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

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Attention!

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

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Vorsicht!

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

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Attenzione!

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

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Table of Contents

C

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

Pr

Car

T

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

r

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

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

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

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

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

cuitr

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

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

vice

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

43

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

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Congratulations!

C

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

1

Package Contents

Y

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

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- 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

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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.

MENU

•

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

,

y

Figure 1: Velodyne Digital Drive remote control

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

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DIGITAL DRIVE ACCESSORY KIT

T

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

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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

(

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

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Installation – Quick Start

T

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

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Installation – Step-by-Step

T

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)

c.

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

9

4

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

s

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

10

N

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.

5.

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

11

Subwoofer setup – Overview

B

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

r

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

12

Figure 3: Introductory Screen

See Figure 3. This the Introductory screen. Notice that as you change settings (such as preset,
volume, etc.) they ar

You enter setup mode by pressing MENU and entering the code 12345. Upon successful entry
of this code, the system takes you to the EQ Setup screen, as shown in Figure 4.

HINT: You do not need to press MENU to begin entering the setup code. You can begin the
12345 sequence by pr

e shown on this scr

essing the number 1 on the r

een.

emote.

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

13

Figure 4: EQ Setup screen

The EQ Setup scr
You use these settings to equalize your r
which can be used at its current frequency, or can be infinitely adjusted to the frequency and
EQ you desire. Each preset can have its own EQ settings.

By navigating the cursor to the NEXT field and pressing SELECT, the following screen appears:

een includes a “SYSTEM RESPONSE” “sweep” window and a graphic equalizer

oom. The graphic equalizer features 8 bands, each of

.

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

14

Figure 5: System Settings Screen

om this scr

Fr
other settings can be set, as well as specifics for each preset, if desired.

Your DD unit comes with 6 presets, four of which are preprogrammed at the factory. The
Setup setting is used to initially set the cr
presets. Then, each preset can be individually adjusted if desired. The presets are as follows
(they ar

All six presets contain the following fields:

e also labeled on the remote):

1. Action/Adventure

2. Movies

3. Pop/Rock

4. Jazz/Classical

5. Custom (off from the factory, or flat)

6. EQ Defeat

• Low Pass Crossover Frequency and Slope – Adjust the upper limit of your subwoofer’s
frequency r
199Hz and slope at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 dB/octave.

• Subsonic Filter Frequency and Slope – Set your subwoofer’
frequency limit), in increments of 1, between 15Hz – 35Hz and slope at 6, 12, 18, 24,
30, 36, 42 and 48 dB/octave.

een the crossover, subsonic filter, phase, polarity, theater/music, volume, and

, and volume for all

s subsonic filter (low

esponse. Select a cr

ossovers, slopes, phase, polarity

ossover setting, in incr

ements of 1, between 15Hz and

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

15

•

Phase

(adjustable in 15 degree increments).

• Polarity – Set your subwoofer’s polarity by toggling between positive (+) or negative (-).
This reverses the phase 180 degrees.

• Volume – Each preset can have its own volume separate from the master volume shown
in the setup column. When the master volume changes, the preset volume changes in
lock step.

• Contour Frequency – This allows you to set a frequency to boost or cut the signal to
your subwoofer in response to specific types of source material. These have been
preset at the factory according to the presets above, but any or all can be customized
to taste.

• Contour Level – This indicates the amount of boost or cut at the frequency specified in
the contour frequency. Again, this has been preset at the factory but can be adjusted
to taste.

• Theater/Music Indicator. This setting affects the distortion limiting capabilities of the
digital servo system and allows you to choose between a “theatrical” subwoofer, a
“musical” subwoofer, or somewhere in
(least amount of ser

– S

et the phase (delay) of the subwoofer’s output signal, 0 to 180 degrees

-between. The scale is 1 for maximum theater

vo gain) and 8 for maximum music (most amount of servo gain).

Other controls on the Setting Setup Screen:

• Auto On/Off Active/Inactive – When active, this contr
subwoofer off after approximately 15 minutes without any sour
automatically wakes upon receiving input signal again.

• Night Mode Maximum Volume – When the NIGHT mode button is pr
remote, this setting is invoked. Night mode is indicated by the amber bar underlining
the VELODYNE logo. The subwoofer will not play louder than this volume level until the
night mode is defeated.

ol automatically shuts the

ce signal. The woofer

essed on the

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

16

Onscreen Programming and Setup – Step by Step

T

he following steps take you though a typical Digital Drive setup procedure.

