Studio Magazin

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exist for externally supplied clock refe-
rences (WCLK or 10 MHz). The capture
range covers 25 to 200 kHz, 10 MHz and
both Super Clock frequencies. Finally,
one can also use the MC-3+ as a ‘format
converter’ for digital audio and clock si-
gnals. Among the possibilities are AES3/
AES11/S/P-DIF, WCLK/AES11 and 10M/
WCLK/AES11, each in any combination
and direction.
Operation
To understand the menu structure, we
take a look at the front panel. It starts
on the left with a mains operating light
(the power switch is located on the
back). Next to it follow the ‘Menu’ and
‘Select’ buttons, the only available con-
trols. The LED display area is divided in-
to five functional groups that virtual-
ly show the actual operating mode in
an existing installation so you can al-
ways think in contexts that are rela-
ted to practice. The first, ‘Mode’ labeled
LED group determines the basic opera-
ting mode of the MC-3+. Here you will
find three ‘Internal’, ‘External’ and ‘Re-
Clock’ marked LEDs. By pressing the
‘Menu’ button, the last after the power
up active LED position of the first group
starts to flash, indicating that this group
is now released for ‘Select’. With ‘Select’
you now dial up gradually to the desired
position. After about three seconds, the
selected function will be automatically
confirmed by a permanent light, unless
by pressing the ‘Menu’ button you jump
again to the next function group who-
se last active LED begins to blink whi-
le the previous selection is immediately
confirmed. Pressing the ‘Select’ button
again, the last selected function group
is directly addressed anew. This also ap-
plies to the ‘Menu’ button that enables
you to jump only between the functio-
nal groups. Depending on the function
selection, only those functional groups
are displayed that provide a meaning-
ful setting. In the group ‘Reference’ you
choose the timing references for the in-
ternal or the external synchronization
and those for the re-clocking operation
of synchronous and asynchronous au-
dio sources. All options supported by
the device are at your disposal in vari-
ous combinations: WCLK, 10M, S/P-DIF
optical and coaxial as well as AES3/11.
In addition, audio formats can be com-
bined with external WCLK or 10 MHz re-
ferences albeit this is only relevant for
the asynchronous re-clocking mode. For
internal referencing, the next group ‘In-
ternal +10M’ allows the choice of seven
different base clock rates (32 /44.1 /48
/88.2 / 96 /176.4 and 192 kHz). The sub-
sequent clock multipliers for the five
outputs at the rear offer the output of
the single, double or fourfold of the ba-
se clock rate plus x256 as Super Clock.
Since only the BNC outputs can provi-
de Super Clock, this LED is absent wi-
th S/P-DIF and AES. In addition to the
clock multipliers, three LED indicators
can be found in the ‘Group’ status for
‘Lock’, ‘Hold’ and ‘Audio’. No changes
are possible in this group, only the sta-
tus of the device for the incoming refe-
rence, the self-generated clock or the di-
gital audio signal is indicated. The sa-
me applies to the last group ‘Clock In’.
Here, the clock rate of the incoming re-
ference clock, the self-generated clock
signal or the digital audio signal is indi-
cated. Depending on the setting of the
clock multipliers, WCLK frequencies from
32 to 768 kHz plus 11.2896 MHz (44.1 x
256) or 12.2880 MHz (48 x 256) Super
Clock can be generated. For AES3/11 and
S/P-DIF relevant frequencies the range is
32-192 kHz. Two functions should finally
be mentioned: by simultaneously pres-
sing ‘Menu’ and ‘Select’ in succession
(in that exact order) all LEDs except the
operational and ‘Lock’ LEDs extinguish.
In this case, also the control buttons ha-
ve no more function and are protected
against accidental or unauthorized ac-
cess to the device functions which can
be very helpful e.g. in a broadcast or li-
ve situation. Pressing both buttons
again and keeping them pressed simul-
taneously for about four seconds, the
user interface is unlocked again and all
LEDs light up according to the setting.
The second function relates to the pos-
sibility of resetting the operating system
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