Z-Systems z-K6 User Manual
z-K6 manual © 2001, Z-Systems Audio Engineering
The z-K6 K-Surround Processor
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................................2
Making Physical Connections............................................................................................................................... 3
Front Panel Controls.............................................................................................................................................3
Controlling Channel Output Levels ..................................................................................................................... 4
Controlling Front Ambience.................................................................................................................................4
Controlling Surround Extraction ......................................................................................................................... 6
Controlling Front Ambience Equalization...........................................................................................................7
Controlling Surround Equalization......................................................................................................................8
Bypassing the z-K6 .................................................................................................................................................8
Saving and Loading Presets...................................................................................................................................8
MIDI Automation................................................................................................................................................ 10
Adjusting Sample Rate & Wordwidth ................................................................................................................11
Specifications........................................................................................................................................................12
Important note:
The z-K6 does not auto-detect the input sample rate. You must select the sample rate
manually. Please make note of this and always make sure that the selected sample rate
matches the incoming sample rate. This will change on subsequent firmware revisions.
z-K6 manual
2
Introduction
Figure 1 -- z-K6 block diagram
The z-K6 K-Surround processor uses very sophisticated DSP algorithms to produce a convincing
and realistic surround-sound "extrapolation" from two-channel material. Unlike other processors
that use techniques such as room modeling and synthetic reverberation, the z-K6 is based on
novel techniques that are the result of contemporary psychoacoustic research. We believe you'll
find that the z-K6 produces better, more natural-sounding results than any other technique
currently available.
Referring to Figure 1, please observe that the z-K6 is subdivided into two functional blocks. The
first block, seen at top, takes the stereo input and produces three frontal channels (LF, C, and RF).
The second block, seen at bottom, takes the stereo input and extracts the surround channels (LS,
and RS) and the LFE channel (Sub). Each of these blocks merits further attention.
Let's take a closer look at the front-channel subsystem. First, the signal is passed through a pair of
shelving filters, allowing you to selectively filter the low- and high-frequency response of the input
signal. Next, the front ambience extraction module takes the shelf-filtered stereo signal and
produces an ambience-enhanced stereo signal with complete control over the type (i.e., wide,
deep), the amount (level), and the spectral character (EQ) of the ambience. Finally, the enhanced
stereo signal is converted to a three-channel signal. The three channels are derived using a
technique that renders a timbrally accurate match to the stereo signal, but with pinpoint imaging
that is stable over a much wider listening window.
Now we'll take a brief look at the surround/LFE subsystem. Again, the user can selectively shelffilter the input signal. Then the surround generation module derives the signal to be sent to the
surround channels, with user-specified control over the amount of ambience to be generated.
The user can also control the equalization of the ambience. In tandem, the z-K6 allows you to
derive a lowpass-filtered mono sum of the stereo signal and send the result to the LFE channel.
z-K6 manual
3
Making Physical Connections
The z-K6 has three AES/EBU inputs and three AES/EBU outputs. These input/output pairs are
labeled input /output 1/2, input/output 3/4, and input/output 5/6.
In order to assure perfectly synchronous timing between channel pairs, we require that you use an
AES/EBU distribution amplifier (for example, a Z-Systems Digital Detangler) and feed the same
stereo input signal to all three AES/EBU inputs. When the unit detects a valid input stream, the
corresponding validity indicator on the front panel will illuminate, indicating the presence of
signal.
The outputs from the z-K6 are as follows:
1/2: Left and right front
3/4: Left and right surround
5/6: Center and LFE (sub)
Please don't forget the warning from the front-cover of this document:
The z-K6 does not auto-detect the input sample rate. You must select the sample rate
manually. Please make note of this and always make sure that the selected sample rate
matches the incoming sample rate. This will change on subsequent firmware revisions.
See the section titled "Adjusting Sample Rate and Wordwidth" for directions on changing the
input sample rate.
Front Panel Controls
Figure 2 -- Front Panel Controls
z-K6 manual
4
Controlling Channel Output Levels
Figure 3 - channel level control screen
Press the EQ/Master Level, offsets button until the display appears as in Figure 3 (this button
toggles between EQ and level functions). As indicated by the display, the left knob controls the
individual channel offsets and the right knob controls the overall system level. To change the level
of a channel offset, press the button below that channel's label. The display will show an asterisk
next to the name and the left knob will control that channel's offset. Pressing the button again
will mute that channel. Pressing the button a third time will bring that channel out of mute and
restore the channel's gain to its value before the mute was invoked. The master system level is
applied after the channel offsets so that the relative levels between offsets will be maintained
regardless of overall system level.
The z-K6 is also endowed with the ability to solo channels. If you press and hold one of the
channel select buttons, that channel will solo -- i.e., the other channels will mute and you will only
hear that channel. If you hold down the channel button again, the unit will "un-solo" that
channel and return to the state before the solo function was invoked. This includes all of the
various channel mutes from the other channels.
Controlling Front Ambience
Press the system button. The display will appear as in Figure 4. Notice that the top-right part of
the display indicates that the display is showing ambience parameters for the LRC page. That is,
this screen pertains to the left, right, and center channels. The left side of the screen has an arrow
pointing to the first button below the screen, along with the words "to LRS page." As indicated,
pressing this button will take the unit to a similar mode, only one in which the surround
ambience parameters are displayed. On the LRC page, the left knob controls the front K-level and
the right knob controls which algorithm is used to enhance the ambience.
The front K-level is best interpreted as the amount of added ambience. It varies from an "off"
position (fully counter-clockwise) to +6.0 dB (fully clockwise). For more information on the
meaning of K-level, see the Appendix.
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