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Prism Sound Lyra 2 Operation Manual

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Operation Manual

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Summary of Contents for Prism Sound Lyra 2

  • Page 1 Lyra Operation Manual...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Table of Contents General information ............................5 Introduction to Lyra ............................7 Features ............................... 7 System requirements ........................... 9 Quick start guides ............................10 Quick start for Mac............................. 10 Quick start for Windows ..........................10 Installation procedures ...........................
  • Page 4 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Clocking and jitter ............................40 Dither and noise-shaping ..........................42 Verifile ............................... 46 Analogue interconnections ......................... 47 Digital interconnections ..........................50 Specifications ..............................52 ©2013 - 2023 Audio Squadron Limited...

  • Page 5: General Information

    Web: http://www.prismsound.com Or contact your local Prism Sound distributor as detailed on the website. WARNING! TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
  • Page 6 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Statements of conformity This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against interference in a residential area.

  • Page 7: Introduction To Lyra

    24-bit conversion is used throughout. In Lyra 2, stereo digital I/O is provided in both S/PDIF and optical (TOSLINK) formats. The S/PDIF input can also accept professional AES3 signals, and the S/PDIF output can be switched to AES3 mode if required. A high- quality sample-rate converter (SRC) can be applied to either the stereo digital input or output.
  • Page 8 Lyra 1 offers a subset of the Lyra 2 functionality - it has only two analogue line outputs, and only a single instrument and a single mic preamplifier, as well as more limited digital I/O capability. The following table...

  • Page 9: System Requirements

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual System requirements Lyra will work with any modern host PC or Mac with a suitable operating system and a port that supports USB 2.0. Macs must be running OS X 10.12 Sierra or later; PCs must be running Windows 10 or 11 (32-bit or 64-bit).

  • Page 10: Quick Start Guides

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Quick start guides This section contains brief instructions to get up and running quickly. If you need more detailed instructions, see the Installation procedures section. Do not connect the Lyra’s USB to the computer until you’ve installed the software.

  • Page 11: Installation Procedures

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Installation procedures This section contains detailed installation instructions for your Lyra. If you are keen to get going quickly, you could use the Quick start guides section. Do not connect the Lyra’s USB to the computer until you’ve installed the software.
  • Page 12 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual • Agree to the EULA by clicking 'Continue'. • Having selected an install destination if required, click 'Install' to perform the installation:: • You may need to enter an administrator's name and/or your password or Touch ID.
  • Page 13 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual • The installation process will then complete: • When software installation is complete, close the dialogue box. • Connect your Lyra to the mains supply and to a USB port on your Mac with the cables provided.

  • Page 14: Windows Installation

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Windows installation The following procedure installs the Lyra ASIO and WDM audio drivers, and the Lyra Control Panel app, on your Windows PC. Your PC must be running Windows 10 or 11 (32-bit or 64-bit). You will need a port that supports USB 2.0 (this can include but is not limited to USB-C, USB3.x, USB4, Thunderbolt3 and Thunderbolt4).
  • Page 15 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual • Confirm your user name and organisation, and click 'Next': • Choose 'Complete' to perform a default installation. To change the installation location or which components will be installed, you can choose 'Custom' (not recommended). Click 'Next':...
  • Page 16 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual • Final check. To proceed with installation, click 'Next': • Installation will then proceed: • You may then be prompted to confirm that you would like to install the device drivers. Click 'Install'. • Installation will then complete, and you will see a message suggesting that you can connect your device.

  • Page 17: Operating Multiple Units

    Operation of multiple Lyra units connected to a single Windows host is not currently supported. It is possible that this feature may be supported in a future version of the Prism Sound UAC2 Windows driver. It is possible to operate multiple Lyra units connected to a single Mac by 'aggregating' them. This is done by creating an aggregate device in the Mac's Audio MIDI Setup dialogue box, and adding the Lyra units to it.
  • Page 18 Lyra may not have this module, but Atlas and Titan can. If your computer is attached to a network that is being used for Dante and some Prism Sound devices are detected across the Dante, they will also show in this window along with their status and connection details.

