Velodyne Acoustics Drive User Manual

Digital Drive

USER’S

MANUAL

™

Featuring Software Version 2.0

Caution!

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

Attention!

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

Vorsicht!

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

iii

Attenzione!

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

Table of Contents

ongratulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Before you Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Product Features and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

– Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

– Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

– Digital Drive Accessory Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

– Subwoofer Controls and Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Installation Quick Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Installation Step

– Subwoofer Cable Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

– A Word About Subwoofer Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

– A Word About Interconnect Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

– A Word About Connecting More Than One Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Subwoofer Setup

– ON-SCREEN Setup

Onscr

Restoring Defaults

About Room Equalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Car

Appendix A: RS

Appendix B: Summary of Special Remote Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

een Programming and Setup – Step by Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

otection Cir

our Digital Drive Subwoofer

e of Y

oubleshooting and Ser

-by-Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

- OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

cuitr

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

vice

-232 Serial Overview and Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Appendix C: What’

Appendix D: Important Subwoofer Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

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s New in Release 2.0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Digital Drive User’s Manual

Congratulations!

ongratulations on your purchase of a Velodyne Digital Drive subwoofer system! Digital Drive technology, universally acknowledged as the state of years of research and development, combining advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP), software, equalizer, audio filter, digital amplifier, digital servo control, and high loudspeaker technologies. The result is a new subwoofer design that takes our traditionally accurate low anomalies, and resolves many tradeoffs that encumber lesser subwoofer products.

-frequency sound reproduction to new levels of precision, eliminates room

-of-the-art in bass reproduction, is the result

-pressure

This exceptional subwoofer will provide you with years of unparalleled listening pleasure.

Enjoy!

Before you begin

Please observe the following instructions to insure safe and proper system operation.

Warning!

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture. To avoid electrical shock, do not open speaker enclosure or amp chassis cover. Please observe all warnings on the equipment itself. There are no user serviceable parts inside. Please refer all service questions to your authorized Velodyne dealer.

Prior to Installation

Please unpack the system carefully! This unit is heavy. Use caution when lifting or moving to avoid injur Please save the car carton may result in sever number and date/location of purchase in the space provided on the war reference or register on

Caution! This subwoofer has electronics built into the cabinet. Do not place the cabinet next to sources of heat such as furnace registers, radiators, etc. Do not place the unit near sources of excessive moisture, such as evaporative coolers, humidifiers, etc. The power

d should be r

cor compressed in any way that could result in damaging the insulation or wire.

y. Remove all staples if used to seal the carton as they can scratch the cabinet.

ton and all packaging materials for future use. Packing this unit in any other

e damage when shipping. Please take a moment to record the serial

ranty card for future

-line at www.velodyne.com.

outed in such a way that it will not be walked on, pinched, or

Regardless of where you install your Velodyne subwoofer, it must remain in an upright position (woofer facing forward). Using, shipping, or otherwise storing the subwoofer in any other position for an extended period of time may result in damage to the unit not covered

by war

Cer pr your television and the subwoofer, until normal color and operation is returned.

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ranty

tain types of televisions ar

oduces distorted colors after installing your subwoofer, simply increase the distance between

Important Note: Turn your subwoofer off before moving it!

e particularly sensitive to stray magnetic fields. If your television

Digital Drive User’s Manual

Package Contents

our Velodyne Digital Drive Subwoofer consists of the following components:

• Digital Drive Subwoofer

• Power Cord

• Remote Control

• Digital Drive Accessory Kit, consisting of:

- Calibrated precision microphone

- Microphone windscreen cover

- Tabletop microphone stand

- Microphone stand adapter

- 25-foot video cable

- 25-foot audio cable

- 20-foot XLR microphone cable

Product Features and Controls

SUBWOOFER

Prominent features of your new Digital Drive Subwoofer include:

• Cone and Motor sizes:

- 10” (8” Piston Diameter) or 12” (9.7” Piston Diameter) cone with 310 oz. magnet or,

- 15” (12.7” piston diameter) or 18” (15.2” piston diameter) cone with 380 oz. magnet

