Bue Sky Internationa 70SeaLane Farmingdale,NY11735 www.abluesky.com
Bass-Management Controller Owners Manua

Version1b|August5,2005

Contents

Important 17

Safety Instructions_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 3 Philosophy and Introduction _ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ Page 4 Important Notes About This Owners Manual_ _ _ Page 4 The Blue Sky | BMC MK II - What is included?_ _ _ Page 4 A Tour of the BMC MK II I/O Unit _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 5 A Tour of the BMC MK II Remote _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 5 System Gain, Sub Offset and Level Overview_ _ _ Page 7 BMC MK II Power Up Sequence_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 7 Software Features_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 8 5.1 Speaker Placement _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 10 5.1 System Wiring Information & Diagram_ _ _ _ _ Page 11 5.1 System Calibration _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Page 12 Additional Surround & Setup Information_ _ _ _ _ Page 15 Dual BMC MK II I/O Unit Setup _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 16 Technical Information & Specifications_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 18 Product Dimensions _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Page 18 Factory Service Instructions_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 19 General Contact Details _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 19

Safety Instructions

READ INSTRUCTIONS - Read all safety and operating instructions before operating this product. RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS - Retain these safety and operating instructions for future reference. HEED WARNINGS - Follow all warnings on this product and in the operating instructions. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS - Follow all operating and use instructions. ATTACHMENTS - Do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer as they may cause hazards. WATER AND MOISTURE - Do not use this product near water - for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a wet basement; or near a swimming pool; and the like. ACCESSORIES - Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The product may fall, causing serious injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the product. Use only with accessories recommended by the manufacturer, or sold with the product. Any mounting of the product should follow the manufacturers instructions and should use a mounting accessory recommended by the manufacturer. POWER SOURCE - This product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label on the back of the product. If you are unsure of the type of power that is supplied to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company. OVERLOADING - Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.

10. 11.

LIQUID ENTRY - Never spill any liquid of any kind on the product. SERVICING - Do not attempt to service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers, including any over bottom or side speaker drivers, may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all service to qualified service personnel. DAMAGE REQUIRING SERVICE - Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified personnel under the following conditions: a. b. c. When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into this product. If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only controls that are covered by the operating instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation. If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance - this indicates a need for service.

REPLACEMENT PARTS - When replacement parts are required be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in risk of fire, electric shock, or other hazard. SAFETY CHECK - Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition. HEAT - This product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products that produce heat.

Page 3

1. Philosophy & Introduction
Blue Sky is a philosophy. We design each product to represent the highest ratio possible of performance to cost, providing the highest value added to our customers. We will continually seek out opportunities to utilize the talent of the Blue Sky team to realize this philosophy. Our customers value requirements will always be our prime focus, and only those products that achieve our performance value ratio will earn the right to carry the Blue Sky logo. The Blue Sky BMC MK II continues this lineage and philosophy of high value and superior performance products. Designed for use with 5.1 channel monitoring systems (and beyond!), the Blue Sky BMC MK II allows for complete control of all monitoring system parameters from a single, easy-to-use, remote control. The Blue Sky BMC MK II eliminates the many variables of putting together a reliable, easy to calibrate 5.1 monitoring system, allowing the user to monitor with confidence! We thank you for your investment in this Blue Sky product. www.abluesky.com
Important notes about this Owners Manual
The Owners Manual: This manual addresses setup and operation of the Blue Sky BMC MK II. This product includes several performance and operational changes, when compared to the original Blue Sky BMC. We ask that you read this owners manual carefully, heed all warnings and contact Blue Sky International if you have any comments or questions. Contact information can be found on page 19 or you can visit www.abluesky.com. Using the Blue Sky BMC MK II with the SAT 5 or SAT 5 MK II In order to get the proper summation between SAT 5 and a Blue Sky subwoofer, when using the Blue Sky BMC MK II, it is important that you switch the internal High Pass (HP) Filter on the back of the SAT 5 to the OUT of circuit position. Because the BMC MK II already includes an internal High Pass Filter, leaving the internal HP filter on the SAT 5 IN circuit, will create a hole at the crossover point between the SAT and SUB,

Blue Sky BMC MK II what is included?
The Blue Sky BMC MK II includes the items listed below. Please carefully unpack each item and inspect the components for damage. If any item has been damaged, please contact the dealer that supplied the product or Blue Sky directly. BMC MK II Inventory: 1 BMC MK II I/O Unit 1 BMC MK II Remote Foot, 6 conductor, RJ-11 Cable 1 Owners Manual 1 Warranty Card

Page 4

4. A Tour of the BMC MK II - Main I/O
1. Power Switch - This switch controls the power to the BMC remote and all internal electronics. 2. 5.1 Channel Inputs - These XLR inputs should be connected to the 5.1 channel outputs of your console or digital workstation. The inputs are electronically balanced (Max input +24dBu). Do not connect more than one source to these inputs. Refer to the wiring table on page 11 for wiring custom cables and connectors. 3. L, C, R, LS & RS Outputs - These XLR outputs should be connected to the inputs of the active monitors. These outputs are electronically balanced. These outputs can be full range or bass-managed with a bandwidth limited to spectral content above 80Hz. Refer to the wiring table on page 11 for wiring custom cables and connectors. 4. Parallel Subwoofer Outputs - These outputs can be used to drive one or more active subwoofers. The output signal is the sum total of both the LFE and the bass-managed subwoofer signal (when the bass-management feature is being used). Refer to the wiring table on page 11 for wiring custom cables and connectors. 5. Remote Control RJ-11 Connector - This standard six conductor RJ-11 jack is used to connect the main I/O unit to the BMC remote. The remote control cable length should not exceed 100 Feet. 6. IEC Power Terminal - Input Power Voltage 120 VAC / 60Hz or 240 VAC 50 / 60Hz (set at the factory), rated for 15- Watts. Use the included IEC Power Cable.
bass management controller MK II
5. A Tour of the BMC MK II | Remote
The Blue Sky BMC MK II has two operating modes. These two modes are referred to as USER and SETUP. Some of the buttons on the remote have two distinct functions depending on what mode the BMC MK II is operating in. The Software Features on page 8 and 9 explains these functions in greater detail.

