Waves Audio DiGiGrid IOS User Guide

IOS
IOS
IOS
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................4
1. Getting Started ..................................................................................................................................................................................5
1.1 System Requirements ..............................................................................................................................................................5
1.2 Registration ..................................................................................................................................................................................5
1.3 Software Installation .................................................................................................................................................................6
1.4 Licenses .........................................................................................................................................................................................6
2. Hardware .............................................................................................................................................................................................7
3. Suggested Uses And Congurations .........................................................................................................................................9
3.1 One Computer with a DiGiGrid IOS .....................................................................................................................................9
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3.2 Adding More I/Os to Your System ...................................................................................................................................... 10
3.3 Multiple Computers with a Single DiGiGrid IOS ........................................................................................................... 11
3.4 Advanced Network: Multiple Computers and Multiple I/Os .................................................................................... 12
4. Software Setup And Controls ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
4.1 Device Firmware ....................................................................................................................................................................... 17
4.1.1 Resetting the Unit ......................................................................................................................................................... 17
4.2 Identifying a Device from the SoundGrid Studio Device Rack ................................................................................ 17
5. Control Panel .................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
5.1 Controls Page ............................................................................................................................................................................ 20
IOS
5.1.1 Top Bar............................................................................................................................................................................... 21
5.1.2 Analog Section ............................................................................................................................................................... 21
5.1.3 Digital Section ................................................................................................................................................................ 24
5.1.4 Clip Indication and Small Meters ............................................................................................................................. 25
5.2 Clock Page .................................................................................................................................................................................. 26
6. IOS Server .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
6.1 Applications of an IOS Server ............................................................................................................................................. 29
6.1.1 eMotion ST mixer .......................................................................................................................................................... 29
6.1.2 StudioRack ....................................................................................................................................................................... 30
7. Moving Audio In A Soundgrid Network ................................................................................................................................. 31
7.1 Using an I/O Device with a DAW ........................................................................................................................................ 32
7.2 Patching I/O to Driver and Driver to I/O ......................................................................................................................... 33
7.3 eMotion ST Mixer Patching .................................................................................................................................................. 40
7.4 Device-to-Device Patching ................................................................................................................................................... 41
7.5 Headphone Patching ..............................................................................................................................................................42
8. Using The Ios With Midi ................................................................................................................................................................ 43
9. Technical Specications ................................................................................................................................................................ 44
9.1 Installation Notes ..................................................................................................................................................................... 46
IOS
Thank you for choosing the DiGiGrid IOS interface for SoundGrid systems. In order to get the most out of your product, please take some time to read this manual. We also suggest that you become familiar with our support sites, www.digigrid.net and www.waves.com/support, where you will nd an extensive answer base, the latest tech specs, detailed installation guides, software updates, and current information about licensing and registration.
About SoundGrid and DiGiGrid IOS
SoundGrid is a scalable infrastructure that provides a variety of cost-eective, high-quality solutions for studio production. It can be congured in many ways, with many hardware possibilities, to provide a very exible work environment. This framework is managed by the SoundGrid Studio Application, which congures the network, assigns and manages I/Os, controllers and servers, and patches audio throughout the system. Any user, anywhere on the SoundGrid network, has access to all available network I/O devices. Adding a SoundGrid DSP server enables processing, recording, and monitoring.
DiGiGrid IOS is an audio interface for native DAWs and Waves SoundGrid applications that run on a SoundGrid network. It has eight mic/line inputs and 8 line outs, along with the standard digital ins and outs. Like all DiGiGrid I/O devices, it can be used by the local
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host or by a remote audio workstation anywhere on the SoundGrid network. Since all IOS features (even the preamp settings) are controlled remotely from the host computer, the IOS can be placed in the live room or in the studio.
The IOS’s internal DSP server moves plugin processing from the host CPU, greatly increasing the number of plugins that can be used simultaneously. It also enables recording while monitoring in incredibly low latency.
By combining a DSP server with an I/O, the IOS oers an all-in-one solution to many audio production challenges.
IOS

1. GETTING STARTED

Aside from setting up your microphone preamps, there’s not much you need to know to begin working with your IOS.

