D21m System
6.3.8

Dolby® E/Digital Decoder Card (About Dolby® E,,) A949.0443/.0444

Dolby® E allows encoding of up to 8 mono audio channels and some metadata
into a pair of two channels (e.g. AES/EBU) by using 20 audio bits thereof.
Both encoding and decoding processes create one video frame of delay.
Since the encoded data is packaged in sizes of one video frame it is possible
to ‘edit’ the encoded stream, as long as the edits are synchronized with thevideo frames and the stream is not modified in any way (e.g. level changesapplied). For more details on Dolby® E please refer to www.dolby.com.		
A949.0443xx
A949.0444xx		

The D21m Dolby® E/Digital decoder card is available in 2 versions:with one, orwith two Dolby® E decoder modules.
Each one is functionally similar to a Dolby® DP572 decoder. Both are operating independently; the information given below is valid independently forboth decoders as well.		 The dual-decoder card receives four AES/EBU pairs the front panel input,
or eight mono channels from the console-internal patch (patch destinations).
Each pair may contain a Dolby E or Dolby Digital encoded signal. The card
returns a total of max. 16 channels to the console patch (patch sources).		 The single-decoder card returns up to eight channels to the console patch(eight sources) and shows eight inputs on the patch. Input channels 5-8 areunused.
Notes Single-decoder cards only work correctly with the decoder module in position
A1. Both cards work at sampling rates of 44.1 or 48 kHz only.

Main In 1

PCM Delay In 1

Dolby ® D/E
Detector

Dolby ® D/E
Detector

ININ

DET_OUTnLOCK
AES/EBU
Rx Master ModeIn

A out, Clk out

0123nLOCKAES/EBU
Rx Master ModeIn

Config Switches

DET_OUT

SOURCE_SEL_HW_nSW_0
SOURCE_SEL_MAN_nAUTO_0
SOURCE_SEL_00

Input Select
Logic

Audio Data
and Clk in

SOURCE_SEL_01
PCM_LATENCY_MINIMAL_nONE_FRAME_0
PULLDOWN_MODE_0
DOWNLOAD_CONFIG_0
RESERVED_0
Audio Dataout

A_IN_0

4xI2S to I8S
Mux

®

Dolby
CAT552ModuleA out, Clk out

ODD

A_IN_4

256FS_SYS,
64FS_SYS,
FS_SYSULOCK
96K/n48K
n192K

STATUS[7:0]
METADATA OUT
Control PortPCM Latency

Sync in

Pulldown Mode
Download Config

Main In 2

PCM Delay In 2

Dolby ® D/E
Detector

Dolby ® D/E
Detector

ININ

DET_OUT

Config Switches

DET_OUT

A out, Clk out

123nLOCKAES/EBU
Rx Master Mode

In

Audio Data
and Clk in

Audio Data
out

Dolby ®
CAT552ModuleA out, Clk out

STATUS[7:0]

V in

Pinout andselector
switches

A_IN_5

Command
Field

Control Port

SDO, SCLK,nTXEN

PCM Latency

Sync in

Pulldown Mode
Download Config

DB9 Port

A_OUT_4

A_IN_1

4xI2S to I8S
Mux

METADATA OUT

VideoSyncSeparator

A_OUT_0

1

SOURCE_SEL_HW_nSW_1
SOURCE_SEL_MAN_nAUTO_1
SOURCE_SEL_10
SOURCE_SEL_11
PCM_LATENCY_MINIMAL_nONE_FRAME_1
PULLDOWN_MODE_1
DOWNLOAD_CONFIG_1
RESERVED_1

Input SelectLogicnLOCK
AES/EBU
Rx Master ModeIn

I8S to 4xI2S
Demux

0Status
Field

SDI, SCLK,nRXEN

RS422 Tx
RS232 Rx/Tx
RS422 Tx

Implemented in FPGARS232 Rx/Tx

Document generated: 04.03.15

55

D21m System		Current consumption (3.3 V)			
(5 V)		 Operating temperature(fitted on A949.0444 ONLY)LEDs

DIP SwitchesM1 / M2
P1 / P2
Note
S2.1 - S2.3						

56

0.2 A
0.8 A (A949.0443); 1.3 A (A949.0444)
0-40 °C(must ALWAYS be fitted)

ONON

ON

ON

Indicate that a valid AES/EBU signal is detected on main input 1/2.
Indicate that a valid AES/EBU signal is detected on fallback input 1/2.
These LEDs do not indicate Dolby® E status, but just the lock status of theAES/EBU inputs on the front panel.
S2.1
x
OFFOFFON
ON