Main Aux

1. RJ-11 Main BMC Control Output - Connect this plug to the Main BMC I/O unit with the supplied 25 ft. 6 conductor phone cable. This cable can be extended to a maximum of 100 ft. using standard 6 conductor phone (not data) cable. 2. RJ-11 Aux BMC I/O Control Output - This output allows for the control of a second BMC I/O unit, for a total of 10.2 channels of audio. 3. R(ight) / + / YES Button USER MODE: The R button activates the solo function for the right output. When a second I/O unit is connected, the solo function for the right output #2 can be activated by holding this button down for 2 seconds. Solo can be cancelled by doing any of the following; activating the solo function on another channel, muting the system, or by pressing the REF / reference button. SETUP MODE: The + / YES button is used to adjust parameters within the submenus. Press to increase individual channel levels, mute channels and set the reference gain setting. See the Software Features section on page 8 and 9 for more information. 4. C(enter) / Arrow Up Navigation Button USER MODE: The C button activates the solo function for the center output. When a second I/O unit is connected, the solo function for the center output #2 can be activated by holding this button down for 2 seconds. Solo can be cancelled by doing any of the following; activating the solo function on another channel, muting the system, or by pressing the REF / reference button. SETUP MODE: Used to scroll up through the software submenus. See the Software Features section on page 7 and 8 for more information.
bass management controller

Remote

BLUE SKY INT REV 2.00

REF MUTE

SELECT

CANCEL

Page 5
5. L(eft) / - / NO Button USER MODE: The L button activates the solo function for the left output. When a second I/O unit is connected, the solo function for the left output #2 can be activated by holding this button down for 2 seconds. Solo can be cancelled by doing any of the following; activating the solo function on another channel, muting the system, or by pressing the REF / reference button. SETUP MODE: Used to adjust parameters within the software. Press to decrease individual channel levels and un-mute channels. See the Software Features section on page 8 and 9 for more information. 6. SUB(woofer) / Arrow Down - Navigation Button USER MODE: The SUB button activates the solo function for the subwoofer output. When a second I/O unit is connected, the solo function for the subwoofer output #2 can be activated by holding this button down for 2 seconds. Solo can be cancelled by doing any of the following; activating the solo function on another channel, muting the system, or by pressing the REF / reference button. SETUP MODE: Used to scroll down through the software submenus. See the Software Features section on page 8 and 9 for more information. 7. REF(erence) LED - This LED is ON when the REF (reference) control button / setting has been activated. It indicates that the gain is set to the user predefined reference level setting. See item 10 below. 8. MUTE LED - On when all outputs have been muted. Flashing when one or more channels have been muted within the Mute Channels submenu of the software or if the solo function has been activated. See item 9 below. 9. MUTE Control Button Toggles the system in and out of mute. Press this button to mute all outputs. Press again to cancel Mute. Moving the Volume Control Knob will also cancel mute. SETUP MODE: In the PRESET MENU, this key is used to change the letters, in the CHANGE NAME preset sub menu. See the Software Features section on page 8 and 9 for more information. 10. REF (reference) Control Button USER MODE: Toggles the system in and out of reference gain. Press this button to set the gain to the user defined reference gain. Press again to cancel. Moving the Volume Control Knob will bring the system out of the reference setting. SETUP MODE: In the PRESET MENU, this key is used to change the letters, in the CHANGE NAME preset sub menu. See the Software Features section on page 8 and the 5.1 System Calibration Section on page 12 for more information. 11. LS (left surround) / SELECT Button USER MODE: The LS button activates the solo function for the left surround output. When a second I/O unit is connected, the solo function for the left surround output #2 can be activated by holding this button down for 2 seconds. Solo can be cancelled by doing any of the following; repeating the same action, activating the solo function on another channel, muting the system, or by pressing the REF / reference button.

SETUP MODE: Hold down for 5 seconds to activate SETUP MODE and then press again to scroll through the main software menus, PRESET MENU, MUTE CHANNELS, CAL(ibrate) CHANNELS and SETUP MENU. See the Software Features section on page 8 and the 5.1 System Calibration Section on page 12 for more information. 12. RS (right surround) / CANCEL Button USER MODE: The RS button activates the solo function for the right surround output. When a second I/O unit is connected, the solo function for the right surround output #2 can be activated by holding this button down for 2 seconds. Solo can be cancelled by doing any of the following; repeating the same action, activating the solo function on another channel, muting the system, or by pressing the REF / reference button. SETUP MODE: Press to cycle backwards through the menu and to get out of any sub menu operations. IMPORTANT: The BMC saves all changes upon exit of a menu, so any changes made will be saved, even when the CANCEL button is used to back out of a menu or sub menu. See the Software See the Software Features section on page 8 and 9 for more information. 13. Volume Control Knob - Turn to control overall nominal system gain from -50 dB to 0 dB, in.5dB increments. Turning this knob will cancel the system MUTE and REF gain operations. Turning this knob while in the menus will temporarily override the menu operation to adjust the system gain. Once knob is released, the menu will be reactivated.

Page 6

6. System Gain, Sub Offset and Level Overview
System Electrical Gain The input stage of BMC MK II is designed for a maximum input level of +24dBu (balanced or unbalanced) before clipping. The output stage will also drive a balanced 10K Ohm load to a maximum of +24dBu. However, because the BMC can add up to +6dB of gain to a channel to balance the system, there are situations where the BMC will clip. For example you cannot take a +24dBu input, set the system gain at 0dB, add +6dB of calibration gain to the signal and get +30dBu on the output. The output amplifiers in the BMC will clip under these conditions. In order to reduce the possibility of clipping the bass / LFE summation output buss, the BMC MK II also offers a 0dB / -10dB SUB GAIN pad feature. Controlled via the remote, and located in the CAL CHANNELS menu (pictured below - see the Software Features section on page 8 and 9 for more information), this feature allows the user to add a -10dB pad on the SUB summation / output buss. Although this may seem to be a limitation, in practice it is not. The Blue Sky monitors, like most amplified monitors, have relatively high voltage sensitivity. Therefore, there is quite a bit of flexibility in setting gains. For the best signal to noise ratio and to minimize noise and hum pickup, the BMC should be driven with as high a signal level as possible. The output signal going to the monitors should be kept relatively high and if necessary signals should be attenuated at the monitors. Calibration / Level Trims The individual channel level trims (+/- 6dB) in the BMC MK II, are OUTPUT channel level trims, and are used to adjust the relative level between the SUB and SAT in.5 dB increments. The reason this fact is important is because in certain applications, such as in a film setup where the surrounds may need to be at a lower level as compared to the front speakers, the level adjustments for the surrounds must be done before the signal hits the BMC MK II. This is because if you adjust the surround level only with the BMC main channel output level trims (main channels = L, C, R, LS & RS), the SUB and SURROUND level may not match.

NAVIGATING THROUGH THE MENUS: Pressing the SELECT key will move you through the 4 main SETUP menus. These menus include PRESET MENU (shown above), CAL CHANNELS, SETUP and MUTE CHANNELS, as shown below.
Turning the volume control knob, pressing the mute button, or pressing the reference button will bring the system out of MUTE. SOLO FUNCTION: Each of the output channels (not input channels) can be individually soloed. This can be accomplished by pressing each of the multifunction buttons on the remote (marked L, C, R, LS, RS & SUB). When a second I/O unit is connected, the solo function for the second set of 5.1 channels can be activated by holding each of the respective buttons down for 2 seconds. Solo can be cancelled by doing any of the following; repeating the same action, activating the solo function on another channel, muting the system, or by pressing the REF / reference button. When a channel is in SOLO mode, the display will show which channel has been activated (shown below) and the MUTE LED will flash. PLEASE NOTE: As in the example below, each channel on I/O unit 1 is labeled 1 (CENTER 1 in this example). If a second I/O unit is connected and the CENTER on the second I/O unit is in SOLO mode, the display will read SOLO CENTER 2.
NAVIGATION WITHIN A MENU: The up and down arrow keys in the MENU section on the remote are used to scroll through the various sub menus within each of the main menus. ADJUSTING PARAMETERS: To adjust parameters within the CAL CHANNELS, SETUP and MUTE CHANNELS sub menus, use the + and - buttons on the remote. An example of this is shown below, where within the RIGHT 1 channel gain submenu, the level can be adjusted up or down using the + and - keys (.5dB incriments).
REF (REFERENCE) LEVEL FUNCTION: The REF button on the remote toggles the system in and out of the reference gain setting. The reference gain setting is a predetermined level, which can changed or set in the SETUP MODE (SETUP MENU). Moving the master gain control knob, pressing mute, or pressing the REF button again will bring the system out of the reference setting. When the REF function has been activated the REF LED will be ON and the display will show REF GAIN and then state what that GAIN possition is (-10dB in the example below).

