolving digital world. Omnia Audio not only lets you stand out on the dial with your unique signature sound via legendary audio processors, audio codecs, and microphone processing, it lets you give your listeners a better streaming experience across devices with innovative stream encoding/processing software and hardware.
Page 9 The Obligatory “Read Me First” Section Be honest—Show of hands. How many of you put your brand new VOCO 8 in the rack and tried to make it fly before you even picked up the Quick Start Guide, let alone this manual? Were you a bit stumped? It’s OK. Most of us get excited about a shiny new piece of gear and do the exact same thing—only to crack the manual when we reach a stumbling...
Page 10: The Omnia Voco® 8 Story
AND made the audio cleaner. Contrary to what some may believe, we aren’t simply about brute force loudness at all costs. The core passion of Omnia is to deliver audio that isn’t just HEARD but FELT! Since those early days, Omnia has produced some of the most widely used audio processors in the industry—from the very...
Page 11 The VOCO 8 is born It was from the unique partnership of these three groups that the VOCO 8 came to be. The Omnia.S4 Voice 192 kHz 3-band 8-channel microphone processor card is at the heart of the VOCO 8, along with additional hardware and software designed by the teams from Omnia, Linear Acoustic, and Sound4.
Page 12: Few Words About Livewire+/Aes67 And Audio Over Ip
A Few Words about Livewire+ and AES67 What is Livewire+™ ? Livewire+ is the pioneering technology invented by the Telos Alliance to convey low-delay, high-reliability audio over switched Ethernet. Introduced as Livewire™ in 2003, today’s Livewire+ is AES67-compliant. That means that it complies fully with the AES67-2013 Interoperability Standard, allowing AES67 devices to connect directly to Livewire+ networks and exchange audio streams.
Page 13 SECTION 2 | A FEW WORDS ABOUT LIVEWIRE+ AND AES67 How Livewire+ works Livewire+ has an audio advertising system. Every source has a text name and numeric ID. These are transmitted from source devices to the network. Devices that play audio build lists of all available sources from which users can select.
Page 14 SECTION 2 | A FEW WORDS ABOUT LIVEWIRE+ AND AES67 The Gold Standard In the decade since the introduction of Livewire+, broadcasters have adopted it at an exponential rate; AoIP has become the new standard for broadcast facilities. Consider these facts: There are over 6,000 studios worldwide built with Livewire+.
Page 15: Installation
Choosing a Location The VOCO 8 uses 2 RU of rack space and is approximately 14 3 /4” deep. It should mount just fine in most standard 19” equipment racks but you will want to choose a location where you can access the front panel controls and ensure that you leave enough space behind the unit to accommodate the I/O connectors.
Page 16 SECTION 3 | INSTALLATION Mic/Line Inputs and Outputs Each of the 8 analog inputs can accept either a microphone level signal (with selectable Phantom power and pad) or a line level signal. Input connections are provided through a set of Neutrik “combo” connectors (pin 2 hot; tip hot).
Page 17 SECTION 3 | INSTALLATION Input Status Indicator LEDs Next to each of the combo connectors is an LED that indicates the status of Phantom power and the switchable -20 dB pad. These settings are controlled through the Remote Gateway software. CAUTION: Ensure Phantom power is only enabled on channels where it is necessary.
Page 18 INSTALLATION AES/EBU I/O The VOCO 8 provides 4 AES/EBU inputs and outputs on a female DB25 connector conforming to the Tascam AES/ EBU pinout. Each AES/EBU interface carries 2 channels of audio—Microphones 1 and 2 will feed the left and right channels of AES/EBU output 1, and so on.
Page 19 SECTION 3 | INSTALLATION GPIO A pair of 15 pin GPIO ports provides 5 opto-isolated inputs and 5 solid-state relay outputs per port. These ports are not currently implemented and are intended for future use (such as carrying GPIO traffic to and from an AoIP network).
Page 20 There are two 10/100 Ethernet ports on the rear panel; one interface is for control, the second is for Livewire+/ AES67 AoIP. Connect these ports to your network switches as appropriate. If you do not connect the VOCO 8 to an existing network, you will need a cable connected directly from the control port to a Windows PC for initial configuration of the unit (see the “Remote Gateway Software”...
Page 21: Front Panel Interface
Try to be nicer next time. What piece of broadcast equipment would be complete without a shiny front panel display? The VOCO 8 is no exception.
Page 22 1.15. Once downloaded, place the update file in the root directory of a FAT16, FAT32, or NTFS formatted USB drive. When the USB drive is connected to the VOCO 8, it should detect the update file and prompt you to select it for installation. If there are multiple update files on the USB drive, they will all appear in the list.
