Synapse DAD08, DAD09 User Manual

___________________________________________

DAD08/09

Digital Audio Distribution Amplifier

Lange Wagenstraat 55
NL-5126 BB Gilze
The Netherlands
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Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Web: www.axon.tv

TECHNICAL MANUAL

DAD08 & DAD09

Digital Audio Distribution Amplifier

1

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR
ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS
APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE

● ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before cleaning any component. The product

frame (SFR18 or SFR04) must be terminated with three-conductor AC mains power cord that includes an
earth ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must always be used.

● NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning components.

● NEVER operate this product if any cover is removed.

● NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid.

● NEVER pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit.

● NEVER block airflow through ventilation slots.

● NEVER bypass any fuse.

● NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified.

● NEVER attempt to repair this product. If a problem occurs, contact your local Axon distributor.

● NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures.

● NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.

Warranty: Axon warrants their products according to the warranty policy as described in the general terms.
That means that Axon Digital Design BV can only warrant the products as long as the serial numbers are not
removed.

Copyright © 2001 – 2006 AXON Digital Design B.V.

Date created: 16-10-02
Date last revised: 09-10-13

Axon, the Axon logo and Synapse are trademarks of Axon Digital Design B.V.

This product complies with the requirements of the product family standards for audio, video, audio-visual
entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use as mentioned below.

EN60950
EN55103-1: 1996
EN55103-2: 1996

Safety
Emission
Immunity

Axon Digital Design

DAD0809

Tested To Comply

With FCC Standards

FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules

Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may cause harmful interference, and

(2) This device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.

2

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction to Synapse

An introduction to Synapse

Local Control Panel

Remote Control Capabilities

Chapter 2 Unpacking and Placement

Unpacking

Placing the card

Chapter 3 A Quick Start

When powering-up

Default settings

Changing parameters and settings

Front Panel Control

Example of

changing parameter using

Front Panel control

Synapse Setup Software

Menu Structure Example

Chapter 4 The DAD08/09 cards

Introduction

Key Features

Chapter 5 Settings Menu

Chapter 6 Status Menu

Chapter 7 Events Menu

Chapter 8 LED Indication

Chapter 9 Block Schematic

Chapter 10 Connector panel

3

1 Introduction to Synapse

An Introduction to

Synapse

Synapse is a modular system designed for the broadcast industry.
High density, intuitive operation and high quality processing are
key features of this system. Synapse offers a full range of
converters and processing modules. Please visit the AXON Digital
Design Website at www.axon.tv to obtain the latest information on

our new products and updates.

Local Control Panel

The local control panel gives access to all adjustable parameters
and provides status information for any of the cards in the Synapse
frame, including the Synapse rack controller.

The local control

panel is also used to back-up and restore card set tings. P lease ref er
to the rack controller manuals (RRCxx, RRSxx, ERCxxx and
ERSxxx) for a detailed description of the local control panel, the
way t o s et -up r emote co ntrol over IP and for fram e related s ettin gs

and status information.

Remote Control

Capabilities

The remote control options are

explained in the rack controller

manual. The method of connection to a computer using Ethernet is
also described in the RRC/RRS/ERC/ERS manual.

!

CHECK-OUT: “CORTEX” SOFTWARE WILL

INCREASE SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY OF ONE OR
MORE SYNAPSE FRAMES

Although not required to use Cortex with a Synapse frame, you are
strongly advised to use a remote personal computer or laptop PC
with Axon Cortex installed, as this increases the ease of use and

understanding of the modules.

4

2 Unpacking and Pl a cement

Unpacking

The Axon Synapse card must be unpacked in an anti-static
environment. Care must be taken NOT to touch components on the
card – always handle the card carefully by the edges. The card
must be stored and shipped in anti-static packaging. Ensuring that
these precautions are followed will prevent premature failure from

components mounted on the board.

Placing the card

The Synapse card can be pl aced vertically in an SFR18 frame or
horizontally in an SFR04 and SFR08 frame. Locate the two guide

slots to be used, slide in the mounted circuit board, and push it

firmly to locate the connectors.
Correct insertion of card is essential as a card that is not located

properly may

show valid indicators, but does not function

correctly.

REMARK: On power up all LEDs will light for a few seconds, this

is the time it takes to initialise the card.

5

3 A Quick Start

When Powering-up

On powering up t he S ynapse fram e, th e card set wil l use b asic dat a

and default initialisation settings. All LEDs will light during this

process. After initialisation, several LEDs will remain lit – the
exact number and configuration is dependant upon the number of

inputs connected and the status of the inputs.

Default settings

In the default condition, the DAD08 & DAD09 will act as a frame

Digital Audio Distribution Amplifier.

Changing settings

and parameters

The front panel controls or the Cortex Software can be used to

change settings. An overview of the settings can be found in
chapter 5, 6 and 7 of this manual.

Front Panel Control

Front Panel Display and Cursor

Settings are displayed and changed as follows;

Use the cursor ‘arrows’ on the front panel to select the menu and
parameter to be displayed and/or changed.

Press ►

To go forward through the menu structure.

Press ◄

To go back through the menu structure.