1. Push the POWER switch on the subwoofer’s rear panel to the ON position.

2. Make sure your receiver/processor is on and the volume control is set to minimum.

3. If you haven’t already done so, establish the crossover settings for your main speakers.
Generally, if your satellites can be crossed over at 80Hz (that is, accurately reproduce
frequencies to this level) it is an ideal setting. However, some satellite speakers are only flat
to 120Hz or even higher. Remember that the higher the subwoofer is crossed over (to
match the satellite crossover settings), the more likely it is to become directional (that is,
you can tell where the bass is coming from). Again, consult your processor and speakers
owner’s manuals for more information.

4. Select the source on your receiver/processor that the DD subwoofer audio output is
connected to. Input should be configured for stereo.

5. Set the video input where you connected the video output as the active TV image. The
introductory screen with the Velodyne logo and “Velodyne Digital Drive” should now appear
on your TV screen, as follows:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

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6

. Press MENU and enter 12345 to enter the EQ setup screen, as follows:

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18

U

pon pressing 5, you should see the following screen:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

19

7

. Use the DD remote control to MUTE the subwoofer.

8

. Raise the volume on your receiver/processor until the DD test sweep (a tone that sweeps

from 20Hz up to 200Hz) can be heard from your system’s speakers. Continue to raise the
volume until the “SYSTEM RESPONSE” graph on your TV shows the response of your full
range speakers (the right hand portion of the graph) at approximately 76 dB (or a
comfortable listening level). This is shown below:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

20

9

. Now use the DD remote control to unmute the subwoofer, then use the volume up and down

keys to match the level of the subwoofer to your full range speakers. That is, the “SYSTEM
R

ESPONSE” graph should be relatively flat (although at this point there will be peaks and

valleys that will be addressed next). The screen should now look something like this:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

21

About Room Placement.

Room placement is the first step in equalizing your sub(s) to your room. Subwoofers operate
a

t extremely low frequencies, which are primarily omni
where they are coming from). Placing the sub in the room is a trial and
goal is to find the best location(s) that result in the minimum number and severity of valleys in
the frequency response curve. This is because peaks in the response curve are easy to
address with an EQ, but valleys typically are not easily fixed because they represent a
cancellation of soundwaves that more power to that frequency will usually not fix.

As a general rule, placing the sub(s) in the corner(s) of a room will add to the overall amount
of bass the subwoofer produces, but that bass may not necessarily be as low in distortion
compared to a position away from the corner. The worst location for a subwoofer is typically
far away from any walls, and close to the center of your room. Avoid these locations when
possible. When using a pair of Velodyne subwoofers in stereo, it is preferable to place each
subwoofer by the satellite of the same channel. If moving your satellites is an option, they too
can contribute to peaks and valleys and should be likewise placed through experimentation.

10. Now you can begin moving your subwoofer around the room to find the best placement

position. You need to find the best tradeoff between appearance and room response. Be
sure the room is in the configuration that it will be in when you typically listen e.g. doors
opened or closed, curtains open or closed, etc. As you move the subwoofer, refer to the
“SYSTEM RESPONSE” graph to minimize peaks and especially valleys in the response curve.
As an example, you might find a location that smoothes the graph as follows:

-d

irectional (that is, you can’t usually tell

-error process. The

NOTE: The subwoofer should be tur

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ned of

f when physically moving the unit.

Digital Drive User’s Manual

22

T

IP: Here’s an easy way to find the optimal position for the subwoofer without moving it to
multiple positions in the room. Start by setting the subwoofer up in your listening position.
N

ow, move the microphone around the room and observe the response graphs for different

room positions. The best position has the fewest valleys and the overall smoothest response.

NOTE: If you are constrained in room location positions, don’t worry! By following the setup
steps below, Digital Drive gives you maximum flexibility to make the most out of any subwoofer
placement position.

11. Now that the room location has been chosen, turn off the subwoofer and the rest of your

system, permanently route the wiring, and reconnect to your subwoofer.

12. Reactivate the subwoofer and your system and ensure that the system works as before.

13. Use the MENU button to get to the EQ setup screen (after entering the 12345 code), and

then position the cursor over the NEXT field on the EQ setup screen. Press SELECT, and
observe the Setting Setup screen, as follows:

You are now ready to adjust the crossover, subsonic filter, volume, and phase controls of your
DD unit.

