TC Electronic DB4, DB8 Operation Manual

1

DB8/DB4 OPERATION - CONTENTS

Introduction

Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Basic Operation

Accessing a Mainframe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Engine Structure and Resources . . . . . . . . . . . .2

General Setup

Basic TC Icon Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Icon Views - Faders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Operating Levels Scene & Engine . . . . . . . . . . .3

Operation

Library Page

Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Store & Naming display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Frame Page

Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Frame System Main

Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

SMPTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

GPI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Net - Software Versions, Network Identifier . . .15

Card - handling PCMCIA Cards . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Icon Setup

Icon User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Touch Fader Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Color Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Automation - SMPTE

The Auto Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Modify - Insert/Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

SNMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Frame System I/O

Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

DSP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

I/O - Slot A, B & C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Description of I/O card related parameters . . .17

I/O - Slot B with AES-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Engine - Edit Page

General introduction to operate
parameters in algorithms

User Fader Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

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

Operation DB8/DB4 Rev 1.90
English version

2

BASIC OPERATION

you run up to 4 Engine presets at the same time using any
available algorithms.

Basic TC Icon operation

Navigation in the Software Editor or TC Icon display is easy
as soon as a few basic elements are explained.
The Icon Link key in the upper left corner allows you to
navigate between the two pages/modes illustrated below.

Generally :

• Press the top-tabs to do primary selections

• Press the side-tabs or elements to do secondary
selections.

Fig 1

Via the “overall” Select & Setup pages you access
overall settings and choices like:

• Selection of which mainframe to operate

• Enable devices to network

• Updates via disk

• TC Icon settings such as display appearance

• SMPTE Automation

Fig 2

The selection of mainframe is done in the Select page
illustrated in “Fig 1”. The page/pages illustrated in Fig. 2
are pages containing parameters on a specific mainframe.
These are the Operating Pages and the page you will be
working in once the system is up and running. Only when
several mainframes are connected you will need to go to
the “overall” Select and Setup pages to switch mainframe.

Introduction

This section of the manual is a general introduction to
operate DB8/DB4 via the Software Editor or the TC Icon.
The basic DB8/DB4 consists of a Mainframe with a DSP
card and up to three I/O cards, plus a PC Editor but the
DB8/DB4 can also be controlled via a TC Icon hardware
remote.
Several mainframes, Mac/PC's with installed Software
Editor and TC Icons can be hooked up at the same time
via a standard Local Area Network (LAN).

Accessing a Mainframe

First time you connect the Mainframe to the PC with
installed PC editor and network adapter:

• Power up your computer and your DB8/DB4.

• Start the Software editor and the following page appears:

• Press Assign

• All connected DB8/DB4 mainframes will be detected and
assigned to one of the 8 locations (see fig. 1).

• Press the oval key with the DB8/DB4 icon to access the
DB8/DB4.

Scanning the system

The scenario described above covers the first time you
boot up your system or when no connected units are
assigned.
To scan the system for all connected units go to the Setup
page and press Detect (see fig 2). The connected
mainframes will the appear in the left side of the display
and you can assign them to any of the 8 location illustrated
in the right side of the display by selecting the frames with
the cursors followed by pressing one of the oval keys.

Engine Structure

The core element of DB8/DB4 is the 4 Engine structure.
This structure enables you to run up to four powerful
algorithms/ presets simultaneously.
Each Engine is capable of utilizing up to 8 Inputs and 8
Outputs, depending on the selected algorithm/preset.
Up to 16 physical Input and 16 physical Output channels
can be routed in the most flexible way.

Engine Resources

The powerful and flexible DSP distribution structure lets

3

BASIC OPERATION

Fader
Group
Selector

Function
Select
Tabs

Library, Frame &
Engine select Tabs

Operating Levels

The Library-Recall page illustrated in Fig.3 leads to
explanation of the “operating levels” in the DB8/DB4. We
differentiate between 2 levels of presets:
Scene and Engine levels.

• SCENE

This is the most extensive selection you can make. It
includes all four Engine algorithms as well as physical
and virtual Engine Routings. A Scene recall can be
compared to a “total recall.”

• ENGINE

Handles the current algorithm in the selected Engine.
A single preset can be loaded to each of the four
Engines.

Parameter Values and Fader Groups

In the bottom of the display, Fader assignments and values
will always reflect the last modified Engine. Most
parameters can be controlled via the 6 Faders. As some
algorithms hold numerous parameters and we operate with
6 Faders the preset parameters are organized in Fader
Groups. To scroll between the Fader Groups use the

Fader Group selectors.

Parameter value - Fine Adjust

Any parameter value can be adjusted in two accuracies.
A Normal and a Fine Adjust - mode. To switch between the
two modes press the Value Fields above the faders.
As shown in the illustration the Fine Adjust mode will be
indicated with two triangles in the value field.