Within the PRESET MENU / CHANGE NAME submenu the + and - buttons are used to move left or right, to select the specific character which you want to change. Letters and numbers can be scrolled by using the up and down arrow buttons on the GAIN SECTION of the remote (also marked REF and MUTE).
For more information about how to detirmine the optimum reference level setting please follow the cablibration procedures, in the 5.1 System Calibration sectioins on page 12.
CANCEL: The cancel button is used to exit out of the SETUP MODE and to return back to USER MODE. Please note that the BMC MK II saves all changes upon exit of a menu, so any changes made will be saved, even when the CANCEL button is used to back out of a menu or sub menu.

Page 8

PRESET MENU: The BMC MK II has a total of 4 presets available. The presets store all level and calibration settings for the BMC, along with preset name, SUB level offset, bass-management IN / OUT and LFE GAIN. The main display will always display what PRESET is in current menu when in USER MODE and when not in MUTE, REF or SOLO mode, as shown below (in this case PRESET 1).
When you scroll through the other profiles, it will ask you if you want to load the selected profile (show below). Press the YES button to load this profile.
Whenever you are in the SETUP MODE editing settings such as LEVEL, these settings are being applied to the current PRESET in memory. Within the PRESET sub menus, you can change the name of the preset which is currently loaded in memory (as shown on the bottom of page 8). To load another preset use the up and down arrow buttons, on MENU section of the remote scroll through the various presets. Within the PRESET menu and when you get to the profile that is already loaded in memory, the display will state that it is LOADED (shown below).

SETUP MODE OVERVIEW

HOLD SELECT FOR 5 SEC

CANCEL MENU

PRESET MENU

CAL MENU

UP ARROW LEFT 1 -6/6 dB CENTER 1 -6/6 dB UP ARROW

SETUP MENU

MUTE MENU
UP ARROW PRESET 1 LOAD / YES?

UP ARROW LEFT 2 -6/6 dB BASS MANAGER ON 80 HZ HIGH PASS IN 80 HZ HIGH PASS OUT

UP ARROW RSUR NO/YES

PRESET 2 LOAD /YES?

2ND BOX

CENTER 2 -6/6 dB RIGHT 2 -6/6 dB
120 HZ LOW PASS LFE FILTER IN 120 HZ LOW PASS LFE FILTER OUT

LSUR NO/YES

RIGHT 1 -6/6 dB PRESET 3 LOAD /YES? RSUR 1 -6/6 dB
RIGHT NO/YES CENTER NO/YES
RSUR 2 -6/6 dB LSUR 2 -6/6 dB SUB 2 -6/6 dB LFE 2 0/10 dB SUB 2 OFFSET 0/ -10 dB SET REF GAIN

BASS SUM ON

BASS SUM OFF LEFT NO/YES SUB NO/YES

DECREASE LETTER

PRESET 4 LOAD /YES?
LSUR 1 -6/6 dB SUB 1 -6/6 dB LFE 1 0/10 dB

MOVE CURSOR LEFT

INCREASE LETTER

CHANGE NAME ?

MOVE CURSOR RIGHT

ADJUST GAIN CONTROL

SUB 1 OFFSET 0/ -10 dB

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9. 5.1 Speaker Placement
Satellite Speaker Placement - MUSIC The recommended monitoring angle for proper stereo imaging with music is 60 degrees between the left and right speakers. The center channel speaker should be located on axis with the reference monitoring position and both the left and right surround channel speakers should be at an angle of 110 degrees from the center line. In most applications, surrounds used for music are placed at the same height as the front speakers for a direct sound field. See Figure 1 Satellite Speaker Placement - FILM / POST PRODUCTION Although the above recommendations should work equally well for both film and music production, there may be situations where a more film optimized setup is desirable. To correctly relate audio to picture, the recommended angle between left and right speakers is 45 degrees. This narrower monitoring angle should still yield a very satisfactory stereo image. As with the music setup, the center channel speaker, should still be located on axis with the reference monitoring position. Unlike music surrounds, which tend to be direct in nature, film surrounds are usually positioned for a more diffused sound field, to simulate the effect of an array of surround speakers used in a theater. For a single pair of surrounds, this can be accomplished by placing them two feet above seated ear height, to the side of the monitoring position and slightly behind the mix position. For larger rooms, it may also be desirable to use multiple surround speakers as an array. Satellite Speaker Monitoring Height Recommendations It is recommended that all of the satellite speakers be placed at or about seated ear height, as shown in Figure 2. If it is not possible to place the speakers at or about seated ear height, please aim the speakers at the monitoring position. Subwoofer Speaker Placement Although you have great flexibility in positioning a subwoofer, a good starting point is centered between the left and right satellite speakers. This could be under the console, behind the console, etc. Placing the subwoofer closer to a corner or wall will increase acoustic efficiency and may yield better acoustic response in many situations. However, because of the many variables that relate to in-room subwoofer performance, we highly recommend experimenting with subwoofer placement. Visit www.abluesky.com/subplacement for more detailed and specific recommendations. Speaker placement recommendations, with regard to these types of installations, vary greatly on the end users goals and surround philosophy. For more specific information regarding your particular installation, please do not hesitate to contact Blue Sky directly. www.abluesky.com

Reference Monitoring Position

Figure 1

SPEAKER PLACEMENT AS DOCUMENTED IN RECOMMENDATION ITU-R BS.775-1

Figure 2

Center of the tweeter

Center of the woofer

Mid-point of the woofer and tweeter
MONITORING HEIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS

Page 10

10. System Wiring Information & Diagram
Use high-quality, shielded cables to connect your console, workstation or other sources to your Blue Sky BMC MK II. Foil-shielded cables, such as Belden 8451, 8761, or 9501 should do quite well. Other high quality cables are available and those that incorporate better shielding will yield an overall higher noise rejection, lowering your systems susceptibility to external interference. Another important tip to keep in mind when wiring your system is to route all line level cables away from the AC and other power sources, this will reduce the probability of having AC hum emanating from your monitoring system.
5.1 Channel Output From Console or Workstation
5.1 Channel Output From the BMC going to the monitoring system. NOTE: Connect the SUB output to the DIRECT input on the subwoofer.
e ot m b le Re l Ca C o BM n t r o C
5.1 Channel Monitoring System

