M-AUDIO TDIF User Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
What’s in the Box? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
About the Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Product Features & Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Minimum System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Delta TDIF PCI Breakout Cable: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Hardware Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Delta Driver Software Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Windows ME or 98 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Windows 95 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Windows NT/2000 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Macintosh Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Verifying Windows Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Verifying Delta Control Panel Software Installation, PC and Mac . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Delta System Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Delta TDIF’s Inputs/Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
The Digital Monitor Mixer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
The Patchbay / Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Using the Delta TDIF with your Music Software Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Delta TDIF Control Panel Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Monitor Mixer Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Patchbay/Router Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Hardware Settings Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
S/PDIF Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
About Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Save, Delete, Load Buttons; H/W Installed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Delta TDIF Recording Tutorials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Typical Setup #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Transferring from Tascam TDIF to Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Transferring from Computer to Tascam TDIF, monitoring with DAT . . . .35
Typical Setup #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Typical Setup #3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Typical Setup #4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Troubleshooting Tips for Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Appendix A - Technical Specs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Appendix B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Appendix C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Limited Lifetime Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
1
Delta TDIF
™
MANUAL
Version: DTDIF-051601
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card
designed and built by M Audio. Even if you are experienced in digital
recording, please take the time to read this manual. It will give you
valuable information on installing your new card and the supporting
software, plus help you to fully understand the function and usability of
the Delta TDIF.
The Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card is part of the Delta family of audio
devices, and therefore enjoys the benefits of proven Delta technology,
plus advanced and extensive Delta driver development. Once you’re up
and running, you will quickly discover the power and brilliance in
sound, quality and design, of your Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card.
TDIF is a trademark of the Tascam Corporation.
What’s in the Box?
Your Delta TDIF box contains:
• This instruction manual.
• The Delta TDIF breakout cable.
• The Delta TDIF PCI host adapter card.
• CD or floppy disk containing drivers & Delta Control Panel software
for Windows 9x/NT/ME/2000 and Macintosh OS 8.5.1 or higher.
• M Audio Warranty Registration card.
About the Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card
The Delta TDIF functions as a multichannel digital recording interface.
One standard TDIF 8-channel connector provides 8 digital inputs and 8
digital outputs when connected to a TDIF capable device, such as a
Tascam digital multitrack machine, or a digital mixing console with TDIF
I/O. The Delta TDIF has two channels of analog I/O on RCA jacks, plus
coaxial S/PDIF I/O. The user selects between the Analog and S/PDIF
inputs using the supplied Delta Control Panel software, while the output
signal is sent to both the Analog and S/PDIF outputs simultaneously.
The Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card gives you the highest quality digital I/O
available -- all up to 24-bit data width at any sampling rate from 8kHz to
96kHz, (though at the time of this writing, TDIF I/O on the Delta card is
capable of 44.1 or 48kHz operation only. ) The Delta TDIF allows seamless
transfers between your computer and TDIF capable devices, while
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receiving TDIF sync. The Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card’s included
breakout cable provides the Analog and S/PDIF input and output
connections, plus a BNC wordclock output. The wordclock out is always
active, so that you may send a digital clock signal for synchronizing the
sampling clock on other digital audio devices.
You can record instruments or a stereo signal to the Delta TDIF’s Analog
inputs, or record a digital audio signal from your DAT, MiniDisc, CD, or
external A/D converter via the Delta TDIF’s S/PDIF input. You can
monitor from the analog output while you record from the S/PDIF
output to a digital mixdown deck such as a DAT. Last, but not least,
control all routing and hardware settings using the Delta’s
comprehensive control panel software.
Within the Delta TDIF’s PCI chip is a hardware digital mixer. Controlled
by the included Delta Control Panel software, it may handle all of your
routing needs, give you extra control of all left, right and stereo levels, in
addition to control of pans, solos, and mutes.
Product Features & Specifications
• 10x10 24-bit/96khz (48k TDIF) full-duplex recording interface.
• PCI host card with external breakout cable.
• Macintosh and Windows compatible.
• 8-channel TDIF digital input & output on standard TDIF-1 connector.