• Built

• Tandem 3” voice coils

• Multi

• High

• Gain compression, anti

• Fixed 80Hz high

• Balanced (XLR) input

• Line

• Speaker

• Variable volume control

• Fr

• Detachable 6

• Four rubber 1/4” --20” threaded support feet (aluminum with rubber inserts

• On

-in 1250 watt (RMS), 3,000 watt peak power high-ef

-layer resin laminate cone

-excursion r

-level (RCA) inputs and thr

-level inputs

equency r

on 15” and 18” models)

-screen controls:

- Auto-EQ

- Graphic or Parametric Equalizer contr

- Adjustable (15 Hz - 199 Hz) low-pass crossover (defeatable)

- Multiple stagger

- Adjustable (15Hz - 35Hz) subsonic filter (defeatable)

- Multiple stagger

- Variable volume control

- Adjustable phase control (0° - 180° in 15° increments)

- Selectable polarity (+/-)

ubber sur

-pass crossover (RCA output)

esponse of 20Hz

-foot AC power cord

ed low

ed subsonic filters (12dB/octave, initial to 48dB/octave, ultimate)

round

-clipping circuit to prevent over excursion and amp clipping

uputs

- 120Hz +/-3dB

oom EQ

-pass cr

ols for r

ossovers (6dB/octave, initial to 48dB/octave, ultimate)

ficiency Class

-D amplifier

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

- T

heater/Music selection indicator (servo speed control)

- Signal sensing auto turn on/off/12 Volt trigger (defeatable)

- 6

presets for customized listening modes and EQ defeat

- Selectable default preset

- Switchable Velodyne logo indicator

- Night Mode maximum volume setting

- Save settings indicator

- Daisy chain feature

REMOTE CONTROL

The Velodyne Digital Drive infrared remote control allows you to set up, adjust, and reset your subwoofer when connected to a television or a video monitor. You will also use your remote to activate preset listening values, set the subwoofer’s volume up or down, mute the subwoofer, or set a night operational mode.

Take care not to lose or misplace your remote control as adjustments to the subwoofer (with the exception of volume control) can only be done using the remote.

NOTE: Two 1.5V AA batteries are required and included for operation of the remote control.

nal IR r

Exter equipment dealer.

eceivers may be ordered from either Velodyne or your local Velodyne audio

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

REMOTE CONTROL BUTTONS

A brief description of each button on the remote control follows:

• PWR – Causes woofer to stand by if in “Active” standby mode.

• NUMERIC KEYPAD – Used to enter SETUP mode and for other functions.

• SET (+/-) – Increases or decreases the Q value for a parametric EQ, or sets values on the settings page.

• LIGHT – Turns the subwoofer’s front panel Velodyne logo indicator on or off.

• NIGHT – Limits the peak output of the subwoofer, and illuminates the logo’s amber underlining to signify that the subwoofer is in night mode.

• VOL (+/-) – Raises or lowers the volume of your subwoofer. The blue (Velodyne) light flashes more quickly as the volume increases, and the light blinks out the volume level after you stop adjusting it. For example, for a volume of 34, you would see three long blinks followed by four shorter ones.

• MUTE – Mutes and unmutes the subwoofer.

• TEST – Used to toggle between the settings screen

and the system r

• EXIT – To exit SETUP mode. The unit will ask if you want to save settings before exiting.

• SELECT – To toggle field values.

• RESET – Used to reset volume to the last saved

setting on the main screen, and to defeat crossovers on the settings screen.

•

introductory screen.

• PRESETS – To access the five preset and one EQ defeat listening modes. Initially set at the factor they are fully user adjustable. The blue (Velodyne) light flashes the appropriate number of times to indicate which preset you have selected (e.g. twice for preset 2).

– Enters SETUP mode fr

esponse screen during setup.

om the

Figure 1: Velodyne Digital Drive remote control

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

DIGITAL DRIVE ACCESSORY KIT

he Velodyne Digital Drive Accessory Kit contains the following six components:

• Calibrated precision microphone

• Microphone windscreen cover

• Tabletop microphone stand

• Microphone stand adapter

• 25

-foot audio/video cable

• 20

-foot XLR microphone cable

Installation Overview

Your new Velodyne servo subwoofer provides for a number of installation options. Read all the installation information below in order to determine which installation option is best for your system.

until instructed to activate it!

SUBWOOFER CONTROLS AND PORTS

The V and connections located on the rear panel of the unit. Figure 2 shows the location of each of these important operational interfaces. Brief descriptions of each interface follow.