  • Page 19: Software And Firmware Updates

    Individual Control Panels can be resized and positioned on the screen and will remember these settings. Closing the Master panel will close all Control Panel windows. The Dante Setup button only applies in the context of a Dante network. The ‘Prism Sound MDIO-Dante’ manual has further detail about this.

  • Page 20: Lyra Hardware

    +6dBu (0dBFS).Unbalanced sources are automatically accommodated. Both input channels of Lyra 2 (but only input 2 of Lyra 1) have balanced XLR microphone inputs, with gains variable from 10dB to 65dB in accurate 1dB steps, and with individually switchable phantom power. A -20dB pad may also be selected if required.

  • Page 21: Digital Inputs

    Note that in Lyra 2 the filters can also provide an RIAA de-emphasis filter selectable as an alternative to the high-pass filter, allowing them to be used with vinyl decks. The RIAA filter is aligned to have a gain of 16dB at...

  • Page 22: Analogue Outputs

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual In Lyra 2, the TOSLINK connector can also accept 8-channel digital input in ADAT format (at 44.1kHz or 48kHz sample rates) or 4-channel input in ADAT SMUX format (at 88.2kHz or 96kHz sample rates). the Inputs tab also contains ULOK and ASNC indicators for the ADAT/SMUX input function.

  • Page 23: Digital Outputs

    48kHz sample rates) or 4-channel audio in ADAT SMUX format (at 88.2kHz or 96kHz sample rates). Note that ADAT input and output is only possible when operating Lyra 2 in one of its specific ADAT-capable modes. This is to reduce overhead on the host PC or Mac when ADAT input and output is not required. For...

  • Page 24: Output Mixers And Routing Matrix

    This setting is not generally preferable to the SNS settings, since the noise level is not psycho-acoustically optimized. SNS1 Audio data sent to the digital output is noise-shaped using Prism Sound's proprietary SNS (Super Noise Shaping) process to produce a 16 bit output at the S/PDIF or AES3 SNS2 output.

  • Page 25: Assignable Level Control

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual 'stereo', wherein a single ganged fader and balance pot are provided, plus a single mute and solo button. The stereo output also has fader, mute button and high-resolution level meters. In addition, it is possible to force individual physical outputs to be fed from the mixers associated with other outputs.

  • Page 26: Metering System

    The left-most pair of meters show the levels of the analogue inputs (or outputs); the right-most pair show the level of the S/PDIF inputs (or outputs). Note that in the case of Lyra 2, the analogue output meters can be switched between analogue outputs 1/2 and 3/4. The bar-graphs change colour progressively from blue, through green to orange as signal level increases.

  • Page 27: Front Panel

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual TAKE NOTE It may not be possible to change the sample rate whilst any of Lyra's ports are in use by an audio application (e.g. a DAW). In this case it is necessary to disconnect the ports from the application before changing the sample rate, or (where possible) to change the rate from within the application.
  • Page 28 See the Metering system section for more details. Note that in the case of Lyra 2, the analogue output meters may be selected to outputs 1/2 (OP indicator is green) or 3/4 (OP indicator is orange). • Overkiller indicators: indicate that the Overkiller progressive limiter is operating in that channel.

  • Page 29: Rear Panel

    (44.1kHz/48kHz, or 88.2kHz/96kHz in SMUX mode). See Digital inputs Digital outputs. • S/PDIF output and input RCA sockets (Lyra 2 only): these can also be operated as AES3 interfaces (using suitable RCA-XLR and XLR-RCA adapter cables). See Digital inputs Digital outputs.

  • Page 30: Stand-Alone Operation

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Stand-alone operation It is possible to operate Lyra without a connection to a host computer. This is done by setting up the unit as required using the Lyra Control Panel app whilst it is connected to a host computer via its USB interface, then placing the unit in standby by pressing the standby button, before disconnecting the unit from the host and power source.

  • Page 31: Lyra Software

    Accessing the Lyra Control Panel app The Lyra Control Panel app can be run directly like any other Mac or Windows program (via the 'Prism Sound USB Audio Control' shortcut), or it can be accessed from the operating system itself, from the "Sound and Audio devices"...

  • Page 32: Unit Settings

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Operating the Lyra Control Panel app The Lyra Control Panel app dialogue box can be activated and 'put away' like any other Mac or Windows application. When active, it cannot be resized. The upper part of the Control Panel contains...

  • Page 33: Inputs Tab

    The FP Meters control allows the front panel meters to be switched between the analogue and S/PDIF inputs, and the analogue and S/PDIF outputs. In the case of Lyra 2, the analogue meter pair in output mode must be further selected between AO1/2 and AO3/4. For more information, see the Metering system description.
  • Page 34 Mic inputs have +48V phantom power switchable per-channel. On Lyra 2, each analogue input also has an RIAA de- emphasis filter selectable as an alternative to the high-pass filter, allowing them to be used with vinyl decks.

  • Page 35: Outputs Tab

    The stereo digital output has a versatile word-length control using TPDF dither or Prism Sound SNS (Super Noise Shaping), and the RCA connector can be switched to operate as either S/PDIF or AES3 as required. If the sample rate converter (SRC) is configured in the digital output, a separate sync source and sample rate can be selected.

  • Page 36: Mixer Tabs

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Mixer tabs The Mixer tabs control the low-latency foldback mixers which are available for every output pair, including the analogue, digital, headphone and ADAT/SMUX outputs. Note that the ADAT/SMUX mixer tabs only appear for ADAT/SMUX channel pairs which exist in the current ADAT mode. Although the mixer tabs are always available for every output pair, it should be noted that the mixers may be 'defeated' for each output by setting that output to follow its dedicated DAW feed, or by setting it to be routed from the output of another mixer.

  • Page 37: Lyra Drivers

    (or files). It is installed by the Prism Sound USB Audio installer for both Mac and Windows. It can be run either directly (via the 'Prism Sound Verifile Checker' shortcut) or by clicking on a button in the Control Panel app.
  • Page 38 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual file is Verifile encoded, it can be checked with the 'Verify' button; if not, the button is greyed out. During checking, the progress bars track the progress of the check. When checking is complete, the results log is shown in the logging box, and also saved as a text file in the same folder as the audio file, but with a '.log'...

  • Page 39: Technical Topics

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Technical topics The following sections contain detailed discussions of various relevant technical issues. The content of these sections is not required to operate Lyra, but is provided merely as background information. Stability and latency Ever since audio production has found its way inside the computer, new problems concerning issues of stability and latency have arisen.

  • Page 40: Clocking And Jitter

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual On the other hand, situations where latency is critical are relatively few, so it is normally OK to operate generous buffers - such as in the live recording example. In the case of Lyra, problems of latency and stability are improved by a couple of useful features: First of all, the operator can control the buffer delays within the Mac and Windows drivers directly, irrespective of what buffering is employed by the user's particular audio software.
  • Page 41 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Prism Sound's unique CleverClox technology breaks these traditional constraints, allowing a low jitter clock to be re-created from any reference sync, no matter how much jitter it has and no matter what its frequency. But why is clock jitter so important?

  • Page 42: Dither And Noise-Shaping

    Lyra does this with the help of Prism Sound's unique CleverClox clock technology, which removes the jitter from any selected clock source down to sub-sonic frequencies, without the need for a narrow-band quartz VCO.
  • Page 43 Lyra provides a comprehensive choice of dithering and noise-shaping processes. These comprise ‘flat’ dithering, plus a selection of four Prism Sound ‘SNS’ (‘Super Noise Shaping’) algorithms. All produce high- quality 16 bit output: the choice of which one to use is purely subjective. The four SNS algorithms are designated SNS1 to SNS4, in increasing order of the degree of shaping.
  • Page 44 SNS2 is a good starting point for most situations. The Prism Sound SNS logo shown above is found on many of the world’s finest CDs, and is recognised as a standard of technical excellence. The logo, and accompanying sleeve note, is available by contacting sales@prismsound.com.
  • Page 45 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual ©2013 - 2023 Audio Squadron Limited...

  • Page 46: Verifile

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Verifile What is Verifile? Verifile is a new technology from Prism Sound which allows audio streams and recorded files to be reliably checked for any sort of data corruption. Ever since the adoption of computer recording of audio, issues of reliability have arisen to the consternation of users who had been used to the reliability of dedicated audio recorders.

