TC Electronic DB6 Manual
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TC Electronic DB6 Manual

Single /multi/aes
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English Manual
Applies to
DB6 firmware version 1.30
TC Icon version 7.50
Last manual update: 2014-03-05
DB6 Single / Multi / AES

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Summary of Contents for TC Electronic DB6

  • Page 1 English Manual Applies to DB6 firmware version 1.30 TC Icon version 7.50 Last manual update: 2014-03-05 DB6 Single / Multi / AES...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Obtaining DB6 status information Links and additional information Clock section Appendix 2: DB6 GPI/O page Status section Setting up audio and syncing Technical specifications I/O Setup – DB6 Single and Multi (SDI) I/O Setup – DB6 AES English Manual (2014-03-05)

  • Page 5: Important Safety Instructions

    Important safety instructions Important safety instructions EMC/EMI Please read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. This equipment has been tested and found to 3. Heed all warnings. comply with the limits for a Class B Digital de- 4. Follow all instructions. vice, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules.

  • Page 6: About This Manual

    Visit the Loudness website at: www.tcelectronic.com/loudness/ 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/ DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 7: Unpacking And Setup

    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 manual. TC DB6 firmware: DB6 firmware is the software installed on ev- ery DB6.
  • Page 8 Accept the defaults or change the path. – After extracting the ZIP file, you will see a .CAB (“Cabinet”) file in Windows Explorer. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 9 Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware 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 – Double-click the .CAB file. To update the TC Icon software on your comput- An “Icon”...
  • Page 10 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.
  • Page 11 Software: TC Icon and DB6 firmware – Launch TC Icon by double-clicking the appli- cation. 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 troubleshoot-...

  • Page 12: Db6: An Introduction

    We are confident you will value the result of their lines means that there are fewer things that can hard work. go wrong, the dynamics processor built into the AC3 decoder (known as “DRC”) is still one of DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 13: One-Step Loudness Management

    DB6: An introduction One-step loudness management Operating DB6 DB6 is a signal processor that is able to handle A DB6 is equipped with one or more signal pro- all aspects of loudness in one simple process: cessing cards. Each card encompasses four so- called engines.

  • Page 14: Db6 Single Vs. Db6 Multi

    – It sends as good an audio signal as possible through at all times. process one SDI audio stream – can – If the source is lost, DB6 keeps on running at – holds two multichannel processors the “last good sync source rate”.

  • Page 15: Db6 Presets

    TC website. These presets are based on information from broadcasters around the world. If you feel that an important preset is missing or that a given preset does not work as it should, please get in touch with TC Electronic technical support. English Manual (2014-03-05)

  • Page 16: Getting To Know Db6

    Front panel indicators Sync LED(s) – AES DB6 has the following front panel status indica- The Sync Led of the DB6 AES indicates if syn- tors: chronization to the signal source selected as Sync Source has been achieved.

  • Page 17: Front Panel Reset Button

    The Reset button on the front panel can be used risk of power loss. to reset the IP address of a DB6 unit or to reset Ethernet communication between DB6 and a Due to the redundant design, DB6 will still be...
  • Page 18 BNC connectors with a nominal impedance of 75 Ohms. AES-3id In Ports – (none / none / 8) DB6 AES has 8 AES-3id In ports on BNC con- nectors with one channel pair per connector. DB6 Single and DB6 Multi have no AES In ports.

  • Page 19: Scenes, Routings, Engines

    Routings – A DB6 Single contains one such processor. – A DB6 Multi can contain one, two or three of All the settings that define how signals are rout- these processors/cards. ed to and from the Engines on a processor/card are called a Routing preset.

  • Page 20: Setting Up Db6

    DB6’s serial number (you will find the serial er running the TC Icon software will detect a DB6 number of DB6 on a label on the rear side of the “out of the box” without problems. However, if it device).
  • Page 21 Setting up DB6 Changing your computer’s subnet mask and TCP/IP address If and where you can change the subnet mask and IP address of your computer depends on… – the operating system you are using and – your account privileges.

  • Page 22: Quick Setup

    This guide applies for a simple setup as illus- To change the subnet mask and TCP/IP address trated below. of a DB6, you need to access it using a computer running the TC Icon software. This means that in case of an IP address conflict that keeps you from accessing DB6 in the first place, you need to change your computer’s IP first as described...

  • Page 23: Updating Db6 Software

    – Select the device you wish to access. – If you cannot access DB6, please refer to “Networking basics and troubleshooting” on page 16. That’s it – you are now ready to configure and operate your DB6.

  • Page 24: Basic Operation

    Device operation The TC Icon software has two operation modes: To switch a fader from Normal Adjustment mode Base Device operation. to Fine Adjustment mode or back, click the label DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 25: On-Screen Keyboard

    You can access predefined Fader Groups that cover typical applications, and you can define a DB6 allows you to store and rename presets, as- User Fader Group with your own assignment for sign labels to inputs and outputs and perform each fader.

  • Page 26: Accessing Db6

    DB6. If your setup contains multiple DB6 units, you should name these unambiguously so you don’t accidentally edit the settings of the wrong de- vice. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 27: Obtaining Db6 Status Information

    Clock section Source indicator Please note that the LEDs on the front of a DB6 will display basic status information as long as Indicates the source of the clock signal DB6 is the device is powered – see “Front panel indica- currently following.
  • Page 28 A failing power supply is indicated by a red “Power” label in the respective DB6 Frame indi- cator, and a red LED will show on the Frame tab when it is selected. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 29: Setting Up Audio And Syncing

    Setting up audio and syncing If the DB6 is not locking to an incoming SDI Setting up audio stream, all indicators are turned off. and syncing Audio Groups selector I/O Setup – DB6 Single Use the Audio Groups selector to select audio and Multi (SDI) groups for metering and processing.
  • Page 30 8-bit data, or both data streams need contain 10-bit data). If the bit widths of the two Group 1+2 and Group 3+4 settings data streams differ, DB6 will not be able to de- The processed audio signals will be assigned to embed and process audio.

  • Page 31: I/O Setup - Db6 Aes

    Internal to External Sync. on the Input that the DB6 is set to lock to, or if the incoming sample rate is outside the legal range (48 kHz +1.7  % / -1.3 %) and the Clock Fallback parameter is set to Halt.
  • Page 32 Fallback parameter is set to Freewheel, the DB6 will continue running on the “last good rate”. If possible, DB6 will run on a 96 bit pre- cision version of the last good sample rate that the DB6 received. This will only gener-...

  • Page 33: Setting Up Audio Dithering

    Setting up audio and syncing Setting up audio dithering To set up audio dithering, go to Frame / Sys- tem / I/O / Dither. Use the Dither page to set up if and how audio signals should be dithered. Dither out parameters Use the four Dither out parameters (1/2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8) to configure dithering for each pair of audio signals.

  • Page 34: Setting Up Gpi/O

    (3 or 7) enables normal operation Select one of eight Presets using GPI1. and preset recall via Ethernet and the TC Icon software as long as no GP input signal is ap- DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 35 Setting up GPI/O Select the Preset Bank using the Preset Recall Select the Preset Bank pairs (1+2, 3+4 etc.) using Scene Bank parameter. the Preset Recall Scene Bank parameter. 3 Presets DUAL setting Idle state Select one of three Presets using GPI1 and GPI2. “Idle”...

  • Page 36: Gp Input Calibration

    – If you set Idle State 1 to “Open”, the GPO 1 relay… – will be open as long as no synchronization has been achieved and – will close when synchronization has been achieved. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 37: Recalling, Storing And Deleting Settings

    – Route – to recall a Routing preset. The Library gives you access to all settings of all – E(ngine) 1 or E(ngine) 2 – to recall an Engine parameters of the currently selected DB6. preset and use it for the currently selected Engine.

  • Page 38: Library - Delete Page

    – Click the “Info” button. – Click the large “Delete (Scene / Route / Engine Meter) Preset” button to delete the selected – An on-screen keyboard will be shown. preset. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 39: Library - Bank Page

    Recalling, storing and deleting settings – You will be asked to confirm this operation be- If you select “New file” instead, you will be fore the preset is actually deleted. prompted to specify the file name. – Click the “Copy Bank” button. Operating the unit while deleting presets Please note that even when deleting presets, the To copy from a file on disk to a Bank...

