Waves MultiRack SoundGrid V9.5 Troubleshooting Manual

1

Waves

MultiRack SoundGrid V9.5

For DiGiCo

Troubleshooting Guide

2

Table of Contents

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

Components Required for Establishing a MultiRack SoundGrid System .................. 3 2.

Proper System Configuration ................................................................................... 4 3.

Troubleshooting ....................................................................................................... 8 4.

SoundGrid Preferences ............................................................................................... 8

SoundGrid Inventory ................................................................................................... 9

SoundGrid Servers ................................................................................................ 11

SoundGrid Connections ............................................................................................ 12

General Information - How Do I Know Which Version Is Installed? ........................ 13 5.

What Is installed? .................................................................................................. 15 6.

Physical Connection .............................................................................................. 16 7.

FAQ ................................ ....................................................................................... 20 8.

FAQ - Installation ....................................................................................................... 20

FAQ - Usage ............................................................................................................. 22

FAQ - Licenses.......................................................................................................... 24

Appendix ............................................................................................................... 26 9.

Appendix A – Servers ................................................................................................ 26

Waves SoundGrid Extreme Server ........................................................................ 26

Waves SoundGrid Server One .............................................................................. 27

Waves SoundGrid Impact Server ................................................................ .......... 28

Appendix B – How to Re-Flash SG Server Manually ................................................. 29

Appendix C - SoundGrid Compatible Switches .......................................................... 30

Appendix D - Ethernet Cables for SoundGrid Systems .............................................. 30

Appendix E – Compatible Plugins & Latency Chart ................................................... 32

3

Introduction 1.

The objective of this document is to assist you with troubleshooting Waves MultiRack
SoundGrid V9.5 for DiGiCo systems. This guide is written under the assumption that you
have read and followed the setup instructions available on our website before attempting
to fix your problem.

This guide is divided into five sections:

1. Illustration of a functioning SG System

2. Guide to resolve a non-functioning SG System

3. General information about the SG System components

4. Frequently asked questions

5. Appendix

Components Required for Establishing a MultiRack 2.

SoundGrid System

1. Waves I/O card: Pre-installed in the console.

2. Waves qualified SoundGrid Server: A multi-core PC used for real-time audio

processing. See a list of Waves-qualified Servers in Appendix A – Servers.

3. Network switch: See a list of Waves-qualified switches in Appendix C - SoundGrid

Compatible Switches.

4. Ethernet Cables: Standard CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cables. See a list of supported

length per cable type and application in Appendix D - Ethernet Cables for SoundGrid
Systems.

5. USB Flash Drive/iLok with activated licenses for Waves SoundGrid compatible
plugins.

4

Proper System Configuration 3.

This section displays the basic Windows and Settings of an operational Waves
MultiRack SoundGrid System. Establish a proper system configuration by following the
“Setup Instructions” below, which are also available online on our Download Page:

1. Launch the SD Software.

2. Select the “Waves” Tab.

3. Go to Window  Preferences.

4. General Tab Settings:
Link Status = Up
Link Speed = 100 Mbps
SoundGrid Network Found

5

5. Plug-in Manager Tab Settings:
The plugin version you intend to use and have licenses for is checked.

6. Go to Window  SoundGrid Inventory

7. SoundGrid Inventory Settings:

Sample Rate: Matches the state of the console.
Network and Driver Latency: Correct settings depend on the Server in use.

I/O: DiGiCo I/O is assigned and Status is On. (Only SD7 consoles can apply 64
channels.)

MR: MultiRack is assigned and Status is On.
SG Server/s: Assigned and Status is On.

6

48 kHz

96 kHz

Extreme Server

40 Samples

80 Samples

Server One

40 Samples

80 Samples

Impact Server

56 Samples

112 Samples

Minimum Network Latency Settings

Please Note: : In the SoundGrid Inventory window the Network Latency range is 40 / 56
/ 80 / 96 at 48 kHz sampling rate, and 80 / 112 / 160 / 192 at 96 kHz.

7

8. Go to Window  SoundGrid Connections.

9. SoundGrid Connections Settings:
DiGiCo I/O connection to MutliRack is checked.
MutliRack connection to DiGiCo I/O is checked.
In/Out CH Range is 1-32 (Only SD7 consoles can apply 64 Channels).

8

Troubleshooting 4.

If an ERR appears in the MultiRack SoundGrid status window while the MRSG is
loaded, follow these steps to inspect all settings and the system components:

SoundGrid Preferences

1) Click on the Waves Tab.

2) Go to Window  Preferences.

3) If you see the SoundGrid network NOT found message, and Local LAN Port is
set to None, open the dropdown menu, and set it to your console’s Ethernet card.