Page 23 Windows may also automatically assign the PC an address of 169.254.x.x if it is set for DHCP and unable to reach a DHCP server. Either set the VOCO 8 to an IP address from the same subnet, or turn off DHCP on the PC and configure a new static IP address.
Page 24 Configuring the “AES67” IP address If you plan to use the AoIP features of the VOCO 8, you will need to configure the “AES67” IP address—or at the very least disable DHCP to eliminate the error message if you don’t plan to use AoIP. From the “More…” menu, navigate to “AES67 IP”.
Page 25 SECTION 4 | FRONT PANEL INTERFACE Front Panel Display Settings The behavior and layout of the front panel display screen can be changed by navigating to the “settings” menu of the front panel. This menu also allows you to set the user (front panel lock) and admin passwords. By default, there is no front panel lock password, and the admin password is admin.
Page 26 SECTION 4 | FRONT PANEL INTERFACE Admin Password Allows front panel access to user controls and administrative functions such as setting IP addresses. The default password is admin. A front panel password would be requested if “Front Panel Auto Lock” is on. The admin pass- word is also requested when applying a software update from the front panel via USB.
Page 27 SECTION 4 | FRONT PANEL INTERFACE Default Displays preset selection controls and channel names. Minimal Only displays preset selection controls without channel names. Full Displays channel names with all available metering and controls, including input and output levels, De-Esser and Noise Gate LEDs, Preset Selection, and Mute.
Page 28 When “Custom” is selected, several additional setup options appear which allow hiding or showing each display element individually. In this example, the mute controls are hidden. Screensaver Enables or disables the VOCO 8 screen saver on the front panel LCD and sets the delay before activation.
Page 29 SECTION 4 | FRONT PANEL INTERFACE System Menu Displays the current software version, VOCO 8 Serial number, MAC addresses, and number of channels with processing licensed. This screen also allows basic system maintenance functions. Lock Locks the front panel if a “user” password is set. If no user password is set, this control is greyed out.
Page 30: Remote Gateway
Remote Gateway In order to configure the vast majority of the settings on the VOCO 8, you will need to download the “Telos Alliance Remote Gateway Installer”. A link to download this software and review compatibility information is available from http://www.telosalliance.com/Omnia/Omnia-Voco-8.
Page 31 SECTION 5 | REMOTE GATEWAY Adding the VOCO 8 to Remote Gateway Once Remote Gateway is installed, you will need to add the VOCO 8 to the list of connections in Remote Gateway. Scan for units on the network by clicking “Scan”.
Page 32 REMOTE GATEWAY Select the interface attached to the same network as the VOCO 8 and click “Run Scan”. You can also add an IP address block not listed by clicking “Add Custom”. The default port for Remote Gateway communications with the VOCO 8 is 3001 and should only be changed if necessary.
Page 33: User Account Overview
User Names and Access Levels Important: There are three default user accounts on the VOCO 8. Each has a VERY different purpose. If you use the wrong one you will likely not find the controls you are looking for. Admin Used for managing user and studio rights, as well as certain global configuration settings.
Page 34 SECTION 6 | USER ACCOUNT OVERVIEW Studio This account is where the vast majority of configuration will take place including all I/O configuration, processing settings, and preset management. There is no default password set. Live The “Live” account essentially gives a Remote Gateway user access to the same functionality as the front panel (minus the IP configuration options).
Page 35: Live" Account
“Live” Account Overview The “Live” account provides a simplified user interface designed to emulate the front panel (with the exception of IP configuration and headphone selection) and allows an operator remote access specifically for session and preset selection. This type of account will not allow direct adjustment of processing parameters or system configuration. Multiple “Live” logins can be created and each linked to a specific “Studio”...
Page 36 About Displays version information about the Remote Gateway program and PC operating system, along with software version, serial number, and MAC addresses from the connected VOCO 8 unit. Download L&S doc Retrieves an XML document detailing “Link & Share” parameters. Link & Share allows remote control via TCP of VOCO 8 parameters from an external automation system.
Page 37 SECTION 7 | “LIVE” ACCOUNT Session Management Sessions are used to load (for example) configurations for entire shows, and will select presets on multiple microphone channels simultaneously. This area of the live interface displays the currently loaded session (if any) and allows opening a different session.
Page 38 SECTION 7 | “LIVE” ACCOUNT Preset Management To load a preset, click the button on the desired channel labeled with the currently loaded preset for that channel. In the “default” and “minimal” display modes, this is the only available control on each channel. In “full” display mode, it will be under the meters and next to the mute button.
