DiGiCo V221 User Manual

DiGiCo Optocore V221

DiGiCo

Optocore V221

For SD Rack Optocore Operation

Issue C - July 2011

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DiGiCo Optocore V221

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DiGiCo Optocore V221

Contents

1.1 Introduction................................................................................... .......4

1.1.1 System Overview............................................................. .......4

1.1.2 Opto V220 (DiGiRacks) and Opto V221 (SD Racks) ..... .......5

1.1.3 Replacing DiGiRacks with SD Racks ............................ .......5

1.1.4 Replacing SD Racks with DiGiRacks ............................ .......7

2.1 The Audio IO Panel....................................................................... .......8

2.1.1 Layout............................................................................... .......8

2.1.2 Quick Start Guide for SD V370+ and Optocore V221 ... .......8

2.1.3 Audio Sync..................................................................... .......12

2.1.4 The Port List .................................................................. .......12

2.1.5 Managing Ports.............................................................. .......13

2.1.6 SD Rack Splits ............................................................... .......13

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DiGiCo Optocore V221

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 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.

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 448 channels of audio at either 48k or 96k. On an SD7, up to 2 loops can be operated,
providing up to 896 channels of Optocore I/O

The Optocore Interface card (between Optocore connected devices and the SD Engine) supports 448 Input and 448 Outputs. In additional
to this, a further 56 channels of inter-console IO is 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 on the following page.

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