• Stereo coaxial S/PDIF digital input & output.
• Stereo analog input & output with high dynamic range and low
distortion.
• S/PDIF output simultaneously sent to analog outputs for monitoring
convenience.
• Input switching allows either S/PDIF or analog as active stereo input.
• TDIF-to-S/PDIF or S/PDIF-to-TDIF conversion in real time.
• Syncs with: Internally generated clock, clock from S/PDIF inputs, or
word clock from incoming TDIF.
•Word clock output via break-out cable's BNC connector.
• Comprehensive digital mixing, routing, and monitoring capabilities
with included Delta Control Panel software.
• Hardware sample-accurate sync will allow linking of multiple Delta
units.
•Windows 95/98 multi-card drivers with ASIO1 and ASIO2 multi-
card, GSIF and EASI drivers included; Windows NT multi-card and
Mac OS drivers with ASIO 1&2 also included.
• WDM ASIO (check www.m-audio.com for additional drivers and
driver updates).
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Minimum System Requirements
•Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 or ME.
• Pentium III 500MHz for 96kHz operation.
• Pentium II 400 for 48kHz or less.
• 128 MB of PC100 RAM for 96kHz operation.
• Mac G3 or G3 accelerator with 128 MB of RAM recommended.
• UDMA EIDE or ATA 33/66.
Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card:
1. Delta TDIF Audio Card: This is the PCI “host card” that installs into
your computer’s PCI slot.
2. 15-pin D-sub connector: This 15-pin D-sub connector attaches to the
supplied breakout cable, which provides additional I/O connectors.
This breakout cable is a proprietary cable, manufactured by M Audio.
3. TDIF I/O on 25-pin D-sub connector: This 25-pin D-sub connector
attaches TDIF cable to a TDIF-1 capable device.
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Delta TDIF PCI Breakout Cable:
1. S/PDIF Out RCA jack (sp O): This jack outputs digital audio to a
variety of external sources. This jack is RCA female and is compatible
with coaxial digital cables.
2. S/PDIF In RCA jack (sp I): This jack inputs digital audio from a
variety of external sources. This jack is RCA female and is compatible
with coaxial digital cables.
3. Word Clock Out (black): This female BNC connector outputs a word
clock signal that is in-sync with the present sample rate clock of the
Delta TDIF. The output circuitry is designed to drive a word clock
signal across 75-ohm coaxial cables and into a device with 75-ohm
termination.
4. Analog Out “Left” RCA jack (out L): This jack outputs analog audio to
a variety of external target devices. This jack is RCA female and is
compatible with RCA male audio cables.
5. Analog In “Left” RCA jack (in L): This jack inputs analog audio from
a variety of external sources. This jack is RCA female and is
compatible with RCA male audio cables.
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6. Analog In “Right” RCA jack (in R): This jack inputs analog audio from
a variety of external sources. This jack is RCA female and is
compatible with RCA male audio cables.
7. Analog Out “Right” RCA jack (out R): This jack outputs analog audio
to a variety of external target devices. This jack is RCA female and is
compatible with RCA male audio cables.
Hardware Installation
To mechanically install the Delta TDIF, do the following:
1. Turn off your computer.
2. Remove the computer’s cover and position the computer so that you
may easily access its PCI slots.
3. Select the PCI slot where you will install your Delta TDIF PCI host
card. Make sure the slot is a PCI slot. If you don't know what "PCI
slot" means, check the owner’s manual for your computer. PCI slots
are distinguishable from ISA slots by being shorter and set back
farther from the outside of the computer, however some newer
computers have only PCI slots. Newer Macintoshs will have only PCI
slots.
4. Before removing the Delta TDIF PCI host card from its protective anti-
static bag, touch the metal power supply case of the computer in order
to dissipate any static electricity your body may have accumulated.
You might want to pick up a grounding wrist strap (available from
electronics stores like Radio Shack) if you want to be doubly sure you
aren't carrying a static charge that could damage the card.
5. Remove the metal bracket that covers the access hole on the back of
the computer. This bracket is usually fastened to the computer with a
single screw.
