DSP4YOU AV2USB User Manual

AV2USB

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AV2USB

AVB to USB audio interface

User Manual

Revision

Description

Date

V1.0

Initial revision

05-05-2013

AV2USB

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Description

The AV2USB is a bridging interface allowing any computer to act as an Audio Video Bridging (AVB) endpoint. In other
words giving the ability to stream multiple channels of uncompressed, low latency and tightly synchronized audio
over Ethernet networks. By combining asynchronous USB audio to the latest Audio Video Bridging (AVB) standards,
high end streaming of AV content is finally a reality.

From an operational standpoint on the OS side of the computer, the AV2USB is an 8 channel USB audio device with
24/96kHz support. Routing of the audio channels to the playback/recording software is very simple thanks to the
ubiquity of USB audio class 2.0 device. While seen from the AVB Ethernet network side, the interface is now a so
called “Talker/Listener” device. In other words, a streaming interface able to receive and transmit up to 8 audio
channels, packetized as required in upto 8 streams. The configuration & routing to the AVB world is as simple as a
Drag & Drop process thanks the AVBStreamer software or any IEEE 1722.1 protocol compliant software. From a multi­channel background music processor to a PC based recorder (court/meeting), the AV2USB rises to your audio
streaming challenges by providing an affordable Plug & Play interface that does not compromise latency & audio
quality

Features

o USB Audio to Ethernet AVB interface
o Low cost, Low power, small form factor
o OEM friendly

Network

o 2 auto-sensing 10/100Mbps ports
o Automatic fall over for redundancy
o Optional powering by PoE port

Audio Video Bridging (AVB)

o Support for AVBTP 1722
o Up to 8 x streams of recording & playback

USB Audio

o Asynchronous USB Audio Class 2 (UAC2)
o Windows/Mac/Linux compliant
o Up to 8ch @ 24bit – 48kHz

AV2USB

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Table of Content

1 Product Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4

1.1 Front Panel Description .................................................................................................................................................. 4

1.2 Rear panel description................................................................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Feature description......................................................................................................................................................... 4

1.3.1 Audio Video Bridging............................................................................................................................................... 4

2 Setup guide................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

2.1 AV2USB Box content....................................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 Connectivity .................................................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2.1 Network...................................................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2.2 DC power connectivity or PoE............................................................................................................................... 5

2.3 System setup requirements ........................................................................................................................................... 6

2.3.1 PC systems ................................................................................................................................................................. 6

3 Software configuration............................................................................................................................................................. 6

3.1 USB Audio drivers installation under Windows OS...................................................................................................... 6

3.1.1 Download the latest driver version from DSP4YOU.com.................................................................................... 6

3.1.2 Connect your AV2USB unit ..................................................................................................................................... 6

3.1.3 Setup the driver package....................................................................................................................................... 7

3.2 AV2USB configuration .................................................................................................................................................. 11

3.2.1 Driver general info..................................................................................................................................................11

3.2.2 Buffer settings .......................................................................................................................................................... 11

3.2.3 Device configuration............................................................................................................................................. 11

3.2.4 Input channel volume control (recording) ........................................................................................................ 12

3.2.5 Output channel volume control (playback) ..................................................................................................... 12

3.2.6 Clock source ........................................................................................................................................................... 12

3.2.7 Stream formats........................................................................................................................................................ 13

3.3 Mac OSx configuration................................................................................................................................................ 13

3.3.1 Device configuration............................................................................................................................................. 13

3.3.2 Speaker output for default output channel ...................................................................................................... 14

4 AVB Streamer Tools setup guide........................................................................................................................................... 16

4.1 User interface overview of the AVB Streamer toolbox ........................................................................................... 17

4.2 AV2USB Stream configuration..................................................................................................................................... 17

4.2.1 Device info page ................................................................................................................................................... 17

4.2.2 Audio Video Bridging (AVB) stream configuration ........................................................................................... 18

5 Virtual Stream – AVB configuration for 3rd party AVB products ....................................................................................... 21

6 3rd party Software and configuration................................................................................................................................... 21

6.1 Audio Recording........................................................................................................................................................... 21

6.2 Audio Playback............................................................................................................................................................. 21

6.2.1 Foobar (Open Source) .......................................................................................................................................... 22

7 Technical specifications......................................................................................................................................................... 24

7.1 AV2USB Technical specifications................................................................................................................................ 24

AV2USB

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1 Product Overview

1.1 Front Panel Description

1. Network connection #1 on RJ45 connector. Use this connector if you want to power the AV2USB from a PoE

AVB switch

2. Network connection#2 on RJ45. Redundant connection for network.

3. USB Audio 2.0 on miniUSB connector

1.2 Rear panel description

1. DC input for device powering. Requires a stable +5VDC supply supplied with the product

1.3 Feature description

1.3.1 Audio Video Bridging

AVB defines a group of network protocols for the distribution of time synchronized and low latency Audio & Video
streams over IEEE802 networks. By leveraging a combination of existing 802 network technologies along with
standards specifically designed for the purpose, AVB technology lays the ground work for un-paralleled guaranteed
media streaming over Ethernet networks. The overall concept of AVB is actually rather simple. Without getting into
too much detail, the three core protocols specify:

- Timing and synchronization

- Bandwidth allocation through the Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP)

- Traffic shaping to ensure that low priority Ethernet traffic does not interfere with AVB traffic

Engineered from the ground up for media streaming applications, AVB has a definitive edge over legacy Ethernet
technology in the sense that it allows bandwidth allocation and priority rules based on timing. Unlike similar audio
over IP (AOIP) technology, AVB will dynamically assign and defend bandwidth allocation for AVB streaming thanks to
the concept of Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP).

