Lexicon DC-2 Owner's Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Lexicon Manuals
  4. Recording Equipment
  5. DC-2
  6. Owner's manual
Lexicon DC-2 Owner's Manual

Lexicon DC-2 Owner's Manual

Lexicon dc-2 digital controller owner's manual
Hide thumbs Also See for DC-2:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

See also: Quick Reference Manual
Owner's Manual
DC-2
Digital Controller

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the DC-2 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for Lexicon DC-2

Summary of Contents for Lexicon DC-2

  • Page 1 Owner's Manual DC-2 Digital Controller...

  • Page 2: Important Safety Instructions

    "Logic 7" and "Auto-Azimuth" are trademarks of Lexicon, Inc. Copyright ©1999 Lexicon. Inc. All Rights Reserved. U.S. Patent numbers 4,862,502; 5,136,650 and 5,796,844; other patents pending on the DC-2. Lexicon, Inc.• 3 Oak Park • Bedford MA • 01730-1441 USA • Tel: 781-280-0300 • Fax: 781- 280-0490...
  • Page 3 Dansk Vigtig information om sikkerhed Gem denne vejledning til senere brug. Følg alle anvisninger og advarsler på apparatet. Apparatet skal altid tilsluttes den korrekte spænding. Der henvises til brugsanvisningen, der indeholder specifikationer for strømforsyning. Der gøres opmærksom på, at ved varierende driftsspændinger kan det blive nødvendigt at bruge andre lednings- og/eller stiktyper.
  • Page 4 Deutsch Wichtige Sicherheitsanweisungen Heben Sie sich diese Sicherheitsanweisungen auch für später auf. Befolgen Sie alle auf der Vorrichtung stehenden Anweisungen und Warnungen. Immer nur mit der richtigen Spannung verwenden! Die Gebrauchsanweisungen des Herstellers informieren Sie über die elektrischen Anforderungen. Vergessen Sie nicht daß bei verschiedenen Betriebsspannungen ggf. auch verschiedene Leitungskabel und/oder Verbindungsstecker zu verwenden sind.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    AC Connections ... 6 Wiring Considerations ... 7 Audio/Video Cables • Speaker Conncetions Audio/Video Connections DC-2 Connections ... 8 Video Connections • Digital Audio Connections "AC-3 Ready" Laser Disc and LD/DVD Players 2 System Configuration Restore Factory Defaults ... 11 Equalization ...
  • Page 6 Using DC-2 Effects ... 33 Restoring the original parameter values of an Effect Naming your custom Effect • Restoring the original Effect Name • Listening to only the DC-2 Effect Front/Back Fader 3 PCM Effects and Parameters Panorama ... 35 Nightclub ...
  • Page 7 Introduction The DC-2 can be thought of as four units in one. At its heart is a reference- quality 8-channel music and film digital audio computer capable of creating or recreating a limitless amount of listening environments. This digital audio computer is mated to an 8-channel, 24-bit Digital-to-Analog con- verter that rivals the most exotic and costly stand-alone devices.
  • Page 8 To understand the overall organization of the unit, it is helpful to define those few terms which are unique to the DC-2. AC-3 FX The term AC-3 FX (Dolby Digital Effects) is used to describe all of the effects which are compatible with Dolby Digital input signals.
  • Page 9 Effect An effect is a configuration that determines how the DC-2 will process an input signal. The DC-2 can contain as many as 24 effects: Panorama, Nightclub, Concert Hall, Church, Cathedral, Party, 2-Channel, Music Surround, Music Logic, Logic 7, TV Matrix, Pro Logic, THX Cinema, Mono Logic, 5.1 2- Channel, 5.1 Music, 5.1 Logic 7, Dolby Digital, THX 5.1, DTS 2-Channel, DTS...

  • Page 10: Installation

    1. ON/OFF 3. REC/ZONE 2 ON/OFF alternately puts the Press and hold to activate DC-2 into and out of standby. Zone 2 control with the On/ Turning the DC-2 off with this Off, Input Selector, Volume button (or with the remote) and Mute buttons..

  • Page 11: The Rear Panel

    Installation The Rear Panel CAUTION: Never make or break any connections to the DC-2 with the rear-panel power ON. Make sure any associated amplifiers are turned off before turning this master power switch on or off. DC-2 LEXICON, INC. ASSEMBLED IN U.S.A.