  • Page 40: Updating Db6 Firmware

    TC Icon software – Microsoft Windows” on page 4 or “Finding and installing TC  Icon software – OS  X” on page 6. This section describes downloading and installing the DB6 firmware. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 41 Updating DB6 firmware English Manual (2014-03-05)
  • Page 42 – After extracting the ZIP file, you will see a .tca file in Windows Explorer. Choose “Save”. The software will be downloaded to your browser’s default download location. Usually, this is the “Downloads” folder for your user ac- count. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 43 “Common Software Update Folder” field accordingly (see below). – Connect your PC to the DB6 that you want to update using an Ethernet cable. – Launch the TC Icon software on your PC. – In the TC Icon software, select the DB6 that you want to update.
  • Page 44 Update Folder” field accordingly (see “Lo- cating the DB6 firmware file – example 2” on page 41). – Connect your Mac to the DB6 that you want to update using an Ethernet cable. – In this section of the support page, look for –...
  • Page 45 Updating DB6 firmware Locating and transferring the – A confirmation message will be shown once DB6 firmware file – example 1 the update has been applied. This is a simple default scenario where we as- sume that… – your hard disk drive is called “Macintosh HD”...

  • Page 46: Icon Setup

    “Device UI is If you encounter problems when detecting con- locked” message on all device-related screens. nected devices, please refer to “Networking ba- sics and troubleshooting” on page 16. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 47: Joystick Page

    Color Element parameters The MIDI Joystick setup page of the TC Icon Use the Color Element parameters to customize software is not required for operating DB6 and the colors of the currently selected User scheme. not described in this manual.

  • Page 48: Loudness Wizard

    An introduction to the Loudness Wizard The Loudness Wizard signal processing algo- rithm is the “heart and soul” of DB6. It includes features from other well-known TC algorithms (UpCon, DownMix and On-line Delay) – so if you are familiar with these algorithms, you can build upon your know-how when using Loudness Wiz- ard.
  • Page 49 All. range is from -18 dB to +18 dB. Stereo only setting If DB6 is used for ingest, better results may be To apply Loudness adjustment only to the Ste- obtained by using the In Gain parameter to get reo component of the input signal, set Loudness the program roughly on Target before process- Correct to Stereo only.

  • Page 50: Loudness Wizard - Format / Setup Page

    Gain Center parameter is set to 0  dB (or even positive gain), thereby putting emphasis to Auto Detect parameter center channel content such as dialog. Loudness Wizard’s automatic format detection can be either time and level or dither-based. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 51: Loudness Wizard - Format / Upcon Page

    Loudness Wizard UpCon Level section Gain Surround parameter When you have set the Format Convert param- eter on the Loudness Wizard’s Main page to Left Front / Center / Right Front Downmix, the Gain Surround parameter can be (Front Channel Gain parameters) used to apply a static gain to the surround chan- Use the Left Front, Center and Right Front pa- nels before delay, loudness control and true-...

  • Page 52: Loudness Wizard - Weight Page

    Use the Surround Contour Style parameter for rameters serve as channel weighing fields for surround channel extraction. For best results, the main channels. The gains shown here cor- set this parameter in combination with the sur- DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 53: Loudness Wizard - Alc Page

    Loudness Wizard Loudness Wizard – ALC page respond to the channel weighting as defined in BS.1770. When the ALC Target parameter on the Weight page is set to Downmix, the five channel param- eters serve as downmix coefficients for the Main channels.

  • Page 54: Loudness Wizard - Limit Page

    Use the Threshold parameter to set the true- ized. Currently available settings are “Not nor- peak limit threshold. The value set here is rela- DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 55: Output Section

    Loudness Wizard tive to output level. For linear audio and most codecs, set the Threshold parameter to -1 dBFS. For AC3, setting the Threshold parameter be- tween -3 and -6 dBFS is recommended. Link parameter The Link parameter defines which limiters work together.

  • Page 56: Lm6

    Dynamic dynamic range material (such as commercials or Range Tolerance (DRT) specific to their listening pop CDs) always emerging as the loudest. environment. The DRT is defined as a Preferred DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 57 Average window with a certain peak level Head- room above it. The average sound pressure level (which obviously is different from one listening condition to another) has to be kept within cer- tain boundaries in order to maintain speech intel- ligibility, and to avoid music or effects from get- ting annoyingly loud or soft.