Page 39 SECTION 7 | “LIVE” ACCOUNT “Live” Setup Options Since this is a very “restricted” account, the setup options are limited as well. The only section available in setup for these accounts is “Display”. VU Meter Speed This value controls the speed of the onscreen metering and is expressed in percent. Higher numbers will result in faster metering, though the default of 25% is generally sufficient.
Page 40 SECTION 7 | “LIVE” ACCOUNT Virtual Keyboard Selects the layout of the on-screen keyboard used when selecting sessions or presets. Maximum Column Display Adjusts the overall screen layout and the number of columns that inputs are arranged into, from one to eight. When a single column is selected, VU meters and De-Esser/Gate LEDs (if enabled) may not be displayed.
Page 41 SECTION 7 | “LIVE” ACCOUNT Display Configuration Selects which controls and indicators are displayed for each channel. Default Displays preset selection controls and channel names. Minimal Only displays preset selection controls.
Page 42 SECTION 7 | “LIVE” ACCOUNT Full Displays channel names with all available metering and controls, including input and output levels, De-Esser and Noise Gate LEDs, Preset Selection, and Mute.
Page 43 SECTION 7 | “LIVE” ACCOUNT Custom When “Custom” is selected, several additional setup options appear which allow hiding or showing each display element individually. In this example, the mute controls are hidden.
Page 44: Admin" Account
“Admin” Account Overview Like the “Live” account, the “Admin” account serves a very specific purpose—global system configuration and rights assignment. Unlike the “Live” and “Studio” accounts, there can only be one “Admin” account on the system and it can never be deleted. This account provides basic monitoring of all channel input and output levels as well as an overview of loaded presets, but there is no access to processing parameters.
Page 45 About Displays version information about the Remote Gateway program and PC operating system, along with software version, serial number, and MAC addresses from the connected VOCO 8 unit. Download L&S doc Retrieves an XML document detailing “Link & Share” parameters. Link & Share allows remote control via TCP of VOCO 8 parameters from an external automation system.
Page 46 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT “Admin” Setup Options The “Admin” account has considerably more flexibility in terms of setup options than the “Live” account, but it is still limited primarily to rights assignment and other global configuration parameters.
Page 47 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Settings This section primarily contains “global” configuration settings related to rights assignment, front panel behavior, interface configuration for Audio over IP, digital synchronization, and preset sharing between VOCO units. General These settings control the name of the unit on the network, and how the application behaves overall. Processor Name Controls the “internal”...
Page 48 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Display Configures various parameters related to the display of controls within the application. VU Meter Speed This value controls the speed of the onscreen metering and is expressed in percent. Higher numbers will result in faster metering, though the default of 25% is generally sufficient.
Page 49 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Studio/Mic The “Studio/Mic” window is where login accounts are managed and associated with “Studio” or “Live” privileges. This window also controls linking a “Live” account to a “Studio” account, and assigns microphone inputs to the “Studio”...
Page 50 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Creating New User Accounts To create a new login, click on “New” from the “Studio/Mic” window. There are only two options for “Type”. The default is “Studio”. You will need to create a “Studio” account PRIOR to creating a “Live”...
Page 51 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Assigning Microphones to Studios From the “Studio/Mic” window, click on the “Assign” button to manage which microphones are available to which studio accounts. This will control which channels appear both in that “Studio” login and any associated “Live” login.
Page 52 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Creating and assigning a new “Live” account to a studio From the “Studio/Mic” window, click “New”. Select “Live” as the type. Once “Live” is selected as the type, the “Assign” menu will appear. All “Live” accounts must be assigned to a specific “Studio” account to determine which channels they should control.
Page 53 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Other Options From the “Studio/Mic” window, there are several other account management options available. Edit Edits the parameters of the selected account. Password Changes the password of an account or assigns a new one. To clear the password on an account, enter the existing password in “Old Password”...
Page 54 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Front Panel Configuration This section deals with behavior of the VOCO 8 front panel, including the ability to set passwords, along with which channels and controls are available. Front Panel User Configuration Configures a front panel password (if desired) and links the front panel to a “Studio” account (similar to the way “Live”...
Page 55 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Front Panel Auto Lock Controls whether or not the front panel is automatically locked after the specified period of time. If Auto Lock is “Off” the value for Delay is ignored and the front panel will not automatically lock. Front Panel Display Controls the behavior and layout of the front panel indicators and controls.
Page 56 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Minimal Only displays preset selection controls without channel names. Full Displays channel names with all available metering and controls, including input and output levels, De-Esser and Noise Gate LEDs, Preset Selection, and Mute.
Page 57 When “Custom” is selected, several additional setup options appear which allow hiding or showing each display element individually. In this example, the mute controls are hidden. Front Panel Screensaver Enables or disables the VOCO 8 screen saver on the front panel LCD and sets the delay before activation.