  • Page 12: The Remote Control

    DC-2 Digital Controller 1 ON, FP and OSD ON turns the DC-2 on and selects the input last used with main and Zone 2 volume levels set to the levels cho- sen in the OUTPUT LEVELS menu. FP (ON) turns on the front panel display backlight and the Lexicon logo.

  • Page 13: Alternate Remote Control Functions Using The

    Treble level adjust Bass level adjust CONCERT HALL NIGHTCLUB PANORAMA 2-CHANNEL (Accesses optional Expansion Ports) You can access an additional set of controls with the DC-2 remote control by using the Shift key. Shift Record DONE SELECT Zone 2 Light...

  • Page 14: Conection

    DC-2 Digital Controller Zone 2 controls are accessed by holding down the Record/Zone 2 button. Zone 2 outputs OFF Zone 2 L/R Balance adjust In LOCK SETTINGS menu, pressing with SETTINGS selected toggles double lock Select input for Record/Zone 2...

  • Page 15: Location Considerations

    The DC-2 has a master power switch on the rear panel above the IEC standard AC power receptacle. This switch may be left ON continuously when the unit is in regular use. When the DC-2 will not be used for an extended period of time, or whenever you are connecting or disconnecting any cables to the unit, this switch should be turned OFF.

  • Page 16: Wiring Considerations

    There is debate over the audible effects of different types of interconnects. Good engineering practices have minimized the effect that cables might have on the inputs and outputs of the DC-2 — but feel free to evaluate different interconnects in your system. Be conscious, however, of the mechanical stress from repeated insertion and overly tight connectors, and the possibly corrosive nature of some contact-enhancing fluids.
  • Page 17 This enables use of a digital input for the main zone, and the corresponding analog input for the Record/Zone 2 outputs. Note the use of Y-connectors to feed the DC-2 Record output to both the VCR and the tape deck.

  • Page 18: Ready" Laser Disc And Ld/Dvd Players

    S-Video outputs. Composite input signals will not be output as S-Video. You can assign any video source to any (or all) of the eight DC-2 inputs via the Input Configuration submenu of the Setup menu. This can be very useful in systems which use a VCR as the tuner for TV viewing, as the video feed from the VCR can be assigned to both the VCR and TV inputs.

  • Page 19: System Configuration

    DC-2 Digital Controller Although the DC-2 memory is cleared before it leaves the factory, it is good practice to restore the factory defaults with the following procedure before system configuration. Turn the DC-2 OFF with the remote control. Turn the unit back ON and immediately press and hold the MUTE button on the remote.
  • Page 20 A Loudness Contour parameter which boosts bass information, provides more balanced reproduction at low volume listening conditions. Once you have calibrated DC-2 output levels, set the LOUDNESS parameter ON to provide the ideal amount of boost for any given volume setting. This parameter does not affect the sound of the rear or side speakers.

  • Page 21: Display Adjustment

    DC-2 Digital Controller Depending on the location of the DC-2 in your room, you may need to adjust the contrast of the front panel display for optimum viewing. To adjust this display, press the or SELECT buttons on the Remote to enter the Main Menu.
  • Page 22 Adjusting the position allows you to move the DC-2 display items to a location where they will not interfere with any other video overlays or signals your system may generate.

  • Page 23: Input Configuration

    DC-2 Digital Controller The DC-2 has eight inputs, each of which can be associated with any of the five video and eight digital audio inputs. Selecting Input Configuration from the Setup menu displays a sub-menu which lists these inputs and allows you to select them individually for adjustment.
  • Page 24 For example, if you primarily listen to CD’s with the CONCERT HALL effect, the DC-2 can be set to load this effect when the CD input is chosen. (You can listen to any similar type of effect using the EFFECT button on the front panel or FX button on the remote control.) If you select USE...

  • Page 25: Fx Format

    DC-2 Digital Controller The DC-2 can also be set up to automatically switch to an appropriate effect whenever PCM, AC-3 or DTS encoded material is detected at the input. This allows one input to be used for different formats. For example, in the factory default state, the V-DISC input will automatically load the appropriate version of Logic 7 when an AC-3, DTS, or PCM signal is present.
  • Page 26 DC-2 automatically reselects the DTS MUSIC effect. To go back to the effect selected as a default, simply press the input button. * As the DC-2 is in AUTOMATIC mode, there may be a brief burst of noise before normal playback begins.
  • Page 27 If PCM ONLY is selected as the FX FORMAT for a given input, only PCM effects in the DC-2 can be used. When the DC-2 receives a signal which is not PCM encoded, it will mute and display "NO PCM AUDIO."...

