Apogee AMBUS AES 8+ CARD User Manual
AMBus AES 8+ I/O Card
Installing the AMBus Card
To install the AMBus card into your AD-8000, Trak2 or other AMBus-equipped system, first make sure the
power is turned off. You may wish to keep the unit plugged into a grounded AC receptacle so as to minimize
the chance of static discharge, and avoid standing on carpeting while carrying out this procedure. Keep the new
AMBus card in its packaging until you are ready to install. Now turn the unit around so you’re facing the back
panel. Remove the plate covering an available AMBus slot. Ground yourself by touching a connector on the rear
panel and unpack the card. Insert the card until you feel it mate with the connector at the back of the card bay.
Fasten the card in place with the captive screws provided on the card panel.
AES with the AD-8000 and Trak2
The AES8+ I/O card provides eight channels of AES/EBU-compatible signals in and out, in addition to the
eight channels of AES out and two channels of AES in on the main AD-8000 back-panel, or the two channels of
AES out on the Trak2 rear panel. The AES8+ card provides a full eight channels of AES/EBU in. For use with
recorders such as the Sony PCM-800 or other multi-channel recorders with AES interfacing, the card includes
“bit-splitting” formats which split high resolution signals among multiple 16-bit tracks, at the cost of having
fewer total tracks available for recording. The AES8+ card additionally provides both “double-wire” and “single-wire” operation at high sample rates (88.2 and 96 kHz). High sample rates are only supported in units
(such as the Trak2) that can handle high sample rates. On the AD-8000, the high sample rate modes are
not available.
AES8+ Card I/O Formats
The AES8+ card supports the following digital audio formats:
1. Single-Wire 24-bit AES x 8: 8 channels of up to 24 bits at up to 96 kHz sample rate
2. Double-Wire 24-bit AES x 4: 4 channels of 24-bit Double-Wire AES I/O at 88.2/96 kHz sampling
3. ABS 4/24:4 channels of 24 bits each (Rane’s PaqRat format) bit-split on to an 8-track 16-bit recorder at 44.1
or 48 kHz sampling
4. ABS 96:2 channels of 24-bit, 88.2/96 kHz audio bit-split on to an 8-track 16-bit recorder at 44.1 or 48 kHz
sampling
Note that there are two ABS formats. The first mode (“4/24”) allows four 24-bit channels to be recorded and
replayed across eight 16-bit tracks, while the second (“ABS96”) allows two channels of 24/96 audio to be
recorded and replayed on a conventional 16-bit, 44.1/48 kHz MDM or other recording device.
4/24 mode is compatible with Rane’s PaqRat system, and thus permits replay of tracks previously recorded
with an Apogee AD-1000 Platinum Edition, PSX-100 or Rosetta system. In this mode, each 24-bit channel is
recorded on two adjacent 16-bit tracks. The 16 most-significant bits of the first 24-bit channel are recorded on
the first track of the pair, while the remaining eight bits are recorded on the second track. The final eight bits
of the second track carry a tone to indicate that this track was not designed to be monitored on its own (as a
result, even numbered tracks always have signal present on record). The odd-numbered tracks, however, may
be monitored if desired (bearing in mind that they will only deliver 16-bits of resolution). NOTE: As this is a 24-
bit mode: when using this mode, ensure that UV22HR is turned off on the channels you are using.
An advantage of the 4/24 mode is that you can record or overdub on an individual 24-bit channel, by
recording on two adjacent odd/even tracks at the same time, without damaging any other tracks.
ABS 96 mode uses eight 44.1/48 kHz, 16-bit channels (such as tracks on a conventional modular digital multitrack) to record or replay two channels of full 24-bit, high resolution 88.2 or 96 kHz sample rate audio. NOTE:
As this is a 24-bit mode: when using this mode, ensure that UV22HR is turned off on the channels you are
using.
The bit-splitting modes are selected by DIP switches on the back of the AES8 card, as shown below. Note
that on the card switches, UP is OFF and DOWN is ON. This is the opposite of the switches on the rear of
the AD-8000.
AES8+ I/O Card Operating Information v 1.0
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Configuring DIP switches 1 & 2
DIP switches 1 & 2 are used to configure the 8 channels of AES I/O to the desired format. Please note that
when 96kHz is indicated, both 88.2 and 96kHz sampling rates are available; likewise, when 48kHz is indicated,
both 44.1 and 48kHz sampling rates are available.
Single-Wire 24-Bit AES x 8
Set DIP 1 & 2 ON, or down; AES I/O is now formatted as follows:
• at 88.2/96kHz = 8 channels of 24-bit Single-Wire AES I/O
• at 44.1/48kHz = 8 channels of 24-bit AES I/O
Double-Wire 24-Bit AES x 4
Set DIP 1 & 2 OFF, or up; AES I/O is now formatted:
• at 88.2/96kHz = 4 channels of 24-bit Double-Wire AES I/O
• at 44.1/48kHz = 8 channels of 24-bit AES/EBU I/O
ABS Bit-splitting (ABS96 at 88.2/96; PaqRat 4/24 at 44.1/48)
Set DIP 1 OFF, DIP 2 ON; AES I/O is now formatted:
• at 88.2/96kHz = two channels of 88.2/96kHz 24-bit audio are transferred via 8 channels
of 44.1/48kHz 16-bit AES, for use with a multitrack 44.1/48kHz 16-bit device. (“ABS96”)
• at 44.1/48kHz = 4 channels of 24-bit AES/EBU I/O are transferred via 8 channels of
44.1/48 kHz AES, for use with a multitrack 44.1/48kHz 16-bit device. (PaqRat 4/24
mode)
Note: DIP 1 ON, DIP 2 OFF is not valid and will give undefined results.
Configuring DIP switches 3 & 4
DIP switches 3 & 4 select the AES input pair to be used as a sync source, if the unit in which the AMBus
AES8+ card is installed is set to lock to that card.
Sync to AES In 1 & 2
• Set DIPs 3 & 4 ON
Sync to AES In 3 & 4
• Set DIP 3 OFF, DIP 4 ON
Sync to AES In 5 & 6
• Set DIP 3 ON, DIP 4 OFF
Sync to AES In 7 & 8
• Set DIP 3 & 4 OFF
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