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572 SPL Computer

1. HARDWARE BYPASS SAMPLE INTERVAL MIN MAX y Re PAGE MIC La TB y 3 pace 4 UNE 5 INPUTS amp PAGE OVER MUSIC 5V PAGE DETECTOR RATIO 12 4 lt H lt H lt A B v id TB1 MULTIPLEX AND A D CONVERTER music 1 LINE 2 INPUT 3 j TB1 D A ve CONVERTER a OUT N a 9 2 4 a BOS g N a 8 A EXTERNAL 5 RELAY CONTROLL MICROPROCESSOR PE 5V A 8 ooo JP2 A G C 7 FRESPOLD 3 2 EXT SENSE Vv TRIGGER MODE PUSHBUTTON OPTIONS Figure 7 1 572 Block Diagram Operating Format The 572 has three operating modes OPERATE CALIBRATE and Bypass You access these modes by sequentially operating the MODE switch or by pressing the Bypass switch Each push of the mode switch toggles the operating mode between CALIBRATE and OPERATE Bypass Calibrate and Error Indicators The front panel LED bargraph also serves as a status indicator Two of the LEDs serve as prompts during calibration one other LED serves as an error indicator during calibration If the error indicator flashes during calibration the calibra tion procedure automatically ab
2. While remaining quiet turn the SAMPLE INTERVAL control to 1 and then quickly return it to 5 This forces another sense The system level should return to the minimum level Options Options and More Options The option switches allow tailoring the 572 to different installation scenarios There are four option switches Option A sets the music silence threshold This threshold is the signal level at the Music LINE Input that the 572 considers silent Signals below this threshold are considered silent and are fair game for sense intervals In installations where the ambient noise level is fairly low and where the background music has a great deal of dynamic range like classical music from a CD player you may need to keep the signal level through the 572 quite high as well as using the lower silence threshold and reducing the gain at the power amplifier input to put the music back to a comfortable level This prevents the 572 from punching holes in the program material during quiet passages Option B forces the 572 to sense mode and displays the output of the sense preamplifier on the front panel bargraph Use option B to view the signal level returned from the loudspeakers in sense mode and to verify that the signal level falls within the 572 s limits for proper operation The ideal 17 indication should fall between the 5 dB and 26 dB LEDs on the calibration display If necessary use the SENSE GAIN switch on the fr
3. Strong emphasis Warning CAPITALS Boldface Important Safety Instructions Please read and keep these instructions Heed and follow all warnings and instructions Install in accordance with the manufacturer s instructions Power Source This product is intended to operate from a power source that does not apply more than 250V rms between the power supply conductors or between either power supply conductor and ground A protective ground Operator Safety Summary connection by way of the grounding conductor in the power cord is essential for safe operation Grounding The chassis of this product is grounded through the grounding conductor of the power cord To avoid electric shock plug the power cord into a properly wired receptacle before making any connections to the product A protective ground connection by way of the grounding conductor in the power cord is essential for safe operation Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding plug The grounding plug has two blades and a third grounding prong The third prong is provided for your safety When the provided plug does not fit your outlet consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet Danger from Loss of Ground If the protective ground connection is lost all accessible conduc tive parts including knobs and controls that may appear to be insulated can render an electric shock Proper Power Cord Use only the power cord and connector
4. Rear Panel Overview Feature Description SERIAL NUMBER Please send in the completed warranty card AC POWER INPUT Power cord Connect only to appropriate AC power source Refer to rear panel marking for correct AC source value Fuse AC mains fuse Replace only with same type of fuse as noted on the rear of the chassis Domestic 1 4A 250V ac fast blowing Bussman type AGC 1 4 Export 1 8A 250V ac fast blowing Bussman type GDA 125mA PAGE Mic INPUT Balanced mic level input for paging microphone Phantom powering is not present If using a phantom powered microphone ensure that the phantom voltage does not exceed 15V Higher voltages may be used if the powering device contains blocking capacitors or isolation trans formers to prevent the phantom supply voltage from appearing at the mic input of the 572 8 Terminal Strip Connections Feature To SPEAKER From Amp GROUNDS Ext RELAY CNTRL EXT SENSE TRIG SPARE GROUNDS LINE OUTPUT PAGE INPUT Music INPUT Term TB2 10 9 TB2 8 7 TB2 6 4 2 TB2 5 TB2 3 TB2 1 TB1 10 6 3 TB1 9 8 TB1 7 TB1 5 4 TB1 2 1 Description Connect speakers used for sensing and sound system usage here Speakers may be speaker impedance or constant voltage Connect amplifier here Amplifier output may be speaker impedance or constant voltage Connect to circuit ground inside the 572 NPN open collector output for driving external relay Yo
5. You may need to create a second non controlled zone to prevent the sound system level from changing in spaces where the ambient conditions are stable rest rooms elevators break rooms etc 11 Symetrix Technical Tutorial Chapter 6 Matching Levels vs Matching Impedances In any audio equipment application the question of matching inevitably comes up Without digging a hole any deeper than absolutely necessary we offer the following discussion to hope fully clarify your understanding of the subject Over the years we have all had impedance matching pounded into our heads This is important only for ancient audio systems power amplifiers and RF Technically speaking the reason is power transfer which reaches a maximum when source and load are matched Modern audio systems are voltage transmission systems and source and load matching is not only unnecessary but undesirable as well Ancient audio systems operate at 600 ohms or some other impedance value and must be matched both at their inputs and at their outputs Generally speaking if you are dealing with equipment that uses vacuum tubes or was designed prior to 1970 you should be concerned about matching These units were designed when audio systems were based on maximum power transfer hence the need for input output matching Power amplifiers are fussy because an abnormally low load impedance generally means a visit to the amp hospital Thus it s i
6. Here the 572 keeps track of the ambient conditions in the outer areas such as the lobbies and foyers If you have speakers in the rest rooms these speakers should probably not be under the 572 s control since these areas are generally more subdued than the outer areas and you wouldn t want flushing a toilet to raise the SPL in the lobby or maybe you do Sports Facilities Sports facilities like auditoriums can benefit from the 572 Again the 572 tracks the ambient conditions on the concourses other access areas and the refreshment stands Consider using multiple 572s to isolate specific noise sources and their environments from each other such as the refreshment stands from the concourse environment Since the 572 uses the existing speakers this could be an aftermarket add on 23 Symetrix Off Track Betting Parlors and Casinos In these facilities the crowd reaction is likely to be sudden and intense If the program material doesn t have long enough silent spots for sensing the 571 is a better idea since it works in real time In casinos be sure to place the to average the crowd and the machines especially the dollar machine with the 20 jillion dollar jackpot Museums Now why would you want to put a 572 into a museum When the museum has an overall paging system That when What about when the museum has automated exhibits That s not when Use a 571 instead because the 571 works in real time The time
7. 572 s To SPEAKER terminals Do not connect the amplifier to the From Amp terminals Instead connect the amplifier directly to the other loud speakers In horse and dog racing the spectators make more noise than the animals In this case the spectator area speakers serve as expected both for paging as well as for sensing Use a short AVERAGING TIME Ensure that the program material has enough dead spots to ensure frequent sensing Definitely use a live mic when calibrating Beware of acoustic feedback espe cially when calibrating the Max level The ElectroVoice PAISBT 7 or PA30 AT are both suitable units 24 Chapter 9 Troubleshooting Symptom Probable cause There is no output signal Check cables and connections Are inputs driven by outputs and outputs driving inputs Determine that there really is a signal coming from the source and that it is getting to the 572 Is the signal chain after the 572 functioning Check for AC power presence Power LED on Is the fuse OK Unit willnot calibrate Are input levels normal Use Option Switch B to check sense gain Change setting of SENSE GAIN switch Music Page LED flashes during calibration No audio at either line input or the page mic input Input signal level too low Change Option Switch A to the UP position Speakers not connected at To SPEAKERS terminals Music always plays tooloud MIN and or MAX levels set incorrectly during calibration Unit seems to have no effect Che
8. After the first sense interval the control voltage now sits at 1 volt about 6 289 dB gain The VCA gain has changed by 12 58 dB overall gain increase The front panel gain display will read 9 Calibration Issues If you want the 572 to operate correctly then proper calibration is an absolute necessity The calibration procedure establishes the high and low limits level wise for the sound system It also establishes the baseline noise level for the space Therefore it is imperative that the calibration be performed at a time when the space is at or near its nominal minimum and that you have the ability to operate the sound system at its maximum desired level for short periods of time It is not possible to calibrate the 572 properly at other than the lowest normal ambient for the space Do not calibrate when the space is dead quiet unless that is the lowest normal ambient level Effects of Calibration Level on Performance The calibration procedure sets two gain values MINL and MAXL and establishes a baseline SPL threshold level BTL The baseline SPL threshold is the lowest SPL that the 572 will respond to Below the BTL there will be no gain changes Thus the level set by the MIN pot during calibration becomes the minimum output level MINL of the 572 If the room ambient falls below the BTL the output of the 572 remains at MINL The MAXL corresponds to the maximum output level of the 572 regardless of the setting of the Ra