NOTE: if the remote seems intermittent or unresponsive, be sure you are pointing it at the
subwoofer and not your TV!

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

23

A

ND REMEMBER: Use the UP, DOWN, RIGHT and LEFT directional arrow buttons that surround
SELECT to move through the fields of the setup screen, and change settings by using the
S

ELECT button, then the UP and DOWN arrow keys. Or, you can skip the SELECT button and

change values using the SET +/- buttons.

14. When setting the low pass crossover, begin by setting the frequency and slope to the same

values as the crossover settings on your receiver/processor (for example, many units have
a large/small satellite setting). Again, consult your receiver/processor owner’s manual for
more information. You will notice that changing these values “cascades” the values out to
all the presets. That is because once these values are set, they will not normally change
from preset to preset, but if later you wish to customize a specific preset you can. An
example of a crossover changed to 100Hz is shown below:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

24

T

IP: To see immediate feedback on the effects of your changes to the “SYSTEM RESPONSE”

graph, press the TEST button. The following screen appears:

Press TEST again to return to the System Settings screen.

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25

N

OTE: Some receivers/processors supply a signal that is already crossed over – i.e. just the
bass frequencies. If this is the case, you will want to defeat the subwoofer’s low pass crossover.
T

o defeat the low pass crossover, press the SELECT key, then the RESET key. The following

screen appears:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

26

N

OTE: Your goal in setting the low pass crossover is to make the crossover point (the point at
which the subwoofer meets the main speakers in terms of frequency) as smooth as possible.
A

nother big factor in smoothing this point in the curve is phase, discussed in step 17, below.

15. Now adjust the low pass crossover slope. This setting is shipped at 24 dB/octave – a

fairly steep slope to prevent the subwoofer from playing upper frequencies that might call
attention to it during normal operation. At this stage, set the crossover settings under the
column entitled SETUP. Reduce the slope if necessary and use the TEST button to return
to the EQ setup screen and observe the “system response” graph – it should be as flat as
possible at the crossover frequency and immediately to the left and right of it. Too gradual
a slope (e.g. 6 dB/octave) may produce a bump at the crossover frequency, and too steep
a slope may produce a dip.

16. You should normally not need to adjust the subsonic filter. Do so only if there are anomalies

in the very lowest frequencies that you cannot address using the normal EQ process as
described below.

17. Next adjust the phase and polarity settings. Phase is in effect a short delay in the

reproduction of the audio signal. The polarity reverses the phase (i.e. 180oshift).
Adjusting phase can change the dynamics of standing waves and frequency cancellations
in the room. Sometimes it may be useful to adjust the phase if there is a particularly
difficult peak or valley to eliminate, and/or your room placement options are limited. Phase
and polarity ar
will often see a dip or peak in the crossover frequency between your subwoofer and main
speakers. Rather than correcting this dip with an EQ, try adjusting the phase and polarity
settings. It is very common for the main speakers to interact with the subwoofer to
diminish or accent frequencies near the crossover point (since this is the point where both
the subwoofer and the speakers ar
to experiment to find the perfect match between your subwoofer and main speakers!

e also important tools to match your subwoofer to your main speakers. Y

e playing the same audio information). Don’t be afraid

ou

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

27

N

OTE: The following step shows using the graphic equalizer (using fixed frequencies and Q) to
equalize the room.

18. Next, return to the EQ setup screen and adjust the graphical EQs to eliminate peaks and

valleys from the room response. Use the right and left arrow keys to position the cursor
over the EQ you wish to adjust. If you see a peak in the response at, say, 25Hz (this would
be evident in the “SYSTEM RESPONSE” graph), simply navigate the cursor to the EQ that
corresponds to 25Hz and use the up or down arrow keys to “slide” the EQ up or down. An
example of this is shown below:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

28

1

9. Continue this process until the “SYSTEM RESPONSE” graph shows a +/– 3 dB response
across the bass frequencies (that is, up to about 120Hz.). Note that this does not
n

ecessarily mean a “ruler flat” response; +/- 3dB is typical for an optimized response

curve.

An “equalized” room is shown below:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

29

2

0. To have the unit EQ itself, select the auto EQ option, as shown:

When this mode is selected, the unit automatically resets all EQs to their original frequencies,
and Q settings (but retains any level changes you may have made). The AUTO EQ proceeds
until you either save settings, press SELECT to return to manual EQ, move the cursor off the
AUTO EQ field (in which case the field automatically reverts to MANUAL), or twenty
have occurred.