Page 11

11. 5.1 System Calibration
The following sysetm calibration instructions are for a bass-managed speaker system, such as Blue Skys ProDesk, Sky System One, or Big Blue system. There are three steps to the calibration procedure: 1 - Setting the electrical / digital signal level 2 - Setting the reference level (REF) 3 - System Acoustic Level Setting IMPORTANT NOTE: The individual channel level trims (+/- 6dB) in the BMC MK II, are OUTPUT channel level trims, and are used to adjust the relative level between the SUB and SAT in.5 dB increments. The reason this fact is important, is because in certain applications, such as in a film setup where the surrounds may need to be at a lower level as compared to the front speakers, the level adjustments for the surrounds must be done before the signal hits the BMC MK II. This is because if you adjust the surround level only with the BMC main channel output level trims (main channels = L, C, R, LS & RS), the SUB and SURROUND level may not match. SETTING THE ELECTRICAL / DIGITAL SIGNAL LEVEL The instructions included with in this manual detail two sperate ways to do step 3. One method uses bandwidth limited test files and requires only a SPL meter. The other method uses full-bandwidth pink noise and requires the use of a 1/3 octave real time analyzer (RTA), along with a SPL meter. Before starting the calibration procedure you will need to download BlueSkyTestFiles.zip (18MB file) by going to www.abluesky.com/calibration. To download the test file, Right Click the file, select Save Target As and the file will begin downloading. Once downloaded, un-zip the test files and either burn the test files to a CD or import them into your DAW. BlueSkyTestFiles.Zip Includes 4 files: 1000Hz SINEWAVE -20dBFS.wav a 1kHz file recorded at 20dBFS for electrical calibration 40-80Hz PINK NOISE -20dBFS.wav a 40Hz to 80Hz bandwidth limited pink-noise file recorded at -20dBFS 500-2.5kHz PINK NOISE -20dBFS.wav a 500Hz to 2.5Hz bandwidth limited pink-noise file recorded at 20dBFS Pink Noise full bw -20dBFS.wav a full-bandwidth pink-noise file recorded at - 20dBFS Step 1 Step 2 TURN OFF THE MONITORING SYSTEM Bass Managed IN - Hold down the SELECT button for 5 seconds to enter SETUP MODE. Then press select 3 times, or until the display reads SETUP (shown below).

Press the UP or DOWN ARROW keys until the display reads BASS MANAGED IN. If the display reads BASS MANAGED OUT then press the YES button to turn it on.

Step 3

Now press the SELECT button 3 times, or until the display reads CAL CHANNELS.
These test files are all mono files. Please make sure you hard assign them to the left and then the right (etc.), not both channels at the same time. If you are using a CD player as your source, use only one channel of the CD player. All test signals are recorded at 20dBFS including the 1 kHz sine wave tone. The sine wave tone is used to set the electrical output level throughout the signal path, right up to the point you get to the speakers, while the various pink noise signals are used for acoustic measurements and calibration. Theory The purpose of calibration is to adjust the overall electroacoustic system gain so that 0dBVU of electrical signal level equals a certain acoustic level at the listening position. Since most recording media is now digital, the reference electrical signal level is usually 20dBFS with 20dB of headroom. The reference SPL level however can vary based on the delivery media and speaker type. Please note that the bandwidth limited signals that have been provided, limit many of the room interaction affects often associated with measuring SPL using broadband pink noise. *Also, please note that the LFE channel gain in a 5.1 system varies from 0dB to +10dB, depending on the encoding format that is being used. Since the LFE channel is not calibrated as a separate entity, the LFE gain will not affect system calibration. For more information about the LFE channel refer to page 15 [Additional Surround and Setup Information]. The common calibration levels
Movie Theatrical release Movie DVD release Broadcast / 85dBc or Music (Stereo) Music ( 5.1) L 85dB 85dB 78dB 85dB 85dB C 85dB 85dB 78dB 85dB R 85dB 85dB 78dB 85dB 85dB LS 82dB 85dB 78dB 85dB
Press the DOWN arrow button once, or until the display reads SUB OFFSET 1 and then use the - button to set the offset to -10dB. This setting will give the subwoofer / LFE summation buss the greatest amount of electrical headroom. If it turns out that your subwoofer doesnt have enough electrical gain to get the desired output, then you may need to set this back to 0dB of offset.

Step 4

Step 5
Remove all eq and dynamics from the signal path and set all controls to zero / unity gain. Play the 1kHz Sine Wave, hard assign it to the LEFT channel only, and adjust the output fader so that the output meter reads -20dBFS. If you are using an analog console, set the output level to 0dB VU. Then hard pan the signal to the center channel output and repeat for the center channel (then repeat for the each of the remaining channels). Once calibrated do not move the output faders. Mute everything and make sure the 1kHz tone is OFF.

Step 2

Step 4
Confirm that the master gain setting has not been changed from the reference level setting. Repeat this step for the remaining MAIN channels - Right, Left Surround & Right Surround. Step 3 Feed 40-80Hz pink noise signal to the CENTER channel only. Adjust the subwoofer level control (on the back of the sub) and SUBWOOFER 1 GAIN in the CAL CHANNELS menu, until you measure 85dBc. SPL should be measured in the same way as was done for the center channel. The meter will bounce around a little, so you will need to do a mental average (I tend to filter out the peaks in my mind, so I dont set the sub too hot). The other channels will measure about the same and no additional adjustments needs to be made using the 40-80Hz pink noise signal. Step 4 You can play the full-bandwidth pink noise, assigning it to any of the main channels (not at the same time). You should measure about 85dBc. It may be a little higher, because below 30Hz the room may have a little extra gain. No adjustments should be made with Full Bandwidth pink noise, unless you have an RTA (real time analyzer) - see instructions on Page 14. Step 5 You are finished and the calibration process has been completed enjoy! Please make a note of all settings!

Page 13

Figure 3 SYSTEM ACOUSTIC LEVEL SETTING - INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING FULL BANDWIDTH PINK NOISE (using MOVIE / DVD RELEASE level settings for this example) PLEASE NOTE: These instructions are designed for those users that have a realtime analyzer (minimum resolution 1/3 octave). If you do not have a realtime analyzer, please use the directions on page 13, for the bandwidth limited pink noise test files.
5.1 Channel Calibrated System Response
LFE Channel +10dB above Main Channel Ref
80 dB Ref Line for LFE = Approximately 89dBC 70dB Ref Line = Approximately 85dBC for each main & surround channel
Bass-Managed Subwoofer Channel = 79dBC

Step 1

1k H z 1. 25 kH z 1. 6k H z
2k H z 2. 5k H z 3. 15 kH z

5k H z 6. 3k H z

Figure 4
BASS-MANAGED SUBWOOFER (without LFE) = 79dBC C= 85dBC
Press the down arrow button one time, or until the display reads MUTE SUB 1. Press the YES button on the remote. The MUTE LED will now begin to FLASH and the display will read MUTE SUB 1 YES, as shown below.

L= 85dBC

R= 85dBC

Step 2 Step 3

Press the select button twice, or until the display reads CAL CHANNELS. Place the measurement microphone at the reference monitoring position, at or near ear level. Depending on the measurement micropone, it may need to be pointed toward the ceiling or toward the source (depends on the calibartion method of the microphone). Please consult the manual for the microphone or analyzer for more information regarding this. Turn the gain knob on the remote to the REF setting, as determined in the section titled SETTING REFERENCE GAIN on page 13. Assign the full-bandwidth pink noise signal to the left channel. Push the up arrow button once, until the display reads LEFT 1 GAIN. Adjust the gain using the + and - buttons, until you measure 85dBc / SLOW at the mix position (adjustments are made in.5dB increments). If you are using a 1/3 octave analyzer (RTA), 85dBc is equal to aligning the level of the speakers to the 70dB reference line on the analyzer, as shown in Figure 3. Confirm that the master gain setting has not been changed from the reference level setting. Repeat this step for the remaining MAIN channels - Center, Right, Left Surround & Right Surround. UN-MUTE THE SUBWOOFER AND MUTE ALL OTHER CHANNELS: Press the select button twice, or until the display reads MUTE CHANNELS (as shown in step 1). Press the down arrow button one time, or until the display reads MUTE SUB 1. Press the NO button on the remote. The display will read MUTE SUB 1 NO, as shown below. Now MUTE the other 5 channels (Left, Center, Right, LS & RS).

Page 17
14. Technical Information
Input Impedance 20k Ohms balanced Common Mode Rejection Ratio 40dB typical @60Hz Maximum Input Level (all inputs) +24dBu balanced Maximum Output Level +24dBu balanced Output Impedance 200 Ohms balanced Nominal max gain 0 dB Gain trim range +/- 6dB Gain trim range +/- 6dB LFE gain range 0dB, +10dB SUB gain offset 0dB, -10dB Signal to noise ratio > 110dB Output noise (ch 1-5) -90dBu (20 to 20kHz A-wtg) Output noise (sub out) -80dBu (20 to 20kHz A-wtg) THD + Noise (0dB of gain) .002% @ 1kHz @ +10dBu Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20KHz +/-.25dB (Volume Control Mode) High-Pass Filter type 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley High-Pass Filter Cutoff 80Hz Low-Pass Filter Type 4th order Linkwitz-Riley Low-Pass Cutoff 80Hz LFE Input Gain 0dB / +10dB Selectable Low-Pass Filter 4th order / 120Hz Input power 120 VAC 60HZ 240 VAC 50/60HZ 15-Watts (Voltage set at the factory)
Blue Sky BMC MKII | Signal Flow Diagram

1 of 5 inpu t c hannels

LEFT SUR IN
12 dB/OCT 80 HZ HIGH PASS

BYPASS

DIGITALLY CONTROL ANALOG POT

OUTPUT

LEFT SUR OUT

to other chan nels

24 dB/OCT 80 HZ LOWPASS

BASS SUM

REMOTE CONTROL

MICRO CONTROLLER

LFE IN

1/10X GAIN

INPUT SELECT

SUB OUT

-10 dB

24 dB/OCT 120 HZ LOWPASS

15. Product Dimensions

5.0" 17.35"

6.20"

6.01"

8.00"

1.75"

19.00"

2.6" 1.4"

Page 18
16. Factory Service Instructions
Service for the U.S. versions of Blue Sky products is available only from our authorized distributor, Group One Ltd., located in Farmingdale, New York. (Service for Blue Sky products outside the United States can be obtained through local dealers or distributors.) If your BMC MK II needs service, follow these instructions: 1. Review the manual and ensure that you have followed all setup and operating instructions. Call (516) 249-1399 9:00am to 5:30pm EST and ask for Customer Service. Explain the problem and request an RA (Return Authorization) number. It is important to have your product serial number available when you call. You must have an RA number before you can obtain service. Pack the product in its original packing material and box (do not return the power cord or the manual). If you dont have the original packing material and/or box, please let Customer Service know when you call for the RA number. Blue Sky is not responsible for any damage that occurs due to non-factory packaging. Include a legible note stating your name, shipping address (no P.O. boxes), daytime phone number, RA number, and a detailed description of the problem, including how it can be duplicated Write the RA number on the top of the carton. Ship the product to the address below. We recommend United Parcel Service (UPS). Please insure the product regardless of shipping method. Blue Sky International ATTN: SERVICE DEPT / RA# 70 Sea Lane Farmingdale, NY 11735 USA

17. General Contact Details
For sales and other enquiries, please contact Blue Sky at: tel: fax: email: support: Blue Sky International 70 Sea Lane Farmingdale, NY 11735 USA info@abluesky.com support@abluesky.com
To discover the very latest information check out our website at: www.abluesky.com
Turnaround time is three to five business days depending on the problem. When calling for RA numbers, please ask Customer Service what the turnaround time is. The serviced product will be sent back to you via the same shipping method as received (i.e. if you ship your monitor UPS Ground it will be returned UPS Ground, UPS Red will be returned UPS Red etc.). This only applies to products serviced under the warranty.

Page 19

Blue Sky International 70 Sea Lane Farmingdale, NY 11735 www.abluesky.com

bass management controller

owner's manual

blue sky | BMC Owner's Manual for 5.1 Applications Issue 1

Contents

Important 13 Safety Instructions Philosophy and Introduction A Tour of the BMC Main I/O Unit A Tour of the BMC Remote System & Software Overview 5.1 Speaker Placement 5.1 System Wiring Diagram 5.1 System Calibration Additional Setup Information Cable and Wiring Information Technical Information Product Dimensions Factory Service Instructions Contact Details Page 3 Page 4 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 10 Page 11 Page 11 Page 12 Page 12

Page 2

Safety Instructions

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN
WARNING:To reduce the risk of fire or electrical
shock, do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture. Do not remove cover. No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.
READ INSTRUCTIONS - Read all safety and operating instructions before operating this product. RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS - Retain these safety and operating instructions for future reference.
SERVICING - Do not attempt to service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers, may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all service to qualified service personnel. DAMAGE REQUIRING SERVICE - Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified personnel under the following conditions: a. b. c. When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into this product. If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only controls that are covered by the operating instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation. If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance - this indicates a need for service.
12. 3. HEED WARNINGS - Follow all warnings on this product and in the operating instructions. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS - Follow all operating and use instructions. ATTACHMENTS - Do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer as they may cause hazards. WATER AND MOISTURE - Do not use this product near water - for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a wet basement; or near a swimming pool; and the like.
d. 7. ACCESSORIES - Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The product may fall, causing serious injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the product. Use only with accessories recommended by the manufacturer, or sold with the product. Any mounting of the product should follow the manufacturers instructions and should use a mounting accessory recommended by the manufacturer. POWER SOURCE - This product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are unsure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company. OVERLOADING - Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock. LIQUID ENTRY - Never spill any liquid of any kind on the product. e.
REPLACEMENT PARTS - When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in risk of fire, electric shock, or other hazard. SAFETY CHECK - Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition. HEAT - This product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products that produce heat.

Page 3

Philosophy & Introduction
bass management controller remote
Blue Sky is a philosophy. We design each product to represent the highest ratio possible of performance to cost, providing the highest value added to our customers. We will continually seek out opportunities to utilize the talent of the Blue Sky team to realize this philosophy. Our customers value requirements will always be our prime focus, and only those products that achieve our performance value ratio will earn the right to carry the Blue Sky logo. The Blue Sky | BMC continues our lineage and philosophy of high value and superior performance products. Designed for use with 5.1 channel monitoring systems, the Blue Sky | BMC allows for complete control of all monitoring system parameters from a single, easy-to-use, remote control. The Blue Sky | BMC eliminates the many variables of putting together a reliable, easy to calibrate 5.1 monitoring system, allowing the user to monitor with confidence! Thank you for choosing Blue Sky!

BLUE SKY INT REV 1.0

SELECT

CANCEL

A Tour of the BMC - Main I/O Unit
1. Power Switch - This switch controls the power to the BMC | Remote and all internal electronics. 5.1 Channel Inputs - These XLR inputs should be connected to the 5.1 channel outputs of your console or digital workstation. The inputs are electronically balanced. Do not connect more than one source to these inputs. Refer to the wiring table on page 10 for wiring custom cables and connectors. L, C, R, LS & RS Outputs - These XLR outputs should be connected to the inputs of the active satellite speakers. These outputs are electronically balanced. These outputs can be full range or bass-managed with a bandwidth limited to spectral content above 80Hz. Refer to the wiring table on page 10 for wiring custom cables and connectors. 4.
Parallel Subwoofer Outputs - These outputs can be used to drive one or more subwoofers. The output signal is the sum total of both the LFE and the bass-managed subwoofer signal (when the bass-management feature is being used). Refer to the wiring table on page 10 for wiring custom cables and connectors. Remote Control RJ-11 Connector - This standard six conductor RJ-11 jack is used to connect the main I/O unit to the BMC | Remote. The remote control cable length should not exceed 100 Feet. IEC Power Terminal - Connect to 120 Volt AC / 60Hz power source, rated for 15 WATTS. Use the included IEC Power Cable.

Page 4

A Tour of the BMC | Remote
RJ-11 Main BMC Control Output - This RJ-11 plug should be connected to the Main BMC I/O unit via standard 6 conductor phone cord. The BMC | Remote also receives power through this connector. The remote control cable should not exceed 100 feet in length. RJ-11 Aux BMC Control Output - This RJ-11 plug should only be connected when two BMC I/O units are being used. + / YES Control Button - This control key is used to adjust parameters within the software. Functions include increasing individual channel levels in.5dB increments, muting channels and setting the reference gain setting. See the Software Overview section on page 6 for more information. Arrow Up - Navigation Button - This navigation button is used to scroll through the software submenus. See the Software Overview section on page 6 for more information.

remote

- / NO Control Button - This control key is used to adjust parameters within the software. Functions include decreasing individual channel levels in.5dB increments and un-muting channels. See the Software Overview section on page 6 for more information. Arrow Down- Navigation Button - This navigation button is used to scroll through the software submenus. See the Software Overview section on page 6 for more information. REF (reference) LED - When this LED is lit, the systems output level is set to the user predefined reference level setting. See the Software Overview section on page 6 and the 5.1 System Calibration section on page 9 for more information MUTE LED - When this LED is lit (not blinking) all of the systems outputs have been muted. If this LED is flashing, one or more channels have been muted within the "Mute Channels" section of the software. See the Software Overview section on page 6 for more information MUTE Control Button - This button toggles the system in and out of mute. When this button is pressed all outputs are muted and the MUTE LED will be lit (not blinking). Moving the Volume Control Knob will bring the system out of mute. REF (reference) Control Button - This button toggles the system in and out of the user preset reference setting. Moving the Volume Control Knob will bring the system out of the Reference setting. See the Software Overview section on page 6 and the 5.1 System Calibration Section on page 9 for more information SELECT Control Button - This button is used to scroll through the main software menus. These menus include "Mute Channels", "Calibrate CH(annels)" and "Setup Menu". Use the Up and Down Arrow Navigation Buttons to scroll through the submenus. See the Software Overview section on page 6 and the 5.1 System Calibration Section on page 9 for more information.

REF MUTE

SELECT CANCEL
CANCEL Control Button - This button is used to cycle backwards out of the menu structure. See the Software Overview section on page 6 for more information. VOLUME Control Knob - This knob is used to control the overall system volume level. The range of this knob is -50dB to 0dB in.5dB increments. This knob is always active and will change the system level when ever it is moved. Turning this knob while the system is muted, or in the reference setting, will bring the system out of the mute, or reference, setting and the level of the system will go to wherever the knob is set. This knob is also active when you are within any of the menus or submenus. Once the volume control is released, the software will return to whatever menu or submenu you were using previously.

Page 5

System & Software Overview
Although this may seem to be a limitation, in practice it is not. The Blue Sky monitors, like most amplified monitors, have relatively high voltage sensitivity. Therefore, there is quite a bit of flexibility in setting gains. For the best signal to noise ratio and to minimize noise and hum pickup, the BMC should be driven with as high a signal level as possible. The output signal going to the speakers should be kept relatively high and if necessary signals should be attenuated at the monitors.
System Gain The BMC is a studio quality bass management controller with an integral multi-channel volume control. The input stage is designed for a maximum input level of +24dBu (balanced or unbalance) before clipping. The output stage will also drive a balanced 10K Ohm load to a maximum of +24dBu. However, because the BMC can add up to +6dB of gain to a channel to balance the system, there are situations where the BMC will clip. For example you cannot take a +24dBu input, set the system gain at 0dB , add +6dB of calibration gain to the signal and get +30dB on the output. The output amplifiers in the BMC will clip under these conditions. System Power Up Sequence 1. Although the system will startup without the BMC | Remote being connected, in order to calibrate the system and gain full access to all of the systems features, the BMC | Remote must be connected to the I/O box(es). Once the system has been calibrated, the remote can be disconnected and the main I/O unit will retain all the setup information. Once the systems' power is cycled, the main I/O box will power up fully calibrated and at the "reference" position. See the Software Overview section on this page and the 5.1 System Calibration Section on page 9 for more information. The startup sequence is activated when ever a remote is connected to the I/O box or when the power is cycled with the remote connected. The power up sequence is as follows A: The LEDs may flash momentarily as the remote receives power from the main I/O unit. The power LED on the front of the I/O box(es) should be lit. B: Within the I/O box(es) the output relays will click on. C: The LCD will display the current software version for 5 seconds. "Blue Sky Ver REV 1.0" D: After the system has been fully activated the system will go into the mute mode and the display will show the following message. "SYSTEM MUTED".

CANCEL MENU

BMC Power Up Sequence

POWER UP

IS REMOTE CONNECTED?
WAIT FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM REMOTE

LOAD LAST STATE REF GAIN

BMC Software Overview

MUTE MENU

CAL MENU

SETUP MENU

RSUR -6 / +6dB BA MAN ON 80HZ HIGH PASS IN 80HZ HIGH PASS OUT

LSUR NO / YES

LSUR -6 / +6dB
120HZ LOW PASS LFE FILTER IN 120HZ LOW PASS LFE FILTER OUT

RIGHT NO / YES

RIGHT -6 / +6dB

CENTER NO / YES

CENTER -6 / +6dB

BASS SUM ON

BASS SUM OFF

LEFT NO / YES

LEFT -6 / +6dB

SUB NO / YES

SUB -6 / +6dB S RE GA ADJUST GAIN L C CONTROL

UP/ DOWN ARROW

Page 6

HIT YES TO STORE

5.1 Speaker Placement

Figure 1

Satellite Speaker Placement - MUSIC A monitoring angle of 60 degrees between the left and right speakers is recommended for proper stereo imaging. The center channel speaker should be located on axis with the reference monitoring position and both the left and right surround channel speakers should be at an angle of 110 degrees from the centerline. See Figure 1
Satellite Speaker Placement - FILM / POST PRODUCTION Although the above recommendations should work equally well for both film and music production, there may be situations where a more "film" optimized setup is desirable. The optimal angle between the left and right speakers for film is 45 degrees. This monitoring angle tends to work well when trying to relate an audio source to picture. This narrower monitoring angle should still yield a very satisfactory stereo image. As with the "music" setup, the center channel speaker, should still be located on axis with the reference monitoring position. The surround channel speakers may also need to be placed for a more diffuse field response. This can be accomplished by placing them two feet above seated ear height, to the side of the monitoring position and slightly by behind the mix position. It may also be desirable to use multiple surround speakers as an "array".
Reference Monitoring Position
Satellite Speaker Monitoring Height Recommendations It is recommended that all of the satellite speakers be placed at or about seated ear height, as shown in Figure 2. If it is not possible to place the speakers at or about seated ear height, please aim the speakers at the monitoring position.
SPEAKER PLACEMENT AS DOCUMENTED IN RECOMMENDATION ITU-R BS.775-1

Figure 2

Subwoofer Speaker Placement Although you have great flexibility in positioning a subwoofer, a good starting point is centered between the left and right satellite speakers. This could be under the console, behind the console, etc. Placing the subwoofer closer to a corner or wall will increase acoustic efficiency and may yield better acoustic response in many situations. However, because of the many variables that relate to "in-room" subwoofer performance, we highly recommend experimenting with subwoofer placement.

Center of the tweeter

Center of the woofer
Speaker placement recommendations, with regard to these types of installations, vary greatly on the end users' goals and surround philosophy. For more specific information regarding your particular installation, please do not hesitate to contact Blue Sky directly. www.abluesky.com
Mid-point of the woofer and tweeter
MONITORING HEIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS

Page 7

System Wiring Diagram
5.1 Channel Output From Console or Workstation
5.1 Channel Output From the BMC going to the monitoring system. NOTE: The Subwoofer output should be connected to the DIRECT input on the subwoofer.
e ot le em Cab R C ol BM ntr Co
5.1 Channel Monitoring System

Page 8

5.1 System Calibration
5.1 Channel Calibrated System Response
The following system calibration instructions are for a bass-managed speaker system, such as Blue Sky's ProDesk or Sky System One. Step 1 "BASS MANAGER - ON"- Press the select button three times, or until the display reads "SETUP MENU". Press the arrow up or down keys until the display reads "BASS MANAGER - ON". If the display reads "BASS MANAGER - OFF", press the YES button to turn it on. Now press the cancel button until you have backed out of all the menus. STEP 2 "MUTE THE SUBWOOFER" - Press the select button once, or until the display reads "MUTE CHANNELS". Use the up or down arrow buttons until you get to the subwoofer channel and then press the YES button. The mute indicator LED should now be flashing. Now press escape until you have backed out of all the menus. STEP 3 "FINDING YOUR REFERENCE LEVEL" - Turn the gain on the remote to -50dB. You will now need to patch a pink noise generator, tape or other source with at least 60 seconds of 0dBu Pink Noise into your console or workstation. If you are using a digital source, the test signal should measure -20dB FS (0dB FS = Full Scale Digital). Assign the test signal to the center channel only. Confirm that all your speakers are turned on and that the gain on each speaker is set to a moderate level. Slowly bring up the gain with the master Volume Control Knob on the BMC | remote. Bring up the level of the overall system until you measure 85dB on the C scale, with the response set to Slow. SPL should be measured exactly at the reference mix position, with the SPL meter at arms length, the microphone at seated ear height, angled at approximately 45 degrees, and pointed at the center point between the left and right speakers. If you are using a 1/3 octave RTA, align the level of the speakers to 70dB reference line on the analyzer. Note the gain displayed on the remote when the center channel is at 85dBc. If it is less than -20dB turn the gain on the back of the center channel monitor down and increase the level of the BMC until a good compromise is reached. Typically using a reference gain setting of -10dB is a good compromise between overall electrical headroom, input signal level, output signal level and giving you an additional 10dB of system gain when necessary. Once the "Reference Level" setting has been determined, turn off the pink noise, make a note of the level the remote is set at, also make a note of the the gain control on the center channel monitor and set the rest of the monitors to the same level as the center channel. Now follow STEP 4 to enter the "Reference Level" into memory. STEP 4 "SETTING THE REFERENCE LEVEL" - Press the select button three times, or until the display reads "SETUP MENU". Use the up or down arrow keys until you get to the "SET REF GAIN" submenu option. Turn the Volume Control Knob until the display on the remote reads the same level as noted above in STEP 3 and then press the YES button. You have now successfully stored the preset reference level. Use the cancel button to exit this set of menus. STEP 5 "FINAL SATELLITE SPEAKER CALIBRATION" (subwoofer should still be muted) It is extremely important that you set the volume control to the reference level prior to starting the calibration of the system. Do not adjust the knob during the calibration function. Press the select button twice or until the display reads "CALIBRATE CH". Press the arrow down key until it reads RSUR (right surround). Turn on the calibrated pink noise source (making sure to assign it to the channel that is being calibrated) and trim the gain using the + or - buttons until the SPL meter reads 85dBc (for the surrounds it may be necessary to face towards the back of the room with the SPL meter to get a more accurate SPL measurement). If you are using a 1/3 octave RTA, align the level of the speakers to the 70dB reference line on the analyzer. Once each channel is set, use the down arrow button to scroll through the other channels and then use the + or - buttons to adjust the level as described above. Stop when you get to the SUB (subwoofer) and then use the cancel button to exit this part of the calibration.

LFE Channel +10dB above Main Channel Ref
80 dB Ref Line for LFE = Approximately 89dBC 70dB Ref Line = Approximately 85dBC for each main & surround channel
Bass-Managed Subwoofer Channel = 79dBC
Test Signal = 0dBu Pink Noise / -20dB FS (Full Scale Digital) Measurement System = 1/3 Octave Real Time Analyzer

