Z-Systems z-256 User Manual

Digital Detangler Pro Manual Z-Systems Audio Engineering

FUSE

from 1-8 from 9-16from 17-24 from 25-32

FUSE

from 1-8 from 9-16 from 17-24 from 25-32

Digital Detangler Pro Instructions

The Digital Detangler Pro is an automated patchbay/distribution-amplifier for digital audio
signals. The primary function of the Digital Detangler Pro is to route the outputs of different
machines to the inputs of other machines. For example, the output of a digital audio workstation
(DAW) may be sent to the inputs of 16 DAT machines simultaneously. Or, the output of one DAW
may be sent to 8 DAT machines while the output of another DAW is sent to another 5 DAT
machines and the output of an A/D converter is sent to still another 3 machines. The power of the
Digital Detangler Pro is that the various devices are physically connected to the Digital Detangler
Pro in one configuration, while the output-to-input routing patterns can be changed dynamically
without needing to unplug and rearrange cables.

The terminology used throughout this manual is simple. Device outputs are sent to the
Digital Detangler Pro’s inputs. These signals are referenced by the term "from." The Digital
Detangler Pro’s outputs are sent to device inputs. These signals are reference by the term "to."
For example, we route "from" a CD player "to" a DAT machine.

Figure 1 shows the rear panel layouts of the various Digital Detangler Pro models.
Observe that the Digital Detangler Pro uses DB25 connectors for its digital audio inputs and
outputs. The pinout is the same one that the Tascam DA88 uses for its analog I/O, only you will
want to use digital cable. We can provide you with these cables or we can refer you to various
other vendors.

caution: pin 1 = +5VDC

RS422 in

RS422 thru

z-systems audio engineering, gainesville, fl, usa

to 1-8 to 9-16 from 1-8 from 9-16

z-systems audio engineering, gainesville, fl, usa

z-16.16r and z-8.8r rear panel (above)

caution: pin 1 = +5VDC

RS422 in

RS422 thru

110/220 VAC

voltage selection

inside

FUSE

110/220 VAC

voltage selection

110/220 VAC

voltage selection

inside

inside

to 1-8 to 17-24 to 25-32to 9-16

z-32.32r rear panel (above)

z-systems audio engineering, gainesville, fl, usa

to 9-16

to 1-8 to 33-40

from 33-40 from 41-48 from 49-56 from 57-64

to 25-32

to 17-24

z-64.64r rear panel (above)

to 41-48

1

to 57-64

to 49-56

caution: pin 1 = +5VDC

RS422 in

RS422 thru

110/220 VAC

voltage selection

inside

Digital Detangler Pro Manual Z-Systems Audio Engineering

1

1G1+2-3G3+4-5G5+6-7G7+

8-

RS422 in

RS422 thru

FUSE

110/220 VAC

voltage selection

inside

z-128.128r rear panel (above)

Figure 1: Digital Detangler Pro rear panel layouts

An important note: Digidesign uses a DB25-to-XLR harness for AES/EBU I/O on their new ProTools
HD system, but the pinout is different. They put four AES/EBU sources and four AES/EBU
destinations on a single DB25-to-XLR cable. We put either eight AES/EBU sources or eight AES/EBU
destinations on a single DB25-to-XLR cable. We can supply you with ProTools HD-to-Digital
Detangler Pro adapter harnesses.

Also note that the naming convention in Figure 2 is based on stereo pairs. For example, pins 1G, 1+,
and 1- would connect to the three pins of an XLR connector for AES/EBU, and this connector carries
two channels of digital audio. Thus, a single DB25 connector carries eight stereo pairs of digital
audio.

Furthermore, the naming of the various models references how many stereo pairs of digital audio
are supported. For example, the z-32.32r has 32 stereo pairs in and 32 stereo pairs out. The units
can not cross-route different halves of a stereo pair; all routing must be done on a stereo-pair basis.

You will want female XLRs on the source harnesses and male XLRs on the destination
harnesses. If in doubt, or if you wish to make your own cable assemblies, Figure 2 shows the
proper pin-out for both the source and destination connectors.

1- 2G 2+ 3- 4G 4+ 5- 6G 6+ 7- 8G 8+

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

Figure 2 – DB25 pinout

The configuration of the Digital Detangler Pro is defined by a set of "to/from" pairs. Each
"to" can have only one "from" sent to it at a time (to do otherwise would require a digital mixer).

2

2

3

4

5

15

16

17

14