Page 58 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Livewire+/AES67 IP Configuration Similar to the front panel interface, the Livewire+/AES67 IP Configuration screen allows you to set and verify IP configuration parameters for the Audio over IP interface. The first section allows you to SET the parameters while the second section allows you to review and verify the current settings.
Page 59 Basic Network host name Enter the desired network host name for the VOCO 8 AoIP interface. This should be something that uniquely identifies this VOCO unit on the network (i.e. StudioA-VOCO-AoIP). DHCP Selects whether or not DHCP is enabled on the AoIP interface.
Page 60 Configures and displays the status of AoIP synchronization parameters. Livewire+ and AES67 are both supported as sync sources for the VOCO 8, and the VOCO 8 may serve as either a master or slave for clock on these networks. Synchronization to an internal clock source is also available.
Page 61 Selects whether the VOCO 8 will be synchronized to the high precision internal clock, Livewire, or AES67. Set this to “Internal” if you are not using AoIP, or if the VOCO 8 will be the master (grandmaster) clock source on the AoIP network.
Page 62 AoIP network. Priority 1 Sets Priority 1 for the VOCO 8 clock in the PTP/IEEE 1588 domain relative to other devices on the network. A lower value equals a higher (preferred) priority. Used in conjunction with “Priority 2”.
Page 63 A status of “Asynch” may indicate synchronization issues on the network and result in audio glitches. Double-check the synchronization and clock settings on the VOCO 8 and other devices on your AoIP network. Ensure that the “Reference Clock” field is set properly on the VOCO 8.
Page 64 Preset Sharing One of the more unique features of the VOCO 8 is the ability to automatically share presets across the network without the need to manually copy and save them to every single VOCO in your facility. Presets modified in one studio can instantly be updated in all other studios to reflect those modifications.
Page 65 If the interface is not displayed for some reason, click “Add Custom” to add a custom IP address. This function can also be used to add remotely located VOCO 8 units that may not be detected through a local network scan. The...
Page 66 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Double-check to ensure that “Preset Sharing” is turned “On”. Click “Run Scan” to find additional VOCO units on the network. Click “Edit” to edit an interface entry in the list, or “Delete” to delete an entry.
Page 67 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Advanced These settings control advanced configuration parameters related to AoIP formats and QoS, unit licensing, backup and restore of unit configurations, and maintenance functions such as rebooting components of the system. A logging function for specific AoIP traffic is provided as well. Livewire+/AES67 Audio Profiles Controls packet length and sample format parameters for several configurations of AES67 AoIP traffic.
Page 68 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Packet Length Adjusts the AoIP packet length in samples. A shorter length results in lower latency with higher bandwidth overhead. Longer lengths have more latency but a lower bandwidth overhead. Livewire+/AES67 Audio QoS Adjusts the 802.1p Quality of Service (QoS) parameters of various AoIP formats, also configures 802.1Q VLAN tagging for AoIP.
Page 69 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT AES67 Default QoS Settings...
Page 70 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT PTP/IEEE 1588 Clock Default QoS Settings Receive Buffer Size [ms] (audio streams only) Adjusts the packet receive buffer size (in milliseconds) for AoIP streams. Increasing this number will increase audio latency. Reducing these values too much may result in audio glitches. The default values should be sufficient and will add to the overall latency of each stream type.
Page 71 DiffServ. Licenses License keys enable additional processing channels and other features on the VOCO 8. The “base” VOCO 8 is licensed for 2 channels of processing and supports up to 8. All licenses for features purchased with the unit should have already been loaded at the factory.
Page 72 “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Backup/Restore Allows the VOCO 8 configuration to be backed up to or restored from a file. Note that this also includes passwords. If a VOCO 8 configuration containing passwords is restored to another VOCO 8, those passwords (including admin) will be restored as well.
Page 73 SECTION 8 | “ADMIN” ACCOUNT Reset Board/Reset Ethernet Intended to reset various components of the VOCO 8 system without a complete power off reboot. Contact technical support for further information on these features. Log Ethernet Displays various diagnostic messages from the VOCO 8 Ethernet interfaces.
Page 74: Studio" Account
“Studio” Account Overview The “Studio” account is where the majority of actual processing configuration and operation takes place. This account allows full access to all session management, preset management, and processing controls. It also contains the setup functions for inputs (including control of phantom power, gain, and pad) and outputs. There can be multiple “Studio” accounts on a system, each with a different set of inputs assigned to it.