Press ▲

To move up within a menu or increase the value of
a parameter.

Press ▼

To move down through a menu or decrease the
value of a parameter.

REMARK: Whilst editing a setting, pressing ► twice will reset

the value to its default.

[No Alarms]

6

Example of

changing

parameters using

front panel control

With the display as shown below

Pressing the ► selects the SFS10 in frame slot 01.

The display chan ges to indicate that the SFS10 has been select ed.

In this example the Settings menu item is indicated.

Pressing the ► selects the menu item shown, in this example

Settings.

(Pressing ▲ or ▼ will change to a different menu eg Status,
Events).

The display changes to indicate that the SFS10 Settings menu
item SDI-Format has been selected and shows that it current

setting is Auto.

Pressing the ► selects the settings item shown, in this example

SDI-Format.

(Pressing ▲ or ▼ will change to a different setting, eg Mode,
H-Delay).

The display changes to indicate that the SFS10 Edit Setting

menu item SDI-Format has been selected.

To edit the setting of the menu item press ▲ or ▼.

All menu items can be monitored and/or changed in this way.
Changing a setting has an immediate effect.

RRC18 [Select Card]
>S01=SFS10

SFS10 [Select Menu]
>Settings

SFS10 [Settings]
>SDI-Format=Auto

SFS10 [Edit
Setting]

7

Cortex Software

Cortex software can be used to change the settings of Synapse

modules from a PC, either locally or remotely. The software
enables communication based on TCP/IP between the Setup PC
and Synapse frames/modules.

Each Synapse frame is addressed through its rack controller’s
unique IP address, giving access to each module, its menus and
adjustment items. Cortex has access to data contained within the
Synapse module and displays it on a GUI. The software has an
intuitive structure following that of the module that it is
controlling.

For more details abou t operatin g Cortex, pl ease refer to the Co rtex

help-files (press F1)

Menu Structure

Example

Slot

Module

Item

Parameter

Setting ▲ ▲

S02

Identity

▲ ▲

S01

SFS10

►

Settings

►

SDI-

Format

►

Auto

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ S00

RRC18

Status

Mode

625

▼ ▼

▼

Events

Ref-Input

525 ▼

H-Delay

▼ ▼

8

4

The DAD08/09 Card

Introduction

The Axon DAD08 and DAD09 are Digital Audio Distribution

Amplifiers that distribute a single input to eight outputs. The

DAD08/09 accept AES/EBU or SPDIF (Consumer Interface
Format) digital audio input that is then reclocked, buffered and

distributed to the eight outputs.

The DAD08 has transformer

coupled balanced input and outputs, whereas the DAD09 has a

transformer coupled balanced input and direct balanced outputs.

Multiple regenerated independent low jitter outputs make the

DAD08 and DA

D09 ideal for the most demanding digital audio

signal distribution requirements in both large and small audio and

video facilities.

Key Features

The Key features of the DAD08 and DAD09 are as follows:

Wide Range Of

Sample Rates

The DAD08 and DAD09 offer a wide range of sample rates.

Sample rates from 24 to 96 kHz are decoded and cleanly
regenerated. Standard sample rates of 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96
kHz are indicated.

Signal Status

Indication

Signal status and error messages included in the audio data format
are decoded and displayed.

I/O Flexibily

The DAD08 and DAD09 offer a wide range of input and output
options depending on the choice of backplane, giving a high

degree of system flexibility.
Balanced Input: Both the DAD08 & DAD09 offer a transformer

coupled

balanced audio input when a backplane is used that

supports the use of three-conductor connections e.g. BPL05.
Balanced Output: The DAD08 offers transformer coupled balanced

audio outputs, whereas the DAD09 offers direct balanced audio
outputs when a backplane is used that supports the use of three­conductor connections e.g.BPL05

Unbalanced Input: Both the DAD08 & DAD09 can be used with
an unbalanced audio input when a backplane is used that supports
the use of BNC connectors e.g. BPL01

Unbalanced Output: Both the DAD08 & DAD09 can provide

unbalanced audio outputs when a backplane is used that supports
the use of BNC connectors e.g. BPL01

Levels and connectors are optimized for use with balanced XLR
110 ohm cable or unbalanced BNC 75 ohm coaxial cable.

9

The BPX01 can also be used. The BPX01 is a connector panel
similar to the BPL01 with a back up facility to connect J1 with J4
in a card or power failure situation.

Also an all D-Sub version can be used. The BPL05D.
Fiber backplane with unb

alanced In/Outputs: BPL01T_SC,

BPL01T_FC/PC, BPL01R_SC, BPL01_FCPC

10

5 Settings Menu

Introduction

The settings menu displays the current state of each setting within
the DAD08 and DAD09 and enables the item to be changed or

adjusted. Settings can be changed using the front panel of the

Synapse frame or C ortex software. Please refer to chapter 3 for

information on the Synapse front panel control and Cortex
software.

Validity-bit

This setting sets the validity

bit in the AES audio stream. The

validity bit is 0 if the audio sample word is suitable for

conversion to an analog audio signal, and it is 1 if it is not. In
other words: set it to valid (0) when audio is PCM. Set to invalid
(1) when audio is data (for instance Dolby).