6. Position the Delta TDIF PCI host card over the target PCI slot and fit
the card loosely over it with the card in the upright position. Press the
card gently but firmly downward into the slot until the card is
completely and squarely seated in the slot. If the card seems difficult
to seat, a slight rocking motion may help.
7. Screw the Delta TDIF PCI host card’s metal bracket down into the
bracket hole on the back of your computer using the screw you
removed in step 5 above.
8. Place the cover back on your computer.
Now it is time to connect the Delta TDIF’s breakout cable to the PCI host card
that you have just installed. Never attach the break-out cable with the
computer turned on. Doing so could damage the PCI card, and void your
warranty. Similarly, you should power down your computer before attaching
your TDIF device to the 25-pin connector.
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With your computer turned off:
1. Unwrap the Delta TDIF breakout cable. Locate the 15-pin D-sub
connector on the Delta TDIF PCI Host card.
2. Connect D-sub end of the breakout cable to the 15-pin D-sub
connector on the Delta TDIF PCI Host card that now resides in your
computer.
Delta Driver Software Installation
The Delta TDIF system includes a driver CD for Windows 98/95/NT and
Macintosh, containing all drivers, and Delta Control Panel software. To
install these on your system, please follow these steps:
Windows ME or 98 Installation
1. After installing the Delta TDIF hardware, boot your system and start
Windows. During the Windows boot procedure, new hardware will
be automatically detected by the Add New Hardware Wizard as
shown here. Click ‘Next>’.
2. The ‘Add New Hardware Wizard’ will now ask how you want to find
the driver. "Search for the best driver for your device" is already
selected. Click ‘Next>’.
3. Windows will give you a selection of locations to search. Make sure
that only “Choose a Path” is checked, or click on the check box to do
so. Insert the Driver CD into your CD ROM drive. Type in the drive
letter of your CD drive (we will assume here that it is D:\) and the
path to the Delta drivers for your OS.
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Click ‘Next>’.
4. The ‘Wizard’ reports that its Windows driver file search has found the
M Audio Delta TDIF. Click Next>.
5. Windows is now ready to install the driver files from the specified
location. Click Next>. Windows will start to copy the files and show
you a progress report screen.
6. The Wizard reports that Windows has finished installing the software.
Click ‘Finish’. Your Delta TDIF is ready for action.
After completion of the driver installation, Windows may require you to
restart Windows. If it does request a restart, remove the Drivers CD Disk
from the CD drive and respond “Yes”. The system will restart and your
Delta TDIF is ready for play.
Windows 95 Installation
1. After installation of the Delta TDIF hardware, boot your system and
start Windows. During the Windows boot procedure, new hardware
will be automatically detected.
2. Choose the Install of "driver from disk provided by hardware
manufacturer," then click OK.
3. An ‘Install From Disk’ will prompt you to copy files from the A:\
drive. Insert the Driver software CD into your CD ROM drive. Type
in the drive letter of your CD drive (we will assume here that it is D:\)
and the path to the Delta drivers for your OS. Click ‘Next>’.
4. Windows will start to copy files, with a progress indicator on the
screen. Once this process completes itself, your Delta TDIF will be
ready for action.
After completion of the driver installation, Windows may require you to
restart Windows. If it does request a restart, remove the Drivers CD Disk
from the CD drive and respond “Yes”. The system will restart and your
Delta TDIF is ready for play.
Windows NT/2000 Installation
1. Power up your computer after physically installing the Delta TDIF
interface card.
2. Go to Start | Settings | Control Panel and double click on
‘Multimedia.’
3. Click the ‘Devices’ tab, then click the ‘Add’ button.
4. “Unlisted or Updated Driver" will be highlighted at the top of the list.
Click OK.
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5. The ‘Install Driver’ box will prompt you to insert the driver disk, and
the A: prompt will appear as the path. Insert the Drivers CD into your
CD ROM drive. Type in the drive letter of your CD drive (we will
assume here that it is D:\) and the path to the Delta drivers for your
OS. Click OK.