9. Ratio control acts much the same as the ratio control on a compressor or expander it affects the amount of change at the output for a given change at the input In the 572 the Ratio control determines how much the output changes for a given change at the sense input In the 12 00 position the ratio is 1 1 a 1 dB sense change results in a 1 dB output change Turning the RATIO control clockwise results in expansion in the 1 2 position full CW a 2 dB change at the sense input results in a 4 dB output change Turning the Ratio control counterclockwise results in compression in the 2 1 position a 2 dB sense input change results in only a 1 dB output change Use the Ratio control when you either want the 572 to more than keep up with the crowd expan sion or when you want it to lag behind when the crowd is loud compression Another reason to use compression might be when the available amplifier power is limited Last you must decide whether or not you want the sound system to be capable of out shouting the crowd Monitoring the VCA Gain Via the V Terminal You can monitor what the VCA is doing via the V terminal on TB1 7 The gain relationship is 159 mv dB Don t worry about what the actual value of the gain or loss it s unity gain 0 V it s the change in gain and the actual starting stopping values that count For instance after calibration the VCA control voltage is sitting at 1 volt 6 289 dB loss through the VCA
10. Website www symetrixaudio com Pd Le a D S PA BYPASS PAGE SENSE ae GAN GAN RA Ke Ee an N N la DI zu 2s y ON ms le s EN ue des SPL COMPUTER O Ol 1m C AZ iE pae Z NA p hd WZ GO Y o 0000000 CN coo 7 is QO Q LU Front panel TD OQ o 2 E J 3 Syme N pp CO Om nn EES ELE SELLE F EE R PEREZ TOUTE REPARATION A UN TECHNCEN GU IE TE2 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 TB1 10 8 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GE IC O O A 6 TOH MAMAM H SPEAKER Jae RELAY SENSE ourPUT i PAGE se Et CL CL Symetrix dd TEL Gi Ma Rear panel CN Fe LO N is Do You Have The Right Unit Symetrix makes two different SPL computers the 571 and the 572 Although both units perform essentially the same task they are different The 571 requires an external sensing microphone s to monitor ambient conditions The 571 works in real time adjustments are made continuously regardless of music paging or silence The 571 does not interrupt the signal path at any time The 572 uses the sound system loudspeaker s to monitor ambient conditions Doing this requires the 572 to monitor the incoming program material for silent sections Once the 572 detects silence it switches to sense mode switching the loudspeaker s from the amplifier output to its sense input Sensing takes one to two seconds Any signal applied to the paging inputs during this
11. a management decision The 572 helps guarantee the audibility of the music regardless of actual conditions during operation Again picking the right speaker locations is the key In a restaurant avoid using speakers near the kitchen entry areas and espresso machines for sensing In bars and lounges keep any speakers mounted near the blenders and dishwashers behind the bar out of the sensing circuit Remember that any extraneous sound sources like the TV in a sports bar will be regarded as extra ambient noise by the 572 and the sound system level will increase as a result You can try to avoid this by running the TV sound through the 572 so that the TV sound becomes part of the 572 s throughput The 572 will force a sample if it doesn t see silent periods that are long enough to use for sensing in the TV programming This could be a problem during Monday Night Football Shopping Malls In this application the 572 ensures that announcements within the public spaces are always audible but never too loud In mall applications it s a good idea to wire speakers mounted near localized noise sources like the kiddie area directly to the power amp so that they are not used for sensing Like the factory application you want the sense speakers to average out all of the various noise sources within the mall For high noise areas it s a good idea to create separate coverage zones each with their own 572 Auditoriums and Hotel Lobbies
12. concept of termination you probably don t need to anyway 12 The two facts that you need to derive from this discussion are 1 Match signal levels for best headroom and signal to noise ratio 2 For audio impedance matching is only needed for antique equipment and power amplifier outputs In all other cases ensure that your inputs bridge are in the range of 2 to 200 times the output source impedance your outputs Signal Levels The 572 is designed around studio professional line levels 4 dBu or 1 23 volts The unit is quiet enough to operate at lower signal levels such as those found in semipro or musical instrument MI equipment 10dBV or316 millivolts VO Impedances The 572 is designed to interface into almost any sound reinforcement application or background foreground music application This includes 1 600 ohm systems where input and output impedances are matched 2 Unbalanced semiprofessional equipment applications 3 Modern bridging systems where inputs are bridged and outputs are low source impedances voltage transmission systems The 572 s line input impedance is greater than 40k Ohms balanced and greater than 40k Ohms unbalanced The inputs may be driven from any source balanced or unbalanced capable of delivering at least 10 dBV into the aforementioned impedances XLR Polarity Convention The 572 uses the international standard polarity convention of pin 2 hot The following chart shows the conn
13. delays between sensing periods and operating periods would most likely result in sound systems that are too loud for the current ambient condition Airports Train Stations etc The 572 is ideally suited to managing the SPLs within airports and other transportation hubs Within airports use at least one 572 per paging zone In subway stations pick a speaker location that favors the crowd but still hears the trains Doing so ensures that the level increases when a train is present Make sure that there are sufficient silent periods for sensing You can use the mic level page input for the local paging mic and the line level paging input for facility wide paging Use the music input for background music if any Race Tracks Different race tracks have different noise sources In auto racing the cars usually make more noise than the spectators If you re going to apply a 572 to a speedway position the speakers so they are in a good spot to pick up the cars as well as the crowd If this isn t practical consider using a small paging speaker s with a 70V transformer that is only used as a microphone Use a moderate transformer tap like 10 watts You may even be able to do away with the transformer Use shielded twisted pair cable and don t forget to tie the shield to the case of the speaker or float it if it s plastic or to avoid a ground loop Position the speaker so it has a nearby view of the stands and connect it to the
14. present on the signal lines greater than 15V Phantom powering for condenser microphones falls into this category e The Ext RELAY CNTRL terminal is the open collector of a2N4401 NPN transistor You must supply power for any external relay used The transistor s limits are V opo 40V and Ina 625 mA e In when the Bypass switch is pressed the line level Music and PAGE inputs are resistively mixed and sent to the outputs There is no automatic hard wire bypass in the event of a power failure e Paging signals mic and line are mixed and drive the ducker PAGE Over Music circuitry e The Ext Sense TRIG input is not edge driven The 572 remains in sense mode as long as this input is held low e Option switch B switches the LED bargraph to read the output of the sense preamplifier and forces the 572 into sense mode This allows you to make sure that you have enough signal level for proper ambient sensing The correct reading is more than one LED lit and less than all LEDs lit under all ambient conditions The sense gain switch located on the front panel changes the gain of the sense preamp Use either setting as long as the LED bargraph reads as described earlier The relay contacts used to switch the speakers to and from sense have a 5 ampere rating If your load requires more current than this use the Ext RELAY CNTRL terminal TB2 5 to control an external high current relay ss Symetrix PAGE MIC OM aa
15. to check the level coming back Refer also to the discussion of option switches on pages 17 18 The sense relay s 5A contact current limit forces a 300 watt wattage limit for 70V systems In 70V systems it is common practice to provide autotransformers or L pads after the line trans former to allow local volume control NOT Allowing any sort of level control after the 572 invali dates the settings made during calibration If you must provide a local level control then ensure that the controlled zone is a minor part of the entire system that the users understand that the volume level of the system may not always be ideal and finally that the locally controlled zone is not used for sensing Finally it is imperative that every speaker and transformer in the system operates in phase Impedance Limit 16 ohms 400 watts 8 ohms 200 watts 4 ohms 100 watts 4 8 and 16 ohm systems In 4 8 and 16 ohm systems speaker impedance systems the levels returned to the 572 are low you ll probably need to use the high gain position of the SENSE GAIN switch The SA contact current limit forces the following limitations Refer also to the paragraph regarding zone volume controls in the preceding section Using the External Relay Provisions When controlling amplifiers larger than 200 watts 8 ohms you really should be using the Symetrix 571 If you insist on using the 572 you must use an external DPDT relay The 572 s internal relay cannot