  • Page 28: Audio In

    This option in the INPUT CONFIG menu determines which audio input connector on the DC-2 rear panel will be used for the MAIN zone. Using the digital inputs will always yield better performance, and these should be used whenever a source component has a digital audio output.

  • Page 29: Record/Zone 2

    “zone” in multi-room installations. The Record and Zone 2 outputs on the DC-2 are wired in parallel so that the input selection will always be the same for both. For example, if the CD input is selected for Record, the CD input is also output to Zone 2.
  • Page 30 2 CH, Party, TV M, andMusic These controls sets the master volume level to the following levels. When Zone 2 mute is engaged, these controls set the Zone 2 volume level without disengaging mute. -30dB Party -20dB TV M -10dB Music +00dB Lexicon...

  • Page 31: Speaker Configuration

    DC-2 Digital Controller This menu item assigns the status for the programmable (PGM) trigger on the DC-2 rear panel. +12VDC is provided for controlling ancillary equip- ment or functions. Selections are ENABLE or DISABLE for the selected input. The factory default is ENABLE (high) for A/V inputs and DISABLE (low) for audio only inputs.
  • Page 32 120Hz are available as settings for the -3dB point). For any 5.1 channel inputs, selecting SMALL routes the low frequency information to the subwoofer output. Selecting NONE mutes the rear outputs and directs all surround informa- tion to the side outputs. Lexicon...

  • Page 33: Surround Ex Configuration

    SURROUND EX setup with two side and two rear speakers, and with all filters set to 80Hz. These settings are not adjustable. When DC-2 input and output levels are set properly, the entire system will be calibrated to play films at the level intended by the director. Setting the output levels is easy with a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter.

  • Page 34: Note On External Noise Calibration • Subwoofer

    In the absence of an SPL meter, it is possible to set the output level by ear. Use the internal noise generator in the DC-2 to adjust all volumes to be the same as they cycle around the various speakers. Depending on timbre variations between your speakers, this may be difficult to judge —...
  • Page 35 DC-2 Digital Controller effect with the factory preset settings. If a DTS signal is coming in, the DC-2 will load the DTS FILM effect with the factory preset settings. Dolby Digital (AC-3) and DTS encoded sources can produce low frequency peaks that are much louder than those in matrixed Dolby Surround decod- ing.

  • Page 36: Zone 2 Power On Volume

    This control in the Output Levels menu allows you to select the volume at which the DC-2 will power on. You can choose from a range of -80 to +12dB, or elect to have the system power on at the last level used (LAST LVL).
  • Page 37 The DC-2 rounds off distance settings into discrete steps – choose the closest step to the actual distance in these cases. If a speaker distance is further than the DC-2 can accommodate, set it to the maximum allowable distance. (This will vary, depending on your intial entry for NEAREST SPKR.)
  • Page 38 (R001,R002,R003...R127). The numbers represent ap- proximately 1/3", but are provided primarily as a general reference. Panorama is now calibrated. Press DONE repeatedly to step back to the main setup menu. Lexicon Adjust with OFF, LEFT ONLY, LEFT AND RIGHT, RIGHT ONLY 10 - 118 L127...CNTR...R127...
  • Page 39 DC-2 Digital Controller This control allows you to adjust the left/right balance of the front, side and rear main outputs. This control can also be accessed on the remote by pressing and holding the Shift button and using DONE to move to the left, and SELECT to move to the right.

  • Page 40: Customization

    Second, consider locking the settings so that they cannot be inadvertently changed. The last item in the Setup menu allows you to lock the DC-2 settings, as well as to change the name displayed during power up.

  • Page 41: Using Dc-2 Effects

    Press DONE to confirm the change and move on to the next menu item. Each DC-2 Effect and its parameter menu is described in the following sections. Although the list of available parameters will vary with different effects, the last item in each menu is always CUSTOM.