6. The "M Audio Delta Interface Card" driver will appear in the Add
Unlisted or Updated Driver dialog box. Click OK.
7. Windows NT will require you to restart your computer for the
changes to take effect. Choose "Restart Now." Upon restart, your
Delta TDIF will be ready for use.
Macintosh Installation
1. Open the System folder on your Macintosh hard drive. In the System
folder, locate the Extensions folder.
2. On your Drivers CD disk, open the Mac Delta Drivers folder. Place the
extension file "Delta TDIF Driver" in your Extensions folder by
clicking on it and dragging it to the Extensions folder.
3. If you are using a music program that uses ASIO drivers, it will also
have an ASIO folder within the application’s folder. In your Mac Delta
Drivers folder you will find three Delta TDIF ASIO drivers. For
Cubase versions 4.x, use the "ASIO2 DeltaTDIF" driver. For Metro, or
earlier versions of Cubase, use the "ASIO DeltaTDIF v3" driver. For
any music program that is not ASIO2 capable, use the “ASIO Delta
TDIF” driver instead (check your program’s documentation). Place
the file "ASIO Delta" in your program's ASIO folder by clicking on it
and dragging it to the ASIO folder.
3. Drag the "DeltaPanel PPC" file onto your Macintosh hard drive. You
can run the Delta Control Panel from any place that's convenient,
some music software applications that use ASIO will allow you to
launch the Delta panel from within the program. If not, we suggest
creating an alias to the control panel by highlighting it and pressing
Command (Apple key)+M. Then, drag the alias to the desktop.
4. With the Delta TDIF PCI card installed, restarting the computer will
load the Delta TDIF extension. You will be able to visually see the
Delta extension icon pass by as your system loads extension.
5. Go to the Apple menu |Control Panel | Sound. You should see the
“built-in” sound icon, plus the Delta icon if your Delta TDIF is
properly installed. If your music program does use ASIO
(recommended), leave the Sound Manager driver set to "built-in" for
both Sound In and Sound Out. If your program does not use ASIO
(check your software’s documentation) and you will be using the
Sound Manager to communicate with your Delta TDIF, set Sound In
and Sound Out to “Delta.” See the section “Hardware Settings Page”
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in the Delta TDIF “Control Panel Software” section for information on
selecting Sound Manger inputs and outputs.
Your Delta TDIF is now ready for audio input and output.
Verifying Windows Driver Installation
Windows displays the Delta TDIF driver status in the Device Manager
page of the System Properties dialog box. The Device Manager page is
opened via the Windows Start button: select Start | Settings | Control
Panel | System | Device Manager. With the Device Manager displayed,
click on the "+" next to "Sound, video and game controllers" to open a list
of devices, the Delta TDIF being a device of that nature. Below is an
example view of the Device Manager.
This example shows the M Audio Delta TDIF and Midiman MIDISport
8x8/S (another product shown here only as an example) entries in the
Windows Device Manager device list. The Delta TDIF is properly
installed with no conflicts, as is the MIDISport 8x8/S. If you do not see
your M Audio Delta TDIF in your Device Manager in this fashion, please
jump ahead to the "Troubleshooting" section of this manual.
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Verifying Delta Control Panel Software
Installation, PC and Mac
In Windows, open the Windows Control Panel (do so via Start | Settings
| Control Panel ). If your Delta TDIF hardware and Delta Control Panel
software are properly installed, the Windows Control Panel should
display an "M Audio Delta H/W" icon. By double-clicking on that icon,
you can launch the Delta Control Panel software. For convenience, you
may also create a shortcut on your desktop by dragging a copy of the "M
Audio Delta H/W" icon from the Control Panel to your Windows
desktop using your mouse or trackball. After completing the drag
operation, a dialog box will ask you if you wish to create a shortcut -click on ‘Yes’. Once the shortcut is installed, all you have to do is doubleclick on the shortcut icon on your desktop to launch the Delta Control
Panel software.
