DiGiCo Optocore V221 User Manual

DiGiCo Optocore V221

Appendix A

DiGiCo

Optocore V221

For SD Rack Optocore Operation

Issue E - May 2014

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DiGiCo Optocore V221

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DiGiCo Optocore V221

Content s (Appendix A)

A1.1 Optocore V221 - Introduction ...................................................A1-4

A1.1.1 System Overview...................................................... .......A1-4

A1.1.2 Opto V220 (DiGiRacks) and Opto V221 (SD Racks).......A1-5

A1.1.3 Replacing DiGiRacks with SD Racks ..................... .......A1-5

A1.1.4 Replacing SD Racks with DiGiRacks ..................... .......A1-7

A2.1 The Audio IO Panel.....................................................................A1-8

A2.1.1 Layout ....................................................................... .......A1-8

A2.1.2 Quick Start Guide for SD V370+ and Optocore V221.......A1-8

A2.1.3 Audio Sync.............................................................. .......A1-12

A2.1.4 The Port List ........................................................... .......A1-12

A2.1.5 Managing Ports ...................................................... .......A1-12

A2.1.6 SD Rack Splits........................................................ .......A1-13

A3.1 SD Series Dual Loop Optocore Systems ...................... .......A1-13

A3.1.1 Important Considerations...................................... .......A1-13

A3.2.1 Setting up a Dual Loop System ............................ .......A1-14

A3.2.2 Console Snd/Rcv Ports ......................................... .......A1-14

A3.2.3 Single Loop Console on Loop 2 ........................... .......A1-15

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DiGiCo Optocore V221

A1.1 Optocore V221 - Introduction

A1.1.1 System Overview ...............................................................

The new V221 DiGiCo Optocore fibre system provides users with a highly flexible system. In order for correct and safe operation of the
system, the basic principles need to be understood.

A DiGiCo fibre loop now supports up to 10 SD Engines (5 Redundant Consoles) and 14 Racks. These are identified as follows.

NOTE: For more information on Dual Loop Optocore systems please refer to the relevant section of this
Appendix

SD Engines are allocated ID’s between 1 and 10. SD7 Consoles with 2 Engines are allocated ID’s in consecutive pairs.. 1&2, 3&4 etc.
SD8 Consoles only have a single Engine and therefore only have a single ID. If 2 SD8’s are to be configured as a redundant pair, then
their ID’s should be allocated consecutively, in the same way that SD7 redundant Engines are paired.

SD Racks (and Optocore enabled D-Racks) are allocated ID’s between 11 and 24

NOTE: SD Racks can be set to Opto IDs 1 to 10 but the racks will not work on the Optocore loop if set to these
values. These values are used for factory testing only

As with previous Optocore systems, each device must have a unique ID. Additionally, each device must also be set to run at the same
speed. The previous Optocore system was fixed at 1G. The default speed for the new system is 2G.

Each Optocore loop (running at 2G) is capable of 504 channels of audio at either 48k or 96k. On an SD7, up to 2 loops can be
operated, providing up to 1008 channels of Optocore I/O

The Optocore Interface card (between Optocore connected devices and the SD Engine) supports 496 Input and 496 Outputs.
Inter-console IO is also catered for, allowing the transmission of Audio and Video between SD Engines.

This Optocore system allows for many more channels of audio than can be simultaneously routed into and out of the console. The limit of
simultaneously routed signals is 384 inputs and 384 outputs, including routing to local IO and MADI connected devices.

The V221 Optocore implementation provides additional functionality and features over the original Optocore system, as follows.

All inputs (to racks) are available to all consoles. However, it is possible for any console to opt-out of inputs, on a per-input card basis.
This means that when the channel routing panel is then opened, only the relevant inputs are accessible. This is particularly in a larger
shared system.

Output cards can be allocated / assigned to individual consoles. In practice, this allows a number of consoles sharing a single SD Rack to
have an output card each.

The Optocore system can be “locked” by any console, and reconfiguring of the system is then not possible until all consoles have been
placed in an unlocked state. Within a large shared system, this protection mechanism ensures that audio cannot be disrupted by another
console on the loop.

