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OceanAudio The Ark 500 Owner's Manual

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Owner's Manual
The Ark
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  • Page 1 Owner’s Manual The Ark www.oceanaudio.co.uk...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Contents Introduction Features Quick start Power Connections Audio Connections Basic connection without patchbay and without modules installed (Ark 500 and 900) Basic connection without patchbay but with modules installed (Ark 500) Basic connection without patchbay but with modules installed (Ark Extended Master) Using the console with a patchbay Audio Connections Ark Input Channels...

  • Page 3: Introduction

    Introduction Thank you for your purchase of the Ark. This manual is for all models of the Ark. We hope you’ll have as much pleasure using your console as we had designing and building it. The Ark is designed by Malcolm Toft, who was the founder of console manufacturer Trident Audio Developments in 1972.

  • Page 4: Features

    The Ark LX master section The Ark Extended master section There are two different input channel blocks available: The Ark 500 input channels (block of 8 channels) The Ark 900 input channels (block of 8 channels) The Ark building blocks can be combined in any way you want.

  • Page 5: Quick Start

    Quick Start Power Connections the Ark All models of are supplied with a high quality power supply. Make sure to use an earthed cable when connecting the AC power source to the 3-pin euro socket at the back of the power supply.

  • Page 6: Audio Connections

    Audio Connections the Ark So as to provide complete flexibility and provide greater access to the many inputs and outputs available, uses the Tascam standard 25 way D-Sub connector system. Because of this, when used without a patchbay certain functions in the console will not work unless they are “normalled”...

  • Page 7: Basic Connection Without Patchbay But With Modules Installed (Ark 500)

    For this example we’ll install 16x Mic Pres in the Top Rack slots of the Ark 500 channels and 16x EQs in the Lower Rack slots. This way, we create a standard analogue console and signal path.

  • Page 8: Basic Connection Without Patchbay But With Modules Installed (Ark Extended Master)

    Basic connections of Ark Extended Master, without patchbay but with modules installed For this example we’ll install 8x compressors in the Monitor Rack slots of the Extended Master section. We need to make sure that we once again enable continuity of signal through the console. The connections are a bit different now.

  • Page 9: Using The Console With A Patchbay

    Using the console with a patchbay The previous examples showed basic ways to use the Ark. But the Ark offers much more. And as with so many things in audio, there are not much rules. We would like to invite you to customise the connections so the Ark really suits your workflow. But when using the Ark with a patchbay, you need to make sure that similar connections as described above are made.

  • Page 10: Audio Connections

    Audio connections The console uses 25 way ‘D-Sub’ connectors which follow the Tascam standard for audio wiring. This universal standard makes it compatible with any other piece of professional analogue audio equipment (such as patchbays, audio interfaces etc.) that follow this standard. It is also possible to construct cables using the IDC (insulation displacement connector) technique using .05”...

  • Page 11: Ark Input Channels

    Ark 500 input channels Ark 900 input channels The difference between the Ark 500 and Ark 900 channels is the upper section of the channel. The Ark 500 features 2 slots for 500 series modules per channel. The Ark 900 features a Mic Pre and dual EQ’s per channel.

  • Page 12: Ark 900 Input Channel Upper Section

    Ark 900 input channel Upper section Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 12...
  • Page 13 Ark 900 upper input module description You can skip this page if you don’t have any Ark 900 inputs installed. The Ark 900 mic pre-amplifier and equaliser module provides a very high quality trans- former coupled microphone pre-amplifier together with two equaliser sections designed to be very musical and intuitive to use.

  • Page 14: Ark 500 Input Channel Upper Section

    You can skip this page if you don’t have any Ark 500 input channels installed. The upper section of each of the Ark 500 channels has 2 slots for 500 series modules. The slots come factory installed with blank panels.

  • Page 15: Ark 500 And Ark 900 Input Channel - Lower Section

    Ark input channel Lower input section This is the same for both Ark 500 and Ark 900 channels Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 15...
  • Page 16 In case of the Ark 900 input channel, the “Ext” input is actually the output of the MicPre. In case of the Ark 500 input channel, the “Ext” input can be anything connected to the external input on the back panel. A typical example of this might be where the “External Input”...
  • Page 17 Below the auxiliary sends is the channel monitor section. This is in effect another inde- pendent input channel that operates separately from the main one. The purpose of the channel monitor section is to provide a means of monitoring the replay signal from a DAW or other recording device (such as a good old analogue multi-track tape recorder).

  • Page 18: Ark Master Section

    Ark LX master section Ark extended master section The difference between the Ark LX and Ark extended master section is in the submaster channels. The Ark LX master section features the subgroup master section and the aux master section on rotary knobs. The Ark Extended master section features the subgroup master section on faders and has an additional 16 monitor returns with aux sends.

  • Page 19: Ark Lx And Ark Extended Master Module

    Ark master module This is the same for both Ark LX and Ark Extended master section Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 19...
  • Page 20 Master module operational description (Ark LX and Ark Extended master section) The master module of the Ark LX and Ark Extended master section contains all of the controls that affect the overall functionality of the console. Associated with the master module are an accurately matched 100mm stereo fader which controls the level of the master stereo balanced outputs together with a pair of very accurate 16 segment bargraph and two moving coil VU meters which indicate the signal being sent from the master left/right stereo outputs.
  • Page 21 Next in the master module are the controls for alternate control room monitor speakers 1 and 2. In conjunction with the standard control room monitor system these controls make it possible to have up to three different control room monitor speaker systems selectable from the console. Each of the alternate control room speaker systems consist of a stereo level control and an illu- minated [on] switch.