On the Macintosh: The Delta Control Panel may be placed anywhere on
your hard drive, or any partition of your hard drive that you find
convenient. Once the control panel file has been dragged from the CD
onto your hard drive, you may double click it to launch the Delta Control
Panel software. You may create an alias to the control panel by
highlighting it, then holding Apple key+M. This alias can then be placed
on your desktop.
NOTE: When using a music software program that is ASIO capable,
launch the Delta Control Panel software from within that program.
Some of the control panel functions will be controlled from within
that program, such as master clock setting and sample rate, so it
is desirable to launch the music program first, and then the Delta
Control Panel from the the program’s “launch” or “control panel”
button. Without the music program open however, it is okay to
open the Delta panel from your desktop or other location.
Delta System Basics
Delta TDIF’s Inputs/Outputs
The Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card’s inputs and outputs are compatible
with a wide variety of audio products. The 25-pin D-sub connector on the
PCI host card interfaces to one TDIF device via a TDIF approved cable.
One TDIF cable carries 16 channels of audio data (8 “in” and 8 “out”),
plus a TDIF sync signal. TDIF is a digital audio standard created by
Tascam, and is generally associated with Tascam digital audio products
or with devices that provide this TDIF technology. Such devices might
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include digital multitracks, digital mixers, or a converter that turns 8
analog signals or ADAT 8-channel optical into a TDIF format signal.
On the external breakout cable that connects to the PCI card, you will find
connectors for all other inputs and outputs. Coaxial S/PDIF I/O on
female RCA jacks accepts a digital input from a variety of sources, and
sends a digital output from your computer via the Delta software. The
Delta Control Panel software gives you several options for digital output,
such as setting copy protection bits, plus advanced settings that will
allow the output of a Dolby Digital 5.1, or “AC3” signal. The breakout
cable BNC connector is a wordclock output which may be used to
synchronize other digital devices to the Delta TDIF board. Wordclock is
a sampling clock signal which automatically operates at the present Delta
TDIF sample rate, whether that sample rate is derived from the Delta
TDIF’s internal clock, S/PDIF input, or TDIF input.
Analog jacks on the Delta TDIF breakout cable, two for input and two for
output, are RCA phono type female jacks. Although the RCA jacks
typically allow connection to unbalanced (typically consumer) line level
connections, +4dBu level unbalanced equipment may be connected to the
Delta TDIF’s RCA jacks. However, sometimes +4dB signals may be too
hot for these analog inputs. Consult the user guide for your particular
device. On the analog outputs, the Delta Control Panel software provides
line level switches between -10dB and -4dB, labeled “Consumer.” These
software switches allow you to adjust your stereo output signal to the line
level of the receiving device.
NOTE: In order to preserve its high dynamic range and minimize
distortion, the Delta TDIF does not have microphone pre-amplifiers
built into it. Therefore direct connection to a microphone is not
recommended. Instead run the microphone signal through a
microphone pre-amp and then connect the pre-amp output to the
input of the Delta TDIF.
The Digital Monitor Mixer
The Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card has a hardware digital audio mixer built
into its PCI controller chip. It accepts digital audio streams from all
hardware inputs and all outgoing software audio devices, mixes them
with 36-bit internal precision and then provides the mixed output to one
or more locations. For the purpose of monitoring, the output of the mixer
may be routed to the pair of Delta TDIF analog outputs and the S/PDIF
digital output simultaneously (SP/ANA stereo pair) . The output of the
mixer may also be routed to the Delta TDIF Audio Card’s TDIF OUT1
and OUT2. At the same time the mixer may be used for stereo mix-down,
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with the mixer’s output recorded into the user’s application software.
The digital audio mixer is configured and controlled by the included
Delta Control Panel Software.
The Patchbay / Router
In addition to the built-in monitor mixer, the Delta TDIF PCI Audio Card
includes an output patchbay/router. The patchbay/router allows each
output (analog or digital) to be connected to a variety of input sources.
The Delta TDIF’s outputs may accept audio from software sources (these
output devices are visible in your audio software applications) or from
hardware sources such as the analog and digital inputs (TDIF or S/PDIF),
or the monitor mixer. This capability makes the Delta TDIF quite flexible
for WAV or AIFF output, monitoring, or directly connecting inputs to
outputs for system test purposes.
