M-AUDIO CO3 User Manual

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Panel Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Installation and Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Advanced Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

SCMS Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

SCMS "Pass-Thru" Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

SCMS "None" Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

SCMS "Original" Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

SCMS "1st Generation" Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Input Source Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Coaxial or TOSlink (optical) S/PDIF Input Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

AES/EBU Input Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Mode Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Limited Lifetime Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

CO3 Manual

version: CO3-111201

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the CO3™ Digital Audio Format Converter from M Audio. The CO3™ converts between AES/EBU, S/PDIF Optical, and Coaxial S/PDIF digital formats. A precision instrument, the CO3 does more than just convert an unbalanced signal to balanced and vice versa. The CO3 gives you several options to manage the copy protection bits present in S/PDIF signals as well as creating the SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) bits required when converting AES/EBU to S/PDIF. Feel confident in the integrity of your digital format conversions with your CO3™ from M Audio.

Features

• Converts between 3 digital audio formats: AES/EBU, Coaxial S/PDIF, and TOSlink optical.

• Converts to ALL 3 outputs simultaneously while allowing original signal to pass through.

• Front panel SCMS button selects between copy protection modes: no copy protection, pass-thru, force "original", and force "1st generation."

• Built-in jitter correction.

• All 3 digital audio input and output ports on rear panel, allowing for easy

hook-up.

• One-third rack sized chassis. 9v DC wall wart power adapter.

Panel Description

➀

➁

➂

➃

➄

➊

➋➌

➅

Front Panel

Back Panel

POWER

Coaxial Optical AES/EBU Converter

TOSlink

S/PDIF

AES/EBU

SOURCE

Source Valid

SCMS

None

Pass-Thru

Original

1st Gen

9 VDC

TOSlink

S/PDIF

AES/EBU

TOSlink S/PDIF

AES/EBU

OUT

AUDIO

Front Panel

1. Source selection LEDs. These LEDs indicate which one of the three input

jacks is selected as the source of incoming digital audio. Only one of the LEDs is lit at a time.

2. Source selection button. This pushbutton selects one of the three input

jacks to be the source of incoming digital audio. Repeatedly pressing this button will cycle through the three available selections.

3. Source Valid LED. This LED indicates the state of the currently selected

source input. When lit, the LED indicates the input data is recognizable and has valid format. When not lit, the LED indicates invalid or no data at the selected input.

4. SCMS Mode Select button. Repeatedly pressing this button will cycle

through the four SCMS mode selections. Some SCMS modes may not be available, depending on which input format is currently selected as the source.

5. SCMS Mode selection LEDs. These LEDs indicate which one of the four

of the SCMS modes is selected. Only one of the LEDs is lit at a time.

6. Power button. Pressing this button to the "in" position will turn the CO3

on. Pressing and releasing to the "out" position will turn the CO3 off.

Back Panel

1. 9V DC input jack. The CO3’s power adapter plugs in here.

2. Digital Audio Input jacks. These jacks accept three different formats of

digital audio data input. Whichever jack is selected as the CO3’s source will be converted to one or more of the available output formats.

3. Digital Audio Output jacks. These jacks output converted data from the

CO3, in the three formats supported by the CO3.

Basic Operation

The CO3 Digital Audio Format Converter has three digital audio inputs:

1. Optical S/PDIF, labeled "TOSlink," is input via the TOSlink connector.

This is the default setting when the CO3 powers up.

2. Coaxial S/PDIF, labeled "S/PDIF," is input via the RCA jack.

3. AES/EBU, labeled "AES/EBU," is input via the female XLR jack.

Only one of the inputs to the CO3 is active at any time and the user selects this input, called the "Source" input, from the front panel. Once selected as the source, the input is constantly analyzed by the CO3 to determine if its digital audio stream is present and has a valid format. The status of this input is displayed by the CO3’s "Source Valid" LED.

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