OPERATOR'S MANUAL

Version (-0.55) rough data

LTD.
2117 East 5th Street
Superior, WI 54880 USA
tel: 715-398-3627
fax: 715-398-3279
www.cranesong.com

© 2004 Crane Song, LTD. Subject to change without notice. Printed in the U.S.A.
“Avocet” is designed to solve the problems of accurate monitoring and volume control
as required by workstation users, studios and mastering rooms alike. Avocet is a stereo
controller with three digital inputs, three analog inputs and a headphone system. All
digital signals are up-sampled and jitter reduced to ensure highest accuracy during D/A
conversion. Options are available to change the D/A mode, all though the default mode
has been chosen as more accurate.

Avocet’s many features including; dim, mute, phase, mono, and 16 bit truncation func-
tions, plus a speaker select switch that sends line level balanced audio to one of three
outputs. The six input sources have on the fly gain trim capability.

An accessory connector has extra functions for the technically minded. They are;
buffered stereo output, mono output, talk back mic output, headphone bus output, and
several input control functions such as; talk back enable, mute and input selection
control that could be used for a pre-listen or solo command.

The internal headphone amplifier can be fed from the program source or an external
input. Provisions for a talk back function are included.
The three headphone sources are;

• The analog AUX input

• Main, meaning the audio source selected by the input button
• Program, meaning the audio source selected by the input button.
However the level control, mono and phase buttons also apply to the program
source.

All three phone sources have individual gain settings controlled by the green knob.

The talkback mic (not supplied and there is no phantom power) is hooked into the xlr connector on
the remote. There is a mic level trim pot next to the xlr connector. The talk back mic
signal is mixed into the headphone amplifier along with the selected headphone source.
By sending a cue mix to the Aux input you can use the headphone system for doing
overdubs in the studio and have communication to the artist. At the same time the main
audio path can operate independently of the headphone system

SURROUND
An upgrade path has been planned in Avocet to get to surround. This is being worked
on, with no finish date at this time. The audio box will work as two of the audio chan-
nels and the remote can drive multiple audio boxes. The remote will need different
programming for some different functions and thus different labeling. If you have re-
quests of what you would like to see function wise send email to:
davehill@cranesong.com
subject line “SURROUND” there will most likely not be a response, this is for informa-
tion gathering since surround is not a very well defined standard. All e-mails are appre-
ciated and will be read. Some ideas will be used and some not.
 FIRST TIME POWER UP
The first time that Avocet is powered up, it should be initialized. This is done by pushing
all three output select buttons at the same time. This sets up the remote for proper
operation. It also resets the user settings:

All gains, main and phones are set to zero

Output 1 is the selected output
DAW is the input selected
Phones are set to the Aux input

The remote cable must be attached and screwed down before power up.

Take the time to look at the following pages that show how the buttons work. After that,
you should be good to go.

Almost all user selections and gains are remembered by Avocet and restored on power
up. The headphone button and the talk button positions are not remembered

The talkback mic gain is adjusted with a small trim pot that is next to the mic’s xlr con-
nector.

AUDIO PATH

The main audio path is discrete class A electronics with a stepped attenuator for gain
control. All switching and gain control functions in the main audio path is done with
relays. Yes they make acoustic clicks when operating.

The headphone audio path is done with high quality integrated circuits. The D/A con-
vertor used the latest technology interrogated circuits.

POWERED MONITORS, POWER AMPS WITH NO GAIN CONTROL

Most powered monitors do not have a level control that is meaningful. This results in
the need to trim Avocet’s output gain. In order to do this and not add any amplifier
stages an output pad is supplied. This pad is to be placed at the input of the power
amp. Not at Avocet’s connector. The pad has a range of 10 to 30 db of loss. It is
preset to 20 db
 Truncates the digital input to 16 bits. For
checking what 16 bits sounds like

Enables Headphone Holding the Talk back

control mode button down sends the talk
mic into the headphone
output

Selects which
speaker output

Changes the
phase of one
channel

Monos the
stereo source

Input selection

Input level when

Phones or Dim modes are
Dims the main audio path. not selected
The dim level is set by
turning the level while dim
mode is active. Selection
of phones is over ridden by
selecting dim. Mute kills the main output.
On power up Avocet is
muted
 Input Gain Trim

If one presses the input select button a second time it will enable the gain trim mode.
This will allow changing the input level on the selected input relative to all other inputs.
Gain trim has a plus or minus 10 db range. By pressing the input button a third time, the
gain will return to normal operation while remembering the gain trim.