Synchronization
For proper operation, the entire Delta TDIF system is always
synchronized to a single master clock. The master clock is chosen via the
Delta Control Panel software, and this clock may be derived from the
Delta TDIF’s internal crystal oscillators, S/PDIF In, or TDIF In. Much of
the time, the master clock is taken from the internal crystal oscillators.
However, the S/PDIF and TDIF options are used in situations where the
Delta TDIF must be synchronized to external digital audio or sample
rates derived from an external device.
Using the initial default setting, the master clock is derived from the
internal crystal oscillators. Operation in this mode is similar to that of a
generic sound card – for instance, when a WAV or AIFF file is played
through the Delta drivers, the software application playing the WAV or
AIFF file is responsible for setting the sample rate in the sound card
hardware. The Delta TDIF supports these sample rates by using either of
its internal crystal oscillators and dividing the rate of that oscillator by
some value to derive the proper sample rate.
In situations where S/PDIF In is being used, the Delta TDIF Audio Card
must be configured to get its master clock from the S/PDIF In data
stream. The reason for this is simple – a S/PDIF data stream coming from
an external source is rarely going to be in sync with the Delta TDIF card
(or other digital audio devices in the system for that matter), even if the
sample rates are set the same. If the master clock were set to use the
internal crystal, then the incoming S/PDIF audio would have "pops,"
"crackles," and other undesirable audio artifacts present in it. Instead,
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setting the master clock to "S/PDIF In" will synchronize the Delta TDIF
card to the S/PDIF input data and its digital audio will be transferred
properly.
In situations where TDIF Clk is being used, such as a clock from a Tascam
digital multitrack or digital mixer that has TDIF I/O, the Delta TDIF
Audio Card should similarly be configured to get its master clock from
the TDIF Clk data stream. The reason for this is the same – a TDIF data
stream coming from an external source is rarely going to be in sync with
the Delta TDIF Audio Card (or other digital audio devices in the system),
even if the sample rates are set the same. If the master clock were set to
use the internal crystal (or S/PDIF In for that matter), then the incoming
TDIF audio would have "pops," "crackles," and other undesirable audio
artifacts present in it. Instead, setting the master clock to "TDIF Clk" will
synchronize the Delta TDIF Audio Card to the TDIF input data and its
digital audio will be transferred properly. The special case to consider,
again, is the external unit sending the TDIF digital audio to the Delta
TDIF card may be "locked" to the word clock emitted from the Delta TDIF
card. In these cases, the Delta TDIF and the external TDIF device are insync, and the TDIF data would therefore be in-sync with the Delta TDIF
system when the Delta TDIF card is set to “Internal Xtal.”
Finally, the S/PDIF In and TDIF Clk options may be used to operate the
Delta TDIF at non-standard sample rates. When one of these two options
is selected, the Delta TDIF’s sample rate will automatically match that of
the incoming S/PDIF or TDIF data stream.
NOTE: When either the S/PDIF or TDIF In is selected as the master
clock source, the Delta TDIF mixer’s frequency response will be
affected by whatever sample rates you inject at the S/PDIF or TDIF
In. This is because (1) the digital mixer operates at the same
sample rate as the rest of the board, and (2) sample rate and
frequency response are directly correlated.
Using the Delta TDIF with your Music
Software Application
Once the Delta TDIF’s hardware and driver software are properly
installed, it is ready for use with your music application software. Some
of these applications may require you to highlight or enable the Delta
TDIF drivers within the program, and others may have a utility that
analyzes or profiles the audio cards in your system and enables the
drivers. Your software should have an audio device driver setup page, as
well as a MIDI driver setup page.
