IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 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. Read these instructions.
Air_US_rev_111.qxd 16-12-2004 14:15 Page b QUICK SETUP REFERENCE This page is a quick guide on how to connect different setups. Connections must be made exactly as illustrated. Detailed descriptions of the setups can be found on pages 8-16.
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QUICK SETUP REFERENCE Important ! • One specific Master monitor must be set as System Controller. (see setup illustrations above) • To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC LINK button on the rear panel must be left out. •...
The Product Concept The AIR monitor systems take a giant step forward in near-field monitoring and Dynaudio & TC Electronic are proud to present these systems. The AIR series include switch mode amplification and power-supply and with the...
The Master Unit The Master unit distributes Audio and control data to the respective Slave units connected. System Controller, Master or Slave To set up a Master unit to be either System Controller or Master/Slave the LINK switch on the rear panel must be set up correctly.
REAR PANEL DESCRIPTION - MASTER Master Unit - Analog I/O Slave/Sub Optional Digital I/O card • System Controller/Slave switch Out-position :The monitor operates as a System Controller There can be only one System Controller in a setup. In -position: The monitor operates as either a regular Master or a Slave unit.
OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW Parameter structure accessible via the AIR monitor set as System Controller Main Display 7854010 L Front Volume -50.0 dB ENTER *Select Mode Bass Management X-over 50Hz ENTER X-over Off X-over 80Hz X-over Ext 50Hz X-over Ext 80Hz X-over THX 80Hz X-over SC 120Hz Setup Menu Setup...
THE AIR DISPLAY & SETTING UP EXIT ENTER ENTER key The ENTER key has two main functions: • To enter the menus currently displayed. • To set the displayed parameter in Edit mode. When a parameter can be edited via the CURSOR keys a “*”...
To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. To set a Master monitor as System Controller...
To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. The setups will ONLY operate correctly if connected according to the illustrations! SETUPS...
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To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. SETUPS 5.3 Digital Setup This illustration shows how to connect a 5.3 Digital...
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To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. Channels must be connected as follows: - Left channel to Left Input on Left monitor. - Right channel to Right Input on Left monitor. - Center channel to Left Input on Center monitor.
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To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. SETUPS Stereo Setup With Chains on L & R This illustration shows how to connect a stereo setup with chains on Left and Right. The chained monitors are fed with the same signal as the front L&R monitors.
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To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on the rear panel MUST be in out-position. SETUPS 5.1 Digital - 192 kHz This is a 5.1 digital setup at 192kHz with Bass...
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To set a Master monitor as System Controller the TC Link button on rear panel MUST be in out-position. SETUPS 5.3 Digital Setup This illustration shows how to connect a 5.3 Digital setup with Bass management as an option. The setup requires three Master monitors with the optional Digital AES/EBU I/O card installed, two Slave monitors (or Masters set as Slave) and three Subs.
WHEN THE MONITORS ARE CONNECTED This is a simple step by step setup guide Overview 1 Connect the monitors 2 Set one Master monitor as System Controller 3 Turn down volume 4 Set Bass Management off 5 Select Set up menu 6 Clear entire network 7 Select set up (Stereo analog, 5.1 digital, etc) 8 Select monitor tasks (e.g.
THX Sim 80 Hz 80 Hz Small Cons 120 Hz * 120 Hz Note that the Extension 50 and 80Hz uses no Bass Management on satellite speaker thus playing full range. * Small Cons - Small Consumer Sub 2’th order Sub 4’th order...
PARAMETER DESCRIPTION Setup Menu • Press ENTER to access sub-menus Set Monitor Task For the System Controller - Master monitor to identify and operate all monitors in the setup, each monitor must be given one of the following tasks indicating function and position.
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PARAMETER DESCRIPTION Parameters available for AIR 6 and AIR 15 Pink Noise: Range: On/Off Calibrate: Range: -6dB to +6dB Level calibration of the selected monitor. Rel. Lev: Range: -40dB to 0dB Relative preset volume for the selected monitor. Room Position: Neutral Wall Corner...
PLACING THE MONITORS This manual section is split into two. The first part is a direct guide on how to optimize your listening facilities to ensure optimal performance of your AIR monitor system. The second part contains In Depth explanations and background information of various acoustic phenomena’s and is referred to on several occasions in the first chapter.
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PLACING THE MONITORS Placement of monitors and acoustics do influence monitor sound. AIR series provides powerful tools to compensate for different placement. Below, please find a description of the most common monitor placements and appropriate compensation. Using material from the calibration CD together with the AIR placement compensation settings could help the interaction between the AIR monitor and acoustics the studio.
CHECKING - Overview 1 In the Setup menu: Select setup type (e.g. 5.1 or stereo) matching your application 2 Check the phase (using the CD) 3 Check the monitor positions (using the CD) 4 Equalize the monitor (using the Bass and Treble parameters) 5 Go to: Calibrate monitor Select correction...
