Solid State Logic XLogic Alpha-Link AX, MADI-AX, MADI-SX, LIVE, XLogic Alpha-Link MADI-AX User Manual

XLogic Alpha-Link. This is SSL.

XLogic Alpha-Link

AX / MADI-AX / MADI-SX / LIVE

User Guide

Document History

82BSAM01A (April 2010) Initial release
82BSAM01B (February 2011) Added various video sync notes plus other assorted corrections
82BSAM01C (October 2011) Clarified Routing Matrix Control, settings for the wordclock output at 2Fs corrected

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Contents

Introduction 1

Scope 2

I/O Capabilities 3

Installation Notes 4

Front Panel 5

Power Switch 5

Headphones 6

Routing Matrix Control 6

Viewing and Setting Routing 7

Clock Source Selection 8

Sample Rate Selection 9

Signal Meters 10

System Settings and Diagnostics 11

Diagnostic Mode 11

Picking a Page of Virtual Switches 11

Selecting an Option 12

Setting an Option 12

Firmware Version 13

Current Firmware Versions 13

Virtual Switches, Page One
(Alpha-Link AX, MADI-AX and MADI-SX) 14

Virtual Switches, Page One
(Alpha-Link LIVE) 15

Notes for Virtual Switches, Page One 16

Virtual Switches, Page Two
(Alpha-Link AX and MADI-AX) 18

Virtual Switches, Page Two
(Alpha-Link MADI-SX and LIVE) 19

Notes for Virtual Switches, Page Two 20

Virtual Switches, Page Three
(Alpha-Link MADI-SX and LIVE) 21

Notes for Virtual Switches, Page Three 22

Appendix A – AES/EBU Interface 23

Inputs with Sample Rate Conversion 23

Input Sample Rate and Auxiliary Data 23

Inputs without Sample Rate Conversion 23

Output Auxiliary Data 23

Appendix B – Troubleshooting 24

Support FAQs 25

Appendix C – Alpha-Link Model Numbers 27

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1

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of this Solid State Logic Alpha-Link Audio I/O unit. Please be assured that it will
provide you with many years of reliable service while delivering the pristine audio quality you expect from any Solid
State Logic product.

The Alpha-Link Audio I/O Product Range are stylishly designed, 2U-high rack-mountable units providing fully featured
multi-channel audio converters for Studio, Live and Broadcast Applications with an incredible price/performance ratio.
There are four Alpha-Link models, all featuring high quality 24-channel SSL enhanced AD/DA converter circuitry and
offering a choice of digital audio format options.

• The Alpha-Link AX and Alpha-Link MADI-AX are ADAT based converters

• The Alpha-Link MADI-SX is a MADI & AES/EBU based converter

• The Alpha-Link LIVE is a MADI & AES/EBU based converter which offers dual power supplies and features control
ports for up to three Alpha-Link 8-RMP Mic preamps. Two configurations of Alpha-Link LIVE are available to suit
either European or US broadcast analogue interface levels.

Each unit offers simple front panel controls to control unit configuration and the comprehensive input/output routing
matrix which can be used to set up global connections between the various I/O connections and makes all
combinations possible. There is also a handy front panel headphone connection (Alpha-Link LIVE excepted) plus a
meter section for the analogue inputs and outputs with an AD/DA selection button, mode indicator LEDs and 24 tri­colour level LEDs.

All Alpha-Link units can be used as standalone format converters, but used in combination with an SSL Mixpander
PCI card they provide a powerful, highly flexible IO solution for native PC-based audio workstations. When the unit
is connected to a Mixpander card the inputs and outputs can be routed individually from the PC using the SSL Mixer
software. When the Alpha-Link LIVE is connected to an SSL C10 HD broadcast console, remote control of up to three
Alpha-Link 8-RMP Mic preamps is possible.

2

Scope

This User Guide should be read in conjunction with the Alpha-Link Installation Guide. This guide covers the
configuration, features and operation of your Alpha-Link unit whilst the Installation Guide provides all of the
information required to install and interface to your new unit. As with the Installation Guide, the information in this
User Guide generally applies to all the models in the XLogic Alpha-Link range:

• Alpha-Link AX

• Alpha-Link MADI-AX

• Alpha-Link MADI-SX

• Alpha-Link LIVE

Throughout this guide, these units are all collectively referred to as the ‘Alpha-Link’. References to particular audio
interfaces (MADI, ADAT, AES/EBU or analogue) obviously apply only to the Alpha-Link models that support the interface.

IMPORTANT

Please register your XLogic Alpha-Link unit on our website. This will ensure that you receive notification of
future updates and other important information, and that your guarantee is registered. Registration will also
make you eligible for technical support.

The Solid State Logic home page is at: www.solidstatelogic.com

From there you can access our Support page, which includes links to the Product Registration and Download
pages. You can also visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) area for any questions you might have or to
contact our Technical Support staff.

3

I/O Capabilities

The number of channels available on each audio interface provided by the Alpha-Link is determined by the sample
rate and in certain circumstances by the mode of operation chosen.