Terminology for AVB streaming goes as follow:

o Audio Video Bridging (AVB): General descriptive for a group of protocols providing audio/ video streaming,

timing, synchronization, Quality of service (QoS) , control and discovery.

o AVB Endpoint: AVB powered device, capable of transmitting and/ or receiving audio streams using P1722/

P1733 transport protocol.

o Talker: AVB endpoint transmitting audio to the network. (Source)
o Listener: AVB endpoint receiving audio from the network. (Sink/ Destination)

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3

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AV2USB

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o Talker/Listener: AVB endpoint that is both transmitting and receiving. All AVB endpoints used on Dana series

are by default Talker/Listener devices.

o Precision Time Protocol (PTP): Allows devices on the network to get a notion of global time in the effort to

synchronize with each other. PTP component in each AVB module can act as a Grand Master (providing
clock) or as a slave (receiving clock). Once a grand master negotiates and is selected as a sync source, all
units will synchronize to it.

o Streams: General term describing packetization of one or multiple audio/ video channels over the network.

Stream can be unicast or multicast. For the time being, the AVB module only supports unicast streaming.
Future revisions will provide additional features.

o Stream ID: Unique 64-bit stream identifier used by AVB transport protocols to identify streams.

2 Setup guide

2.1 AV2USB Box content

Box Content

 AV2USB module in steel enclosure
 Removable wall mount ears
 Step-by-step startup guide
 1 x CAT6 patch cable
 1 x USB2.0 Audio cable

Mounting instructions

The AV2USB unit ships with removable ears allowing wall/ceiling mount installation. Remove the 4 x M3 screws to
modify the configuration of your unit.

2.2 Connectivity

2.2.1 Network

AV2USB requires at least one Ethernet connection for configuration and audio streaming. Configuration is performed
using the provided AVBStreamer toolbox software and using a single Ethernet cable.

 A standard-straight through Ethernet CAT5/6 network is required for connectivity through a network switch.
 A crossover CAT-5/6 cable is required for direct connectivity to a PC/Mac machine that doesn’t support

auto-switching.

AV2USB devices utilize “Zeroconf” technology for plug&play integration.

- If a DHCP server is present at boot up, the AV2USB will automatically acquire an IP address

- If no DHCP server is present at boot up, the AV2USB will use the Link Local Address (Auto IP) P 169.254.0.xxx

Network requirements:

 Audio Video Bridging systems requires special AVB enabled network switches ( so called AVB bridge) to

enjoy the advanced features of AVB such as the Stream Reservation Protocol. Such AVB bridge has the
ability to shape the traffic of the network such that any AVB traffic has higher priority.

If in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact our technical support team at [e-mail]

2.2.2 DC power connectivity or PoE

The AV2USB requires an external DC supply either provided by an external 5VDC SMPS or a PoE switch.

OPTION A: +5VDC power supply (provided with the AV2USB). Here is a picture of the power supply provided along
with the plugs.

AV2USB

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OPTION B: 3rd party AVB Switch with PoE capability(not provided)

2.3 System setup requirements

2.3.1 Windows based PC systems

 CPU 1GHz or higher
 128MB video card
 1 x 10/100MB network connection
 Latest version of Adobe Flash web plug-in from Adobe.com website : http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
 Latest version of the Adobe Air environment from Adobe Website: http://get.adobe.com/air/
 Keyboard & Mouse
 OS: WinXP/Vista/7

2.3.2 Mac OSX

While the USB Audio section is supported under Mac OSx by default, an initial configuration of the stream via the
AVBStreamer toolbox (Windows only) makes the AV2USB not a fully MAC OSX compliant device. An alternative
option can be as follow:

a) Configure the stream/routing of your network using a Windows based PC running the AVBStreamer toolbox
b) Once the network and stream configured, the AVBToolbox software won’t be required anymore and you

can stream audio from your Mac via USB Audio.

3 Software configuration

3.1 USB Audio drivers installation under Windows OS

The AV2USB is an audio class 2.0 device which requires some driver installation under Windows OS. Installation of the
drivers allows any audio playback or recording software to access the USB audio section of the AV2USB. It is
compliant to two standard audio drivers:

- Windows Driver Model (WDM): Almost all software support this scheme but may require some testing since it’s not as
flexible when it comes to routing of the audio channels.

- Audio Stream Input/Output (ASIO) is another driver format optimized for low latency. It is a widely used solution
when it comes to multi-channel audio for professional audio applications e.g. recording/post production software/

3.1.1 Download the latest driver version from DSP4YOU.com

The driver is made available in the User Download section of the dsp4you website. Please log-in with your user
account credentials and look for the AV2USB section at the following link:

http://www.dsp4you.com/user-downloads

Once the driver downloaded, please unzip the folder on your PC, unzip the files to a temporary folder.

3.1.2 Connect your AV2USB unit

In order to automatically detect the AV2USB following the driver installation, you need connect a USB cable between
your PC and the AV2USB.

AV2USB

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3.1.3 Setup the driver package

Click on the setup.exe application to start the installation process. After clicking next, the setup wizard will check your
system capabilities.

If you didn’t connect the USB audio cable and provided power to the AV2USB unit, you will receive the follow

message. Make sure you connect both the USB cable and +5V external DC power to the unit.

Next step is to choose a location on your harddrive for the installation.

Wait for the installation to begin

AV2USB

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.Click on Continue Anyway at the warning about driver certificate.

A successful installation will show the following dialog box.

Following the pre-installation of the drivers on your PC, the connected AV2USB will now be detected by Windows
(pop up window as follow)