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

-five sweeps

30

N

OTE: The following steps use the parametric equalizer to achieve room equalization. If you do

not wish to use the parametric EQ feature, skip to step 24.

21. To use the parametric EQ feature, position the cursor over the EQ and press the SELECT
button. The values for that particular EQ appear on the right hand side of the screen. The
following screen is shown:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

31

2

2. To manipulate a parametric EQ, you can now use the LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to move
the frequency up and down, and the SET + and SET – keys to change the Q value. Use the
U

P and DOWN arrow keys to adjust the level of the EQ as before. A selected EQ that has

been moved, with its level raised and Q adjusted is shown below:

23. To unselect the EQ, press SELECT again, then use the right and left arrow keys to position
the cursor on another EQ if desired, and repeat step 22, until the room is equalized.

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32

2

4. Once the room has been equalized, you may want to return to the Settings Setup screen
(by positioning the cursor over the NEXT field on the EQ setup screen and pressing SELECT)
a

nd review/modify the presets. This step is required ONLY if you wish to customize the
presets. Before doing this, LOCK the Setup column by positioning the cursor over the
LOCK screen and pressing SELECT. This screen is shown below:

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33

Y

ou can change any value in the presets column, then use the TEST key to review the curve

with these settings active. This is shown below.

Features of each preset are:

EQ. There can be a completely different set of EQs for each preset. Simply select the
preset you want on the “SYSTEM RESPONSE” screen where indicated.

Volume (+ or – from SYS). This setting deviates the preset’s volume from the
established system volume of the subwoofer
a good setup volume for the subwoofer, then if you increased the volume for preset one
to 40, the 40 volume would be invoked when pr
the system volume is changed (using the VOL + or VOL – keys on the r
volume is adjusted in lock step with the system volume.

Crossover, subsonic filter, phase and polarity settings. Normally these will not
change from preset to preset. However, it may be that you are using different satellites
for different listening modes and wish to set these settings individually for a specific
preset. Note that the “setup” values cascade to the individual values for the pr
you can change all the individual values if desired.

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. So, if you found during setup that 30 was

eset one wer

e selected for listening. If

emote), the preset

esets, but

Digital Drive User’s Manual

34

C

ontour frequency and level.

manipulate the frequency contour of your subwoofer when this particular preset is
i

nvoked. For example, notice that preset one raises the level by 3 dB at 35Hz – this is

to accommodate action/adventure movie content.

Theater/Music indicator. This setting allows you to choose between a “theatrical”
subwoofer, a “musical” subwoofer, or somewhere in between. The “musical” setting
represents maximum gain from the digital servo, and thus the least amount of distortion
possible from the subwoofer. The “theatrical” setting relaxes the servo a bit to allow a
bit more distortion to enter the playback, making an overall louder and more impressive
sub for explosions and other theatrical content. The scale is 1 for theater (least amount
of servo gain) and 8 for music (most amount of servo gain).

EQ curves. Each preset can have its own unique set of EQ settings. You can select
which preset you want to EQ by either positioning the cursor on a preset column on the
settings screen then pressing TEST, or by selecting the preset you want on the graph
screen, with at the preset field, or by pressing one of the preset buttons on the remote.

T

hese act as an “extra” EQ that can be used to

You will note that presets 1
5’s contour is set at 0 level from the factory and customizable by the user (i.e. flat), and preset
6 defeats all the EQs to demonstrate the effect the equalization of the subwoofer has on
room response.

NOTE: you can select which preset is invoked at system startup by selecting it as shown:

-4 are shipped from the factory with predetermined settings, preset

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

35

2

4. As a final thought on matching your Digital Drive subwoofer to your room, don’t forget the
“objective listening” test. That is, make sure the unit sounds good to you! Often, you may
w

ant to add a bit more bass than what would normally be considered “flat” even after you
remove the major peaks and valleys to achieve a flat frequency response. This is quite
normal because human hearing “rolls off” rapidly below 100Hz, causing the bass not to
sound as loud. This is the basis for the “loudness contour” switch included on many
receivers and preamps. In order for the bass to sound flat, especially at lower levels, you
may need to increase the subwoofer volume in relation to the satellite speakers. An
increase of about 5

1. Raise the internal volume control for the subwoofer in your surround receiver or
processor, or,

2. Raise the volume of your Digital Drive subwoofer after you have finished your room
equalization and other settings. You can observe this difference by watching the
“SYSTEM RESPONSE” graph as you raise the volume.

