92k Master Digital Clock User’s Guide v1.
192k Master Digital Clock User’s Guide v1.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Warnings FCC warning This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Registration and Warranty Information Be sure to register your BIG BEN, either by filling in the enclosed Registration Card or by completing the on-line registration form at our Web site: http://www.apogeedigital.com/register.html. If you do so, Apogee can contact you with any update information. As enhancements and upgrades are developed, you will be contacted at the registration address. Firmware updates are free for the first year of ownership unless otherwise stated.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Declarations of Conformity Declaration of Conformity—FCC Apogee BIG BEN This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide OWNER’S RECORD The serial number is located on the rear panel of the unit. We suggest you record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to it whenever you call an authorized Apogee Electronics repair facility or the manufacturer. Please be sure to return your completed warranty card immediately! BIG BEN Serial No.
User’s Guide Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................2 Getting Started Quickly ................................................................................3 Connecting Power .....................................................................................3 Reset ........................................................................................................3 QuickStart ...............................
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Introduction Apogee Electronics’ Big Ben Master Digital Clock provides a complete clock synchronization solution for the digital production studio. Each feature of Big Ben has been carefully designed to ensure the highest quality, stability and simplicity when synchronizing your studio.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Getting Started Quickly CONNECTING POWER Big Ben performs best when connected to AC power, and will accept an AC input of 100 to 240 VAC at a frequency of 50 to 60 Hz. In other words, Big Ben may be connected to virtually any AC power outlet found worldwide without concern for voltage settings or fuse ratings. RESET To reset the Big Ben, power up the unit while pressing the DOWN key.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Navigating the Front Panel 1 2 It’s Got a Mind of Its Own! As Big Ben’s settings are modified, certain parameters and values become unavailable for selection, while others seem to change all by themselves! In fact, Big Ben intelligently modifies many settings according to the configuration of the unit. For example, when an external CLOCK SOURCE is selected, SAMPLE RATE can’t be modified, as its value is determined from the selected CLOCK SOURCE.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Navigating the Front Panel - continued 3 3) CLOCK /Digital Audio SOURCE – At it’s simplest, Big Ben derives a reference clock frequency from an internal or external source and generates several ultra low jitter clock outputs based on this reference. The CLOCK SOURCE parameter selects the source of the reference clock frequency. When a Clock Source is selected which contains a digital audio signal, that signal is routed to all outputs capable of transmitting digital audio.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Navigating the Front Panel - continued 4 5 The better the input reference signal, the smaller the phase differences between that input and Big Ben’s ultra-stable output . If these phase differences are less than 1 degree (as depicted in FIGURE 1), the NARROW and WIDE LEDs light. If, on the other hand, these phase differences increase to a point where a loss of lock may occur (as depicted in FIGURE 2), the Narrow LED will extinguish, leaving only the WIDE LED lit.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Navigating the Front Panel - continued 6 6) OPTICAL – This parameter determines the format of the Optical Input/Output connectors. 7) AES - This parameter determines the format of the AES Input/ Output connectors. Valid settings of the OPTICAL and AES parameters are determined by the SAMPLE RATE as depicted in FIGURE 3 below; 192/176.4 96/88.2 48/44.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Navigating the Front Panel - continued 8 9 In VSO mode: due to the limitations of a 4 digit display, only one of the three units of measurement can be displayed accurately; display values for the remaining two units are approximated. Whichever unit of measurement is displayed when modifying SAMPLE RATE accurately represents the output; if a second unit of measurement is selected and SAMPLE RATE is modified, that second unit of measurement becomes the accurately displayed unit.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Navigating the Front Panel - continued 10 10) WC OUT 6 – Similar to the WC OUT 5 parameter, the frequency of Word Clock Output 6 may be set to a multiple of the SAMPLE RATE. Valid settings are determined by the SAMPLE RATE as depicted in FIGURE 4 below WC OUT 5&6 value Big Ben SAMPLE RATE 192/176.4 96/88.2 48/44.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Connections on the Rear Panel 5 4 1 2 3 8 6 7 1) AES IN 1 & 2 – These XLR connections accept AES/EBU input in the format selected by the front panel AES parameter. When AES is set to SINGLE, each connection accepts a discrete stereo input; when AES is set to DOUBLE, both connections used in conjunction accept one stereo input. 2) AES OUT 1 & 2 - These XLR connections provide AES/EBU output in the format selected by the front panel AES parameter.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide About Digital Audio Formats and Format Conversion Connector used Valid Sample Rates Channels per connector Digital Data Rate AES Single Wire or Double Fast or Single Wide XLR 44.1-192kHz 2 Fs x 1 AES Double Wire or Double Wide XLR 88.2-192 kHz 1 Fs /2 S/PDIF Coaxial RCA (coaxial) 44.1-192kHz 2 Fs x 1 S/PDIF Optical Toslink (optical) 44.1-96kHz 2 Fs x 1 ADAT Toslink (optical) 44.1-48kHz 8 Fs x 1 S/MUX 2 Toslink (optical) 88.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Internal Adjustments We’ve gone to great lengths to avoid DIP switches and other inaccessible controls on Big Ben, but there are a few internal jumpers used to configure infrequently modified parameters. See the photo below for an indication of each jumper’s location. Power On Mode –Jumper P8 1) Jumper P8 set to MANUAL – when AC power is applied to the input, Big Ben does not power up immediately; to power on the unit, the POWER button must be pressed. This is the default setting.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Clock Distribution Theory and Practice Master Clock and Conversion To understand the importance of the clock signal during the A-to-D and D-to-A conversion, it’s useful to examine the similarities between film and digital audio, two media which capture reality by recording and reproducing small slices of that reality.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Connecting Clock Signals From the preceding information , these four Rules of Clock can be established: 1) Ensure that all A-to-D and D-to-A converters are clocked by the most precise source possible, to ensure the highest quality for the entire digital audio system. 2) Each digital device should be connected directly to the Master Clock Source with the shortest possible cable, in a “star” configuration.
BIG BEN – User’s Guide Features and Specifications • Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) using Apogeeʼs C777 Clock Technology up to 192kHz • AES, S/PDIF, Optical I/O - Word Clock/Video In - 6 Word Clock Outs • Optional FireWire connection to facilitate clocking and format conversion with other Firewire devices • Realtime format conversion between all digital formats • Adaptive Loop Filtering (ALF) to optimize clock performance and minimize jitter • Fail safe lock to external sources (Sure Lock) • Word Clock ter
BIG BEN USER’S GUIDE - v.1.