These are the possible settings:

• Valid: fixed validity bit set to 0

• Invalid: fixed validity bit to 1

• Auto: the validity bit is set to match the detected input

(refer to status item Audio-Format)

11

6 Status Menu

Introduction

The status menu indicates the current status of each item listed
below.

Error

The Error

status item indicates the current condition of the

audio being processed. The errors hav e a priorit y associated with
their error code, with validity having the lowest priority and no

lock having the highest priority. Since only one code can be
displayed, the error with the highest priority that occurred since

the last clearing will be visible.
This item can have the following status;

No Error: The digital audio signal has no errors.
Validity Bit High:

Indicates that the validity bit for a

previous sample was high since the last clearing of the error

codes.
CRC Error: This error is indicated when the CRC value does

not match the CRC byte of the channel status block or when a
block boundary changes (as in removing samples while editing).

Parity Error

: The parity error occurs when the incoming

sub-frame does not have even parity as specified by the standards.
Bi-phase Error: The bi-phase coding error indicates a bi-

phase coding violation occurred.

No Lock

: This error message indicates that the PLL is not

locked onto the incoming data stream.

12

7 Events Menu

Introduction

An event is a special message that is generated on the card
asynchronously. This means that it is not the response to a request

to the card, but a spontaneous message.

What is the Goal of

an event?

The goal of events is to inform the environment about a changing
condition on the card. A message may be broadcast to mark the
change in status. The message is vol atile and canno t be retrieved
from the system after it has been broadcast. There are several

means by which the message can be filtered.

DAD08/09 Events

The events reported by the DAD08/09 are as follows;

Announcements

Announcements is not an event. This item is only used for
switching the announcement of status changes on/off. 0=off,
other =on

Input

Input can be selected between 0 .. 255. 0= no event, 1..255 is the

priority setting.

What information is

available in an

event?

The message consists of the following items;

1)

A message string to show what has happened in text, for

example: “INP_LOSS”, “REF_LOSS”, “INP_RETURN”.

2)

A tag that also shows what happens, but with a predefined

number: e.g. 1 (= loss of input), 2 (= loss of reference), 129(=
1+128 = return of input). For a list of these predefined tags
see the table on the next page.

3) A priority that marks the importance of an event. This value is

defined by the user and can have any value between 1 and
255, or 0 when disabled.

4) A slot number of the source of this event.

The Message String

The message string is defi ned in the card and i s therefo re fi xed. It
may be used in cont rolling software like Synapse Set-up to show

the event.

13

The Tag

The tag is also defined in the card. The tag has a fixed meaning.
When controlling or monitoring software should make decisions
based on events, it is easier to use the tag instead of interpreting a
string. The first implementation is the tag controlled switch in the
GPI16.

In cases where the event m arks a chan ge to faul t statu s (e.g. 1 for
Loss of Input) the complement is marked by the tag increased by

128 (80

hex

) (e.g. 129 (81

hex

) for Return of Input).

Defining Tags

The tags defined for the DAD08/09 are:

Event Menu Item

Tag

Description

Announcements

0 or NA

0 or NA

Announcing of report
and control values

Input

01

hex

=INP_LOSS

81

hex

=INP_RETURN

primary input lost or

returned

The Priority

The priority is a user-defined value. The higher the priority of the
alarm, the higher this value. Setting the priority to Zero disables

the announcement of this alarm. Alarms with priorities equal or

higher than the Error Threshold setting of the RRC will cause the

error LED on the Synapse rack front panel to light.

The Address

Together with the message string or the tag, the slot number or

address of the ca rd is relevant to be able to assi gn the event to a

certain card.

14

8 LED Indication

Error LED

Although mounted on the DAD08 and DAD09 cards, the Error

LED is not used.

Input LED

This LED indicated the presence of a valid AES/EBU digital
audio signal on the input.

Connection LED

This LED il

luminates after the card has initialised. The LED

lights for 0.5 seconds every time a connection is made to the card.

15

9 Block Schematic

DAD08/09

IN TERNAL SY N A PSE BUS

Rac k
controller

µP

AES/EBU OUT 1

DAD08 only

AES/EBU I N AES/EBU

DECODER

AES/EBU OUT 2

AES/EBU OUT 3

AES/EBU OUT 4

AES/EBU OUT 5

AES/EBU OUT 6

AES/EBU OUT 7

AES/EBU OUT 8

STATUS

Fs

ERROR

AES/EBU

ENCODER

16

10 Connector Panel

The DAD08/09 can be used with the following backplanes:
BPL01 BPL05 and BPL05D

BPL01

BPL05

BPX01

BPL05D

Fiber: BPL01T_FC/PC, BPL01T_SC, BPL01R_FC/PC and

BPL01R_SC

DAD0 8

AES/ EBU I N

AES/ EBU OUT

8

7

6

5

3

4

2

1

4

7

DAD0 8

8

6

5

AES/ EBU OUT

1

3

2

AES/ EBU I N

!Unused inputs and output s must be termina ted

with the correct impedance!

17

BPL05D

.