TC Electronic BMC-2 User Manual

BMC-2

JET CLOCK DAC &
MONITOR CONTROL

USER’S MANUAL

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

SETUP EXAMPLES

Setup Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

OPERATION

Overview – Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Overview – Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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EN

APPENDIX

BMC-2 and Jitter Rejection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

BMC-2 Design Philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Wiring Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Calibrated Listening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

TC Electronic, Sindalsvej 34, DK-8240 Risskov – [e-mail]

Manual revision 1.0 – SW – V 1.0
Prod No: E60516011

English Version

4

BMC-2 is a dedicated Digital-to-Analog Converter and high
quality “hands-on” Monitor Control that’s an ideal solution
for you, whatever your audio production or monitoring
setup – be it digital or analog.

We at TC Electronic realize that predictable speaker and
headphone control is an important part of your production
process, and with BMC-2 such luxury is always available
to you – regardless of the state of the computer at the
heart of your system.

This handy self-contained desktop unit can be operated
without a Mac or PC, offering you instant and practical
control of sound levels. As well as controlling the listening
level, BMC-2 allows you to switch between three digital
input sources – S/PDIF/AES3, TOS and ADAT –, and
confirm if those inputs are synchronous or not. BMC-2
drives one set of analog speakers, one set of digital
speakers and a set of headphones. Calibrated listening is
available with both sets of speakers and the headphone
output.

But it’s not all about DAC and Level Control – BMC-2 also
puts user-definable reference levels at your fingertips. You
simply hit the front panel-mounted REF button, and BMC-2

will attenuate the output to a user-defined sound pressure
level, so reference level monitoring is always just a single
button-press away.

BMC-2 precision re-clocks all inputs, and features high
performance jitter rejection based on patented JET
technology that was originally developed for our flagship
System 6000. You get all the benefits of optical interfacing
without the problems – asymmetries are corrected and
jitter is completely removed from the equation.

The analog outputs offer wide dynamic range on XLR
connectors. Peak level metering and Integrity Check – or
“iCheck” – is also available on the selected input. iCheck
reveals if the signal is spatially compromised, e.g. because
of data reduction, such as MP3 or AAC encoded at too low
a bit rate.

BMC-2 is a self-contained desktop unit that works right out
of the box with no need for a computer for setup. It
interfaces directly with all new Macs and most PCs used
for audio production – just attach the supplied 12V DC
power adapter.

INTRODUCTION

SETUP EXAMPLE

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6

OVERVIEW – REAR PANEL

Phones

1/4" jack connection for headphones.

Power In

Use the supplied 12V DC
power supply.

Analog Outputs

Balanced analog outputs for
active monitors, amplifier or mixer.

TOS & ADAT

Lightpipe inputs and outputs on standard TOSLINK connectors
(TOS: Channels 1-2 – ADAT: Channels 1-4).

SPDIF I/O

24 Bit SPDIF/AES3-id input and output on
RCA connectors.

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OVERVIEW – TOP