  • Page 58: Lm6 - Basic Use

    VU meter. display are the “transport controls” of LM6. They are used to make the radar and descriptor mea- surements run, pause and reset. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 59: Reset Button

    Long-term measurements Even used just on speech, Leq(A) is not a precise Universal descriptors may be used to make pro- approximation to perceived loudness, so please gram-duration measurements, or you may “spot- update the unit to BS.1770 to obtain similar read- check”...

  • Page 60: Lm6 - Main Page

    ±5 dB to make loudness stay generally the Program Loudness is used as a production same over the duration of the program (mot that guideline, for transparent normalizing of pro- you would want that). DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 61 grams and commercials, and to set loudness Loudness Max setting metadata in delivery if so required. Loudness Max displays the maximum loudness registered since the meter was last reset. Loud- For delivery or transmission of AC3 format, the ness Max is an especially useful parameter when metadata parameter “dialnorm”...

  • Page 62: Lm6 - Setup Page

    LED is lit. +18 Scale setting The +18 Scale setting provides a wide loudness range intended for film, drama and wide range DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 63: Lm6 - Stat(Istic)S Page

    Stereo or 5.1 Integrity setting When the Alert Indicator parameter is set to Ste- reo or 5.1 Integrity, the red Alert indicator on the Radar page will be lit when neither valid Stereo nor 5.1 signals are detected. Off setting When the Alert Indicator parameter is set to Off, the Alert indicator is disabled.
  • Page 64 0  dBFS+ signals etc., are available from the TC and effects. website. Visit the Tech Library at www.tcelec- tronic.com/tech-library/ for details. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 65 CDs or commercials, and to take out- In TC Electronic LM2, LM5 and LM6, short-term, of-phase signals into account just as much as mid-term and long-term of loudness measure- signals that are in phase.
  • Page 66 Welcome to a new, standardized world of audio leveling – across genres, across formats, across the globe. DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

  • Page 67: Appendix

    Appendix 1: Links and additional information Appendix 1: Links and additional information DB6 support page: – www.tcelectronic.com/db6/support/ – TC Electronic HD Audio YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/tcelectronicHDaudio Subscribe for up-to-date information on TC Electronic broadcast products, loudness and more. Mobile Device SPL test: –...

  • Page 68: Appendix 2: Db6 Gpi/O Page

    Selection between up to 8 presets is achieved by are to be considered invalid. No action is taken feeding the processor a DC voltage to the GPIO if invalid measurements are made. GPI recall ac- DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 69 Appendix 2: DB6 GPI/O page tion resumes when a stable, valid measurement again is detected. 1 of 2 1.000 2.67 3.30 3.30 open (idle) 0.000 0.00 0.00 0.51 clos. 1 of 4 1.000 3.20 3.30 3.30 open open (idle) 0.689 2.18...

  • Page 70: Technical Specifications

    Dual Power Supply Redundancy Fan: Dual Fan Redundancy Power consumption: DB6 Single 14 W typ., DB6 Multi 45 W typ Warranty, Parts and labor: 2 years (Extended Warranty program available) Complies with: EN 55103-1 and EN 55103-2, FCC part 15 class B, CIS-...
  • Page 71 Technical specifications Inputs and outputs (DB6 Single and DB6 Multi – SDI) Connectors: 1 BNC In, 1 BNC Out. 75 Ohm Bypass Relay: Input to output while powered off and during boot-up Function: Audio de-embed/embed, video thru SDI Formats support – SD: 525i59.94, 625i50...

  • Page 72: Control Interface

    2 relays, floating, 200 mA / 24 V AC/DC max Output voltage (D-SUB): 3.3 V DC, 100 mA current limited Ethernet and remote control: 2 ports, 10/100 Mbits/s, Base-T, SNMP-enabled DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 73 Technical specifications English Manual (2014-03-05)
  • Page 74 Technical specifications DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...
  • Page 75 Technical specifications English Manual (2014-03-05)
  • Page 76 Technical specifications Item No. E60537014 DB6 Single / Multi / AES – Firmware version 1.30...

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