AERO units are reliable and easy to install. Most problems turn out to be wiring mistakes that apply sources to the wrong processor input channels. However, the AERO is a powerful processor with many user-adjustable parameters, some of which interact. If you cannot find the source of a problem, simplify the signal path.
Doing a hardware bypass is one of AERO hardware’s best troubleshooting features. To instantly remove the AERO hardware unit from the signal path, remove AC power from both power supplies. SDI and AES-3 inputs are relay bypassed to the corresponding outputs.
AERO Hardware Unit Does Not Power On
Plug in both AC cords to power the unit.
Using different AC power circuits is highly recommended.
After the unit is powered:
check that the fans are spinning.
For units that have a front panel back-illuminated logo, confirm that the logo is blue.
The boot process may take up to two minutes.
If the unit boots, you are done.
If the fans spin but the unit still does not boot, continue to the next step.
Remove AC power from both power supplies and wait two minutes.
Plug both AC cords back in
Go back to step 2
If the AERO powers up and is ready for use, stop here.
If the AERO will not complete boot-up contact Telos Alliance Support: support@telosalliance.com
Dialogue Causes Surround Audio Channels to Pump
The selected processing preset may be overly aggressive. Try the following adjustments, one at a time, and allow time to hear the effect of each change.
Select a less aggressive factory preset. for instance, if the current preset is TV 5 Band Gen try TV 5 Band Light
To change the processing in smaller steps:
Slow down the Input AGC Release time
Slow down the Multiband AGC release time of all bands
If the pumping sound is only heard when a program is being upmixed look at the UPMAX surround settings
Increase the Input AGC Gate setting and lower the Input AGC Freeze setting.
Since all processing channels in a program are linked, they all receive the same gain reduction and expansion. The loudest channel initiates the gain control, so it can seem like the surround channels are ducked by dialogue. Choose a moderate preset, and then carefully adjust Gate and Freeze so crowd noise does not increase when dialogue stops.
Use the audio recorders found in Client Audio category to record problem content Input and Processed output. Record a transition from commercials, to program content. Include local production content if possible. Use Lossless FLAC encoding format. Send a Link to the audio and a description of the audio issue to: support@telosalliance.com. Include the following information in the email:
type of processor (Example: AERO.100)
serial number
software version
configuration backup file.
Link to the program recording.
Output Audio Clicks and Pops
This is most often caused by clock/sync issues.
As an example, the AES3 Reference may be missing or at the wrong sample rate; the unit requires 48 kHz sampled 16 to 24 bit PCM.
The AERO defaults to an internal 48 kHz reference if the external reference(s) is removed or missing. This lets audio continue, but with asynchronous inputs and outputs (due to the sample rate converters on each input pair). Make sure to connect a valid reference signal to avoid this issue.
An improper reference signal in equipment located upstream or downstream from the AERO can also cause output noise. Use master bypass to verify that AERO is not the problem.
Input Audio Has Dropouts
If the Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus output(s) are distorted then the Dolby Digital encoder is probably not properly referenced with respect to the DTV video encoder/multiplexer. Normally, all gear is referenced to a master reference clock in the facility.
In some legacy cases (for example, when using Tandberg MPEG encoder devices), the multiplexer generates a special reference signal that must be routed back to the AERO vRef input.nd used as its reference.
Audio Sounds Strange
Reverberant audio that sounds like a tunnel indicates timing differentials between the channel pairs. Viewers listening in stereo are usually the first to notice such problems. The delay settings in the AERO should all be equal or set explicitly. Offsets of just a few milliseconds can be audible under certain conditions.
For those using a reference Dolby DP564 AC-3 decoder, one of monitoring modes uses the analog and digital outputs. This can inject up to 10 ms of delay into the surround channels, which usually elicits complaints.
Either bypass the DP564 unit or set the monitoring mode to Digital.
Audio Issues Disappear in Bypass
Since AEROMAX processing can apply significant gain to incoming signals, previously inaudible sounds may get pulled out of the background. We recommend listening carefully to the station audio for hums, buzzes, clicks, pops, phase issues, frequency response problems, and bass build-up. When amplified, these artifacts can ruin otherwise excellent programming.
Make sure the input audio is immaculately clean, or it will sound worse in surround!
AEROMAX Gate and Freeze controls should always be adjusted to prevent unwanted background sounds/noise from being increased in gain to annoying levels.
Audio Fixed by reboot
Rebooting sometimes fixes audio problems by interrupting the AES-3 and/or SDI video signals on the input to the AERO and on the inputs to downstream devices. The signal interruption itself causing the AERO or downstream device to re-lock to the incoming signals. The AERO will relay bypass SDI and AES-3 I/O when power is removed. This can help localize the problem to the AERO or to something else in the signal chain.
Audio Has Artifacts
Sometimes described as “squirrels in the surrounds,” this is almost always caused by low bit-rate source content. Some program delivery services, or server systems use MPEG 1, Layer 2 or other audio data reduction to save bandwidth. At 256 kbps or higher per stereo pair, there are no issues. However, at or below 128 kbps, coding artifacts in the original stereo signal are unmasked by upmixing. This inferior content has similar results without upmixing if consumers matrix-decode the signal, which is the default mode for most home A/V receivers. We recommend contacting the program provider or server manufacturer. Bandwidth is so inexpensive that there is no good reason to run lower than 256 kbps.