Antex Electronics StudioCard AV Pro, StudioCard 2000, StudioCard SC-22 User Manual

StudioCard

StudioCardStudioCard

User’s Manual

User’s ManualUser’s Manual

Antex Electronics Corporation 1125 West 190th Street Gardena, California 90248 USA

from Antex Electronics, Inc. The copyright protection claimed here includes photocopying, translation, and/or reformatting of the information contained in this manual.

Printed in the United States of America. Part Number: 9000-2419-3001, July,

1999.

StudioCard is a registered trademark of Antex Electronics, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT/2000 are registered trademarks of Microsoft

Corporation. SAW Plus is a registered trademark of Innovative Quality Software, Inc. Perception Video Recorder is a registered trademark of Digital Process Systems. SpeedRazor is a registered trademark of In-Sync Corporation.

FCC Compliance Statement for United States Users

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. In order to maintain compliance with FCC regulations, shielded cables must be used with this equipment. Operation with non-approved equipment or unshielded cables is likely to result in interference to radio and TV reception. Changes or modifications made to this equipment not expressly approved by Antex Electronics, Inc. could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

CE Compliance Statement for International Users

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with CE Class B requirements. Standards to which conformity is declared: EN55022 (Class B) 1994, EN 50082-1 1992.

Table of Contents 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 

Table of Contents Table of Contents

Chapter 1  Installing Your StudioCard................................................ 1-1

Overview.....................................................................................1-3

Quick Start..................................................................................1-4

StudioCard Components ............................................................1-5

Minimum System Requirements ................................................1-6





Installing Your StudioCard..........................................................1-7

Connecting Your External Equipment ......................................1-14

Installing StudioCard Drivers and Software..............................1-17

Chapter 2  Using the Antex Demo....................................................... 2-1

Introduction to Antex Demo........................................................2-3

Starting the Antex Demo ............................................................2-4

Demo Main Screen Features......................................................2-5

Recording Digital Audio (*.WAV) Files .......................................2-7

Playing *.WAV Files..................................................................2-14

Synchronizing Playback of Multiple Devices ............................2-17

Digital Feedthrough Mode ........................................................2-18

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  iii

Table of Contents 

Chapter 3  Using the Antex Mixer ....................................................... 3-1

Chapter 4  StudioCard Operational Guidelines.................................. 4-1

Introduction to Antex Mixer.........................................................3-3

Starting the Antex Mixer .............................................................3-4

Mixer Controls and Indicators.....................................................3-5

Adjusting the Antex Mixer Display............................................3-13

Selecting the Active Antex Mixer..............................................3-16

Two-Device / Four-Device Operation.......................................3-24

Simultaneous Record-Play (SRP) Mode ..................................3-27

Introduction.................................................................................4-3

Levels and Headroom ................................................................4-4

Maximizing Signal to Noise Ratio / Setting Levels......................4-6

Using the StudioCard with Video Capture & Display Boards......4-7

Monitoring / Feedthrough .........................................................4-15

Chapter 5  Synchronizing Multiple StudioCard Cards....................... 5-1

Introduction.................................................................................5-3

Installing Multiple StudioCards ................................................... 5-4

Identifying Adapter Numbers......................................................5-8

Establishing Master and Slave(s) Cards ..................................5-10

Making Board-to-Board Clock Connections.............................5-11

Configuring Clock Source Settings...........................................5-12

Chapter 6  StudioCard Theory of Operation....................................... 6-1

Overview.....................................................................................6-3

Block Diagram ............................................................................6-4

Table of Contents 

Analog Audio ..............................................................................6-5

Digital Audio................................................................................6-6

Sample Clock Generator ............................................................6-7

MIDI............................................................................................6-8

SMPTE (LTC).............................................................................6-9

Video.........................................................................................6-10

DSP ..........................................................................................6-11

Chapter 7  FAQ’s & Technical Support............................................... 7-1

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)..........................................7-3

Contacting Technical Support ....................................................7-9

Appendix A  Specifications .................................................................A-1

General Characteristics..............................................................A-3

Analog Signal Quality .................................................................A-3

Analog Input................................................................................A-4

Analog Output.............................................................................A-5

External Bracket Connectors......................................................A-6

Internal Connections...................................................................A-6

Memory.......................................................................................A-7

MIDI Interface.............................................................................A-7

PC Interface................................................................................A-7

Sample Clock Generator ............................................................A-7

Signal Processor ........................................................................A-8

SMPTE Interface ........................................................................A-8

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  v

Table of Contents 

Appendix B  I/O Port Pinouts and Cable Schematics........................B-1

Balanced Analog I/O Port Pinouts..............................................B-3

Four-Channel Balanced Analog I/O Cable Schematic ...............B-4

Balanced-to-Singled-Ended Adapter Schematic ........................B-5

Digital I/O and Sync Port Pinouts ...............................................B-6

