DSP4YOU AVB inputs, AVB Outputs, Dana 1.0 User Manual

Dana User Manual

Dana Server

User Manual

Version 1.0

Page 1 of 28

Copyrights DSP4YOU ltd

Dana User Manual

Description

Dana Server is a flexible Digital Audio Network Appliance (Dana) designed for the professional audio market. In
today’s world of increasing call for customizable solutions, DSP4YOU answers the needs of customers looking for plug
& play solutions fitting their sophisticated A/V systems. Based on a server + plug-in architecture, Dana enables
customization for both hardware and software. Our philosophy is simple: “Pick and choose and only pay for the
features you need”. On the hardware side, users can select from a wide range of analog and digital I/O cards to fit
with your audio sources/destinations. On the software side, simply configure one of the pre-built plug-in for a wide
range of applications ranging from a BGM processor playing audio from a USB drive to a speaker processor for audio
distribution.

Hardware

 32-bit Floating point DSP – Analog Sharc
 Flexible I/O configuration in 4 slots
 Digital Audio Module slot for AVB/USB I/O card
 24-bit conversion
 48 KHz / 96 KHz sampling rate
 Ethernet AVB (IEEE1722) module
 16 configurable GPIO
 2GB on-board flash storage for recovery
 External + Internal USB drive for storage
 10/100 Ethernet connectivity
 RS232 port
 Euro-style detachable connectors

Control

 Adobe Flash based web configuration
 SSL protected Web interface
 Platform independent (PC/Mac/Linux)
 Live/Real time configuration over Ethernet/Internet connection
 Bonjour powered platform allows convenient naming of the unit
 DHCP/Static/Auto-IP configuration
 Embedded FTP server saves configuration
 Extensive logs saved on flash
 Third party control over telnet/rs232
 Remote Backup/Recovery/Upgrade
 Secure user accounts
 Advance preset configuration

System Diagram

Page 2 of 28

Copyrights DSP4YOU ltd

Table of Content

1

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

1.1

1.2

1.3

2 Setup guide ................................................................................................................................................................................7

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

3 System Configuration..............................................................................................................................................................10

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

4 Open Control Protocol (OCP) for 3rd party control............................................................................................................25

4.1

4.2

5 Technical specifications .........................................................................................................................................................26

5.1

5.2

5.3

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

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

Feature description.........................................................................................................................................................5

1.3.1 Digital Signal Processing ..........................................................................................................................................5

1.3.2 Audio Video Bridging ...............................................................................................................................................5

1.3.3 Multi-track USB Audio playback/recording..........................................................................................................5

1.3.4 Networking at its core..............................................................................................................................................6

1.3.5 USB audio music playback......................................................................................................................................6

Dana box content and mounting instructions ...........................................................................................................7

Connectivity.....................................................................................................................................................................7

2.2.1 Network ......................................................................................................................................................................7

2.2.2 Analog audio I/O card............................................................................................................................................7

2.2.3 Digital Audio I/O card..............................................................................................................................................8

2.2.4 Serial port (RS232) .....................................................................................................................................................8

2.2.5 GPIO............................................................................................................................................................................9

2.2.6 AC power connection.............................................................................................................................................9

System setup requirements............................................................................................................................................9

2.3.1 PC / Mac / Linux systems.........................................................................................................................................9

2.3.2 Control Network minimum requirements..............................................................................................................9

Step by Step setup guide...............................................................................................................................................9

Web interface overview...............................................................................................................................................10

Dana Server configuration...........................................................................................................................................11

3.2.1 Audio settings ..........................................................................................................................................................11

3.2.2 AVB Configuration..................................................................................................................................................16

3.2.3 GPIO programming................................................................................................................................................18

3.2.4 Preset Building .........................................................................................................................................................19

3.2.5 System settings ........................................................................................................................................................20

3.2.6 User access ..............................................................................................................................................................22

AVB End point configuration.......................................................................................................................................22

3.3.1 E-line/E-power configuration panel.....................................................................................................................22

Remote networking configuration .............................................................................................................................24

3.4.1 Firewall configuration.............................................................................................................................................24

3.4.2 Port forwarding........................................................................................................................................................24

General description ......................................................................................................................................................25

4.1.1 Commands strings ..................................................................................................................................................25

4.1.2 Reply string...............................................................................................................................................................25

Recovery of IP address and hostname .....................................................................................................................25

Dana Server specifications ..........................................................................................................................................26