Page 75 About Displays version information about the Remote Gateway program and PC operating system, along with software version, serial number, and MAC addresses from the connected VOCO 8 unit. Download L&S doc Retrieves an XML document detailing “Link & Share” parameters. Link & Share allows remote control via TCP of VOCO 8 parameters from an external automation system.
Page 76 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT “Studio” Setup Options Setup options in the “Studio” account primarily deal with configuring inputs and outputs. There are several settings that are similar to those in the “Admin” account but can only be viewed and not changed from the “Studio” account.
Page 77 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT General These settings control how the application behaves overall and display the name of the unit on the network.
Page 78 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Processor Name Displays the “internal” name of the processor that appears when scanning for units and connecting via Remote Gateway, and the network host name of the “AES67” interface. These can be changed through the “Admin” account.
Page 79 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Application Auto Exit Configures the Remote Gateway application to automatically exit after the specified period of time. This can be helpful for maintaining security in an environment where the Remote Gateway application may be on a studio or other shared PC (for example).
Page 80 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT To change or clear the password for an account, click on it in the list, then click on “Password”. To clear a password, enter the existing password in “Old Password” and leave both “New Password” and “Confirm Password”...
Page 81 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Inputs (Livewire+/AES67) Configures the Livewire+/AES67 AoIP input channels including channel naming, input mode, and channel selection. Livewire+/AES67 Auto Naming Mode Name Mode Determines the source for the name of each AoIP input. By default, the names are independent and will be config- ured in the settings for each input.
Page 82 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Livewire+ {x} 1-4 or 1-8 Controls settings for each of the AoIP inputs when set to Livewire mode. Enable Enables or disables the AoIP input channel. LAN Mode Selects Livewire or AES67 mode. The options in this section will change depending on which mode is selected.
Page 83 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Channel Enter the desired Livewire channel to receive on this input. Click the “+” to display a list of available channels on the AoIP network. From/To Source Used for dynamically generating a Mix Minus feed in a Livewire environment. Normally set to “From Source” unless an automatic mix minus feed is required.
Page 84 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Meter, Meter L, Meter R [dBfs] Provides confidence metering for the incoming AoIP stream. If the “ULA L/R Mode” is set to “On both L&R” a single meter will be displayed for the mono audio generated from the incoming stream. If the “ULA L/R Mode” is set to “Separate L/R”...
Page 85 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Meter, Meter L, Meter R [dBfs] Provides confidence metering for the incoming AoIP stream. If the “ULA L/R Mode” is set to “On both L&R” a single meter will be displayed for the mono audio generated from the incoming stream. If the “ULA L/R Mode” is set to “Separate L/R”...
Page 86 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Auto Naming Mode Livewire+/AES67 Name Mode/Label Mode Determines the source for the name of each output sent to the AoIP network. By default, the names are indepen- dent and will be configured in the settings for each output. “Use Channel Name” will automatically label the AoIP output with the channel name, and “Use Preset Name”...
Page 87 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Livewire {x} 1-8 (Livewire mode, Same audio on L&R) Enable Enables or disables the AoIP output channel Profile Selects which “Profile” to use for this AoIP output channel. The available options will change depending on which profile is selected.
Page 88 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Source (Left/Right) Selects the source applied to the channel’s AoIP output. Channel mappings for these settings will change depending on how “ULA L/R Mode” is configured. When the AoIP channels are configured for stereo (Separate L/R), two fields will appear—one for the left channel, and one for the right.
Page 89 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT AES67 {x} 1-8 (AES67 mode, Same audio on L&R) When the “Profile” is switched to AES67, several options change. The 4 or 8 AoIP outputs (depending on ULA L/R mode) can be set for any combination of AES67 and Livewire. AES67 Profile Specific Options MCast Addr Enter the desired multicast address for this AoIP output.
Page 90 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT AES67 {x} 1-8 (AES67 “Custom” mode, Same audio on L&R) When the profile is set to “AES67 Custom”, additional options appear that allow you to override the default profile settings configured through the admin account. AES67 “Custom”...
Page 91 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT Headphone Output Selects the audio routed to the front panel headphone jack. The four mix buses and the processor channel inputs and outputs can be routed to the headphones. Physical inputs and outputs are not available directly—The headphone input and output selections will follow whatever is routed through the processor channels.
Page 92 This interface is identical to the one available through the “Admin” account. License keys enable additional processing channels and other features on the VOCO 8. The “base” VOCO 8 is licensed for 2 channels of processing and supports up to 8. All licenses for features purchased with the unit should have already been loaded at the factory.
Page 93 SECTION 9 | “STUDIO” ACCOUNT To view Ethernet interface diagnostic logging information, click “Log Ethernet”. This information can be useful in troubleshooting AoIP and other issues.