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WINDOWS MME AUDIO INPUT DEVICES: All of the Delta TDIF
card’s TDIF inputs, plus either the Analog or S/PDIF In, may be used
simultaneously for a total of 10 input channels. Within your software
application(s), the names of the Delta TDIF audio input devices are:
PCM In 1/2 Delta-TDIF
PCM In 3/4 Delta-TDIF
PCM In 5/6 Delta-TDIF
PCM In 7/8 Delta-TDIF
SP/ANA In Delta-TDIF
Mon. Mixer Delta-TDIF
The “PCM In” devices allow recording a stereo stream directly from the
specified TDIF input pairs. The “SP/ANA In” device allows you to record a
stereo stream directly from either the Analog or S/PDIF input, as selected in
the Delta Control Panel’s Hardware Settings page (only one pair of these
inputs, analog or digital, can be used at one time, and the “active” input must
be selected in the control panel). The “Mon. Mixer” device allows stereo
recording from the digital "monitor" mixer built-into the Delta TDIF card. The
audio data recorded from this device is the mix of input and output streams
that is set up in the Delta Control Panel software’s Monitor Mixer (see Delta
TDIF Control Panel Software section).
Note that all of the input devices are stereo. Your application software may
break these down further to "left" and "right" mono devices. Therefore you
may see them as "Left PCM In 1/2 Delta-TDIF, Right PCM In 1/2 DeltaTDIF", "Left SP/ANA In Delta-TDIF, Right SP/ANA In Delta-TDIF", or "Left
Mon. Mixer Delta-TDIF, Right Mon. Mixer Delta-TDIF," etc. from within your
recording software.
WINDOWS MME AUDIO OUTPUT DEVICES: All of the Delta TDIF
Audio Card’s analog and S/PDIF outputs may be used simultaneously
for a total of 10 output channels. Within your software application(s), the
names of the Delta TDIF audio output devices are:
WavOut 1/2 Delta-TDIF
WavOut 3/4 Delta-TDIF
WavOut 5/6 Delta-TDIF
WavOut 7/8 Delta-TDIF
WavOut SP/ANA Delta-TDIF
All WavOut devices allow playing a stereo audio stream to the TDIF
hardware outputs (for WavOut 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8), the S/PDIF and
Analog hardware outputs (for WavOut SP/ANA), and/or into the
hardware mixer. Your application software may break each of these
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stereo devices down further to "left" and "right" mono devices. Therefore
you may see them as "Left WavOut 1/2 Delta-TDIF, Right WavOut 1/2
Delta-TDIF", or "Left WavOut S/PDIF Delta-TDIF, Right WavOut S/PDIF
Delta-TDIF", etc. from within your music software. Other software will
handle the outputs as stereo pairs, but allow you to pan audio left or right
within the pair.
Note that each device name begins with "WavOut." This is to remind you
that these are software devices, and not always connected directly to
output hardware. Instead they are connected to the Delta TDIF’s internal
patchbay/router and may be sent to one of many destinations. For more
on the patchbay/router, see the Patchbay/Router section of the Delta
Control Panel software discussion.
MACINTOSH SOUND MANAGER INPUTS AND OUTPUTS: The
Apple Sound Manager limits the user to one stereo pair for input and one
stereo pair for output. Within your music software, the device selection
when using the Sound Manager drivers for input and output will be
“Sound Manager” both for input source and for output port.
To select the Sound Manager driver, open the Apple Menu and go to
Control Panel | Sound. For both “Sound In”and “Sound Out,” click and
highlight the Delta icon, then exit. You may select which Delta hardware
stereo input pair and stereo output pair will be used for the Sound
Manager’s Sound In and Sound Out in the Delta Control Panel
“Hardware Settings Page” (see section, “Hardware Settings Page”under
“Delta Control Panel”). Whichever stereo pair you select, the software
input and output device selection within your music program will
remain the same (i.e., “Sound Manager”).
The Delta TDIF Audio Card is by nature a multichannel card. You can see
how using only the Sound Manager drivers can be limiting. Therefore,
we recommend the use of a music program that is ASIO compliant.