I/O card specifications.................................................................................................................................................27

Digital Audio Interface Specifications .......................................................................................................................28

Dana User Manual

Page 3 of 28

Copyrights DSP4YOU ltd

3

1

Dana User Manual

1 Product Overview

1.1 Front Panel Description

2

SYSTEM
LAN
DATA
D.A.I
POWER

1. Signal LED illuminates, clips depending on the input/output signal. The three LED states indicate:

 OFF state: No signal
 ON state: Signal below-40dBu threshold.
 Blinking state: Signal above -40dBu threshold

2. Clip LED illuminates when the signal is 3dB below the clipping threshold of the audio input/output interface. Please
refer to the card specifications for more information on the maximum input/output.

3. SYSTEM LED after complete power cycle sequence (20sec) illuminates when unit is fully operating. An OFF state
indicates an internal failure (software/hardware) to be investigated by looking at internal logs of the unit.

4. LAN LED illuminates when connectivity is established on the Ethernet LAN connection. In DHCP mode, LED is on
when unit is assigned an IP address by the DHCP server. If no Ethernet cable is connected to the unit, LED is OFF.

5. DATA LED blinks to indicate data traffic with the unit using RS232/Telnet or over the web interface. This LED is
therefore a handy connectivity indicator when it comes to discovering a specific unit within an equipment rack. (e.g.
move a fader and look for a Dana server with a blinking activity light)

6. D.A.I Status indicates the status of the Digital Audio Interface (AVB/USB). Illuminated when module connected to
network/or PC and in an operating mode.

7. Power LED illuminates when AC power is applied to the unit.

1.2 Rear panel description

1

2

4

5

6

1. IEC Power Receptacle: Flush-mount IEC power receptacle for connecting a compatible IEC power cable
(included). Use only the supplied cable or an equivalent International version.

2. Ethernet LAN for 10/100Base T network connectivity using a CAT5/6 cable. Required for web configuration and 3
party TCP/IP control over a secure Telnet session

3. RS232: Serial connectivity on DB9 female connector required for 3
Crestron/AMX/Vitty.

4. GPIO: General Purpose Input/Output header on Phoenix connector. Allows up to 14 low voltage (5V) and 2 high
outputs (12V) for relay trigger.

5. Digital Audio Interface (DAI): I/O slot location for Digital Audio Interface. Current options include:

 AVB module for Audio streaming over Ethernet networks
 USB Audio module for multi-channel recording and multi-channel playback

6. USB host for configuration backup or USB audio playback from USB key or USB Hard drive.

7. I/O card slots for up to 4 Input/Output cards. Refer to the I/O card section for currently available I/O cards.

7

rd

party control with control processors such as

rd

Page 4 of 28

Copyrights DSP4YOU ltd

Dana User Manual

1.3 Feature description

1.3.1 Digital Signal Processing

Dana Server is fitted with a powerful floating point Digital Signal Processor (DSP) providing the necessary processing
for most small to medium installations. Two types of Audio Digital Signal Processors currently exist on the market:

- Fixed DSP architecture where a manufacturer ships a processor with a unique processing signal flow. In 99%
of cases, such product bears the limitation of a fixed I/O architecture. Being a simpler product to design for
manufacturers, fixed DSP architecture come at a lower cost. The obvious limitation of such device is the
fixed DSP configuration of the product which manufacturers typical never modify. As the A/V installation
evolves (.e.g. more in/out), experience tells us that fixed DSP with fixed I/O processors do not scale well.

- On the other side of the spectrum, open DSP and flexible I/O architecture processors will provide the
extensive programming flexibility that is required for complex, large scale systems. Their ability to scale and
fit almost all applications however comes at the detriment of high cost and complex programming skills.

With Dana server, our engineering team designed a product at the crossroads of these 2 types of platforms by
providing:

- Flexible I/O configuration thanks to our 4 I/O slots and numerous AVB end points products

- Inter-changeable pre-configured fixed DSP architecture with plug&play configuration allowing simplicity of
use and simultaneously providing flexibility for a wide range of applications.

Template algorithms included on Dana servers include: Metering, Automatic Gain Control, Parametric equalizers, true
26 x 24 matrixing, Compressor/Limiter, delay, polarity. For more information about Dana server Audio DSP flow
diagram, please consult the plug-in section of the DSP4YOU website.

1.3.2 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)
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.