  • Page 22: Ark Extended Submaster Module

    Ark Extended submaster module Ark Extended master section Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 22...
  • Page 23 Submaster module operational description (Ark Extended master section only) You can skip this section if you don’t have the Ark Extended master. The submaster modules provide all of the facilities necessary when using the 8 sub group outputs. They provide monitoring of not only the 8 subgroups but an additional 8 line level returns, so that 16 track recordings can be moni- tored.
  • Page 24 Lower subgroup section At the top of the lower section are an identical set of auxiliary send controls to those found on the upper section and they perform the same function. The [replay] switch selects between the monitor line inputs 1-8 on the rear panel, or the subgroup output to be send to the master L/R bus.

  • Page 25: Ark Lx Group Master Module

    Ark LX group master module Ark LX master section Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 25...

  • Page 26: Ark Lx Auxilary Master Module

    Ark LX auxilary master module Ark LX master section Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 26...
  • Page 27 Group master module and Aux master module operational description (Ark LX master section only) You can skip this section if you don’t have the Ark LX master. The group master modules provide all of the facilities necessary when using the 8 sub group outputs. The output of the 8 groups is controlled by the 8 group masters.

  • Page 28: More On Metering

    More on Metering The metering on the Ark is very versatile. But since there are 3 different locations on the console, which determine what gets shown on the VU meters, it can be a little confusing, so it's important that this is well understood. Note that metering is slightly different on the Ark Extended or Ark LX master section, so please refer to the correct section below.

  • Page 29: More On Levels When Using Digital Audio Interfaces

    More on levels when using Digital Audio Interfaces The Ark has been designed to operate at standard professional operating levels ‘0’ on the VU meters corresponds to +4dBm (1.225V), ‘0’ on the master bargraph meters corresponds to 0dBm (0.775V). When connecting a Digital Audio Interface it is important to set the levels of your interface, so it matches correctly with the console.

  • Page 30: More On Speakers

    More on speakers Make sure to take care when interfacing the console to control room monitor speakers. Many control room monitors nowadays are self powered systems and contain their own amplifiers. These systems often have as much as 20db gain internally and therefore if connected directly to the console without any attenuation will mean that the console control room monitor level control (or the alternate monitor control room level controls) will operate at the low end of their travel (below mid-way).

  • Page 31: More On Grounding

    More on grounding By connecting equipment together using the 'star grounding' principle it is possible to virtually eliminate hum loops from studio wiring. Since the system is quite easy to implement, it only requires following a certain procedure that will soon become second nature.

  • Page 32: Standard D-Sub Pin Connections

    Appendix A Standard D-Sub pin connections Description Number Channel 8 + Channel 8 Earth Channel 7 - Channel 6 + Channel 6 Earth Channel 5 - Channel 4 + Channel 4 Earth Channel 3 - Channel 2 + Channel 2 Earth Channel 1 - No Connection Channel 8 -...

  • Page 33: Master Insert Sends, Returns & Master Outputs D-Sub Pin Connections

    Master Insert Sends, Returns and Master Outputs D-Sub connections Description Number No Connection No Connection No Connection Stereo Master Output Left + Stereo Master Output Left Ground Stereo Master Output Right - Stereo Master Insert Return Left + Stereo Master Insert Return Ground Stereo Master Insert Return Right - Stereo Master Insert Send Left + Stereo Master Insert Send Right Ground...

  • Page 34: Control Room, Alt Mon & Studio Playback D-Sub Pin Connections

    Speakers D-Sub connections Description Number Studio Play Left + Studio Play left Ground Studio Play Right - Alt Speaker 2 Left + Alt Speaker 2 Left Ground Alt Speaker 2 Right - Alt Speaker 1 Left + Alt Speaker 1 Left Ground Alt Speaker 1 Right - Control Room Left + Control Room Left Ground...

  • Page 35: 2-Track Returns D-Sub Pin Connections

    2-track returns D-Sub connections Description Number No Connection No Connection No Connection No Connection No Connection No Connection 2 Track 2 Return Right + 2 Track 2 Return Ground 2 Track 2 Return Left - 2 Track 1 Return Right + 2 Track 1 Return Right Ground 2 Track 1 Return Left - No Connection...

  • Page 36: Auxiliary Sends D-Sub Pin Connections

    Aux Sends D-Sub connections Description Number No Connection No Connection Aux Send 7 - Aux Send 6 + Aux Send 6 Earth Aux Send 5 - Aux Send 4 + Aux Send 4 Earth Aux Send 3 - Aux Send 2 + Aux Send 2 Earth Aux Send 1 - No Connection...

  • Page 37: Ark 900 Input Channel Flow Diagram (Upper Section)

    Appendix B Ark 900 input channel flow diagram (upper section) Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 37...

  • Page 38: Ark 500 And Ark 900 Input Channel Flow Diagram (Lower Section)

    Ark input channel flow diagram lower section Ark 500 and Ark 900 Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 38...

  • Page 39: Ark Lx And Ark Extended Master Module Flow Diagram

    Ark master module flow diagram Ark LX and Ark Extended Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 39...

  • Page 40: Ark Extended Submaster Module Flow Diagram

    Ark submaster module flow diagram Ark Extended only Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 40...
  • Page 41 Ark group and aux master module flow diagram Ark LX only SUBGROUPS 1-8 AUXILIARIES A.F.L/P.F.L SIGNAL A.F.L/P.F.L D.C Ark - Owner’s Manual - Revision 3 - page 41...

This manual is also suitable for:

The arc 900

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