Page 94: Navigating The "Studio" Interface
Navigating the “Studio” Interface Overview The previous chapter covered the “Setup” options available through the Studio account and gave a brief look at a few elements of the interface. This chapter will go into further detail about navigating the interface. Main Window The main portion of the window (below the channel status display, about, setup, and window controls) contains two major components.
Page 95 SECTION 10 | NAVIGATING THE “STUDIO” INTERFACE Processing Structure This panel displays an overview of the entire processing structure for the selected channel and preset. (A quick refresher—You can select a channel by clicking on it in the channel overview at the top of the window. All channels with the same preset loaded will be selected simultaneously.) In this example, we see that the “Livewire+/AES67”...
Page 96 SECTION 10 | NAVIGATING THE “STUDIO” INTERFACE In addition to displaying information about the processing chain, this panel can be used to navigate through the main portion of the window. Click on any block to jump directly to that section of the controls. Control sections that are currently visible in the window will have a red background.
Page 97 SECTION 10 | NAVIGATING THE “STUDIO” INTERFACE Controls This portion of the window is where the majority of processing configuration takes place. For the preset settings and processing control sections, each section can be expanded by clicking the on the right hand side. If the section is already expanded, the control will change to .
Page 98 SECTION 10 | NAVIGATING THE “STUDIO” INTERFACE Preset Settings (Chapter 12) Controls various “global” parameters that are stored with each preset such “Dominate-it”, Low-pass, High-pass, and processing band frequencies, phase rotation, and polarity invert. Processing Controls (Chapter 13) These controls adjust the parameters for each processing section. All parameters will be saved with the preset. Any adjustment made on channels with the same preset loaded will affect them all simultaneously.
Page 99: Session And Preset Management
Saving a session Although there are various presets loaded on the channels from the factory, there are no sessions saved on the VOCO 8 by default. To save a session, first ensure that the desired presets are loaded on each channel (as described in the “Preset Management”...
Page 100 SECTION 11 | SESSION AND PRESET MANAGEMENT To save a currently open session under the same name, click “Save” rather than “Save As”. The “Save” and “Save As” functions are also available from the “Open” dialog box. Opening a session To open a session from the session management bar, click the name area next to “Sessions”...
Page 101 SECTION 11 | SESSION AND PRESET MANAGEMENT Clicking “M” will display all sessions beginning with that letter. Clicking on another character will search for sessions beginning with that character instead. Click “All” to clear the search and display the entire list. Once you have located the session, click on the session name from the list to open it or click “Close”...
Page 102 SECTION 11 | SESSION AND PRESET MANAGEMENT Deleting and Renaming Sessions The delete and rename functions are available through the same dialog box that opens a session. To delete or rename a session from the session management bar, click the name area next to “Sessions” or click “Open”. Deleting a session Click the “Delete”...
Page 103 SECTION 11 | SESSION AND PRESET MANAGEMENT Enter the new name and click OK, or click cancel to return without renaming the session. Preset Management All preset management is done through the “Processing” tab. The center section of the tab selects a microphone channel and preset, the right hand buttons control all other preset management functions.
Page 104 SECTION 11 | SESSION AND PRESET MANAGEMENT Note: Microphone channel names can be changed by a “long click” on the current mic name. Hold the mouse button down for 3 seconds and the current name will be highlighted for editing. To load a preset on the selected microphone channel, click the preset name underneath the microphone channel to display a list of available presets.
Page 105 SECTION 11 | SESSION AND PRESET MANAGEMENT Preset Controls Undo/Redo Tracks all changes made to a preset with multiple undo/redo levels. Click on undo to step back one change at a time or redo to step forward. Click the “diamond” in the middle of the two controls to open the undo/redo list. Save Saves changes to the current preset without changing the name.
Page 106 The VOCO 8 contains two lists of presets—USER and FACTORY. Most areas of the software display the USER list of presets, which contains a copy of the FACTORY presets. The NEW dialog box is the only area of the software that will exclusively display the FACTORY presets.
Page 107 SECTION 11 | SESSION AND PRESET MANAGEMENT Preset Accesses the “user” preset list. The icon on the “Preset” button indicates whether or not preset sharing is enabled— if it is enabled, presets from all other units with preset sharing enabled will appear in the list. The list is sorted by date last saved or date last used “on air”...
Page 108 Clears the password on a preset if one is set. You will need the existing password for a preset in order to clear it. Import/Export Imports or exports a preset from a file for use in other VOCO 8 units.
Page 109 SECTION 11 | SESSION AND PRESET MANAGEMENT Compare Compares the current channel’s “working” preset with another “reference” preset side by side. Double-click a preset in the list to set it as the “reference” preset. The “Ref” icon will be illuminated by the “Reference” preset. Click the “Work”...