CHECKING - Equalizing The AIR System menu offers a two-band shelving type equalizer. This can be used individually on each monitor, and it is implemented for a fine adjustment of the tonal balance. Range: ±6 dB Adjustment step: 0.5 dB Band I: 100 Hz - 1 kHz Band II:...
CALIBRATING - MAIN MONITORS Overview 1 Select Setup menu from the Main menu - then Calibrate monitor 2 Select each monitor and set calibration level using the CD Calibration procedure The calibration has to be made to ensure that all monitors produce the same sound pressure level in the listening position when fed with the same signal.
PLACING THE SUBWOOFER Overview Placement on the floor In the corner Adjacent to wall Free standing Floor standing The subwoofer is under normal conditions always placed directly on the floor. This is taken into account in the basic design and the basic settings of the AIR system. Advantages Disadvantages Gain of bass response...
CHECKING Overview 1 Main menu, set volume -20 dB 2 Main menu, select Bass Management: 120 Hz 3 Set Bass Management to “on” 4 Check the monitor position using the CD, tracks 30-44 5 Go to: Calibrating the subwoofer with the main system.
CALIBRATING THE SUBWOOFER - Bass Management Bass management (sometimes called bass redirection) is a very important and useful tool - and it is in general an absolute necessity if you want to make a 5-channel set-up in a small room! There are several reasons for this. The bass management system is designed to subtract the bass contents of all main channels and reproduce this by the use of a sub woofer.
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CALIBRATING THE SUBWOOFER - LFE Gain Range: 0 to +14dB The LFE channel can be boosted up to 18dB using this parameter. Polarity Range: 0 or 180º If the Subwoofer is correctly placed, setting the Polarity parameter at 180º should result in a full Phase cancellation at the set Cross -over frequency.
ACOUSTICS Acoustics When we talk about making a room "sound right", we are probably dealing with room acoustics as a science acoustics has been around for about hundred years. Until then good acoustics happened by experiment, by experience, or simply by accident. Today we know a lot about the parameters that influence the "sound"...
ACOUSTICS Sabines formula Sabine is the father of modern acoustics. He found that reverberation time is described by a relationship between the room size and the amount of absorption in the room. Larger rooms - longer reverberation. More absorption - shorter reverberation.
ACOUSTICS Absorbers All materials in the room act acoustically even if they are not so-called acoustical materials. Basically we have three kinds of absorbers. Membrane absorbers This kind of absorber includes wooden floors, windows, doors, etc. This absorber provides absorption in the low end of the frequency range.
BACKGROUND INFO - ACOUSTICS Standing Waves Standing waves exist in all kind of rooms. The shape of the room, the dimensions of the room, and the relationship between the dimensions of the room, are important parameters that will determine the frequencies around which the phenomenon exists as well as the distribution of these standing waves.
Air_US_rev_111.qxd 16-12-2004 14:17 Page 34 ACOUSTICS - BACKGROUND INFO Room modes These special frequencies are also called room modes. Standing waves between parallel walls are called axial modes. Other modes exist. For instance tangential and radial modes. (See the illustration). Normally the axial modes are the strongest.
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ACOUSTICS The standing waves are characterized by having a maximum sound pressure at the boundaries of the room. Depending on the frequency there are one or more dips across the room. In a box shaped room the frequencies can be calculated as follows: where frequency in Hz speed of sound (approx.
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ACOUSTICS In practice the placement close to boundaries will influence the frequency range below 125-150 Hz. - BACKGROUND INFO At low frequencies a monitor can be considered as to radiate the sound energy in all directions. This is also called a 4 π radiation. When placing the monitor close to a solid boundary - for instance a wall - the sound energy that should have been radiated in the...
ACOUSTICS Comb Filtering The filtering function that arises when a signal is added to itself after having been delayed in time is called a comb filter. The resulting frequency response resembles a comb, hence the name. Two 500 Hz sinusoidal tones added. The second tone is delayed 1 ms hence the sum is zero Two 1 kHz sinusoidal tones added.
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ACOUSTICS Two typical situations in which comb filters arise, either acoustically or electrically. In general: All digital signal processing takes time. This means in practice that comb filter effects can arise if you loop a signal via, for example, a compressor and combine this signal with the original. An example of a comb filter created by the combining of two signals with the same amplitude, but with a time delay between them of just 1 ms.
ACOUSTICS Rear wall cancellation When the monitor is set up at some distance in front of a wall, reflections from the wall may occur and influence the perceived frequency response. This could result in comb filtering if all frequencies produced by the monitor were radiated in all directions.
THE SUBWOOFER The Subwoofer A subwoofer is a monitor that reproduces low frequencies. The purpose is to take over from the main monitor(s) as frequencies approach the lower end of the frequency range. I.e. approximately below 120 Hz. When used in professional monitor systems it is commonly preferred to use subwoofers below approximately 80 Hz.
