Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Unusual Meridian DSP's setup

People have suggested that you read Duncs site. Perhaps if you did so you might have found this.

I think Mark_H used to use his DSP5K5s with a TacT TCS processor.

As people have said, you need a patch box, setup one speaker as master with non-M CD player and set all the others to slave.
Let the Datasat handle level trims and delays, I presume it can handle this as it's a cinema processor?

Thats it, thank you sir! I spent about 40 mins on Duncan's site but didn't found this document. I guess that if this protocol is related not only to 8k, it would be more logical to put this doc in separate folder. Nevertheless, thanks to all, if you will be interested I report about field experiments. I have Meridian showrom just on the next door, so it will be very soon.

Oh, kind of success story is appeared! Yes, Datasat can do all that and many more, even very advanced equalization.

Yeah, you could do that, but what about setting individual speaker levels?
How does this processor control levels in the digital domain anyway?
Does it reduce the digital output?
Meridian works because it keeps the digital signal full, and the comms simply tells the speakers what levels, EQ and gain to go to.

This would be the best solution, write some code and build a box to get them talking.
But again, back to the issue of having to find out what the processor does and doesn't do on its digital outs.

I've got some feedback from Datasat support team and here is what they said.

1. RS20i is able to control volume on digital outputs in digital domain without data loss.
2. Digital outputs carries 2 channel per wire, as usual, it's AES/EBU but it's possible to wire them single-ended
3. All delays, EQ, RC and other features are available at digital outputs.

So looks like I have to resolve only problem with simple on and off control of DSP's? I can set the volume on them at 85 for instance and then use processor to control volume at all DSP's simultaneously?

Oleg

Hmmm?
Data loss?

What about loss of resolution though?

Well, I'm not a very familiar with methods of digital volume control, but if you mean "resolution" in terms of kHz, then RS20i is able to send 48/96/192 kHz signal (selectable from menu).

And in any case - this set up will be mostly used as a cinema, so I'm sure that Datasat (DTS) device will definitely do all processing at least at pro level, not more, not less. RS-20i based on a platform which they are using for commercial applications.

Just a quick google, as good an explanation as any LessLoss - Volume Control Option

In the digital domain prior to D/A conversion.

This is the worst way to control volume level. You not only loose bit-depth of your signal, you also introduce rounding math errors, and ultimately reduce the signal/noise ratio of the actual conversion process. You do not utilize the DAC chip in its best operating conditions, and receive a distorted output signal as a result.

When talking about 16bit PCM, that's true enough.
When talking about 24bit PCM the disadvantages are less obvious. For a start you hit the real world noise floor before you hit the DAC noise floor with most 24bit designs.
Then you have to consider that if you do your gain operations at a high enough bit depth the rounding errors will be below that noise floor as well.
Ramping the gain up however is a no-no, you're almost guaranteed to get clipping.