16. 572 SPL Computer User s Guide Symetrix Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction l Chapter 2 Operator Safety Summary 3 Chapter 3 Setup 4 Calibration Checklist 6 Chapter 4 Front amp Rear Panel Overview 7 Chapter 5 5712 Basics 10 Chapter 6 Technical Tutorial 12 Chapter 7 Using the 572 15 Chapter 8 Applications 23 Chapter 9 Troubleshooting 25 Chapter 10 Specifications 26 Chapter 11 Warranty amp Service 27 Appendix A External Sensing amp Multi Unit Installations 29 Appendix B Connections 31 Rev A 00 24 February 1999 Symetrix part number 53572 0A00 Subject to change without notice 1999 Symetrix Inc All right reserved Symetrix is a registered trademark of Symetrix Inc Mention of third party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation Symetrix assumes no responsibility with regard to the performance or use of these products Under copyright laws no part of this manual may be C Symetrix reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means 6408 216th St SW electronic or mechanical including photocopying Mountlake Terrace WA 98043 USA scanning recording or by any information storage and Tel 425 778 7728 retrieval system without permission in writing from Fax 425 778 7727 Symetrix Inc Email symetrix symetrixaudio com i Chapter 1 Introduction The Symetrix 572 SPL Computer is an automatic level controller that maximizes inte
17. B2 9 and TB2 10 To SPEAKER terminals of the 572 Terminals TB2 7 and 8 FROM Power Amp are not connected When the 572 samples it only looks at the single speaker for a reference level of ambient noise In these cases the Symetrix 571 should have been specified for the job Using the 572 With Planar or Low Output Speakers Some speakers make lousy microphones In a situation like this we recommend using a separate speaker s for sensing To do this connect all of the speakers used to produce sound to the amplifier output Connect all of the speakers used for sensing to the 572 s To SPEAKER terminals If you wish these speakers to produce sound then connect the 572 s From Amp terminals to the amplifier output otherwise leave the From Amp terminals unconnected During sensing the 572 sets the VCA to about 30 dB attenuation so the speakers connected directly to the amplifier outputs are effectively silenced 70V Systems The 572 has been designed with both 70V or other constant voltage system and speaker impedance systems Aside from the amount of current flowing through the 572 s sense relay the only other difference arises from the signal level returned by the speakers when the 572 switches to sense mode In 70V systems the signal level is higher because of the step up action of the line transformers With highly efficient speakers this may present a problem because the sense input of the 572 may be overloaded Use OPTION switch B
18. If you wish to use a phantom powered microphone you must provide a power source exter nally Note The microphone input is direct coupled there are no dc blocking capacitors If you use a phantom powered microphone the phantom supply voltage must be 15 volts or less 15 volts is the common mode limitation of the microphone preamp If your particular microphone operates at a higher supply voltage than 15 volts the phantom power supply must dc block its output using capacitors or a transformer 14 Chapter 7 Using the 572 This section is intended for more advanced users If you are a first time user we recommend that you start out by using the procedure found in Chapter 3 Setup Installation The 572 may be installed freestanding or rack mounted Multiple unit installations require no additional breathing space between units Installation Requirements Mechanical One rack space 1 75 inches required 12 5 inches depth including connector allowance Electrical 105 125 VAC 18 Watts maximum Connectors Female XLR connectors and screw terminals for inputs Pin 2 of the XLR connectors is Hot Screw terminals for outputs and other connections Block Diagram On the following page you will find the block diagram for the 572 Please take a moment and take note of the following e The balanced input amplifiers mic and line are direct coupled This is only noteworthy if there is significant common mode dc voltages
19. OW wy GROUND TO UNBALANCED IN MALE TS PLUG a TIP HIGH EIN TD SLEEVE GROUND LOW FEMALE XLR BE ss PIN 1 GROUND LOW N 5 PIN 2 HIGH v PIN 3 NOT USED REV B 31 Symetrix Symetrix Inc 6408 216th St SW Mountlake Terrace WA 98043 USA Tel 425 778 7728 Fax 425 778 7727 Website http www symetrixaudio com Email symetrix symetrixaudio com
20. R gt 40 dB Voltage Control Scale 156 mV dB 21 5 dBu Software Copyright Symetrix Inc 1989 Output Balanced Transformerless Impedance 200 Ohms Balanced 100 Ohms Unbalanced Physical Minimum load 600 Ohms Balanced Size 1 74 x 19 x 6 25 inches 4 42 x 48 3 x 15 875 centimeters Nominal Level 0 dBm Weight 8lbs 3 6 kgs Maximum level 24 dBm into 600 Ohms Electrical Power Requirements 117 V AC 60 Hz 0 1amp approx 12 watts Note The maximum operating ambient temperature is 25 degrees C In the interest of continuous product improvement Symetrix Inc reserves the right to alter change or modify these specifications without prior notice 572 Architects and Engineers Specifications The ambient sensing automatic level controlling device shall regulate the operating level of a sound system in proportion to changing noise levels in the sound system s operating area The device shall be capable of adjusting gain control over 40 dB overall max range and shall be governed by a microprocessor which shall be controlled by embedded software The device shall vary its gain based upon measurements of the sound pressure level of ambient noise in the environment These sound level measurements shall be made by the level controlling device through the loudspeakers otherwise used for the system s output To facilitate the use of the system s loudspeakers as noise measuring microphones the device shall provide relay switching of th
21. Ratio control acts much the same as the ratio control on a compressor or expander it affects the amount of change at the output for a given change at the input In the 572 the Ratio control determines how much the output changes for a given change at the sense input In the 12 00 position the ratio is 1 1 a 1 dB sense change results in a 1 dB output change Turning the RATIO control clockwise results in expansion in the 1 2 position full CW a 2 dB change at the sense input results in a 4 dB output change Turning the Ratio control counterclockwise results in compression in the 2 1 position a 2 dB sense input change results in only a 1 dB output change Use the Ratio control when you either want the 572 to more than keep up with the crowd expan sion or when you want it to lag behind when the crowd is loud compression Another reason to use compression might be when the available amplifier power is limited Last you must decide whether or not you want the sound system to be capable of out shouting the crowd Remember Calibration must occur when the noise level in the controlled space is at it s normal minimum which may or may not be dead quiet It helps if you have an estimate SPL of the maximum level required The sound system must be capable of attaining the maximum level required You can learn a great deal by listening to the sensing speakers You ll need an external microphone preamp to do this
22. ability of Symetrix on any claim whether in contract tort including negligence or otherwise arising out of connected with or resulting from the manufacture sale delivery resale repair replacement or use of any product will not exceed the price allocable to the product or any part thereof which gives rise to the claim In no event will Symetrix be liable for any incidental or consequential damages including but not limited to damage for loss of revenue cost of capital claims of customers for service interruptions or failure to supply and costs and expenses incurred in connection with labor overhead transportation installation or removal of products or substitute facilities or supply houses 7 DSymetrix Servicing the 572 If you have determined that your 572 requires repair services and you live outside of the United States please contact your local Symetrix dealer or distributor for instructions on how to obtain service If you reside in the U S then proceed as follows At the Symetrix factory Symetrix will perform in warranty or out of warranty service on any product it has manufactured for a period of five years from date of manufacture Before sending anything to Symetrix contact our Customer Service Department for a return authorization RA number The telephone number is 425 778 7728 Monday through Friday 8AM 800 hours though 4 30 PM 1630 hours Pacific Time In warranty Repairs To get your 572 repaired un
23. ar Panel Overview T 572 SPL COMPUTER S 7 OF i 9 n M Q LU Front Panel Overview Feature Bypass switch PAGE Mic Gain trimpot SENSE GAIN switch SENSE LED Music PAGE LED SAMPLE INTERVAL PAGE Over Music RATIO ASENSE AOUTPUT Gain LED display LEVEL SET MIN control LEVEL SET Max control CALIBRATE switch Options Dir switch amp Description When depressed resistively mixes the line level music and page inputs and hardwires them to the output terminals The 572 will pass signal regardless of it s operational status Screwdriver adjust level control provides up to 26 dB attenuation of signals from the page mic input Determines the gain of the sense preamp When the switch has been depressed the sense preamp s gain is 40dB higher Use option switch B to help you determine the correct setting for this switch Indicates that the 572 is sensing the ambient conditions in the controlled area Indicates that the 572 is in its music page mode This control sets the time period between forced samples to compute sound pressure level changes If the 572 takes a silence caused sample during this time period the sample interval timer is reset If the incoming program material has enough silent periods forced sampling will never occur This control is disabled in external trigger mode Determines how much music signals are att