Digital I/O Cable Schematic........................................................B-7

Chapter 1 

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 

Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Installing Your

Installing Your Installing Your

StudioCard

StudioCardStudioCar d

Overview.....................................................................................1-3

Quick Start..................................................................................1-4





StudioCard Components ............................................................1-5

Minimum System Requirements ................................................1-6

Installing Your StudioCard..........................................................1-7

Connecting Your External Equipment ......................................1-15

Installing StudioCard NT Drivers and Software........................1-18

Installing Windows 95/98 Drivers.............................................1-24

Installing Antex Demo and Mixer in Windows 95/98................1-26

Changing Driver Settings in Windows 95/98............................ 1-32

Updating Windows 95/98 Driver...............................................1-36

Troubleshooting Windows 95/98..............................................1-40

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-1

 Chapter 1

This page intentionally left blank.

Overview Chapter 1 

Overview

Thank you for purchasing an Ant ex StudioCard 2000 (hereafter ref er r ed to as StudioCard). The StudioCard is a 4channel, professional quality audio adapter desig ned to add the excitement of audio to the non-linear video editor’s t ool set. W it h it s built in hardware “clock lock” you will never again have to worry about “lip sync.” The StudioCard takes care of it for you.

The StudioCard has all the feat ures professionals look for, among them:

Balanced XLR connectors Windows NT/2000 drivers 95 dB dynamic range AES/EBU digital I/O Read, generate, and screenburn SMPTE

With four channels of 20-bit sound and real-time dig it al m ixing capability, the StudioCard offers unmatched quality, flexibility and expandability. And by installing up to four StudioCards, you can record and play up to 16 channels of digital sound on a single PC.

To start adding studio quality sound to your editing environment, simply follow the installation instruct ions beginning on page 1-4.

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-3

 Chapter 1 Quick Start

Quick Start

Installing your StudioCard is relatively straightforward and is accomplished in the 6 key steps shown below.

Make Sure You Have All

1 2

Install the StudioCard in Your Computer

Connect Your External Equipment

StudioCard Components

Verify that Minimum Installation

Requirements are Met

and Connect Internal Cables

to the StudioCard

Install Antex Drivers and Software

Test Your StudioCard

StudioCard Components Chapter 1 

StudioCard

Components

Before getting star ted, make sure you have each of the components listed below.

StudioCard 2000 (PN 9000-2419-3001) StudioCard 2000 User’s Manual (PN 9000-2419-7007) Cables:

Four-Channel Balanced Analog I/O Cable

(PN 210-0382)

Digital Audio I/O cable

(PN 210-0393)

Composite Video Cable Assembly

(PN 210-0397)

Internal PVR Clock Connection Cable

(PN 210-0398)

3.5 inch floppy disket t es:

Windows NT/2000 Driver for Intel-based m achines ( PN

9000-2362-7001)

Windows NT/2000 Software for Intel- based m achines

(PN 9000-2362-7005)

Windows 95/98 Driver (PN 9000-2390-7002) available

at ou r website: www.antex.com

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-5

 Chapter 1 Minimum System Requirements

Minimum

System

Requirements

Not

The StudioCard is designed f or system s t hat m eet the following requirements:

IBM compatible PC with PCI Interface Bus 486-DX2/66 processor or higher 16 MB RAM 20 millisecond access time hard disk VGA display Windows NT/2000 3.51 or greater (4.0 recom mended)

If you are running Windows NT 3.51, inst all the Microsoft Service Pack 4 before installing your Antex StudioCard. The Microsoft Service Pack 4 is available at the following Microsoft web site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows.

Installing Your StudioCard Chapter 1 

Installing

Your

StudioCard

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to install your StudioCard in your computer.

CAUTION: Static electricity can damage your StudioCard and your computer. Every time you move, you are creating static electricity, even though you can’t see it. Therefore, take the following precautionary actions while installing your StudioCard:

1. Do not remove the StudioCard from its anti-static bag until instructed to during the inst allation process.

2. Move the StudioCard and its cables i n cl ose proximity to your computer. Once you begin the installation process, do not walk around with the StudioCard so that you do not build up static electricity.

3. Power OFF your computer, then touch the nonpainted backside to discharge static electri ci ty from your body before touching the circuit board.

CAUTION: The XLR outputs of the StudioCard may be

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-7

damaged if connected to microphone inputs that provide phantom power. The StudioCard outputs are designed to be connected to equipment that accepts

h level sources, not low level microphone inputs!

 Chapter 1 Installing Your StudioCard

Severe damage will occur to the StudioCard if connected to phantom power.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Power off your computer (if you have not already done so) and unplug the power cord from the elect r ical out let.

Remove the housing from your computer t o expose the motherboard.

Writ e t he ser ial num ber for your Antex StudioCard in the space below.