  • Page 42: Restoring The Original Parameter Values Of An Effect

    Selecting EFFECT ONLY allows you to listen to only the effects added by the DC-2 to the currently loaded program. With this function selected, use to turn this function on or off. This control allows you to adjust the front/rear balance for the current effect.

  • Page 43: Pcm Effects And Parameters

    DC-2 Digital Controller The PCM Effects are compatible with two-channel input signals (analog or digital). These effects are included in all three versions of the DC-2. Panorama extracts the natural ambience from recorded music and moves it outward from the speakers, producing greater width and depth of image and a feeling of enhanced spaciousness.

  • Page 44: Concert Hall

    ON/OFF .89-13.42 sec 0.7, 1.0, 1.25xMID RT 4-30 Meters 24ms 0-88ms 453Hz-20.0kHz OFF, -30dB to +05dB -30 to +05dB Range 0-15 ON/OFF 1.14-17.04 sec 0.7, 1.0, 1.25xMID RT 20-38 Meters 0-88ms 453Hz-20.0kHz OFF, -30dB to +05dB -30 to +05dB Lexicon...

  • Page 45: Party

    DC-2 Digital Controller The Party effect allows unprocessed stereo signals to be played over all speakers for background music or for maximum acoustical output of the system. Parameter Initial Value CENTER LEVEL SIDE LEVEL +00dB REAR LEVEL +00dB SUBWOOFER LVL...

  • Page 46: Music Logic

    Logic 7 contains the re-equalizer feature of the THX Cinema effect, as well as Lexicon's proprietary vocal enhancement feature. The combination of stereo surround information during music and decorrelated effects, with discrete steering to the sides and rears, gives Logic 7 unrivaled performance on matrix encoded films.

  • Page 47: Tv Matrix

    CUSTOM This Effect provides Dolby Pro Logic Surround decoding designed for any Dolby Surround encoded movies, music, television programs or games. Lexicon's proprietary Auto Azimuth correction makes it one of the most accurate Pro Logic decoders available. Parameter Initial Value...

  • Page 48: Mono Logic

    Note that, although this provides very convincing improvement to a 5 speaker system, it is not a substitute for a properly set up and calibrated 7 speaker system. The difference is most noticeable when the listener is seated to one side of the calibration position.
  • Page 49 PCM Effects and Parameters DC-2 Digital Controller Note that results will vary depending on room acoustics and the low frequency capacity of the surround speakers. As side and/or rear speakers are used for bass enhancement, the effectiveness is improved with speakers capable of reproducing reproducing low frequencies (LARGE).
  • Page 50 PCM Effects and Parameters Lexicon INPUT BALANCE allows you to compensate for the occasional source with audible channel imbalance. When selected, screen graphics indicate the relative left/right position. LIVENESS adjusts the amount of recirculation within the effect. Higher values mimic more reflective surfaces in the simulated space and increase the amount of time it takes the sound to decay.
  • Page 51 SOUNDSTAGE controls the level of the surround speakers relative to the front speakers in a dynamic way. The DC-2 attempts to detect whether or not the sound source was originally encoded from a surround source by looking for occasional bursts of rear-steered material, and by identifying the directional orientation of the background sound between strong sounds.
  • Page 52 The set- tings also affect the side outputs. SURROUNDS selects the type of surround decoding used by the DC-2. STEREO provides extraction of five channels of surround information from a standard 4-2-4 matrix-encoded soundtrack (Dolby Surround, Ultra*Stereo, etc.) The drama of this effect is dependent on the source material and is most...

  • Page 53: Effects And Parameters

    If the program material was mixed so that dialog is at -31dBFS, then REF OFFSET=0dB. If the dialog was mixed at a "hotter" level, for example, -27dBFS, then REF OFFSET = -4dB and the DC-2 would adjust the levels down 4dB to bring dialog back to -31dBFS.

  • Page 54: 5.1 2-Channel

    -5 to +5dB -127 to +127 -5dB to +5dB -20.0dB to +0.0dB OFF, -30dB to +05dB Range AUTO, ON, OFF ON, OFF ON, OFF 0-20ms OFF, -30dB to +05dB OFF, -30dB to +05dB -10.0dB to +0.0dB OFF, -30dB to +05dB Lexicon...

  • Page 55: Logic 7

    DC-2 Digital Controller 5.1 Logic 7 combines all the features of Dolby Digital AC-3 with enhance- ments by Lexicon and LucasFilm. This effect uses Logic 7 matrix technology to enhance the steering between the side speakers and the rear speakers, so sounds intended to come from behind the listener actually do come from behind.