24. ck the Ratio control At 2 1 the gain changes are very subtle Turn the RATIO control clockwise for more change Bad calibration Repeat calibration procedure during quiet time MAX level set too low Unit never senses even during silence Option Switch D up Change switch setting Unit loses the beginnings of paging messages Paging signals should always drive the PAGE Ling INPUT or the PAGE Mic INPUT Unit does not accurately adjust system as ambient noise changes Bad calibration Repeat procedure during quiet time Hum induced in speaker wiring Ensure that speaker wiring is not routed adjacent to AC wiring Disconnect speakers from 572 and connect to low Z balanced mic preamp and listen on headphones Speaker mounted near continuous noise source Take the speaker out of the sensing system by connecting it directly to the amplifier output Note The accuracy of the 572 is only as good as the sample audio that the speakers provide during sensing Unitinterrupts paging Use either of the PAGE inputs They have a higher priority than the music input Unit senses during paging Caused by long silent pauses during paging Hum or buzzin output Check input connector wiring refer to Appendix B Ground loop Check related system equipment grounding Are all system components on the same AC ground Distortion Check input signal Is it already distorted Line input signal may be too hot Page mic signal may be too hot Does the sound system have suff
25. der the terms of the warranty 1 Call us for an RA number 2 Pack the unit in its original packaging materials 3 Include your name address daytime telephone number and a brief statement of the problem 4 Write the RA number on the outside of the box 5 Ship the unit to Symetrix freight prepaid We do not accept freight collect shipments Just do these five things and repairs made in warranty will cost you only one way freight charges We ll prepay the return surface freight If you choose to send us your product in some sort of flimsy packaging we ll have to charge you for proper shipping materials If you don t have the factory packaging materials then do yourself a favor by using an oversize carton wrap the unit in a plastic bag and surround it with bubble wrap Pack the box full of Styrofoam peanuts Be sure there is enough clearance in the carton to protect the rack ears you wouldn t believe how many units are returned with bent ears We won t return the unit in anything but Symetrix packaging for which we will have to charge you Of course if the problem turns out to be operator inflicted you ll have to pay for both parts and labor In any event if there are charges for the repair costs you will pay for the return freight All charges will be COD unless you have made other arrangements prepaid Visa or Mastercard Out of warranty Repairs If the warranty period has passed you ll be billed for all necessary par
26. dix A 2 Multiple 572 master slave connections for simultaneous sampling OSymetrix Appendix B Connections Input and output connector wiring These diagrams represent the majority of connectors used in modern audio equipment Locate the source connector in the left column and match it up with the destination connector in the right column Wire your cable according to the diagrams FROM BALANCED OUT FEMALE XLR PIN 1 GROUND PIN 2 HIGH PIN 3 LOW FROM BALANCED OUT TIP MALE TRS PLUG TIP HIGH AN RING LOW SLEEVE GROUND MA ane SLEEVE FROM UNBALANCED OUT MALE TS PLUG TIP HIGH N TO BALANCED IN SN MALE XLR s PIN 1 GROUND PIN 2 HIGH PIN 3 LOW TO UNBALANCED IN FROM TRANSFORMER COUPLED OR FLOATING BALANCED OUTPUT MALE TS PLUG A TIP HIGH lt SLEEVE GROUND LOW TO BALANCED IN TIP ON MALE TRS PLUG D TIP HIGH RING LOW SLEEVE GROUND LOW FROM BALANCED OUT ve TERMINAL STRIP G HIGH Os LOW y GROUND U L FROM UNBALANCED OUT TERMINAL DRIF HIGH NOT USED Q w GROUND H FROM NON TRANSFORMER ELECTRONIC BALANCED OUTPUT TYPICAL OF SYMETRIX PRODUCTS ane 7 SLEEVE GROUND SLEEVE TO BALANCED IN vt N TERMINAL STRIP HIGH L
27. e preamplifier connected to the speaker s listen in headphones to what the 572 hears when it is sensing Listen for any noises that could falsely trigger a gain change Listen for any hum or buzz 6 Theaccuracy of the 572 is only as good as the sample audio that your speakers provide when the unit is sensing If any of the system speakers are located near noisy equipment such as vending machines ice machines air conditioning blowers or separate paging speakers the level of the 572 system will increase disproportionately with the noise level of the noisy equipment Disconnect the speakers from the system connect them to the input of a balanced low impedance microphone preamp like the Symetrix 302 shown in Figure 7 3 and listen in headphones to what the 572 hears when it is sampling 7 Check Chapter 9 in this manual Ifall else fails call Symetrix Using the 572 in High noise Environments In noisy locations it s important to locate the speakers where they do the most good both for the listener as well as the 572 Remember that if the speaker is next to a noisy machine the machine s noise output will probably cause the 572 to raise the level when the machine is operating If this isn t desirable then exclude that particular speaker from the speakers used for sensing by connect the offending speaker s directly to the amplifier output bypassing the 572 In other cases directional horn speakers may help by directing the
28. e speaker line circuit so as to disconnect the speakers from the amplifier output and connect the speakers to its own sensing input The device shall provide inputs for paging signals at microphone level nominal 40 dBv or line level nominal 0 dBv and for music signals at line level nominal 0 dBv The device shall have a Ratio control to vary the ambient noise to gain ratio continuously from 2 1 to 1 2 and a front panel switchable hard wired bypass Calibration of the automatic level controlling device shall be semiautomatic and shall require switching the device to CAL Mode and adjusting the minimum desired operating level and the maximum desired operating level Calibration settings shall be continuously maintained in nonvolatile memory without the need for battery pack up power In addition to the various functions and general specifications mentioned above the ambient sensing automatic level controlling device shall meet or exceed the following overall performance criteria frequency response 1 dB 20 Hz to 20 kHz total harmonic distortion less than 05 at any attenuation from 40 dB to 0 dB 2kHz maximum paging microphone input level 30 dBv maximum line input level 18 dBu maximum output level 24 dBm into 600 Ohms balanced Minimum impedance at the microphone inputs shall be 1800 Ohms minimum impedance at the line inputs shall be 10 kilohms The device shall be housed in an all steel chassis designed to be mounted in a 1U 1 74 s
29. ections for each type of connector XLR Tip Ring Sleeve Signal 1 Sleeve Ground 2 Tip High 3 Ring Low Input and Output Connections Appendix B illustrates how to connect the 572 to various balanced and unbalanced sources To operate the 572 s balanced line inputs from unbalanced sources run a 2 conductor shielded cable that s two conductors plus the shield from the source to the 572 At the source connect the low minus side to the shield these connect to the source s ground connect the high plus side to the source s signal connection At the 572 the high plus wire connects to the screw terminal marked with a the low minus wire connects to the screw terminal marked with a and the shield always connects to screw terminal marked GND This is preferred as it makes best use of the 572 s balanced input even though the source is unbalanced The other alternative shown in Appendix B converts the 572 s balanced input into an unbalanced input at the 572 s input terminals This works but is more suscep tible to hum and buzz than the preferred method There is no level difference either way We do not recommend unbalancing the 572 s microphone inputs Doing so makes these inputs considerably more susceptible to hum and induced noise 13 Symetrix Condenser Microphones and the 572 The 572 s paging microphone input is not equipped with phantom powering for condenser micro phones
30. ed liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture does not operate normally or has been dropped CN Fe LCD Setup Chapter 3 What You ll Need To install a 572 you ll need the following items L The572 2 Access to the power amplifier input line level mixer output line level power amplifier output speaker level speaker line connections 3 Background music feed usually the mixer line output Paging feed line or mic level or both preferably separate from the background music feed 5 A time where the ambient noise level in the loudspeaker coverage area is at its normal minimum This is the level at which the 572 begins raising the level Thus it should NOT be when the space is dead quiet unless that is the normal minimum 6 Program audio and paging signals during calibration Overview The following points of information must be considered during system design and installation Place the 572 in the signal chain as the final level controlling device Equalizers following the 572 are acceptable IF their controls both EQ and level will not be changed after calibration It is imperative that any gain or level controls used in the signal chain after the 572 remain unchanged once the unit has been calibrated This includes wall mounted autoformer and L pad speaker level controls used for zone balancing Level controls in the signal chain before
31. ed States products will be returned freight collect The foregoing warranties are in lieu of all other warranties whether oral written express implied or statutory Symetrix Inc expressly disclaims any IMPLIED warranties including fitness for a particular purpose or merchantability Symetrix s warranty obligation and buyer s remedies hereunder are SOLELY and exclusively as stated herein This Symetrix product is designed and manufactured for use in professional and studio audio systems and is not intended for other usage With respect to products purchased by consum ers for personal family or household use Symetrix expressly disclaims all implied warran ties including but not limited to warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose This limited warranty with all terms conditions and disclaimers set forth herein shall extend to the original purchaser and anyone who purchases the product within the specified warranty period Warranty Registration must be completed and mailed to Symetrix within thirty 30 days of the date of purchase Symetrix does not authorize any third party including any dealer or sales representative to assume any liability or make any additional warranties or representation regarding this product information on behalf of Symetrix This limited warranty gives the buyer certain rights You may have additional rights provided by applicable law Limitation of Liability The total li
