Whirlwind TV Converter Box AESDA User Manual

Theory of Operation  
Fault Type indicators  
TheAESDAwas designed to provide a portable means of converting anAES-3 or S/PDIF  
digital audio stream into a professional high-quality two-channel analog audio output. The  
digital input is extensively screened at receiving, with faults in the data or transport  
annunciated by type. Adual 11-segment VU meter monitors the audio level from the DAC  
or the level at the output. In the interest of conserving battery power, two display modes  
are available on the VU meter. One is a bar graph of the signal level, the other is a single  
LED which indicates the peak instantaneous signal level, with the single LED consuming  
less power than the bar graph. Aten-segment red LED bar serves to indicate the various  
operating modes and detected faults, if any. Aswitch selects the function of this LED bar,  
either to indicate operating mode, detected sample rate, etc., or to display any detected  
fault. The analog output has separate level controls for the left (A) and right (B) side.  
Output level may be set by selecting the analog output on the VU meters, and setting the  
controls to the desired value. Aheadphone monitor jack with separate level control is also  
provided for checking the analog audio signal. Recommended headphone impedance is  
between 16 and 100 Ohms. This jack can also be used as an unbalanced line level output.  
Primary power for the unit can be sourced from four “AA” cells (Alkaline, Lithium-Ion or  
Nickel-Metal-Hydride cells are recommended). An external coaxial power jack (5.5mm x  
2.1mm) is provided for situations where battery power may not provide an adequate  
length of operation. The external power source should be able to provide 12 Watts of  
power at a Voltage range from 3.5VDC to 15VDC. This allows theAESDAto operate on a  
wide variety of power sources including car batteries, portable camera batteries, or a “wall  
wart” type of power supply.  
Hardware Fault  
AES DA  
The Hardware Fault LED Indicator is illuminated if anything in the power-on  
diagnostic tests did not pass, or if the information presented by the control switches  
is invalid or cannot be interpreted. The unit may not operate properly with this LED  
illuminated.  
PORTABLE AES TO ANALOG CONVERTER  
No Lock  
The No Lock LED Indicator illuminates if no signal is present on either of the two  
digital input connectors, or if the signal cannot be interpreted. Application of a valid  
digital audio stream to either digital input will cause this indicator toextinguish.  
Parity Error  
The Parity Error LED Indicator illuminates when the incoming data did not have an  
even number of ones and zeros, or if the number of bits was not 32. Typically, parity  
and bit-length errors are indicative of weak or noisy signals. Parity and bit errors are  
also typically not consistent between fields of data, so flickering of this LED is not  
uncommon in the presence of these types of errors.  
CRC Error  
The CRC Error LED Indicator illuminates when an AES Professional Data Block  
Cyclical Redundancy Check did not pass. When generated, the data is passed  
through a CRC generator, which calculates and embeds an 8-bit check word at the  
end of each frame. The digital receiver in theAESDArecalculates this CRC number  
from the received data and compares its result to the CRC number received. If the  
two do not match, then the data was not received the same way that it was  
transmitted, i.e., there may be one or more data bits that are in error. Note that  
Consumer Mode AES-3 and S/PDIF do not use CRC checking, so this LED will be  
offwhen receiving audio data of this type.  
Digital Monitor LED Function Details  
Digital Info Indicators  
The Whirlwind AESDA is a portable device for converting AES-3 and  
S/PDIF digital audio signals into analog audio signals. Digital input to  
theAESDAis through the female XLR or BNC. There are level meters  
that display the level of the incoming digital signal or they can be  
switched to display the analog output signal level. Each of the two  
decoded analog audio outputs has an independent level control, from  
which the signal is sent to the analog metering circuits and male XLR  
outputs. Another unbalanced analog output is provided on a 3.5 mm  
TRS jack, with its own level control, for use with headphones or as an  
unbalanced line level driver. Both professional and consumer  
versions ofAES-3 can be decoded by theAESDA.  
Sample Rate  
There are six sample rate indicators that show the closest standard sample rate to  
the signal as received: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, and 192kHz.  
Signals that have sample rates lower than 44.1kHz may be locked to and decoded  
by the AESDA, but their sample rate will not be displayed. Only one sample rate  
LED should be illuminated at one time in normal operation. With no input signal, the  
Fault LED and the No Lock LED (in FaultType mode) will be illuminated instead.  
ConfidenceFlag  
The Confidence Flag LED Indicator illuminates if excessive distortion is detected in  
the digital signal received. The distortion may be from low signal level, excess or  
incorrect cable impedance, or asymmetry in the signal (the “1” part and the “0” part of  
the signal not of equal length within a specific percentage). If only this error exists,  
without Parity, CRC, or No Lock errors, it is indicative of a signal that is marginally  
useable, and probably not reliable in the long run. When other signal-type errors are  
present, this is indicative of a bad cable, too long of a cable run, a bad transmitter, or  
an excessively noisy environment.  
Audio  
The Audio LED indicator illuminates when the input digital data stream has been  
determined to be Pulse-Code Modulated (or PCM) digital audio. For other digital  
inputs that are not PCM audio, such as TDM data to DTS-CD, this indicator will be  
off.  
Validity Bit  
The Validity Bit LED Indicator illuminates when the Left or Right or both of the Validity  
Bits indicate invalid data. These bits are embedded in the audio data, and there is  
one validity bit in each subframe. When one channel is invalid, the Validity Bit LED  
will flicker; if both channels indicate invalid, the LED will be steadily on.  
Additionally, the AESDA provides diagnostic analysis of the incoming  
AES-3 and S/PDIF digital signals for help in troubleshooting signal  
faults. The digital monitor section identifies the sample rate and  
characteristics of the incoming digital signal, and if there is a problem  
in the digital audio stream several different fault types can be  
identified.  
Consumer  
The Consumer LED indicator illuminates when the Pro/Consumer mode bit in the  
digital audio stream's Status bit indicates Consumer mode, and is off in Professional  
mode. Note that this indicator only presents validly when the AESDA is locked to a  
valid PCM audio data stream.  
No Error  
The No Error LED Indicator is illuminated when no detected error is present. This  
provision allows at least one LED to be illuminated when FaultType mode is entered  
and there are no faults.  
Pre-Emph(asis)  
The Pre-Emph(asis) LED Indicator illuminates when the digital audio stream's  
Status bit field for this condition indicates that it is present. Typically, pre-emphasis  
is only used for sample rates of 32kHz, 44.1kHz, and 48kHz. When the indicator is  
off, it indicates that the audio signal embedded in the digital stream has not been  
pre-emphasized.  
Over Temp  
The Over Temp LED Indicator illuminates if the detected temperature inside the unit  
exceeds 85°C. This temperature is the upper limit for reliable operation of the  
various internal components, and if exceeded for a long period of time, could cause  
permanent damage to theAESDA. No shutdown action is instigated by theAESDA,  
it just serves as a warning to the user.  
99 Ling Road . Roches ter, NY 14612  
Phone 585 663-8820 . Fax 585 865-8930  
Email: s ales @whirlwindus a.com  
Fault  
The Fault LED indicator illuminates when a detected fault, either in the hardware or  
the digital input signal has been detected. The user then can switch the unit over to  
the FaultType display tofurther identify the fault.  
Warranty  
This product is guaranteed for one year from the date of purchase against manufacturing defects. For warranty service, return the  
unit, along with the original sales receipt, to: whirlwind, 99 Ling Road, Rochester, NY 14612, postage prepaid. We will repair or  
replace the unit at our option and pay the return postage.  
 

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