ASIO DRIVER INPUT DEVICES: When using the ASIO audio drivers
with PC or Macintosh music programs that support ASIO-style audio,
the input devices are displayed as mono devices. Within ASIO software
applications, the names of the Delta TDIF audio input devices are:
TDIF In1 Delta-TDIF
TDIF In2 Delta-TDIF
TDIF In3 Delta-TDIF
TDIF In4 Delta-TDIF
TDIF In5 Delta-TDIF
TDIF In6 Delta-TDIF
TDIF In7 Delta-TDIF
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TDIF In8 Delta-TDIF
SP/ANA In L Delta-TDIF
SP/ANA In R Delta-TDIF
Mon. Mixer L Delta-TDIF
Mon. Mixer R Delta-TDIF
Notice the SP/ANA In and Monitor Mixer names include "L" and "R"
characters. "L" indicates the left channel of the stereo stream, while "R"
indicates right channel.
ASIO DRIVER OUTPUT DEVICES: The Delta TDIF’s ASIO output devices
appear in stereo pairs. Because each device is stereo, you may see "left" and
"right" references within your software application. This allows the
application to pan audio left and right under software control. To send a
signal to a Delta ASIO output 1 (for example) as a mono output send, one
would choose "TDIF 1/2 Delta-TDIF" for that track’s output port, and then
pan that output hard left. The ASIO outputs are named as follows:
TDIF 1/2 Delta-TDIF
TDIF 3/4 Delta-TDIF
TDIF 5/6 Delta-TDIF
TDIF 7/8 Delta-TDIF
SP/ANA L/R Delta-TDIF
WINDOWS MULTIMEDIA SETTINGS: Windows may be set up to use
the Delta TDIF as its default audio device, allowing system sounds to be sent
out the Delta TDIF. This also enables you to use the Delta TDIF with the
sound applets included with Windows. To set this up, go to Control Panel |
Multimedia. In the Audio Properties page, set the Playback and Recording
devices to the Delta TDIF input and output devices of your choice. The
recomended choice is the SP/ANA output, using the Delta TDIF’s analog
outs to monitor the system sounds.
Delta TDIF Control Panel Software
ON THE PC: Once the Delta TDIF is properly installed, an "M Audio
Delta H/W" icon will be displayed in your Windows Control Panel. By
double-clicking on that icon, you will launch the Delta Control Panel
software. You may also launch the Delta Control Panel software from the
desktop if you have previously created a shortcut there (see "Verifying
Delta Control Panel Software Installation" section for instructions on how
to do this). Once the Delta Control Panel software has been opened, you
will see the main panel and its several tabs. To display a desired page,
click on its tab. Below are functional descriptions of each page.
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ON THE MAC: The Delta Control Panel must be placed on the hard
drive by dragging the application from the Drivers disk. Once this is
done, an alias may be created by highlighting the Delta Control Panel on
the hard drive and pressing the Apple key+M. Then, this alias may be
dragged to the desktop. Double clicking either will launch the control
panel. Once the Delta Control Panel software has been opened, you will
see the main panel and its several tabs. To display a desired page, click on
its tab. Below are functional descriptions of each page. Though most of
the descriptions are Windows based, the functions are identical unless
otherwise indicated. Within each section you will find the necessary
name changes for using the Delta Control Panel “ON THE MAC.”
NOTE: When using a music software program that is ASIO capable,
launch the Delta Control Panel software from within that program.
There will be a button in the ASIO or Audio setup page that will
allow you to do so. Some of the control panel functions will be
controlled from within that program, such as master clock setting
and sample rate, so it is desirable to launch the music program
first, and then the Delta Control Panel from the the program’s
“launch” or “control panel” button. Without the music program
open however, it is okay to open the Delta panel from your desktop
or other location.
Monitor Mixer Page
The Monitor Mixer is the first page that appears when the Delta Control
Panel is opened, and controls the digital mixer built into the Delta TDIF’s
PCI controller chip. As described in previous sections, the output of this
mixer may be assigned to the OUT1/OUT2 TDIF outputs, and to the
Analog and S/PDIF outputs simultaneously (this selection is made in the
Patchbay Router page). At the same time, the mixer outputs may be
recorded in stereo by software by selecting “Mon. Mixer”as the audio
source for a given track.
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