1.3.3 Multi-track USB Audio playback/recording

Dana server not only innovates by introducing AVB at the core of our architecture, it also innovates with our multi­channel playback/recording interface. Based on the USB 2.0 protocol, the USB audio card available for the Digital
Audio Interface slot can provide 8 channels of recording and 8channels of playback to a nearby PC/Mac machine.
The current maximum specifications for playback/recording are:

- Playback: 48kHz/ 24bit / Up to 8channels

- Recording: 48kHz/ 24bit / Up to 8channels

Refer to the

Page 5 of 28

USB audio card specifications for more information.

Copyrights DSP4YOU ltd

Dana User Manual

1.3.4 Networking at its core

Dana Server leverages a wide range of proven I.T. networking technologies to simplify installation and monitoring of
the unit. Here is a quick summary:

- HTML Webserver: No more software, no more cross-compatibility issues. Dana server greatly simplifies your
work thanks to its embedded webserver. Its user interface is used for configuration and monitoring of the
unit.

- Adobe Flash®: Dana server leverages the latest Web 2.0 Flash technology for a real time user experience
unlike any other interface. A web browser (IE/Firefox/Safari/Chrome..) enabled with the Flash® player is all
you need.

- ZeroConf: Defines a set of techniques to allow plug&play configuration and discovery of network devices.
Forget about static IP, complex network setup techniques. Zeroconf on Dana server allows you to setup a
device with “Zero knowledge, zero configuration”.

- Bonjour/mDNS: Nowadays widely supported by Apple devices, mDNS fits in the “ZeroConf” philosophy of
Dana server by providing the ability to give a name to a device, rather than identified by its IP address. By
default enabled on Mac machines, Bonjour requires to be installed on Windows machine. Thanks to the
Bonjour protocol, Dana server can receive a hostname and does not require you to remember by its IP
address.

- Link Local Addressing (Auto IP): Also part of the ZeroConf philosophy, Link Local Addressing will
automatically assign an IP address in the absence of a DHCP server. Link Local Addressing is a handy
feature when it comes to a direct connection to the unit without the need of using Static IP addressing on
both units.

- DHCP client: Well known to most of you, a network with a DHCP server (most of the time part of the Router)
allows automatic assignment of the IP address. Dana server supports DHCP to allow automatic addressing.

- Transport Layer Security (TLS): With today’s growing security concern, DSP4YOU leads the way in the market
by providing a secure communication link to your Dana server. Thanks to TLS, all messages between your PC
and the server are encrypted to provide a secured path for both Ethernet and Internet connectivity.

- Telnet: Provided as a common user console for monitoring of servers, Dana server provides a telnet
interface on port 23. The most likely use of this interface is remote control from a 3

rd

party control processor

(AMX/Crestron/Vitty..) over Ethernet networks.

- File Transfer Protocol (FTP): Widely used for the transfer of large files between servers, Dana server is fitted
with a FTP server for the backup/upload of files such as audio files/firmware files.

1.3.5 USB audio music playback

With Linux at its core, Dana server is much more than a simple Digital Audio Signal Processing unit (DSP). Thanks to the
USB Audio playback feature, Dana server can easily turn into a Background Music Processor. Current supported files
include MP3 audio files located in the root folder of an External USB hard driver or USB key plugged into the rear USB
port.

Page 6 of 28

Copyrights DSP4YOU ltd

Dana User Manual

2 Setup guide

2.1 Dana box content and mounting instructions

Box Content

 Dana server loaded with I/O cards as per your purchase order
 Rack ears for rack mounting
 IEC power cable
 2m Straight-through Shielded CAT-6 patch cable
 Step-by-step startup guide
 Phoenix style terminal plug-in terminal blocks

Mounting instructions
Dana unit ships with removable rack ears allowing rack mounting or shelf installation. Remove the 4 x M3 screws to
modify the configuration of your unit from shelf to rack configuration.

2.2 Connectivity

2.2.1 Network

Dana requires Ethernet connectivity for configuration through its embedded web-based user interface:

• 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

Depending on the Dana server hardware configuration, two types of network ports may be provided:

Note that both network connections can co-exist on the same network/ switch without any issues. Please consult the

minimum system requirements section for more information.

auto-switching.

• 1x Ethernet port to be used for control over the web based user interface. This port requires a simple
10/100MB connection to a network switch or directly to a PC.

