Operations Manual
AD122-96 MKIII
7
Word Length and Acoustic Bit Correction
The bottom line controls word length and Acoustic Bit Correction™ parameters:
44.1kHz INTERNAL CRYSTAL
20 BIT WL ABC: HPDF
NS2
Setting Word Length:
The selection of word length (16 to 24 bits) sets the digital output word length. The
NI
setting (word
length not indicated) is a 20 bits default setting as per AES/EBU specifications. The
Model AD122-
96
MKIII
utilizes 22 bits for data (bits 23 and 24 contain little sonic information). We recommend a
default word length setting of 22-24 bits. The front panel "20+" lamp indicates when the output
contains 20 or more bits.
Acoustic Bit Correction™ is designed for applications requiring the use of fewer bits. Simple
truncation of lower order bits introduces sonic side effects (distortions and modulation of the noise
floor by the signal). The Acoustic Bit Correction™ feature provides a selection of dither and noise
shaping algorithms. Dither overcomes distortions and noise modulation, but it also raises the noise
floor. The noise shaping algorithms provide an effective means of retaining higher bit content in a
lower bit format (it shifts the noise energy away from hearing sensitive frequency regions to less
sensitive ones). See Appendix I for a complete discussion of Acoustic Bit Correction™.
Dither choices are:
OFF
no dither
HPDF
high pass probability density function
FLAT
recommended for data compression applications
Noise shaping choices are:
NSOFF
no noise shaping
NS1
,
NS2
,
NS3
or
NS4
user selectable noise shaping curves
Test Tone Screen
To generate a test tone, scroll to the test tone screen and set the frequency, amplitude and destination
(let, right or both). The frequency range is from 1Hz to 20kHz in 1 Hz steps. Amplitude range is 0dB
(full scale) to -99dB in 1 dB steps, with an
OFF
setting for "digital black." To change the frequency or
amplitude by large increments, hold down the
UP
or
DOWN
cursor buttons. For small increments,
press the
UP
or
DOWN
cursor buttons repeatedly.
Press
GO
to start the tone (amplitude, frequency and destination settings may be changed during tone
generation). To stop the tone, press
EXIT
twice (returning to the main screen).
Note that the internal tone generation consists of 24 bits of resolution. The word length at the output is
subject to truncation and dither settings.