Fader 6
Any parameter can always be assigned to Fader 6 by
pressing the parameter. Detailed explanation will follow in
the next sections.

User Fader Group - Custom Group
A User Fader group where you can assign parameters to
all 6 faders can also be created and saved along with the
preset. The User Fader group is selected by pressing the

Fader Group selectors.

The Icon
LINK key

Bank Select

UI - Icon Views

On the Icon Setup page two sub-pages are available for
controlling the TC Icon appearance.

Fader appearance

Three options are available. Changes will take place next
time you open the TC Icon.

Faders at bottom

Fader at right side

No faders

Fader
Group
Selector

LIBRARY - RECALL

Library Recall

On the Library Recall page the following banks are
available for recall operations.

Scene

Gives access to the following preset banks:

• Factory

• User

• Card (optional)

Engine 1-4

Gives access to the following preset banks:

• Factory

• User

• Card (optional)

Routing

Various standard routings can be selected.

Operation Level Tabs Bank Selectors

Function
Select
Tabs

Library, Frame and Engine selectors

Parameter Fader
values present in
the last modified
Engine.

Press “info” for
preset information

Decade selector
(“tens”)

Recalling a Scene or an Engine preset

• Press the RECALL tab to select the Recall page.

• Now select the level of: Scene or Engine 1-4.

• Select which bank you wish to recall from: Factory or
User. If a DB8/DB4 formatted PCMCIA card is inserted in
the Mainframe card-banks will be available and displayed
below the User banks.

• Select presets pressing: Bank, Decade(tens) and preset
number.
(grayed out numbers indicates that the Decade is empty)

• Press the Recall key to recall/load the preset.

Info

For presets carrying the “info” tag we have added relevant
information for the specific preset. Press Info and a pop-up
display will appear.

Example:

5

LIBRARY - STORE

Library Store

For storing operations the following banks are available.

Scene

Allows you to store in the following banks.

• User

• Card (optional)

Engine 1-4

Allows you to store in the following banks.

• User

• Card (optional)

Storing a Preset

• Press the Store tab and select Scene or Engine level.

• Select bank (user or card) and location using Decade to
select “tens” followed by location 1-9.
(grayed out numbers indicates that the bank is empty)

• Press the Store key to store the preset.

Naming Presets

All user preset types can be renamed.

Basic operation

• Press the Name field. A keyboard will pop up.

• Type in the new name.

• Press Enter.

The preset

is not stored when the keyboards Enter
key is pressed. Only the name is entered.
To store you MUST press the red Store key on the
Store page.

The previous accessed display will always be present
beneath the keyboard. Current Fader values will be
displayed and faders can be used to adjust parameter
values.The preset is not stored when the keyboard Enter
key is pressed. Only the name is entered.
To store you MUST press the red Store key.

Fader assignments in the bottom of the display will
always reflect the last modified Engine. The Engine
Fader Group selector in the lower left corner
indicates the Engine in use.

Operation Level Tabs Bank Selectors

Library, Frame and
Engine selectors

Fader
Group
Selector

Function
Select
Tabs

Decade selector
(“tens”)

Preset location
selector (“ones”)

6

THE LIBRARY BANK

Library - Bank

From the Library Archive page you can copy Scene,
Routing and Engine banks to and from a 3.5” disk or a
PCMCIA card. If you are using the TC Icon software
editor on an Mac or a PC, preset banks can also be
copied to and from your hard disk.

Basic Operation

Bank copying is handled as a complete User bank
transferal.

• Press Scene, Routing or Engine to select preset bank
type.

• Select “from” and “to” depending on your choice.

• Press Copy Bank.

Scene/Routing/Engine Banks

T

o/From - Bank/Floppy/File
Scene, Routing or Engine banks can be backed up and
retrieved from a 3.5” disk, a PCMCIA or a file location on a
connected computer (when using the TC Icon software
editor).

Copy Bank

Press to activate copy function between the selected
Banks.

Rename

Press to rename selected bank via the Naming pop-up
display.

Delete

Press to clear the selected Bank. You will be asked to
confirm your choice to avoid unintended deletion.

Using PCMCIA cards

To use a PCMCIA card with DB8-DB4 the card must be
properly formatted. This is done from the
Frame/System/Card page.

A

1MB PCMCIA card can hold:
1000 Engine presets in 10 banks of 100 presets
500 Routing presets in 10 banks of 50 presets
500 Scene presets in 10 banks of 50 presets

A

512kB PCMCIA card can hold:
500 Engine presets in 5 banks of 100 presets
250 Routing presets in 5 banks of 50 presets
250 Scene presets in 5 banks of 50 presets

7

LIBRARY - DELETE

Library - Delete

For convenience it is possible to “clean up” the User
banks by deleting individual presets.

Deleting a Preset

• Select Delete (side tab) and select level by pressing
Scene or Engine.

• Select the preset to delete by pressing the actual Bank,
Decade(to select tens) and the actual preset.