S2.2x
OFFON
OFFON

S2.3
OFFON
ONONON

Module 1 Input SelectAutomatic source selection (factory default: All OFF)
Front port main
Front port PCM delay
Rear (backplane) main
Rear (backplane) PCM delay

While it is possible to manually select individual inputs both from the front
panel connectors as well as from the console-internal patch, the card hosts anautomatic source selection mode where the inputs are chosen automaticallyaccording to the following priorities:• Whenever a valid AES/EBU signal is detected (‘locked’ status) on the15-pin front panel connector, this input has priority over the consoleinternal patch sources. Hence if it is requested to feed the decoder with aconsole-internal signal selected via the patch window, no valid AES/EBUinput signal is allowed on the front panel connector.
• However, if no valid AES/EBU signal is detected on the front panel inputs,
the card is getting its inputs from the console-internal patch. These inputs
are referred to as ‘Rear/Backplane Inputs’. Selection is as follows:- Input 1, 2: Main priority input for Dolby® E signal, decoder 1.
- Input 3, 4: Backplane input of decoder 1; is automatically selected incase no Dolby® E signal is present on main input (1, 2). Please note thata Dolby® E signal can be fed into this input, too, and it will be decoded
correctly. However, if a Dolby® E signal is detected on the main input,
this will be taken with higher priority.

Document generated: 04.03.15

D21m System

S2.4		

S2.5

S2.4
OFFON

PCM Latency (Module 1 only)
PCM signal is delayed by 1 video frame (factory default)
PCM signal is minimally delayed

Decoding a Dolby® E stream always causes a delay of one video frame. Incase a regular PCM signal is fed to the card, this can be delayed by one video
frame, too. If required, this delay may be de-activated in order to pass througha PCM signal with a minimal delay. The front panel VIDEO IN sync input
is used to detect video frames in order to delay the PCM signal accordingly.
The video sync input does not necessarily have to be connected in case ofDolby® E , since the sync is indicated within the Dolby® E stream.
S2.5OFFON

Module 1 Pulldown Mode
Pulldown mode is off (factory default)
Pulldown mode is on		 Pulldown mode ON allows the input of audio signals with a ‘drop frame’sampling rate of 47.952 kHz instead of 48 kHz. The output, however, always
runs at 48 kHz.
S2.6

S2.6
OFFON

Module 1 Configuration Download
Standard operation (factory default)
Configuration download via RS232		 If firmware download to decoder module 1 is required, plug the short flat
cable (W1) coming from the METADATA OUT front-panel socket to thePCB socket P5 (labeled UPDATE1).		 The pin assignment of the METADATA OUT socket (9pin D-type, female, UNC
4-40 thread) in this case is as follows:

Solder/Crimp View
(or Socket View)

9561

Pin Signal
1 n.c.
2 DOUT_1
3 DIN_1
4 n.c.
5 n.c.

Pin Signal
6 n.c.
7 n.c.
8 n.c.
9 n.c.

S2.7

S2.7
OFF
ON

Module 2 Installed
No (factory default if not installed, i.e., for A949.0443)
Yes (factory default if installed, i.e., for A949.0444)

S2.8

S2.8
OFFONVideo Termination
Hi-Z (factory default)
75 Ω

S1.1 - S1.3

S1.1xOFFOFFONON

S1.2x
OFFONOFFON

S1.3
OFFONONONON

Module 2* Input SelectAutomatic source selection (factory default: All OFF)
Front port main
Front port PCM delay
Rear (backplane) main
Rear (backplane) PCM delay* if installed		

Document generated: 04.03.15

57D21m System

S1.4		
S1.5		
S1.6

S1.4
OFFON

PCM Latency (Module 2 only)
PCM signal is delayed by 1 video frame (factory default)
PCM signal is minimally delayedSame as S2.4 above, but for module 2.
S1.5OFFON

Module 2 Pulldown Mode
Pulldown mode is off (factory default)
Pulldown mode is on

Same as S2.5 above, but for module 2.
S1.6
OFFON

Module 2 Configuration Download
Standard operation (factory default)
Configuration download via RS232		 If firmware download to decoder module 2 is required, plug the short flat
cable (W1) coming from the METADATA OUT front-panel socket to thePCB socket P8 (labeled UPDATE2).		 The pin assignment of the METADATA OUT socket (9pin D-type, female, UNC
4-40 thread) in this case is as follows:

Solder/Crimp View
(or Socket View)