4) If you see the SoundGrid network NOT found message, and Local LAN Port is
already set to your console’s Ethernet card, check the following:
a) If Link Status is UP, and Link Speed is 100Mbps, it means that the I/O and

SoundGrid Server are disconnected.

b) If Link Status is DOWN, and Link Speed is N/A, it might be for one of the

following reasons:

 The Switch is turned off or not compatible - Please refer to Appendix

C - SoundGrid Compatible Switches.

 The Ethernet cable is disconnected or defective on the Console (host)

computer.

 Some of all cables are possibly too long or not compatible – Please

refer to Appendix D - Ethernet Cables for SoundGrid Systems.

If the SoundGrid Preferences are set correctly and the issue persists, check the
SoundGrid Inventory window next .

9

SoundGrid Inventory

Go to Window  SoundGrid Inventory.

1. Sample Rate:

If the Sample Rate Appears as N/A, it might be for the following reasons:

 DiGiCo I/O is not assigned.
 If DiGiCo I/O is assigned and On, the Internal Data Cable connecting DiGiCo I/O

to the console might be unplugged or defective. Another option is that the DiGiCo
I/O itself is defective. To resolve the problem please contact DiGiCo.

2. DiGiCo:
a) If the DiGiCo I/O Status is On, assign the Device. It should be functional now.
b) If the DiGiCo I/O Status is NOT On, un-assign the DiGiCo I/O and click refresh.
c) If the DiGiCo I/O appears as “Not Compatible”, then click “Update”

Once the Firmware update has completed, you will be prompted to turn the Console off.

If the update fails and an error message "Could not find the appropriate Firmware
Updater file" appears, it means that the I/O Firmware version is old, and you need to
download the Firmware Updater Tool.

10

Instructions for downloading the Firmware Updater Tool:

1. Go to the Waves For DiGiCo downloads page -> Version 8 tab.

2. Download the Firmware Updater Tools required for V1-to-V2.5
Upgrade. Choose between SD7 and all other models.

3. Copy this file to your SD console via a USB Flash Drive. Technical Note:
No need to disable the ReadyOn for this process.

4. Run DiGiCo-firmware-updater-for-sdx-type.zip file on your console and
follow the instructions.

5. If this is an SD7 console, repeat the process for the second Engine.

d) If the DiGiCo I/O has disappeared from the list, it might be for one of the following

reasons:

 Ethernet cable is disconnected from I/O or Switch.
 Ethernet cable is disconnected from Host or Switch.
 Defective Ethernet Cable.
 Network Switch is turned off.
 Network Switch is not compatible (Switch doesn’t have 1GB connection).

Please refer to Appendix C - SoundGrid Compatible Switches.

 Not a CAT5E or CAT6 cable.
 Ethernet cables are too long – Pleases refer to Appendix D - Ethernet Cables

for SoundGrid Systems.

 DiGiCo I/O Internal data cable or power supply cable are disconnected or

defective:

i. If the Network activity led light is ON on your SoundGrid switch port but

OFF on the I/O, the problem is in the data cable. To resolve this issue
please contact DiGiCo for further instructions.

ii. If the Network activity led light is OFF on both the SoundGrid switch port

and the I/O, the problem is with the power supply cable. To resolve this
problem please contact DiGiCo for further instructions.

 Defective DiGiCo I/O. To resolve this issue please contact DiGiCo for further

instructions.

11

SoundGrid Servers

Once you have confirmed that the I/O is functioning properly and is not the cause of the
problem, check the SG Server/s:

a) If SG Server Status is On, assign the Device, it should be functional now.
b) If the SG Server Status is N/A, un-assign it and press refresh.
c) If SG Server appears as “Not Compatible”, press “Update”.

Once the Firmware update has completed, the server will automatically restart and the
Server Status will be ON. Next, assign SG Server to 1. If a second redundant server is in
use, repeat the same update process, and upon completion assign the redundant server
to 2.

d) If the SG Server has disappeared from the list, it might be for the following

reasons:

 Server is OFF.
 Ethernet cable is disconnected from Server or Switch.
 Ethernet cable is disconnected from Host or Switch. (Hint: in this case the I/O

status will appear as N/A).

 Defective Ethernet Cable.
 Network Switch is turned off.
 Network Switch is not compatible (Switch doesn’t have 1GB connection).

Please refer to Appendix C - SoundGrid Compatible Switches.

 Ethernet cable is not compatible - Not a CAT5E or CAT6 cable.
 Ethernet cables are too long – Please refer to Appendix D - Ethernet Cables

for SoundGrid Systems.

We suggest to manually re-flash the SoundGrid Server using a USB Flash Drive only if
all possibilities above have been exhausted. Please refer to Appendix B – How to Re-

Flash SG Server Manually.

Once the SoundGrid Inventory window is set up properly, the only thing left to
inspect is the SoundGrid connections window.