  • Page 56: Thx 5.1 (Including Surround Ex)

    This is quite useful when listening to Dolby Digital soundtracks at low output levels. When set to ON, full compression is applied, regardless of volume. Range ON, OFF AUTO, ON, OFF ON, OFF -10.0dB to 0.0dB OFF, -30dB to +05dB Lexicon...
  • Page 57 AC-3 Effects and Parameters DC-2 Digital Controller LFE MIX LEVEL allows separate level attenuation of the LFE channel, which is ultimately mixed to the subwoofer output. As the bass from as many as five other channels is added to the LFE, it can significantly raise subwoofer output levels —...
  • Page 58 AC-3 Effects and Parameters Lexicon SURROUND MIX allows independent adjustment of the level of the sur- round channels. Many AC-3 encoded soundtracks sound better when down-mixed to two channels with the surround level increased by approxi- mately 2-3dB. VOCAL ENHANCE boosts dialog in the center channel. By targeting...

  • Page 59: Dts Effects And Parameters

    Effects described in Chapter 4, are included in the DTS version of the DC- 2. Any DTS-capable software and/or source components should be labeled with a badge, similar to the one on the DC-2 front panel (AC-3 and DTS versions).

  • Page 60: Dts Logic 7

    DTS Film DTS Logic 7 combines all the features of DTS Digital with enhancements by Lexicon and LucasFilm. This effect uses Logic 7 matrix technology to enhance the steering between the side speakers and the rear speakers, so sounds intended to come from behind the listener actually do come from behind.

  • Page 61: Dts Thx (Including Surround Ex)

    DC-2 Digital Controller This Effect provides THX 5.1 Cinema enhancements for film soundtracks recorded in the DTS format. This processing compensates for the acoustical differences between large mixing theaters and the typically smaller home environment. When SIDE and REAR speakers are selected in the SPEAKER CONFIG menu, SURROUND EX is automatically set to ON for proper decoding of Surround EX soundtracks.
  • Page 62 DTS Effects and Parameters Lexicon RE-EQUALIZER equalizes the left, center, and right channel outputs to match the overall frequency balance of the original recording. Without this re-equalization, many films and some television programs will sound too bright. REAR DELAY OFFSET is an additional delay added to the rear channels when listening to LOGIC 7 and MUSIC SURROUND.

  • Page 63: Troubleshooting

    Possible Cause and Solution Check line cord to ensure good connection to the AC outlet and to the receptacle on the DC-2 rear panel. Check to make sure that the DC-2 rear panel power switch is ON. Check the Status menu (under DISPLAY ADJUST: ON-SCREEN or FRONT PANEL menu —...
  • Page 64 FCC rules and CE standards. If some interfering noise is noted, move AM loop and FM "T" type antennas away from the DC-2 and reorient them as necessary. Use shielded cable for FM and TV antenna feeds. Severe power surges or sags can confuse the DC-2 memory. To correct, or if you simply want to start over, restore the factory defaults with the procedure described at the end of this section.

  • Page 65: Routine Maintenance

    Note any settings you want to re-use before proceeding. Turn the DC-2 OFF with the remote. Turn the unit back ON and immedi- ately press and hold MUTE on the remote. (Make sure you do not block the infrared receiver on the DC-2 front panel.) The on-screen display will read:...

  • Page 66: Specifications

    DC-2 Digital Controller Inputs: Audio: 8 stereo (RCA) pairs Video: 5 composite (RCA), 5 S-video, Digital: 8: 5 coaxial (RCA), 3 optical (TosLink), conforms to IEC-958, S/PDIF standards Outputs: Audio: 8 outputs: Left, Center, Right, L&R Sides, L&R Rears, Subwoofer (RCA)

  • Page 67: Installation Worksheet

    Installed by________________________________Phone____________________Date______________ Gain _______ Name ________________ Audio In _______ Video In _______ Trigger: enabled Gain _______ Name ________________ Audio In _______ Video In _______ Trigger: enabled V-DISC Gain _______ Name ________________ Audio In _______ Video In _______ Trigger: enabled Gain _______ Name ________________ Audio In _______ Video In _______...

Table of Contents

Save PDF