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AM-55 / Sep 2015
F R O N T P A N E L
The options are:
• Digital AES (“Dig AES”). This is the audio applied to the XLR AES3 input jack on
the back of the processor.
• WheatNet-IP (“Dig WIP”). This is the audio that is streamed to the processor via the
Ethernet jack. This option should only be selected if the AM‑55 is part of a WheatNet‑IP
AoIP system and the processor has been added to the system as a third‑party device.
For more information on how to set up the AM‑55 for WheatNet‑IP, please see
Appendix C of this manual.
• Analog (“Analog”). This is the audio applied to the balanced XLR analog L/R input
jacks on the back of the AM‑55.
Once the source has been selected by pressing in the knob, the front panel will exit
the source selection mode.
Input Gain Adjustment
The second option in the submenu are adjustments of the analog and digital (AES) or
WheatNet‑IP inputs. You can independently agjust the left or right input. Highlight the gain
adjustment you want to change by turning the knob and then pressing in the knob. While
watching the input meters on the front panel, adjust the input level so that the average
level lights the ‑24dBFS LED with peaks no higher than ‑12dBFS.
If all the operating levels in your system are calibrated, your input gains should be
at 0dB. If there is an issue where a level is too high or low, you can correct that here,
however, it is advised to go back and look at where the level discrepancy originated and
resolve the issue at that point, then return the operating level of the AM‑55 to unity gain.
Once the input gain has been adjusted, press the knob in to exit the adjustment option.
To calibrate the levels of non‑active “backup audio source” inputs, you will need to
activate the input as the main input to see its operating levels. A more comprehensive
input adjustment menu is available in the PC based GUI software, which includes options
to setting up main and backup audio sources.
To return to the main menu, press the “W” BACK button.
Pre-Emphasis
Pre‑Emphasis has three options: Off, 50uS, and NRSC. The Off position is useful for
testing and would not normally be used for broadcast. The 50uS or NRSC position should
be selected to conform to your locale and regulatory requirements.
Sound
Probably THE place you wanted to touch first… admit it! Sound can help adjust a
factory preset to tailor it to your tastes. The controls found here do basic adjustments only,
to speed up or slow down the processing and to add or cut bass and highs.
Texture
The texture controls adjust the amount of processing, how fast the processing will
react to gain changes and trade‑offs between clean audio and loud audio. Because of the
advanced algorithms of the AM‑55, the tradeoff between loud and clean is much easier
than in older analog designs or even inadequate or primitive digital processor designs