In normal operation all input gains will track. At the end of the stepped attenuator range
the offset gains could reach a limit where they will not change. As an example if you
trim an input up by 10 db and then move the main gain to max that input will be max
+10 which is not possible. Bringing the main gain back down, the 10db offset will still
exist. The same thing will happen on the bottom end of the control range.

In normal operation one should set the power amp gain, so that your normal listening
level is with the gain knob at 1 o’clock. There is a supplied adjustable pad for powered
monitors and power amps that have no gain control.
 Headphone Mode

Headphone Selected Buttons Disabled in

phones mode

Dim Button over rides

Headphone mode

Headphone Level The headphone source

is selected by the main
Selects direct AUX analog input buttons. It’s level
input for the Headphone changes with the main
output system level

The headphone source is

selected by the main input
buttons. It’s level does not
change with the main
system level
 Talkback Mode

Talkback mic gain trim

on back panel

Talk mic is on when

this button is pushed

The monitor level can be set when the

talkback button is pushed. The monitors
can be dimmed to off or a level that is below
feedback. This will allow comminution in
both directions while keeping the talk button
held down.
 Functions that can change

The meter can display input level. Which is

how Avocet is shipped. Or it can also display
output level. There is an internal jumper in the
main unit for this selection.

An internal jumper in the main unit allows the

selection of one or both speakers when mono
operation is selected

There are trim pots on the back of the main

unit for the analog gain trim. These have a
range of 8 db
 Clearing the internal settings

By pressing all three output selection buttons

at the same time Avocet will reset all of it’s
internal settings. This is the same as rebooting
the remote.

All gains, main and phones are set to zero

Output 1 is the selected output
DAW is the input selected
Phones are set to the Aux input
 ACC. MONO OUTPUT
ACC. MAIN OUTPUT

OUTPUT
DAW INPUT D/A WITH SELECT,
16 BIT MUTE
DIGITAL 1 INPUT FUNCTION
DIGITAL 2 INPUT
BUFFER
INPUT OUTPUT 1
MONO AMP
SELECT STEPPED OUTPUT
PHASE OUTPUT 2
ATTENUATOR AMP
FUNCTION
ANALOG 1 INPUT WITH TRIM OUTPUT 3
ANALOG 2 INPUT
AUX INPUT

SUMMING, PHONES
STEPPED BUFFER
TALK OUTPUT HEADPHONE JACK
ATTENUATOR AMP
FUNCTION AMP

PHONES
INPUT
SELECT ACC. PHONES BUS
TALK MIC INPUT ACC. TALK MIC
OUTPUT

This is a signal flow reference for Avocet. The main audio part is discrete class A
amplifiers. Air flow around the unit is recommended
doing
Do not change jumpers or adjust the trim pots unless you are sure of what you are

JUMPER OFF = FAST FILTER JUMPER OFF = UPSAMPLE TO 192K

JUMPER ON = SLOW FILTER JUMPER ON = UPSAMPLE TO 96K
DEFAULT IS ON DEFAULT IS OFF
JUMPER OFF = NO UPSAMPLE
JUMPER ON = UPSAMPLE
DEFAULT IS ON
doing
Do not change jumpers or adjust the trim pots unless you are sure of what you are

JUMPER ON THESE 2 METER = OUTPUT

JUMPER ON THESE 2 METER = INPUT

DEFAULT

JUMPER ON MONO = 2 SPEAKERS, OFF MONO = 1 SPEAKER DEFAULT IS ON

JUMPER ON SOLO = ANA1 INPUT

JUMPER OFF SOLO = DAW INPUT
Digital inputs Select which type of
Analog Outputs
digi input for the DAW
input

Power entry
and fuse location

Remote connector

Second headphone output

Analog inputs Analog Outputs
Power Switch
Analog input
Gain Trims
 8 inches

7.53 inches

Depth not counting the knob is 1.62 inches

PAD LOSS ADJUST

OUTPUT INPUT

XLR OUTPUT PAD

This is an adjustable pad for use with amplifiers or powered monitors that have
no gain control. The pad has a range of 10 to 30 db of loss. It is preset to 20 db
ACCESSORY CONNECTOR

1 Right Channel out

2 gnd
3 gnd
4 talk mic output - When talk button is pushed
5 Right phones out
6 Left phones out
7 gnd / ground
8 data I/O do not connect
9 Left Channel out
10 mono out
11 talk command in - enable by tying to gnd
12 mute+
13 mute-
14 solo+
15 solo-

To use the external talk control tie the talk input line to ground to enable talk back.
To use the external mute or solo inputs 5 to 15 volts needs to be applied to the control
input lines. Polarity must be followed. The solo control disables all input level controls
but the one that is selected by the jumper on the main board.