1.1 System Requirements

SoundGrid Studio runs on Mac and PC (consult Waves website for current OS an d DAW compatibility).
Compatible native DAW (Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, Ableton, Pro Tools Native, and many more). A list of SoundGrid-compatible
hosts is available at Waves website.
IOS / SoundGrid Studio software installed on the host computer.
Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cables.

1.2 Regist ration

To download IOS software you will need to register your device at www.digigrid.net or www.waves.com. You must know the serial number of your IOS in order to register it, so sign up before you mount it in a rack. The serial number appears on a label on the bottom of the unit or on a sticker on the box.
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Once you register you will receive two emails:
A notication that you can now download the installer.
Instructions about authorizing your license.
IOS

1.3 Software Installation

After you register your new IOS, you can download the installer from the Download/Hardware Drivers section of the Waves website. Since SoundGrid enables you to access an I/O device from any computer in the network, you will need to install the software on each computer in the network.
The IOS installer consists of:
The IOS I/O hardware driver.
The SoundGrid ASIO/Core Audio driver, which serves as a bridge between the DAW and the SoundGrid network.
The SoundGrid Studio Application, which manages all SoundGrid network resources and assigns devices to computers.
StudioRack, a software plugin rack, or chainer, that hosts up to eight plugins and can move their processing from the DAW to the
SoundGrid server.
eMotion ST, a software mixer that provides low-latency plugin processing and monitor mixing.

1.4 Licenses

DiGiGrid Native I/O devices do not require a license to operate in a SoundGrid network. However, certain advanced features, such as using StudioRack and eMotion ST for low-latency recording and monitoring, or ooading processing from the host CPU, require a
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server and a SoundGrid license. This license is included with the purchase of IOS.
When you register your device, the relevant licenses are deposited in your Waves account. Use the Waves License Center application to activate your licenses and install them on your computer or on a USB ash drive.
IOS

2. HARDWARE

IOS is a 2U rack-mounted device. Aside from headphone jacks, all connections are from the rear panel.
IOS Front Panel
Front panel LEDs indicate status regarding essential device functions for each channel.
Input clipping Red = clipping (level can be set through the control panel)
Input signal present Green = signal present
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48v phantom power Orange = ON
Network status indicator
Blue: Device recognized by the SoundGrid network Red: Device not recognized by the SoundGrid network Yellow: Updating White: Unit malfunction (e.g., rmware did not load properly, unit did not boot properly) Cycling through colors: This LED is also used to identify the unit from the control panel.
Power switch/indicator
Two ¼-inch TRS headphone jacks with individual volume control knobs;
8–600 ohms; gain = OFF to +15 dB
IOS
IOS Rear Panel
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7 8
Mains input: 90–240 V AC 50/60 Hz
Built-in 1GB Ethernet switch, four ports
USB port for server service and upgrades (used for technical support)
Recovery/reset button
MIDI in and out (can be linked to Waves applications and to DAWs)
Digital and clock connections: software selected Clock in and out (BNC connectors for external Word Clock)
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S/PDIF in and out (RCA connectors)
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AES in and out (XLR connectors)
Analog connections
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8 mic/line inputs (combo XLR/TRS connectors)
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8 line out ¼” TRS connectors
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Alt line out (DB25 8 channel balanced connector) See connection diagram in IOS specications section.
IOS

3. SUGGESTED USES AND CONFIGURATIONS

There are many ways to use your DiGiGrid IOS. Your existing (or future) equipment, how you work, and what you need to accomplish are factors to consider when incorporating an IOS into your studio. Project studios with one or two DAWs can share I/O resources, with any of the computers involved capable of claiming the server. Studios with several rooms and many DAWs can stream audio between rooms, quickly swap out devices, and assign DSP processing. But no matter how simple or complex your setup is, connecting an IOS involves only one cable, an Ethernet Cat 5e or Cat 6.