Each unit can operate at one of four nominal sample rates; 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz and 96kHz. If locked to an
external clock source, each unit can also operate at a deviation of up to ±10% from these rates. Throughout this guide
we will often refer to the lower set of sample rates (44.1kHz, 48kHz) collectively as ‘Fs’ whilst the higher rates, being
twice the lower set, will be refered to as ‘2Fs’.

Early digital audio interfaces designed to run at 2Fs rates did so by modifying the way that data is packed into the
digital audio stream without increasing the actual transmission rate. This leads to a lower channel count for a given
interface but results in a 2Fs interface that is broadly compatible with the original Fs rate interface. Later improvements
for some interface types lead to ‘proper’ double speed 2Fs interfaces that did not compromise the channel count but
were no longer compatible with older Fs rate interfaces. These developments resulted in two different modes of
operation at the higher 2Fs rates; ‘Legacy’ or ‘SMUX’ and ‘High Speed’. The channel count differences are loosely
summarised in the following table and further information will be found towards the rear of this guide.

Audio Interface

Sample Rate and Mode

Fs 2Fs (Legacy/SMUX) 2Fs (High Speed)

ADAT 24 Channels 12 Channels n/a

AES/EBU 24 Channels 12 Channels 24 Channels

Analogue 24 Channels – irrespective of sample rate

Expansion Port 64 Channels – irrespective of sample rate

MADI 56 or 64 Channels 28 or 32 Channels 28 or 32 Channels

4

Installation Notes

Please take time to read through this guide before installing your Alpha-Link. If however you are unable to resist that
temptation, do take note of the following points:

• Full connector pin-out details are provided in the Installation Guide.

• The nominal analogue I/O level of each Alpha-Link is +22dBu ≈ 0dB FS apart from Alpha-Link LIVE which is factory
configured for either +18dBu or +24dBu ≈ 0dB FS (see also Appendix C for unit identification).

• Your Alpha-Link unit can be rack mounted. Whilst the unit occupies 2U of rack space in a standard 19-inch rack,
do please leave (a 1U) space above and below the unit for cooling.

• It may be necessary to change the default CLOCK SOURCE – please refer to the Clock Source Selection discussion
on page 8 for further details.

• Please turn down, switch off or disconnect any connected amplifiers before re-configuring your Alpha-Link.
Changing signal routing and/or clock source can potentially produce loud audible clicks.

• To use an Alpha-Link unit with an SSL (or Soundscape) Mixpander PCI audio card, connect the Expansion Bus
port of the Alpha-Link unit to the Expansion Bus port of the Mixpander card using a Mixpander Expansion Bus
cable.

• If connected to a Mixpander card, switch the computer that hosts the Mixpander card on and start the SSL Mixer
software

before

applying power to the Alpha-Link unit.

WARNING!

Where applicable, always switch the host computer and the Alpha-Link unit off before connecting or
disconnecting the Mixpander Expansion Bus cable or damage may result.

5

Front Panel

The front panels of each model of Alpha-Link are all broadly similar, differing only to reflect the different I/O options
provided (the unit illustrated here being an Alpha-Link MADI-SX).

Power Switch

This is used to switch the Alpha-Link on or off.

The current front panel settings are stored in non-volatile memory when the unit is switched off, and recalled
the next time it is switched on. When the Alpha-Link is used in combination with an SSL (or Soundscape)
Mixpander card the SSL Mixer software controls all front panel settings and the settings defined in the software
will be restored as soon as the unit is powered up again (if still connected to the Mixpander card).

Power Switch

Routing Matrix

Control

Clock Source

Selection

Headphones

(except Alpha-Link LIVE)

Sample Rate

Selection

Signal Meters

6

Headphones

A headphone socket is provided on all units apart from the Alpha-Link LIVE. This connector is a standard 0.25"
headphone jack socket and provides a stereo signal derived from analogue output channels 23 (Left) and 24 (Right).

The headphone signal level is fixed and can only be controlled in the digital domain by a suitable controller such
as the SSL Mixer software via an SSL (or Soundscape) Mixpander card.

Routing Matrix Control

Alpha-Link contains a routing matrix to route groups of signals
between the inputs and outputs. This matrix is controlled
using two buttons – one for INPUT, one for OUTPUT – along
with a set of indicator LEDs. Using these two buttons, any
input group (ADAT or AES/EBU, Analogue, Expansion Bus or
MADI) can be connected to any output group.

The Inputs and Outputs of each type of I/O are routed

independantly

– routing

Analogue In → MADI Out

will not

also route MADI In → Analogue Out for example!

If Alpha-Link is connected to a Mixpander card it can act as multi-channel bi­directional format converter between the inputs and outputs and the Expansion Bus.
All routing in this case is determined by the SSL Mixer software and the front panel
routing matrix control is deactivated.

However the input and output signals are routed in the Alpha-Link, all routing is
performed to full 24-bit precision. There are no mixing functions in Alpha-Link so
whilst it is possible to use the routing matrix to route any single input to multiple outputs, it is not possible for a
single output to be fed from more than one input (selecting a second source for an output will cause the second source
to

replace

the original).

Input Button

and Indicators

Output Button
and Indicators

AES/EBU (or ADAT)

Analogue

Expansion Port

MADI