Ensemble Designs BrightEye 30 User Manual
This user guide provides detailed information for using the BrightEye™ 30
Audio ADC and DAC, Bi-directional Converter unit.
The information is organized into the following sections:
• Product Overview
• Functional Description
• Applications
• Rear Connectors
• Operation
• Front Panel Controls and Indicators
• Using The BrightEye Control Application
• Warranty and Factory Service
• Specifications
• Glossary
BrightEye-1
Audio ADC and DAC,
Bi-directional Converter
User Guide
Revision 5.0 SW v1.0.2
ENSEMBLE
DESIGNS
TM
BrightEye 30
BrightEye 30 Audio ADC and DAC, Bi-directional
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
BrightEye 30 is a flexible audio converter that can function as a two channel
bi-directional ADC and DAC, or as a four channel ADC or DAC. With 24 bit processing, convenient front panel controls, a powerful PC-based configuration tool,
and a compact form-factor, the BrightEye 30 is perfect for desktop, post, and
broadcast applications.
BrightEye 30 can also be used as a sample rate converter.
Input presence, conversion mode, analog reference level, VU status, and gain
adjustments are all located on the front panel. More advanced adjustments are
available via the BrightEye Control application.
A glossary of commonly used video terms is provided at the end of this manual.
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
BrightEye 30 has four channels of digital audio I/O (two AES streams) and four
channels of balanced analog audio I/O. It also has a reference input that accepts
analog video reference, AES, and Word Clock.
BrightEye 30 has four different operating modes. In order to simplify the use of
the BrightEye 30’s resources, inputs and outputs are automatically configured for
the various modes.
1. Analog to Digital Converter Mode
In this mode BrightEye 30 is a four channel analog audio to digital (AES)
converter. All four analog audio I/O's are configured for input, and the two AES
connectors are both outputs. In this mode, there are four analog audio inputs and
two AES output streams.
The four analog inputs are digitized with a sample rate of 48 kHz at 24 bits of
resolution. The conversion process uses 256x oversampling which results in phenomenally low distortion, flat frequency response and large dynamic range. The
analog input stage can be configured to operate at either -10dBu (consumer) or
+4dBu (professional) analog reference levels.
BrightEye-2
BrightEye 30 Analog to Digital Converter Mode
AES, Word Clock,
or Video Ref In
Analog Input
4 Channels
Audio Clock
Generation
4 Channel
A to D
Formatter
AES
AES
Formatter
AES 1/2
Output
AES 3/4
Output
BrightEye 3
0
The converted signals pass through a four channel mixer/shuffler providing individual adjustment of gain and channel inversion (to address out of phase inputs).
The four output channels are each formed by summing any combination of
inputs. Each output can contain any of the input channels, allowing, for example,
stereo to mono mixdown, left/right channel swaps, and simultaneous stereo and
mono outputs.
Finally, these four processed signals are output in digital form through the two
AES connectors.
In order to access all of the features of the mixer/shuffler, configuration of
BrightEye 30 must be done using BrightEye PC or Mac and the unit's USB connection. The BrightEye Control application further provides selection between -18
dBFS and -20 dBFS for the digital reference level.
Front panel controls allow simple adjustment of gain in pairs of channels
(1&2, 3&4) and VU and peak signal indication.
The reference input is active in this mode. It will accept analog composite video
(NTSC or PAL), 48kHz AES, or 48 kHz wordclock. The reference circuitry will
automatically detect any of these four signals and lock BrightEye 30's internal
clocks to the reference signal. When locked to a reference, the AES outputs of
BrightEye 30 will be synchronous to that reference.
Successful genlock is indicated by a steady Green 'Ref' LED on the front of the
unit. The LED will light Red if some sort of genlock signal is present but
BrightEye 30 is not able to lock to it. BrightEye 30 operates internally at 48kHz
sample rate, and reference signals must be compatible with that rate.
The LED will be extinguished if no reference signal is detected. In this case, the
clocks are derived from an internal standard which exceeds AES specifications for
clock accuracy and jitter performance.
