AVA Media Zara Premium Quick start guide

Brand: AVA Media

Model: Zara Premium

Type: Quick start guide

Zara Premium

Quick Start

Version 1.A

Introducing the Zara Premium

The Zara stores up to 2450* CDs and plays them through supported Digital Streaming Players on your home network (see

supported players), through your existing Hi Fi system or into a multi-room distribution system (see supported Custom Install

systems). The Zara is best controlled using Crestron or AMX control devices, but is supplied with its own interfaces and it can

be controlled by a PC located on the same network, or iPhone / iPad appns. Using any of these interfaces makes it easy and

intuitive to select and play albums or tracks, and to create, edit and listen to custom built playlists.

The Zara contains a Local User Interface, embedded in the system, viewable on any VGA compatible monitor or connected TV.

During the initial setup, the Zara system will generally be controlled and maintained using the Zara Desktop Interface soft-

ware installed on a local PC.

The Zara also supports externally connected devices and music Host Servers (via ethernet) containing le types, WMA, MP3,

WAV, M4A, FLAC and FLA encoded music formats. Music ripped by the Zara can be saved using WAV lossless; and this is where

the magic really happens.

Ripping music to the Zara ’s internal hard-drive (or attached NAS Drives where enabled) uses a proprietary algorithm, unsur-

passed in any other system available on the market. This can give the Zara the ability to rip CDs you thought were lost forever.

You will be surprised at its performance and audio realism as our quality assurance-testing department was!

* Storage capacity varies on the discs ripped, but the following is an indication of the number of CDs the Zara will store:

Ripped to uncompressed WAV - 2450 CDs (across the 2x 1TB HDDs, ie not mirrored)

Ripped to high quality FLAC - 4250 CDs (across the 2x 1TB HDDs, ie not mirrored)

Power Surge Protection

Because the Zara is computer-based hardware containing large internal hard-drive and other computer components,

as with any ne computer, we recommend connecting it to a quality, Power Conditioner/Power Surge protector. This will

increase protection from unwanted surges in the power line that could potentially damage the electronics.

Contents of this box

• Zara Premium Digital Music Manager

• Power Supply

• LAN cable

• CD with Zara Desktop Interface software and Manual

Here’s what Zara can do at a glance

•Controlsupto6digitalstreamingplayerssimultaneously

•Automaticallydiscoversothermusicsourcesonthelocalnetwork

- other Computers with shared Music Data Bases

- connected USB storage devices, e.g. thumb drives, portable hard drives

•PlaysWAV,MP3,WMA(inclossless),AAC,FLAC-viaS/PDIForUSBDAC

•ControltheZaraanddigitalstreamingplayersfromyourAMXorCrestronmodules

•MakesoriginalqualityandencodedcopiesofyourmusicCDssimultaneously

•AutomaticallycollectsinformationaboutyourCDsfromalocaldatabaseortheInternetviaAMG

•AutomaticallycollectsextendedinformationaboutyourCDsfromAMG

•Containstwo,1000GBharddrives-setsecondharddrivetomirrororasadditionalstorage

Zara Premium - the Digital Music Manager

The Zara has been designed from the ground up to make it a perfect companion to the modern range of UPnP based Digital

Streaming Players such as those fro Linn, Sonos and ROKU. Superbly designed to look the part, it may be stacked or placed

in a rack system as the main source in any Audio/Video installation or better located in a study, den or home o ce close to

an internet connection. The Zara ’s purpose is to allow easy access to all of your stored music library data bases as well as its

own local hard drive music source. The Zara stores music locally by ripping CDs. It also plays music stored on other devices by

accessing multiple music libraries in the home that are connected to the local network. The song lists from connected devices

like MP3 Players, USB drives etc., may be navigated and played through the Zara. Cutting-edge technology designed to inter-

face with Internet Radio is standard with the Zara. This capability boasts an intelligent, user-friendly interface to play music in

your home from all around the world anytime you want.

The Zara is available with two 1000GB hard drives to store a large digital library of your favourite music, but with capability

to rip to NAS drives when the local store is full. With two hard drives the second drive is setup to mirror the primary drive by

default, providing a backup of your stored music, however it may be setup through the Zara Desktop Interface software as

additional storage space. The Zara system is designed to record music with no loss in quality using a proprietary, unsurpassed

over sampling process that rips CDs bit-perfectly. When music choice, quality and quantity is what you’re looking for in a mu-

sic library, Zara provides all of this allowing the music to be played back, without compromise, on any quality system for the

discerning listener. Not only can the music be played back in its original quality, but also the Zara allows four separate audio

streams to be played simultaneously or any combination when combined with supported Digital Streaming Players.

Finding the music you want to hear is suddenly easy. All of your music is stored digitally on the Zara or on computer-based

devices around your home, and getting to the music is intuitive with custom playlists designed by you to t your personal

preference. In Zara’s Music Library, your music is arranged alphabetically by albums, artists or genres to help you quickly

nd the songs you want to hear. The Zara can automatically discover external media storage devices and allow you to navi-

gate through the songs as if they were recorded directly on the Zara’s hard drive. Using the Zara Desktop Interface interface

software, the Local User Interface (connected VGA monitor or TV), or iPhone/ iPad appn, the Zara automatically remembers

multiple top twenty music lists for you. For example, it remembers the twenty newest albums added to the hard drive, the top

twenty albums played, the last twenty albums played and much, much more. Create Internet Radio Channel lists from Internet

Radio sites using list categories like Favorites, Added Stations, Local Stations along with many other options.