Remember to perform all installation procedures with subwoofer unplugged

elodyne Digital Drive subwoofer is set up, configured, and adjusted by the controls, inputs,

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

Figure 2: Digital Drive Rear Panel Connections

(1) POWER – Press the POWER switch to the ON position to activate the subwoofer. If

the unit is to be left unused for an extended period of time, move this switch to the OFF position to prolong the life of the subwoofer.

(2) 117V~60Hz 15A – Connect your detachable AC power plug to this male interface

connection. The detachable cord allows for easy replacement should the original be damaged.

(3) RS

(4) RS

(5) EQ Video Output

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-232 IN – Use this port to communicate with your computer (for software updates), a touch panel remote control, or another upstream Digital Drive subwoofer. See Appendix A for an explanation of the use of the serial port, available commands, and their formats.

-232 OUT – Use this port to communicate with a second “daisy-chained” Digital Drive subwoofer irrelevant) across pins 7 and 9 of this port.

composite connections are available (composite cable included). NOTE: Only connect to a single video output at a time.

. Also, the 12V trigger featur

– Used to display the video generated by the subwoofer. S-Video or

e requires a 12V trigger signal (polarity

Digital Drive User’s Manual

(

6) LFE INPUT or processor.

(7) MIC INPUT – This XLR input jack is for your XLR microphone cable.

– T

his XLR input jack receives the balanced LFE signal from your receiver

(8) EQ OUTPUT LEFT/RIGHT

jacks: white plug to LEFT, and red plug to RIGHT.

(9) THRU

subwoofer with a second “daisy THRU jack.

(10) OUTPUT

high pass crossover.

(11) INPUT LFE

(12) REMOTE SENSOR

receiver. With the optional receiver plugged in you will be able to utilize all functions of the remote. Place the infrared receiver within direct line of sight from your usual listening position.

(13)

VOLUME UP/DOWN subwoofer’s system volume; press the black DOWN pushbutton to incrementally lower your subwoofer’s system volume. Note the use of these buttons during software update.

– These RCA connectors are for sharing the same signal that goes into your

– These RCA connectors incorporate the use of an 80Hz 6 dB/octave slope

– This RCA input jack is for line-level connection.

– This connection allows for hook-up of the optional remote control

– Pr

– Connect the audio cable from your accessory kit to these

-chained” subwoofer. RCA input comes out of the

ess the black UP pushbutton to incrementally raise your

(14)

SPEAKER LEVEL INPUT RIGHT/LEFT banana plug/jack or exposed wire/terminal connections.

– This speaker-level connector allows either

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

Installation – Quick Start

o set up and take advantage of the EQ features in your new Digital Drive subwoofer in the least

amount of time, perform the following steps:

1. Unpack the subwoofer and connect the power cable.

2. Connect an LFE input cable from your receiver/processor to the input jack. For other hookup options, see step 2, below.

3. Power up the unit and ensure that it is receiving signal from your receiver (i.e. playing bass).

4. Connect the microphone (in the accessory kit) and place it in your favorite listening position. Then press 3

5. The unit should emit 25 “sweep” tones then restart and play normally.

6. Adjust the subwoofer’s volume to taste.

7. Enjoy!

-2-1 on the remote.

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

Installation – Step-by-Step

o ensure a quick and flawless installation of your Velodyne Digital Drive unit, follow these

numbered setup instructions in their exact order.

SUBWOOFER CABLE CONNECTIONS

Make all necessary cable connections between the applicable subwoofer connector port and your particular home electronics equipment in the following order:

1. Insert the detachable AC power cord into the 117V~, 60Hz, 15A power interface port on the rear panel of your subwoofer. Plug the male end of the cord into a convenient wall outlet.

2. Provide signal to your subwoofer through one or more of the following connections (refer to your receiver/processor owner’s manual for available inputs to the subwoofer):

a. LFE INPUT (RCA, the RED jack at location 11 on Figure 2)

input cable connection. Make a connection between this input and the LFE output or the subwoofer output of your receiver or processor; OR

b. LFE INPUT (XLR, location 6 on Figure 2)

the balanced LFE outputs of your receiver or processor; OR

INPUT, LEFT and RIGHT (location 11 on Figure 2)

inputs and the stereo outputs of your receiver or processor; OR

d. SPEAKER

inputs and the left and right speaker connections on your receiver or pr this connection by either inserting speaker wire into the correct binding post terminals or by r

-LEVEL INPUT (location 14 on Figure 2) – Make a connection between these

emoving the banana plug jack caps and inserting banana plug wire into the jacks.