32. enuated ducked during paging from 0 to 15 dB Sets the ambient gain ratio from 2 1 to 1 2 This determines whether the 572 makes a smaller change than the ambient 2 1 or a larger change than the ambient 1 2 LED bargraph that indicates the amount of gain being added to the sound system by the 572 In cal mode the display serves as an error condition indicator and as a prompting device Active only during calibration sets the minimum operating level of the sound system from 0 to 20 dB Active only during calibration sets the maximum operating level of the sound system from 0 to 20 dB Momentary switch alternates the 572 s mode from operate to calibrate Operate is the initial power up state and is indicated during use by the LED display showing gain change and either the sense or music page LED being activated Depressing the CALIBRATE switch once alternates states to calibration mode as indicated by flashing SET MIN indicator on the LED bargraph display These four switches allow several of the 572 s operating parameters to be adjusted AU AC INPUT er TO FROM EXT EXT LINE LINE INPUTS press 18W MAXIMUM S Sym SPEAKER AMP RELAY SENSE SPARE OUTPUT Vc PAGE MUSIC o N 2 etrix F Z iem Ta TE Ti he Ti _ N EO Om lees eeeee eee CE nero EFESE TB2 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 TB1 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
33. handle more than 5 amps of load current This corresponds to 300 watts at 70V 200 watts at 8 ohms and 100 watts at 4 ohms The 24 volt version of the Potter amp Brumfield PRD1 1DGO works well Its DPDT contacts are rated at 30 amps Figure 7 4 shows how to connect everything 20 The 572 provides a contact closure through a transistor switch to operate the external relay This closure can be found on the rear panel barrier strip TB2 5 which is labeled ExTRELAY CNTRL Terminal TB2 6 is ground Wire the negative output of your external power supply to TB2 6 Ground Connect the positive output of the power supply to one side of the external relay coil Connect the other side of the relay coil to TB2 5 The user supplied power supply and external relay coil circuit is closed whenever the 572 goes into the SENSE mode Be sure to put a back biased diode 1N4002 or better across the relay coil EXTERNAL D C COIL RELAY SD Zz 1N4002 OR XL EQUIVALENT DIODE lt DE POWER SUPPLY I D REAY POWER spel CONTROL AMP SPEAKER EXTERNAL HIGH CURRENT A C RELAY Lowe EE HIGH a EXTERNAL D C COIL RELAY 572 REAR TERMINALS DIE POWER SUPPLY Gb REC POWER spe CONTROL AMP SPEAKER Figure 7 4 Using the External Relay connections What does the Ration Control Do The
34. hen you ll have extra flexibility in excluding specific speakers from the speakers used for ambient sensing if needed 4 The speaker wiring should be separate from any AC or other EMI noisy wiring Neither side of the wiring can be grounded except at the amplifier 5 Horn speakers may require modification of the 572 especially if the ambient noise level is high 6 There can be no user adjustable level controls in the speaker lines 1 Once calibrated it is not permissible to alter the settings of any level controls that are electrically located after the 572 The home run method of wiring brings each speaker or sometimes a subgroup of speakers to the amplifier on its own pair of wires The usual method is to wire from speaker to speaker which saves wire at the expense of flexibility 4 8 If there are multiple loudspeaker zones there probably ought to be a separate 572 for each zone 9 Ifthe power amplifier is larger than 300 watts 70 volt systems 200 watts 8 ohm systems or 100 watts 4 ohm systems then the internal 5 amp relay can t handle the load current You must use an external relay 10 It is good to know the minimum and maximum ambient levels dB SPL that the system is expected to handle Of course the sound system should be able to exceed the maximum ambient by 3 6 dB unless it s in the design that the system can t out shout the crowd 11 It s preferable that the 572 mix the paging signals with
35. icient power for the SPL that you are trying to attain If you are using a high Max setting you may be overloading the input to your amplifier Reduce MAX setting Is something else clipping Noise hiss Check input signal levels and level control settings Check gain settings on downstream equipment Is the input signal already noisy Noaudio 25 etr Specifications 572 Specifications Input Output Inputs All Balanced Transformerless Paging Mic For microphone level paging signals Impedance gt 1800 Ohms Nominal Level 80 dBu to 40 dBu Maximum Level 30 dBu CMRR gt 60 dB Impedance gt 40 kilohms Nominal Level 0 dBu Maximum Level 18 dBu CMRR gt 40 dB Impedance gt 40 kilohms Nominal Level 10 dBu Maximum Level 18 dBu Paging For line level paging signals Music For line level music signals Chapter 10 Performance Data Control Range Noise to Gain Ratio Sample Interval Variable up to 40 dB 20 dB to 20 dB Variable 2 1 to 1 2 Forced Variable 1 min to 26 min Auto Silence periods lt 30 dBm gt 800 ms Page Over Music Variable 0 to 15 dB 20 Hz to 20 kHz 1 dB 0 dB lt 0 05 THD unity gain 1 kHz music into balanced output gt 70 dB ref 0 dBu unity gain 30 kHz noise bandwidth Balanced Input to Unbalanced Output 0 dB Unbalanced Input to Balanced Output 6 dB Frequency Response THD Noise Signal to Noise Ratio Gain VCA at unity CMR
36. important in every one of these applica tions actually any 572 application that the unit has been properly calibrated and that the program material has sufficient silence periods for ambient sensing Factories In this application the 572 monitors the ambient noise level within a factory and adjusts the sound system s operating level to ensure that it is always audible Ensure that all speakers that are used for sensing are installed so that they receive an average of the noise sources within the space to ensure that a loud localized noise source does not dominate the control of the sound system For speakers that are near a noise source you may need to wire these speakers directly to the power amplifier bypassing the 572 If the sound system needs to be heard consistently in spite of the localized noise source you may need to create a controlled zone at the source by dedicating a 572 speaker s and an amplifier to that purpose Speakers serving quiet zones such as break rooms offices and rest rooms should probably be on their own amplifier fed from the input of the 572 so that they are unaffected by the 572 Restaurants Bars amp Theme Stores All of these establishments have one thing in common they all use background or foreground music as an integral part of their ambiance The volume level of the music is important audible but not too audible How audible is not the judgement of the kid that works the counter It s
37. initial calibration to determine the optimum gain setting for the sound system How Does It Work The 572 uses the combination of analog circuitry and digital circuitry under the control of a microprocessor The microprocessor excels at following a set of instructions and making decisions Since really high performance digital audio circuitry is still quite expensive the 572 uses a record ing studio quality voltage controlled amplifier VCA to control audio levels In operation the 572 monitors its input signals for silence Anytime that silence occurs an option switch allows changing the silence threshold the 572 switches to sense mode In sense mode the 572 reduces the amplifier input by at least 30 dB the loudspeakers are disconnected from the power amplifier and connected to a high gain differential amplifier which cancels the hum and other junk picked up by the unshielded speaker wires The 572 s microprocessor monitors the output of the sense preamp and compares that signal to the calibration conditions stored in the 572 s parameter storage RAM and at the last sample period Based on this information and the front panel set tings the 572 decides how loud the sound system must operate to restore audibility The 572 also has an internal timer controlled by the front panel SAMPLE INTERVAL control that forces a sample if there haven t been any silent periods in the input signal Anytime that the input signal causes a sample peri
38. lashes 4 Using the 572 s LEVEL SET Max control adjust the control for the maximum desired operating level when the LED bargraph indicator marked SET Max flashes The 572 listens to the sound system for about 8 seconds at the minimum level after it detects the last adjustment of the Min control and then for about 8 seconds at the maximum level after the last adjustment of the Max control Then the microprocessor returns the unit to OPERATE mode under the new calibration values When the calibration procedure is completed the acoustic performance record of the room is placed in nonvolatile memory along with the minimum and maximum level settings The unit will operate under these calibration settings until the calibration procedure is run again The calibration procedure may be run as many times as necessary If for any reason the procedure is interrupted before completion the unit returns to operate mode under the previously stored values If the procedure is run to completion with no changes the unit calculates the same values as it did under the previous calibration procedure and puts those new values into nonvolatile memory Only when the level set max or LEVEL SeT MIN setting is changed does the unit put new operating values into memory You can force sensing by turning the sample interval control to 1 and then quickly returning it to 5 You can also force sensing by using option switch D and TB2 3 6 Chapter 4 Front amp Re