Serial Number: ___________________________________ If you ever need technical support from Ant ex in the future, you

will need this number. The serial number is on the backs ide of your Antex StudioCard. Serial numbers are preceded by “S/N” and contain five digits.

Example serial number: “S/N 48008”

Installing Your StudioCard Chapter 1 

Step 4

Locate an available PCI expansion slot and remove its cover, as is shown in the figure at right.

Be sure to keep the retaining screw as you will need it later.

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-9

 Chapter 1 Installing Your StudioCard

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Gently insert the Antex StudioCard into an available PCI expansion slot, then press down to set it firmly into the expansion slot, as is shown in the figure at right.

Secure the Antex StudioCard in place with the retaining screw you removed earlier from the expansion slot cover.

If you are installing only one Antex StudioCard at this time, continue to Step 8.

If you are installing two or more Antex StudioCard cards, skip to Chapter 5, Synchronizing Multiple StudioCard Cards now. Then, return to Step 9 when finished.

Step 8

If you will be using your StudioCard in conjunction with the Perception PVR without t he Percept ion Effects board (PFx), continue to Step 9.

If you are using the PFx board with the PVR or a video capture board from any other manuf act ur er (Truevision, Intergraph, Matrox or other), skip to step 11.

Installing Your StudioCard Chapter 1 

Step 9

The DPS PVR provides a 27MHz clock on the CVE-2 video bus expansion connector. This signal will be connected to the StudioCard using the provided Sync cable, PN 210-0398, as the master clock refer ence. The StudioCard and the PVR must be located near enough for t he cable to reach between the boards.

Locate the PVR Sync cable. On the black plastic end, identify the pin with the embossed arrow. Orientation of this pin during installation is extremely important.

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-11

 Chapter 1 Installing Your StudioCard

You will connect to the PVR board here.

With the com put er turned OFF, insert the end of the cable with the flat black plastic connector over pins 37 and 38 on the CVE-2 video bus expansion connector on the PVR board. The

embossed arrow on the plastic connector must be oriented toward the top edge of t he PVR board. The

locations of pins 37 and 38 are shown below.

2 4 6 8 …………………. 38 40 1 3 5 7 …………………. 37 39

Step 10

Connect the metal SMB connector on the other end of the cable to the gold CLOCK IN connector on the top of the

StudioCard.

Installing Your StudioCard Chapter 1 

When using the PVR Sync cable as installed above in

Not

Steps 9 and 10, the clock source must be set to Int er nal, Reference 27MHz, in the Antex Mixer. When using Composite Video as the clock synchronization source as described below in Steps 11-15, the clock source must be set to Hsync in the Antex Mixer. The Antex Mixer is described in Chapter 3.

Step 11

Step 12

Locate the Video Cable Assembly shown at right. This cable loops composite video through the StudioCard for use as a clock reference as well as the signal into which SMPTE can be screenburned.

Plug the SMB connectors of the Video Cable Assembly into the gold Video Input and Video Output connectors on the StudioCard, as shown at right. The input and output are clearly marked on the board.

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-13

 Chapter 1 Installing Your StudioCard

Step 13

Step 14

Locate an available 25-pin D connector punch-out on the back panel of the computer and remove the punch-out . (The cable bracket has been designed not to require a typical computer bracket which would waste a card slot. It fits in a 25 pin D connector punch out available near the power supply of most computer cases.)

If there is no 25 pin punch-out available, you must procur e a bracket with a hole for a 25 pin D connector. The bracket requires the same size cutout as a parallel port connector and is available at most computer stores.

From the inside of the computer , insert the Video Cable Assembly mounting plate into the punch-out, then secure it in place with the two screws provided. Label which BNC you have connected to Video In and Video Out on the card.

A properly installed Video Cable Assembly should look like that shown at right.

Step 15

Replace the cover on your computer and secure it in place with the screws you removed earlier.

The next step in the StudioCard installation process is to connect your external A/V equipment to the StudioCard. Refer to the instructions beginning on page 15.

Connecting Your External Equipment Chapter 1 

Connecting

Your External

Equipment

Step 1

Follow the instructions below to connect your external audio and video equipment to the StudioCard. Also refer to the user manuals of your video capture device and other external equipment.

Locate the Four-Channel Balanced Analog I/O Cable shown below.

Step 2

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-15

Attach the Four-Channel Balanced Analog I/O Cable to the analog Balanced I/O port on the bracket and secure it in place with the locking screws.

Notice that there is a white tag on each connector that indicates which are input connectors and which are output.

 Chapter 1 Connecting Your External Equipment

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Locate the Digital Audio I/O Cable show below.

Attach the Digital Audio I/O Cable to the Digital Audio and Sync I/O port on the bracket and secure it in place with the locking screws.

Attach your external audio / video equipment to the appropr iat e analog and digital cable connectors, using t he white tags above each connector for reference.

