Bag End KAIROS DSP Operation Manual

KAIROS DSP SERIES
DIGITAL LOUDSPEAKER PROCESSORS

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KS26

OPERATION MANUAL

© 2013 by Bag End Loudspeakers and Electronics http://www.BagEnd.com

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Display

The LCD displays preset and parameter information. The default screen is shown after start up and displays
the number and name of the current preset on the lower line of text. When navigating around the adjustable
parameters, other information is shown.

Channel Select Buttons Display

The currently selected input or output channel is shown in the top left corner of the display. Pressing the
channel select buttons scrolls through the available inputs and outputs. If operating stereo linked the channel
pair is shown. For example ‘CH A+B’ means both input A and B parameters.

Edit Parameter Buttons

The name of the edit parameter page is displayed in the bottom left portion of the LCD. Pressing the edit
select buttons moves through the available parameter pages for the current input or output.

Parameter Knobs

Up to three parameters are shown on the display. The parameter name is shown with its’ current value
below. Where appropriate, parameters are grouped according to function. For example the parametric equal­ization page shows center frequency, width and gain. Turning a parameter knob clockwise will increase the
value of a parameter, turning anti-clockwise will decrease it. Turning a knob rapidly will cause the action to
‘accelerate’, so the value changes more rapidly.

Mute Buttons

The LED’s next to the mute buttons indicate their current status. Pressing a mute button toggles between
the mute on and off.

Store Button

The unit has 45 preset locations. To store a preset in a location, press the store button and use the param­eter knobs to select the preset location and name the preset. Pressing the store button again completes the
task. Pressing any button other than store during the process cancels the procedure.

Recall Button

To recall a preset, press the recall button and use parameter knob A to select the required preset. Pressing
the recall button again will activate the preset. You will then be asked to confirm by pressing recall once
more. As with the store function, pressing any button other will cancel the process.

Quick Reference Guide

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Quick Reference Guide 2
Display 2
Important Safety Information 5
Regulatory Compliance 5
Thanks and Unpacking 6
Introduction and Key Features 7
Introduction 7
The User Guide 8
Front Panel 9
Input Signal Indicators 9
Preset Store and Recall 9
Channel Select Buttons 9
Text Display 10
Parameter Knobs 10
Output Signal / Limiter Indication 10
Mute Buttons and Status LEDs 10
Secure Button (on the rear) 10
Rear Panel 11
Power Inlet 11
Network Expansion Port 11
Audio Input Connectors 11
Audio Output Connectors 11
Communications Port Connector 11
Operation 12
Starting up 12
Selecting a Factory Preset 12
Creating a Preset 12
Navigation and Viewing Parameters 13
Navigation 13
Presets 14
Preset Recall 14
Preset Store 15
DSP Processing layout 16
Input DSP block diagram 16
Output DSP block diagram 16
Stereo / Mono Formats 16
DSP processing 16
Input Channels 17
Gain 17
Delay 17
High Pass Filter 18
Parametric Equalization 18
High and Low shelving filters 19
Parametric filters 19
Output Channels 20
Gain and Polarity 20
Delay 20
High and Low Pass Filters 21
Parametric Equalization 22

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Limiters 23
Routing 24
Utilities 25
Utility functions 25
Bag End CD and CDS Series Loudspeaker Presets 26
Preset Output Assignments 27
EQ and Filter Response Graphs 28-30
Technical Specification 31
General 31
Processing 31
Connectors 31

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Please read carefully and keep the following instructions and safety information.
Heed all warnings and follow all instructions.

• Do not remove covers. There are no user serviceable parts inside, please refer servicing to
qualified service personnel.

• This equipment must be earthed.

• Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

• Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

• Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as the power supply
cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the appara­ tus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

Regulatory Compliance

This product complies with both the EMC Directive (89/336/EEC) and the Low Voltage Directive (73/23/
EEC) as issued by the Commission of the European Community.
Compliance with these directives imply conformity with the following European standards:

• EN60065 Product safety

• EN55103-1 Electromagnetic Interference (Emission)

• EN55103-2 Electromagnetic Susceptibility (Immunity)

This product is intended for operation in the E2 (commercial & light industrial) and E3 (urban outdoors) Elec­tromagnetic Environments.

Important Safety Information

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Thank you for choosing a Bag End Kairos DSP series loudspeaker management system for your application.
Please spare a little time to study the contents of this manual, so that you obtain the best possible perfor­mance from this unit.