In order to configure these allocations, the Optocore system has to be mapped. This map tells each device on the loop which fibre
channels it is accessing – either to insert audio onto the loop or to extract audio from the loop.

Racks take audio in from external sources and insert them onto the loop. Consoles then extract this audio, which become the inputs into
the console

Consoles route signals out to the loop (so insert audio onto the loop) and then racks extract this to route out to external devices.

In order for this to operate correctly, a map is built telling each device where it inserts signals onto the loop, and where it extracts audio
from the loop.

The process of building this map has been made as simple as possible, and can be reduced to a few basic steps.

Connect the Consoles and Racks together, as required.

Input cards on the racks must be installed in a single block with no gaps between input cards. (So if your SD Rack only needs 5 input
cards, they must occupy the first 5 slots in the rack)

On every console (SD Engine), open Audio IO and press the “Conform All Ports”. This then will populate the Audio IO panel with all the
connected devices. Every console must have the same Audio IO panel configuration.

Allocate Rack output cards to consoles as required.

Press the “Remap All Optocore” button.

Please carefully follow the procedure in the Quick Start section later in this manual.

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DiGiCo Optocore V221

A1.1.2 Opto V220 (DiGiRacks) and Opto V221 (SD Racks)...........

SD Series consoles are now capable of operating with either one of two different Optocore firmware versions - V220 and V221.
V220 is compatible with DiGiRacks and MiNiRacks and cannot be used with SD Racks or DRacks.
V221 is compatible with SD Racks and DRacks and cannot be used with DiGiRacks and MiNiRacks.

Note: Any type of rack can be used with an SD Series console if it is connected with Coaxial BNC MADI irrespective of the
Optocore version that the console is using.

Sessions that have been created using Optocore connected DiGiRacks and MiNiRacks can be used with SD Racks and DRacks but a
procedure must be followed to acheive this.

Sessions created using Optocore connected SD Racks and DRacks can also be used with DiGiRacks and MiNiRacks but this also
involves a “conversion” procedure.

A1.1.3 Replacing DiGiRacks with SD Racks ................................

If you are connecting racks with Optocore and your session originally used DiGiRacks or MiNiRacks, you can replace these with
Optocore connected SD Racks as follows:

1) Ensure that the SD Series console is running Optocore Firmware V221 (See Technical Note 252)

2) In SD software V370+, load the session and open the Snapshot panel.

3) Make a snapshot (to save all routing, input gains and other rack parameters) and ensure that the Recall Scope can recall all of this
information.

To do this both Global and Recall Scopes should have Input and Output channels and Input and Output Devices ticked for all relevant
input and output routes.

4) Open the Setup/Audio IO panel on the Master screen

5) Select the Opto ports (usually ports 5 and 6 which will be set as DiGiRacks) and set them to be SDRack, and set Optocore ID if
required.

The Optocore IDs will have the following equivalents by default:
DiGiRack ID30 = SD Rack ID17
DiGiRack ID31 = SD Rack ID18
DiGiRack ID32 = SD Rack ID19
DiGiRack ID33 = SD Rack ID20

6) Manually (or automatically if connected) conform the racks to match the previous hardware setup.

7) Recall the snapshot – this should reinstate all the routing lost when the DiGiRacks were converted to SD Racks

8) Check sync is set to Optocore

9) Ensure that the required rack output cards are assigned to your console Optocore ID number (2.1.2 Quick Start Guide)

10) Save session as a New File

To run the console at 96KHz, two MADI Ports are required per 56 channel MADI stream
To convert the session to 96KHz (optional)

1) Make sure that MADI Ports 1-4 are all defined as DiGiRacks

2) Open Session structure and select 96K sample rate with appropriate mode eg 96 busses mode and Restructure

3) When you open Audio IO, you should now see 2 MADI Ports.. 1 : MADI 1/2 & 2 : MADI 3/4 .
Ports 5 and 6 should remain as the SD Racks (as set above)

4) Save session as a New File

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