39. lligibility by changing gain in proportion to environmental noise level changes in essence controlling the volume of the background paging system by measuring the volume of the ambient noise and then adjusting the system gain accordingly Unique to the 572 is its ability to utilize the sound system s loudspeakers as noise measurement transducers in place of the usual microphones The 572 switches the speaker line from the amplifier s output to its own sensing input In less than one second it reads the ambient noise level and switches the speaker line back to the amplifier Special impedance matching frequency shaping and level shifting circuits allow the 572 to acquire precise relative noise measurements from virtually any speaker line with any number of speakers of any impedance transformer coupled or direct coupled 25V or 70V The operating characteristics of the SPL computer are controlled by a powerful microprocessor running under Symetrix proprietary software This reduces the 572 s calibration time and allows the installer to optimize performance for any situation No test gear is needed because the 572 obtains and stores the information it needs during calibration The 572 has separate inputs for paging and music as well as a direct paging microphone input Both the speakers and the amplifiers connect directly to the 572 A front panel page over music function enables up to 14 dB of music attenuation during announcements There are m
40. mportant to know what the total impedance of the pile of speakers connected to the amplifier really is RF systems are matched because we really are concerned with maximum power transfer and with matching the impedance of the transmission line keeps nasty things from happening Video signals composite baseband or otherwise should be treated like RF Some folks seem to believe that balanced unbalanced lines and impedances are related or even worse that they are associated with a particular type of connector Not so Unbalanced signals are not necessarily high impedance and balanced signals lines are not necessarily low impedance Similarly although 1 4 inch jacks are typically used for things like guitars which are high imped ance and unbalanced this does not predispose them to only this usage After all 1 4 inch jacks are sometimes used for loudspeakers which are anything but high impedance Therefore the presence of 3 pin XLR connectors should not be construed to mean that the input or output is low impedance or high impedance The same applies to 1 4 inch jacks So what is really important Signal level and to a much lesser degree the impedance relation between an output signal source and the input that it connects to signal receiver Signal level is very important Mismatch causes either loss of headroom or loss of signal to noise ratio Thus microphone inputs should only see signals originating from a microphone a direc
41. nt panel controls as described in Calibration Settings Table previous page Verify that program audio is audible in the system speakers OR wo oN Set the system power amplifier s volume control to a comfortably loud level Do not readjust this control after calibration of the 572 or your calibration will be invalid ON Set the Bypass switch to the OUT position T Use a pencil to push the CALIBRATE button in and then release it 8 The red MIN lamp lights Adjust the MIN CALIBRATE knob to a comfortable listening level The system audio level will stay at this level for 10 seconds This level is the minimum level that the 572 allows in the space regardless of how quiet the ambient noise level may be or get 9 When the red MAX lamp lights adjust the Max CALIBRATE knob to set the system level to as loud as you ever want the volume to go during noisy times Check that the power amplifier s aren t clipping The system audio level will return to normal in 10 seconds It may be helpful to monitor the acoustical level in the space with a sound level meter 10 Calibration is complete The 572 will adjust the system level as the ambient noise in the area increases Quick System Test While talking loudly or making noise near a system speaker turn the SAMPLE INTERVAL control to 1 and then quickly return it to 5 This forces the system to sense The system level should increase in response to the increase in ambient noise
42. od the timer resets If the input material has sufficient silent periods the timer generated sample periods never occur In CAL mode the 572 acquires a history of the environment s sonic behavior The 572 takes three measurements the environment s minimum level the sound system s minimum level and the sound system s maximum level By running the system for about 8 seconds at the desired minimum and maximum sound pressure levels the microprocessor remembers these three key performance parameters which are automatically stored in nonvolatile memory During calibration the installer sets minimum and maximum levels the 572 reads the controls as they are changed and stays in the appropriate calibration mode for about 8 seconds after the last change is made This allows the installer time to reset operating levels as necessary When the system switches itself back to operate mode the acoustical performance history acquired during calibration becomes the baseline for gain change decisions In operate mode the system goes about measuring environmental noise levels and internal signal levels Because the computer has already committed to memory the parameters stored during calibration it is able to predict the gain setting required What About the Sensing Microphone Microphone What microphone The 572 doesn t use sensing microphones It does use the sound system s loudspeakers as microphones during sensing There aren t many c
43. on TB2 6 The speaker output of the 572 to the sound system speakers in the controlled zone Q O BI oSer EME E EE e ee Om EE okkeseeskksslekesesekseoss CZ Err ooo SPEAKER USED FOR P A AND SENSE PAT NS Be NS NA K SPEAKER USED Figure 3 Caution DOES NOT SENSE PAGE MICROPHONE BACKGROUND HOUSE MUSIC AMPLIFIER 1 572 generic hookup diagram Failure to connect the 572 to the proper ac mains voltage may cause fire and or internal damage There are no user serviceable parts inside the chassis Refer all service to qualified service personnel or to the factory Warning Lethal voltages are present inside the chassis There are no user serviceable parts inside the chassis Refer all service to qualified service personnel or to the factory Calibration Settings Table Set the controls and switches on the front and rear panel as shown below Front Panel Control Setting Rear Panel Setting Bypass switch out NORM OUTPUT Connect to power amplifiers PAGE Mic gain 12 00 0 clock PAGE Mic Connect balanced low impedance page microphone here SENSE GAIN switch out HIGH Music In Connect line level music source here SAMPLE INTERVAL 8 00 0 clock PAGE IN Connect line level paging source here PAGE OVER Music 8 000 clock Ratio 12 000 clock LEVEL Set MIN 9 00 0 clock LeveL Set Max 8 00 0 clock OPTION switches Alldown Calib
44. onstraints on your choice of loudspeakers Horn type speakers are more directional as well as being highly efficient both as speakers and as microphones We have found that planar type speakers do not work well as microphones Internally the sense signal drives a bandpass filter A weighting approximation before the 572 measures its level strength 10 Where Should Put the Sensing Microphone The sensing microphone needs to hear the ambient sound within the controlled space In large spaces it may be better to only use a few of the sound system speakers for sensing In the remain der of this manual we ll use the term sensing speaker to mean a speaker that is connected to the 572 s TO SPEAKER terminals that is used during sensing periods as a microphone Where Shouldn t Put the Sensing Speaker s Avoid the following situations Placing the sensing speaker s where it is within the noise field of a machine or other noise source unless you want the source s noise contribution to more or less control the level of the sound system For example how about a speaker in a newspaper plant near one of the printing press es Placing the sensing speakers where they always hear a nearby noise source For instance how about a shopping mall near the kiddie area You can work around this by connecting these speakers to the TO AMP terminals so that they aren t used for sensing What Does the Ratio Control Do The
45. ont panel Don t leave SENSE VIEW engaged as it prevents normal operation Option C enables sample averaging If option switch C is down the 572 computes the gain change solely on the basis of the current sample If option switch C is up the 572 computes the gain change based on the average of the current sample and the running average level the 572 then squirrels away the new average for the next sample period Option D enables the EXTERNAL SENSE feature accessed from TB2 3 on the rear panel Use this feature as described in Appendix B of the manual or to force a sense period based on an external contact closure sense triggering occurs when TB2 3 is connected to TB2 4 ground The 572 remains in sense mode for the duration of the contact closure This option also disables the SAMPLE INTERVAL timer and the 572 will only enter sense mode when TB2 3 is grounded Option Switch A SILENCETHRESHOLD UP 20dBu DOWN 35 dBu Option Switch B SENSEVIEW UP Enabled DOWN Disabled Option Switch C SAMPLEAVERAGING UP Running Average DOWN No Average Option Switch D EXTERNALSENSE UP Enabled DOWN Disabled What Could Go Wrong Here are the two most common situations and some things to look for Thered MUSIC PAGE lamp flashes during calibration 1 There is no audio at the Line INPUT from the program source In a Paging Only system there must be a page in progress during the entire calibration procedure 2 The audio input level to the 572 is too low With
46. orts and the 572 returns to operate mode using the calibration values previously stored in nonvolatile memory The 572 cannot be recalibrated until the problem causing the error is corrected Options Options Options GAIN dB PAGE MUSIC INPUT ERROR B r BYPASS 2 5 9 15 20 26 30 40 vee de 1 Figure 7 2 LED Bargraph The 572 has many operational options mostly controlled by a 4 wide DIP switch located on the front panel The microprocessor scans the switches continuously any changes in their settings are acted upon almost instantaneously The four option switches set the music silence threshold level sense view displays sense level on front panel bargraph ambient sample averaging and external sense control Calibration Calibration must be performed when the ambient noise in the loudspeaker coverage area is at its normal minimum level for the area NOT dead quiet unless that is normal l Complete all input and output connections There must be program audio present at a LINE INPUT connection before calibration can be completed If the system is used for paging activate the paging system by having an assistant count or recite the alphabet during the entire calibration procedure The audio input level must be greater than 35 dBu or the 572 will not recognize the presence of audio and the Music PAGE Error light will flash Warn any people present that sound system may get momentarily loud Set the fro
