DV-2000 MT · Digital autoload storecaster with music-thru

Installation

The DV-2000MT is a message-on-hold and storecasting system that combines audio playback, background music (BGM) and remote control. It stores up to 20 messages in non-volatile FLASH memory, at 3.4 kHz (STD) or 6.8 kHz (PRO) audio fidelity with a 60 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Before installing, make sure there is a message-on-hold or music-on-hold input on the phone system, or a line level input on the public address system, and a non-switched 110 VAC outlet near the unit. The box holds the DV-2000MT, a power pack, an audio cable, mounting hardware and the user’s manual.

• Mount the unit on the telephone equipment board or wall in one of three positions: back against the wall, flat (10 × 8 in); left side against the wall (2.2 × 8 in); or left side against the wall horizontally (8 × 2.2 in). Mark the mounting holes and secure it with the screws provided.
• For table top use, stick the enclosed rubber feet on the bottom of the unit.
• Plug the power pack into a 110 VAC outlet that is not controlled by a switch, then into the unit’s power jack. There is no power switch; the system is active as soon as power is connected.

Connections

Telephone system: connect the supplied RCA cable from LINE OUT to the message-on-hold input. PA system: connect an RCA to RCA cable from LINE OUT to the PA amplifier’s line level input. In both cases use LINE OUT first and set the level with the audio output potentiometer; if that does not give enough level, switch to SPKR OUT.

• 12VDC: 2.5 mm barrel connector; use only the AC-DC power adapter supplied by the manufacturer.
• BGM IN (RCA): 10 kΩ, transformer isolated audio input for the output of the background music source, such as CD or satellite.
• LINE OUT (RCA): 600 Ω, transformer isolated, +4 dB line level output; connect it to the phone system first.
• SPKR OUT (RCA): amplified output, 1 W into 8 Ω, for when the line output cannot drive the on-hold circuit to a high enough level.
• REMOTE (RJ11-6): auxiliary connector with the line level audio output, a Start activation input and a normally open relay contact.
• Remote pins 1 and 6, Start: shorting them with a relay contact or a switch puts the system into manual playback mode.
• Remote pins 2 and 5, Playing relay: closed continuously in automatic playback, open while recording; in manual playback mode closed only while a recorded message plays. Rated 24 VDC at 1 A, non-inductive load.
• Remote pins 3 and 4, audio output: the line level output of the RCA connector, in parallel.

Loading messages from cassette

A new DV-2000MT has a blank memory. Insert a pre-recorded, properly formatted cassette with the audio side up (tape up, facing the label). The unit rewinds the tape, plays it and records each audio program into memory, ignoring the silence between them. The red Record LED is on while a message is recorded and goes out when the unit detects 6 seconds of silence; the unit keeps playing the tape and records the next message it finds. 10 seconds of silence mark the last message, and the tape is rewound. Playback then starts automatically from memory.

Download mode, Replace All: as soon as the tape is inserted, every message in memory is erased, and the messages on the tape are recorded starting from message 1. Even if the tape is ejected before any audio is recorded, the memory stays empty.

Playback modes

Automatic playback: after loading, the messages play in sequence with no user input, separated by the music interval. Between messages the unit outputs the background music, fading it up after a message and down just before the next one.

Manual playback: shorting the Start pins of the Remote connector puts the unit in manual mode. It then plays one message per Start activation, in the same order as in automatic mode, and ignores the interval setting. A new Start activation while a message plays stops it and starts the next one; a Start activation held indefinitely plays the messages back to back until it is removed, then the current message finishes. A message cannot be stopped once started. To leave manual mode, turn the monitor speaker off and on again. A message download always returns the unit to automatic playback.

• Play Mode switch, Music Only (up): no messages play; the BGM goes straight to the output.
• Play Mode switch, Music and Message (middle, default): messages play in sequence at the music interval with the BGM mixed under them; between messages the BGM goes straight to the output.
• Play Mode switch, Message Only (down): messages play at the music interval and the BGM is muted; the output is silent between messages.
• Music Interval: the TENS and ONES rotary switches set 00 to 99, and the MIN/SEC slide switch to their right sets minutes or seconds. The setting is read during operation and can be changed while messages play.

Controls and indicators

• Eject / Rec Stop pushbutton (red, momentary): ejects the tape when the unit is not recording. While recording, a short press stops recording, saves the audio and rewinds the tape without ejecting it; a second short press also ejects the cassette without rewinding; holding it for two seconds deletes the message just recorded and ejects the tape without rewinding.
• Speaker pushbutton (black, locking): turns the front monitor speaker on and off, to preview recording and playback. Its volume follows the audio output level; do not raise the output level to hear the monitor better.
• Eject LED (yellow, NO TAPE on the Quikey): on when no tape is in the system; goes out when a tape is fully loaded.
• Record LED (red): on while an audio program is recorded; blinks once at power-on to show that the memory is operational.
• M-O-H LED (green, PLAYING on the Quikey): on in automatic playback while messages play or BGM is output; in manual playback mode only while a recorded message plays.

Audio adjustments

• LEVEL: sets the 600 Ω and 8 Ω outputs together; clockwise raises the level, counterclockwise lowers it.
• APHEX: psycho-acoustic processing that extends the high frequency response; clockwise amplifies the high frequencies, counterclockwise attenuates them.
• BGM LEVEL: overall level of the background music input; clockwise raises it.
• BGM FADE DOWN / UP pushbuttons (black, momentary): set how much the BGM is ducked (attenuated) under a message. Each press changes the BGM by about 1 dB; held down, about 8 dB per second.

Tape production format

• Record messages on the left channel (track A).
• Messages may differ in length; their total must not exceed the unit’s memory. The silence between messages does not count toward recording time.
• Set the nominal level to 0 VU = −4 dBm, and keep the dynamic range low so the production records at the highest level without exceeding +5 VU = +1 dBm.
• For best results, filter out frequencies above 3.4 kHz (STD) or 6.8 kHz (PRO).
• The unit needs 6 seconds of constant audio above −20 dBm to recognize a message and start recording, so that it can tell message material from tape noise.

Power failure

FLASH memory keeps the messages without power or battery backup, so brownouts and power losses do not affect them. When power returns, the system resumes the operation it was in before the power was removed.

Troubleshooting

• No LEDs on → normal after a tape is inserted and before audio is detected; otherwise check that the power adapter is in a non-switched outlet and fully plugged into the unit.
• The tape will not load → push the cassette fully in; check the power adapter and power connector.
• The tape is ejected right after loading → the memory is full, all message locations are used, or the tape is an endless loop.
• The Record LED never comes on → check that the tape is right side up and not blank, and that its nominal recorded level is above −20 dB.
• The tape ejected after recording and no message plays → holding the Eject button during recording ejects the tape immediately; check the tape side; a tape with no audio is ejected at its end.
• Nothing heard from the audio output → if the Record and M-O-H LEDs are both off, there is no output; check the RCA cable at both ends, turn the output level clockwise, or use the 8 Ω output instead of the line output.
• Nothing heard on the monitor speaker → if the Record and M-O-H LEDs are both off, no messages are recorded; lock the Speaker button down; a low output level also makes the monitor quiet.
• Not all messages on the tape were recorded → noise in the silences between messages can group several messages into one message location.