• Press the Delete key to delete the preset.

Library, Frame and Engine selectors

Fader
Group
Selector

Function
Select
Tabs

8

FRAME - ROUTING

Routing

Introduction

The Routing page is the patch-bay of the DB8/DB4
Mainframe. All routings of physical Inputs/Outputs as well
as internal routing between the Engines are setup here.
The understanding of this page is therefore essential to
operating the DB8/DB4.

To access the Routing Page:

• Press Frame (upper tab)

• Press Routing (side tab)

• Press Route to enable routing facilities

This is the p

age where you:

• Have the overall view of all I/O’s

• Route physical Inputs to Engine Inputs

• Route Engine Outputs to physical Outputs

• Access Input and Output meters

Routing Inputs

• Press the Route key to select route operation.

• Press ENGINE 1 to 4 to select the Engine you
wish to route

• Select a physical Input or another Engine's Output using

Fader 1

• Select Engine Input using Fader 2

Routing Outputs

• Press the Route key to select Route operation

• Press Engine 1 to 4 to select the Engine you wish to
route

• Select an Engine Output using Fader 5

• Select Physical Output using Fader 6

The I/O possibilities are as follows

• It is possible to connect any physical Input to several
Engine Inputs (up to 32), however, it is not possible to
connect more than one physical Input to the same
Engine Input.

• It is possible to connect all Engine Outputs (up to 32) to
one single physical Output.

• It is possible to connect an Engine Output to the Inputs
of the three other Engines.

Engine Processing Delay

Processing delay between the routed Engines
behaves as if they were external devices.

Labels

The Input/Output fields can show either meters or the
Labels/names on the Input/Output channels. To switch
between the two modes press “Labels”.

Renaming Physical Inputs and Outputs

Input and Output channels can be labeled individually. This
is a global renaming process and is accessed by pressing
System (side tab) followed by I/O and Labels. After that
follow the naming procedure described on page 6.

Meters

Engine I/O Meters

Engine I/O meters are shown at the left and right of the
large E 1-4 buttons in the middle of the display. The
number of meters shown will always reflect the number of
I/O channels in the loaded algorithm.

Frame - E1 to E4/E2 (DB8/DB4)

This page holds the User group parameters for all four
Engines. Selecting User group parameters is done from the
Engine pages. Values can be altered from both the Engine
Edit pages and the page displayed above. Press the
parameter you wish to assign to the Fader located below.

9

FRAME - SYSTEM - MAIN

Clock

Clock Settings

Clock Master

Select the clock source for the complete Mainframe,
including all Engines and all I/O’s.

Select between:
Internal, Wordclock, AES 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 or 7-8.
Locking to an external source will take approx.. 7 sec.

It is not necessary to have the physical Input

routed to an Engine Input to have the clock accepted.

Internal Clock Rate

The internal Clock Rate can be set to 44.1 or 48kHz.
As it is considered “unconventional” to use the DB8 internal
clock in broadcast setups, a yellow indication will appear
on the frame select page when internal is selected.

Auto Revert to Internal

Press to activate. If an external clock source is selected
and this clock is lost, DB8 will automatically switch to the
selected internal clock-rate with this function active.

Notice that “auto revert to internal” will work only

if a
valid clock on the selected Clock Master, has be
present at one point and then lost. If DB8 at no point
has been locked to a valid clock on the selected

Clock master input the “Locked Clock Rate” field will be
red. Red means: no output.

Clock Status

Locked Clock Rate

The Clock Rate to which the Mainframe is currently locked.

Color indications

The yellow color indicates that:

- Auto Revert to Internal is selected and...

- the selected Clock Master has been present at one point
but is now lost and...

- the frame has switched to the selected internal clock rate.

The red color indicates “no lock” - check cables and clock
source.

SMPTE

Reader Enabled

On/Off switch for the DB8/DB4 SMPTE Reader.

Frame Rate

Range: 24 FPS, 25 FPS, 29.97 FPS,
30 Drop FPS, 30 FPS.

Running Status

The small field in the top left corner of the numeric display
will state “Running” when SMPTE clock is running.

Detected Sample Rate

This is a read-only parameter indicating the actual
incoming Sample Rate. The tolerance of this detection is
+/- 10Hz.

Example:

An incoming Sample Rate of 44.056kHz will be
detected as approx. 44.06kHz and the system indicates the
Locked Clock Rate 44.100kHz.

The system will lock to and reject jitter at any Sample Rate
between:

• 30 - 34kHz

• 42.5 - 45.5kHz

• 46.5 - 48.5kHz

10

FRAME - SYSTEM - MAIN - GPI

DB4 and DB8 GPI Specification

DB4 and DB8 offers a GPI input for remote switching between Scenes (all Engine Presets plus Routing). The input can be
used for daily operation, or for backup and redundancy purposes. It allows change between 2, 4 or 8 presets using just
one connection.