4k H z

1k H z 1. 25 kH z 1. 6k H z
2k H z 2. 5k H z 3. 15 kH z

5k H z

BASS-MANAGED SUBWOOFER (without LFE) = 79dBC C= 85dBC

L= 85dBC

R= 85dBC

LS = 85dBC

RS = 85dBC
Test Signal = 0dBu Pink Noise / -20dB FS (Full Scale Digital) Measurement System = SPL Meter set to C Weighted & Slow Reference Monitoring Position
STEP 6 "SUBWOOFER CALIBRATION" Press the select button once, or until the display reads "MUTE CHANNELS". Step through each channel (using the down arrow button) muting the Left, Center, Right, Left Surround and Right Surround Channel (pressing the YES button for each - confirm that each channel is displayed as being muted). Un-mute the Subwoofer Channel (by pressing the NO button). Confirm that the volume control is set at the "Reference Level" as described in STEP 3. Press the select button two times, or until the display reads "CALIBRATE CH". Use the down arrow to scroll through each channel until you get to the SUB (subwoofer). Make sure that NO signal is being fed directly to the LFE-Channel, then turn on the the calibrated pink noise source and send it to the CENTER channel only. No noise should be coming from any of the satellite speakers (they are muted). Now, using your SPL meter, adjust the level of the subwoofer until it reads 79dBc (allow enough time for the display to settle and make a mental average), you may also need to physically adjust the gain on the subwoofer. If you are using a 1/3 octave RTA, align the level of the subwoofer to the 70dB reference line on the analyzer. Next, turn off the pink noise signal, press the Down Arrow Button, confirm the LFE signal is to +10dB (as recommended by Dolby) and then use the Cancel button to escape out of all the menus and submenus. Now enter the MUTE MENU and un-mute each channel (the mute LED should be off when this step is completed). The calibration process is now complete! Please make a note of all the settings. (Additional Setup information is available on page 10.)
8K hz 10 kH z 12.5 kH z 16 kH z 20 kH z

25 H z 31.5 H z

80 H z 10 0H z 12 5H z 16 0H z 20 0H z 25 0H z 31 5H z 40 0H z 50 0H z 63 0H z 80 0H z

6. 3k H z

Page 9
Additional Setup Information
Using the Blue Sky | BMC as a multi-channel volume control There may be applications where the Blue Sky | BMC may only be used as a multi-channel volume control. The bass-manager OFF function can be accessed within the SETUP MENU. Once at this menu, press the down arrow button until the display reads Bass-Manager. Press the NO button to defeat the bass-management function. Once this is done, the unit will operate purely as a six channel volume control (press cancel to escape out of this menu). The LFE 120Hz low pass-filer will now also be defeated (making the LFE input/output full-range). However, the LFE +10 / 0dB boost can still be selected. To defeat this, enter the Calibrate CH. menu, scroll down using the arrow down buttons, and toggle the setting using the + / - buttons. Once the desired setting has been entered, press cancel to exit this menu. The LFE Channel The LFE Channel was originally designed for film applications as a way to extend the low frequency "head-room" (not frequency response) of the playback system. This additional headroom was created by adding +10dB of in-band gain to the LFE channel. This channel should only be used when no additional headroom is available in the other channels for low frequency effects. As an example, you may use the LFE channel to increase the dynamic low frequency content of a movie that has many large explosions. This is rarely the case in music, although there may be some creative reasons to use the LFE from time to time. It is important to note that no "significant" audio should be sent exclusively to the LFE channel. The reason for this is that if a Dolby Digital audio track is folded down to 2-channels, which can happen if a consumer doesn't have a surround system, the LFE channel will not be added to the fold-down mix (all other channels will be added to the fold-down). Future Expansion The Blue Sky | BMC is a digitally controlled analog product. It was designed to be software upgradeable. Please check the Blue Sky website for future upgrades. www.abluesky.com
Need to know more about multi-channel audio?
There is a wide variety of technical information available on the internet regarding multichannel audio. If you need more specific information regarding multi-channel audio and Blue Sky International, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. www.abluesky.com Additional Technical Resources Source: The Audio Engineering Society Website: www.aes.org Source: Digital Theater Systems, Inc. Website: www.dtsonline.com Source: Dolby Laboratories Website: www.dolby.com Source: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers Website: www.smpte.org Source: Surround Associates Website: www.surroundassociates.com Source: The THX Division of Lucasfilm Ltd. Website: www.thx.com

Cable and Wiring Information
Use high-quality, shielded cables to connect your console, workstation or other source to your Blue Sky | BMC. Foil-shielded cables, such as Belden 8451, 8761, or 9501 should do quite well. Other high quality cables are available and those that incorporate better shielding will yield an overall higher noise rejection, lowering your systems susceptibility to external interference. Another important tip to keep in mind when wiring your system is to route all line level cables away from the AC and other power sources, this will reduce the probability of having AC hum emanating from your monitoring system.

RIGHT IN

RIGHT OUT

SHIELD (Ground) ( )

Page 10

XLR Pin 2 Pin 3 Pin 1

TRS Tip p Ring g Shield

RCA Tip p Shield

10. Technical Information
Input Impedance Common Mode Rejection Ratio Maximum Input Level (all inputs) Maximum Output Level Output Impedance High-Pass Filter type High-Pass Filter Cutoff High-pass Filter Q THD + Noise Low-Pass Filter Type Low-Pass Cutoff LFE Input Gain Low-Pass Filter
20k Ohms balanced 40dB typical @60Hz +24dBu balanced +24dBu balanced 200 Ohms balanced 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley 80Hz.707.002% @ 1kHz @ +4dBu 4th order Linkwitz-Riley 80Hz

CHANNEL IN

BMC BLOCK DIAGRAM

1 of 5 input channels

DIGITALLY CONTROL ANALOG POT 12 dB/OCT 80 HZ HIGH PASS

OUTPUT

CHANNEL OUT

other channels

BASS SUM

REMOTE CONTROL

MICRO CONTROLLER
0dB / +10dB Selectable 120 HZ

LFE IN

X 1/10X N GAIN

TALLY TROL LOG POT

LFE OUT

24 dB/OCT 120 HZ LOWPASS

11. Product Dimension

5.0" 17.35"

6.20"

6.01"

8.00"

1.75"

19.00"

2.6" 1.4"

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12. Factory Service Instructions
Service for the U.S. versions of Blue Sky products is available only from our authorized distributor, Group One Ltd., located in Farmingdale, New York. (Service for Blue Sky products outside the United States can be obtained through local dealers or distributors.) If your Blue Sky | BMC needs service, follow these instructions: 1. Review the manual and ensure that you have followed all setup and operating instructions. Call (631) 249-1399 9:00am to 5:30pm EST and ask for Customer Service. Explain the problem and request an RA (Return Authorization) number. It is important to have your product serial number available when you call. You must have an RA number before you can obtain service. Pack the product in its original packing material and box (do not return the power cord or the manual). If you dont have the original packing material and/or box, please let Customer Service know when you call for the RA number. Blue Sky is not responsible for any damage that occurs due to non-factory packaging. Include a legible note stating your name, shipping address (no P.O. boxes), daytime phone number, RA number, and a detailed description of the problem, including how it can be duplicated. Write the RA number on the top of the carton. Ship the product to the address below. We recommend United Parcel Service (UPS). Please insure the product regardless of shipping method. 7. Blue Sky International ATTN: SERVICE DEPT / RA# 200 Sea Lane Farmingdale, NY 11735 USA Turnaround time is three to fi ve business days depending on the problem. When calling for RA numbers, please ask Customer Service what the turnaround time is. The serviced product will be sent back to you via the same shipping method as received (i.e. if you ship your monitor UPS Ground it will be returned UPS Ground, UPS Red will be returned UPS Red etc.). This only applies to products serviced under the warranty.

13. Contact Details

For sales and other enquiries, please contact Blue Sky at: Blue Sky International 200 Sea Lane Farmingdale, NY 11735 USA tel: fax: email info@abluesky.com
To discover the very latest information check out our website at: www.abluesky.com

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Copyright 2002 Blue Sky International