All Bag End products are carefully engineered for world-class performance and reliability. If you would like
further information about this or any other Bag End product, please contact us. We look forward to helping
you in the near future.

Unpacking the Bag End Kairos DSP series processor

After unpacking the unit please check carefully for damage. If damage is found, please notify the carrier
concerned at once. You, the consignee, must instigate any claim. Please retain all packaging in case of fu­ture re-shipment.

Thanks and Unpacking

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Introduction

The Bag End Kairos DSP series of loudspeaker processors represent the current state-of-the-art. Taking ad­vantages of the latest advances in analog to digital conversion and digital signal processing technologies the
units achieve performance levels that have only recently been made possible.

Key Features

• Bag End minimal signal path design

• Sonically superb ADC / DAC combination; a carefully matched pairing of the best devices from Burr
Brown and Wolfson

• Newly released family of Analog Devices SHARC DSP

Extended bandwidth; 96kHz sampling frequency provides for a nominally flat response to 40kHz.

• Parameter knob and LCD provide a rapid, user-friendly control interface

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The User Guide

Introduction and Key Features

Page 8

This user manual gives a progressively more detailed description of the functions of the DSP series. A single
page quick reference guide is provided for those users who are experienced with this type of equipment and
just need to know how to ‘drive’ the front panel.

A detailed explanation of the front and rear panel controls and indicators is contained in the next section.
The final section describes each individual function or feature with annotated images explaining its’ use.
Where appropriate, the LCD is shown to further elaborate on the units’ operation.

To complete the manual a reference section is included, describing the technical performance of the device
complete with graphs of filter responses and details of the Factory Presets and their configuration.

The User Guide

Page 9

Input Signal Indicators

A set of three pairs of LEDs indicate signal present, +4dBu and input clip for each channel. The signal
present LEDs operate at approximately –40 dBu, giving a useful indication of even relatively low input signal
levels. The +4 dBu LEDs are intended to show nominal operating level and can also be useful for setting
system gain structure. Clip LEDs warn the user of input overload and operate at +19 dBu.

Preset Store and Recall

These controls provide access to the 45 presets stored within the device. Pressing the store button allows
the user to name a preset and choose which memory location it will be held in. Pressing store button again
completes the process. The Recall function operates in a similar way, pressing the recall button allows the
user to select which preset they require, pressing the button for a second time recalls the new DSP settings.

Note that presets cannot be stored or recalled when Secure mode is activated.

Channel Select Buttons

The currently selected channel is displayed on the top left hand corner of the LCD. Pressing the channel but­tons scrolls through the available input and output channels and finally through the utility functions and back
to the default screen. If operating a stereo linked preset, the channel name will indicate the channel pairing.
For example ‘A+B’ means both input A and B parameters. The name of the output will be shown briefly at
the top of the display when stepping onto an output.

Edit Select Buttons

The currently selected edit parameter page is displayed on the bottom left corner of the LCD. Pressing the
edit select buttons moves through the available parameters for the current input or output.

Front Panel

2x 24 character

LCD

Input Signal

Indicators

Store and

Recall buttons

Channel Select

buttons

Parameter Edit

Encoders

Output Mute

buttons

Limiter

Indicators

Edit Parameter

Select buttons

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Text Display

Preset, channel, parameter and status information is shown on the 2x 24-character text display. In most
screens the currently selected channel is displayed on the upper line and the edit parameter on the lower
line. To simplify the display and enhance security, some parameters or parameter pages are omitted when
not relevant.

Parameter Knobs

Three velocity sensitive parameter knobs are used to adjust parameters shown on the display. Up to three
parameters at a time are displayed on the screen. The parameter name is shown above the parameter value
in each of the three screen sections. The parameter knobs have a fixed association with the screen sec­tions; the rightmost parameter knob adjusts the rightmost parameter and so on.

Output Signal / Limiter Indication

Two LEDs are provided for each output channel. These show the peak signal level relative to the limiter
threshold. The yellow LED will light when the signal is 6dB below the threshold and the red warning LED
will light when the limiter threshold is reached.

Mute Buttons and Status LEDs

Each output has a mute button and associated mute status LED. Pressing the button toggles the mute on
and off.

Note that the mute buttons do not function when the Secure mode is activated.

Secure Button (on the rear)

A momentary button is fitted behind the rear panel, between the output XLRs and the RS232 port. When
activated, this will disable all the front panel controls so they cannot affect the signal path, making the unit
secure against tampering. When in secure mode, the indicators still operate normally. Note that the commu­nications port is still active in secure mode.