10
EN 11 EN
1. Introduction
This manual contains essential information for the
operation and care of the product you have pur-
chased. Please read the instructions carefully and
completely before using the equipment. Please
keep this manual where it will be accessible at all
times to all current and future users.
Additional information, in particular concern-
ing available accessories and Neumann service
partners, can be found on our website: www.neu-
mann.com. Information about service partners
can also be obtained by telephone: +49 (0) 30 /
41 77 24 - 0.
The following related files are available in the Down-
loads section of our website www.neumann.com:
Operating manual and firmware for digital mi-
crophones (D-01, KM D, TLM 103 D, etc.).
Operating manual and firmware for digital mi-
crophone interfaces (DMI-2, DMI-8, etc.)
Remote Control Software (RCS) and the corre-
sponding operating manual
Brief description of the AES42 Standard
Additional information concerning the digital mi-
crophone interface can be found at http://www.
aes.org/publications/standards/ under the title
“AES standard for acoustics – Digital interface for
microphones”.
The Neumann online forum enables Neumann us-
ers worldwide to share their experiences. Through
its integrated archive function, the forum has de-
veloped into an extensive knowledge pool.
2. Safety instructions
The Digital Microphone Interface DMI-8 provides
power and remote control for digital microphones
in accordance with to the international standard
AES42 and makes the microphone signal avail-
able in AES/EBU format.
Connect to the inputs only digital microphones
that comply with the AES42 standard.
When connecting other digital sources with
AES3 or AES/EBU outputs, the Digital Phan-
tom Power (DPP) used to power digital micro-
phones must be switched off.
Connect the outputs only to the corresponding
inputs of subsequent devices.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The RJ 45 ports – CONTROL BUS (RS 485)
and GN OUT – transmit DC voltage, and must
not be connected to an Ethernet.
Repairs and servicing are to be carried out
only by experienced, authorized service
personnel. Unauthorized opening or modifi-
cation of the equipment shall void the war-
ranty.
Allow the equipment to adjust to the ambient
temperature before switching it on.
Do not operate the equipment in a damaged
condition.
Always run cables in such a way that there is no
risk of tripping over them.
Ensure that liquids and electrically conductive
objects unless required for operation are kept
at a safe distance from the equipment and its
connections.
Do not use solvents or aggressive cleansers for
cleaning purposes.
Dispose of the equipment in accordance with
the regulations applicable to the respective
country.
Please note: All information relating to the micro-
phones refers to digital microphones of the Neu-
mann Solution-D series.
Disclaimer:
The product is sold “as-is” and the customer is as-
suming the entire risk as to the product’s suitabi-
lity for his needs, its quality and its performance.
In no event will Neumann be liable for direct,
indirect, special, incidental or consequential da-
mages resulting from any defect in the product or
from its use in conjunction with any microphones/
products from other manufacturers, even if advi-
sed of the possibility of such damages.
3. Description
The DMI-8 provides power and remote control for
digital microphones that operate in accordance
with the AES42 standard (see www.aes.org).
The most important functions of the DMI-8 are as
follows:
Providing a power supply and remote control
of 8 digital microphones (in accordance with
the AES42 standard).
Receiving and processing the audio data of the
microphone.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Generating output signals in AES/EBU, ADAT
and GN format.
Synchronizing the microphones with the DMI-8
word clock, in accordance with the AES42 stan-
dard Mode 2 (see Section 7.4 Synchronization)
Automatically synchronizing the DMI-8 to an
external synchronization signal (word clock or
AES11)
Supporting all standard sampling rates: 44.1 /
48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 kHz.
Providing a computer interface – control bus
(RS 485) – for transmitting and processing
bidirectional control data. For this purpose,
Neumann supplies the RCS remote control
software for use with a PC or Mac.
Providing a user port for direct control (via a
switch contact or low-active signal) of selected
functions (Mute, LED 1 and LED 2).
Cascading multiple (DMI-8 or DMI-2) devices.
Maintaining all settings for connected mi-
crophones in the DMI-8. When the power is
switched on, these settings are transmitted to
the microphones via the remote control data
stream; no computer connection is required.
Indicators (Fig. 1)
POWER
Indicates that the equipment is ready for opera-
tion. During the startup process, the indicator
shines less brightly.
VALID
Indicates a valid AES42 data stream from the mi-
crophone to the DMI-8. The indicator blinks while
the microphone is being synchronized. It shines
continuously when a valid data stream is being re-
ceived and the microphone has been successfully
synchronized.
LEVEL
Peak Level Indicator (multicolor LED) for the mi-
crophone signal:
Off: below –60 dBFS
Green: –60 dBFS to –12 dBFS
Orange: –12 dBFS to –1.5 dBFS
Red: above –1.5 dBFS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
EXT WCLK
Indicates that an external synchronization signal
is being fed to the WORD CLOCK (or AES11) input.
If no external synchronization signal is detected,
the indicator will not be lit up. The indicator blinks
if a signal is present but synchronization has not
yet been achieved. The indicator shines continu-
ously when the DMI-8 has been successfully syn-
chronized. Continuous blinking of the indicator
means that an invalid synchronization signal is
being received by the DMI-8; this may be due to
an invalid word clock frequency (+/–50 ppm) or to
excessive jitter values.
Control elements
SELECT
A microphone channel can be selected by press-
ing the corresponding button. The VALID indica-
tor for the channel will then appear orange rather
than green. Pressing this button again or pressing
another button deselects the microphone chan-
nel.
GAIN +/–
Pressing the GAIN buttons changes the digital
gain in the microphone of the selected channel in
steps of 1 dB.
Ports (Fig. 2)
WORD CLOCK (OR AES11) IN/OUT
In digital studio setups, a central word clock or an
AES11 signal is usually used for synchronizing the
connected equipment. The DMI-8 automatically
synchronizes itself to this sync signal.
If there is no valid synchronization signal at the
BNC input, the DMI-8 automatically activates an
internal word clock generator. Either the received
external synchronization signal or the internally
generated word clock signal is available at the
BNC output.
Even in the absence of power, an external sync
signal is transferred by the DMI-8 directly to the
BNC output. If no cable has been attached to the
BNC output, a termination (75 ohms) is automati-
cally enabled at the BNC input.
Even in the case of external synchronization, the
internal clock generator (VCXO) remains active
and is synchronized with the external sync signal
by means of a phase-locked loop (PLL), which re-
sults in very effective suppression of jitter.