Basic operation

GPI functions are accessed from the System/Main/GPI page in TC Icon.

Enable Recall

Off

2 Presets

3 Presets

4 Presets

7 Presets

8 Presets

Select between Scenes

GPI Recall disabled

User Scene 0-1

User Scene 1-3

User Scene 0-3

User Scene 1-7

User Scene 0-7

Notes

Make sure this state is selected, if GPI recall is not being used.

User Scene 0 or 1 is permanently recalled.
Note: Switching to this mode will instantly perform a Scene Recall,
even if no connections are made to the GPI input.

As long as the GPI input is idle (+5V), GPI recall is inactive. In idle
mode, the machine can be normally controlled from Icon, or using
the serial data input.If active GPI windows 1, 2 or 3 are selected,
the corresponding Scene is recalled, and the serial data control
input is disabled.This GPI mode is suitable for Backup and Alarm
messaging operation.

User Scene 0, 1, 2 or 3 is permanently recalled.OBS: Switching to
this mode will instantly perform a Scene Recall, even if no
connections are made to the GPI input.

As long as the GPI input is idle (+5V), GPI recall is inactive. In idle
mode, the machine can be normally controlled from Icon, or using
the serial data input.If active GPI windows 1-7 are selected, the
corresponding Scene is recalled, and the serial data control input is
disabled.This GPI mode is suitable for Backup and Alarm
messaging operation.

User Scene 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 is permanently recalled.OBS:
Switching to this mode will instantly perform a Scene Recall, even if
no connections are made to the GPI input.

The Enable Recall parameter can be set to Off (GPI
recall disabled), 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 presets.
Presets are selected as a state condition, i.e. presenting
the GPI input a permanent voltage signifying a specific
preset.

11

FRAME - SYSTEM - MAIN - GPI

Installation

Selection between up to 8 presets is achieved by feeding the processor a DC voltage to the 1/4" jack input labeled "Pedal".
The input voltage is compared against voltage windows that correspond to certain presets.
Between the valid voltage windows, invalid windows have been inserted to protect against erratic operation. The processor
constantly monitors the GPI input, and only if several consecutive measurements point to the same, valid voltage window,
a recall is performed.
The voltage windows chosen enable easy "binary relay encoding" as shown in fig. 1. If long cable runs are required, HF
decoupling using a ceramic capacitor across the Tip and Sleeve terminals inside the jack plug may be indicated.

Note: The ring terminal of the 1/4" jack is not used.

Fig 1, Relay coding of 2, 4 and 8 preset GPI configurations

12

FRAME - SYSTEM - MAIN - GPI

GPI Technical specifications

Inside the processor, a 10kohm resistor connects the Tip terminal to a +5V power supply. When nothing is connected to
the GPI input, the input voltage therefore is +5V. Resistors can be used to pull down the voltage as suggested in Fig 1.
In Table 1, voltages outside the limits mentioned are to be considered invalid. No action is taken if invalid measurements
are made. GPI recall action resumes when a stable, valid measurement again is detected.

Mode

1 of 2

1 of 4

1 of 8

Preset No

0
1

0
1
2
3

0
1
2
3
4
5
6

Target / Vs

1.000 (idle)

0.000

1.000 (idle)

0.687

0.545

0.438

1.000 (idle)

0.824

0.687

0.600

0.545

0.489

0.437

0.400

Target typ / V

5.00

0.00

5.00

3.44

2.73

2.19

5.00

4.12

3.44

3.00

2.73

2.44

2.19

2.00

Max typ / V

5.00

0.51

5.00

3.50

2.79

2.25

5.00

4.18

3.50

3.06

2.79

2.50

2.25

2.06

Min typ / V

2.67

0.00

4.16

3.38

2.67

0.00

4.50

4.06

3.38

2.94

2.67

2.38

2.13

0.00

Tech Notes:

"Idle" refers to the state when no input is connected, or when the input is left floating.

Rather than absolute voltage measurements, the windows are defined as a fraction of
the supply voltage, Vs. This voltage can be measured with a high impedance DMM on
the Tip terminal when no pull down resistors are applied.

The table shows values as a fraction of Vs, and, as a guideline, typical voltages when
Vs=5.000V. (If the Supply voltage is e.g. 5.015V, the table should be corrected by
multiplying these values by 5.015/5).

13

FRAME - SYSTEM - MAIN

Normal mode

In Normal mode all banks can be accessed for program
changes. Bank selection is done via Ctrl 0 (MSB) and
Ctrl 32 (LSB):

• Controller 0 must be set to 0 in all cases.

• Controller 32 value must match the bank number you

wish to address according to the table below.

Ctrl 32 value 0 - F1: Loudness, Stereo
Ctrl 32 value 1 - F2: Loudness, Multichannel
Ctrl 32 value 2 - F3: Reserved
Ctrl 32 value 3 - F4: Format Conversion
Ctrl 32 value 4 - F5: Reserved
Ctrl 32 value 5 - F6: Delay and EQ
Ctrl 32 value 6 - F7: Reserved
Ctrl 32 value 7 - F8: Monitor and Lineup
Ctrl 32 value 8 - F9: Reserved
Ctrl 32 value 9 - F10: Reserved
Ctrl 32 value 10 - F11: Reserved
Ctrl 32 value 11 - F12: Reserved
Ctrl 32 value 12 - F13: Reserved
Ctrl 32 value 13 - F14: Reserved

Ctrl 32 value 32 - User bank

Ctrl 32 value 64 - Card Bank 1
Ctrl 32 value 65 - Card Bank 2
Ctrl 32 value 66 - Card Bank 3

- - - - -

Ctrl 32 value 73 - Card Bank 10

Example:
You wish to recall preset 10 from the Reverb (Music
Surround) bank. According to the table above:

• Set Ctrl 0 to “0” and Ctrl 32 to “2” and send program

change no 10.

SysEx Device ID

Range: 0 to 126
Select SysEx ID for the Mainframe.

MIDI Rate

Range: Normal or 19.2
This parameter sets the Baud Rate / MIDI transfer rate.
The default setting is “Normal”. However, “19.2” may be
better suited for external master control programs as found
in broadcast stations.

MIDI Setup Page

Introduction

MIDI Channels

To recall presets for Scene, Routing and Engines 1 to 4
you must first setup individual MIDI channels for these
categories.
In the example above we have setup MIDI channels 1 to 4
for Engines 1 to 4 respectively; channel 5 to access Scene
presets and channel 6 to access Routing presets.

Bank Mode

The Bank mode settings determine the destination bank of
the received program change on the specified MIDI
channels.

Normal mode:
This mode requires that the external sending MIDI device
can send both Controller 0 and 32 in addition to MIDI
program changes. This is an essential feature to recall
presets from a device holding more than 128 preset
location. (see table in next column for details)

Factory and User mode:
These modes will force any incoming program change to
access either Factory or User banks directly and are
typically used if your sending MIDI device cannot send
Controllers 0 and 32 as described above.

14

FRAME - SYSTEM - MAIN

MIDI Control Page

On MIDI Control Page the following options are
available:

Read Program Change

Select whether the Frame should read incoming program
changes or not.

Send Program Change

Select whether the Frame should send program changes to
MIDI out when presets are recalled via TC Icon or the TC
Icon Software editor.

Read Control Change

Select whether the Frame should Read Control Changes
messages.

Send Control Change

Options here are Single (7 bit) or Double (14 bit) precision.

Read SysEx - Send SysEx

These two parameters determine whether the Frame
should read and send SysEx.

MIDI MIDI Page

15

FRAME SYSTEM MAIN

Net

Software versions

Current installed software versions.

Network Identifier

Press the field “Network Identifier” to enter a name for the
Mainframe. This is the global TC network name for the
frame. By giving the frame a specific name it will be easier
to identify the frame when hooked up in a network with
several frames.

Card

Format card with empty preset banks

This function will format a PCMCIA card with DB8/DB4
preset banks. A formatted 1Mb card will hold:

• 10 Engine user card banks of 100 presets

• 10 Routing user banks of 50 presets

• 10 Scene user banks of 50 presets

Dump Binary File to Card

This function enables you to dump a binary file to a
PCMCIA card. Follow the steps below:

This is for service purposes only!

• Rename the xxx.bin file to “dumpfile.bin

• Copy the file to a 3.5” disk

• Insert the disk in the DB8/DB4 3.5” disk drive

• Insert a memory card in the DB8/DB4

• Press Dump Binary File to Card and confirm to

proceed.

16

FRAME - SYSTEM - I/O

Via the I/O page the following operations are handled:

• Settings for the DSP card

• Settings for up to three I/O cards

• Labeling of all physical Input and Output channels

Basic operation

If more than one mainframe is connected:

• Press the Icon symbol in the upper left corner to enter
the Select & Setup pages

• Select which mainframe you wish to setup

• Press the Icon symbol once again and and select
System - I/O as illustrated above

I/O - SETUP

With this page you can monitor the Mainframe
configuration

Analog Input - Digital Input

With an AES-8 card installed in a Mainframe, you must
select whether Input channels 9 through 16 should be
digital or analog.

When Digital Input is selected:
Input channels 9-16 will be the AES-8 card.

When

Analog Input is selected:
Only analog Inputs are available!
If an ADA-24/96 card is installed in slot A analog Input
channels 9-10 are available.
If ADA 24/96 cards are installed in both slot A and C,
analog Input channels 9-10 and 13-14 are available.

Please note the following:

• No Inputs on the AES-8 card are available when analog

Input is selected.