– Make a connection between this input and

– Make a connection between these

– This is the most common

ocessor. Make

NOTE: Refrain from routing connections permanently at this time to accommodate subwoofer room placement as described below.

3. Establish the line

ning them to your amplifier inputs. When installed in this fashion, your satellite

etur

r speakers will be crossed over at 80Hz, which removes the lower bass from your amplifier and speakers, enabling them to do a better job reproducing high frequencies. By utilizing this method, you will have a bi your system.

-level connection (optional). Connect to a pre-amplifier’s main outputs and

-amplified system, gaining improved power and headroom for

A Word About Subwoofer Outputs

The Velodyne subwoofer is designed to operate using the full range audio signal for input when

ossover

using the digital built is internally filtered and designed to be used with a conventional amplifier and speaker. In some

e cases, combining both an exter

rar

esult in low output and increased noise. In these installations you may need to bypass the

r internal crossover in either the processor or Velodyne subwoofer. In some installations, simply setting one crossover to a higher frequency (such as 120Hz) will restore maximum performance. To bypass the subwoofer’s internal crossover when the unit is being fed a low pass signal from another crossover, refer to the SETUP instructions at step 14, below.

-in cr

. Most pr

ocessors/r

nal crossover and the one internal to the subwoofer may

eceivers have a “subwoofer out” jack that

Note: If not using an exter optimal performance.

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nal cr

ossover

, you should use the built

Digital Drive User’s Manual

-in cr

ossover for

. Referring to Figure 2, Items 5 and 8, connect the audio/video cable between your

ubwoofer (EQ OUTPUT VIDEO/LEFT/RIGHT yellow, white, and red respectively) and your electronics (receiver, processor, TV, etc.). Insert the color EQ OUTPUT receptacle – the yellow plug into the VIDEO jack, the white plug into the LEFT jack, and the red plug into the RIGHT jack. The opposite ends of this cable should be connected to your receiver/processor. The yellow VIDEO cable goes to an available composite video input (e.g. aux), and the white/red AUDIO (L&R) cables go to a corresponding audio input. Consult your receiver/processor and/or TV owner’s manual for more information.

NOTE: Make sure the audio output goes into your AUDIO system, not your TV! The subwoofer will generate test tones used to match the subwoofer to your satellites and to correct for room anomalies that need to be played over your main audio system.

-coded cable plugs into the correct

5. Insert the XLR microphone cable’s 3 Figure 2) on the back panel of the subwoofer. For DD jack is also located on the front of the unit for convenience.

6. Slide the microphone (male connector end first) down through the open, circular sleeve of the tabletop microphone stand. Position this assembly at a desired listening position from your subwoofer.

NOTE: The Digital Drive Accessory Kit includes a microphone stand adapter (1/2”-27 thread) for use with professional mounting stands. Be sure to first remove the inner thread piece (3/8”-16) before using.

7. Connect the XLR microphone cable’s female jack end with the male connector end of the microphone.

8. Sheath the microphone pickup with the foam windscreen cover as a protection against dirt and airbor

ne contaminants.

-pin male plug into the MIC INPUT jack (location 7 on

-15 and DD-18 units, a microphone

A Word About Interconnect Cables

When installing your new Velodyne subwoofer using the line level connections, you should always use shielded phono cables. There are many quality cables available today, most any of which will work perfectly well. We do recommend that you keep the length of cable as short as possible to avoid any potential noise problems.

When routing cables, try to keep them away from equipment that generates significant noise such as industrial or digital equipment.

A Word About Connecting More Than One Subwoofer

If you are connecting more than one DD subwoofer to your system, you will connect them together in a “daisy this the “master” sub), and then connect an RCA jack from the THRU RCA jacks of the “primary” to the input jacks of the “slave” sub. You will also need to obtain a “Mouse Extension” serial cable (available at any computer store, from your Authorized Velodyne dealer, or from Velodyne directly) and connect the RS secondary sub. Then, all runtime commands directed at the primary sub (such as select preset, volume, etc.) will be communicated to the secondary sub automatically through the serial cable. If you have more than two subs in your setup, simply continue the daisy chain from the secondary sub to the next sub in the line (using both RCA and serial connections) and so on.

