Operation Manual

Using 518 for Mastering and Multimedia 34
518 User Guide
20C16 +2
Input/output choice and gain setting, (This example indicates 20 bits of
input and 16 bits of output in consumer format), or
44k1 +2
Sampling frequency and gain. If there is no input signal the display
would indicate no lock as follows:
N.L. +2
Clip Display
Some of the processing modes in 518 deliberately allow you to increase
the overall level of the signal. If the output signal exceeds full scale, the
518:
• clips (saturates) at full code (normally sounding benign on short
overloads), and
• displays a clip message like:
ClipL +10
The clip message will indicate whether the overload occurred on Left,
Right or both.
Clipping in DSP has nothing like the bad sonic consequences of clipping
analogue systems. Normally small amounts of clipping cannot be
detected.
Making Recordings
Case 1. The recording is made to the final carrier, DAT or CDR
at 16 bits
a) 16-bit A/D – 518 – CDR, use Bypass.
b) 20-bit A/D – 518 – CDR.
use Emphasis (if the material has sufficient headroom at high
frequencies), or:
use Gain (on the maximum setting which does not cause clipping)
with:
• Shape B, C or D.
• In set to 20.
• Out set to 16 C (possibly 16 P).
Case 2. The recording will be further processed: carrier and
A/D converter have the same word size
In this case use Bypass.
Case 3. The recording will be further processed: carrier has
more bits than the A/D converter
In this case use Bypass.
Case 4. The recording will be further processed: the carrier
has fewer bits than the A/D converter
Use Emphasis if the material has sufficient headroom at high
frequencies, or:
use Gain on the maximum setting which does not cause clipping.
In both cases, also select:
• Flat or H.P. dither. You may also use Shape A.
• In set to the number of bits in the A/D converter.