Page 110 Enables or disables highlighting for groups of changes made to the same preset. Save As Saves the selected item as a new preset. Export Exports the selected item as a preset file for use on another VOCO 8 unit. Delete Deletes the selected item from the history. Delete Older Than...
Page 111: Preset Settings" Tab
“Preset Settings” Tab Overview The “Preset Settings” tab controls several filter related parameters stored in each preset. The unique “Dominate-it” feature is also controlled through the preset settings. Preset Settings Tab Input Meter Displays the input level for the selected channel and preset. Phase (polarity) Invert Inverts the absolute polarity of the incoming signal.
Page 112 Dominate-it Perhaps one of the “signature” features of the VOCO 8, Dominate-it allows one or more microphones with this fea- ture enabled to automatically “dominate” the mix when speaking by attenuating the audio level of any microphone channels without this feature enabled. The target amount of attenuation applied to the other channels is adjustable.
Page 113: Adjusting Processing Parameters
Overview Now we get to the good stuff—and what most of you probably purchased the VOCO 8 for in the first place! This chapter of the manual covers adjustment of the processing. These parameters will be stored and recalled with each preset. Once again, all channels with the same preset loaded will be adjusted simultaneously.
Page 114 ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS In addition to the input and output blocks, there are six sections in the VOCO 8 processing chain: De-Esser, 3-Band Noise Gate, Pre-EQ, 3-Band Processing, Post-EQ EQ, and a final Brick Wall Limiter. The 3-Band Noise Gate and processing sections have an “Advanced”...
Page 115 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS Selects the microphone input for processing. Allows adjusting Phantom power, pad, and preamp gain. Phantom Power Enables or disables 48-volt Phantom power on the microphone input. A red LED will illuminate next to the corresponding input to indicate Phantom power is enabled.
Page 116 The De-Esser section automatically tracks and attenuates sibilants in the audio. The frequency is determined instantaneously on the fly and does not require manual adjustment. This algorithm is exclusive to the VOCO 8 and can help manage voices or microphones that tend to suffer from excessive sibilance.
Page 117 3-Band Noise Gate (Basic Controls) A unique feature among microphone processors, the VOCO 8 features a 3-band noise gate. This can help to gate noises in specific bands (such as noise generated by doors or countertops) while still passing actual speech.
Page 118 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS Threshold Sets the input threshold level at which the gate begins to open. Target Sets the target “resting” level of attenuation for the gate when closed. Also known as the “floor” in some other gates. Hold Delays the “closing”...
Page 119 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS Mode Adjusts the coupling between each band’s gate and how the threshold controls interact. This coupling does not directly affect target, hold, or release. Those controls are always completely independent. When a band is set to “Master” the threshold for that band operates completely independent of the others, but the gate activity for each band (if set to Master or Slave) is still coupled.
Page 120 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS EQ Graph Display Displays the overall frequency response of the EQ section. EQ Bands All four bands are fully parametric and can be set anywhere from 20 Hz to 22 kHz but the default settings line up with the descriptions.
Page 121 This section is the “heart” of the VOCO 8 processing chain. It combines a number of traditional processing parameters with a few features exclusive to the VOCO 8. Like the noise gate, in the “basic” tab, the parameters for all 3 bands are adjusted simultaneously.
Page 122 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS Drive Applies more or less drive to the 3-Band processing section. A “power button” allows this control to be bypassed (set to 0) or enabled individually. Threshold Trims the threshold level where the processing begins to act. A “power button” allows this control to be bypassed (set to 0) or enabled individually.
Page 123 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS Metering Displays input levels to the 3-Band processing section as well as gain reduction being applied in each band by the processing in this section. Note: For the following controls, the advanced tab includes individual adjustments for each band, as well as an “All”...
Page 124 Fidelity An exclusive feature as part of the integrated 192 kHz Omnia.S4 processing onboard the VOCO 8, the “Fidelity” control works to maintain the fidelity and spectral balance of the original input signal even when processing heavily by proportionally modifying processing thresholds in the background up to the percentage set with this parameter.
Page 125 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS Post-EQ This second 4-Band Parametric EQ is allows a final “fine tuning” of the sound after the main 3-Band processing section to achieve the desired sonic texture. It functions identically to the Pre-EQ section. Brick Wall Limiter The Brick Wall Limiter is the final stage of processing before the output.
Page 126 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS Output Process Out Displays the output level of the processing chain to the selected output(s). Output Mode Allows selection of and displays the current output destination for the selected processor channel. Select between “Independent” or assignment to one of the four internal mix busses. Independent Not assigned to a mix bus.