2. Digital to Analog Converter Mode
In this mode BrightEye 30 is a four channel digital (AES) to analog audio
converter. Both AES connectors are inputs and all four analog channels are
outputs. When configured as a DAC, BrightEye 30 will accept AES inputs with
sample rates from 44.1 to 96 kHz. These AES sources pass through a sample rate
converter to produce a standard sample rate of 48kHz.
BrightEye-3
BrightEye 30 Digital to Analog Converter Mode
TM
Internal Precision
Clock Source
AES 1/2
Input
Sample Rate
Converter
Sample Rate
Converter
AES 3/4
Input
AES
Rcvr
AES
Rcvr
4 Channel
Mix
Shuffle
Gain
4 Channel
D to A
Analog Output
4 Channels
BrightEye 30 Audio ADC and DAC, Bi-directional
The four incoming digital audio signals feed the four channel mixer/shuffler. As
with analog to digital mode, this provides individual adjustment of gain and
channel inversion (to address out of phase inputs). The four output channels are
each formed by summing any combination of inputs. Each output can contain any
of the input channels, allowing, for example, stereo to mono mixdown, left/right
channel swaps, and simultaneous stereo and mono outputs.
Digital to analog conversion is performed with 24 bits of precision at 48kHz with
256x oversampling.
The processed signals are output as balanced analog signals at either -10 dBm or
+4 dBm reference level.
In order to access all of the features of the mixer/shuffler, configuration of
BrightEye 30 must be done using BrightEye PC or Mac and the unit's USB connection. The BrightEye Control application further provides selection between
18 dBFS and -20 dBFS for the digital reference level.
Front panel controls allow simple adjustment of gain in pairs of channels
(1&2, 3&4) and VU and peak signal indication.
The reference input is not used in this mode. All clocks are derived from the
incoming digital signals. The Ref LED will be extinguished.
3. Bi-Directional Conversion
In Bi-Directional mode, BrightEye 30 is simultaneously a two channel digital to
analog converter and a two channel analog to digital converter. The channel 1/2
AES connector is an input (accepting sample rates from 44.1 to 96 kHz), while
the channel 3/4 AES connector is an output. Analog channels 1/2 are outputs, and
analog channels 3/4 are inputs.
The AES input presented to channel 1/2 is sample rate converted to 48kHz, synchronous to the reference if one if provided. The AES output on channel 3/4 will
also be at a 48kHz sample rate and will also be synchronous to the reference
input.
BrightEye-4
BrightEye 30 Bi-Directional Conversion Mode
AES, Word Clock,
or Video Ref In
AES 1/2
Input
AES
Rcvr
Audio Clock
Generation
Sample Rate
Converter
2 Channel
Mix
Shuffle
Gain
2 Channel
D to A
Analog Audio Output
Ch 1/2
2 Channel
A to D
Analog Audio Input
Ch 3/4
2 Channel
Mix
Shuffle
Gain
AES
Formatter
AES 3/4
Output
BrightEye 3
0
BrightEye-5
The four channel mixer/shuffler is sub-divided into two, two channel
mixer/shufflers. The digital to analog path is supported by channels 1 and 2. The
reverse path (analog to digital) uses channels 3 and 4. Channel assignments are
limited to only allow assignment of inputs 1 and 2 to outputs 1 and 2; and inputs
3 and 4 to outputs 3 and 4.
The channel 1/2 outputs of the mixer are presented on analog outputs 1/2; and
mixer's channel 3/4 outputs drive the 3/4 AES output connector.
Conversion to and from the analog domain is performed at 48kHz, oversampled
by 256x to 24 bits of precision.
The reference input is active in this mode. It will accept analog composite video
(NTSC or PAL), 48kHz AES, or 48 kHz wordclock. The reference circuitry will
automatically detect any of these four signals and lock BrightEye 30's internal
clocks to the reference signal. When locked to a reference, the channel 3/4 AES
output of BrightEye 30 will be synchronous to that reference.