Specific pinout information is provided in Appendix B.

Not

Step 6

Theory of Operation information for these cables is provided in Chapter 6.

Plug in your computer and power it on.

Connecting Your External Equipment Chapter 1 

The next step in the installation process is to install the Antex StudioCard drivers and software. Refer to the instructions beginning on page 18, Installing St udioCar d Drivers and Software.

CAUTION: The XLR outputs of the StudioCard may be

damaged if connected to microphone inputs that provide phantom power. The StudioCard outputs are designed to be connected to equipment that accepts high level sources, not low level microphone inputs! Severe damage will occur to the StudioCard if connected to phantom power.

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-17

 Chapter 1 Installing StudioCard NT Drivers and Software

Installing

StudioCard

NT Drivers

and Software

Not

Step 1

The StudioCard comes with two programs—Antex Demo and Antex Mixer—as well as drivers for Windows NT/2000.

The Antex Demo is used primarily for t esting your

StudioCard and demonstrating it s capabilit ies.

The Antex Mixer is a powerful patch bay, mixing console,

and configuration tool for the StudioCard.

To install the drivers, Antex Demo, and Ant ex Mixer, simply follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Be sure to check Antex’ web site periodically for the latest StudioCard drivers. Our web address is www.antex.com.

Insert the appropriate Antex Drivers and Software diskette into your floppy drive.

If your computer has an Intel processor, use the PN 9000-2362-7001 disk.

If your computer has an Alpha processor, use the PN 9000-2362-7004 disk.

Installing StudioCard NT Drivers and Software Chapter 1 

Step 2

Click Start on your Windows NT/2000 desktop, then select Run, as is shown at right.

The Run dialog box shown at right appears.

Step 3

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-19

Type A:\SETUP (or B:\SETUP), then click O

 Chapter 1 Installing StudioCard NT Drivers and Software

Step 4

The Antex Driver Setup pop-up appears

Click Continue to proceed with setup

Step 5

The Enter Demo Program Location dialogue box appears.

Enter a location for the Antex Demo programs (or accept t he default), then click C

ontinue.

Installing StudioCard NT Drivers and Software Chapter 1 

The Antex Setup pop-up appears and reports the progress of the installation.

When the inst allat ion is complete, you will see the

Antex Audio Driver Setup

window shown at right. Notice that default

selections are displayed in both the Select Adapter and Devices groups.

The Select Adapter setting allows you to configure one or more StudioCard cards. The Devices setting indicates to Windows NT/2000 how many stereo or mono files each StudioCard is configured to allow.

Step 6

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-21

If you are installing only one Antex StudioCard card, accept the default settings (Select Adapter = 1 and Devices = 8). The options in the Devices block are explained in Chapter 3.

If you are installing more than one StudioCard card, set Devices to 8 for each card (Adapter). Simply click an adapter (for example 2), then select 8 in t he Devices group, until you have set the devices for all adapters.

 Chapter 1 Installing StudioCard NT Drivers and Software

Step 7

Step 8

Click OK to complete the drivers and sof t ware installat ion. The Setup program will automatically configure the I/O port and interrupt.

When the drivers and software installation is complete, the Setup Complete pop-up appears.

Click OK to exit the Antex Driver Setup progr a m and r eturn to the Windows NT/2000 desktop.

During the installation process, a new program group, Antex Demo Programs, was created in your program list, as is shown below.

Installing StudioCard NT Drivers and Software Chapter 1 

The final step in installing your StudioCard is to test its playback and recording capabilities. Consult the sect ion entitled Playing *.WAV Files in Chapter 2, Using t he Antex Demo.

Before playing a wave file for the first time, turn down

the volume on your audio equipment. The StudioCard default output level is quite l oud.

Antex Electronics Corporation Antex StudioCard  1-23

 Chapter 1 Installing Windows 95/98 Drivers

Installing

Windows

95/98 Drivers

Not

Step 1

Step 2

To install the Windows 95/98 drivers, simply follow the stepby-step instructions below.

Please note that the Antex Demo and Antex Mixer are installed separately from the drivers in Windows 95/98. Installation instructions for these programs follow this section.

Be sure to check Antex’ web site periodically for the latest StudioCard drivers. Our web address is www.antex.com. It is recommended the files are unzipped, copied to a floppy, and installed from the floppy disk.

After installing the StudioCard, power on the computer. Windows 95/98 Plug and Play will recognize the new hardware and ask you to install drivers for it.

Insert the Windows 95/98 Driver and Software diskette into the floppy drive, PN 9000-2390-7002.

The following dialog box will appear. Verify “Driver from disk provided from hardware manufacturer” is checked, and click OK.

+ 117 hidden pages

Antex Electronics StudioCard AV Pro, StudioCard 2000, StudioCard SC-22 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual