Rme MULTIFACE User Manual

™

User’s Guide - Macintosh

Hammerfall® DSP System

The most compact professional multitrack recording system ever!

24 Bit / 96 kHz üü

SyncAlign

2 + 24 Channels Stereo / ADAT Interface

24 Bit / 96 kHz Analog Stereo Monitor

Multiface

TotalMix

ZLM® SyncCheck®

PCI Busmaster Digital I/O System

PCI and CardBus Interface

ADAT Sync In

Contents

1 Introduction............................................................ 3

2 Package Contents..................................................3

3 System Requirements............................................ 3

4 Brief Description and Characteristics................... 4

5 Technical Specifications

5.1 Digital.................................................................... 4

5.2 Analog................................................................... 4

5.3 Transfer Modes: Resolution/Bits per Sample......... 5

5.4 Power supply......................................................... 5

6 Hardware Installation

6.1 PCI Interface......................................................... 6

6.2 CardBus Card........................................................ 6

7 Software Installation.............................................. 7

8 Operation and Usage

8.1 Connections .......................................................... 9

8.2 Recording Digital................................................. 10

8.3 Recording Analog................................................ 10

8.4 Analog Inputs ...................................................... 11

8.5 Analog Outputs.................................................... 11

9 Configuring the Multiface

9.1 General Information............................................. 12

9.2 Clock Modes - Synchronization............................ 14

9.3 Changing the Jumper Settings ............................. 15

10 Word Clock

10.1 Technical Description and Usage....................... 17

10.2 Cables and Termination..................................... 17

10.3 General Operation............................................. 18

11 Using more than one Hammerfall DSP ............... 18

12 Special Characteristics of the SPDIF Output...... 18

13 Operation under ASIO 2.0

13.1 General ............................................................. 19

13.2 Performance...................................................... 19

13.3 Synchronization................................................. 20

13.4 Known Problems................................................ 20

14 TotalMix: Routing and Monitoring

14.1 Elements of the Surface.................................... 21

14.2 Tour de TotalMix ............................................... 22

14.3 Submix View ..................................................... 23

14.4 Mute and Solo ................................................... 23

14.5 Hotkeys ............................................................. 23

14.6 Quick Access Panel ........................................... 24

14.7 Presets.............................................................. 25

14.8 Level Meter ....................................................... 26

15 Notes on Laptops and CardBus.......................... 27

16 Hotline - Troubleshooting

16.1 General............................................................. 28

16.2 Installation......................................................... 29

17 Software and Hardware Compatibility ................ 29

18 Accessories.......................................................... 30

19 TECH INFO ........................................................... 31

20 Warranty ............................................................... 32

21 Appendix............................................................... 32

22 Diagrams

22.1 Block Diagram Multiface.................................... 33

22.2 ADAT Track Routing, ASIO 96 kHz................... 34

22.3 Block Diagram TotalMix .................................... 35

23 CE / FCC Compliance........................................... 36

User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME

1. Introduction

Thank you for choosing the Hammerfall DSP. This unique audio system is capable of transferring digital audio data directly to a computer from practically any device equipped with a digital audio interface, be it S/PDIF, AES/EBU or ADAT optical. The numerous unique features and well thought-out configuration dialog puts the Hammerfall DSP at the very top of the range of digital audio interface cards.

The package includes drivers for Windows 98/2000/XP and MacOS. An ALSA driver for Linux is planned to be available soon (see chapter 7).

Our high-performance philosophy guarantees maximum system performance by executing all functions directly in hardware and not in the driver (i.e. the CPU).

2. Package Contents

Please check that your Hammerfall DSP Systems package contains each of the following: PCI Interface:

• PCI card HDSP

• Quick Info guide

• RME Driver CD

• Cable IEEE1394, 4.5 m (15 ft)

• Internal cable (3 pin)

CardBus Interface:

• CardBus card

• Quick Info guide

• RME Driver CD

• Cable CardBus to IEEE1394, 4.5 m (15 ft)

• 12 V car cable

• Battery cable

• Power supply 12 V / 1.25 A and power cord

Multiface:

• I/O-box Multiface

• Quick Info guide

• RME Driver CD

• 1 optical cable (TOSLINK), 2 m (6.6 ft)

3. System Requirements

• MacOS 8.6 or greater. G3 300 MHz recommended

• PCI Interface: a free PCI rev. 2.1 Busmaster slot

• CardBus Interface: a free PCMCIA Slot type II, CardBus-compatible

Note: Information on compatibility and performance of notebooks/laptops is included in RMEs Tech Infos about notebooks, HDSP System – Notebook Basics and Tests.

User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME

4. Brief Description and Characteristics

• Hammerfall design: 0% (zero!) CPU load, even using all 26 ASIO channels

• All settings can be changed in real-time

• Enhanced mixed mode: ADAT In, S/PDIF In, and all outputs can be used simultaneously

• 8 available buffer sizes/latencies: 1.5 / 3 / 6 / 12 / 23 / 46 / 93 / 186 ms

• Sample Split technology for 4 channel, 96 kHz/24-bit record/playback via ADAT optical

• Slave and master clock modes

• Automatic and intelligent master/slave clock control

• Unsurpassed Bitclock PLL (audio synchronization) in ADAT mode

• Word clock input and output

• ADAT Sync in (9-pin D-type) for sample-accurate transfer

• Zero Latency Monitoring: Hardware bypass per track, controlled by Punch in/out

• Enhanced ZLM for latency-free submixes and perfect ASIO Direct Monitoring

• SyncAlign guarantees sample aligned and never swapping channels

• SyncCheck tests and reports the synchronization status of input signals

• 1 x MIDI I/O, 16 channels high-speed MIDI

• 1 x Analog Line/headphone output, separate output for independent submix

• DIGICheck DSP: Level meter in hardware, peak- and RMS calculation

• TotalMix: 720 channel mixer with 40 bit internal resolution

5. Technical Specifications

5.1 Digital

• Super Low Jitter Design: < 3 ns word clock PLL, < 2 ns ADAT PLL, < 1 ns internal

• Internal sample rates: 32 / 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 kHz

• Supported sample rats through word clock: 27 kHz - 103 kHz

• Internal resolution: 24 Bit

• Input PLL ensures zero dropout, even at more than 40 ns jitter

• Bitclock PLL for trouble-free varispeed operation in ADAT mode

• High-sensitivity input stage (< 0.2 Vss input level)

• Output voltage 0.8V (consumer mode, phono) or 2.3V (professional mode)

• Phono input and output ground-free transformer coupled

• Connectors: optical (TOSLINK), phono, BNC

• Clocks: ADAT Sync In, word clock I/O

• Formats: SPDIF (Consumer and Professional), ADAT optical

5.2 Analog

Stereo Monitor Output

• Analog output level +8 dBu @ 0 dBFS

• Dynamic range: 108 dB (RMS unweighted, unmuted), 112 dBA

• THD+N: -100 dB / 0.001%

• Frequency response DA, -0.1 dB: 20 Hz - 20.8 kHz (sf 44,1 kHz)

• Frequency response DA, -0.5 dB: 10 Hz - 44 kHz (sf 96 kHz)

• Sample rates playback: 32 / 44.1 / 48 / 64 / 88.2 / 96 kHz and variable (word clock)

• Ouput impedance: 75 Ohm

• Channel separation: > 110 dB

User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME

• Resolution AD: 24 Bit

• Signal to Noise ratio: 101 dB RMS unweighted, 106 dBA

• THD: < -107 dB, < 0.00045 %

• THD+N: < -96 dB, < 0.0016 %

• Crosstalk: > 120 dB

• Analog headroom prior to AD conversion: 13 dB

• Frequency response AD @ 44.1 kHz, -0.5 dB: 5 Hz - 20.7 kHz

• Frequency response AD @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 5 Hz - 32 kHz

• Input Line: 1/4" TRS jack, servo balanced

• Input impedance Line: > 5 kOhm

• Input sensitivity through jumper: Lo Gain, +4 dBu, -10 dBV

• Input level for 0 dBFS @ Lo Gain: +19 dBu

• Input level for 0 dBFS @ +4 dBu: +13 dBu

• Input level for 0 dBFS @ -10 dBV: +2 dBV

• Resolution DA: 24 Bit

• Signal to Noise ratio: 108 dB RMS unweighted, 111 dBA (unmuted)

• THD: < - 98 dB, < 0.0013 %

• THD+N: < -91 dB, < 0.002 %

• Crosstalk: > 100 dB

• Maximum output level DA: +19 dBu

• Frequency response DA @ 44.1 kHz, -0.5 dB: 5 Hz – 20.9 kHz

• Frequency response DA @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 5 Hz - 35 kHz

• Output Line: 1/4" TRS jack, servo balanced

• Output impedance Line: 47 Ohm

• Output level through jumper: Hi Gain, +4 dBu, -10 dBV

• Output level at 0 dBFS @ Hi Gain: +19 dBu

• Output level at 0 dBFS @ +4 dBu: +13 dBu

• Output level at 0 dBFS @ -10 dBV: +2 dBV

5.3 Transfer Modes: Resolution / Bits per Sample

• 32 bit, 4 byte (stereo 8 byte) This format is compatible with 16-bit and 20-bit. Resolutions below 24-bit are handled by the

audio application. The card works internally with 32-bit data, but audio data transfer is limited to 24-bits.

5.4 Power supply

• The CardBus card does not provide power to the attached I/O-box. Therefore a hi-tech switching power supply is included

• The PCI card operates as power supply for the attached I/O-box

The Multiface draws a high startup current of more than 2.5 A during initialisation. Current at 12 Volt operating voltage: unloaded 500 mA (6 Watts), loaded 760 mA (9 Watts). Supply voltage range DC 7 V – 38 V, AC 7 V – 27 V.

User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME

6. Hardware Installation

6.1 PCI Interface

Before installing the PCI card, please make sure the computer is switched off and the power cable is disconnected from the mains supply. Inserting or removing a PCI card while the computer is in operation can cause irreparable damage to both motherboard and card!

1. Disconnect the power cord and all other cables from the computer.

2. Remove the computer's housing. Further information on how to do this can be obtained from your computer´s instruction manual.

3. Important: Before removing the card from its protective bag, discharge any static in your body by touching the metal chassis of the PC.

4. Insert the PCI card firmly into a free PCI slot, press and fasten the screw.

5. Replace the computer's housing.

6. Reconnect all cables including the power cord.

7. Connect PCI interface and Multiface using the supplied cable (IEEE1394). This is a standard Firewire cable (6-pin).

6.2 CardBus Card

Before inserting the CardBus card make sure the complete HDSP system is ready for operation!

1. Connect the CardBus card with the Multiface using the supplied cable.

2. Insert the CardBus card with the Hammer logo up into a PCMCIA slot.

3. Plug the power jack of the supplied switching power supply into the connector labeled AUX, on the rear of the Multiface.

4. Connect power cord to power supply, plug into AC outlet. The green LED of the power supply and the red LED of the Multiface will light up.

5. Switch on the notebook and boot the operating system.

The small 15-pin connector of the CardBus card is coded. Only the supplied special cable can be plugged in, and only when the metal sleeve is up. Any kind of violence when plugging in and out can cause damage to the CardBus card.

7. Software Installation

First fit the card (see 6. Hardware Installation), then switch on the computer and install the drivers from the RME Driver CD. The driver files are located on the CD in the folder 'Hammerfall DSP'.

In case a newer driver version was downloaded from the RME website double-click the 'madsp_x.sit' archive to decompress it into separate files (using 'Aladin Stuffit Expander').

If you already installed an older version of the driver first make sure to remove all old files. To do so open the 'Extensions' folder which is inside your 'System' folder. Remove the file 'Hammerfall DSP Driver'. Also remove 'Hammerfall DSP Settings' from the directory where it was copied to. Remove the 'Hammerfall DSP ASIO' driver file from any 'ASIO Drivers' folder.

After unstuffing the archive the driver files are found in folders. The name of the folders tell where to copy the files! The driver installation is done manually in 5 steps:

1. Drag the file Hammerfall DSP

Driver from 'into System folder'

into the System folder. It will be installed automatically into the 'Extension' folder. Confirm the system's message to complete the installation. Now the driver file should be found in the 'Extension' folder, see example to the right.

2. Copy the files Hammerfall DSP Settings,

Hammerfall DSP ASIO and Hammerfall DSP ASIO 96 kHz from 'into ASIO Drivers folder' into all

'ASIO Drivers' folders found on your computer. As every ASIO software has its own ASIO Drivers folder, the files most propably have to be copied several times.

Configuration of the Hammerfall DSP is done through the Settings dialog, which can be called from within any ASIO compatible software (for example Audio/System/ASIO Control Panel). To be able to call up the Settings dialog at any time we recommend to create an Alias on the desktop. To create an Alias select 'Hammerfall DSP Settings' with the mouse cursor, press and hold the Apple and Alt keys on your keyboard, and drag 'Hammerfall DSP Settings' to the desired location.

3. Copy the complete sub-folder Hammerfall DSP, found in the folder 'into Preferences folder',

to the system folder 'Preferences'. This way the files related to the HDSP system reside in their own folder, without cluttering the Preferences folder. Additionally deleting those files is much easier in case of a driver update. Hammerfall DSP contains 10 files:

default.mix: Default settings for TotalMix default.vol: Default settings for Digiface/Multiface, as long as TotalMix isn't started preset1.mix to preset8.mix: Presets for the HDSP mixer

4. The file Hammerfall DSP TotalMix can be copied to any place. When started the HDSP

mixer comes up and allows you to configure the digital real-time mixer of the Multiface.

TotalMix requires Carbon Library 1.1, which is part of the operating system since MacOS

9.1. After installation of Carbon Library 1.1 TotalMix can even be run on older systems (down to 8.6).

5. Using the MIDI port of the Multiface requires an installed OMS (Open Music System) from

Opcode. The latest version 2.3.8 can be downloaded for free at http://www.opcode.com After the installation of OMS, copy the file HDSP_OMSDriver, found in the folder 'into OMS

Folder folder', into the system folder 'OMS Folder'. To finish installation reboot the computer. After re-boot the MIDI driver is installed, but not yet activated. To activate it create a new OMS

Studio setup. Using 'Search' the MIDI driver of the Multiface should be found and added to the list. Now it can be activated.

Linux/Unix An ALSA driver for Linux/Unix is planned to be available soon. Further information on ALSA is

available at http://www.alsa-project.org

8. Operation and Usage

8.1 Connections

The front of the I/O-box Multiface has the MIDI input and output, the analog stereo output of the digital mixer, and several status LEDs:

MIDI State indicates sent or received data for the MIDI port Input State indicates a valid input signal separately for each input. RME’s exclusive

SyncCheck shows through a blinking LED, which of the input signals is locked, but not in sync to the others. See chapter 9.2, Clock Modes - Synchronisation.

The red HOST LED lights up when the power supply or the computer is switched on, thus signalling the presence of operating voltage. At the same time it operates as Error LED, in case the I/O-box wasn’t initialised, or the connection to the interface has been interrupted (Error, cable not connected etc.).

Phones is a low impedance line output of highest quality, which can produce a sufficient volume undistorted even when used with headphones.

The back of the Multiface has the 8 analog inputs and outputs, the power supply connector

AUX (only needed in CardBus operation), and all digital inputs and outputs: ADAT I/O (TOSLINK), 1 to 3. The ADAT1 I/O can also be used for optical SPDIF, if this mode

is selected in the Settings dialog.

SPDIF I/O coaxial (phono) Word clock I/O (BNC) ADAT Sync In (D-sub 9-pin)

The SPDIF inputs are selected via the Settings dialog (started by clicking on the hammer symbol in the system tray). The HDSP system accepts the commonly used digital audio formats, SPDIF as well as AES/EBU. Channel status and copy protection are ignored.

In SPDIF mode, identical signals are available at both the optical and the coaxial outputs. An obvious use for this would be simply connecting two devices, i.e. using the HDSP as a splitter (distribution 1 on 2).

To receive signals in AES/EBU format, an adapter cable is required. Pins 2 and 3 of a XLR plug are connected individually to the two pins of a phono plug. The cable shielding is only connected to pin 1 of the XLR - not to the phono plug.

The ground-free design using transformers for digital inputs and outputs enables trouble-free connection even to AES/EBU devices, and perfect hum rejection.

8.2 Recording Digital

Unlike analog soundcards which produce empty wave files (or noise) when no input signal is present, digital I/O cards always need a valid input signal to start recording.

To take this into account, RME has included two unique features in the Hammerfall DSP system: a comprehensive I/O signal status display (showing sample frequency, lock and sync status) in the Settings dialog, and status LEDs for each input.

The sample frequency shown in the Settings dialog (see chapter 9, screenshot Settings) is useful as a quick display of the current configuration (the board itself and all connected external equipment). If no sample frequency is recognized, it will read ‘No Lock’.

With this configuring any suitable audio application for digital recording is simple. After selecting the required input, Hammerfall DSP displays the current sample frequency. This parameter can then be changed in the application’s audio attributes (or similar) dialogue.

It often makes sense to monitor the input signal or send it directly to the output. This can be done at zero latency using TotalMix (see chapter 14).

For an automated real-time monitoring function the HDSP System supports ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM) in ASIO 2.0. When 'ASIO Direct Monitoring' has been switched on the input signal is routed in real-time to the output whenever Record is started.

8.3 Recording analog

For recordings via the analog inputs the corresponding record channels have to be chosen. Apart from the internal jumpers which set the basic operating level, the Multiface has no means to change the input level. This would make no sense for the digital inputs, but also for the analog inputs one can do without it. It doesn't matter if the Multiface is operated at a mixing desk or a multichannel Mic preamp, in either case the level can be controlled directly at the source to match the Multiface's sensitivity perfectly.

The input sensitivity of the analog inputs can be changed through internal jumpers to meet the most often used studio levels, see next chapter.

8.4 Analog Inputs

The Multiface provides 8 balanced Line inputs via 1/4" TRS (stereo) jacks. The electronic input stage is built in a servo balanced design which handles monaural and stereo jacks correctly. When used unbalanced it automatically corrects the gain by 6 dB.

When using unbalanced cables with stereo TRS jacks, the 'ring' contact of the cable's jack should be connected to pin 1 (ground). Otherwise noise may occur, caused by the unconnected negative input of the balanced input.

One of the main issues when working with an AD-converter is to maintain the full dynamic range within the best operating level. Therefore the Multiface includes internal jumpers which allow a perfect adaptation for all 8 channels seperately to the three most often used studio levels.

The 'standardized' studio levels do not result in a (often desired) full scale level, but take some additional digital headroom into consideration. The amount of headroom is different in different standards and again differently implemented by different manufacturers. Because of this we decided to define the levels of the Multiface in a most compatible way.

Reference 0 dBFS @ Headroom

Lo Gain +19 dBu 15 dB +4 dBu +13 dBu 9 dB

-10 dBV +2 dBV 12 dB

The device ships with +4 dBu as factory default. The according headroom meets the latest EBU recommendations for Broadcast usage. At -10 dBV 12 to 15 dB headroom are common practice, each mixing desk operating at -10 dBV is able to send and receive much higher levels. Lo Gain allows to work with high levels, best suited for professional users who prefer to work balanced and at highest levels.

Information on how to change the jumpers can be found in chapter 9.3.

8.5 Analog Outputs

The 8 short circuit protected, low impedance and servo balanced line outputs are available as (stereo) 1/4" TRS jacks. The electronic output stage is built in a servo balanced design which handles monaural and stereo jacks correctly. When used unbalanced it automatically corrects the gain by 6 dB.

To maintain an optimum level for devices connected to the analog outputs, the Multiface includes internal jumpers which allow to change the level of all 8 outputs separately. As with the analog inputs the analog output levels are defined to maintain a problem-free operation with most other devices. The table shown above is alos valid for the analog outputs. The device ships with +4 dBu as factory default.

Information on how to change the jumpers can be found in chapter 9.3.

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