47. pace in a standard 19 rack The ambient sensing automatic level controlling device shall be the Symetrix model 572 SPL Computer 26 Chapter 11 Warranty amp Service 572 Limited Warranty Symetrix Inc expressly warrants that the product will be free from defects in material and workman ship for one 1 year Symetrix s obligations under this warranty will be limited to repairing or replacing at Symetrix s option the part or parts of the product which prove defective in material or workmanship within one 1 year from date of purchase provided that the Buyer gives Symetrix prompt notice of any defect or failure and satisfactory proof thereof Products may be returned by Buyer only after a Return Authorization number RA has been obtained from Symetrix Buyer will prepay all freight charges to return the product to the Symetrix factory Symetrix reserves the right to inspect any products which may be the subject of any warranty claim before repair or replacement is carried out Symetrix may at its option require proof of the original date of purchase dated copy of original retail dealer s invoice Final determination of warranty coverage lies solely with Symetrix Products repaired under warranty will be returned freight prepaid by Symetrix via United Parcel Service surface to any location within the Continental United States At Buyer s request the shipment may be returned via airfreight at Buyer s expense Outside the Continental Unit
48. ration Checklist You initiate the calibration procedure by pressing the Mope switch once from OPERATE mode Complete the following checklist before beginning the calibration procedure e Complete all input and output connections e Apply power to the 572 e Verify that the unit passes signal in the Bypass mode Enter Bypass mode by depressing the Bypass switch Return the Bypass switch to the OUT position You should still have audio e Set Option switch B to the UP position sense view Observe the LED bargraph There should be at one LED on up to a maximum of 7 LEDs on If no LEDs are on depress the SENSE GAIN switch Leave the switch in whatever position results in a reading between the first and last LEDs in the bargraph e Set the front and rear panel controls as shown in Calibration Settings Table previous page Caution The 572 resistively mixes its line inputs in Bypass mode This can cause attenuation whose amount depends upon the actual source devices as well as the amplifier s connected to the unit s outputs The 572 delivers unity gain when the output is operated unbalanced and the gain is 6 dB when the output is operated balanced Calibration Procedure L Apply program or paging signals to the 572 s input s 2 Press the MODE switch once to enter CALibration mode 3 Using the 572 s LEVEL Set Min control adjust the control for the minimum desired operating level when the LED bargraph indicator marked Set Mw f
49. sound to the listener Horns are also more efficient making your amplifier power go further You can also put a sensing speaker somewhere where the noise level is more representative of the average noise level in the space even though there may not be anyone who can hear it On the other hand this may be a more appropriate application for the 571 which uses a sensing microphone Low Frequency Sensitivity The sensing circuit of the 572 includes a 3 pole high pass filter The 572 will not respond to background noise below 300 Hz This design makes the system insensitive to building rumble and air handling noise The sense circuit responds to signals between 500 Hz and 15 kHz Using the 572 With Horn Speakers Several users have had difficulty getting the 572 to calibrate and operate properly when connected to strings of high gain horn speakers in high noise environments The horns returned too much signal to the 572 when it was sampling which overloaded the A D converter In one case we were able to get the system to operate by increasing R13 and R14 to 91KO If you set OPTION switch B 19 UP and the sense level indication exceeds the 26 dB LED in both positions of the SENSE GAIN switch you need to increase R13 and R14 In other cases using a single speaker as the sensing transducer was the only answer In these cases the output of the power amplifier connects directly to the speaker string and the single sampling speaker is wired to T
50. specified for the product and your operating locale Use only a cord that is in good condition Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the apparatus Proper Fuse The user accessible fuse is a part of the attached AC connector The fuseholder accepts 5 x 20mm diameter fuses For 1 17 VAC operation the correct value is 0 5A 250VAC standard For 230V AC operation the correct value is 0 25A 250V AC standard Operating Location Donot operate this equip ment under any of the following conditions explosive atmospheres in wet locations in inclement weather improper or unknown AC mains voltage or if improperly fused Do not install near any heat source such as radiators heat registers stoves or other apparatus including amplifiers that produce heat Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time Stay Out of the Box To avoid personal injury or worse do not remove the product covers or panels Do not operate the product without the covers and panels properly installed Only use accessories specified by the manufacturer Clean only with a damp cloth User serviceable parts There are no user serviceable parts inside the 572 In case of failure refer all servicing to the factory Servicing is required when the 572 has been damaged in any way such as when a power supply cord or plug is damag
51. t DI box or an output designated microphone level output Electrically this is in the range of approximately 70 to 20 dBm Line inputs should only see signals in the 10 to 24 dBm dBu range Guitars high impedance microphones and many electronic keyboards do not qualify as line level sources The impedance relation between outputs and inputs needs to be considered but only in the following way Always make sure that a device s input impedance is higher than the output source impedance of the device that drives it Some manufacturers state a relatively high impedance figure as the output impedance of their equipment What they really mean is that this is the minimum load impedance that they would like their gear to see In most cases seeing an output impedance figure of 10 000 10K ohms or higher from modern equipment that requires power batteries or AC is an instance of this type of rating If so then the input impedance of the succeeding input must be equal to or greater than the output impedance of the driving device Symetrix equipment inputs are designed to bridge be greater than 10 times the actual source impedance the output of whatever device drives the input Symetrix equipment outputs are designed to drive 600 ohm or higher loads 600 ohm loads are an archaic practice that won t go away You don t need to terminate the output with a 600 ohm resistor if you aren t driving a 600 ohm load If you don t understand the
52. t is necessary for externally controlled sampling Figure Appendix A 2 shows how to interconnect multiple 572s for simultaneous sampling vo eeleleselsbEEERlesEkEelkseskis MASTER UNIT N yo 9 TS S TO SAN MOMENTARY SPST DE PUSHBUTTON SWITCH Figure Appendix A 1 Using option switch D and a remote momentary pushbutton for externally controlled sampling O Symetrix TO FROM EXT EXT LINE LINE INPUTS DOWN SPEAKER AMP RELAY SENSE SPARE OUTPUT Ve PAGE MUSIC EER CNTRL TRIG T TA us Ti Le PRE ae Jel EE beiee ske G ms 9 8 7 6 18 w 3 2 1 TB1 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 J qi al ABC ran N TO FROM EXT EXT LINE LINE INPUTS l SPEAKER AMP Sint SENSE Spare OUTPUT Vc PAGE MUSIC I We EE ae ae THE l F Tse ome 2 aleles elel eeie s eleeeselese kes TB2 10 9 8 7 6 5 ME 24 TB1 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 1 SLAVE UNIT 1 ABC T TO FROM EXT EXT LINE LINE INPUTS PR 7 SPEAKER AMP fc rhe SPARE OUTPUT Vc PAGE MUSIC o HLE Y LL L 4 4 G re EI TSI all q wr E as de Je peeeslekeebee sees N TB2 10 9 5 al ls 2 1 TB1 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 SLAVE UNIT 2 TO ADDITIONAL SLAVE 572 S Figure Appen
53. the Options dip switch A in the up position the input level must be greater than 20 dBu If the switch is in the down position the input level must be greater than 35 dB 3 There are no speakers connected to terminals 9 and 10 To SPEAKER The 572 uses the system speakers as microphones when sensing The 572 does not accurately adjust the system level as ambient noise changes 1 Repeat the calibration procedure Calibration must be made during times of minimum background noise or the minimum system level will be inaccurate 2 If the maximum level was set too high during calibration the system will get too loud as the background noise level increases 3 Ifthe maximum level was set too low the system will not be loud enough when the ambient noise level reaches its peak 4 Ensure that all speakers are operating in phase SPEAKERS MONITORING FN HEADPHONES 3 A CONNECTED TO S ND OS PINS 2 amp 3 2 PIN 1 MAY NEED s TO BE CONNECTED TO SYSTEM GROUND MJ TO OTHER SPEAKERS Ei A SYMETRIX 302 OR EQUIVALENT LOW Z MICROPHONE PREAMP Figure 7 3 Using a microphone preamp to hear the sense speakers 5 If hum is being induced in the speaker wiring the 572 will treat this noise as sense audio when sensing Make sure that the speaker wiring is not routed next to AC wiring or unrelated 70V speaker wiring Disconnect the speakers from the system and using a microphon