Of course, all hearing is different, so be sure to perform the above step “to taste”.

Your setup is complete! You are now ready to save settings. You can press the EXIT button
on the remote, or position the cursor over the SAVE/EXIT field on the screen and press select.
The system responds with the following screen:

-8 dB is usually adequate. There are two methods to accomplish this:

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

36

B

y pressing the SELECT button, you tell the system to save your settings and return to the
introduction screen. Selecting NO returns without saving (i.e. whatever previous settings were
i

n effect will be used), and CANCEL keeps you in setup mode.

When the unit saves settings, you will see the video flicker and you may hear a slight tick in your
main speakers. This is normal behavior.

NOTE: The Digital Drive subwoofer stores all of its settings in internal “Flash” memory. This
memory persists even if the woofer is turned off, loses power, or undergoes a programming
update, so you need not worry about losing your customized settings.

Restoring Defaults

There is a feature in Digital Drive that allows you to restore the factory defaults. On the Main
Screen, simply press the 8, 9, and 0 buttons in sequence. If you are successful, the unit will
flicker the video and then restore the main screen. The system responds with a defaults
restored message, as shown below:

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37

R

untime Mode
During normal use of your Digital Drive Subwoofer, you can use the preset buttons to invoke
c

ertain presets, use the volume control to raise or lower the subwoofer’s volume, use the light
and night buttons to control the logo light and night mode, respectively, and use the mute button
to mute the subwoofer. These settings are shown on the introductory screen, as follows:

NOTE: If you change the volume on your DD subwoofer but later wish to return to the volume
you established during setup (that is, as of your last save), press the RESET button.

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38

R

untime Inactive Modes. The following screens show other runtime messages indicating that
the subwoofer is inactive. The screen below shows the message displayed when the auto
f

eature has engaged (that is, the subwoofer has not had any input signal for 15 minutes:

-off

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

39

T

he following screen is displayed when the POWER button is depressed, powering down

the subwoofer:

Note that in this mode the POWER button must be pressed again to reactivate the unit.

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40

T

he following screen is shown when the unit is waiting for a 12-volt trigger to activate:

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41

About Room Equalization

T

his section gives some background on room equalization. As a sub plays in a room, the
reflections of the sound waves off the walls create “standing waves,” that is, places in the room
where certain frequencies are louder and others are diminished. In addition to standing waves,
every room will also have locations where cancellations of the sound waves are like black holes
that no amount of attenuation can fill. Thus as a general rule it is better to “cut down” a peak
of response rather than to “boost up” a valley (i.e. possible black hole) of response.

In general, you are looking for a frequency response that is +/– 3 dB at all frequencies (it is
highly doubtful that your ear can tell a response that is any better than this). The response will
always roll off at the low end (according to the settings of the subsonic filter), and there should
be no dip or peak at the crossover frequency with the satellites. While the goal is perfectly flat
response, this may not be possible in the higher frequencies of the subwoofer’s response due
to peaks or valleys introduced by the satellites.

Protection Circuitry

Your new subwoofer is equipped with special protection circuitry to provide maximum
performance with greatest reliability.

The unit is protected against:

1. Overdriving the speaker or amplifier.

2. Over

3. Excessive dr

The first type of protection circuitr
operates constantly without being audible under most situations. In some extreme situations
(sustained high output levels such as pr
This indicates operation of the thermal or under voltage protection circuitry. If this should
happen, you should reduce the volume setting or shut the unit off until normal operating
conditions return. You may also want to plug the unit into a different wall outlet, as dropping
power line voltage will be most noticeable under strenuous conditions.

Car

Do not use any harsh detergents or chemicals to clean the cabinet. Abrasives, detergents, or
cleaning solutions may damage the finish on the cabinet. We recommend using a damp cloth
to clean the cabinet. During nor
without any problems. The unit is equipped with a signal
automatically tur
several minutes when ther
subwoofer unused for an extended period of time, we recommend that you unplug the unit.

heating the amplifier.

op in power line voltage.

y that prevents overdriving of the speaker or amplifier

o sound usage), the unit may shut down momentarily.

e of Your Digital Subwoofer

mal conditions, your new subwoofer may be left on continuously

n on the unit when a signal is pr

e is no longer any signal at the inputs. If you plan to leave the

esent at the inputs and turn off the unit after

-sensing turn on/off that will

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

42

Troubleshooting and Service

I

f you should experience a problem with the operation of your subwoofer, please check all of the

following before seeking service. Following is a simple troubleshooting guide to assist you.