9561S1.7 / S1.8

Pin Signal
1 n.c.
2 DOUT_2
3 DIN_2
4 n.c.
5 n.c.
S1.7OFFONOFFS1.8OFFOFFON

Pin Signal
6 n.c.
7 n.c.
8 n.c.
9 n.c.
Downmix to Ch 7/8 (or 15/16, resp.)
No downmix (factory default)
Automatic downmix
Forced downmix		
Metadata and Downmixing: A Dolby® E stream contains metadata with various information on the encoded signal. This information can be read out fromthe front panel connector. The D21m Dolby® E decoder card only uses thisinformation in case a 2-channel stereo downmix is required from a 5.1-channel surround signal within the Dolby® E stream; then the decoder interprets
the center and surround channel levels and uses them for the internal downmixer that is activated by the DIP switches S1.7 and S1.8. The downmix canbe made constantly available and, subsequently, overwriting any audio datathat was contained on these channels beforehand (‘forced downmix’), or it ispossible to ‘fill’ the channels 7/8 or 15/16 only if the metadata indicate thatthese channels are not being used otherwise (automatic downmix).
Connector Pin Assignments		
158Solder/Crimp View
(or Socket View)

958

12× AES IN MAIN/PCM (15pin D-type, female, UNC 4-40 thread)
Pin Signal
1 Main In 1 +2 Main In 1 Chassis
3 PCM Delay In 1 –4 n.c.
5 Main In 2 +6 Main In 2 Chassis
7 PCM Delay In 2 –8 n.c.

Pin Signal
9 Main In 1 –10 PCM Delay In 1 Chassis
11 PCM Delay In 1 +12 n.c.
13 Main In 2 –14 PCM Delay In 2 Chassis
15 PCM Delay In 2 +Document generated: 04.03.15

D21m System
METADATA OUT (9-pin D-type, female)
The Metadata Out socket allows sending the meta data of either module orof both modules at once.		 If the meta data of either decoder module 1 or 2 is required, plug the shortflat cable (W1) coming from the METADATA OUT front-panel socket tothe PCB socket P6 (labeled META1; factory default), or to PCB socket P7(META2), respectively.		 The pin assignment of the METADATA OUT socket (9pin D-type, female, UNC
4-40 thread) in this case is as follows:				

Solder/Crimp View(or Socket View)

9561		Pin Signal
1 Chassis
2 n.c.
3 META_1+ / META_2+
4 GND
5 n.c.

Pin Signal
6 GND
7 n.c.
8 META_1– / META_2–
9 Chassis

If the meta data of both decoder modules is required, plug the short flat cable(W1) coming from the METADATA OUT front-panel socket to the PCB
socket P4 (labeled META1+2).		
Please note that in this case the pin assignment of the METADATA OUT
socket (9pin D-type, female, UNC 4-40 thread) is non-standard:

Solder/Crimp View
(or Socket View)

9561

Possible Pitfalls with Dolby® E

Document generated: 04.03.15

Pin Signal
1 Chassis
2 n.c.
3 META_1+
4 META_2+
5 n.c.

Pin Signal
6 GND
7 META_2–
8 META_1–
9 Chassis

In order to transmit or record a Dolby® E encoded signal, the whole signal
path must be 100% transparent, regarding the 20 audio bits contained within
the data stream. In case of problems with decoding the Dolby® E signal andpossibly getting white noise instead of the decoded signal, the whole signal
path should be checked. It may be worthwhile verifying the following points:• Are there any sampling rate converters (e.g. when using the D21mDolby® E decoder card together with the D21m SDI card) in the signalchain? If so, they must be bypassed; otherwise the Dolby® E stream ismodified and cannot be decoded anymore.
• In case the signal is sourced from a video tape machine: Is the machine
set up to be transparent for the recorded audio signals? Several machinesrequire seting the tracks to ‘DATA’ mode in order to guarantee unity gain
while recording or playing back Dolby® E streams.
• Is the card receiving the Dolby® E stream from the console-internal patch?
If so, are both tracks patched to the correct two inputs of the card? (Decoder
1 main: channels 1 and 2; decoder 1 PCM: channels 3 and 4; decoder 2
main: channels 5 and 6; decoder 2 PCM: channels 7 and 8).
• If getting a wrong signal or no signal at all: Are any AES/EBU signals present at the front panel while console-internal streams should be decoded?
If the card is in ‘automatic source selection’ mode, the front inputs have
top priority, regardless whether a Dolby® E stream is recognized or not.
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