• Digital Input must be selected to activate AES-8 card

Input channels 9-16 even if no ADA 24/96 cards are
present.

• Outputs 9-16 are always available. If ADA-24/96 cards

are installed, they will output simultaneously with the
AES-8 Outputs on channel 9-10 (Slot A) and 13-14 (Slot C).

I/O - DSP

Status Bit

Status bit information can be set separately for each of the
AES Outputs.

Options are:
AES/EBU : Professional usage of Status bits.
S/PDIF : Consumer usage of Status bits.

Clock Status - Sample Slip Detection
Input 1-2, Input 3-4, Input 5-6, Input 7-8
Input 9-10, Input 11-12, Input 13-14, Input 15-16

Monitors the Clock status of the incoming AES/EBU
Inputs and indicates whether the incoming Clock is in sync
with the mainframe Clock settings. Three states of
incoming clock can be indicated.

Locked
The Input is in sync with he Mainframe.

Sync Error (Red)
The Input is or has been out of sync with the mainframe.
Press the Reset key to see if Sample Slips are still
occurring. - If so - Check that there is only one

Master
Clock source in your setup. This monitoring function is
excellent when trying to determine which connected device
is out of sync.

No Input
Indicates no connection available.

17

FRAME - SYSTEM - I/O

Output, pin 2 selected

Pin 2 hot, pin 3 connected to reference (shield) at the Input
of downstream device. In this mode pin 3 acts as a
reference Input for the ADA24/96 Output stage and should
not be left unterminated.

This mode will not work properly with balanced
inputs unless wiring is compensated as described. If
wired properly, this is the optimum output mode for
feeding unbalanced devices.

Output, pin 3 selected

Pin 3 hot, pin 2 not needed. In this mode pin 2 and pin 1
carry the same output reference.

This works with balanced inputs using 1:1 wiring,
but balanced mode should be selected if driving a
balanced input.

Filters

When operating the mainframe in normal Sample Rates
(32 - 48kHz) you can select different down- and
up-sampling filter types. The AD and DA conversions are
always performed in high-sample domain (88.2 to 96kHz).
Afterwards the digital down- and up-sampling is performed
in the digital domain using a local DSP on the ADA24/96
card. Select filter type according to the source material you
are working on.

Filters

Chose between - Linear, Natural, Vintage, Bright and
Standard (Std).

"Linear" filter

These filters are linear-phase and non-aliasing (the stop­band starts below the Nyquist frequency). The pass-band
response is extremely smooth and non-equiripple,
extending beyond 20kHz. With the "Linear" filters you'll
have a hard time discriminating between the sound of the
conversion chain and direct analog, even at 44.1kHz!

"Natural" filter

Based on the "Linear" filter class, but with a carefully
adjusted non-linear phase response, these filters obtain an
almost "better-than-live" reproduction of space while
retaining crystal-clear imaging and absolute tonal neutrality.
The "Natural" filters too are non-aliasing.

"Vintage" filter

Based on the "Natural" filters, here we've added a bit of
warmth and roundness to the treble by introducing a
smoother "tube like" roll-off. This filter would be an
exceptionally good choice when mastering material that
seems too hard in the high-end frequencies.
These filters too are non-aliasing and non-linear phase.

I/O - Slot A, B & C

This is where you setup card specific parameters.
Parameters are only available when a I/O Card is detected.

ADA 24/96 card

Level In

Changes the analog nominal Input level between +6dBu
and +30dBu in 6dB increments.
The analog Input level enables you to match the DB8/DB4
Input to the Output of e.g. your mixer. If the nominal
operating level on your mixer is e.g. +4dBu and you select
+12dBu on the Level In parameter you will have a
headroom of 8dB. If you select +16dBu in the Level In the
headroom will be +12dB, and so forth.

Level Out

Changes the analog output level between +6dBu and
+24dBu in 6dB increments.

Output Connection

Select the type of connection you are using on the Output
of the card. Select between:
Balanced or unbalanced (with signal on pin 2 or pin 3).

If you are connecting unbalanced cables to the
Outputs when Outmode set to “Balanced”, the
Outputs will be muted/un-muted sequentially
via a goldplated short circuit protection relay.
This is intentional and will not cause damage
to any device.

Balanced/Unbalanced Operation

Unbalanced operation

Some mastering studios prefer unbalanced wiring.
Please read these notes for optimum performance.
Preferably, balanced cables should be used on Inputs and
Outputs even for unbalanced setups.

Input

Pin 2 hot, pin 3 connected to reference (shield) at the
Output of upstream device.

18

FRAME - SYSTEM - I/O

I/O - Labels

All physical Inputs and Outputs can be named/renamed.
Enter the Titles page by pressing the tabs System and
Titles. Press any of the 16 Inputs/Outputs and the Naming
display will pop up. Enter adequate name for the
Input/Output and press Enter.
The names will be displayed on the Frame-Routing page.

The I/O Labels are global and are not affected by
preset changes.

"Bright" filter

These filters are something entirely different: Ultra-short
impulse response, linear phase and quite a bit of deliberate
aliasing produces a "digital" and slightly aggressive sound
adding plenty of top-end life to e.g. Rock and Techno
recordings, or giving you the feeling of air you need when
you are mastering a somewhat dark sounding source
material.

"Standard" filter

This filter emulates the response of typical mid-end
converters: Equiripple half-band filters that are precisely
6dB down at the Nyquist frequency.

Softclip

The Softclip algorithm runs in the 96kHz domain right after
the AD conversion before the down-sampling filter.

AES-8 Card

Slot B with an

AES-8 card installed

The following Setup page will appear in:
Frame/System/I/O/Setup when an AES-8 card is
installed.

Analog Input - Digital Input

With an AES-8 card installed in a Mainframe, you must
select whether Input channels 9 through 16 should be
digital or analog.

When Digit

al Input is selected:

Input channels 9-16 will be the AES-8 card.

When

Analog Input is selected:
Only analog Inputs are available!
If an ADA-24/96 card is installed in slot A analog Input
channels 9-10 are available.
If ADA 24/96 cards are installed in both slot A and C,
analog Input channels 9-10 and 13-14 are available.
Please note the following:

• No Inputs on the AES-8 card are available when analog

Input is selected.

• Digital Input must be selected to activate AES-8 card

Input channels 9-16 even if no ADA 24/96 cards are
present.

• Outputs 9-16 are always available. If ADA-24/96 cards

are installed, they will output simultaneously with the
AES-8 Outputs on channel 9-10 (Slot A) and 13-14 (Slot C).

19

ENGINE - EDIT PAGE

Fader Group
Parameters/
Value fields

Output
Meters

Display
function
indicator

Input
Meters

Library Frame and Engine SelectorsName of the currently

recalled preset

Fader
Group
Selector

Parameter
Pages

Link key

Fine Adjust
Mode
selected

The Engine 1-4 Edit Pages

This is where you edit algorithm parameters.Parameters in
several algorithms are distributed on different pages. As
illustrated above the Multiband-2 has 5 pages: Main,
Loudness, EQ, 5 band and Limiter. Depending of the
quantity of parameters represented in the groups one or
more groups will be displayed.

Basic operation

• Press E1 to E4 to select Engine. Parameters for the

recalled algorithms are instantly available for editing.

• Select a parameter group. In the example above - a

Multiband-2 algorithm - the groups are Main, Setup,
Expander, Compressor, Limiter and Output.

• All parameters are assigned to the Fader Groups. Select

Fader Group using the Fader Group selector.

• Press any parameter and it is assigned to Fader 6.

Fader User Group - Assign key

By pressing the Fader Group Selector Up key you enter
the User group. In this group you can assign any
parameter to any Fader. The User Fader group is stored
with a preset.

• Press the Link key.

• Select the Fader you wish to link a parameter to, by

pressing the field just above the fader.

• Press the parameter you wish to link to the selected

fader.

Bypass

The Bypass key will respond in different ways depending
on the recalled algorithm. See specific algorithm description.
In some algorithms the Bypass will work as a mute
function.

Naming a Preset

• Press the Name field. A keyboard will pop up.
(See the “Naming display” section).

• Type in the new name.

• Press Enter.

Parameter value - Fine Adjust

Any parameter value can be adjusted in two accuracies.
A Normal and a Fine Adjust - mode. To switch between the
two modes press the Value Fields above the faders.
As shown in the illustration the Fine Adjust mode will be
indicated with two triangles in the value field. (fader 3+4 in
the illustration).

20

ICON SETUP

Icon User Interface

(only available on the Hardware version of the TC Icon)

Go to the Select & Setup pages pressing the TC Icon
key in the upper left corner.
Press SETUP (upper tab) and UI (side tab) to enter the
setup page for the TC Icon display.

TC Icon Display Parameters

In this display you setup various parameters regarding the
appearance of the display as well as the Fader Touch
Sensitivity.

Display Brightness

Adjust the brightness of the display using either the Arrow
cursors or simply drag the “Adjust handle”.

Show Mouse Cursor

Press to show mouse/pointer position.

Calibrate Display Touch

For optimal performance the Touch Screen will at times
need to be calibrated. Press and follow instructions to
Calibrate the Touch Screen.

Fader Sensitivity

To avoid accidental movement of the faders they are
sensitive to humidity and will only respond when touched
by your skin.

Enable Fader

Touch

Enables touch sensitivity of the Faders.

AC/DC Sensitivity
Sets the Faders sensitivity to AC and DC. Adjust these
handles to achieve optimal performance in your
environment.

Software Editor Setup menu

Info

On this page the current Software Editor version number is
listed.

Devices

In this page you control and assign the devices in the
setup.

• Press Detect to scan the network for connected
devices. All devices will appear in the list.

• Now assign the devices one at a time by selecting the
device using the Cursor up/down followed by pressing
one of the eight oval keys in the right side of the display.

Security

In the security page you can activate/deactivate the “sticky
clip” function.
When this function is set to “on” the Overload LEDs on the
Routing page will stay lit once activated, until the Reset

Clip key is pressed.

Color

Select the Color scheme of your choice. Depending on the
surrounding light conditions different schemes may be
more appropriate than others.

21

SMPTE

Auto Edit Page

In the Auto Edit page all automation Events are listed and
handled.

Keep

Press to save the Event List locally on the Icon. It is possible
to save one Event List on the Icon. Additional cue-lists can
be stored and recalled on floppy disks on the Mainframe.
The Keep key will turn red as soon as any editing of the list
has taken place, indicating that you must press to save the
list.
This key corresponds/is the same, as the Keep key located
on the File page. (see following page)

Write

When enabled any program change is written to the
SMPTE Event List. This can be. e.g Engine, Routing or
Scene recalls.

Read

When enabled the Event list will be executed according to
incoming SMPTE clock. Read and Write functions can be
activated simultaneously.

General Read and Write status is given in the

Icon Tab in the left corner.

Follow

When follow is selected the list will scroll and the current
event/song position will always be in the top line.
When follow is de-selected the list will NOT scroll but the
cursor position will move according to song-position.

Save

Press to save the Event list. The Save key will turn red as
soon as any editing of the list has taken place, indicating
that you must press to save the list.
This key corresponds/is the same, as the Save key located
on the file page. (see next page)

Be aware that until Save is pressed Edited SMPTE

information is not yet stored in the Event list. For
convenient indication the Save key will be red as soon as
any alteration of the current Event list is present.

Cursor

The white triangular cursor always indicates the current
clock position in relation to the Event List.

Event Parameters

For each Event the following parameters are available.

Time - indicates the SMPTE time at which the Event

takes place.

Device - indicating on which Device Mainframe the

Event is taking place. Device numbers 1-8,
corresponds to the Device position at the
Select page.

Event - states the occurring Event at the given time.

Modify

Press this key to access Event parameters for the currently
selected Event. (see further description below)

Delete

Press to delete the selected Event.

Insert New Event

Press to insert an Event (see further description below)

Modify/Insert - Edit

Event Settings

Operation

• To access Event settings press Modify in the Edit page.

• Setup all parameters for the Event you are about to
Modify or Insert.

• Press OK to confirm.

Time

The time where the Event being Modified or Inserted
is taking place.

Step/Adjust

Range: Frame, 1 Second, 10 Seconds, 1 min.,
10 min. or 1 hour.
Use the Step parameter to select Adjust range and the
Adjust parameter to increase/decrease the time.

22

SMPTE

Device

This parameter selects which Mainframe connected to the
LAN you are working on. Device numbers 1-8, corresponds
to the Device position at the Select page.

Preset Type

Selects whether the preset Event you are working on is a
Scene, Routing, Engine or a System preset.

Bank

Select the bank related to the preset you are about to
setup/recall via SMPTE.

Preset

Select the preset from the selected bank

File

Current List

Keep

Press to save the Event List locally on the Icon. It is possible
to save one Event List on the Icon. Additional cue-lists can
be stored and recalled on floppy disks on the Mainframe.
The Keep key will turn red as soon as any editing of the list
has taken place, indicating that you must press to save the
list.
This key corresponds/is the same, as the Keep key located
on the Edit page. (see previous page)

Revert

This “Undo” function allows you to revert the to the last
saved SMPTE Event list. This is the List that is stored
locally on the TC Icon.

Clear

Press Clear to delete the entire SMPTE Event list present
in the TC Icon.

Remote device disk drive

Event lists can easily be organized and saved to a Floppy
disk in the Mainframe.
Mainframe selection is done in the Auto Edit page.

Get List

Press to get a list of all SMPTE Event lists stored on the
floppy disk located in the Mainframe.

New

Press New to create and name a new Event list in the
floppy disk in the Mainframe.

Save

Press to save the current Event list to the disk.

Load

Press to load Event list from disk.

Delete

Press to delete selected Event preset from the
Event Preset list.

Options

Automation Timecode Options

Master Sync Device

Select which of the Mainframes connected on the LAN you
wish to act as Master Clock.

Start Of Daytime

Range: 23:00:00:.00 or 00:00:00:00
If the SMPTE time code present on your tape media or film
does not start exactly at the beginning of the tape the
23:00:00:00 setting would be a good choice to keep
chronological order in the Event List.

Support of SNMP

Multiple DB8 and/or DB4 units can be monitored using
industry standard SNMP trapping. SNMP includes
monitoring of sync status, overload, silent outputs and
more. - Look on www.tcelectronic.com under “Products ­DB8/DB4” for details.