54. the SPL Computer are acceptable because the unit reads input level changes Calibrate the 572 when the coverage zone s ambient noise level is it s nominal minimum Nominal minimum means whatever ambient noise level is the minimum for that particular environ ment no matter what the actual level may be It should not be dead silent unless that is normal The ambient noise level measured by the 571 during the calibration procedure is used by the microprocessor to calculate gain changes As a result the unit doesn t care what the actual ambient noise level is during calibration However the overall control range may be inadequate if the noise level is too high during calibration During calibration run normal program signals through the system This allows the SPL Computer to develop an acoustical performance history of the environment based upon the type of material that will ordinarily be run through the system No extra test equipment is required for normal calibration However to set the system up for specific operating levels a noise source and SPL meter are needed Pre installation Considerations Before installing the 572 be sure that you ve considered the following items L Ambient noise sources in the loudspeaker coverage area Are there any noise sources near any of the speakers used for sensing It is not necessary to use all speakers for sensing 3 If the speakers are wired using the home run method t
55. the background music or other signals internally through its separate paging and music inputs as opposed to supplying the 572 with a mix of everything The 572 monitors its paging inputs and immediately terminates a sense period when a paging signal is present This is not true for the music input 12 Loudspeakers from alien systems sound systems located within the sensing zone of the 572 but not under control of the 572 can cause unwanted gain changes Connections A drawing of a typical music with paging system is shown in below Make all of the following connections 1 Paging microphone or mic level mixer output to the PAGE Mic XLR connector Remember that mic or line paging sources duck the signal connected to the Music input 2 Line level paging source or other source to the PAGE terminals on TB1 Remember that mic or line paging sources duck the signal connected to the Music input 3 Background or foreground music source to the Music terminals on TB1 Signals connected to this input are ducked attenuated by signals present on either of the PAGE inputs 4 SPL Computer output from TB1 to your sound system s amplifier s 5 Your sound system s amplifier output to the 572 s From AMP terminals
56. time immediately terminates the sense period If a silent period never occurs the 572 forces one A front panel control determines the length of time that elapses before a forced sense occurs Sensing may also be triggered externally The 572 interrupts the signal path during sensing Table 1 1 provides a tabular comparison of the two units Feature SIL 572 Uses dedicated microphone for ambient sensing siese sees see Y N Uses sound system speakers for ambient sensing eie se ee see N Y Sound system loudness controlled by ambient noise conditions Y Y Continuous real time Operation ss Y N Program silence sensing triggers ambient sense period N Y Mic and line level paging inputs 0 0 0 0 cee se ee ek ee ek Ge ee Ge Re GR ee Y Y Pase Over music ducking i s sees dese ese man etienne Y Y Ste ii Si OE IE Y Y Calibration t quired Asssrisnimimtieninnnienintentnie Y Y Tim d ambient SENS MS EE RE se See a eie oo eines Lu N Y Interrupts signal path during sensing ssseeesereeseersererseereereerrereeees N Y Table 1 1 571 572 Feature comparison 2 Chapter 2 Equipment Markings CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR WARNING ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE a RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE AVIS NE PAS OUVRIR SEE OWNERS MANUAL VOIR CAHIER D INSTRUCTIONS No user serviceable parts inside Refer servicing
57. tio control or the ambient noise level The rule here is the change in ambient level times the slope may not exceed MAXL If the computed gain change passes the test then that value drives the VCA if not then the change is limited to MAXL If the BTL level is too low relative to the actual minimum ambient level AMAL then the 572 could run out of control range This is what would occur if you tried to use silence to set the BTL If the AMAL level is marginally too low then simply ensure that there is a low enough MIN setting to allow the sound system to track this minimum level On the other hand you could establish a minimum level to ensure that the sound system is always heard by making this the difference between the BTL and MINL If the BTL level is higher than the AMAL then the sound system is likely to be too loud when the space is at its quietest Reducing the amplifier gain will work but you must ensure that there is enough gain change range difference between MIN and MAX controls to keep up with a noisy environment Summary of Level Considerations 1 It is best to try to hit the Baseline SPL Threshold Level on the head or certainly within 6 dB 2 Be sure that you have more Maximum Level than you need which will help compensate if the 3 Baseline SPL Threshold Level is higher than the Actual Minimum Ambient Level OSymetrix gt Chapter 8 Applications Here are a few applications that the 572 lends itself to It s
58. to qualified service personnel ll ne se trouve a l interieur aucune piece pourvant entre repar e l usager S adresser a un reparateur comp tent The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user of the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the product s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user of the presence of important operating and maintenance servicing instructions in the literature accompanying the product i e this manual Caution To prevent electric shock do not use the polarized plug supplied with the unit with any extension cord receptacle or other outlet unless the blades can be fully inserted Terms Several notational conventions are used in this manual Some paragraphs may use Note Caution or Warning as a heading Certain typefaces and capitalization are used to identify certain words These are Identifies information that needs extra emphasis A Note generally supplies extra information to help you to better use the 572 Note Caution Identifies information that if not heeded may cause damage to the 572 or other equipment in your system Identifies information that if ignored may be hazardous to your health or that of others Controls switches or other markings on the 572 s chassis
59. ts labor packaging materials and freight charges Please remember you must call for an RA number before sending the unit to Symetrix 28 Appendix A External Sensing amp Multi Unit Installations OPTION switch D enables the external sense input and prevents both periodic sensing and silence based sensing When Option switch D is UP sensing only occurs when TB2 3 is held low grounded The unit remains in sense mode for as long as TB2 3 is grounded and you must ground the external sense line for a minimum of one second You use this feature when it is inappropriate to interrupt the program material based on either time or silence Of course you must have some other means of telling the 572 when to sense electronic wizardry slave labor etc Option switch D has one additional use forcing multiple 572s to sample simultaneously There are two reasons for doing this 1 Adjacent sound systems to the controlled area are noise sources as far as the 572 is concerned Their acoustical output influences the ambient sampling of other units Simultaneous sampling removes adjacent systems from consideration as noise sources N During sampling the sampling speakers are connected to an extremely high gain amplifier Adjacent speaker wiring in the same conduit or raceway may cause crosstalk into the speaker wiring connected to the sampling speakers which will cause erroneous results in the controlled zone Figure Appendix A 1 shows wha
60. u must supply power for the relay coil Remember to connect a diode across the relay coil to absorb the back EMF generated by the relay coil The maximum voltage at this point is 40 V dc at 625 mA Active low input When option switch D is up grounding this terminal forces a sense operation The unit remains in sense mode for as long as this terminal is grounded The terminal must remain grounded for at least one second in order to perform sensing Not used not connected Connect to circuit ground inside the 572 Balanced differential output of the 572 For unbalanced usage use TB1 9 and TB1 10 TB1 8 should float Monitor point for the control voltage for the VCA The gain relationship is 159mv dB Use this voltage to verify that the VCA is actually being told to change the gain or to connect a stereo slave unit Balanced line level input for paging signals Signals at these terminals cause signals applied to the music inputs to attenuate duck For unbalanced signals use TB1 5 for signal and connect TB1 6 4 to ground Balanced line level for music signals Normally used for background music Signals applied to these terminals are attenuated ducked whenever signals are present at either of the page inputs 572 Basics Chapter 5 An SPL computer periodically samples the ambient sound in a room Having this information the SPL computer uses a combination of historical data and information stored during the unit s
61. ultiple option switches for telling the 572 how to treat the page music signal as well as how to react to changes in the acoustic environment The LED meter on the front not only indicates gain change but also aids in setup and calibration and identifies errors You show the 572 the parameters of the acoustic environment during calibration and then set the way you want the unit to respond to changes The 572 then takes the information it has stored in memory and makes smooth appropriate changes to keep the levels exactly where you want them In order for the speakers to act as loudspeakers and sensors there must be times when no audio is passing through the speakers to allow the sample of the ambient noise to be taken Thus the 572 takes advantage of silent periods in the paging or music to take a sample or it forces a sample based on the front panel setting at timed intervals The 572 will unobtrusively fade out the music take a sample and then fade the music back in all in a matter of seconds The 572 will not how ever interrupt any signal that appears at the page input thus keeping the unit from forcing a sense period during a page From malls to restaurants to factories the Symetrix 572 gives you effective reliable system level control without an operator or the normal additional costs Feel free to contact us if you have questions comments or suggestions Phone 425 778 7728 Fax 425 778 7727 Email symetrix symetrixaudio com

572 SPL Computer

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