The Zara comes with AMG (All Media Guide) extended data licensing. Detailed information is automatically made available for

music that is burned to the hard drive or other music data bases seen on the home network when found in the AMG, online

database. This information may be viewed even when the song is not playing. Along with common facts like the name of the

song etc., AMG information may include some unusual facts such as, individual instruments used in the recording and the

name of each artist playing those instruments, the name of the recording engineer, the name of the master engineer, the

producer, the album artist, and much more. The amount of available information may be vary dierent from CD to CD and is

mainly the responsibility of the CD publisher and not AMG, AVA Media or Zara.

Connectivity is simple with the Zara through a convenient array of built-in ports consisting of the most popular connection

options used to interface with Digital Streaming PLayers or other stereo systems.

Standard computer interface peripherals, e.g. keyboard, mouse, TV / VGA monitor may also be connected.

• Fast Ethernet Connection - RJ45 (10/100/1000MB)

• Four USB Ports - 4x back

• VGA Video Out

• HDMI Video Out

• S/PDIF - OUT

• Analog Out - One stereo pair

Quick Start Steps

To get started quickly please follow the steps below. Some features and hardware setups don’t require the same connections;

if you don’t see the need for a particular step simply skip it and move on to the next step. Make sure to perform all required

steps. This section will get your Zara up and running quickly using the default settings for ripping CDs etc.

Step 1 - Required Connections

•ConnecttothelocalNetworkviaanRJ-45EthernetCabletoanetworkport.

•ConnecttheAnalogorS/PDIFoutputtoyourHi-FiStereopre-ampinputs(Connectionoftheaudioishelpfultomonitor

playback).

NOTE: Because the Zara is computer based hardware containing a large internal hard-drive and other computer components,

we strongly recommends connecting it to a quality Power Conditioner/Power Surge protector. This will increase protection

from unwanted surges in the power line.

Step 1a - Optional Connections

These options are only needed if the Local User Interface is going to be used via a connected VGA monitor or TV.

• Connect a standard or USB mouse and keyboard.

NOTE: A keyboard is not absolutely needed as the Local User Interface has an on screen keyboard, but a connected keyboard will

make interfacing easier and faster.

• Connect a VGA computer monitor or any VGA compatible monitor, or HDMI TV

Step 2 - Power Up

After all of the connections have been made connect the Power Supply Adaptor the power to the Zara. If required press the

power button located at the rear (left) of the unit. Wait for the system to boot up. A small white light on the front of the unit

indicates the unit is on. The light in the power button at the back indicates hard disk activity.

Step 3 - Install Zara Desktop Interface Software

Insert the CD supplied into a PC located on the same network as the Zara. Click on the ‘Install AVA Media Zara icon, from the

menu displayed. This will install the Zara Desktop Interface software on your computer and will be used to setup the Zara.

Step 4 - Identify Zara to the Desktop Interface

From the Zara Desktop Interface click on File | Connect. Click on Scan for Zara ’s to see all Zara s on the

local network. Click on the name of the unit this session of the Zara Desktop Interface will be interfacing with. It is only pos-

sible to connect to one Zara unit at a time via the Zara Desktop Interface software.

Step 5 - Identify The Zara’s IP Address

From the Zara Desktop Interface software, click on Tools | Status & Messages | System Status. Look at the Host Address to see

the IP address of the Zara Music Zara .

You may want to change this to a static IP address, how to do this is shown later in this User Guide. In either case record the IP

address and name of the Zara unit for reference when programming with Touchscreen Designer. It is not necessary to make

changes to the Zara from the Desktop Interface or Local User Interface before starting to use it. The default settings in the Zara

will be acceptable for most users.

If the installer is using the Local User Interface the IP Address can be found by clicking on Menu (bottom right of VGA monitor) | Sys-

tem | System Status. The screen will display connection information including the IP address of the Zara.

Step 6 - Local User Interface

If the Zara is connected to a VGA computer monitor or VGA compatible TV monitor it is possible to start using it as

soon as it is powered up. To interface with the Local User menu you will need a keyboard (The Local User Interface

has an on screen keyboard that may be used in place of a real keyboard) and mouse connected to the unit. Please see Navigat-

ing Menus below. The menus are intuitive and self explanatory.

Step 7 - Rip CDs

To rip CDs simply insert the CD into the front of the Zara to automatically start the ripping process. Remember the default

settings for ripping etc. on the Zara are the most popular settings. If you want to change the ripping settings see Navigating

Menus | System | Settings | Ripping/Encoding below. Two copies are ripped automatically to the Zara. The Local Zara version

is a bit-perfect copy of the CD with no loss of digital information and simultaneously an encoded version is copied using the

Ripping/Encoding settings.

Step 8 - Listen to Ripped Music

From the Zara Desktop Interface, click on Music Library | Artists or Albums | right click on the album and select Play.

From the Local User Interface, click on Music Library | All Music | 1. A-Z Albums and then click on the album wanted and click on Play

Album. Make sure your Hi-Fi Stereo is switched on to listen to the music. The volume, tone settings etc. are controlled from the Stereo

system not from the Zara.

Step 9 - Assign (UPnP) Digital Streaming Players

From the Zara Desktop Interface (or Local User Interface), click on Tools | Maintenance | Source Maintenance and then name

and select the device wanted.

Step 10 - Read the Manual for advanced settings

You will nd a full User Manual on the supplied CD.

Links (click to access)

Quick Start Guide

Full User Manual

Desktop Software Application

AVA Media Zara Premium Quick start guide

Brand: AVA Media

Model: Zara Premium

Type: Quick start guide

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AVA Media Zara Premium Quick start guide

AVA Media Zara Premium Quick start guide

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