3.1 One Computer with a DiGiGrid IOS

This is the most basic studio conguration. It includes a host computer with a native DAW and a single DiGiGrid IOS that connects microphones, instruments, headphones, and monitors to the SoundGrid ASIO/Core Audio driver. This driver controls the network and all its devices. The built-in DSP server enables you to ooad plugins processing from the DAW, greatly increasing the number of plugins you can use simultaneously. It also provides you with the eMotion ST mixer and Studio Rack plugin to create personalized monitor mixes with up to 72 inputs.
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Host Computer
External Clock
Ethernet Analog Clock
IOS

3.2 Adding More I/Os to Your System

Add a DiGiGrid IOX and you pick up another 12 mic inputs, 6 line outs, and 4 more individual headphone outputs. Connect the IOX to the built-in Ethernet switch on the rear of the IOS. You can add up to eight SoundGrid I/O devices to a single host. Each of these can be accessed by any computer on the network.
Audio and clock pass through the same Ethernet cable. This means of distributing clock is called “Sync over Ethernet” (SoE) and is used between all SoundGrid devices. To clock the entire network to an external clock source such as house sync, use Word Clock or Digital In as clock master for the IOS. If the IOS is the SoE master, then the entire network will be locked to this external source.
DiGiGrid IOS
DiGiGrid IOX
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External Clock
Ethernet Analog Clock
Host Computer
Adding more SoundGrid-compatible I/Os, such as DiGiGrid IOC, does not impact server performance. You simply gain more I/O resources.
IOS

3.3 Multiple Computers with a Single DiGiGrid IOS

If you want to stream audio between several computers in order to combine multiple mixes or elements, connect several DAWs to one IOS interface. Each DAW can send and receive an audio stream, and any computer can control the I/O. Any native DAW— or combination of dierent native DAWs—can be a part of this network, so each computer must have the IOS software installed. Each of the additional computers is connected to the DiGiGrid IOS’s Ethernet switch via a single Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cable. Alternatively, you can use an approved external 1GB Ethernet switch.
DiGiGrid
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External Clock
Ethernet
Computer 4Computer 2Host Computer Computer 3
Analog Clock
IOS
3.4 Advanced Network: Multiple Computers and Multiple I/Os
This example shows how IOS can be integrated into a complex studio network.
A control/mix room equipped with a large Pro Tools HD/HDX system is connected to a SoundGrid network. DiGiGrid DLI and
DLS units together supply 112 I/O channels to the HD system, with the DLS providing a built-in SoundGrid DSP server for plugin processing.
Another DAW system with an IOS can be used as a second control room system, an editing room DAW, or a recording station
for the voiceover booth.
A DiGiGrid IOX provides a live room or voiceover booth with 12 analog inputs and 4 separate headphone outs.
A DiGiGrid MGB/MGO unit connects this network to a MADI source, for example a console or a MADI distribution system.
Audio signals can be routed to the main or secondary system.
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IOS
WC / Loopsync*
Out
DigiLink Interface
Primary PortInExpansion Port
DiGiGrid DLS
A
1 2
B
1 2
Digilink MADI Ethernet Analog Clock
DiGiGrid IOX
DL1Ethernet DL2
DiGiGrid DLI
DL1Ethernet DL2
DiGiGrid MGB/MGO
DAW / SG Studio
MADI Matrix
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* Dependent on Clock Mode setting
in the DLS/DLI control panel
DiGiGrid IOS
IOS

4. SOFTWARE SETUP AND CONTROLS

A SoundGrid network is managed by the SoundGrid Studio Application. This application assigns and removes devices, oversees the network, patches between devices, and provides access to device control panels.
To maintain network eectiveness, the SoundGrid Studio Application always runs in the background. Bring SoundGrid Studio to the front by clicking on the SoundGrid icon in the Mac Top Bar or the Windows System Tray.
MacPC
When SoundGrid Studio opens you will see the System Inventory page, part of the Setup section.
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