Audica MULTI zone User Manual

Designed and engineered in the United Kingdom

Contents

Overall Description 3

Technical specication 3

Front Panel Controls 4

Rear Panel Connectors and Controls 4

Appendix 1 Microphone compressor and ducker operation 8

Appendix 2 Remote Zone Controller connections 8

Appendix 3 LOOP input and output connections 8

Appendix 4 RS-232 Interface 9

Appendix 5 Operation with Audica Speaker Eq and Subwoofer 12

Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.

1. PRECAUTIONS

WARNING - To reduce the risk of electric shock do not remove any panels or covers.

There are no user serviceable parts in this product.

WARNING - To reduce the risk of re or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus
to rain or moisture.

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS before attempting to install or use the product.

RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS for future reference.

WATER AND MOISTURE – Do not use this product near water, for example sinks,

bath tubs, wet areas and the like. The product shall not be exposed to dripping or
splashing and no objects lled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the
product.

OBJECT OR LIQUID ENTRY - Do not insert any object or liquid into the openings in
the product as this may cause electric shock or malfunction.

HEAT – Do not install the product near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves or other apparatus (including ampliers) that produce heat.

CLEANING – Clean only with a dry cloth.

MOVING/TRANSPORTING THE PRODUCT – The product should be packed in its

original packaging for moving from location to location.

POWER CORD PROTECTION – Protect the power cord from being walked on
or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where it exits from the apparatus.

ACCESSORIES – Use only attachments/accessories specied by the
manufacturer.

CARTS/STANDS – Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table
specied by the manufacturer or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used,
use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury
from tip-over.

LIGHTNING – Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused
for long periods of time.

2. SERVICING

Refer all servicing to qualied personnel. Servicing is required when the
apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is
damaged, liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped.

Do not attempt to service this product yourself as opening covers or panels
may expose you to dangerous voltages or other hazards.

Where replacement parts are required be sure the service technician has used
replacements supplied by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics
as the original part. Use of unsuitable parts could cause re, electric shock or
other hazards and may void any warranty or guarantee.

OVERLOADING - Never overload mains outlets, extension cables or multi-way plug
extensions as this may cause re or electric shock.

POWER CORD – Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding-type plug.
The plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The third prong is
provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not t your outlet, consult
and electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

The technician must perform any safety checks to test the performance of the
product upon completion of any repairs.

2

Overall Description:

The Audica Professional MULTIzone is a zone control mixer with 4 zone outputs and 6 music inputs plus a microphone input for
paging applications. Each of the 4 zone outputs can be independently congured to provide music from one of the inputs plus the
paging microphone, with the relative levels set by front panel controls. When the microphone is used, the music is automatically
reduced in level (“ducking”) to allow for announcements to be heard clearly. Each zone output is mono but all inputs are stereo
capable (mixed to mono internally).

Zone outputs can have Audica speaker EQ applied if needed. A mute control input is provided to be linked to re control systems.
This mutes all music inputs whilst keeping the paging microphone active for safety announcements.

Remote zone control is possible via wired wall-mount control panels or an RS-232 interface.

438.00

426.00

17.00

25.00

12.00

450.00

54.00 48.00

Technical specication

Inputs

Line inputs Input impedance 10kΩ at maximum gain – increases as gain is reduced

Input voltage range for full scale 240mV (maximum gain) – 6.4V (minimum gain)

Microphone input Input impedance 10kΩ balanced

Input voltage range for full scale 4mV (maximum gain) – 3.3V (minimum gain)

Outputs

Zone outputs - Line Output impedance 200Ω

Maximum output level 1.8 Vrms

Zone outputs - Balanced Output impedance 400Ω

Maximum output level 3.6 Vrms

172.60

3

Front Panel Controls

a

b d f ec b dc b dc b dc

a) Input Select

Choose one line input channel (1 to 6) to send to each zone
output (1 to 4).

b) Zone Volume

Set the volume level for each zone (1 to 4). Turn clockwise to
increase volume, anticlockwise to decrease.

c) Mic Volume

Four screwdriver controls set the volume level from the paging
microphone mixed with each zone’s music signal (zones 1 to 4).
When set to zero, music ducking (see Appendix 1) is disabled
for that zone.

Rear Panel Connectors and Controls

a

d) Zone signal indicator

This white indicator LED illuminates when a signal is present.
The brightness of the LED gives some indication of the signal
level.

e) Power On/O

This is a true mechanical power switch (not a standby mode).
Its position is retained even during mains power failure.

f) Power on indicator

This blue indicator LED is o when the power switch is o and
lights blue when the mains power is on. Rapid ashing
indicates that the RS-232 enabled standby mode is in
operation.

db e

c

a) Mains power input

IEC 3-pin connector. Use power cord supplied.
WARNING – The power cord must be connected to a power
socket outlet with a protective earth connection.

b) Line Inputs

Six line input channels on RCA phono pairs, each of which can
accept a mono or stereo source (stereo sources are internally
mixed down to mono). The front panel Input Select switches
(see above) pick which channel is to be sent to each Zone
output.

c) Line input gain controls

Rotary potentiometer to set gain for input channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6.

d) Input level set aid

A single 2-colour LED is provided to assist setting the line input
levels. By applying a signal on each input in turn the level can
be set optimally. Green indicates the signal is in the optimum
range (>-20dB) and Red indicates that clipping is imminent
(>-2dB)

f

e) Zone Outputs (unbalanced)

Four mono RCA phono sockets carry the Zone (Line) outputs.
Each Zone Output can be selected to have a at frequency
response or the Audica speaker EQ (AEQ) equalisation (see
page 6 ).

f) Zone Outputs (balanced)

Balanced audio outputs are provided on 3-way Phoenix
connectors for Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4. These replicate RCA jack
outputs for each zone. The balanced output level is double the
unbalanced output.

If taking a single-ended output from the balanced output
terminals then use the ground pin for screen and ‘+’ pin for
signal. DO NOT connect the ‘–‘ output pin to ground.

4

g1 g2 g3 g4 g5 g6 g

g7

g) Microphone Input

An XLR balanced input for a paging microphone. A 48V
“phantom power” option is provided for active or condenser
microphones – selected via the DIL switch (see next page).
The microphone signal can be processed in various ways
using 6 rotary potentiometers.

g1) GAIN

Rotary potentiometer sets the gain of the microphone input –
to accommodate dierent microphones.
Since the gain range on the Mic input is +50dB to -10dB this
can also be used as a line level input (maximum input

3.3Vrms).

g2) COMPRESSION RATIO

Rotary potentiometer sets the compressor contribution to
microphone channel.

g3) TREBLE

Mid-high tone control on microphone channel (centred at
5kHz).

g4) BASS
Low-mid tone control on microphone channel (centred at
150Hz).

g5) DUCKER – FLOOR
Rotary potentiometer sets the music ducking “oor level”
(music attenuation level).

g6) DUCKER – RELEASE
Rotary potentiometer sets the music ducking release time
(music fade-up time).

g7) MIC LEVEL SET AID
This is a 2-colour LED to assist in MIC input level setting. Green
indicates the signal is in the optimum range (>-20dB) and Red
indicates that clipping is imminent (>-2dB

[A more detailed description of the compressor and ducker
operation can be found in Appendix 1.

5