1. Verify unit is plugged in and power outlet used is active.

2. Is the unit receiving an input signal from your source? A good way to test this is to
connect the EQ audio out to the LFE input on the back panel, then enter setup mode (see
Step 6). The woofer should play the sweep tone used for room EQ.

3. Have all controls on subwoofer (volume, crossover, phase, etc.) been properly set?

4. If unit has been running at high levels for an extended period of time, one of the protection
circuits may be engaged.

• Has the built

• Is your power line voltage sagging under heavy use?

If the protection circuitry is active, the unit may cycle on and off until operating parameters
return to normal. Under more serious conditions, the unit may shut off completely. Normal
operation will return upon cooling, but you may be required to unplug the unit momentarily.

The following conditions require service by a qualified technician:

-in amplifier overheated?

1. The power cord has become damaged.

2. The unit does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change
in performance.

3. The unit has been exposed to water

4. Some par

Software Updates

At the heart of Digital Drive functionality is the customized software. From time to time,
Velodyne will publish updates to the Digital Drive software. To determine if your unit is a
candidate for a software upgrade, observe the software version number in the upper left corner
of the Main Screen (e.g. V2.0). Then visit www
of the software available for download. If this version is higher than the version in your unit,
you may want to upgrade the software.

To upgrade the software, you will need an IBM-compatible PC with an available RS-232 9-pin
serial port, and a male
any computer store, your local Velodyne dealer, or directly from Velodyne. Next, proceed to the
Velodyne web site and click on the link to download the software. Upon download, run the
software and it will instruct you on completing the update process.

t of the cabinet or circuitry is physically damaged.

-to-female “Mouse Extension” serial cable. This cable is available from

.

.velodyne.com and observe the version number

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Thank you for purchasing a Velodyne!

Digital Drive User’s Manual

43

Appendix A: RS-232 Serial Overview and Commands

Introduction

This document outlines Velodyne’s Digital Drive (DD) RS-232 protocol specification. This
protocol indicates how Digital Drive products receive run
Creston Universal Remote Controls.

Com Port Setup

Use standard communications settings: Baud Rate: 9600, Data Bits: 7, Parity: None, Stop
Bits: 1

DD IN and OUT Port Pin Configuration

DD serial ports use a standard configuration that allows direct connection to a PC via a FEMALE
to MALE serial cable. It uses only 3 pins (Transmit, Receive, Ground).

The pin configurations are:

IN: Pin 2 = Transmit

Pin 3 = Receive
Pin 5 = Ground

-time commands from devices such as

OUT: Pin 2 = Receive

Pin 3 = Transmit
Pin 5 = Ground

Runtime Command Format

Byte Number

0 ‘#’

1 to 3 or 4 Command and 3 to 4 ASCII characters see formats below

4 or 5

Byte Description Notes

Header Character

Parameter Data Case sensitive

mination Character (r

er

‘$’

T
command is ignored)

- CAPS ONLY!

equir

ed or

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

44

R

S232 Commands

Activity Command Acceptable Example(s) Comments

Format n Values

Volume Control #VOnn$, 00 – 99 #VO25$, Sets volume to a value,

#VO+$, #VO+$, increments volume up
#VO-$, #VO-$, or down, or requests
#VO?$ #VO?$ current volume setting

Preset Control #PSn$, 1, 2, 3, 4, #PS1$, #PS2$, Activates the indicated

#PS?$ 5, 6 #PS3$, #PS4$, preset, or requests

#PS5$, #PS6$, the current preset
#PS?$

Logo Light #LTn$, 0: Light Off #LT0$ Turns the Logo Light
Control #LT?$ 1: Light On #LT1$ on or off, or requests

#LT?$ light state

Night Mode #NMn$, 0: Night #NM0$ Activates/Deactivates
Control #NM?$ Mode Off #NM1$ Night Mode, or

1: Night
Mode On mode state

#NM?$ requests light

Mute Control #MUn$, 0: Mute Off #MU1$ Mutes/Unmutes the

#MU?$ 1: Mute On #MU?$ woofer, or requests
#MU0$

Power Control #JUn$, 0: Power Off #JU0$ Powers On/Powers

#JU?$ 1: Power On

#JU1$
#JU?$ requests power state

mute state

Off the woofer, or

.