THE SUBWOOFER & LFE CHANNEL Checking summing phase cancellation In a basic 2-channel set-up or 5-channel set-up (like the ITU-775) a sub-woofer is not specified and is not required. But making audio production to be played back on consumer equipment, one has to ensure that the mix will sound right in this situation.
DELAYING MONITORS ITU 775 When using a 5.x set-up with monitors arranged on a circle line (as with ITU 775) the distance from the listener to each of the main monitors is the same. In case of limited space the three front monitors can be arranged on a straight line.
LINE-UP & CALIBRATION Calibration of 5.1 in an ITU-775 arrangement In a 5.1 system based on the ITU arrangement, all main channels have in principle the same conditions: there is one monitor per channel and each is placed the same distance from the listener. Internationally, there is however neither agreement on the level nor on the bandwidth for the noise signals that is used for acoustic calibration.
Introduction When perfect setup and calibrations is in place, optimal performance from the AIR system monitors is achieved by controlling level on the monitors themselves as opposed to controlling via the mixing console. Therefore a remote control is a natural extension to the AIR monitor system. Remote Control Features •...
The key LEDs indicates the following states: LED ON Speaker on LED OFF Speaker Mute LED Flashing Speaker Solo Mute/Unmute With a single press on these keys the monitors are muted/unmuted. Solo Function Press and hold one of the keys to activate Solo function for corresponding channel.
The AIR SOFT is a software editor for the AIR System monitors. All parameters controllable via the display locally on the System Controller, as well as the Reference Level features available via the AIR Remote can be controlled via the AIR Soft program.
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Main This is the Main screen from where all other AIR SOFT screens are accessed. The (((•))) network icon (upper left corner) If steady: The computer running the AIR SOFT is not correctly connected to AIR monitors. Check connections, cables and refer to the setup-illustrations on pages 9-13 in this manual.
Preset List Is accessed by clicking on the left side of the display frame. Presets include • Preset Volume • Mute status • Bass Management • X-curve setting • LFE Low Pass • LFE Gain • Parametric EQ (can be adjusted the optional PC Installers Package only) All other settings can be considered “global”...
During Software upload various messages could be displayed: Example: In a 5.1 AIR setup you are uploading monitor software to the entire system. As there are separate software files for monitors and subs the following message should appear. “5 AIR monitors updated successfully” - meaning the AIR monitors are updated but no software has be accepted by the connected sub.
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Calibrated Level Level calibration of the selected monitor. Relative Level Preset volume for the selected monitor relative to the calibrated and global volume. Use Parametric EQ This will be marked if the Parametric EQ is activated via the PC-IP. Bass and Treble settings will be disabled. Bass/Treble Range: -6dB to +6dB Bass and Treble adjustment for the selected monitor.
The AIR series are unquestionably high quality products. This section puts focus on a few technical issues that adds to the perception of the products high standard. High efficiency compact Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) For saving overhead power consumption and to insure optimal performance disregarding the mains voltage, the unit is equipped with a high efficiency compact Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS).
TC LINK Standard Cat-5 cables Maximum Cable Length : 15 meter. Cable type : Shielded Ethernet Cable Category 5. Connector type : RJ45 This connection is carrying Digital audio (24 bit) and network control information. Color Brown White/Brown Green White/Blue Blue White/Green Orange...
AIR 6 & AIR 15 (Master and Slave) Model AIR 6 System Two-way Active Nearfield Monitor Frequency response (+/- 3 dB) 40 Hz – 22 kHz Peak SPL 1m, pair (IEC Short Term) > 128 dB peak Peak SPL 2m, 5.1 (IEC Short Term) >...
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AIR Base-1 & AIR Base-2 System: Active Subwoofers Total frequency response: 25 Hz – bssmng: 120 Hz, LFE: 2.5 kHz/ 23 Hz – bssmng: 120 Hz, LFE: 2.5 kHz : +/-3dB Max. SPL 1m, one (IEC Short Term) 119 dB peak / 121 dB peak Max.
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AIR Remote specs AIR Remote Finish: Black anodized aluminum and plastic Dimensions (D x W x H): 120 x 70 x 35 mm Weight: 250g I/O Connectors: 1 x RJ45 proprietary TC LINK Complies with: EN 55103-1 and EN 55103-2, FCC part 15 class B, CISPR 22 class B Safety Certified to:...
DELAY IN SYSTEM & ERROR MESSAGES ETC. Sample Rate (AES or WC In) Converter 32.00 64.00 44.10 88.20 48.00 96.00 64.00 64.00 88.20 88.20 96.00 96.00 *): In Analog Input mode without WC Input selected, the system runs on the Master monitor's own 96kHz clock. Error messages etc.
CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY Certificate Of Conformity TC Electronic A/S, Sindalsvej 34, 8240 Risskov, Denmark, hereby declares on own responsibility that following products: AIR 6 AIR 15 AIR 20 AIR 25 AIR BASE 1 AIR BASE 2 AIR REMOTE - that are covered by this certificate and marked with CE-label conforms with following standards: EN 60065 Safety requirements for mains...
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