Successful genlock is indicated by a steady Green 'Ref' LED on the front of the
unit. The LED will light Red if some sort of genlock signal is present but
BrightEye 30 is not able to lock to it. BrightEye 30 operates internally at 48kHz
sample rate, and reference signals must be compatible with that rate.
The LED will be extinguished if no reference signal is detected. In this case, the
clocks are derived from an internal standard which exceeds AES specifications for
clock accuracy and jitter performance.
4. Sample Rate Conversion (and two channel Digital to Analog Conversion)
When configured as a digital sample rate converter, BrightEye 30 is a two
channel device, processing the channel 1/2 AES input connector and outputting to
the channel 3/4 AES output connector. The same signals are also output in analog
form on channels 3/4.
BrightEye 30 Sample Rate Conversion Mode
TM
AES or Video Ref In
AES 1/2
AES
Rcvr
Audio Clock
Generation
Sample Rate
Converter
2 Channel
Mix
Shuffle
Gain
AES
Formatter
AES 3/4
Output
2 Channel
D to A
Analog Audio Output
Ch 3/4
BrightEye 30 Audio ADC and DAC, Bi-directional
BrightEye-6
The channel 1/2 AES input will accept signals with sample rates from 44.1 to 96
kHz. The signal is digitally sample rate converted to 48kHz. The new sample rate
can be locked to an external reference (see below) in order to generate a digital
output which is synchronous to the reference.
After sample rate conversion, the two audio channels feed the Channel 1/2 inputs
of the mixer/shuffler. By default, channel 1 is routed to output 3 and channel 2 is
routed to channel 4. Inputs 1/2 can be routed to any combination of outputs 3/4.
Finally, the channel 3/4 outputs of the mixer/shuffler feed the AES 3/4 output and
analog audio channels 3/4.
Digital to analog conversion is performed with 24 bits of precision at 48kHz with
256x oversampling.
The reference input is active in this mode. It will accept analog composite video
(NTSC or PAL), 48kHz AES, or 48 kHz wordclock. The reference circuitry will
automatically detect any of these four signals and lock BrightEye 30's internal
clocks to the reference signal. When locked to a reference, the Channel 3/4 AES
output of BrightEye 30 will be synchronous to that reference.
Successful genlock is indicated by a steady green 'Ref' LED on the front of the
unit. The LED will light red if some sort of genlock signal is present but
BrightEye 30 is not able to lock to it. BrightEye 30 operates internally at 48kHz
sample rate, and reference signals must be compatible with that rate.
The LED will be extinguished if no reference signal is detected. In this case, the
clocks are derived from an internal standard which exceeds AES specifications for
clock accuracy and jitter performance.
0
BrightEye-7
APPLICATIONS
The BrightEye 30 can be used for four channel analog to digital or digital to
analog conversion, as well as two channel bi-directional conversion. Additionally,
the BrightEye 30 can provide two channel sample rate conversion with two
channel digital to analog conversion. These preset modes can be further adjusted
to fit particular applications (with channel mixing and other features.) Some of
the many possible applications are explained and illustrated below.
Analog to Digital Conversion
In this application, the BrightEye 30 is configured to convert four channels of
analog audio into two streams of AES audio. Note the use of the BrightEye 54 for
AES and composite reference. In most video applications, it is essential that AES
sample clocks be locked to a video reference.
Digital to Analog Conversion
In this application, the BrightEye 30 is configured to convert four channels of
analog audio into two streams of AES digital audio. Note the use of the BrightEye
54 for AES (or composite reference.) In most video applications, it is essential
that AES sample clocks be locked to a video reference.
BrightEye 3
TM
Analog VTR
BrightEye 54
Sync Generator
Composite Ref
AES Reference
AES In Ch 1/2
Four Channel Audio
Analog Audio Outputs
Ch 1
Ch 2
BrightEye 30
ADC Mode
AES Out Ch 1/2
AES Out Ch 3/4
Audio Tape
Recorder
AES In Ch 3/4
BrightEye 54
Ref
SPG/TSG
BrightEye 30
DAC Mode
Ch 3
Ch 4
Audio Tape
Recorder
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