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

45

Appendix B: Summary of Special Remote Codes

F

ollowing are special remote codes and their functions. Unless otherwise noted, the codes are

active only on the cover page.

Function Code Description

Self-EQ 3-2-1 Initiates Self-EQ feature.

Be sure to connect the

microphone before engaging.

Press RESET to cancel

prematurely. After 25 sweeps,

the unit saves and resets.

Restore defaults 8

Switch to DOWN ARROW The unit restarts in

PAL/SECAM 4 times followed PAL/SECAM video mode.

video by RESET TO restore NTSC mode,

Display serial number UP ARROW 4 times Shows the serial number

Restore last saved RESET

volume restores last

Show internal test TEST (3 times) Displays several internal

parameters software variables, including

-9-0 Restores defaults and
resets the subwoofer.

restore defaults.

then SELECT

of the unit at the top

of the scr

If volume is changed,

ACCGAINH, which is a

measur

functioning. Press TEST

e of ser

again to hide.

een.

saved volume.

vo

.

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

46

Appendix C: What’s New in release 2.0

Y

our Digital Drive subwoofer has version 2.0 of the digital drive room management software

installed. Following is a description of the new features for version 2.0.

Feature Description

Auto-EQ New option on graph screen. When set to AUTO,

this option resets the EQs to default third
frequencies (20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63, 80, 100 Hz),
and adjusts +/- 1 dB max each sweep. Can be
done on SETUP (affects all presets) or for
an individual preset.

Self

-EQ Allows EQing without video or EQ out hookup. On
the main screen, when 3
remote, the DD automatically emits 25 sweep
tones. If the microphone is connected, the unit self
EQs. Note that this only affects the low frequency
EQ – it does not affect phase, crossovers, or
other settings.

-2-1 is pressed on the

-octave

-

Individual EQs per pr

Defeatable Low

Selectable default preset New field on settings page – whatever preset is

Navigation using up, down, left, For people that didn’t like the left
right arrows and select. navigation. Now users can use all four directional

eset Each preset can have its own independent EQ

setup, or all can be af
selection. Also, EQ curves reflect the ef
settings for each preset, e.g. crossovers, phase,
etc. Previously, these settings only reflected the
SETUP values.

-Pass Crossover The low-pass crossover can be completely shut off
by pressing the reset button when the cursor is on
the low

selected will be invoked at startup

ar
activate the field for alteration. For users who liked
the old navigation, simply pr
the left, right, up, and down buttons as befor

-pass crossover in the settings screen.

ows to position the cursor

r

fected through the SETUP

fect of ALL

-right only

, then pr

ess select and then use

ess SELECT to

e.

.

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

47

SETUP column lock This setting freezes the SETUP column values.

P

reviously, after individually setting preset values,
a change to the setup column would override any
individual preset changes. Users are advised to
complete the global setup using the setup values,
then freeze the setup column and adjust individual
presets if desired.

Remember previous graph so This has been implemented by simply not erasing
that the effect of settings the previous graph until the new graph overlays it,
such as phase or crossover allowing the user to see the effect of the
can be seen new settings.

Full functionality on graph Previously, the TEST button showed the user the
screen when TEST key is graph screen but the only function was to press
pressed on settings screen TEST again to return to the settings screen. Now

the graph screen is fully functional, and pressing
test again puts the user at the field where they left
off on the settings screen.

Light blink scheme for When the volume up or down buttons are pressed,
volume level

the Velodyne light will blink faster as the volume
increases, and slower as the volume decreases.

Light blink scheme for The Velodyne light blinks the number of times for the
preset selection preset (e.g. three times for preset three).

Accommodate all requested This was introduced in release 1.6 and has been
discreet remote codes carried over to release 2.0.

Slave Mode When two DD subwoofers are connected together

via RS232 cable, the slave subwoofer goes into
slave mode whereby it ignores remote IR input.
To reset from slave mode, power cycle the unit.

.

