Solid State Logic XLogic Alpha-Link LIVE-R User Manual
XLogic Alpha-Link LIVE-R
User Guide
XLogic Alpha-Link. This is SSL.
82BSBM01A (July 2011) Initial release
(October 2011) Minor typos corrected, clarified saving settings
Document History
Contents
Introduction 1
Scope 2
I/O Capabilities 3
Installation Notes 4
Front Panel 5
Power Switch 5
Status LED 5
Routing Matrix Control 6
Viewing and Setting Routing 7
Clock Source Selection 8
Sample Rate Selection 9
Front Panel Indications 9
External Lock Range 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
Firmware Update 13
Virtual Switches, Page One 15
Notes for Virtual Switches, Page One 16
Virtual Switches, Page Two 18
Notes for Virtual Switches, Page Two 19
Virtual Switches, Page Three 20
Notes for Virtual Switches, Page Three 21
Virtual Switches, Page Four 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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Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of this Solid State Logic Alpha-Link LIVE-R 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 LIVE-R is a stylishly designed, 2U-high rack-mountable unit providing fully featured multi-channel
audio converters for Studio, Live and Broadcast Applications with an incredible price/performance ratio. The AlphaLink LIVE-R is a MADI & AES/EBU based converter which offers fibre redundancy and dual power supplies and features
control ports for up to three Alpha-Link 8-RMP Mic preamps. Alpha-Link LIVE-R is configurable to suit either European
or US broadcast analogue interface levels.
The unit offers simple front panel controls for configuration and a 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 meter section for the analogue inputs and outputs with an AD/DA selection button, mode indicator
LEDs and 24 tri-colour level LEDs.
The Alpha-Link LIVE-R unit can be used as standalone format converter, but used in combination with an SSL C10 HD
or C100 HDS console it provides a powerful, highly flexible I/O solution which is especially suited to broadcast
applications. When connected to a C10 HD or C100 HDS console, Alpha-Link LIVE-R provides automatic fibre redundancy
switching and remote control of up to three Alpha-Link 8-RMP Mic preamps is possible.
Please refer to the Alpha-Link LIVE-R Installation Guide and the C10 HD and C100 HDS Operator’s Reference
Manuals for details of processor and fibre redundancy configuration.
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Scope
This User Guide should be read in conjunction with the Alpha-Link LIVE-R Installation Guide. This guide covers the
configuration, features and operation of your Alpha-Link LIVE-R unit whilst the Installation Guide provides all of the
information required to install and interface to your new unit.
IMPORTANT
Please register your Alpha-Link LIVE-R 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:
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.
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www.solidstatelogic.com
I/O Capabilities
The number of channels available on each audio interface provided by the Alpha-Link LIVE-R is determined by the
sample rate and in certain circumstances by the mode of operation chosen.
The LIVE-R can operate at the following sample rates; 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz and 192kHz and if
locked to an external clock source, it can also operate at a deviation of up to ±10% from these rates. Throughout
this guide we will often refer to the lowest set of sample rates (44.1kHz, 48kHz) collectively as ‘Fs’, medium rates
(88.2kHz, 96kHz) – being twice the lowest set – as ‘2Fs’ and the highest sample rates (176.4kHz, 192kHz) as ‘4Fs’.
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 rates; ‘Legacy’ (SMUX2/SMUX4) 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.
Sample Rate and Mode
Audio
Interface
AES/EBU 24 Channels 24 Channels 12 Channels 24 Channels 6 Channels *
Analogue 24 Channels – irrespective of sample rate
Fs
2Fs
(High Speed)
2Fs
(Legacy/SMUX2)
2Fs
(High Speed)
4Fs
(Legacy/SMUX4)
MADI 56/64 Channels 28/32 Channels 28/32 Channels 14/16 Channels 14/16 Channels
* Uses a pair of AES/EBU ports per channel
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Installation Notes
Please take time to read through this guide before installing your Alpha-Link LIVE-R. If however you are unable to
resist that temptation, do take note of the following points:
• Full connector pin-out details are provided at the rear of the Alpha-Link LIVE-R Installation Guide.
• The nominal analogue I/O level of the Alpha-Link LIVE-R defaults to +24dBu ≈ 0dB FS – please refer to the Virtual
Switches discussion to learn how to change this.
• If interfacing Alpha-Link 8-RMP units to the unit and the chosen operating level for the Alpha-Link LIVE-R is
+24dBu it may be necessary to set internal links to fix the input level (in blocks of 8) to +24dBu – please refer
to Appendix B for further details.
• Your Alpha-Link LIVE-R unit can be rack mounted. Whilst the unit occupies 2U of rack space in a standard 19inch 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
LIVE-R. Changing signal routing and/or clock source can potentially produce loud audible clicks.
not
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Front Panel
Power Switch
Routing Matrix
Control
Clock Source
Selection
Sample Rate
Selection
Signal Meters
Status LED
Power Switch
This is used to switch the Alpha-Link LIVE-R on or off.
All front panel settings are stored in non-volatile memory ~5 sec after the last front panel change; please allow
time for this before switching the unit off.
Status LED
The STATUS LED will normally be extinguished. It will however flash under the following conditions:
• The Alpha-Link LIVE-R is in diagnostic mode
• One of the two internal PSU units has failed (or is missing mains power)
(please refer to the System Settings and Diagnostics section).
– firmware version V1.1 or later
.
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Routing Matrix Control
The Alpha-Link LIVE-R contains a routing matrix which enables routing
of groups of signals between the inputs and outputs. This routing
matrix is controlled using two buttons – one to select an OUTPUT
and the other to pick the INPUT for that output – along with a set of
indicator LEDs to show the routing setup. Using these two buttons,
any input group (AES/EBU, Analogue or MADI) can be connected to
any output group.
All routing is performed to full 24-bit precision. There are no mixing functions in
Alpha-Link LIVE-R 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).
The routing matrix LEDs indicate which input group(s) are feeding which output group. Each audio interface has
both input and output groups which are routed independently so routing Analogue to/from MADI for example
requires routing both Analogue In → MADI Out and MADI In → Analogue Out as two seperate steps.
AES/EBU
Analogue
MADI
Input Button
and Indicators
Output Button
and Indicators
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