• If the Digital Audio Slot is fitted with the AVB interface, 2 x RJ-45 connectors provide a redundant audio
streaming interface. If redundancy isn’t required a single Ethernet connection to a network switch is
sufficient. AVB requires at minimum 100MB connectivity.

Ethernet port for AVB streaming

Ethernet port for Control

2.2.2 Analog audio I/O card

Page 7 of 28

Copyrights DSP4YOU ltd

Dana User Manual

Dana Server can accept Balanced and Unbalanced audio inputs/ outputs. See the instructions below for audio
connectivity:

Balanced connection Un-balanced audio

S = > Cable Shield

+ = > Positive cable

- = > Return cable

S = > Jumper link to ­+ = > Positive cable

- = > Return cable (jumper to shield)

2.2.3 Digital Audio I/O card

Dana Server accepts Balanced (AES/EBU) and Unbalanced (SPDIF) digital audio as well as Fiber (toslink) connectivity.
See the following instructions for the correct pin out.

Note that the Asynchronous Sample Rate Converter (ASRC) allows a wide range of digital input sample rate from
8kHz-192kHz. The digital output sample rate will be synchronized to the Digital Signal Processor sampling rate.

AES/EBU mode SPDIF mode Toslink

S = > Cable Shield
+ = > Positive cable

- = > Return cable

+ = > Positive cable

- = > Return cable

One toslink receiver connected to
the digital audio source.
One toslink transmitter connected to
the digital audio destination

Toslink fiber cable

2.2.4 Serial port (RS232)

1 x RS232 port allows connectivity to an external control processors (e.g. Crestron, AMX, Vitty..). An RS232 null modem
cable is required for connection to a PC. Pin out for the Dana RS232 connector is as follow:

Pin2: Transmit (TX)
Pin3: Receive (RX)
Pin5: Ground (GND)

Note: Dana server RS232 port does not handle hardware handshaking and therefore CTS/RTS pin are not required.

Page 8 of 28

Copyrights DSP4YOU ltd

Dana User Manual

2.2.5 GPIO

Up to 14 x GPIO and 2 relay outputs are provided for external interfacing.

o GPIO 1 to 14 will connect between +5V and ground. In an input configuration, they can be connected to a

contact closure. In an output configuration, they are able to drive an LED (max 7mA) without the need of
an external power supply.

o Relay output 15/16 are to be used for relay outputs and can sink up to 500mA.

2.2.6 AC power connection

Dana requires a stable 90 to 240V, 50-60Hz AC supply. UPS protected systems will insure higher reliability in installations
where power quality is unknown. Plug the provided AC power cable to the IEC receptacle.

2.3 System setup requirements

2.3.1 PC / Mac / Linux systems

Dana Server requires an initial configuration to operate correctly. Thanks to its web-based interface powered by Flash
technology, Dana server is cross-platform compatible for PC/MAC/Linux system:

 CPU 1GHz or higher
 128MB video card
 RS232 port or USB-RS232 adapter
 Internet browser: IE/Safari/Firefox/Chrome
 Latest version of Adobe Flash web plug-in from Adobe.com website :
 Latest version of Bonjour protocol if using Windows platforms:
 Keyboard & Mouse

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL999

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

2.3.2 Control Network minimum requirements

Dana requires at the minimum a 100BaseT Ethernet network for configuration and monitoring. Internet connectivity
may be provided to allow remote monitoring over Internet. See the port forwarding section in the configuration
section for more information.

Dana server supports 2 modes of IP addressing:

- Automatic with DHCP or Link Local Addressing mode (Auto IP). This is the default mode.

- Static IP addressing (only recommended for users knowledgeable enough to setup a network)

2.4 Step by Step setup guide

The following instructions are a high level summary of the basic steps required to configure a single Dana server.
These instructions should be read along with the configuration section of this manual.

Important note: All units will ship in DHCP/Auto IP mode and configured with the hostname danal.local. When
configuring multiple Dana Servers on one network, make sure to configure each unit with a unique hostsname as a
first step. If using Static IP addressing, also remember to modify the default IP to prevent an IP conflict.

Step 1: Following the connectivity instruction the previous section, power on the unit. Power LED of the front panel will
light up. The bootup sequence is about 20second long.

Step 2: Once the System & Network Status Led illuminate, the unit is ready for control. We can now connect to the
unit using the Internet Browser of your choice (IE/Firefox/Chrome/Safari/). Simply type into the address bar of the
browser “danal.local” as shown in below picture.

Page 9 of 28

Copyrights DSP4YOU ltd