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-chain.” Choose one sub for all the connections described below (we’ll call

-232 OUT port of the primary sub to the RS-232 IN port of the

Digital Drive User’s Manual

OTE: When a DD subwoofer detects an incoming RS-232 command, it reverts to “Slave Mode”. This means that the subwoofer will no longer accept IR commands. To reestablish n

ormal operations, remove the RS-232 cable and power cycle the unit.

Note that the daisy chain connection ONLY allows the woofers to communicate basic “run commands such as volume and preset. We recommend the following sequence when setting up daisy

-chained subs.

1. First, connect only the master sub to the system. Do not connect the thru or serial cables at this time.

2. Establish the crossover, phase, and other settings EXCEPT the EQ on the master sub (see setup steps 1 and polarity settings, then save.

3. Connect the video out of the slave subwoofer, go to the settings screen, establish the low pass crossover, slope, phase, polarity, and night mode settings from the master subwoofer, then save settings. Repeat for each slave subwoofer in your system.

4. Connect the microphone to the slave subwoofer and use the “self (described below) to establish room EQ for that subwoofer.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each slave subwoofer in your system.

6. Reconnect the video out to the master subwoofer, and reconnect the thru and serial cables so that the master and slave subwoofer (s) are daisy chained.

– 17 starting on page 17). Note the low pass crossover, phase

-EQ” feature

-time”

EQ the primary subwoofer (see steps 8

7. recommended for the primary subwoofer.

8. Setup is complete!

-25 star

ting on page 20). Self

-EQ is NOT

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

Subwoofer setup – Overview

EFORE YOU BEGIN: Once the installation has been completed, note that you can use your subwoofer without performing ANY of the setup steps below. Simply use the remote to set the volume, and select the preset that most closely matches your listening material, and enjoy! However, to reap the maximum benefits of Digital Drive technology, read on!

Special note for 230V users with video problems

For 230-volt Digital Drive subwoofers, the default video mode is NTSC video format. If your TV is NTSC compatible, you will have no trouble with this mode. However, certain TVs (especially older ones) may require PAL or SECAM video. To switch from NTSC to PAL/SECAM mode, press the DOWN ARROW four times followed by RESET. The subwoofer will restart in PAL/SECAM video mode. To revert back to NTSC, restore defaults by pressing 8 the cover screen.

SELF

-EQ To perform an abbreviated setup of your Digital Drive subwoofer using the self position the microphone in your listening position and connect it to the subwoofer as shown in the installation instructions. Then, press 3 “sweep tones” that are detected by the microphone and then automatically EQs your subwoofer accordingly. After the sweep tones are completed, the unit automatically saves settings and returns to normal operation. Once the self interrupt it.

-2-1 on the remote. The subwoofer emits 25

-EQ process starts, pressing the RESET button can

-9-0 while on

-EQ function,

Caution: Self featur

e if you plan to adjust the DD subwoofer manually as described below.

esets all EQs for all presets to their default values. DO NOT use the self

-EQ r

-EQ

ON- SCREEN Setup

This section describes adjusting the onscreen settings of your Digital Drive subwoofer. You will be performing all the setup functions using the buttons of your Velodyne and seeing the r instructions (e.g., SELECT, MENU, etc.) identify the specific remote button to be pressed or selected, or the field on the screen you should be paying attention to. Remember to point the remote control at the subwoofer, not your TV!

Use the UP, DOWN, RIGHT, and LEFT directional arrow buttons that surround SELECT to navigate the fields of the setup screens. Settings are typically changed using the SELECT key, followed by the UP and DOWN arrow keys. Alternatively, the SET +/- buttons can be used to change settings. A scr the screen. Holding down the UP, DOWN, RIGHT, or LEFT arrow keys causes the remote to

epeat and you can then rapidly move thr

r be able to per SELECT button.

Following is an overview of the screens you will be using to set up your Velodyne Digital Drive subwoofer.

esults on your TV scr

een field highlighted in r

form most of the setup process by using the four arrow keys and the

een. W

ough fields to arrive at the desired one. You should

ords in all uppercase letters in the setup

everse video indicates your cur

-supplied remote control

ent location on

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

+ 39 hidden pages