  • Page 47: Analogue Interconnections

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Introduction of Verifile in Prism Sound interfaces The Verifile process was invented by Prism Sound in 2014, and has been confidentially tested by many of the world's leading broadcast, recording, mastering and archival organisations since then. Following successful completion of these tests, Verifile was first made commercially available in a firmware release for Prism Sound's Atlas, Titan and Lyra interfaces in 2018.
  • Page 48 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Balanced versus unbalanced connections Where possible, balanced interconnections should be used, since the audio signal is represented as a voltage difference between two dedicated conductors (neither of which is ground-coupled), which are usually closely- twisted to ensure that any interference pickup is cancelled out. In unbalanced connections, the signal is represented as a voltage difference between a single signal conductor and an accompanying ground conductor.
  • Page 49 Vinyl decks Lyra 2 is equipped with an RIAA de-emphasis filter to allow direct connection of a vinyl deck, as described in Analogue inputs section. Since vinyl decks usually have a low-level, unbalanced output it is important to minimise interference as discussed above when connection a vinyl deck.

  • Page 50: Digital Interconnections

    A/D or D/A conversion (or for sample-rate conversion) can take steps to eliminate incoming jitter - but many don't. The Prism Sound CleverClox technology in Lyra does exactly this, as explained in the Clocking and jitter section.
  • Page 51 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual which itself has poor jitter rejection capabilities. Note that audio quality degradation by cable-induced jitter is just as much a problem at low sample rates as at high sample rates. Interference issues A properly designed copper AES3 or S/PDIF interface will not cause audio-frequency ground continuity between the connected equipments, so hum loops should not occur.

  • Page 52: Specifications

    Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual Specifications Front Panel Instrument inputs 1&2: Two 6.3mm mono jack sockets [*Note1] Headphone output: 6.3mm stereo jack socket, with illuminated volume control Master volume control: Assignable to any selection of outputs, with LED halo indication Level meters: Multi-segment, multi-color bargraphs with overload indication;...
  • Page 53 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual CMRR: 20Hz..20kHz: >70dB Inter-channel cross-talk: 1kHz: <-140dB; 20Hz..20kHz: <-120dB Inter-channel phase: 10Hz..5kHz: ±0.25º, 5kHz..20kHz: ±1.0º, 20kHz..50kHz: ±2.0º Overkiller: Progressive limiter, auto-aligning, selectable per channel Impact filter: High-pass filter, -3dB at 80Hz, 40dB/decade (selectable for channels 1-2;...
  • Page 54 Channel Status: Full implementation, Consumer (S/PDIF) or Professional (AES3) Word-length: 24 bits, or reduction to 16 bits using flat TPDF dither or Prism Sound SNS (Super Noise-Shaping - four alternative shapes available) AES3 operation: Via S/PDIF RCA, using a suitable RCA-XLR adapter...
  • Page 55 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual ©2013 - 2023 Audio Squadron Limited...
  • Page 56 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual [Note 1]: Specification as per Lyra 2. Lyra 1 does not have analog outputs 3-4, mic input on channel 1, instrument input on channel 2, RCA/phono digital I/O, wordclock I/O or Ethernet port. Lyra 1 SRC THD+n/dynamic range are limited to <-125dB/>125dB (0.000056%) and can only be applied to DI.
  • Page 57 Prism Sound Lyra Operation Manual In keeping with our policy of continual development, specifications are subject to amendment without notice. E&OE. All Trade Marks acknowledged. ©2013 - 2023 Audio Squadron Limited...
  • Page 58 Line inputs, 20, 33 DI inputs, 20 Line outputs, 35 DI synchronization, 22 Load button, 32 Differences between Lyra 1 and Lyra 2, 7 Local sync, 30 Digital inputs, 21, 33 Lock button, 35 Digital interconnections, 50 Low-latency mixers, 36...
  • Page 59 Phono cartridges, 21, 47 Unlocked (ULOK) indicator, 21, 33 Prism Sound, CleverClox, 40 Updating software, 19 Prism Sound, SNS (Super Noise-Shaping), 24, 42 Verifile, 27, 35, 37, 46 Quick start guide, Mac, 10 Verifile Checker app, 32, 37 Quick start guide, Windows, 10...

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Lyra 1

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