Page 127 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS Line/Digital/IP Reference Level and Output Selections Line/Digital/IP Reference Adjusts the reference level of the corresponding outputs relative to the internal digital level. Line/Digital/IP Application Chooses the signals applied to each of the selected channel’s outputs.
Page 128 SECTION 13 | ADJUSTING PROCESSING PARAMETERS Process Routes post-processor audio to the output. Bus 1-4 Routes the selected mix bus to the output. Input Repl. Routes the selected processor input signal (analog, digital or AoIP) to the output. Input Repl. Routes the selected input signal directly to the output.
Page 129: Factory Presets
Factory Presets Overview The factory presets included with the VOCO 8 provide a good starting point for defining your own custom voice pro- cessing signature sound. These presets are designed for male voices (presets beginning with the letter M), female voices (presets beginning with the letter F), or both (presets beginning with M&F), each with varying degrees of processing.
Page 130 SECTION 14 | FACTORY PRESETS M&F - News Presenter – Natural This preset is virtually identical to the “M&F - News Presenter - Soft Tone” preset but adds a bit of action in the “Fidelity” section of the multiband processing to give an even more neutral sound than “M&F - News Presenter - Soft Tone”.
Page 131 SECTION 14 | FACTORY PRESETS M - Big Voice A great preset reminiscent of that classic “boss jock” sound. Fairly balanced overall, with a bit of added drive in all 3 bands (1.6 dB) and thresholds set for substantially more action in the high and midrange bands. “Sound Impact System”...
Page 132: Frequently Asked Questions (Faq)
A: Most of the configuration is done through the Remote Gateway software and not from the front panel. You’ll need to configure the “Control IP” interface on the VOCO 8 and install the Remote Gateway software on a PC. If you want to disconnect the unit from the network after initial configuration, that’s fine too—but it makes life a lot easier if you leave it on the network...
Page 133 AES/EBU output, you will need to use only the even or odd inputs. Q: Can I mount the VOCO 8 in a studio? A: In most cases with a properly cooled facility, yes. There is a fan in the unit. If the unit’s internal temperature begins to rise, the fan will increase in speed and may create...
Page 134: Specifications
Specifications Mic Inputs 8 Channels, XLRF (Neutrik “Combo” connectors) or DB25F ♦ +48v Phantom Power, Switchable ♦ -20 dB pad, Switchable ♦ Source impedance: 150 Ohms ♦ Input impedance: 4000 Ohms ♦ Level Range: -75 dBu to -20 dBu ♦ Line Inputs 8 Channels, ¼”...
Page 135 SECTION 16 | SPECIFICATIONS Audio over IP (AoIP) 8 (stereo) input and output channels ♦ Inputs can be split L/R across 4 AoIP output pairs, or sent in mono to both sides of 8 AoIP output ♦ channel pairs Levels adjustable through Remote Gateway Software ♦...
Page 136: Live Preset Adjustment
Live Preset Adjustment Overview In past versions of VOCO software, the functions for the various logins (admin, live, studio) have been strictly defined in terms of their functionality. The new “Live Preset Adjustment” feature adds some crossover between the “Live” and “Studio”...
Page 137 SECTION 17 | LIVE PRESET ADJUSTMENT Enable Live Preset Adjustment The desired “Live Adjustment” mode for each preset must be selected in the preset management section of the studio login (Chapter 11). The “tool” icon on the right hand side of the list indicates whether or not Live Adjust- ment is enabled for each preset.
Page 138 SECTION 17 | LIVE PRESET ADJUSTMENT Mode No Edit & Save The default mode of operation. Editing this preset will not be allowed in the “Live” login. Edit Only Editing the preset will be allowed, but changes cannot be saved. Edit &...
Page 139 SECTION 17 | LIVE PRESET ADJUSTMENT Functionality of these controls is as described in Chapter 13 of this manual (Adjusting Processing Parameters). Click the “On/Off” controls to turn a processing section on or off. “Save” and “Save As” may or may not be displayed depending on the configuration of the preset.
Page 140 SECTION 17 | LIVE PRESET ADJUSTMENT A banner across the top of the window displays the action of each processing stage. Note: The “Advanced” controls in the “3-Band Noise Gate” and “3-Band Process sections” are not available through this interface. Preset Selection Click the Preset Selection button to load a new preset on the channel.
Page 141 SECTION 17 | LIVE PRESET ADJUSTMENT Bypass All processing for the selected channel can quickly be bypassed by clicking the “By-Pass” button. This is functional- ly identical to loading the “By-Pass” preset on a channel, but much quicker. When processing is bypassed on a channel, the bypass indicator will flash red, as well as the preset name in the main window.

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