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

48

Appendix D: Important Subwoofer Information

Important Information Regarding your
Velodyne Digital Drive™ Series Subwoofer
(DD-15 and DD-18 only) and THX™ Ultra

THX Ultra

To set the DD-15 and DD-18 to meet THX Ultra2requirements, customize Preset 5 with the
following parameters:

Low Pass Crossover Frequency: OFF
Low Pass Crossover Slope: 6 dB per octave
Subsonic Frequency: 15Hz
Subsonic Slope: 24 dB per octave
Phase: User adjustable
Polarity: User adjustable
Volume: 25
Contour Frequency: Default
Contour Level: 0.0
Theater/Music: 8
Night Mode Volume: Default in OFF position

Presets for the Velodyne Digital Drive Series:

2

2

THX Certified Pre-Amp/Receivers:

If you have a THX Certified Pr
panel of the DD
the DD
owners manual and then calibrate the THX Pre-Amp/Receiver. This ensures that the bass
management and calibrated levels ar

As this is a new THX Ultra
may use the Boundar
compensate for any excessive bass heard in the room if you are close to a wall.

-15/DD-18 to the THX Preset 5, set the system response of the subwoofer as per the

-15/DD-18 to the ”Sub Out” connector of the THX Pre-Amp/Receiver. Also set

y Gain Contr

e-Amp/Receiver, please connect the “(THX)” input on the back

e optimized for your system.

subwoofer, if your Pre-Amp/Receiver is THX Ultra2Certified, you

2

ol in the setup menu of the THX Ultra

e-Amp/Receiver to

Pr

2

THX Certified Ultra2:

Before any home theatre component can be THX Ultra2 certified, it must pass a rigorous
series of quality and performance tests. Only then can a product feature the THX Ultra

oducts you pur

which is your guarantee that the Home Theatr
performance for many years to come. THX Ultra
performance of the product including power output, frequency response, distortion, etc.

e pr

requirements cover every aspect of the

2

chase will give you superb

2

logo,

.

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Digital Drive User’s Manual

49

Other Velodyne Subwoofer Products:

Digital Drive Signature 1812 ™

HGS-X Series

HGS-10X
HGS-12X
HGS-15X

DLS-R Series

DLS-3500R
DLS-3750R
DLS-4000R
DLS-5000R

SPL-R Series

SPL-800R
SPL-1000R
SPL-1200R

DPS Series

DPS-10

VRP Series

VRP-1000
VRP-1200

VX Series

VX-10

DPS-12

LIMITED WARRANTY

VELODYNE ACOUSTICS, Inc. (“VELODYNE”) warrants all powered subwoofers for a period of two years and full range
speakers for a period of five years. All VELODYNE products have a warranty from the date of purchase against
defects in materials and workmanship subject to the following conditions:

1. VELODYNE is not responsible for defects which result from the use of an amplifier or controller other than
the one originally supplied with the unit (subwoofer) or defects which result from modifications or repairs
made by any component of the system by anyone other than a VELODYNE factor
service representative.

This warranty is void if any repairs or service covered by the terms of this warranty are made to any

2.
component of the system by anyone other than a VELODYNE factory authorized service representative.

3. VELODYNE is not r
or unauthorized modification. The VELODYNE products ar
and VELODYNE is not responsible for damage resulting from such use.

4. The VELODYNE product warranty is limited to units that are purchased from authorized VELODYNE dealers
and finalized within authorized dealer locations.

5. This war

Information r
VELODYNE customer service. Warranty service must be performed by a VELODYNE factory authorized service
representative within the warranty period set forth above. If VELODYNE determines the unit is defective, VELODYNE
will, at VELODYNE’s option, repair or replace the product at no charge if the product is forwarded prepaid to a factory
authorized service representative. Products forwarded to the factory authorized service representative should be
shipped securely and properly packaged, insured and freight prepaid.

ranty is nontransferable under any condition.

ding ser

egar

esponsible for damage caused by accidents, abuse, misuse, natural or personal disaster

ofessional or commer

TO OBTAIN SERVICE

vice may be obtained fr

e not intended for pr

om the dealer from whom you purchased the unit, or by contacting

y authorized

cial use

.

www.velodyne.com

Digital Drive User’s Manual

50

63-DD RevF 11MAY 05

.

www.velodyne.com

Velodyne Acoustics, Inc.

Morgan Hill, CA 95037

408.465.2800 voice

408.779.9208 ser

Service E

Product E

Technical E

345 Digital Drive

408.779.9227 fax
vice fax

www.velodyne.com

-mail: [e-mail]

-mail: [e-mail]

-mail: [e-mail]

Digital Drive User’s Manual

51