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Z1 Operating Manual
Z1 Installation
The Z1 Long Haul connectors on the rear panel are XLR compatible types intended to
be used with screened, balanced twisted pair audio distribution cabling. The output is
male, the input is female, and pin 1 is connected to the cable screen in compliance with
normal audio practise. It does not matter if you use a pin 2 hot or pin hot convention
as long as the phase is not inverted in the cable run.
The electrical signals used corresponding to a high audio level (5Vdc complimentary
pulses) equivalent to greater than +8dbm and are, of course, at the MIDI baseband
frequency of 1.25kHz.
Long Haul
THIS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE IF CONNECTED TO AUDIO EQUIPMENT
Avoid connection to monitoring systems. High (audio) frequency voice coils are not
designed to withstand continuous high frequency tones. More care should be taken
than when routing SMPTE/EBU Timecode signals.
The Z1 circuitry is optically isolated, similar to the MIDI circuitry, and will drive over one
kilometre of screened balanced cable with a large tolerance to cable and connector
types. It does not require a controlled impedance like many other transmission systems.
The cable screen should be maintained throughout the run and should not be earthed
at any point along the way, e.g. at patchfields. Failure to observe this may result in high
frequency noise being picked up by audio equipment. Also consider that the driver may
be connected to a different phase of the mains from the receiver, or in outside concert
applications to a generator, so it is important not to connect the screen to chassis at
the receiving end.
Otherwise connect in a similar way to MIDI:
• One output drives one input only.
• Do not place phase reversers, attenuators, transformers or active
circuitry in line.
• Avoid connecting two outputs together or to phantom power
supplies. Although the drive circuitry appears to sustain these
conditions it is neither recommended nor guaranteed.
For short runs (over 15m and up to 100m) the Long Haul output may drive MIDI directly
with a suitable adapter cable as shown:
